Lake bottom.
In the cabin.
"This is the iron ore you were talking about??" Yang Kai looked at the mountain-like pile of iron ore before him, his mouth involuntarily gaping open as lake water instantly rushed into his mouth.
"Yes, exactly these!" Jiang Ning nodded. "I wonder if what Shopkeeper Yang just said still counts?"
"This..." Yang Kai was immediately somewhat hesitant.
With just one glance, he knew that if the iron ore before him were calculated at market price, it would be worth at least ten thousand taels of silver.
Ten thousand taels of silver, even for the Weapon Forging Shop after all these years of management, would be hard to take out easily in a short time.
To draw on ten thousand taels of ready silver in the short term, the Weapon Forging Shop might even fall into a liquidity crisis.
"What? Is Shopkeeper Yang thinking of going back on his word?" Jiang Ning spoke.
Yang Kai glanced at Jiang Ning and saw that his expression was calm and unruffled, and he could not see through Jiang Ning's thoughts at all.
After pondering for a breath of time, he thought of Old Gong's previous attitude toward Jiang Ning.
Then he thought of Jiang Ning's earlier performance.
Immediately, Yang Kai nodded. "Now that I am the Head Shopkeeper of the Weapon Forging Shop, I represent the shop's reputation! Since I have spoken, I will naturally not go back on my word!"
Jiang Ning said, "Then shall we discuss the price a bit more? After all, this iron ore is from a sunken ship at the lake bottom, and transporting it up will require manpower and resources!"
"No need!" Yang Kai shook his head. "How much can manpower and resources cost? Such petty expenses, how could I quibble over them with Brother Jiang."
"Very well!" Jiang Ning nodded. "In that case, I will entrust this iron ore to Shopkeeper Yang! After Shopkeeper Yang finishes counting it, just send the silver to my residence."
Yang Kai looked at Jiang Ning. "Brother Jiang, are you planning to head back now?"
"Yes." Jiang Ning nodded. "Three days later is the Patrol Office's intake. I need to make some preparations over the next few days."
"I see!" Yang Kai immediately understood, then he asked, "But with Brother Jiang not present to supervise, aren't you afraid I might falsely report the weight of the iron ore?"
Jiang Ning said, "I trust Shopkeeper Yang."
After they came ashore, Jiang Ning went straight toward Wanhua Tower.
He still remembered what Lin Qingyi had told him before: to come to her again once he had reached Great Accomplishment in Skin Tempering.
She still had something Shen Congyun had left behind.
After parting with Jiang Ning, Yang Kai also headed toward the Weapon Forging Shop in the outer city.
With iron ore worth ten thousand taels, he had to quickly arrange for people to salvage it and, after counting it, settle the account with Jiang Ning.
Although iron ore worth ten thousand taels was a bit much for the Weapon Forging Shop, it was still manageable.
After forging it into fine iron and selling it to other county towns, they could even make a profit.
Wanhua Tower.
At the open-air pavilion on the rooftop.
"Young Master Jiang, please wait here for a moment! The Tower Master is still taking a midday nap; I do not dare disturb her at this time," Xiao Lu said to Jiang Ning with an apologetic face.
Jiang Ning said, "It is fine, I will wait here."
"Thank you, Young Master Jiang, for your understanding!" Xiao Lu gave a graceful curtsey, then said, "As usual, the Tower Master will probably wake in about half an hour."
"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded.
He was not in a hurry at this moment.
Because here, he could still practice cultivation without delay.
After Xiao Lu left, Jiang Ning took a few sips of herbal tea to quench his thirst.
Even though it was already October, the weather was still scorching hot and dry.
There was not the slightest coolness of autumn.
Jiang Ning took another sip of herbal tea, and only then did much of the irritation in his heart dissipate.
Then he glanced once more in the direction of Lin Qingyi's room.
"I wonder what exactly Shen Congyun has left for me?"
"He actually wants me to reach Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment, with skin membrane tough as copper, before I come again?"
Jiang Ning muttered inwardly.
Then he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
He did not want to just wait idly here for Lin Qingyi to wake up and waste time.
After pondering for a while, he simply began refining the Leopard Fetus Form-Changing Body Tempering Pill in his abdomen right here.
With the Furnace Alchemy Secret Technique and Blood Qi Power as fuel, he could very quickly digest the Leopard Fetus Form-Changing Body Tempering Pill in his body.
The medicinal power of this pill could not only strengthen his bone structure and foundation, but also help him quickly complete the Martial Arts Eighth Rank strength training process.
Boom—
In his meditation.
Raging flames enveloped the furnace.
At this moment, it was as if flames had ignited within his body; his temperature kept rising, surpassing forty degrees in an instant, and was still climbing.
On the other side.
"Nng—"
Lin Qingyi slowly woke up from the soft couch.
She rose, picked up the tea cup from the table, and took a sip of herbal tea to moisten her throat.
"Xiao Lu, is something the matter?" Lin Qingyi finally spoke.
With her strength, she had already noticed Xiao Lu waiting outside the door at the first moment.
Outside the door.
Hearing the voice from the room, Xiao Lu slightly lowered her head and said softly, "Tower Master, Young Master Jiang is now waiting in the pavilion."
"Why is he here?" Lin Qingyi put down the tea cup in her hand, slightly surprised.
"I do not know either," Xiao Lu replied softly.
"Could it be that brat has already reached Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment?" Lin Qingyi murmured under her breath.
"I must go out and see that brat! If he truly has reached Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment already, then his talent is indeed a little terrifying!"
Immediately, she took the clothes from the nearby screen and put them on.
A short while later.
Lin Qingyi, wearing a gauzy long skirt and barefoot, walked out of the room; because of the heat, the clothing on her upper body was also very thin.
One could clearly see the white undergarment and her slender shoulders.
She glanced at Xiao Lu, then waved her hand.
"Go on with your work! I will go by myself."
"Yes, Tower Master!" Xiao Lu gave Lin Qingyi a graceful salute, then slowly withdrew.
On the open-air pavilion.
Turning the corner, Lin Qingyi saw Jiang Ning sitting cross-legged on the ground.
His black hair was casually tied with a hairband and hung loosely down his back.
His brows were tightly knit, his expression calm, neither joyful nor sorrowful.
"This brat is actually sitting here cultivating his mind!" Lin Qingyi's lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile.
No, something is wrong!!
She restrained her smile, her expression turning surprised as she looked toward Jiang Ning.
Because at this moment she suddenly felt that Jiang Ning before her was like a furnace, constantly radiating heat.
This heat was even more distinct than the scorching waves from the blazing sun overhead.
Then Lin Qingyi took a few more steps forward, getting closer to Jiang Ning.
"What astonishing heat!"
"What exactly is this brat doing?"
A doubtful look appeared on her face as her mind searched for a match with what she knew.
One breath later.
Lin Qingyi's expression slightly tensed.
"Could it be Medicine King Valley's Furnace Alchemy Technique?"
She spoke inwardly.
Thinking of this, she suddenly recalled the intelligence passed up from below that afternoon.
Last night, Liu Qingsong and the others had not returned all night.
And early this morning, several disciples accompanying Medicine King Valley had left the inn, clearly to search for Liu Qingsong and the others.
Linking this information together, Lin Qingyi could not help but give a faint, mocking smile.
"I am overthinking it!"
"Who is Liu Qingsong?"
"Looking across the entire Luoshui County, there are only a handful of people who can steadily defeat him!"
Then she looked carefully at Jiang Ning again.
The more she looked, the more she felt that Jiang Ning was clearly operating Medicine King Valley's Furnace Alchemy Secret Technique.
Because based on her understanding of this unique secret art of Medicine King Valley, Jiang Ning's current state matched it perfectly.
Using Blood Qi as fuel, the body like a furnace.
"What an outstanding brat!" Lin Qingyi looked at Jiang Ning, and an appreciative light flashed in her eyes.
Over all these years, Jiang Ning was, in her view, the junior she admired the most.
"That Shen Congyun truly has an admirable eye!" Thinking of Shen Congyun now in Zeshan City, Lin Qingyi felt a surge of emotion.
Not long after.
Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.
"Sister Lin!" Seeing Lin Qingyi before him, he spoke at once.
Hearing this, Lin Qingyi smiled. "Furnace Alchemy Technique?"
"Sister, you have sharp eyes!" Jiang Ning nodded slightly.
He knew that since Lin Qingyi could accurately name this secret technique, there was no point in trying to hide it; it was better to be open and straightforward.
"Impressive!" Lin Qingyi exclaimed. "You actually managed to obtain this secret art of Medicine King Valley!"
Jiang Ning smiled. "It was just good luck."
These words were his truest thought, not mere modesty.
The more he used the Furnace Alchemy Secret Technique, the more he felt its wonder.
Turning the body into a furnace, using Blood Qi as fuel.
Purifying pills, removing pill toxin, and increasing the body's absorption efficiency.
The effect of this secret technique could be applied not only to pills, but also to other heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Its effect could be called extraordinarily wondrous and powerful.
Because if one wanted to truly go far on the martial path,
one had to seize these few short decades of golden time to advance fiercely.
Once past the body's golden period, not to mention advancing in martial arts, even merely guaranteeing that one's strength did not decline would be rare.
And to advance fiercely, aside from one's own effort and talent, external aid was also indispensable.
Without external aid, no matter how extraordinary one's talent was, one's ultimate achievements would still be limited.
Those grandmasters famed throughout a whole province, and even the great grandmasters renowned throughout the world—
which of them did not have world-shattering martial talent?
But for them to reach that level, external assistance was likewise indispensable.
It could even be called extremely important.
Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Lin Qingyi also smiled. "Luck is also a part of strength! None of those who achieve great success have poor luck!"
Then she said, "Enough talk for now, first handle the medicinal liquid being refined inside your body."
"Alright." Jiang Ning nodded.
Then he closed his eyes once more.
As his mind moved, the three drops of pale golden medicinal liquid within his body instantly dispersed.
They transformed into countless threads of medicinal power that spread into his limbs and bones, muscles, tendons, and bones.
At the same time, he took the opportunity to circulate his strength, circulate Blood Qi, and temper the toughness of the muscles in his arms.
For the enhancement of strength, the toughness of the arm muscles accounted for an enormous proportion.
As long as he tempered the arm muscles to a certain limit, he could roughly estimate what his upper limit of strength would be in the Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm.
Because for someone like him who specialized in blade technique, the arm muscle groups accounted for at least eighty percent of his strength.
After the time for half a cup of tea.
Jiang Ning opened his eyes once again.
He clenched his fists, felt the strength contained in his arms, and could not help but smile.
Because his strength had increased again, now at around three thousand one hundred jin.
And this level of strength still did not make him feel that the toughness of his arm muscles had reached a limit; this showed that three thousand one hundred jin was far from his upper limit.
His upper limit was at least above three thousand five hundred jin.
It was precisely this thought that made a smile appear on Jiang Ning's face.
"Judging by your expression, your gains should be quite good, right?" Lin Qingyi, now sitting cross-legged on a chair, asked.
"Not bad," Jiang Ning said.
Lin Qingyi continued, "Did you come to see me today because you have reached Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment?"
"Yes." Jiang Ning nodded and continued, "Sister Lin once said that when I reached Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment, with skin membrane like copper, I should come find you, and that you still had something Shen Congyun left for me."
"Correct." Lin Qingyi nodded.
As she spoke, she picked up a bronze dagger from the tea table beside her and tossed it to Jiang Ning.
"Try it and see how hard your skin membrane is."
Jiang Ning raised his hand and caught the bronze dagger Lin Qingyi had thrown.
Hearing this, he nodded slightly.
Then he gripped the dagger's handle with his right hand and its blade with his left.
In the next moment.
He exerted force with his left hand, clamping the bronze blade tightly in his palm, then twisted hard.
In an instant.
He felt the bronze dagger in his palm twist and deform until it snapped.
When he opened his left palm again, he saw that the originally simple, ancient-looking bronze dagger was now twisted and deformed; the blade had been twisted like a rope, and several parts of the edge had completely fractured.
Yet Jiang Ning's palm was completely unscathed, without the slightest trace of blood.
Seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Lin Qingyi's eyes.
As expected of bronze skin cultivated from the Indestructible Vajra Body; the hardness and toughness of this skin membrane were clearly much stronger than that of ordinary Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment martial artists.
Then Lin Qingyi put down her crossed legs.
She rose and said to Jiang Ning, "Come with me! Since you have already reached Ninth Rank Great Accomplishment, it is time to hand that item over to you!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning immediately stood up and followed behind Lin Qingyi.
A short while later.
Without any hesitation, Lin Qingyi led Jiang Ning straight into her own room.
She took a palm-sized wooden box from under the table of her dressing stand.
"This is the last item Shen Congyun left for you! He said he can only help you this far; the road ahead will depend entirely on yourself!"
As Lin Qingyi spoke, she also lifted the lid of the wooden box.
In the next moment.
The contents of the wooden box were revealed before Jiang Ning.
"This is... a Golden Body Pill!!!"
Looking at the pill lying quietly inside the wooden box, a strong shock flashed through Lin Qingyi's eyes.
Then she sighed softly. "Shen Congyun truly trusted me! He even dared to entrust me with something like this."
At the same time, she also saw a pure gold token lying quietly beside the Golden Body Pill.
On the token, a wrathful Vajra was clearly engraved.
Seeing this, another trace of astonishment flashed across Lin Qingyi's face.
She then picked up the pure gold token and flipped it over.
On the back of the token was an engraving of a temple.
Countless steps led up to a temple.
"Vajra Token!"
Lin Qingyi once again uttered three words!
----------------------------------------------------------------