Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Going Halves

The Hundred Weapons Pavilion, third floor.

Compared to the first and second floors, there were hardly any other Refining Valley disciples to be seen on the third.

But that was to be expected.

After all, very few disciples could manage to show up at Refining Valley with a sack full of Blood Slaughter fiend heads and rack up six hundred fifty-three Contribution Points at once.

Not to mention, whether it was hunting Blood Slaughter fiends or mining beneath Refining Valley, both were life-or-death struggles for the sect’s disciples.

The former might take a year or two to accumulate that many points, while the latter could take ten or even twenty years.

But either way, it was impossible to earn so many all at once.

’The items on the third floor are just as I expected. Their value is between three hundred and six hundred Contribution Points.’

’But... what’s with these three floors...?’

Wu Chen walked about halfway around the third floor, his brow gradually furrowing.

The thousands of items displayed across the three floors of the Hundred Weapons Pavilion were all of high quality. Any one of them would be snatched up in a frenzy if brought outside.

But upon seeing these items, Wu Chen didn’t feel the slightest bit tempted.

Because there were no Martial Arts manuals.

Not even a single one for the Flesh Refining Realm or any basic Martial Arts.

"Are there no Martial Arts manuals here?" Wu Chen asked aloud.

"Martial Arts manuals must be exchanged for at the Martial Arts Tower, but..."

Zhuang Bo explained with a slightly awkward expression, "But, Young Master Wu, you aren’t a disciple of Refining Valley. According to sect rules, you can’t exchange for Martial Arts. You can only trade for items within the Hundred Weapons Pavilion."

Wu Chen nodded. He didn’t argue with Zhuang Bo about the reason, nor did he lash out at the unfairness of the rule.

He figured that even if he wanted to join a sect like Refining Valley and get along with everyone as a disciple, the Elders and the Sect Leader would never agree to it.

It wasn’t just because his origins were a mystery, but also because his cultivation realm was so high that no one would dare take him in.

After all, who could guarantee that the person who brought in a dozen fiend heads for a reward today wouldn’t bring in the heads of Refining Valley disciples to the Blood Slaughter Sect for a reward tomorrow?

’If I really can’t find anything in the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, I’ll just exchange the points for six thousand five hundred and thirty silver taels.’

Wu Chen made up his mind.

Adding that to the silver taels already in his pocket, he would have savings of nearly ten thousand silver taels.

In that case, even if the Jade Bone Realm Martial Arts manuals from the city’s various factions cost two thousand silver taels just to look at...

...that would still be enough to purchase five of them, allowing him to advance to the seventh level of the Jade Bone Realm.

But that was all on the premise that the other factions were like the Songtao Martial Arts Hall—strapped for cash and willing to sell off their ancestral Martial Arts.

Regardless, Wu Chen rubbed the corners of his eyes in frustration.

"Money earned in Mountain Mist City gets spent in Mountain Mist City, huh? Can’t even save a single cent..."

He couldn’t figure it out. He was on the verge of having a small fortune, yet he still couldn’t break through the fourth gate of Martial Arts.

And when he tallied it up, the money he had was still a bit tight.

"To break through the fourth gate, the Jade Bone Realm, it looks like I’ll need several thousand more silver taels."

Wu Chen was silent with worry. He walked quietly past the various weapons and treasures on the third floor of the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, mulling over ways to make more money.

After thinking it over and over, the only way was to...

...inconvenience the Blood Slaughter fiends a little more.

’This is the last row of shelves. If there’s nothing good, I’ll just have to go to the money changer next door and get cash.’

Wu Chen let out a long breath and glanced at the last row of shelves, no longer holding out much hope of finding something suitable for himself.

But exchanging for money was, in his eyes, the worst-case option.

Perhaps sensing Wu Chen’s resignation, Zhuang Bo offered some comfort:

"Young Master Wu, if you don’t see anything you like in the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, these Contribution Points can also be used at the other three major sects."

"At the Qingshan Martial Academy, you can spend Contribution Points to receive guidance on your Martial Arts from an old Martial Artist with profound achievements."

"At the Hundred Herbs Hall or the Qingyi Workshop, you can exchange them for various pills to nourish the body and invigorate the meridians."

Wu Chen: "..."

Wu Chen was speechless. He needed those things even less!

But he still nodded and gave a noncommittal response, his gaze continuing to scan the shelves.

Then, his figure paused in the middle of this row of wooden shelves, his line of sight falling upon the topmost area.

There sat five palm-sized, dusty, and unremarkable little bags sewn from coarse cloth.

His breath caught.

At the sight of these cloth bags, Wu Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and his breathing grew hot.

’To be placed on the third floor of the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, and on the very top shelf... it can only be this!’

He stared intently at the nameplate beneath the bags, and just as he had expected:

Qiankun Bag!

Wu Chen looked closer and, according to the nameplates, discovered that each of these Qiankun Bags was different.

From left to right, their price started at two hundred Contribution Points and increased by one hundred for each subsequent bag.

The fifth one was exactly six hundred Contribution Points.

The differences between the bags were also clearly written below: the internal space of the first four was three feet, four feet, five feet, and six feet, respectively...

Bigger was better!

Wu Chen ignored the first four and stared at the fifth Qiankun Bag, his eyes shining.

Who wouldn’t want the biggest one!

According to the description on its nameplate, the fifth one was not only larger but also had an added preservation function.

It was said to be for storing food ingredients, but to Wu Chen, it was all the same.

"Has Young Master Wu taken a liking to this Qiankun Bag?"

Zhuang Bo saw that Wu Chen couldn’t tear his eyes away, staring intently at that fifth Qiankun Bag.

But out of habit, he still offered some well-intentioned advice, "Young Master Wu, it might be better to save some Contribution Points and choose the first or second one. They’re more suitable."

"This fifth one may seem large and able to hold a lot, but when you’re traveling, you rarely have so many things that you run out of space."

"Realistically, you just have a blade, maybe a thousand or so in silver banknotes, and a few changes of clothes. It doesn’t take up much room."

"Choosing the fifth one is really not worth it. It’s a waste of space and Contribution Points. So, you’re better off with the first or second..."

As he spoke, for some reason, Zhuang Bo suddenly trailed off, his voice dying.

He remembered being in the Hall of Rewards and Punishments, counting that sack of stinking fiend heads.

And hadn’t those very heads come from the young man standing before him?

He sucked in a sharp breath.

Thinking back to how Wu Chen had asked for the illustrated album of fiends, and now seeing him choose a Qiankun Bag, Zhuang Bo connected the two and felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

’So this guy only killed a dozen or so fiends because all he had was a burlap sack?’

’If he had this six-hundred-Contribution-Point Qiankun Bag, does that mean he’d bring back a hundred fiend heads next time?’

Zhuang Bo suddenly felt that this idea was entirely possible!

But as soon as the thought appeared, he refuted it:

’Impossible! Absolutely impossible!’

’To slaughter seventeen or eighteen fiends... only a team led by the Eldest Brother of the Jade Bone Realm or an Elder could pull that off!’

’How could one person possibly do it alone!’

To verify his thoughts, Zhuang Bo turned to Stone Ox, who was a full size larger than him, and asked:

"When Young Master Wu killed that group of fiends, he had other helpers, right?"

Stone Ox nodded. "The old master of our hall, me, and a group of Guards were all there."

Zhuang Bo let out a long sigh of relief. "Right, that makes sense! How could one person possibly kill over a dozen fiends!..."

"Since it was a group from the Songtao Martial Arts Hall, bringing back a sack of fiend heads makes perfect sense! Heh heh..."

He felt his earlier thoughts had been too naive and was about to laugh out loud, but then he heard Stone Ox add:

"But we were just on the sidelines. We didn’t do anything..."

The smile froze on Zhuang Bo’s face.

On the sidelines, and didn’t do anything?

Did that mean Wu Chen killed them all by himself?

He was lost in shock, unable to imagine the scene.

Meanwhile, Wu Chen had already taken down the six-hundred-Contribution-Point Qiankun Bag, walked to the corner, and waved to the two who were still standing there frozen:

"Let’s go."

The two finally snapped out of it and jogged to catch up, following Wu Chen toward the first floor.

On the way downstairs, Zhuang Bo’s expression kept shifting, and he finally asked in a low voice:

"When did your martial arts hall get someone like him?"

Stone Ox shook his head.

Zhuang Bo couldn’t tell if he didn’t know or just didn’t want to say, so he also fell silent for a moment.

But then he remembered that Stone Ox, with his Overlord Body, had a restless nature and couldn’t stand being idle.

He had sparred with Zhuang Bo himself several times in Refining Valley; how could he possibly not have tested his skills against a formidable figure like Wu Chen?

Zhuang Bo immediately asked, "Have you ever sparred with Young Master Wu?"

This time, Stone Ox nodded.

Hearing that the two had indeed crossed blows, Zhuang Bo’s interest was piqued, and he hurriedly asked:

"What was the result of the spar?"

Stone Ox said in a sullen voice, "You could call it an even split."

"What do you mean, ’you could call it an even split’?"

Seeing Stone Ox’s strange expression, Zhuang Bo felt he must be lying and pressed him:

"How was it an even split?"

"An even split... well, an even split is..."

Stone Ox’s voice grew quieter and quieter. "He didn’t retreat a single half-step, and I almost lost half my life."

Zhuang Bo: "..."

It took a moment for Zhuang Bo’s brain to process that.

How the hell is that an even split? That’s a complete wipeout!

And you, with your honest-looking face, when did you learn to make excuses for yourself?!

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