Sovereign of Chaos

Chapter 4: Purchase a Cultivation Manual

Excitement flickered in Ethan's eyes as he licked his dry lips. He removed the Stone Bead from his neck and hung it in an open space about thirty feet from the gravesite before returning to his original meditation spot. As expected, the absorption speed of the spiritual energy slowed down significantly, now comparable to his usual cultivation rate.

Ethan was overjoyed, and his grief over his grandfather's death seemed to fade somewhat. He eagerly retrieved the Stone Bead and treasured it, hanging it back around his neck.

"With this extraordinary bead, how can I not avenge my deep-seated grudge?" Ethan murmured.

"However, purchasing the remaining eight levels of the Azure Ox Method would likely cost nearly three thousand taels. Even with my apprentice wages from the blacksmith's shop, I'm afraid I couldn't afford it in a hundred years!"

After a long silence, Ethan rose and returned to his straw hut. He fumbled behind a straw mat for a while before finally pulling out a small cloth bag.

"About thirty taels… Should be enough to buy the second and third levels of the Azure Ox Method, right?" Ethan pondered.

These thirty taels of broken silver had been painstakingly saved up over the past three years, both by Ethan's frugality and his grandfather's occasional sales of chickens and ducks at the market. It was the last of Ethan's savings.

"Yes, it must be enough!" A glimmer of hope shone in Ethan's eyes.

Seven days later, early in the morning, the dew still clung to the grass beside the mountain path leading from Storm Clan's Village to Stone Town. With the Seventh Festival now behind him, Ethan had arrived at the town bright and early.

In Stone Town, they had the custom of holding a market day—a designated day for buying and selling at the town center. Today was the ninth day of the tenth month, the very day of Stone Town's market.

Though it was early morning, the streets were bustling with various stalls selling chickens, ducks, pork, herbs, and antiques. The clamor of vendors filled the air.

With his head lowered and some soot smeared on his face, Ethan appeared rather unkempt. Clutching his silver coins, he made a beeline for the Occult Shop under the banner of Nine Dragons' Shop.

The Nine Dragons' Shop was the largest merchant house in Stone Town, dealing in elixirs, secret techniques, and weapons. It held a high reputation in the area, and Ethan's nemesis Caleb was the chief shopkeeper of its elixir hall.

"Shopkeeper, I'd like the second and third levels of the Azure Ox Method," Ethan said, deliberately pinching his throat to sound hoarse.

Ethan recognized the shopkeeper of the Nine Dragons' Shop Occult Shop—a short, portly, balding man with a protruding belly. In his best friend Whisker's words, the shopkeeper looked at least five months pregnant.

However, he was Samuel Stone, Caleb's cousin. Though mediocre in talent, he had taken advantage of Caleb's family influence to become a local tyrant.

"Oh?" Samuel Stone, who had been dozing off on the counter, opened his bleary eyes upon hearing Ethan's request. "The second and third levels of the Azure Ox Method?"

Secret techniques were rare luxuries, and even on market days, few people bought them. The Occult Shop was the least popular among the Nine Dragons' establishments.

"Thirty-five taels of silver. Help yourself," said Samuel, casting a sidelong glance at Ethan before closing his eyes again.

"Why is it so expensive?" Ethan protested, pointing to the price tag on the counter. "It clearly says ten taels for the second level and twenty taels for the third level of the Azure Ox Method!"

This was outright extortion. Five taels of silver could feed him for two years!

"Are you buying or not?" Samuel slapped the counter, irritated. "Where did this wild brat come from, disturbing my peaceful dreams? If you're not buying, get lost!"

Ethan's face flushed with anger. A year's wages at the blacksmith's shop barely amounted to twenty silver coins, and now half of it would be gone in an instant?

"Hmm? Which village in Stone Town are you from, boy? I feel like I've seen you somewhere!" Samuel frowned, deep in thought as he stared into Ethan's narrow eyes.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a poker face, gritting his teeth, "Thirty-five it is! I'll take it!"

"Well done!" Samuel accepted the silver coins, his face beaming with joy.

He patted Ethan's shoulder, "You're a straightforward lad, and I love making friends with people like you. If you ever run into any trouble in Stone Town, just mention my name, Samuel, and I'll help you out!"

Ethan carefully stored the Cultivation Manual away, smiling, "Thanks for your kindness, Samuel. Rest assured, I'll come back to see you someday!"

Stepping out of the Occult Shop, it was already morning, and the streets of Stone Town were bustling with market-goers. Ethan, being lean and slippery, didn't find it too crowded. After some hesitation, he headed straight for the western part of town.

In the western section of Stone Town, there was a blacksmith shop called Blue Cloud Forge. This was where Ethan usually worked and saved money. The blacksmith, Master Henry Storm, was a close friend of Ethan's father.

From a distance, the familiar clang of hammering and sword-making filled the air. A faint smile crossed Ethan's lips as he quickened his pace.

"Ah, Ethan! You've finally arrived! We've been swamped these past few days!" Henry Storm, a burly man in his fifties with bare arms, spotted Ethan from afar and hurriedly set aside his work to greet him.

"Uncle Yun, I'm sorry for the delay." Glancing around, Ethan felt a warmth in his heart as he saw his fellow workers—Whisker, Steel, and Spike—already at the forge.

"No need for apologies! This is your home! Take a break, and then get to work. You have no idea how much inventory has piled up without you, our casting expert!" Henry embraced Ethan and led him into Blue Cloud Forge.

"Damn it, after all this time off, you don't know how close we've been to getting fired by Boss Henry!" Spike, a lanky youth, playfully teased Ethan with a grin.

"Ethan, don't listen to Spike's nonsense! Get to work! Once we're done, let's go to the southern orchard and steal some ripe oranges!" Whisker, close in age to Ethan, excitedly shared, "Let me tell you, those oranges are sweet! I 'picked' a few last night while passing by, and the taste was incredible. It's a shame that only you know how to climb trees, or else..."

Whisker's enthusiasm was palpable, but upon catching Henry Storm's stern gaze, he could only muster an awkward chuckle. He shot Ethan a knowing glance before falling silent.

"Ethan, cheer up! We're all here for you!" Steel strode over and enveloped Ethan in a bear hug, releasing him only when Ethan winced in pain. Steel then moved to the side to resume forging.

Among the four friends, Steel was the oldest at sixteen, with a sturdy build. He was responsible for the most demanding tasks at Blue Cloud Forge—creating molds that tested one's endurance and determination.

To forge an implement, one first had to create the corresponding mold, then bake it in the fire to set its shape. Sometimes, intricate patterns had to be engraved on the mold, requiring great patience from the craftsman.

Returning to Blue Cloud Forge, Ethan's sorrow and hatred seemed to wane, replaced by a pure, radiant smile that had long been absent from his youthful face. After a brief respite, he dove into his work.

"Clang!"

"Chime!"

"Ding! Ding, ding!"

"Whoosh~"

The symphony of hammer strikes, sizzling fires, and laughter filled the air as Ethan, Uncle Yun, Whisker, and the others shared playful banter. Meanwhile, Ethan skillfully poured molten bronze into the molds.

The forging process comprised five steps: mold-making, adjusting, smelting, casting, and tempering. Each step held various techniques and secret recipes, resulting in countless variations among the weapons and tools created by different craftsmen.

With a hiss, the molten bronze filled the mold. Ethan wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes transfixed on the process, unaware that the Stone Bead around his chest was emitting a subtle, eerie green glow.