Chapter 14: Golden Mace Strikes Three States and Six Provinces, Horse Tramples Both Banks of the Tahe River!

Chapter 14: Golden Mace Strikes Three States and Six Provinces, Horse Tramples Both Banks of the Tahe River!

"You're curious, aren't you?" Jiang Lie asked with a smile, cradling a hand warmer.

Jiang Zhe nodded eagerly.

"These two weapons are relics from ancient civilizations."

Grandmaster Jiang had decided to reveal a broader world to his exceptionally gifted grandson.

As expected, Jiang Zhe widened his eyes in feigned astonishment while listening to his grandfather recount fragmented tales of ancient civilizations and describe the two weapons before them.

"Exploring ancient ruins is something only major powers are permitted to do, or those with overwhelming martial strength like Hong and Lei Shen. Naturally, I can't compete in that arena or reap any benefits."

"But our Jiang Clan has endured for generations. In ancient times, our ancestors occasionally acquired treasures that trickled out from these ruins, passing them down to this day. After the Great Nirvana, humanity rediscovered the path to heaven, and these treasures began to shine once more."

Grandmaster Jiang suddenly asked, "Do you know Qin Qiong?"

"Golden mace striking three states and six provinces, horse trampling both banks of the Tahe River!" Jiang Zhe exclaimed, eyes wide. Looking at the weapons again, they truly seemed like they belonged to such a legendary figure.

"Haha, good to hear you know the tale."

Elder Jiang chuckled, revealing their names.

"This is the Four-Edged Golden Mace of Eternal Bronze!"

"And that is the Water-Siphoning Skull-Stealing Spear, also called the Eight-Treasure Alligator Dragon Lance."

"Here, feel their weight." Elder Jiang suddenly pushed both maces toward Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe picked one up. Finding it too light, he frowned. "Each weighs about thirty to forty pounds—too light! Not even as heavy as a second-tier war blade. Unwieldy."

"So what weight do you prefer?"

Jiang Zhe estimated, then replied, "A bit over 200 kilograms."

Elder Jiang smiled, set down his hand warmer, and picked up another mace from the table. He released his primal energy into it, illuminating simple patterns etched onto its surface before they dimmed again. He handed it to Jiang Zhe.

"Try this one."

Jiang Zhe took it. This time, the weight was perfect. He allowed himself a look of surprise.

"Is this... one of their special abilities? Are there more?"

His curiosity grew.

After all, these were Primordial Force Weapons—his future tools as a Pre-Immortal cultivator.

"The maximum weight even I find comfortable—does that count?"

"Uh..."

The answer was written on Jiang Zhe's face.

Underwhelming. Probably not even worth calling a first-tier Primordial Force Weapon?

"You greedy brat!" Grandmaster Jiang mock-scolded. "Here, this one's yours. Practice your whip techniques with it."

"Wow! Thank you, Grandfather!"

Jiang Zhe joyfully swung his new "toy", finding the one-meter-one length—longer than typical whips—perfectly suited for dual-wielding.

After a pause, Jiang Zhe noticed his grandfather hadn't mentioned the Eight-Treasure Alligator Dragon Lance. The conversation seemed abruptly cut off.

Unsatisfied, Jiang Zhe steered the topic toward the Spirit Furnace.

Elder Jiang's eyes clouded. "That... I'm not sure myself."

He removed the Spirit Furnace from its chain and placed it on the table. "Examine it with your Mentalist abilities. The slag I use comes from its absorption of cosmic energy."

He hesitated. "But I suspect my method is wrong. It costs too much effort for too little gain..."

His voice trailed off, barely audible.

Jiang Zhe silently studied the furnace. His "theoretical experience" might reveal something.

The monkey-head-sized furnace, forged from unknown metal, bore complex secret patterns beneath its rust. Four fist-sized holes pierced its spherical body, revealing a pure white crystal core inside.

"Grandfather, have you tried destroying the core?"

"Energy shields block any attempt."

Jiang Zhe nodded, shifting focus to the furnace's lid. Unlike the corroded body, it gleamed like new, covered in thousands of sesame-seed-sized etched grids.

"Funny—these feel movable", he muttered.

Using his mental energy, he confirmed their mobility. With a pull, thousands of gossamer-thin metal fragments lifted into the air.

Elder Jiang tensed, fists clenched. Was this the breakthrough?

Jiang Zhe felt excitement—but for different reasons.

A Mental Strength Weapon? Disappointment followed quickly. Though the fragments bore patterns, they weren't law-bound secret arrays. No offensive power.

"10,081 pieces", he counted. "The patterns differ but connect—like eight layers forming eight images."

Recalling childhood jigsaw puzzles, he theorized, "A cipher lock? Completing the puzzle unlocks it?"

Elder Jiang asked, "Ten thousand fragments—can you solve it?"

"Need time for trial and error."

Babata, his sentient AI, could calculate solutions rapidly. But Jiang Zhe sighed—old secrets prevented their collaboration.

Elder Jiang shook his head. "Too time-consuming. Save it for when you reach Councilor Rank."

Jiang Zhe complied, mentally reassembling the fragments. He marveled at Earth's hidden treasures.

Later, aboard their train, Jiang Zhe asked why they'd left so suddenly.

"Killing the Conch King and breaking through to Councilor Rank painted a target on me. Everyone wants me to take sides."

"I despise political games. Even the War God Palace can wait. Better to escape into the wilderness with you."

"War God Palace is a virtual network for warriors above War God Rank. You'll learn more later."

...

The train screeched to a halt at Southern Military District Station.

Guiding his grandson through the Wilderness Zone, Grandmaster Jiang pointed out landmarks.

"That tower's a lighthouse—remember pre-Great Nirvana books? Our clan owns the Martial Artist Supply Base. Villa A8 is our rest area—ask the steward for anything."

After stocking up, Jiang Zhe followed with a sack of yellow soybeans slung over his shoulder.

Soybeans, not bullets. He blinked in confusion at this strange beginning.

Walking the abandoned railway toward County City 0177, the desolate landscape mirrored post-apocalyptic game scenes.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end