386: Encirclement and suppression of snake nests

According to the records of the Wanji Pavilion, this Blackwater Zone has existed for over two thousand years.

There are countless bloodthirsty mutated sea beasts within it, and the seawater in that place has the ability to corrode ship hulls; once an ordinary person touches that seawater, they will inevitably descend into madness!

It is said that the blood spilled by a certain titan of the Demonic Path created this terrifying forbidden zone.

This place is exactly where Su Yongchun believes he must go.

...

The next day.

Taking a look at the steadily increasing experience points, Su Yongchun carried a bag of gold and silver on his back and headed toward the County.

He wanted to see if there were any ships going to that Blackwater Zone.

He didn't need to worry about money.

Having been a bounty hunter for so long, every wanted criminal had been thoroughly looted by Su Yongchun before being turned in.

He now had a small amount of capital to his name.

...

"A ship passing through the Blackwater sea area?" The ticket seller looked at the child in front of him in surprise.

Because of his Cultivation Technique and the Impurities forced out during several tempering sessions, Su Yongchun looked clean and fair, just like a child from a wealthy family.

The ticket seller did not dare to be negligent and began checking the Materials.

"There are basically no ordinary merchant ships that pass through the Blackwater Zone; no one dares to go into that sea area."

As he spoke, the ticket seller added, "However, the Wu Family's ships do go there."

Su Yongchun: "The Wu Family's ships?"

"Yes, the Wu Family is an affiliated aristocratic family of the Ask Immortal Sect. The holy site of the Ask Immortal Sect is located on an immortal island even further beyond the Blackwater Zone. Every time the Ask Immortal Sect comes to our mundane world, the Wu Family sends ships to pick up those Sect Disciples."

"Can I ride a ship that picks up Sect Disciples?" Su Yongchun couldn't help but ask.

"Of course you can. The Wu Family needs to make money too, it's just... the fare is a bit expensive."

"How much?"

The ticket seller held up one finger: "One hundred taels of gold."

One hundred taels?

Su Yongchun raised an eyebrow; he had thought it would be one thousand taels.

With this ride available, it would save a lot of trouble.

"When does it depart?"

Hearing the boy's question, the ticket seller calculated the days: "One hundred and sixty-seven days from now."

"Five months... that's a bit late." Murmuring to himself, Su Yongchun placed the money on the table: "Give me a ticket for now."

"Alright!"

...

After buying a set of blacksmithing tools in the County, Su Yongchun retreated back to the village.

Five months of time.

He didn't know if that Devil Head, who sacrificed human lives to forge the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner, would appear.

If the situation became more severe, it was highly likely that the Wu Family's ships would not be able to sail.

He still had to prepare a second plan and make full arrangements.

Five days passed in a flash.

The cold, icy rain fell quite densely.

On the large reef along the coast.

"Swish, swish, swish~"

The waves rolled continuously.

And amidst the sound of the roaring waves, another sound was even louder!

"Clang, clang, clang!"

On the reef, a simple shed had been erected.

Su Yongchun's small frame, wielding a huge iron hammer, struck the glowing red refined iron on the forging table, knocking out flakes of Impurities.

Every hammer blow sounded to the villagers in the distance like an even greater peal of thunder.

He was practicing Artifact Refining.

The other big harvest from the bounty pavilion last time, besides the Cultivation Technique, was this Artifact Refining method!

A third-rate Artifact Refining method that required experience points equivalent to a second-rate martial art to upgrade already demonstrated its uniqueness.

He had read the description.

It said that once this Artifact Refining method reached Perfection, there would be a chance to forge a Mortal Weapon!

The Mortal Weapon here was not an ordinary sword, spear, or halberd.

This was a Rank in the terminology of the Cultivation World.

For any Martial Artist in the Body Tempering Realm, any Mortal Weapon was an extension of their strength and a direct boost to their combat power!

Among Su Yongchun's martial arts, there was a blade technique, a second-rate martial art.

Originally, he had thought about going to a blacksmith shop in the County to pick out a blade.

After looking, he realized that those blades were all too poor.

On second thought, he might as well add points to the Artifact Refining method and forge a blade himself; he was bored anyway.

And today.

After five days of accumulation, Su Yongchun had dumped all his experience points into the Artifact Refining method.

Artifact Refining Method (Third-rate): Level 1 [200/600]

Relying on the Level 1 Artifact Refining method, Su Yongchun began the process of removing Impurities.

Fortunately, the Artifact Refining method only needed two levels to reach Perfection.

Before long, he might even be able to make a fortune with this skill.

Of course, that was just a thought.

Everything Su Yongchun was doing now was to improve his self-preservation ability.

Days passed one by one.

More than twenty days later.

The sky was gray and white, with heavy snow falling.

The crashing tide hit the beach, leaving behind patches of ice crystals.

The children running and playing in the village exhaled puffs of hot air amidst their laughter.

"Uncle White Shark, how is your injury healing?" Walking out of the house, Su Yongchun saw White Shark and several members of the Guardian Squad behind him, heading toward the ancestral hall.

"It's about done. I felt fine a month ago, but you guys insisted that I rest more." Seeing Su Wa Zi in front of him, White Shark laughed heartily.

That energetic tone indeed did not sound like someone who hadn't fully recovered.

"It's good that you're better." Su Yongchun smiled, then asked curiously: "What is this about... do you have something going on?"

"Sigh... it's about that snake den; we're planning to wipe out that snake den today!"

"Otherwise, if we leave it until the temperature rises next year, that nest of snakes will definitely be a big problem."

Da Wu, who was behind, said as the hot air from his mouth obscured his entire face for a moment.

"Then today is a good day for it." Su Yongchun nodded: "With such low temperatures, the snakes probably don't want to move at all."

"Su Wa Zi, wait for us and the people from the Town to catch the snake demon together, and we'll bring you snake meat to eat!" White Shark said, waving at Su Yongchun.

"Mm, I'll wait for your good news." Su Yongchun revealed a child's innocent smile.

As these people walked away, a look of contemplation appeared in his eyes again.

Returning to the house.

He reached out and lifted something from an inconspicuous spot in the corner.

A heavy, thick blade with a cold glint was placed gently on the table by Su Yongchun with a "thud."

This was the blade he had forged after his Artifact Refining method reached Perfection.

It could sever hair blown across it and cut through iron like mud; it was a true Low Grade Mortal Weapon.

He looked at the experience points accumulated over the past twenty days.

809 points.

"System, add points to Magic Moon Blade Art!"

As he spoke, a figure appeared in his mind.

He was holding a blade, standing in pitch darkness.

There were no other colors here, only darkness.

Until... the person in the image raised the blade in his hand.

"Ssh~" A faint sound, like the final moan of the dying, instantly faded into darkness, adding a layer of deathly silence to this boundless black.

At the same time, on the panel, the only blade martial art began to change.

Magic Moon Blade Art (Second-rate): Level 1 (Low Hum) [200/600]

"Add more!"

"Hum~" A brief flash of light, along with the blade light, instantly illuminated that area; it existed for only an instant, yet it was so profound.

Magic Moon Blade Art (Second-rate): Level 2 (Instant Light) [600/1000]

Available experience points: 209 points.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Su Yongchun felt as if the strength gained after adding points was innate.

He felt as if he had been using a blade for decades—how to hold it, how to save effort and be quick, how to exert force to kill enemies!

Although the Metal-Stone Fist was also a second-rate martial art, Su Yongchun felt that the Magic Moon Blade Art was a level stronger.

Coupled with his Mortal Weapon blade, its power was doubled!

Looking at the Guardian Squad that had already started to set off in the distance, Su Yongchun hesitated.

There were good things at the snake den; should he go and join in the excitement?

He could follow behind and observe from afar.

However, he must have the ability to run away.

To prevent any mishaps.

Looking at the blade in his hand, Su Yongchun opened the panel again.

"System, add points to Butterfly Tracking Step."