Chapter 286: Secret Scroll Golden Armored Bronze Man

Helian Chuan actually found a few things he liked in the shop, starting with a grappling hook set. Although not as exquisite as Master Li Fubo's custom-made version, it was far superior to his current worn-out one. The reinforced hook had adamantine-plated claws, and soft, non-slip rubber was added to the rear, making it difficult to dislodge after gripping and also easier to retrieve. Most importantly, it could be used with a wrist crossbow, and its tip could even be closed to fit directly into any model of quiver.

He also bought several "Inspiration Maps." These were an original creation from Yunling Island. They looked like ordinary parchment, but when unrolled, they revealed a detailed map of the Coiling Dragon Wasteland and its surroundings. You just had to mark a starting point and state your destination, and the map would generate a dotted line to guide your way. Interestingly, the distance on the map would scale proportionally to how far you walked in reality. Each map could be used seven times, with one use deducted upon reaching your destination. The price was quite reasonable. It was also Yunling Island's best-selling item, as every shop needed a popular product to attract customers.

After reading the description, Helian Chuan clapped his hands and declared, "Give me ten of these!" This was it, this was it...

Bai Guo packed them for him and offered solicitously, "Allow me to show you how to use them."

"No need," Helian Chuan said with a chuckle. "I'm very familiar with this; you don't need to teach me." He had used them extensively in his other world.

The shop was well-stocked. Helian Chuan even replenished some consumables and pre-ordered some ghost-shadow cicada exuviae from the owner. He ended up spending all the rent he had just collected, and even added a significant amount of his own money, before remembering he had forgotten to ask Sun Fuling what she wanted to buy. It seemed as though he was supposed to pay for the shopping spree?

She, however, smiled and said, "No, thank you. What I like isn't available here."

Bai Guo, listening nearby, felt indignant: "There's nothing I can't get! Just tell me what you want, and I'll find it."

"A book."

Sun Fuling said, "I'm looking for a special notebook, from the Northern Demon Nation."

"A notebook?" Bai Guo paused. "What kind?"

"I heard that Uchen, the ruler of the Northern Demon Nation, compiled his life's insights into a notebook called 'The Record of Reverence for Gods.' Many copies were made and collected by the upper nobility of Beijia Nation. I'd very much like to get my hands on one."

Bai Guo asked, surprised, "The current ruler of the Northern Demon Nation isn't named Uchen, is he?"

"Indeed, that was over three hundred years ago."

"Well..." Bai Guo admitted defeat, "You're formidable. I can't get that."

As they left the shop and got back into the donkey cart, Helian Chuan asked Sun Fuling, "The shop owner thinks you're giving him a hard time."

"He's not wrong." Sun Fuling snorted, "His goods are ridiculously overpriced. I don't like slippery merchants like him."

It was rare for Miss Sun to show emotion. Helian Chuan glanced back at the shop, suddenly recalling the old woman he had encountered the day he came to retrieve his belongings. He had forgotten the old woman's surname, only remembering that she was bone-thin but had a slightly bulging belly. She had taken a jar from that very shop. He also remembered the adjacent shop owner joking that the old woman looked several months pregnant.

"What's wrong?" Sun Fuling asked, seeing him suddenly lost in thought.

"Nothing." The thought that had flashed through his mind was a bit crazy, unsuitable to share with anyone.

The donkey cart made several more turns, passing the Military Merit Office.

"Hey," Sun Fuling suddenly tugged at Helian Chuan's sleeve. "Didn't you think the patrol guard we met today was strange? Why don't we go to the Pengcheng Bureau and see if your newly acquired military merits have been recorded?"

"Good point. But aren't we going to the Spirit Descent Altar...?"

"The Heaven Sacrifice won't start that quickly."

"Alright." Helian Chuan jumped off the donkey cart, paid the fare, and walked into the Pengcheng Bureau with Sun Fuling. He began to feel that Miss Sun seemed a bit assertive, or perhaps she was somewhat nonchalant about the Heaven Sacrifice Day.

The person on duty at the Pengcheng Bureau today was also an acquaintance of Helian Chuan's, Steward Liu. Steward Liu, upon seeing Sun Fuling, actually greeted her first: "Oh, Miss Sun!"

Sun Fuling nodded to him. "Long time no see."

"Ah..." Steward Liu paused, then said, "Indeed."

"Two hours ago, I captured a man-eating monster in the city and entrusted Patrol Guard Liu Xinyi to bring it back for submission." Helian Chuan greeted Steward Liu and then began his inquiry. "Please help me check."

"Two hours ago?" Steward Liu put down his pen, picked up the scroll by his desk, and began to flip through it. A short while later, "Hmm, here it is! Captured one Jindu Ghost Fawn."

"Jindu Ghost Fawn?" Helian Chuan was startled. "It's officially identified?" What surprised him even more was that this military merit had actually been credited to him! So the previous patrol guard wasn't strange at all; he had returned on time to submit the report. Helian Chuan had misjudged him.

"It's been confirmed. This creature is an offspring of a Jindu Mother. Jindu Mothers can use host bodies to give birth, which is why these ghost fawns have physical forms and aren't afraid to travel during the day, unlike ordinary ghosts."

"Using host bodies?" Helian Chuan murmured. "So, you mean it uses living humans as mothers?"

"The ghost fawn you submitted today still had amniotic fluid on it, so the city has begun a thorough investigation of pregnant women." Steward Liu turned the scroll. "These are the military merits you earned for capturing two ghost fawns. What would you like to exchange them for?"

Helian Chuan saw the generous rewards. It seemed he had unintentionally completed a bounty, and crucially, his nearly depleted military merits had significantly replenished.

"I'll exchange them for cultivation techniques," he thought. "This time, I want a divine ability." He decided against martial arts for now; he hadn't fully mastered the Wave Severing Blade and Swallow Reversal Movement, and trying to learn too much at once could be counterproductive. Divine abilities, on the other hand, had a broader range of applications and could be used as a brilliant auxiliary in combat.

Steward Liu immediately pulled out a list for him to choose from.

"This Mirroring Technique looks good." This divine ability, which Helian Chuan immediately favored, allowed him to transform and create mirror images of himself. Each image possessed 20% of his main body's combat power, lasted for four breaths, and would disappear if heavily wounded or if it moved more than twenty zhang away from the main body. Of course, the number of images, their attack power, and their duration would increase with proficiency. When cultivated to a profound level, he could summon up to four mirror images simultaneously. Using this skill was like having a group of henchmen with weapons following behind, ready to attack whoever he pointed at. Naturally, it could only be used in combat. At the very least, it could compensate for his lack of area-of-effect skills.

He looked at two other divine abilities that also tempted him. Unfortunately, his military merits were limited, so he couldn't acquire them all at once.

Seeing him hesitate, Sun Fuling asked, "What's your biggest weakness in combat?"

"Weakness?" Helian Chuan was actually considering this question himself. "You're right, it's better to address my weaknesses first." Other divine abilities, no matter how good, would only be icing on the cake. Shoring up his shortcomings was the real path to survival.

At once, he pointed to an item on the list: "I want this one."

Steward Liu looked at it and kindly reminded him, "This one is expensive."

"I know." Money was worthless to him; if he could exchange money for his life, he wouldn't hesitate.

So Steward Liu went to the archives, retrieved the scroll containing the secret technique, and slapped it onto the table. "Congratulations on acquiring the 'Bankrupting Golden Armored Man.' No more than five people in all of Coiling Dragon City have learned this technique."

Sun Fuling also gasped, "You'll have to work hard to save money now."

The secret technique Helian Chuan acquired was less of a divine ability and more like a blueprint, for its cover read: Golden Armored Copper Golem. This was the secret art for refining Golden Armored Copper Golems. He had seen Dong Rui command ghost apes and werewolves, throwing the soldiers into disarray, and he had also seen Zhao Pan's subordinates use straw talismans to summon Green-Turbaned Strongmen. He knew how useful such assistants could be. Not only could they provide offensive power in battle, but they were also excellent at transporting supplies and scouting unknown paths.

The copper hide of the Golden Armored Copper Golem was certainly much thicker than that of the Green-Turbaned Strongmen, and it could definitely shield its master from blades in critical moments, making it an excellent asset for both offense and defense. Wu Shaoyi also possessed a Golden Armored Copper Golem. He couldn't refine it himself; it was a gift from Hong Xiangqian, and it had played a significant role in the Battle of Immortal Spirit Village. However, that particular golem was of relatively ordinary quality.

After several battles, Helian Chuan deeply felt that his biggest weakness was insufficient defense. This could be somewhat compensated for with various defensive magic artifacts, but he also needed a way to turn passive defense into active offense. The Golden Armored Copper Golem fit this perfectly. If there was danger, it would take the brunt; if there were flying arrows, it would absorb the first impact. If there was an obstacle in the way, it could bravely charge forward and attack head-on. This item was first refined, then stored. In combat, it could be simply thrown out, and with a perfunctory incantation, it would transform from a palm-sized doll into an armored warrior over one zhang tall.

However, it was quite difficult to control, requiring the master's constant mental focus throughout, otherwise, it couldn't even take a single step. This differed from the Mirroring Technique, where summoned images could move freely after receiving an instruction. The more golems summoned, the more exponentially difficult their control became, especially with the rapidly changing battlefield environment, making it easier for the master to become flustered. It was said that a master cultivator could summon up to six golems at once, which was close to the limit.

Furthermore, Golden Armored Copper Golems could be upgraded: golems could be promoted to guards, and guards could advance to copper generals, with each rank offering significant improvements. The complete secret art had long been lost within the Yuan Kingdom, so even if Hong Xiangqian could create a Golden Armored Copper Golem, further upgrades were out of the question.

Steward Liu didn't deny the advantages of the Golden Armored Copper Golem, only noting that few people in Coiling Dragon City refined it. The reason was very simple: it was a money pit. Among the twenty-one materials required to make a Golden Armored Copper Golem, seven were extremely valuable. Not to mention, Helian Chuan certainly had a deep impression of his old acquaintance, Yu Jin. He had nearly gone bankrupt trying to cultivate the Floating Life Blade well, and he still had to thank Sun Fuping's relics for that; otherwise, where would he have found hundreds of thousands of silver taels? This time, Yu Jin was also needed to craft the Golden Armored Copper Golem. Although the amount required for each golem was small compared to money-guzzlers like the Floating Life Blade, in a place like Coiling Dragon City, Yu Jin was unobtainable even with money; there was nowhere to buy it. What's more, the monetary cost for each upgrade would jump by two levels, making it a veritable bottomless pit. On top of that, its exchange price in military merits was very high, offering almost no cost-effectiveness. Who in their right mind would exchange for this? Oh, and he forgot to mention, the Golden Armored Copper Golem was powered by profound crystals.

But none of the above were problems for Helian Chuan... or were they?