Chapter 20: An Effortless Crush

Page 1 of 3

Qin Liang arranged to visit the Weapon Foundry with Jiang Xuehan that afternoon. After informing her about the ice spirit herb, he returned to his own courtyard.

His battle with the prodigies of the Wang and Feng families had brought him several gains.

First, the power of the Berserk Beast Physique had astonished him. It far exceeded his expectations, and he was thoroughly satisfied.

Second, he had obtained quite a few spirit medicines: five first-grade spirit herbs, scattered among the Cosmos Bags of the Wang siblings and Feng Yuan, plus another one awarded by Jiang Hai. With these, he had a good chance of completing his fourth spiritual refinement.

What made him somewhat uneasy was that he had now thoroughly offended both the Wang and Feng families.

Beyond the two second sons, both families still possessed many formidable young experts. If all of them came looking for him, Qin Liang would certainly be unable to cope. Thus, increasing his strength had become his most urgent task.

He summoned the Desolate Heaven Cauldron and tossed the spirit herbs inside to refine them.

A moment later, only a single drop of pure spiritual essence remained within the cauldron, radiating a faint, crystalline luster.

Qin Liang poured the essence into his mouth and began circulating his cultivation art, converting and absorbing every trace of spiritual essence to strengthen his own spiritual nature.

His body was like a miniature factory. Every cell labored at full capacity, frantically absorbing the spiritual essence surging through him like a flood. Though his cells did not visibly grow larger, they were undeniably becoming stronger.

The fourth spiritual refinement primarily enhanced instinct. Once a cultivator completed four spiritual refinements, his instinctive reactions would become far more agile.

Qin Liang remained seated in meditation for two full hours before the spiritual refinement within his body gradually neared completion.

The tremendous energy contained in six portions of spirit medicine would have been impossible for an ordinary person to absorb in such a short time. Fortunately, Qin Liang’s Dao Roots were numerous and intricately intertwined, while a transcendent-grade cultivation art circulated within him.

He opened his eyes and sensed the greater power coursing through him, feeling quite satisfied.

His perception had also improved considerably. Every movement within a radius of twenty meters lay within the range of his spiritual senses.

“It is time to go to the Weapon Foundry.”

Qin Liang stepped out of the courtyard and immediately saw Jiang Xuehan. The two of them set off together.

She, too, had absorbed the spiritual substance and successfully completed six spiritual refinements. After years of stagnation, her cultivation had finally advanced, leaving her in excellent spirits.

“With our aptitudes and cultivation speed, ordinary iron weapons can no longer satisfy us,” Qin Liang remarked casually as they walked. “If we could obtain primordial weapons, our strength would increase dramatically. But I imagine they are rather expensive. I wonder whether the Weapon Foundry sells any.”

Both of them possessed ninth-grade Dao Roots. As long as they had sufficient spiritual substances, their cultivation could advance by leaps and bounds. If they bought ordinary iron weapons, they would soon have to replace them again. It would be far too troublesome.

Qin Liang wanted to settle the matter once and for all. At the very least, he wanted a weapon that would last them a little longer.

Primordial weapons stood above ordinary iron weapons and could slice through iron as easily as mud. Only experts of the Origin Condensation Realm could unleash their full power, but they were extremely difficult to forge. To ordinary spiritual refiners, they were treasures that could only be encountered by chance.

“Do not worry. If you do not have enough spirit coins, I will ask Father for more.”

Jiang Xuehan smiled, radiant as the morning glow, and spoke with great generosity. “Have you forgotten? I am the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. Would obtaining spirit coins really be difficult for me? Just tell me which weapon you like.”

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

Qin Liang felt warmth in his heart, though he did not take the offer too seriously. He teased her, “What eldest daughter of the Jiang family? I only know you as my betrothed.”

“You...”

Her delicate face flushed as brightly as the morning glow. She pounded his arm with a small fist. “Stop being so glib.”

Although Jiang Xuehan was exceedingly generous toward him, Qin Liang knew that he was about to come of age and would soon marry his beloved wife. Buying weapons was a minor matter; he could no longer trouble the Jiang family over it. Otherwise, it would sound improper if word got out.

Primordial weapons were extremely expensive. If necessary, he could still sell pill formulas to earn spirit coins.

The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked out of the Jiang residence, making countless passersby envious.

Some had long admired Jiang Xuehan and were jealous of Qin Liang. They wanted to cause trouble, but after recalling what had happened in the Jiang family plaza, they could only retreat in silence.

For years, Qin Liang had pretended to be deaf and mute, yet Jiang Xuehan had still been able to converse with him.

Now that he could speak, he became unstoppable. They discussed everything from romantic affairs to insights into martial cultivation, leaving nothing untouched.

At the entrance to the Jiang residence, Li Hongcai stood beneath a tree. Watching the affection between the departing pair grow warmer by the day, he clenched his fists until they crackled.

“Qin Liang, I hope you can still smile when the time comes.”

After the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Qin Liang and Jiang Xuehan entered the bustling marketplace and headed straight for the Weapon Foundry.

The Weapon Foundry was crowded with people coming and going, and business was flourishing.

“I heard there is a highly respected senior weapon smith at the Weapon Foundry. To this day, no one knows what he looks like, but his attainments in weapon forging are extraordinary. If one could obtain a primordial weapon forged by him, the trip would be worthwhile.”

Qin Liang overheard the discussion and was intrigued, though he did not reveal it.

After entering the Weapon Foundry, they found themselves in a broad plaza surrounded by stalls selling all kinds of weapons and artifacts. Hawkers shouted incessantly.

“Freshly forged refined-iron weapons! Do not miss them as you pass by! Cheap prices!”

“Honored customer, even if you do not wish to buy, have a look! They are brand-new and still hot!”

“...”

Listening to the cries, Qin Liang was speechless. Jiang Xuehan covered her mouth and giggled. Who sold iron weapons while they were still hot?

“Hm?”

Qin Liang’s heart stirred. He sensed a faint, unusual fluctuation and immediately turned his gaze toward a corner of the plaza.

There, an inconspicuous stall caught his attention.

Unlike the others, this stall consisted of nothing more than a piece of cloth spread across the ground. Upon it lay a single crude sword blank. It seemed to have been forcibly removed from the furnace halfway through the forging process and had not yet been polished.

“Let us take a look over there.”

Qin Liang led Jiang Xuehan toward it.

Because the item for sale was so crude, and because there was only one of them, the stall had no customers and appeared particularly deserted.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“Is that not Qin Liang of the Jiang family? A stray cur sheltering under another family’s roof. It seems this is the only kind of worthless scrap he can afford.”

Qin Liang had just been about to ask the price when a mocking voice reached his ears.

Several youths approached. The one at their head was rather thin, and from his clothing, he was clearly a member of the Feng family.

“Feng Xiang, watch your mouth,” Jiang Xuehan snapped angrily, her brows knitting into a sharp line.

Feng Xiang sneered and spoke frivolously. “Take my advice. Qin Liang is nothing more than a stray living under another family’s protection. You would be better off marrying me and warming my bed. I certainly would not mistreat you.”

“You...”

Jiang Xuehan was about to strike, but Qin Liang stopped her.

She had now completed six spiritual refinements and, in a sense, had become one of the Jiang family’s trump cards among the younger generation. It would not be appropriate for her to act recklessly.

“Qin Liang, you are buying only this single piece of scrap. Do you still need the lady of the house to pay for it?”

Feng Xiang’s mocking remark caused his followers to burst into laughter.

“So the Feng family knows how to do nothing but wag their tongues.”

Qin Liang’s single sentence caused Feng Xiang and the others’ expressions to darken.

Many people turned to look, instinctively clearing an open space around them.

“Qin, do not think that defeating Young Master Feng Yuan makes you invincible. Let me tell you this: the Feng family has no shortage of fivefold spiritual refiners.”

Feng Xiang was unwilling to back down. He rolled up his sleeves, preparing to teach Qin Liang a lesson.

“So you are a fivefold spiritual refiner as well?” Qin Liang asked, his gaze full of contempt.

Before Feng Xiang could make a move, Qin Liang had already used the perfected Wind-Walking Step to appear before him and unleashed a Seven-Star Fist.

After completing his fourth spiritual refinement, Qin Liang’s strength had increased, allowing him to unleash six layers of hidden force.

“Pfft!”

Caught completely off guard, Feng Xiang spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Qin Liang’s speed was simply too fast. Even relying on instinct, Feng Xiang could not evade him. The six layers of hidden force that entered his body instantly shattered his meridians and internal organs, destroying his entire cultivation in the blink of an eye.

Qin Liang kicked him into the air. Feng Xiang flew high before crashing back down with a thunderous boom.

“You...”

The contempt in Feng Xiang’s eyes had vanished, replaced by sheer terror. He stared at Qin Liang in horror, but before he could finish speaking, he fainted.

Page 3 of 3