Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 183: Chapter 118: Helian Weapon Casting Skill! The Black Seed!

A secluded area surrounded by scenic mountains and tranquil waters.

Helian Tie Lan dug a pit and carefully reassembled Pei Xuansi’s head and body before burying him. This was something she managed to do after their return. Her gaze was dull and lifeless as she engraved the words ”Grave of Pei Xuansi, Helian Tie Lan’s fiancé” onto a wooden plaque with bold strokes.

Gu Sheng stood silently in the distance, simply observing. Helian Tie Lan insisted on handling everything herself and refused his assistance, leaving him with mixed feelings.

Although he hadn’t interacted much with Helian Tie Lan, the impression she had left on him during their dealings in the black market was one of silence, indifference, and coldness. Yet, he hadn’t expected her to have such deep feelings. Engraving the tombstone in this way clearly indicated her decision to remain unmarried for the rest of her life.

He could only sigh inwardly.

Helian Tie Lan stood motionless in front of the tombstone for a moment, her lips moved as if speaking to herself, but Gu Sheng couldn’t make out her words. Then, she slowly approached him and bowed respectfully:

”Thank you, Lord Butcher, for saving me. Iron Lan will never forget your great kindness and virtue. If you ever need anything from me in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will repay your favor with my life!”

Gu Sheng nodded slowly.

”Let’s leave this place for now. The Black Sand Gang has lost a Hall Master, and the news about armor forging has leaked. They won’t let this go without retaliation.”

Helian Tie Lan didn’t detail the situation further, but he had already pieced together a rough understanding.

Inwardly, he was shocked—Black Sand Gang had been secretly forging armor!

And not just forging a few, but undertaking massive-scale production!

Gu Sheng knew all too well how significant the addition of heavy armor could be for Martial Artists. A Martial Artist in the Refining Skin Realm wearing heavy armor, combined with the natural toughness of their skin, could charge across the battlefield with ease, needing only to protect vital areas. They would be walking instruments of slaughter.

The only way to take down such a Martial Artist would be for a higher-level fighter to intervene or to employ highly refined techniques capable of delivering precise damage.

If hundreds of Martial Artists from the Black Sand Gang were equipped with heavy armor, the prospect seemed unimaginably horrifying.

Helian Tie Lan nodded in agreement.

”I have a hideout in Canghe County that has yet to be discovered. I stored some rare materials and a furnace there. We can use it to forge weapons.”

Earlier.

Gu Sheng had already mentioned his request to her—to forge bladed weapons and heavy armor.

His demand was straightforward, and Helian Tie Lan also found it entirely justifiable. After all, this was the very reason Gu Sheng intervened on her behalf. In his eyes, the arrangement was simply a fair exchange of value.

The two moved with agility, their pace swift. After some simple disguising work for Helian Tie Lan, the pair successfully entered the town.

Along the way, they observed individuals from the Black Sand Gang moving stealthily, watching those who entered the town. If the Black Sand Gang hadn’t severed ties with Liu Yuanhu, the two might have found it exceedingly difficult to infiltrate the area. But now, Black Sand Gang’s grasp over Canghe County seemed markedly weaker.

Maneuvering left and right, the pair finally arrived at a courtyard tucked deep within an alley. The yard was sizable, with two sections—front and rear. Back at this familiar location, Helian Tie Lan visibly exhaled a sigh of relief.

Thinking back to the months of living in darkness and the array of ordeals she had endured, her expression dimmed. Memories of Pei Xuansi surfaced, and grief welled up within her.

”You should focus on healing first. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll begin forging weapons.”

Gu Sheng was not devoid of empathy. Helian Tie Lan had fled for her life, her body riddled with injuries. Though some had been treated briefly before, full recuperation was necessary.

Helian Tie Lan nodded gratefully.

Gu Sheng then said:

”I’ll return after three days. Let me know all the materials you need.”

Helian Tie Lan thought for a moment and said:

”I have most of the rare materials stored here, but I need to replenish a few hundred catties of refined iron. Based on your requirements, the giant axe will weigh 360 catties, and the heavy armor will require 490 catties. My stock of refined iron isn’t sufficient.”

”Alright.”

Gu Sheng nodded, turning to leave. Three days would be enough time for him to gather the refined iron. Han Lu’s meteor hammers and the twin curved sabers from Leng Yun were both made of excellent materials—perfect for melting down and reusing.

Having killed so many members of the Black Sand Gang, his spoils were plentiful.

A glint of anticipation flickered in his eyes.

Once the giant axe and heavy armor were crafted, his combat capacity would significantly increase!

...

Meanwhile.

At the Black Sand Gang’s headquarters.

The atmosphere was oppressively heavy.

”Fools! You’re all useless fools!”

Zhao Honglie’s roar echoed within the gang’s deliberation hall, silencing the higher-ups, who sat trembling under his wrathful gaze. Zhao Honglie’s bloodshot eyes exuded dangerous fury, as if he were moments away from devouring them alive!

First Han Lu, then Wang Chong—now even the armor forging plans had been exposed!

He felt as though a streak of relentless misfortune had descended upon him, as if someone behind the scenes was targeting him with malicious precision.

”Gang Leader, what should we do now? One survivor managed to escape—if word reaches Liu Yuanhu, he’ll surely become more cautious, rendering our ambush far less effective.”

Xu Zhaoming stood his ground and asked hesitantly.

The blacksmith rebellion implicated him directly; he had worked alongside Leng Yun on the armor forging project. Now that Leng Yun was dead, the highest authority on the matter naturally fell to Xu Zhaoming.

Zhao Honglie let out a heavy sneer, setting his harsh gaze on Xu Zhaoming.

His eyes flickered, and after a moment of deliberation, he uttered:

”Proceed with the forging plan at full capacity. Prepare for Liu Yuanhu to turn against us at any time. If it comes to that, we’ll fight to the death!”

Zhao Honglie was brimming with murderous intent.

The string of setbacks had pushed him toward a reckless defiance; the atmosphere in the room grew tense as the gang members responded in unison.

Once everyone had departed.

Zhao Honglie stepped into a hidden chamber. Dimly lit, the room remained eerily barren except for a locked jade box.

Zhao Honglie took in a deep breath.

He retrieved the key and unlocked the jade box.