Extracting all things: My attributes grow infinitely.

Early that morning, Jiang Chuan finished his cultivation, took a shower, and changed into clean clothes.

At the blacksmith's shop, the agreed-upon day for picking up the knife had arrived.

Inside the shop, the stove fire was still burning bright red.

The old blacksmith's face lit up when he saw him.

Sweat still clung to his forehead, clearly indicating he'd been working long hours these past few days.

"Welcome, sir! This knife was just forged last night!"

As he spoke, he brought out a long wooden box from the inner room.

The box is made of nanmu wood, and cloud patterns are carved on the edges.

Open the box.

A knife lay quietly on the red cloth.

The blade is straight, and the edge is as smooth as autumn water.

The patterns of the copper essence transformed into several dark red lines on the blade, winding like blood vessels.

Jiang Chuan picked up the knife, weighed it in his hand, and felt that it was a little light.

But it's unavoidable.

He now possesses the strength of 1,100 jin (approximately 650 kg) with one hand.

Weapons made from ordinary materials are difficult to make to meet weight requirements unless a giant cauldron is forged for them.

The problem is not big.

After he refines the sword with the "Burial of the Ancient Heart Technique," he will forge it into his natal weapon, and there will be no problem with it being unsuitable for his hand.

He casually twirled the knife, and a flash of cold light appeared.

He then picked up a piece of iron, about half a finger thick, from the side of the furnace.

With a gentle shave.

Ding!

The iron bar snapped in two with a snap, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror.

"A fine knife!"

Jiang Chuan's eyes lit up.

"That's natural."

The old blacksmith chuckled, "Weapons forged from refined red copper can cut through iron like mud; that's just the basics!"

He also provided a scabbard, a black lacquered leather scabbard with brass rings, in a simple style.

Jiang Chuan sheathed the knife, then drew it again, repeating this process twice.

It is silent when drawn from its sheath and silent when sheathed.

Perfectly fitted.

"This knife doesn't have a name yet."

Jiang Chuan flipped the blade over, his fingertips tracing the dark red patterns: "From now on, I'll call you 'Crimson Pattern'."

"The Crimson-Patterned Blade?" The old blacksmith clicked his tongue. "A good name, a good name!"

Jiang Chuan paid the remaining balance with satisfaction.

He then took out a piece of broken silver, weighing about an ounce, and tossed it over.

"Here's a reward for you."

"Ouch!"

The old blacksmith hurriedly accepted the gift, grinning from ear to ear: "Thank you for the generous gift, sir! If you ever need any weapons made in the future, just come to this old man!"

Jiang Chuan sheathed his knife, tucked it into his waistband, and walked out of the blacksmith's shop.

On the long street.

Pedestrians come and go.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind.

Approaching from afar, it moved with the speed of thunder.

Interspersed among the cries of panicked pedestrians were the sounds of the incident.

Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Chuan stepped aside and moved to the side of the road.

Then he looked over in surprise.

Amidst the rising dust, a white figure streaked across the sky.

A tall, powerful horse galloped recklessly along the county road.

On horseback sat a sharp and ambitious young man.

His eyebrows slanted upwards, and his eyes were like cold stars.

Dressed in a moon-white outfit, with a long, sheathed sword hanging at his waist.

The horse was entirely black, with snow-white hooves, and was exceptionally swift and spirited.

Where the horse's hooves passed, pedestrians scattered in fear, daring not to utter a word of anger.

And just as they brushed past each other.

The boy on horseback seemed to sense something and suddenly glanced at Jiang Chuan in the crowd.

Jiang Chuanyi met his gaze calmly.

But a storm was brewing in my heart.

This person's vitality is far superior to his, probably at least he is a master who has completed the three stages of blood nourishment!

"Who dares to ride on the official road like that? They almost hit me!"

"Shh, keep your voice down! That's the eldest young master of the Wang family!"

"What?! He wasn't training at Qingfeng Martial Arts Academy?"

"Exactly!"

"Hiss... I hope he didn't hear what I said."

Jiang Chuan overheard the complaints and conversations of the people around him.

Wang Lie.

Jiang Chuan silently recited the name in his heart.

As a fellow martial artist, he was acutely aware of the difference between the two.

Someone like Song Kun, who had achieved perfect blood nourishment in one go, would probably not even last three moves against this person.

The other party had clearly also noticed his cultivation level.

But they don't recognize themselves.

Therefore, they did not stay.

As the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, Jiang Chuan felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Wang Lie's return is likely due to the recent changes in the Wang family.

In order to investigate the cause of death of Song Kun and others.

although.

I wonder if he will trace it back to me.

But even staying a moment longer would only increase the risk for oneself.

Road signs...

Jiang Chuan subconsciously touched the silver notes he was carrying.

No matter how much more money it costs, we have to get this travel permit done as soon as possible.

Otherwise, he and Liu Yue'e would be unregistered wherever they went.

Unable to find a hotel

There's nowhere to settle down.

More importantly, without a formal identity, even martial arts schools wouldn't easily take him in.

but.

Before leaving, he still had two things to do.

……

Wang Lie rode his horse to his house, where the vermilion gate was already wide open.

The two stone lions in front of the gate are taller than a person and look very majestic.

A steward, leading a group of servants, waited at the door early in the morning.

The servants stood at attention with their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound.

"Young Master, what brings you back?"

The steward hurriedly stepped forward, his smile obsequious.

Wang Lie dismounted and casually tossed the reins to a servant.

Then, he gave the steward a cold glance:

"Such a big thing happened at home, why didn't anyone come to tell me?"

"Are you planning a rebellion?!"

"No, no!"

The steward hurriedly knelt down and repeatedly apologized.

Then, he stammered, "..."

"This...this is all the Second Young Master's idea..."

"However, the second young master was only trying not to disturb your training at the martial arts school; he certainly didn't have any other intentions!"

Wang Lie frowned. This shield was indeed useful, so he stopped questioning the matter.

He walked into the Wang family mansion.

While asking:

"Tell me the truth about what's going on at home right now."

"Yes……"

Upon entering the gate, there is a long path paved with bluestone.

Facing you is a screen wall painted with gold and colors.

Majestic and noble.

Ancient trees tower on both sides, their branches casting dappled shadows.

After passing the screen wall, pavilions and waterside terraces are scattered in a well-organized manner.

Artificial hills and flowing water, winding paths leading to secluded spots.

The ground is covered with blue bricks, spotless.

Maids and servants bustled about, and upon seeing Wang Lie, they all bowed their heads in greeting.

Its grandeur is probably no less than that of a prince's mansion.

The manager followed closely behind.

He hurriedly replied:

"Young Master, please rest assured, we have joined forces with the government to strengthen patrols in the city, and there have been no bandits causing trouble for several days!"

Wang Lie continued walking, but his voice turned cold: "So that means that so many people in the Wang family died, and a martial artist who had just completed his Blood Nourishing Perfection was also among them."

"In the end, you didn't even find a trace of the thief."

"Yeah!?"

The steward sensed the anger in Wang Lie's words.

They fell silent, as silent as cicadas in winter, daring not to utter another sound.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

Wang Lie finally couldn't hold back and cursed angrily.

He listened as the manager repeatedly tried to deceive him with words.

Wang Lie was immediately enraged.

He grabbed the manager by the collar and lifted him up.

"If I were still the same person I was before I joined the martial arts school, I would have skinned you alive."

"Young Master, spare me! Young Master, spare me!"

The manager was terrified and begged for mercy repeatedly.

Wang Lie let go and tossed him aside.

"Go to the family punishment hall and receive twenty lashes, then take off these clothes! How can a fool like you be fit to be the steward of my Wang family?"

The steward collapsed to the ground, his crotch soaked, but he felt as if he had been granted a pardon and scrambled away.

Wang Lie continued to stride forward, passing through corridor after corridor.

Blue bricks cover the ground, carved beams and painted rafters, and every few steps on the pillars are carved a mythical beast, lifelike in appearance.

The deeper you go, the more tranquil it becomes.

Finally, he stopped in front of a solemn courtyard.

Wang Family Ancestral Hall.

There is an old locust tree in the courtyard, its branches and leaves half withered.

Wang Lie pushed open the door.

A strong aroma of incense immediately wafted over.

He sniffed, and with his keen senses, he could also detect a faint smell of blood amidst the incense smoke.

He looked up and saw that the ancestral hall was brightly lit with candles.

A dozen or so ever-burning lamps illuminated the entire ancestral hall as if it were daytime.

On the high altar, the ancestral tablets of the Wang family were placed below, and in the most prestigious position, a sinister statue was prominently displayed.

The statue was entirely black and depicted a seated human figure.

Three vertical eyes, a face that seemed to be smiling but wasn't.

The flickering candlelight gave one a creepy feeling.

Right in front of the offering table, a thin figure wearing a loose white shirt sat cross-legged on a prayer mat.

The man was emaciated, with sunken eyes, but his hair was neatly combed.

He had his back to the door and was reciting some kind of scripture in a low voice.

He remained unmoved when he heard Wang Lie open the door.

Until the scripture in one's mouth is finished being recited.

He then slowly opened his mouth.

"Lie'er, I sent you to Qingfeng Martial Arts School to train for several years, why are you still so impatient?"

"Father!"

Wang Lie bowed respectfully to the old man before him, but his voice was urgent:

"You're so calm! Such a huge mess outside, and you don't even step in to do anything about it!"

The old man before us is Wang Shulin, the current head of the Wang family.

Upon hearing this, the old man remained calm and composed:

"There's no trouble at all. They're just two barbarians from beyond the Great Wall. We can just drive them away."

"Having learned their lesson, they probably won't dare to come back so easily."

Wang Lie frowned and said, "But I heard that those two are very likely from the Ma family outside the pass. Aren't you afraid they'll send people to retaliate?"

Wang Shulin chuckled and said calmly, "If they were truly from the Ma family, they wouldn't have shown up here in the first place."

"They're probably just two northern refugees trying to intimidate others."

Wang Lie then said, "What about the other mysterious archery expert? We don't know his background, but he's secretly an enemy of our Wang family. He's probably a significant threat!"

Wang Shulin did not answer this time, but only sighed.

"Lie'er, why don't you understand?"

"The matter of the Wang family does not concern those two barbarians, nor that archery expert, nor Wang Lun or anyone else."

"But it lies only between you and me."

"If my Wang family could produce a military commander, why would we worry about not being able to prosper for another hundred years?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Lie took a deep breath and glanced at the statue on the altar.

Those three vertical eyes seemed to be looking at him as well.

He suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and quickly looked away.

He knew it in his heart.

I can no longer communicate normally with my father.

Ever since his father began worshipping this self-proclaimed "Ancient One," he has become this obsessed.

But Wang Lie had to admit that this ancient man did indeed possess extraordinary divine power.

He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

In this world, there is something that allows an ordinary person with no martial arts cultivation to ignite divine fire and control the power of ultimate weapons.

"Father."

Wang Lie suppressed the turmoil in his heart and got down to business.

"I came back this time for another matter."

"Speak."

Wang Lie said, "My master's birthday is approaching, and I would like to use the power of the Wang family to find an auspicious object to celebrate his birthday. This matter is related to whether my martial arts cultivation can be further improved, and I hope my father will grant my request."

Hearing this, Wang Shulin finally turned his head and looked at him directly.

A look of relief appeared in his eyes.

"This is indeed an important matter and cannot be delayed."

"I grant you the position of temporary head of the family. Apart from the business at Chun Jing Lou, you may use all the other personnel as you see fit."

As he spoke, he tossed out a token, which landed steadily in Wang Lie's hand.

Wang Lie reached out and caught it; the token was cold and heavy in his hand.

It was the patriarch's token of the Wang family.

"Thank you, Father."

Wang Lie said no more, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave the ancestral hall.

The door closed.

The rising incense smoke gradually obscured Wang Shulin's figure.

The face of that eerie statue gradually became blurred.

……

After leaving the ancestral hall, Wang Lie immediately used his power as the head of the family to summon a group of stewards.

"Everyone should go out and gather information about auspicious omens. If there is any news, we must get our hands on it, no matter the cost."

"yes!"

All the managers responded in unison.

They didn't know what kind of auspicious omen the young master was looking for, but no one dared to ask a single question.

The stewards below hung their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

After he finished speaking, he looked around and his brows quickly furrowed.

"Where is Wang Lun?"

The group looked at each other, not daring to answer.

"Are they all mute?"

Wang Lie emphasized his words before someone cautiously answered.

"Second Young Master...Second Young Master should be at Chun Jing Lou right now..."

Upon hearing this...

Wang Lie also felt helpless about his younger brother, with whom he shared blood ties.

What time is it? How can he still be in the mood for drinking and womanizing?

Dozens of people died in my family.

Even the business that was crucial to the family's survival was affected.

But he's acting like nothing happened!

A complex emotion flashed across Wang Lie's eyes as he straightened his clothes.

"Understood, I'll go find him myself."

Wang Lie stood up.

But as he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something else.

He looked at a manager.

Go and look up someone for me.

As he spoke, he casually described Jiang Chuan's physical characteristics and gave instructions:

"This man's strength is no less than Song Kun's. When did such a person appear in Zhang County? We must find out his background and purpose. We cannot be careless!"

"Yes."

The steward immediately agreed and left.