"But let's make it clear first—the cost of materials is on you."
Niu Gai counted on his fingers. "Fifty-year purple-gold bamboo, plus other rare components… at least fifty taels of silver."
"How much?!"
Chen Sanshi sucked in a sharp breath.
"You think mutated purple-gold bamboo is easy to find?"
Niu Gai said bluntly, "If you ask me, a six- or seven-stone bow is plenty. When real battle comes, there are siege crossbows anyway. Why bother?"
"Keep the tiger bones here for now."
Chen Sanshi didn't change his mind. "Once I get sinew from a spirit beast, you can start forging the bow."
So, it seemed he really would have to track down that white deer.
Spirit beasts were rare and costly, but if he could hunt a white deer, fifty taels of silver for materials wouldn't be a problem.
After parting ways with the craftsman, Chen Sanshi returned to the garrison.
Morning drills ended as usual, and the afternoon was reserved for city patrol.
During a short break, he stopped by the marketplace to buy medicine—only to notice that the "Yunhe" apothecary signboard had been replaced once again.
The name "Yunhe" was back in place, the old "Yunhe" that had previously been renamed "Yunyan."
Had the young master finally taken back control from his uncle?
"Sir, you weren't around yesterday, so you probably haven't heard."
Xu Wencai, who was nearby, noticed his puzzled look and quickly explained, "The young master of Yunhe Martial Hall recently broke through to the tempering bone stage. Last night, he ambushed and killed his uncle and reclaimed the family property."
"Broke through?"
Chen Sanshi frowned.
He remembered hearing that the young master of Yunhe Martial Hall had mediocre talent—people said he'd likely be stuck at the tempering blood stage for life.
How long had it been since his uncle took over? And now suddenly, a breakthrough?
Had he been hiding his strength all along—or was there more to the story?
At least the apothecary was operating normally again. Prices hadn't gone up either, still keeping the twenty-percent discount.
"Two packets of Nine-Turn Vitality Soup."
The shopkeeper handed him two paper bundles tied with string. The cost—fifty taels of silver.
The silver from selling the tiger wasn't even warm in his pocket, and already most of it was gone.
Martial cultivation… truly bled the wallet dry.
Still, it was an investment in himself. There was no room for stinginess.
Once he'd finished buying his supplies, it was almost time for the next shift back at camp.
"Mr. Xu."
Chen Sanshi went to find the old scholar. "Do you have any books that record information on rare or spirit beasts?"
"I do!"
Xu Wencai immediately bent over and started rummaging.
His wooden cot was covered in books—so many that there was barely enough room left to lie down. But he didn't even need to search long; his hand went straight to the right one.
It was a well-worn volume filled with records of unusual creatures and mythical beasts.
"I haven't finished the last book you lent me, but I'll return both later."
Chen Sanshi thanked him. "Appreciate it, sir."
"No need to be polite, sir! Anytime you want a book, just come take it!"
Xu Wencai's tone was overly warm.
Chen Sanshi could tell why—the man was worried about being cast aside. Ever since Chen Sanshi's strength had grown, Xu Wencai had started calling him "sir" at every turn, all smiles and flattery. There was no need, but Chen Sanshi didn't bother correcting him.
He brought the book home and flipped it open while waiting for dinner.
The title read "Travels Across Mountains and Rivers." It was written over a thousand years ago by a wandering traveler who loved to explore and record strange lands and creatures.
"Three hundred li eastward lies Mount Li. Waters abundant, yet barren of trees. There dwell fish shaped like oxen, their…"
The style reminded him of Classic of Mountains and Seas, describing mythical creatures and ancient lands.
"Three hundred li westward lies Mount Xian. There dwell chirping serpents—snakes with four wings, whose cries sound like bronze bells. When seen, they herald drought upon their land."
"All worth their weight in silver," Chen Sanshi muttered, reading intently.
He flipped a few more pages and finally found what he was looking for.
"One hundred li to the south lies Tiger Mountain. There lives a white deer, crowned with four horns, whose ears hear in eight directions. It feeds on precious spirit herbs, its flesh faintly sour, greatly nourishing."
A white deer.
So, Tiger Head Mountain really did have one.
"First, I'll raise my cultivation. Once I reach Minor Achievement in tempering blood, I'll head into the mountains to find it."
He closed the book.
…
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the eleventh month.
The northern winds grew sharper by the day, and the weather turned bitterly cold.
For ten straight days, Chen Sanshi lived by routine—training, cultivating, and patrolling without pause.
Training. Eating. Patrolling.
That had been Chen Sanshi's life these past days.
As for the Witch God Sect, word had it that the captured cultist refused to speak. He'd endured seven straight days of torture without saying a word. In the end, he bit off his own tongue and killed himself.
The trail went cold. The citywide search continued.
But Chen Sanshi wasn't in a hurry.
The longer this dragged out, the better it was for him.
On the drill ground.
After downing a bowl of Nine-Turn Vitality Soup, Chen Sanshi felt every pore in his body burning with heat.
The effect of this soup was twice that of the Blood-Replenishing Soup.
He clasped his fists toward Xu Bin. "Flag Officer Xu, I'll need your full strength today."
"Full strength?"
Xu Bin, holding his saber, blinked in surprise. "You sure about that?"
"Sure."
Chen Sanshi nodded calmly.
At this point, someone of the same realm no longer posed any pressure on him.
"Good!"
Xu Bin grinned. He'd been itching to go all out anyway.
Not because he thought he could win—but because fighting this kid half-heartedly was humiliating.
Every time they sparred, Chen Sanshi made him feel like a practice dummy. His experience and refined saber skills were the only things keeping him from total embarrassment.
"Watch the blade!"
Xu Bin shouted, unleashing his full qi and blood. His aura flared as he charged like a wild wolf descending from the sky, his saber cleaving downward with thunderous momentum.
Chen Sanshi answered in kind, surging to his peak.
Both arms flushed red with condensed qi and blood as his Willow-Leaf Spear turned into a blur of afterimages.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The ring of steel echoed like rolling thunder.
Xu Bin's expression shifted.
Even after going all out, he couldn't suppress the youth at all.
Chen Sanshi's mastery in the tempering blood stage now matched his own raw strength—and his endurance far surpassed it.
After barely ten exchanges, Xu Bin's hands went numb from the impact, his vision blurred, and he could no longer track where the spear would strike next. His footwork faltered, and finally, he tumbled backward, landing squarely on his backside.
"Stop! Stop! No more!"
He waved frantically.
"Clang."
Chen Sanshi retracted his spear, offering a hand to help him up. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Bin."
The combination of the Haoran Breathing Method, the reach of a long weapon, the speed of his spear technique, and his surging qi and blood—each strength stacked atop another.
He could now easily defeat someone at Minor Achievement in tempering blood.
"You… you're about to reach Minor Achievement yourself, aren't you?"
Xu Bin's face was still pale. "It's only been a few days!"
"Maybe I've just taken too many tonics."
Chen Sanshi glanced at his internal display.
[Technique: Basic Spearsmanship for Infantry (Mastery)]
[Progress: 910/1000]
[Effect: Spear strikes fierce and swift; endurance extraordinary; qi and blood vigorous]
Just as he expected. Within half a month, he'd reach Minor Achievement.
Those dozens of taels spent had definitely been worth it.
"I won't be your sparring partner anymore," Xu Bin said, wiping sweat from his brow.
This kid was terrifying.
And no, it wasn't just the tonics.
If he himself had taken that much medicine, he'd probably be dead from poisoning before seeing this kind of progress.
This boy… he might one day reach tempering organs—or even higher.
"Thank you, Brother Bin. Tonight, drinks are on me."
Xu Bin knew full well—sparring with Chen Sanshi wasn't exactly easy work.
"Deal!" he said without hesitation.
"Woooo—"
Just as the two were about to leave, the sharp blare of a horn split the air.
A messenger on horseback galloped across the camp, shouting loud enough for the whole garrison to hear.
"All three hundred garrison soldiers, assemble!"
"Traces of the Witch God Sect found in Poyang County! Assemble for encirclement—assemble for encirclement!"