Chapter 310: They’re Not Selling Guns; They’re Stirring Up Trouble—big Trouble
In the City of Light Chasing, inside a lavishly decorated office.
Wu Zhuoqun faced City Lord Di Luoya, who had taken the initiative to speak, but did not rush to state his terms. He only signaled with his eyes toward Lin Yan beside him.
“Lord City Lord, please take a look at these.”
Lin Yan, seemingly well prepared, placed the small metal box she was carrying on the desk and slowly opened it.
Inside the metal box, about the size of a briefcase, lay four models of superconducting electromagnetic guns, along with matching bullets.
“These are the four models of superconducting electromagnetic guns launched by our Obsidian Workshop.” Lin Yan pointed at the four guns and introduced them one by one. “The first model is the standard version made of B2-grade alloy. As long as a quasi-martial artist masters our martial arts hall’s Lightning Palm to a proficient level, they can use it. Under normal circumstances it can penetrate B4-grade alloy battle armor. The price is five energy crystals, with twenty-four B2-grade alloy bullets included.”
“The second model is the advanced version made of B4-grade alloy, prepared for martial artists. Likewise, as long as Lightning Palm is mastered to a proficient level, it can be used. Under normal circumstances it can penetrate B6-grade alloy battle armor and can injure beginner lord monsters. The price is ten energy crystals, with twenty-four B4-grade alloy bullets included.”
“The third model is the deluxe version made of B6-grade alloy, prepared for advanced martial artists. It is also the one that was just used. Likewise, as long as Lightning Palm is mastered to a proficient level, it can be used. Under normal circumstances it can penetrate C2-grade alloy battle armor and can injure intermediate lord monsters. The price is thirty energy crystals, with twenty-four B6-grade alloy bullets included.”
“The fourth model is the flagship version made of C2-grade alloy, prepared for those in the Bone Forging Realm. Likewise, as long as Lightning Palm is mastered to a proficient level, it can be used. Under normal circumstances it can penetrate C4-grade alloy battle armor and can injure advanced lord monsters. The price is one hundred energy crystals, with twenty-four C2-grade alloy bullets included.”
After Lin Yan finished the full introduction, both City Lord Di Luoya and his personal guard Wako stared greedily at the four superconducting electromagnetic guns in the metal box. Wako in particular was almost drooling.
Wako was different from City Lord Di Luoya. He often moved through the wilderness, clearing monsters there, so he knew very well how precious these four superconducting electromagnetic guns were.
Although in the major cities there was no shortage of weapons more powerful than the superconducting electromagnetic gun, such as the heavy ion laser cannons installed in various parts of the city, which could easily take out an advanced lord monster with a single shot from dozens of kilometers away, and heavy ion bombs, which could injure lord monsters within a twenty-meter radius, and even these weapons could be used by ordinary people.
However, these two types of weapons either were enormous in size and consumed astonishing amounts of energy, or required rare materials and were extremely expensive, making them unsuitable for dealing with monsters in the wild.
The current superconducting electromagnetic guns were not only compact but also extremely powerful and capable of rapid fire. Once such weapons and equipment were supplied to the garrison, they could rewrite the current battle system for dealing with monsters. As for use against people, that went without saying: even low-level martial artists could easily threaten Bone Forging Realm experts, and if there were enough people, a Bone Forging Realm expert could die at close range.
“The price is not expensive.” City Lord Di Luoya nodded, then immediately asked the key question. “But to use these weapons one needs your martial arts hall’s martial skill. If one cannot learn the martial skill, these things are no different from scrap iron. Is your martial arts hall willing to teach such a martial skill? If so, what is the price to learn it?”
After hearing this, Wako could not help turning his gaze to Wu Zhuoqun, curious what sort of sky-high price Obsidian Martial Arts Hall planned to name.
It was obvious that Lightning Palm was the key to driving these weapons. Trying to learn Lightning Palm from Obsidian Martial Arts Hall would clearly cost far more than these superconducting electromagnetic guns.
The superconducting electromagnetic gun, as an item, once bought, could only be used by one person. But martial skills were different. Once learned, they could be taught to others. This was why, within the city, all the major martial arts halls, unless it was for personally taught disciples, only taught very common martial skills and cultivation methods available on the market.
Lightning Palm was clearly a very important martial skill within Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. Under normal circumstances, even non-core disciples might not be qualified to learn it, let alone outsiders.
Looking at the two men’s serious expressions, Wu Zhuoqun said calmly, “Anyone who purchases a superconducting electromagnetic gun of standard model or above will receive from our martial arts hall a complimentary copy of the upper volume of Lightning Palm. They can learn on their own to master the first level of Lightning Palm. Of course, they can also come to our martial arts hall and pay to have a coach instruct them, which will be faster.”
“Buy one superconducting electromagnetic gun and you directly get a martial skill for free?”
At this moment, not only was Wako stunned, but even City Lord Di Luoya, who had mentally prepared himself for Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to ask an exorbitant price, was taken aback, suspecting he had misheard.
A unique martial skill was extremely important to a faction. Even if it was only a martial artist-level martial skill, for the major factions in the city, it was something that absolutely would not be passed on to outsiders. After all, martial skills also varied in suitability. Those for whom a skill was suitable would get twice the result with half the effort, while those for whom it was unsuitable would get half the result with twice the effort. So the more martial skills a faction possessed, the more it attracted others to join.
And Lightning Palm was clearly an extremely precious martial skill. It would be very normal if Obsidian Martial Arts Hall required others to join in order to learn it.
Now it was being given away with the purchase of a gun. It was simply insane.
“That’s right, these are the hall master’s exact words.” Wu Zhuoqun looked at the astonished Di Luoya and nodded with a smile. “However, there is one prerequisite. Our hall master hopes that Lord City Lord will cooperate with our martial arts hall in selling superconducting electromagnetic guns throughout the entire City of Light Chasing.”
“You really only have this one condition?” Di Luoya found it hard to believe and could not help confirming again.
Although it was a pity not to monopolize the superconducting electromagnetic guns, the condition proposed by Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was basically equivalent to no condition at all. After all, once the city guard had them, leakage to the outside was inevitable, and superconducting electromagnetic guns would appear on the market. That was effectively no different from selling them openly to the whole city.
“Just this one condition. If Lord City Lord agrees, we can proceed with the transaction right now. We can even offer you a discount: you may conduct the transaction using potions herbs of equivalent value.” Wu Zhuoqun stated with great certainty.
“Alright, give me one thousand of the advanced model and one hundred of the flagship model, all paid in herbs.” Upon hearing this, Di Luoya placed the order without hesitation.
If he paid with energy crystals under normal terms, he would not be able to buy many. Energy crystals were precious and also the primary material for producing energy blood essence. If he really had to spend twenty thousand energy crystals on the purchase, it would be extremely painful.
But if he could use herbs used to make type I and type II potions as a substitute, then it did not matter. Within the city, the herbs for type I and type II potions, grown through large energy veins, were abundant. Combined with the limited daily consumption in the city, the city warehouse had accumulated a huge surplus. So whenever the city needed support from factions and martial artists, they used these as redemption rewards to clear inventory.
“Thank you, Lord City Lord. I will have people send them over at once.” Wu Zhuoqun smiled as he looked at Di Luoya placing the order.
In fact, their main objective in selling guns this time was not energy crystals, but rather the herbs used to produce type I and type II potions. These herbs generally required at least a medium-sized energy vein to grow. Chiyue Town did not have such a vein, so they had never been able to cultivate them.
However, the disciples of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall already numbered over one million. Although the hall would not provide potions free to ordinary disciples, these disciples would routinely use points earned through the hall to exchange for them. This counted as a basic welfare of joining a faction.
Therefore, the consumption of type I and type II potions within Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was astonishing. The caravans traveling to and from Chiyue Town only sold finished potions and not the herbs used to make them. Buying solely from caravans with monster meat was clearly not cost-effective.
Moreover, training apothecaries also required a large amount of pharmaceuticals. Taking this opportunity, the hall could reap a huge harvest from the major cities.
After the transaction between both sides concluded, Wu Zhuoqun left a few people and a large crate of superconducting electromagnetic guns in the City of Light Chasing to sell, then took Lin Yan and headed to other cities, with no intention of lingering in the City of Light Chasing.
“Lord City Lord, with Obsidian Martial Arts Hall selling these weapons so openly, and even giving that martial skill away for free, are they not afraid others will copy them?” Wako looked at the departing Wu Zhuoqun and the others and could not help voicing his doubts in a low voice.
He had already examined the superconducting electromagnetic gun. Aside from the innovative use of energy crystal shards to increase the speed of energy convergence, it had no real technological content. Not to mention the major cities, even a random mechanic in a town could manufacture it.
And the crucial Lightning Palm was being given away for free. As long as any faction had a shred of sense, they would immediately start producing the guns themselves. Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s chances of maintaining this business long-term were almost nonexistent.
“Wako, you are still too young.” City Lord Di Luoya shook his head and looked solemnly toward the direction where Wu Zhuoqun and the others had long since gone. “Obsidian Martial Arts Hall is not selling guns at all. They are taking the entire Wushan Region hostage.”
“Taking everyone hostage?” Wako was confused.
“The power of this gun is extraordinary, so naturally everyone will want it. All the major factions will desperately try to copy it. Anyone without it is effectively forsaking this world, inferior to others. And those factions will undoubtedly accelerate the spread of information so more people learn of it. That way everyone in the Wushan Region will have to learn Lightning Palm. But Lightning Palm only has the first level available. If they want to learn more and become stronger, what do you think people will do?” City Lord Di Luoya said with feeling, “From now on, the entire Wushan Region will likely enter a brand new era because of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.”
“This… that can’t be.” Wako was dumbfounded.
If things really developed as City Lord Di Luoya envisioned, then Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s approach was far too bold. They were effectively draining the entire Wushan Region’s lifeblood, and they were doing it with an open, unassailable scheme.
In this world, martial artists relied on strength. If you refused to learn, others would. Being eliminated would then be inevitable, so even if you did not want to learn, you would have to.
And once someone learned Lightning Palm, they were clearly stained with Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s colors. If they wanted to advance further, Obsidian Martial Arts Hall would be the most suitable choice.
“Whether it will or not, things are going to develop in that direction.” City Lord Di Luoya shook his head and instructed, “Give the order. Have everyone in the city fully cooperate with Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, and never provoke people from Obsidian Martial Arts Hall in the future. Then prepare for your training. If you get the chance, find a way to join Obsidian Martial Arts Hall and become one of its senior officials. I will fully support you.”
“Lord City Lord! This… isn’t that too much…” Wako could hardly believe his ears.
As a City Lord with the shelter of a Domain City, as long as their family did not encounter the city’s destruction or a challenge from another Blood Condensation Realm master that cost them the City Lord’s seat, they did not need to take sides with any faction in the Wushan Region.
But now the City Lord wanted to side with Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. It was simply unbelievable.
“Just pass on the order.” City Lord Di Luoya waved his hand, his gaze firm. “From today on, unless Obsidian Martial Arts Hall is destroyed, there will only be two types of people in the Wushan Region: those of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, and those who are not. We can only choose early.”
“Understood.” Wako bowed and left.
Not long after Wako departed, both the Martial Artist Association of the City of Light Chasing and many major shops in the city put a new type of weapon on their shelves. They even set up special display counters with staff dedicated to promotion.
“Honored customer, this is a weapon strongly recommended by our shop. It will definitely allow a martial artist like you to walk sideways in the wilderness.” The beautiful saleswoman smiled as she spoke to a middle-aged martial artist with a prosthetic leg.
“I’m not well-educated, so don’t try to fool me. I’m just a mid-level martial artist with a ruined leg. I can barely handle low-level monsters. Encountering mid-level monsters means certain death. You’re saying if I buy this gun, I can kill mid-level monsters?” The middle-aged martial artist gave the saleswoman a disdainful look, wondering if the Martial Artist Association was so short on money it had begun swindling disabled martial artists like him.
“This advanced superconducting electromagnetic gun comes with the full guarantee of our Martial Artist Association’s reputation. As long as a martial artist trains Lightning Palm to proficient mastery of the first level, under normal operation, within one hundred meters a single shot can penetrate the head of a mid-level monster, and it can even penetrate the body of a high-level monster,” the beautiful saleswoman said confidently. “And if you buy this weapon now, it comes with a free first-level Lightning Palm martial artist-level martial skill. This is a precious martial skill you normally cannot buy at all. If you find it difficult to learn, you can also go to Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to study.”
“One shot per mid-level monster? Within one hundred meters even high-level monsters can be penetrated, plus a martial artist-level martial skill included?” The middle-aged martial artist stared at the advanced superconducting electromagnetic gun on the counter, his eyes reddening. “Only ten energy crystals?”
The Martial Artist Association’s credibility was beyond doubt. As a disabled mid-level martial artist, his current life was limited to hunting low-level monsters in the wilderness. But low-level monsters were extremely hard to find; almost all were mid-level and above, with lord monsters appearing occasionally.
If he could kill mid-level monsters with one shot, he would definitely make a fortune.
“Since you are a mid-level martial artist, I strongly recommend this deluxe model made of B6-grade alloy. It can even injure intermediate lord monsters, and now it is only thirty energy crystals.” The beautiful saleswoman recommended again.
“It can injure intermediate lord monsters?” The middle-aged martial artist’s breathing grew rapid. He pulled out three small boxes from inside his clothes and handed them to the saleswoman. “I’ll take it!”
“Thank you for your patronage.” The saleswoman took out the deluxe superconducting electromagnetic gun and a copy of the Lightning Palm upper volume.
With this disabled martial artist buying a superconducting electromagnetic gun, the other martial artists who usually came to the association to browse were also attracted. After learning all the details, they bought without hesitation. Many quasi-martial artists even bought the standard model, making the Martial Artist Association’s business exceptionally booming.
As more and more people made purchases, the superconducting electromagnetic gun became known throughout the city. Many gangs and martial artist families immediately went to buy them. In particular, the major gangs seemed crazed, emptying their foundations to purchase.
At night, at the Red Moon Merchant Guild.
Inside the neon-lit bar, which should have been bustling, there were only less than a quarter of the usual crowd, making the place seem unusually quiet.
“Have you figured it out? What on earth happened today? Why didn’t people from all the major gangs show up?” The Blood Pattern Clan youth wearing a white mask questioned his subordinate who had just returned.
At this time of day, people from the major gangs usually came in great numbers to trade, especially for B-grade battle armor, which would be fought over like crazy. Now no one was buying, which was simply incomprehensible.
“Shop owner, I have looked into it. Those gangs have taken out their savings to buy weapons instead, and now they are all at home practicing martial skills.” The subordinate respectfully replied to the Blood Pattern Clan youth.
“Buying weapons? What use are those weapons? Do they not know how much B-grade battle armor enhances strength and speed? Even if sharper weapons can damage armor, with the armor’s support, in the same realm the battle is completely one-sided. Do they not even understand this basic common sense?” The white masked youth was baffled, wondering if those gang members had lost their minds.
“I heard that the weapons they bought can easily penetrate B-grade battle armor. Even if an advanced martial artist is wearing B4-grade armor, they still cannot withstand a single shot from a low-level martial artist within one hundred meters,” the subordinate explained. “So now those gangs are secretly liquidating their B-grade battle armor to exchange for energy crystals and buy new weapons.”
“A low-level martial artist can penetrate B4-grade armor from one hundred meters with a single shot? Impossible!” The white masked youth was shocked and could not help asking, “Do you know who is selling such weapons?”
If the news was true, then the B-grade battle armor they sold would be nothing but a joke. Few would want to buy it. If this was not handled properly, he would not even be able to keep this shop open.
“Obsidian Martial Arts Hall!”
