Chapter 210: The Zhuge Divine Crossbow
Meanwhile...
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
This was a sect spanning a vast area, featuring architecture that was both rustic and elegant—exuding, in every detail, the grandeur befitting one of the Three Upper Sects.
Pavilions and towers were arranged in harmonious asymmetry; rockeries and flowing streams complemented one another, creating a picturesque scene.
A attendant led a young boy through a succession of courtyards, finally arriving before a quiet, secluded study.
The attendant halted and gave a gentle knock on the door: "Sect Master, Young Master Tang has arrived."
"Come in."
A gentle voice drifted out from within.
The attendant pushed the door open and said respectfully: "Young Master Tang, please enter!"
Tang San nodded and stepped into the study.
The interior of the study was appointed with exquisite elegance.
Several masterpieces of calligraphy and painting adorned the walls; a pot of fragrant orchids sat upon the desk; and the bookshelves were lined with rows of neatly arranged volumes.
Sunlight filtered through the intricately carved window lattice, casting a dappled pattern of light and shadow across the floor.
Ning Fengzhi sat at his desk, perusing an ancient tome.
He wore a long robe of moon-white silk and a jade crown upon his head; his countenance was refined and scholarly, and his demeanor gentle and mild.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, he looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face: "Tang San, I hear you were looking for me?"
He set his book aside and asked with concern, "Have you run into any trouble within the sect?"
Tang San shook his head. "No, thank you for your concern, Sect Master Ning."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and waved his hand dismissively:
"Oh, come now! There’s no need for such formalities between the two of us. Didn’t I tell you? Just call me Uncle!"
He gestured toward a nearby chair. "Go ahead and sit down."
Tang San nodded and took a seat in the chair beside him.
After a brief silence, he spoke up: "Uncle Ning, the reason I’ve come to see you this time is to introduce you to something!"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of curiosity flashed in Ning Fengzhi’s eyes. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Tang San did not answer directly.
He raised his hand and lightly tapped the Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moonlight pouch at his waist.
With a flash of light...
A black box, roughly a foot in length, appeared in his hand.
The box was pitch-black from top to bottom—crafted from some unknown material—and its surface was covered in intricate patterns.
One end featured several tiny apertures, while the other bore a sophisticated mechanical trigger mechanism.
The Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
Tang San began, "Uncle Ning, this is the Zhuge Divine Crossbow—a type of incredibly formidable mechanical hidden weapon."
"Anyone can use it. It holds a payload of forty-eight bolts; once cocked, the mechanism allows it to fire sixteen bolts simultaneously in a single instant."
Ning Fengzhi’s eyes lit up ever so slightly.
He had instantly latched onto that specific phrase: "Anyone can use it."
His gaze revealed a hint of astonishment, as well as a trace of... greed.
"Little San... are you saying...?"
His voice was tinged with anticipation.
Tang San nodded.
"That’s right, Uncle Ning. The disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possess no innate combat prowess. If they were to be equipped with this type of hidden weapon, it would undoubtedly and vastly enhance their ability to defend themselves!"
Ning Fengzhi’s heart gave a sudden, powerful lurch!
Just as I expected!
He certainly hasn’t let me down!
This investment is absolutely going to pay off!
Moreover—if I’m to believe what Rongrong told me—this young man possesses far more than just this single type of hidden weapon. I need to find an opportunity to make him cough it all up!
Ning Fengzhi thought to himself, though his expression remained completely impassive.
Suppressing the excitement rising within him, he asked, "Little San, tell me... just how powerful is this Zhuge Divine Crossbow?"
Tang San stood up. "Uncle Ning, let’s go outside and give it a test run!"
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Very well!"
The two men walked out of the study and into the courtyard.
It was a spacious courtyard, flanked by several large trees and possessing a serene, secluded atmosphere.
Tang San raised the Zhuge Divine Crossbow and took aim at a large tree standing not far away.
It was a towering, ancient tree—so massive that it would take three people linking arms to encircle its trunk—with thick wood and rough, gnarled bark.
Tang San’s finger rested upon the trigger mechanism.
Click... clack...
A rapid succession of metallic clicks and snaps rang out!
The sound was crisp and urgent—like the very footsteps of Death itself!
Ning Fengzhi felt his vision blur for an instant!
Immediately following, a rapid-fire thud-thud-thud-thud erupted!
Sixteen crossbow bolts shot forth like a sudden downpour!
Their speed was astonishing—so fast that even Ning Fengzhi, a Level 79 Soul Saint, could barely track their trajectory!
All he could see was that, in an instant, two rows of small holes—sixteen in total, each about the width of a finger—had appeared in the tree trunk!
Light shone through the holes; one could see straight through the tree from one side to the other!
Ning Fengzhi strode forward quickly and leaned in to examine the holes.
Peering through them, he clearly saw that the sixteen bolts had not merely pierced the trunk; they had buried themselves halfway into the courtyard wall standing behind the tree!
The fletchings of the bolts were still quivering slightly!
Ning Fengzhi gasped, sucking in a sharp breath.
This power...
It was absolutely terrifying!
One had to remember that this tree trunk was thick enough to require three people to encircle it!
An ordinary sword or saber striking against it would leave nothing more than a shallow scratch!
Yet, this Zhuge Divine Crossbow had pierced straight through it!
And not only that—it had even penetrated the courtyard wall behind it!
A wall constructed of solid blue brick, no less!
Ning Fengzhi’s eyes were brimming with excitement! "Good! What a magnificent treasure!"
He couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Little San, you... you always manage to surprise me! Hahaha!"
Tang San smiled faintly but remained silent.
Once he had laughed his fill, Ning Fengzhi suddenly recalled a question. "Oh right, Little San—what is the production cost for this Zhuge Divine Crossbow?"
Tang San smiled gently. "The price is quite low."
He paused for a moment.
"However, Uncle Ning, let me make one thing clear: I must personally handle the final assembly. As for the manufacturing process for the various components involved—that is something I must ask you, Uncle Ning, to figure out on your own."
As he spoke, Tang San reached into his Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moonlight storage tool and retrieved several blueprints.
He examined them carefully, then handed them to Ning Fengzhi. "Uncle Ning, these are the blueprints for manufacturing the components."
He paused again. "One Zhuge Divine Crossbow requires two hundred and fifty gold spirit coins."
Ning Fengzhi accepted the blueprints and gave them a cursory glance.
Depicted on the sheets were the shapes of various components, annotated with precise dimensions.
The lines were intricate, the annotations crystal clear—it was evident at a glance that these were the work of a true master craftsman.
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "A weapon capable of wounding a Spirit Elder—or even a Spirit King—for just two hundred and fifty gold spirit coins? That is an incredibly good deal!"
Tang San shook his head. "Uncle Ning, that two hundred and fifty gold spirit coins covers only the cost of my assembly work."
Ning Fengzhi froze at his words.
His hand, which held the blueprints, paused ever so slightly.
"You... what did you just say?"
Tang San met his gaze, his expression calm and steady.
"Uncle Ning, I must—and will—be responsible solely for the final assembly. Furthermore, the fee for each individual assembly is two hundred and fifty gold spirit coins."
He paused once more. "The costs associated with manufacturing the components themselves—those you must bear yourself."
Ning Fengzhi was left utterly dumbfounded.
He stared at Tang San, a flicker of sheer disbelief flashing through his eyes.
This kid...
Was he actually trying to negotiate a business deal with him?!
Tang San continued, "Uncle Ning, these are the rules of my sect; I hope you can understand."
His voice was calm, yet it carried an air of indisputable firmness.
What a joke!
These were the Tang Sect’s legendary Hidden Weapons!
I am providing you with the manufacturing blueprints for the components solely as repayment for you saving my life—that alone is a monumental act of benevolence!
You actually want the assembly blueprints, too?
Not a chance!
The corner of Ning Fengzhi’s mouth twitched ever so slightly.
He gazed at Tang San’s placid face, his heart churning with a tumult of complex emotions.
An ungrateful wretch who can never be truly tamed!
He cursed silently in his heart.
Yet outwardly, he still managed to force out a smile: "It is only right; quite right..."
He accepted the blueprints, wearing a practiced, artificial smile: "Rules are rules—we both understand that. The sect’s proprietary assets truly cannot be divulged to outsiders."
Tang San watched him, sneering inwardly.
Hmph, you old fox!
Do you really think I can’t tell exactly what you’re thinking?
The two exchanged a glance.
One wore a fake smile; the other, a cold sneer.
Each harboring their own ulterior motives.
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