Text-based martial arts: A nighttime rendezvous with the gang leader's wife in a dilapidated te

[You have initiated a feat of defying fate. In the darkness, your eyes have turned golden, and destiny, time, and cause and effect are as clear before your eyes as the lines on your palm.]

[You have observed the fixed encounters and trigger conditions within the map 'Shattered Star Tower':]

[1. Family Craftsmanship (Ordinary): You suddenly discover that the weapons engraved with the character "田" in the left corner of the first floor are of particularly good quality. After inquiring, you learn that these weapons were made by Tian, ​​a blacksmith outsourced to the Shattered Star Tower.]

You can consult Master Tian based on your observation of the weapon's grade. If your strength is ≥5, you can become an apprentice at the blacksmith's shop and learn the life skill: forging. Furthermore, if your forging level reaches 6 or higher, you can learn Master Tian's special basic martial art, "Hundred Refinement Hammer Technique."

[2. Refined Longsword (Yellow): The goose feather sword on the left side of the second floor seems to have been unintentionally mixed with some higher-grade materials during the forging process, making it much tougher and sharper than ordinary longswords. It is only a step away from becoming a top-grade treasure sword. You can try to buy it at a bargain price.]

If one possesses the life skill of "forging" and reaches the level of "Outstanding (4)" or above, one can refine and smelt it to obtain a precious material called "Iron Mother".

【3. Tang Clan Hidden Weapon (Mysterious): Tang Wentian, a member of the Tang family in Sichuan, passed through Jinling three days ago. Due to his lack of money and special circumstances, he had no choice but to sell the Tang family's secret hidden weapon, "Star Lantern". It is currently displayed on the third floor shelf, but is temporarily shelved because the master mechanics in the Shattered Star Tower has not yet figured it out.

This concealed weapon is a secret mechanism passed down by the Tang family. The method of use is to press the latch and release it through the mouth. It is a single-use item, and subsequent replenishment requires a member of the Tang family who is proficient in the production method of "Starlight Lamp" to use it.

The hidden weapon is of decent power, and it doesn't require much skill from the user. It's also poisonous and ignites upon contact! It's almost impossible for ordinary martial artists below the Acquired Realm to resist it!

Furthermore, wielding this hidden weapon allows you to find Tang Wentian or the Tang family in Shu, gaining 30 points of favorability! Additionally, if your comprehension is ≥4 points, you are willing to change your surname to 'Tang,' and successfully pass the entrance test, you can join the Tang family as an outer disciple!

The three unexpected encounters were something Chen Xuan had never anticipated.

He occasionally strolled around Jinling City, visiting some of the side scenes and shops like this one. His only truly serendipitous encounter was during his first visit, when he bought a fishing rod at the general store.

They bought what the shopkeeper initially thought was an ordinary rusty iron fishing rod, but it turned out to be a rather rare silver willow wood fishing rod.

Apart from that, I didn't really encounter any extraordinary adventures.

He really didn't expect that three extraordinary encounters would appear on Bai Zhiyun's Shattered Star Tower.

Although none of them are high-grade, they are all reasonably priced except for the first one.

The sword was almost a top-tier item. He didn't know what the "Iron Mother" was, but judging from the name, it should be quite useful.

At worst, I can just resell it and probably make some money.

And the last one, this unique Xuan-level fortuitous encounter, is even more extraordinary.

The Tang family of Sichuan!

In that folk rhyme, the Tang family of Shu was among the seven families mentioned in the line "Five surnames and seven families have lasted for a thousand years".

They can be described as a renowned martial arts family, whose hidden weapons are unparalleled in the world, and whose ability to make poisons is not much inferior to that of the "Poison Sect".

If one could get close to the Tang family, that would indeed be a meteoric rise to power.

Even if Chen Xuan had no interest or intention about changing his surname and selling his ancestral home, there was no doubt that being able to establish a relationship with such a top-tier power would definitely have benefits and no drawbacks.

You would never have imagined that hidden weapons belonging to the Tang Clan were still preserved in Jinling City.

You immediately summoned the manager again, pointing to the 'Starlight' that had been placed there, resembling a black iron pipe:

"Manager, how much is that in silver?"

The manager paused slightly, looking at the large black pipe:

"Young Master Chen, this item is not from our Shattered Star Pavilion. A few days ago, a gentleman came to our Shattered Star Pavilion, bought something, and couldn't pay, so he brought it as collateral."

"So, its specific use hasn't been figured out yet. It's just that Master Yang thought the workmanship was good, which is why he agreed to it..."

"Of course you know what this is all about," you simply waved your hand and said, "Just tell me how much silver it costs!"

Seeing your resolute attitude, the manager stopped trying to persuade you and instead smiled, saying:

"Young Master Chen, what are you saying? If you were to buy something with silver at the Shattered Star Pavilion, wouldn't the Third Madam skin me alive if she found out? If you like it, feel free to take it. However, Young Master Chen, according to Master Yang of our Shattered Star Pavilion, this item is probably a hidden weapon or something similar. You'd better use it with caution..."

"No need. I'm not just buying this one. If your Shattered Star Pavilion waives it all, it won't be easy to record. I'll just talk to the Third Madam about it later. Pack it up. Also, I want that goose-feather knife with the red brocade on the second floor..."

[After an incense stick has burned, you carried the 'Starlight Lamp' placed in the wooden box in your arms, and held the sheathed goose-feather longsword in your other hand. You strode out of the Shattered Star Tower with a grand and imposing air.]

Unfortunately, these two serendipitous encounters weren't completed simply by buying the items.

[One requires smelting the so-called Iron Mother, and the other even requires contact with the Tang Sect; otherwise, it doesn't count as completing the fortuitous encounter, and naturally, the potential points from the fortuitous encounter cannot be obtained.]

But clearly, you don't care about these things.

The words the manager had said earlier are still on your mind.

My intuition tells me that Shen Fu's matter is probably not as simple as it seems.

However, if that's really the case, this matter likely involves not only the Shen family and the Viper Gang, but also infighting within the Shen family's internal factions! It might even have connections to the Golden Dragon Society later on.

These things are beyond your reach right now. What you can do for now is to improve your strength as quickly as possible.

As you were thinking this, your footsteps had already crossed the street and returned you to the front of the pharmacy.

However, just as you were about to unlock the door of the pharmacy and step inside, a voice rang out from across the street:

"Dr. Chen is back?"

You turned your head and your pupils suddenly contracted.

The leader was none other than Shen Han, the eldest son of the Shen family, whom you only met twice and who was in charge of investigating Shen Fu's whereabouts!