Lake Bottom.
Inside the Ship's Cabin.
"Is this the iron ore you were talking about?" Yang Kai stared at the mountain-like pile of iron ore in front of him, his mouth agape. Instantly, lake water rushed into his mouth.
"Indeed, this is it!" Jiang Ning nodded. "I wonder if Manager Yang still stands by what you said earlier?"
"This..." Yang Kai hesitated.
With just one glance, he knew that the iron ore before him, if calculated at market price, would be worth at least ten thousand taels of silver.
Ten thousand taels of silver! Even with the Blacksmith Shop's years of operation, it would be difficult to come up with such a sum on short notice.
Withdrawing ten thousand taels of liquid silver in a short time could easily plunge the Blacksmith Shop into a liquidity crisis.
"What? Is Manager Yang going back on his word?" Jiang Ning asked.
Yang Kai glanced at Jiang Ning, who remained calm and composed, his expression unreadable. Yang Kai couldn't discern what Jiang Ning was thinking.
After a moment of contemplation, recalling Elder Gong's attitude toward Jiang Ning and Jiang Ning's previous actions, Yang Kai finally nodded. "As the current manager of the Blacksmith Shop, I represent its reputation. Since I've given my word, I won't go back on it."
Jiang Ning said, "Should we discuss the price? After all, this iron ore is from a sunken ship at the bottom of the lake. Transporting it will require manpower and resources."
"No need!" Yang Kai shook his head. "Manpower and resources won't cost much. Such a small expense isn't worth haggling over with you, Brother Jiang."
"Good!" Jiang Ning nodded. "In that case, I'll leave the iron ore to you, Manager Yang. Once you've finished tallying, please deliver the silver to my residence."
Yang Kai looked at Jiang Ning. "Brother Jiang, are you planning to leave now?"
"Yes," Jiang Ning replied. "In three days, the Inspection Office will collect its dues. I need to prepare."
"I see," Yang Kai said, understanding. Then he asked, "But aren't you worried that I might underreport the amount of iron ore if you're not here to supervise?"
Jiang Ning smiled. "I trust you, Manager Yang."
After they returned to shore, Jiang Ning headed straight for Wanhua Tower.
He remembered what Lin Qingyi had told him earlier: to come find her once he had achieved mastery in skin refinement. She still had something left for him Shen Congyun.
After parting ways with Jiang Ning, Yang Kai made his way to the Blacksmith Shop in the outer city. The iron ore, worth ten thousand taels, needed to be retrieved and tallied as soon as possible so he could settle the payment with Jiang Ning.
Although ten thousand taels was a significant sum for the Blacksmith Shop, it wasn't unmanageable. Once forged into refined iron and sold to other countries, they could still turn a profit.
Wanhua Tower.
At the open-air pavilion on the top floor.
"Master Jiang, please wait here for a moment. The Tower Master is still taking her afternoon nap. I dare not disturb her at this time," Xiao Lü said apologetically.
Jiang Ning replied, "It's fine. I'll wait here."
"Thank you for your understanding, Master Jiang," Xiao Lü said with a bow. "Usually, the Tower Master wakes up in about half an hour."
"Alright," Jiang Ning nodded.
He wasn't in a hurry. Waiting here wouldn't interfere with his training.
After Xiao Lü left, Jiang Ning drank a few sips of cold tea to quench his thirst. Even though it was already October, the weather remained scorching and dry, with no hint of autumn's coolness.
After another sip of cold tea, the heat in his heart finally subsided a bit.
Then, he glanced in the direction of Lin Qingyi's room.
"I wonder what Shen Congyun left for me? Why did he insist that I reach the ninth rank and have skin as tough as bronze before coming back?"
Jiang Ning murmured to himself.
Then he closed his eyes and sat cross-legged.
He didn't want to waste time waiting for Lin Qingyi to wake up.
After some thought, he decided to use this time to refine the Leopard Fetus Body Transformation Pill in his stomach.
With the Furnace Pill Refining Secret Technique, using his vital energy as fuel, he could quickly digest the pill.
The pill's medicinal power could not only enhance his foundation and potential but also help him swiftly complete the eighth rank of martial arts, the process of refining strength.
Boom
In his visualization, a raging fire enveloped the furnace.
His body also seemed to ignite, his temperature rising rapidly, surpassing 40 degrees Celsius and continuing to climb.
Meanwhile.
Mm
Lin Qingyi woke up leisurely from her soft couch.
She sat up, picked up a cup of cold tea from the table, and took a sip to moisten her throat.
"Xiao Lü, is something the matter?" Lin Qingyi asked.
With her strength, she had detected Xiao Lü waiting outside her door the moment she woke up.
Outside, Xiao Lü, hearing the voice from the room, bowed slightly and said softly, "Tower Master, Master Jiang is waiting on the pavilion."
"Why is he here?" Lin Qingyi put down her teacup, slightly surprised.
"I don't know," Xiao Lü replied in a low voice.
"Could that kid have already reached the ninth rank?" Lin Qingyi murmured to herself.
"I should go see him. If he's truly reached the ninth rank, his talent would be truly terrifying."
With that, she grabbed a robe from the nearby screen and put it on.
A moment later, Lin Qingyi, dressed in a light gauze gown and barefoot, stepped out of her room. Due to the heat, her upper garment was thin, revealing her white undergarment and slender shoulders.
She glanced at Xiao Lü and waved her hand.
"You may go. I'll handle this myself."
"Yes, Tower Master," Xiao Lü bowed and retreated.
On the open-air pavilion.
As Lin Qingyi turned the corner, she saw Jiang Ning sitting cross-legged on the ground.
His black hair was tied simply with a ribbon, cascading down his back.
His brows were furrowed, his face calm, devoid of emotion.
"This kid is meditating here!" Lin Qingyi's lips curled into a slight smile.
Wait!
She quickly suppressed her smile, her expression turning to one of surprise as she looked at Jiang Ning.
She suddenly felt an intense heat radiating from him, as if he were a furnace, emitting waves of heat more intense than the scorching sun above.
Lin Qingyi took a few steps closer, narrowing the distance between them.
"What astonishing heat! What is this kid doing?"
Her face showed suspicion as she tried to recall similar situations from the past.
After a moment, her expression turned serious.
"Could it be the Furnace Pill Refining Secret Technique from the Medicine King Valley?"
She thought to herself.
This realization reminded her of the intelligence report she had received earlier that day.
Last night, Liu Qingsong and his group had not returned.
Moreover, early this morning, several disciples from the Medicine King Valley had left the inn, clearly searching for Liu Qingsong and his men.
Connecting this information, Lin Qingyi couldn't help but chuckle.
"I must be overthinking it. Who is Liu Qingsong? In all of Luoshui County, the number of people who could defeat him could be counted on one hand."
Then, she looked at Jiang Ning again.
The more she observed, the more she felt that Jiang Ning was indeed using the Furnace Pill Refining Secret Technique of the Medicine King Valley.
Based on her understanding of this unique technique, Jiang Ning's current state perfectly matched its description.
Using vital energy as fuel, the body as a furnace.
"What an impressive kid!" Lin Qingyi's eyes shone with admiration.
In all her years, Jiang Ning was the junior she admired the most.
"Shen Congyun's judgment is truly commendable," Lin Qingyi thought, recalling Shen Congyun, who was currently in Zeshan City.
A short while later.
Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.
"Sister Lin!" he said upon seeing Lin Qingyi in front of him.
Lin Qingyi smiled. "The Furnace Pill Refining Secret Technique?"
"Sister, you have a keen eye!" Jiang Ning nodded slightly.
He knew that since Lin Qingyi could accurately name the technique, there was no point in hiding it. It was better to be straightforward.
"Impressive!" Lin Qingyi exclaimed. "How did you manage to get your hands on this secret technique from the Medicine King Valley?"
Jiang Ning smiled. "Just luck, that's all."
This was his genuine thought, not a humble remark.
The more he used the Furnace Pill Refining Secret Technique, the more he marveled at its wonders.
Transforming the body into a furnace, using vital energy as fuel.
Purifying pills, removing their toxins, and increasing the body's absorption efficiency.
This effect wasn't limited to pills; it could also be applied to other rare treasures.
Such an effect was truly miraculous and powerful.
To truly go far on the martial path, one had to seize the short golden period of a few decades and advance with relentless determination.
Once past this golden period, not only would progress stagnate, but maintaining one's current strength would be a challenge.
To advance relentlessly, besides personal effort and talent, external aids were indispensable.
Without external aids, no matter how talented one is, their achievements would ultimately be limited.
Those grandmasters renowned across provinces, or even the great grandmasters known throughout the land who among them didn't possess extraordinary martial talent?
But to reach such heights, external aids were equally crucial.
Lin Qingyi smiled at Jiang Ning's words. "Luck is also part of one's strength. Those who achieve great things are never lacking in luck."
Then she added, "Enough of that. You should focus on refining the medicinal liquid in your body first."
"Alright," Jiang Ning nodded.
He closed his eyes again.
As his thoughts shifted, the three drops of pale golden medicinal liquid in his body instantly dissolved.
Countless strands of medicinal power spread to his limbs, muscles, and bones.
At the same time, he took the opportunity to circulate his energy, refining the elasticity of the muscles in his arms.
For increasing strength, the elasticity of the arm muscles played a significant role.
Once the arm muscles were refined to their limit, he could estimate the upper limit of his strength at the eighth rank, the Divine Strength Realm.
For someone like him, who specialized in saber techniques, the arm muscles accounted for at least 80% of his strength.
Half a cup of tea later.
Jiang Ning opened his eyes again.
He clenched his fist, feeling the power in his arms, and couldn't help but smile.
His strength had increased again, reaching around 3,100 jin.
However, he didn't feel that the elasticity of his arm muscles had reached their limit, indicating that 3,100 jin was far from his maximum.
His upper limit was likely above 3,500 jin.
This realization brought a smile to his face.
"Judging by your expression, you must have gained quite a bit," Lin Qingyi, now sitting cross-legged on a chair, asked.
"Not bad," Jiang Ning replied.
Lin Qingyi continued, "Did you come to see me today because you've reached the ninth rank?"
"Yes," Jiang Ning nodded. "Sister Lin, you once said that when I reached the ninth rank and my skin was as tough as bronze, I should come to find you. You mentioned that you still have something left for me by Shen Congyun."
"Correct," Lin Qingyi nodded.
As she spoke, she picked up a bronze dagger from the tea table and tossed it to Jiang Ning.
"Test it. Let's see how tough your skin is."
Jiang Ning caught the bronze dagger with ease.
Hearing her words, he nodded slightly.
Then, with his right hand gripping the dagger's handle and his left hand holding the blade, he exerted force.
In an instant, he felt the bronze dagger twist and deform in his palm until it snapped.
When he opened his left hand, the once pristine bronze dagger was now twisted like a corkscrew, with several cracks along the blade.
Yet, Jiang Ning's palm remained unharmed, without a single drop of blood.
Seeing this, Lin Qingyi's eyes flashed with surprise.
As expected of the bronze skin cultivated through the Indestructible Vajra Body. The toughness and resilience of his skin far surpassed that of an ordinary ninth-rank martial artist.
Then, Lin Qingyi uncrossed her legs and stood up.
"Follow me. Since you've reached the ninth rank, it's time to give you that item."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning also stood up and followed Lin Qingyi.
A moment later.
Lin Qingyi led Jiang Ning into her room without hesitation.
She took a palm-sized wooden box from beneath her dressing table.
"This is the last thing Shen Congyun left for you. He said he could only help you up to this point. The rest of the journey is up to you."
As she spoke, Lin Qingyi opened the lid of the wooden box.
Inside the box lay a single pill.
"This is... the Golden Body Pill!!!"
Lin Qingyi's eyes widened in shock as she looked at the pill resting in the box.
Then she sighed softly. "Shen Congyun, you trusted me! To think you'd leave something like this in my care."
Beside the Golden Body Pill lay a pure gold token.
On the token was a vivid depiction of a wrathful Vajra.
Seeing this, Lin Qingyi's expression turned to one of astonishment once more.
She picked up the gold token and flipped it over.
On the reverse side was an engraving of a temple, with countless steps leading up to it.
"The Vajra Token!"
Lin Qingyi uttered these three words softly.
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