Section 127: Assault on the Chamber of the Eighteen Bronze Men

The shopkeeper carefully examined each piece of material, but he lingered longest on the Star Soul snake skin. Yaya’s cutting technique was flawless; as the entire skin was lifted, the dense bronze scales rattled with a crisp sound.

The shopkeeper exclaimed in admiration, "This is the finest quality Level 6 snake skin I have ever seen. It must have been a mutant Star Soul snake that absorbed fragments of an ancient martial soul. Although the soul core has lost its value, the quality of the hide is far superior to an ordinary Star Soul snake. I am willing to pay 300,000 star coins for this skin. Two fangs for 20,000, and one tendon for 50,000—a total of 370,000 star coins. What do you think?"

370,000 star coins—this price far exceeded Tang Tian's expectations. Without a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Deal!"

"Straightforward!" The shopkeeper said, delighted, as he handed Tang Tian a star coin card. "You might want to check the prices at other shops, but our store is always fair. I just hope that if you have more harvests in the future, you will favor us again."

"No problem!" Tang Tian nodded readily. After taking the card, he suddenly asked, "In Three-Soul City, which card shop is the most reliable?"

The shopkeeper, well-versed in the city's affairs, replied, "Treasure Card Pavilion. Though their prices are high, they have the best items."

Recalling that Yu Bao had mentioned the same shop when they were tinkering with the bronze mechanical ostrich, it seemed Treasure Card Pavilion indeed held a good reputation.

Tang Tian nodded and cupped his hands to the shopkeeper. "Many thanks."

"You are too kind," the shopkeeper bowed slightly.

Loaded with his earnings, Tang Tian headed straight for Treasure Card Pavilion. The shop was prominent and easy to find in Three-Soul City, and Tang Tian entered without much effort.

It was indeed a high-end shop; Sai Lei’s dilapidated store couldn't even compare.

A faint, pleasant incense wafted through the air. There were velvet sofas, and the small tea tables were set with tea and desserts, the tea still steaming gently. The clerks, with their charming smiles and high-slit qipaos, were all stunningly beautiful—though Tang Tian worried that if they were the least bit careless, their outfits might tear to shreds.

"Welcome."

The warm, sweet, and perfectly measured female voice was so intimate it made one subconsciously lower their guard.

Tang Tian looked around, mentally calculating the price of the sofas, the consumption of tea and pastries, and the salaries of the beauties. Finally, he began to worry whether the star stones in his pocket would be enough.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" A young woman in a rose-red qipao walked over gracefully.

"I’m looking to see what kind of cards you have." Tang Tian didn't feel intimidated; he was just brimming with curiosity, looking around. It was his first time in such a high-end shop, completely unaware that he had exposed his own bumpkin nature.

Even if he had known, the young Tang wouldn't have cared.

The clerk showed no disdain for Tang Tian's unsophisticated expression. Having seen all kinds of people, her smile remained unchanged. "May I ask what type you are looking for?"

Tang Tian’s plan to buy a soul general card was not a sudden whim. Whether in the Eighteen Bronze Men Chamber or today’s battle, he had discovered his weakness: True Power. While his breakthrough to the fifth level made his True Power more robust than before, his improvements in other areas were limited.

"Do you have 'Five Heavenly Dragons' or a fifth-level 'Crane Breath Technique'?" Tang Tian asked.

These two cards were exactly what he needed most. Whether it was Heavenly Dragon Force or Crane Body Force, both were highly practical.

The clerk was not overly surprised; those who came here were not looking for ordinary soul general cards. She was very familiar with the shop's inventory and quickly found the information. "We do. 'Five Heavenly Dragons' is a gold card, priced at 6,000,000 star coins. It guarantees the comprehension of Heavenly Dragon Force. As for the fifth-level 'Crane Breath Technique,' we happen to have one, though it is a silver card, priced at 300,000 star coins."

Tang Tian was surprised by the vast price difference, but after a moment's thought, he understood. One was gold, the other silver, and the Crane Body Force was notoriously difficult to master. To Tang Tian, however, the Crane Body Force was more practical than the Heavenly Dragon Force. Having mastered vibration, the sharp Crane Body Force was better suited to him than the explosive Heavenly Dragon Force.

"I'll take that fifth-level Crane Breath Technique," Tang Tian said, decisively pulling out most of his savings.

He was incredibly excited; Treasure Card Pavilion was truly formidable to be able to procure even a Crane School soul general card.

After the transaction, Tang Tian immediately returned to the base. He did not use the card right away, choosing instead to meditate to restore his focus.

When he opened his eyes again, having reached his peak state, he took out the fifth-level Crane Breath Technique card and channeled his True Power into it. Suddenly, an indescribable sensation welled up from his heart, and countless complex paths emerged in his mind.

Tang Tian was well-accustomed to this state and carefully sorted through the insights contained in the card, but soon, he frowned.

Something felt wrong!

For some reason, he felt that many parts of these insights were awkward. He used Crane Body Force the most and understood it the deepest; while he couldn't always explain why, he could tell when something was off. A thought occurred to him: the Old Man had once said the Crane School’s Crane Body Force had been lost. Could it be...

He cast aside the complex, messy insights and began to study the path of True Power circulation. Insights might vary from person to person, but the path of circulation remained constant. After attempting to circulate it for several cycles, Tang Tian realized the insights in the card were clearly wrong.

He kept trying, his True Power gathering and dispersing, constantly attempting to sketch out crane shapes.

For three full days, Tang Tian remained in seclusion, practicing the Crane Breath Technique.

Suddenly, a pair of bright eyes lit up in the darkness. His True Power surged, rushing straight to his throat. Without thinking, he let out a long howl toward the sky, the sound echoing like the cry of a crane!

Tang Tian jumped up and roared with laughter.

"Fifth-level Crane Body Force! Hahahaha! Too amazing!"

"So satisfying!"

"Wow, wow, wow, I truly am a youth like a god!"

"Yo, yo, yo, Crane Body Force, break, break, break!"

...

Sai Lei was startled by Tang Tian’s sudden howling. Her hand shook, and a part was installed incorrectly. She flew into a rage, smashing things. "This idiot! Bastard!"

An hour later.

Tang Tian emerged from the Eighteen Bronze Men Chamber, bruised and battered, his face ashen, his eyes spitting fire. He had charged in full of confidence, thinking the Crane Body Force would make him invincible, only to be sat on by Number 9's giant butt again!

Asshole!

"I told you, it’s useless. You need to properly experience 'Clothes-Touching Fall.' Vibration is useful, but 'borrowing force to strike' is also a high-level technique. Of course, with your current foundation, understanding it is difficult. But at least this direction offers a glimmer of hope..."

Bing's tone was clearly gloating.

Tang Tian’s face was dark as a pot. He was never a broad-minded person. Falling into the same hole twice was humiliating enough; falling into it countless times was beyond words. He had never experienced so many failures, and what he couldn't accept was that he still had no solution.

Bastard!

Tang Tian gritted his teeth, the accumulated humiliation igniting, burning away his remaining reason.

Damn it... How could he not even beat these bastards... If he couldn't beat these bastards, how could he pass through the passage? If he couldn't beat these bastards, how could he save Qianhui? If he couldn't beat these bastards, how could he become the strongest warrior?

How could he not beat these bastards...

How could this be!

"Go to hell! You bastards!"

Tang Tian’s eyes suddenly turned blood-red. His face was savage as he pulled out three cards—three shimmering gold cards!

These were the three gold cards Jing Hao had presented when they traded for the Soul-Refining Device at the energy rift: the fifth-level set containing [Great Stele Palm], [Tan Leg], and [Vortex Scattering Hands].

Under Bing’s shocked gaze, Tang Tian didn't say a word and used all three cards.

He roared and plunged into the Eighteen Bronze Men Chamber.

"This guy..." Bing’s face turned pale.

Clatter, bang! Tang Tian was thrown out, bruised and bloody.

Without a word, he began to meditate!

An hour later, Tang Tian jumped up, roared, and plunged back into the chamber.

"Come on!"

Clatter, bang! Tang Tian was thrown out again.

Tang Tian said nothing, climbed up, and meditated.

An hour later, the roar sounded again.

...

Twenty times.

...

Forty times.

...

Bing watched the near-crazed Tang Tian, stunned. In his long career as an instructor, he had never seen anyone so obsessive, so insane.

He had seen rebellious guys and crazy perverts; every one of them eventually passed the Eighteen Bronze Men Chamber. But no one had ever attacked it with such a tragic, desperate intensity.

Yes, it was an attack!

An attack full of desperation, refusing to stop until victory was achieved.

Never!

Doesn't this guy know what it means to be discouraged? Doesn't he know what frustration is? Doesn't he know what pain is? Doesn't he know what fatigue is? Doesn't he know there is always another day?

There is no need to be this tragic!

Just persist and grind slowly, and you will eventually win! Everyone who walked this path did it that way. Your starting point was lower, the difficulty is higher, and it takes more time—that’s normal, perfectly normal!

Why go to such lengths... why be like this...

They are just a group of bronze men...

Could it be... that even facing bronze men... failure makes you hate yourself this much?

Bing watched Tang Tian’s face, somewhat dazed. That savage, stubborn, battered face covered in bruises—a youth's face like that should have eyes that burn like fire.

The youth’s fire-like eyes reflected in Bing’s gaze.

He couldn't help but lose his focus. (To be continued)