Chapter 133: Blood Bonding, Infusing Blood for Refinement!

Chapter 133: Blood Bonding, Infusing Blood for Refinement!

The Armory.

The Underground Armory.

"How does this blade feel?" Yang Kai suddenly asked.

Jiang Ning held the spirit weapon in his hand and casually swung it a few times.

He then said, "As Shopkeeper Yang mentioned, this blade has survived since ancient times, yet it remains indestructible. Its material is undoubtedly extraordinary! Although it doesn't seem to have any mystical qualities now, its indestructible nature alone makes it a truly exceptional blade!"

"I naturally like it!"

Yang Kai asked again, "Now, I'm giving you a choice between the Frostlight and this spirit weapon. Which one would you choose?"

Jiang Ning smiled and answered without hesitation, "Then I'd naturally choose this spirit weapon!"

"I thought so," Yang Kai nodded, not at all surprised.

Even he would make the same choice.

The Frostlight blade was indeed good, and it was his masterpiece.

However, compared to the ancient spirit weapon, its value was insignificant.

Jiang Ning spoke again, "I wonder if Shopkeeper Yang is willing to part with this spirit weapon. If so, what would be the price?"

Yang Kai replied, "I've said that the items here aren't measured by money. So what I need is not wealth!"

"Then what is it?" Jiang Ning asked again.

Yang Kai answered seriously, "I only need a favor! A favor from your future!"

Jiang Ning was slightly taken aback by his words.

"Does Shopkeeper Yang have such high hopes for me? Is he giving me this spirit weapon for free?"

Yang Kai nodded, "Shen Congyun has such high expectations, and we at the Armory trust his judgment! This spirit weapon has been sitting in the armory, gathering dust for decades, serving no purpose."

"In our eyes, it's just a useless relic!"

"But in your hands, it can be of great use to you, and you will surely become renowned in the future."

"I think it's worth it to exchange a useless relic for a favor from your future!"

Jiang Ning listened.

Swish—

He sheathed the blade.

"Since Shopkeeper Yang has such high hopes for me, then in the future, if the Armory needs me, just ask. As long as it's something I can do, I'll do my best."

"With your word, I'm reassured!" Yang Kai laughed.

They left the Armory.

Jiang Ning looked at the spirit weapon in his hand, feeling incredibly pleased.

Not only had he fulfilled his desire for a good blade, but he had also gained an unexpected reward.

The spirit weapon, an ancient one as Yang Kai described, was a surprising find.

This reward was beyond his expectations and even exceeded his initial hopes.

All he had given in return was a verbal promise.

A favor for the future.

Yang Kai had practically drawn a pie in the sky and then devoured it himself.

In Jiang Ning's eyes, he had struck a fantastic deal.

A spirit weapon that could serve him so well, its value was immeasurable if calculated.

And now, he had acquired it with just a verbal promise.

Regardless of Yang Kai's intentions, Jiang Ning felt he had made a tremendous profit.

At this moment, even as he held the blade's sheath, Jiang Ning could vaguely sense the spirituality within the blade.

This spirituality was extremely faint but clearly felt by him.

In the underground armory of the Armory, it was this spirituality that had called out to him, leading him to find this long-forgotten spirit weapon.

"I wonder what the reason behind this is!" Jiang Ning muttered to himself.

On the other side, Yang Kai watched Jiang Ning's gradually disappearing figure and the pitch-black blade in his hand.

His eyes still revealed an uncontrollable pain.

A blade passed down from ancient times, now in Jiang Ning's possession.

Even if this spirit weapon was considered useless, it was still a spirit weapon.

If taken to an auction, such a seemingly useless item could fetch over a thousand taels of silver.

This was the value of an ancient spirit weapon.

Moreover, as Jiang Ning drew the blade from its sheath, its value soared.

A usable spirit weapon was priceless, worth a thousand times its weight in gold.

If anyone could wield this spirit weapon, Yang Kai would not have chosen to gift it to Jiang Ning, regardless of his talent.

But after Jiang Ning's test, he understood it wasn't the case.

The spirit weapon had a spirit, and only Jiang Ning could draw it from its sheath.

No matter how hard he pulled, it remained immovable, just as it had been before.

Thus, the value of this spirit weapon was naturally similar to what it had been before.

Unless Jiang Ning could use it, it would continue to gather dust in the armory.

For decades, countless people had tried to draw the blade, all with no success, just like Jiang Ning.

Only Jiang Ning had managed to draw the blade.

It was unknown how long they would have to wait for a second person to achieve this.

Yang Kai was aware that this Spirit Weapon would only reach its true potential in Jiang Ning's hands. By giving it to him, Yang Kai could also utilize it to his advantage and gain a favor from Jiang Ning. Although this favor seemed insignificant now, Yang Kai believed that Jiang Ning's potential was immeasurable, especially after his recent growth and the events that had transpired. The favor might become extremely valuable in the future, which led Yang Kai to make this decision.

Meanwhile, at the Wanhua Tower, Lin Qingyi lay on a luxurious bed covered in fox fur. "Jia'er, what do you think of him?" she asked, referring to Jiang Ning.

Lin Jia'er replied, "Aunt, you were right. He's quite handsome. As a student of the Dongling Martial Academy, he comes from a prestigious background, and his family is likely wealthy and influential in Dongling City."

Lin Qingyi propped herself up on her elbow, inquiring, "And what about his martial arts skills?"

Lin Jia'er responded, "They're not bad. The person he fought today was probably a beginner in the Ninth Stage Martial Dao. In a small place like this, he's considered a genius. It's no wonder you think highly of him."

Although Lin Jia'er's words were praising Jiang Ning, Lin Qingyi couldn't help but furrow her brow, sensing a hint of discomfort in her tone. However, she soon relaxed, thinking that Lin Jia'er's pride was understandable, given their family's elevated status in Dongling City.

Lin Qingyi smiled and said, "I'll arrange a meeting between you and Jiang Ning. How does that sound?"

Lin Jia'er hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "I'm willing to follow your instructions, Aunt."

Lin Qingyi's smile grew wider. "Good! Let's arrange a meeting in the next few days. If you both hit it off, we can discuss a marriage."

Lin Jia'er nodded, then asked, "Aunt, which family does Jiang Ning come from in Lo Shui County?"

Lin Qingyi shook her head. "He's from a humble background, to say the least. His parents were refugees who came to Lo Shui County sixteen years ago during the Vermillion Dragon Uprising. Unfortunately, they passed away before entering the county, leaving Jiang Ning to be raised by his older brother."

Lin Qingyi continued, "I have detailed information about Jiang Ning's background. You can take a look later. He has great potential, and based on my observations, he would make a good match for you."

At the Riverside, Jiang Ning returned home to find Xiao Duobao playing in a mud pit. As soon as she saw him, she stood up and ran towards him with open arms, saying "Hug!" Jiang Ning quickly stopped her, and Xiao Duobao's eyes welled up with tears, asking if he didn't like her anymore. Jiang Ning sighed and picked her up, heading towards the small pond in the front courtyard.

The courtyard had a small bridge, flowing water, and a bamboo forest, which were the features that initially drew Jiang Ning to this estate. As someone from a modern civilization, he valued having a sense of security and belonging, which a home could provide. He had been satisfied with his purchase of this luxurious mansion, feeling that it was a place where he could truly be himself.

As they approached the pond, Xiao Duobao struggled in Jiang Ning's arms, exclaiming that she wanted to play in the mud like a piglet to avoid mosquito bites. Jiang Ning gently placed her in the shallow water, where she could play safely. The pond's bottom was lined with smooth, flat stones, and the sound of gently flowing water filled the air.

The water in the pond was exceptionally clear, allowing one to see straight to the bottom.

After placing Xiao Duobao down, Jiang Ning gently tapped her head.

"You little piggy, you're not a piglet!"

"Ouch!!!" Xiao Duobao covered her head with both hands, looking on the verge of tears, her mouth pouted high, "I am a little piggy!!!"

A moment later.

Jiang Ning quickly cleaned the mud off Xiao Duobao, then brought her over to Liu Wanwan, who was tending to the vegetable garden. Only then did he feel relieved and head towards his own East Courtyard.

After Jiang Ning left the vegetable garden, Liu Wanwan took out a cucumber from behind her back, half of which she had already eaten.

Crunch—

She took another bite, her eyes narrowing slightly with happiness.

East Courtyard.

Jiang Ning returned to his room and saw the wooden box placed on the table.

Opening the box, he found neatly arranged white jade ceramic bottles on one of the layers.

These white jade bottles were filled with herb essence, the herb essence he had purchased from Wanhua Tower earlier that day.

Jiang Ning quickly counted them, then nodded slightly.

"Not bad!"

"Exactly forty bottles, not one more or less."

"With these forty bottles, I won't need to go out for the next few days."

"I can wait for the establishment of the Patrol Bureau."

"From Tian Buyi's attack on me, it's clear that the Cao family's attitude towards me hasn't changed; they've just shifted from open hostility to covert actions."

"However, it's understandable. I've been making my presence known, and a family like the Caos, with their differences with me, would naturally want to prevent me from growing too strong."

"I'm not yet a match for the Cao family. Whether it's the Cao family in Lo Shui County or Cao Rong still in Dong Ling City, they can pose a deadly threat to me. I desperately need the official protection of the Patrol Bureau."

Jiang Ning didn't regret his previous decision to reveal his abilities.

Indeed, if he had chosen to be cautious and hidden his strength, he would have attracted less envy.

But he would also have missed out on many benefits.

By revealing a part of himself during this period, he had undoubtedly gained numerous advantages.

It was because he had demonstrated his value that Wang Jin was so willing to help him.

Jiang Ning had no regrets, even if it had attracted Tian Buyi's assassination attempt.

But because of those benefits, his growth had been rapid, and his strength was now far beyond what it used to be.

This approach had its drawbacks, but also its advantages.

In Jiang Ning's opinion, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

Moreover, he hadn't revealed everything about himself.

In the eyes of others, his strength was around five.

In reality, his true strength was above ten.

This distinction was the advantage Jiang Ning had given himself.

Always keeping a trump card ensured he wouldn't be outmaneuvered by others.

Like Tian Buyi's attack, who would have thought that Jiang Ning had killed Tian Buyi unless they had seen it with their own eyes?

This was the confidence in Jiang Ning's heart.

The confidence that could save his life.

In Jiang Ning's view, even if a typical Eighth Rank Martial Artist came to assassinate him, the outcome would be uncertain.

Even among the top Eighth Rank Martial Artists, with a strength of three thousand jin and the ability to burst forth with tens of thousands of jin, it would be nearly impossible for them to kill him.

Especially near water, not to mention an Eighth Rank Martial Artist.

Once Jiang Ning entered the water, he was like a fish in the ocean, even Seventh or Sixth Rank Martial Artists couldn't do anything to him.

It was because of this confidence that Jiang Ning dared to reveal a portion of his strength when facing Xiao Peng's sudden ambush, in order to gain greater benefits and attention from the powerful figures.

He knew that as long as he demonstrated his strength and showed his value, many people would be willing to show goodwill and invest in him, expecting future returns.

This behavior was effective in any world.

Not to mention in this world, where power was within oneself, and personal strength brought greater status and influence, the returns from such investments would be even greater.

Just like Yang Kai from the armory's attitude towards him and the spirit weapon in his hand.

Without his previous display of strength, how could he have obtained such a fortunate ancient spirit weapon?

Looking at the spirit weapon in his hand, a smile appeared on Jiang Ning's face, and his lips curled slightly.

Blood bonding, blood infusion.

Jiang Ning recalled the spirit weapon he had received in the underground armory of the armory.

Jiang Ning muttered to himself, "Let's give it a try!"

With his mind made up.

He closed the wooden box, then picked up the blade in his hand and headed out of the room.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end