Zhang Jinghuai patted Jiang Cheās arm. "Arenāt you going to thank Elder Situ?"
Realizing the saberās value, Jiang Che hurriedly said, "Thank you for the saber, Elder. Please rest assured, I will not bring dishonor to this blade! Iāll make its name known throughout the world!"
"Good! Iāll be waiting!" Situ Xuan boomed with laughter.
Jiang Che then bowed to Zhang Jinghuai. "I must also thank Elder Zhang for his immense kindness!"
Zhang Jinghuai smiled and patted Jiang Cheās shoulder. "I always keep my promises. Besides, you earned this with your own skill. No need to thank me!"
The other disciples of the Weapon Forging Shop all turned to look at Jiang Che, their eyes filled with surprise and envy.
But they knew he had earned the saber through his own skill, so no one felt he was unworthy of it.
At the same time, the name Jiang Che was deeply engraved in their minds.
After leaving the Weapon Forging Shop, Jiang Che headed home, saber in hand.
On his way, people were stunned by the sight of Jiang Cheās enormous saber.
They all wondered just how heavy it could be.
But some sneered, thinking Jiang Che was just putting on a show, deliberately carrying a saber he couldnāt possibly wield.
Others speculated it might be hollow and actually quite light.
Jiang Che paid them no mind.
He knew he was strong, and that was enough.
He had no need to prove himself to anyone.
Once home, Jiang Che, thinking about his plan to investigate Li Yuanwaiās Mansion soon, began his Martial Arts Training again.
With Kunji in hand, Jiang Che felt his saber practice was more fluid and natural than ever.
Building on the foundation of his one Perfect Saber Technique, it only took him a month to train the remaining two Basic Saber Techniques to Full Level.
Both of these also activated Break Extreme.
After two upgrades, his tests showed that Break Extremeās critical strike chance was now around 20%.
That meant one out of every five strikes would be a critical hit.
As for the critical damage, it had reached 200%.
In other words, it had doubled.
Added to the 50% strength boost from Mountain Collaps,
the additional strength from his Iron Body technique,
and this new saber, Kunji,
Jiang Che couldnāt even imagine how terrifying a single, full-power strike from him would be.
He felt that even without his Transformation, a single slash could behead an ordinary Iron Skin Realm Martial Artist.
Furthermore, as he mastered one Cultivation Technique after another to Full Level, each one provided a boost to his Qi Blood.
Combined with his daily consumption of ample Exotic Beast Meat and the various Qi Blood-enhancing medicines Zhang Jinghuai was testing on him,
Jiang Cheās Qi Blood finally broke through to the Late-stage Stone Skin Realm.
āOne Swordsmanship and two Qi Blood Martial Arts left to go, plus the Prison-Suppressing Saber and the Eight Sufferings Vajra Zen.ā
A great sense of accomplishment filled Jiang Che as he watched his Martial Arts reach Perfection one by one.
However, when he tried to continue his Cultivation, he found he had run out of Black Crystals.
And the Heart of the Black Abyss had begun to slowly drain his Qi Blood once more.
Jiang Che sighed. It looked like he had to go hunt Black Beasts again.
...
...
...
"You want to go hunt Black Beasts?"
Zhang Jinghuai asked while brewing a potion.
"Yeah. Old man, do you know the ins and outs of it?"
Jiang Che said, his face twisting in disgust after downing a bowl of the concoction.
"I donāt know much about that... but you can ask Old Li. Heās the one in charge of the Hunting Hall," Zhang Jinghuai said.
"The gang has a Hunting Hall?" Jiang Che asked, curious.
"Of course. How else would the Seven Stars Gang supply Exotic Beast Meat to so many Martial Artists?"
Jiang Che thought about it and realized it made sense. A major gang like the Seven Stars Gang was like a small town, self-sufficient in every way, much like the large corporations from his past life.
They had their own daycare, cafeterias, schools, security, and so on.
They provided everything related to their membersā daily lives.
"By the way, old man, whatās this stuff youāve been feeding me? It doesnāt raise Qi Blood, and itās not an antidote," Jiang Che asked suddenly, staring at his empty bowl.
Heād been curious for a while. The old man often had him take it, but was always secretive about what it was.
"Havenāt you noticed any changes recently?" the old man said with a smile.
"Changes? What kind of changes?" Jiang Che asked, confused.
"Feel your face."
"My face? What about my face?"
Jiang Che felt his face but didnāt notice anything different.
Zhang Jinghuai produced a brightly polished Copper Mirror.
"See for yourself."
Jiang Che took the mirror. Reflected in it was a handsome young man with fair skin, sharp brows, and bright eyes.
He couldnāt help but recall how, when he first started his Martial Arts Training, he was a scrawny, dark-skinned boy who often went hungry.
He had changed so much without even realizing it!
He then grinned at Zhang Jinghuai and said,
"Old man, am I not as handsome as ever? What, are you going to tell me you were this good-looking in your youth?"
Zhang Jinghuai rolled his eyes at Jiang Che.
"Donāt you feel that your skin has gotten fairer and smoother?"
Hearing this, Jiang Che touched his face again. It did seem smoother.
"So the stuff youāve been feeding me is for beauty and skincare?" Jiang Che asked, shocked.
"āBeauty and skincare?ā Thatās a great name! I was wondering what to call this medicine. Weāll call it Beauty and Skin Care Cream!" Zhang Jinghuai clapped his hands, delighted.
Jiang Che was speechless. "Old man, why are you researching beauty and skincare products?"
"You donāt get it, kid. This beauty and skincare stuff is wildly popular with the wives of Martial Artists! Theyāre willing to spend a fortune on it! Iāve figured it out. Martial Artists are all penny-pinchers. They demand potent effects for cheap pricesāimpossible to please! But their wives are another story. Theyāll try anything, even if it doesnāt work! Their money is the easiest to make!" Zhang Jinghuai said, looking smug.