Chapter 075: Mount Firmament

“I need to get the Sky Halberd to its second level before we reach Skyreach Mountain!” Xin Lang calculated silently.

The Sky Halberd was a super weapon Xin Lang had purchased for 100 experience points. Upgrading it required no further experience points; instead, it leveled up through constant use. Each time he wielded it, its upgrade value increased a little, and after a certain number of uses, it would advance to the next level.

Xin Lang leaped onto the carriage, settling into the driver’s seat. With a flick of the whip, he turned to Qian Baidu and Fat Gu, saying, “You two keep fighting, I’ll head out first!”

“Uh…”

The two were locked in heated combat, but seeing Xin Lang already driving the carriage away, they hurriedly broke off. Qian Baidu caught up and said, “Classmate Bargain Student, let me handle the reins.”

“Heh… sure,” Xin Lang said, passing the whip over, but Fat Gu, who had just caught up, snatched it first.

With a flattering grin, Fat Gu said, “Boss, let me do it.”

“Fatty, give me the whip!” Qian Baidu snapped.

“Hmph, if you want it, duel me for it!” Fat Gu taunted.

“Afraid of you? Not unless I’m a girl!” Qian Baidu shot back. Without another word, he threw a punch, and the two were soon wrestling again.

With a kick each, Xin Lang sent them both off the carriage, seized the whip, and sped the carriage away, ignoring the brawling pair behind.

“Boss, wait for me!” Fat Gu, seeing Xin Lang had left him and Qian Baidu behind, broke off the fight and sprinted after the carriage.

“Fatty, don’t run! Our duel’s not over!” Qian Baidu shouted, chasing after him.

Xin Lang put the horses to a fast pace, quickly leaving the two far behind, their calls fading into the distance.

Every ten minutes or so, Xin Lang would stop the carriage, find a target, and “hone” the Sky Halberd, accelerating its upgrade process.

On his fifth stop, Qian Baidu and Fat Gu finally caught up, drenched in sweat and too out of breath to speak.

After Xin Lang finished practicing with the Sky Halberd, he continued the journey. This time, Qian Baidu and Fat Gu were much more subdued—whatever Xin Lang asked them to do, they did, and neither dared mention dueling again.

On the third day, the trio arrived at the foot of Skyreach Mountain.

The towering solitary peak pierced the heavens, with only a single narrow path winding up its slopes. From afar, it resembled the spine of a massive dragon poised to soar into the clouds.

“Boss, we’re here,” Fat Gu said solemnly to Xin Lang.

Qian Baidu jumped from the carriage, looking around. “This is it? The capital of the Grand Xia Dynasty isn’t on top of this mountain, is it?”

Xin Lang also dismounted and replied, “Fat Gu’s father was injured by the bandits of this mountain, and they stole two hundred thousand gold coins. Fat Gu and I plan to get the money back and teach those bandits a lesson. Are you interested in joining us?”

“Of course! How could I miss out on upholding justice?” Qian Baidu rubbed his hands together and grinned. “By the way… If we reclaim the money, how do we split it?”

“Evenly, of course!” Fat Gu declared.

Xin Lang and Qian Baidu had come to Skyreach Mountain to avenge his father, and Fat Gu was deeply grateful. He had no intention of keeping all the gold for his family.

“Haha! I’ve heard of the bandits here—they’re famous throughout Grand Xia! This is our chance! I can finally rob the rich to help the poor!” Qian Baidu crowed with excitement.

Xin Lang took two sets of golden inner armor from his inventory and handed one to each of them. “You two may be stronger than most warriors at your level, but the three bandit chiefs here all surpass you. Wear these for protection.”

“Golden Silkworm Inner Armor! Grade Six Earth-level gear!” Fat Gu exclaimed.

“Grade Six Earth-level? Is that valuable?” Qian Baidu had never seen such equipment before.

“Of course it is! This armor is worth at least ten to twenty thousand gold coins, and even if you have the money, you might not be able to buy it. Golden Silkworm Inner Armor is hard to make—few blacksmiths can forge it!” Fat Gu explained.

Qian Baidu clutched the armor and wouldn’t let go. Smiling at Xin Lang, he said, “Classmate Bargain Student, can I keep it?”

“Sure! I still have another set. That one’s yours,” Xin Lang agreed readily.

“Boss, you have more? Where did you get it? I want to buy a few myself—resell them in the capital and I’ll make thousands!” Fat Gu’s business sense came alive at the sight of the armor.

“I made them myself,” Xin Lang replied with a smile.

“What?” both Fat Gu and Qian Baidu exclaimed in shock.

Fat Gu stammered, “Boss… are you also a blacksmith?”

“Heh, I know a thing or two,” Xin Lang laughed.

“To be able to forge Grade Six Earth-level Golden Silkworm Inner Armor and call it ‘a thing or two’… All the blacksmiths in the world might as well eat dirt!” Qian Baidu cried.

Blacksmiths were classified as: Smith, Forgemaster, Grand Forger, and Forging Grandmaster, each with ten ranks. Since Xin Lang could craft Grade Six Earth-level armor, he was at least a sixth-rank Forgemaster.

“A ninth-rank Potion Grandmaster… a fourth-level Warrior… and now a sixth-rank Forgemaster! Good heavens…” Fat Gu was at a loss for words.

“Classmate Bargain Student, teach me the art of forging, please! I love smithing!” Qian Baidu implored, shy as a maiden.

“Uh… maybe when we get to the capital,” Xin Lang deflected.

If they’d asked him to teach martial arts or potion-making, that would be fine. But the Golden Silkworm Inner Armor was made using the ‘Eightfold Furnace’ from the Equipment Upgrade Zone; as for forging techniques, he didn’t know any!

Xin Lang said, “You two, put on the armor. Let’s head up the mountain.”

“Time to rob the rich and help the poor!” Qian Baidu cheered.

Fat Gu snorted, “You’re always talking about helping the poor, but I’ve never seen you help anyone!”

“Who says? Aside from the beggars in Nine Suns City, I’m the poorest person around! If I rob the rich, I have to help myself first!” Qian Baidu proclaimed righteously.

“Unbelievable…” Fat Gu rolled his eyes in disdain.

The three readied themselves and were just about to ascend when they were blocked by a group of six or seven people at the foot of Skyreach Mountain.