The Purple Demon Eye activated, and everything within Tang San's line of sight became crystal clear, allowing him to capture even Gu Xuan's most subtle movements. Tang San did not manifest his Martial Soul; he intended to showcase nothing but his hidden weapons.
With a casual flick of his left wrist, a slender steel needle shot out abruptly, locking onto Gu Xuan's throat. This was the Silent Sleeve Dart. Although the private room was spacious and the two were separated by a full five meters, the dart arrived in a mere instant.
Gu Xuan remained expressionless, his right hand moving slightly as he pressed his fingers together like a blade. "Sword Qi!" Having completely digested the six strands of Seven Kill Sword intent and mastered the Sword Dragon Eight Wings, Gu Xuan was now capable of manifesting sword qi through intent alone. While it wasn't as solid as that of a pure sword-attribute Soul Master, it was more than enough to handle a peer.
A flash of azure sword qi swept past, and the Silent Sleeve Dart was sliced clean in half. Tang San was not surprised; after witnessing Gu Xuan effortlessly kill that Man-Faced Demon Spider four months ago, he knew exactly how formidable the other man was. In his eyes, Gu Xuan was at least a Soul King, as no Soul Ancestor he had ever met possessed such strength.
Though he was amazed that Gu Xuan possessed such power despite being well under twenty, Tang San chalked it up to the resources of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the guidance of a Titled Douluo grandfather. Rather than being discouraged by Gu Xuan's casual defense, Tang San's fighting spirit surged. Immediately after firing the dart, he lunged forward, closing the distance.
This move startled Ye Lingling. Close-quarters combat would usually put Tang San at a disadvantage, but he wasn't worried. He knew he couldn't beat Gu Xuan in a direct brawl, but with his Tang Sect techniques, he might at least evade him. His footsteps were mysterious, carrying no soul power fluctuations yet moving like a phantom.
"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!"
Utilizing the technique, Tang San closed in until he was only a meter away. He stomped his right foot, and a ten-centimeter blade emerged from the toe of his boot, sweeping toward Gu Xuan's chest. This was the Boot-Tip Flying Daggers. Gu Xuan watched the movement with a hint of admiration; for low-level Soul Masters, these Tang Sect techniques were indeed exceptional, having undergone a beneficial mutation in this world to become even more potent.
Gu Xuan raised his hand, a thick surge of soul power manifesting as invisible sword qi coalesced into a physical dragon-sword. "Gathering Qi into a Sword!" Holding the blade of condensed energy, Gu Xuan swung directly at Tang San's right leg. If the boy didn't retreat, the strike would sever the limb instantly.
Tang San's heart jumped, and he pulled back his leg while leaping away. As his left foot hit the ground, a bolt shot from the sole of his shoe toward Gu Xuan's face. "Stomp-Trigger Crossbow!" Gu Xuan flicked his sword, and the bolt was similarly cut in two.
But the assault wasn't over. In his retreat, a black box had appeared in Tang San's hand. With the subtle click of a mechanical spring, sixteen bolts fired in perfect unison. Gu Xuan's eyes narrowed. He swung his dragon-sword in a blur, each stroke of sword qi precisely locking onto a bolt and splitting it down the middle. A rhythmic clatter echoed as thirty-two halves of steel hit the floor.
Tang San was stunned. He had already held a high opinion of Gu Xuan, but this display of precise control elevated the boy's image in his mind even further. 'This technique, this level of control...' he marveled.
"Xiao San, this thing is good. The Zhuge Divine Crossbow, right? It's enough to threaten a Soul Elder, and even a Soul Ancestor would suffer if they were careless," Gu Xuan praised, his tone sounding perfectly sincere. Tang San smiled, but he wasn't finished.
"I'm glad Brother Gu approves, but a demonstration like this doesn't show the full effect. Hidden weapons are most effective when used from the shadows," Tang San said as he approached Gu Xuan again, reaching down to pick up a fallen bolt. As his back turned toward Gu Xuan, another soft click sounded. A thirty-centimeter bolt shot backward toward Gu Xuan's throat. "Tense Back Flower Adornment Crossbow!"
Gu Xuan had read the original story and knew this boy's methods, but even without that, he hadn't forgotten the items Tang San had just introduced. Since the back-mounted crossbow was the only one left unused, he had been on guard. The moment it fired, Gu Xuan raised his dragon-sword vertically before his chest. The bolt struck the razor-sharp edge and split in two. Gu Xuan looked at Tang San, who was just looking up with a confident expression.
"Xiao San, I understand what you mean about using them from the shadows," Gu Xuan said with a faint smile. "While the method is a bit underhanded, in a fight, anything that defeats the enemy is acceptable."
Tang San's confidence faltered into an embarrassed silence when he saw the attack had failed. However, hearing Gu Xuan's final words, he nodded in agreement. Underhanded? If it worked, it was a peerless technique. Even Brother Gu agreed. At the same time, he was shaken by the fact that Gu Xuan had done all of this without even summoning his Martial Soul.
Having tested the weapons, Gu Xuan didn't hesitate. They were useless to him personally, but for the support Soul Masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, they offered excellent self-defense. "Xiao San, these are good. Can you mass-produce them?"
Tang San was delighted; the question meant a sale was imminent. "I can, but I need time."
Gu Xuan nodded. "Time isn't an issue. I'll pay one thousand Gold Soul Coins per set. I need five hundred sets within a year. Can you manage that?"
Tang San was internally shocked. One thousand coins?! A set cost him less than a hundred to make, as blacksmithing was a lowly profession and iron was cheap. However, he didn't let his surprise show. The more natural he acted, the more Gu Xuan would believe the price was fair. In Tang San's eyes, Tang Sect secrets were priceless anyway.
"I will deliver them in batches. How should I contact you, Brother Gu?" Tang San asked naturally. Gu Xuan was secretly laughing. In the original story, Ning Fengzhi paid ten thousand coins per set, five million in total. Gu Xuan had secured the same deal for a tenth of the price, only five hundred thousand total. Even then, he knew the materials only cost about a hundred thousand.
"Send them to the Seven Treasure Manor. Take this as a token," Gu Xuan said, tossing a gold medallion to Tang San. On one side was a magnificent Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and on the other was a map of a large estate. This was the Clan's private retreat in the capital, used only by their own people. Tang San caught it, marveling at the weight of the gold. Gu Xuan then pulled out a Gold Soul Card. "There are five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in here."
(End of Chapter)
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