Chapter 169: Venerable Spear Expert, I Am The Child of Providence?!
199 3 10
X
Reading Options
Font Size
A- 15px A+
Width
Reset
X
Table of Contents
Loading... please wait.

Enlightened Spear

???(α)

?oun??y's Hidd?? ?aults, A??-ch???d Ind??tr?a? ??stri?t, Ar??????on? ???ans?

It's stuffy in here, like the cave of a 5th Stage Mountain Great Fire Leopard. The room is 13£$"^

My Sect's fellow disciples take turns trying to overcome the Legacy Trials while I stare at the big prize we all came for, a large white anvil engraved with profound array formations and radiating an imperious aura that commands respect from any mortal craftsman. Even compared to some of the artefacts in Eternal Wuxia, I rate it pretty solidly for common experts since it's rumour£^&"*£ to!&

Once again, I count my blessings and offer a silent prayer to my ancestors for finding this place after stumbling across that old diary at the bottom of some abandoned mineshaft in the western hinterlands of the Central Provinces. Sect Le?"er was so happy he gifted me a PDF copy of his personal martial arts manual, a Celestial Immortal grade manual with $£&"*)(

Of course, it's mainly sword and fist techniques, but the Demon Driving Stake technique he included was very useful for developing my spear dao a step further, so it can be said to be close to an even trade so long as I get to use the Anvil of "$&%$"&. Not to mention, the Legacy Item I acquired earlier is already making me giddy with excitement, what a haul this will be!

Yes....yes, I can feel it, this is the day my star finally rises to the heavens and beyond!

When I recreate my old Treasured Deity Spear, White-Gold Root of the Venerated Spear God, all those fat, pompous Immortals from Liuanchen Prefect will cry tears of blood once they see me take my rightful place as the protagonist of this world, and I will be drowning in beauties! Hahahahahahaha!


 

Cathedral of The Starlight Truth Faith Exterior, Truth District, Meteo Town

Oh my god, what was that? Was that a vision or a memory?!

Slackjawed, I slap my cheeks to regain my senses with open palms, reciting the Clearwater Grandeur Mantra and calling on my Soul of Earth to calm my churning bloodflow. As soon as I laid eyes on the vista of the town, my consciousness was interrupted by some sort of mental attack. Or that's what it felt like at first, but what I saw was shocking! A vision of my future! 

Or is it the past?

I inhale sharply, then grin at the possibility blooming in my mind. A memory of the future, not just a vision! I'm a regressor! Or is it a past reincarnation? It's never easy to make a proper distinction in webnovels, especially as trends come and go. But that doesn't matter. Finally - FINALLY! - my lucky break is here, the prime of my youth! My destiny!

Laughter bubbles in my lungs, but I choke it back, faking a cough.

No, I mustn't lose composure. What would Splitting Wind Returner's Master Chen Feng and 'The Greatest Spear Saint of the Final Century Reincarnates As The Villainous Young Lady's Only Servant'  Senior Wang Renshu do in my position? Hm, well the former would probably say something cool like, 'hmpf, as expected, the world belongs to me' and Master Wenwei would definitely start planning a vast conspiracy to ensure that he could exploit it to the fullest, crushing every obstacle underfoot.

Hm, hm hmmm...Well, between the two the smart thing to do would be to think it through.

⌈Chasing a tiger without preparation, and you will be lucky to brush your fingers against the tail⌋ I mutter, cautioning myself (and fulfilling the burning desire to say something cool anyway).

I notice a few people in the slowly swelling crowd on this little courtyard area at the top of the hill eye me strangely, but decide not to pay any attention to these mob characters. No jade beauties or the like here. In fact, everyone is rather generically good-looking, and mostly either some sort of yokai or a mortal human. Not a single graceful elven princess in sight...

I leave. Taking the long curving path down into the town of Meteo, the starting area I chose after Astral Reckoning caught my interest. At first it was because I heard that this was where a trending vid was filmed, but now I wonder if this was divine providence. In any case, if I'm to take this opportunity in both hands I'll need to get stronger. My cultivation base from my old body isn't something I can call upon anymore, but the skills and secret techniques I learned are in my mind, and even though cultivation seems to be difficult for this local-named 'wyvernblood' body  (that they just...give you from the outset as an option like it wouldn't be the obviously correct choice, when such a rare physique required months of highly specialised refinement to achieve, which surprised me) despite the outward appearance of low-grade draconic vitality, I am confident that regaining my power and surpassing it will be simple enough.

Of course, according to the rules of this world that will require a bit more combat than I'm accustomed to needing to do when gathering pill materials and weapon parts. So in order to facilitate it, I am going to need a good spear. The Beginner's Long Spear I acquired from the shop is, though meticulously well-crafted to an almost impossible degree, unusually poor within. A sharpened tree branch would be more effective, is the sense I get from holding it, which is just bizarre.

This world is very, very, strange, despite the really confusing sense of familiarity. But, with my new life cheat bonus to guide me, I shall take to this challenge like a carp swimming upstream and ascend as a true dragon amongst men. Hahaha, it's hard to contain my excitement - really, it is.

In any case, according to the beginner's guide I briefly watched, I must find myself a 'Mentor' NPC of the relevant profession in order to unlock it for myself. As a second-rank white-jade craftsman in creating flowing water realm expert-grade treasured weapons, and according to my past life memory cheat, my first stop must be a blacksmith workshop.

I need to quickly make myself a spear worthy of being gripped in this esteemed brother's newly taloned hands.

By the time I walk halfway down, I notice that the crowd starts getting bigger again, gathering outside of a two-floored timber western-style building. It's pretty ugly to my sensibilities, but not as much as what passes for houses around here. No elegance at all, and the feng shui is obviously terrible without even needing to inspect it closely. If this were on the Central Continental Plains, this place would be infested with evil spirits and demons.

Actually, wasn't there supposed to be one imprisoned nearby? Doubt that's a coincidence. Tch, fools.

I'm fairly sure this place is some sort of mercenary association, which would explain why so many mortals are loitering around it. Far easier to sell their sword than to carve their own path out. Still, I could think of more degrading options, so perhaps I could convince a few of the more promising ones to become my subordinates instead.

Hmpf, that will have to wait until I have gained a measure of power, or my words will hold as much weight and substance as the sands of the southern desert.

So I ignore the whole thing.

Instead I think back to the beginner's guide, and recall that the market district will be in the middle of town, and there's a blacksmith Mentor NPC that lives there too. While I'm thinking about it, I consider introducing myself to the Carpentry Mentor, as it will be a necessary step toward recreating my prized spear! With it's smooth, lustrous white haft crafted from the roots of an ancient, 33 millennia-old tree in an extremely dangerous hidden realm, I can accept no metal substitutes.

I am not a javelin-throwing athlete!!!

Finding good material to substitute will still be challenging. But opportunities will unfold before my destiny and fall into my lap no matter what. That's just how these stories work!


 

Meteor Manufactory(Formerly Stone Arsenal), Market District, Meteo Town

⌈What?! What do you mean you aren't interested?⌋

A thin, pretty boy accompanied by a brash-looking, bulky thug wearing the same sort of clothes I and apparently every other new arrival exclaims, offended. In front of him, is a very well-built woman with a braided, dirty blonde ponytail and a chilly stare. Not what I'd call a world-shattering beauty, but she stands out from a crowd in her own way, looking a bit like a less idealised version of the 'warrior woman' archetype that used to show up in those shitty Japanese transmigration light novels and their western knock-offs like 50 years ago.

Is this an event?

As expected, the first cliché is here!

⌈Didja think all that swagger'd impress me? Maybe that name means something back at that Eternal Woosh place you're from, but on Merrow it ain't worth shit. Only names that mean anything in these parts is the Empire's, Pioneers' and Truthseekers.⌋

The woman folds her arms arrogantly, snorting. Truthseekers are that notorious player guild that operate in this area, if I recall correctly.

⌈...Madam Henna, the Wishing Star Chamber of Commerce isn't some small fry you can just dismiss like that.⌋

The thug's response is cold, but nowhere near as frosty as her reaction.

⌈...What did you just call me?⌋

Something doesn't seem right. This Sister ignored the implied threat and focused on his choice of address? Is she some sort of hidden expert? Some sort of fusion of stock events?

⌈You hard of hearing, woman?! The Young Master is kindly offering you a chance to join our Chamber of Commerce! You should be thanking your lucky stars to have caught his interest and grabbing the opportunity with eager hands!⌋

The merchant's pet brute slips his collar to chew her out. Miss Henna frowns, cursing the man in her mind no doubt for his stupidity. The 'Young Master' glares at his guard, losing the chance to speak in his defence to her swift, cutting retort.

⌈I don't wanna know what pet name he calls his cock when you two're behind closed doors, just take a Starblessed hint and fuck off already so I can get back to work. I've not a whit of patience for folks like you with the life I've endured, Starlight witness me that I shan't suffer it in the future, neither.⌋

⌈You..!⌋

This seems like a good time to intervene.

⌈Excuse me, but are you the blacksmith that owns this shop, Miss?⌋

The presumed owner looks me up and down, evaluating every inch of my handsome appearance.

⌈I run the place, but I don't own it anymore. What do you want, kid?⌋

⌈Hey, don't stick your nose in out of turn, stranger! The Young Master is not done talki-!⌋

⌈Jushing Shu!⌋

The Young Master raises his voice only a little, and the dog's yapping mouth snaps shut obediently. He bows to the Shop Manager respectfully.

⌈Please forgive my unruly subordinate. However, it is still quite true that our conversation is not yet concluded, and I remain interested in acquiring this shop.⌋

Turning to me, he regards me with disdain. I feel an itch in my fists to discipline him immediately, but I don't want to risk offending the Shop Manager by brawling in front of her store. If one of the two men throws a punch first, however, it can't be helped~

⌈You on the other hand, must wait your turn. Did your parents not teach you to respect such basic social courtesies?⌋

He really had to bring my family into this. A light slap on both cheeks would be the only upright thing to do, right? I don't want to be thought of as an unfilial son. Accessing my memories, I bring out a quote from Legendary Rice Caddy - a classic from the late 80s - I feel best applies to here.

⌈Apologies o grand sir, eggs in my house were treated equally but empty shells like you are only good for making noise.⌋

⌈...You dare quote that literary swill at me?⌋

Oh? He recognised it instantly. But he still has the audacity to call it trash? Tasteless swine.

⌈This brother is quite musically adept, I'm sure my spear arts can make you produce a more pleasing sound.⌋

⌈You dare!⌋

Before I can ready my stance into the thirty-fifth form of my personally created [Divinity Piercing Stream Spear Arts], the soft clearing of a woman's throat brings my attention to the emergence of a slender elven beauty from within the shop. Her skin is fair and snow-like, like her hair, her posture graceful with long legs. Ahh, how wonderful!

⌈On behalf of Truthseekers, the owners of Meteor Manufactory, I strongly recommend that all three of you leave and cool your heads before the Town Guard intervene, who are doubtless staring at you, waiting for you to bring steel to bear in the middle of the street. Miss Rask, the evaluation is complete and I will return soon with a full report on the budget once I have had a chance to contact our suppliers. Do you need anything else?⌋

The pale beauty speaks with quiet authority and icy confidence, not putting myself or the merchant in her eyes at all, treating us like air. Already seething, the Young Master speaks with barely restrained agitation.

⌈I really must insist that I be allowed to conclude my business without these constant interruptions. Who are you?⌋

⌈A member of Truthseekers tasked with handling many of the administrative matters in the interim on our leader's behalf. Miss Rask is otherwise empowered to make her own judgments concerning Meteor Manufactory itself, so her word can be considered of equal weight to his.⌋

⌈Dunno if I'd go that far...⌋

The Shop Manager mutters to herself, turning her head away. Lost amidst the verbal battle, the bodyguard looks to his master like a lost puppy for guidance.

⌈...Fine. We will return at a later date. I look forward to a more favourable response from you at that time.⌋

Kowtowing again, he shifts his body weight and leaves on light steps that signal a real expert level of footwork, since it has sublimated into even his casual strides. As they pass, they both spare a final glare for me.

⌈Tread lightly in the dark, stranger.⌋

How ominous! I welcome it, your volunteering to be a stepping stone for my rising star!

⌈...What are you still doing here, kid? Fresh one like you can't afford anything here, so go bother someone else.⌋

'My chance is here,' I smile.

⌈Please teach me, Honored Manager!⌋

⌈No. I ain't taking any more students right now, and I don't even have time for the one I do have.⌋

⌈Surely, you can see my virtue in trying to chase off those bullies?⌋

A third, petite kitsune woman emerges, clutching a roll of tattered papers. A mischievous cuteness that's undercut by the contemptuous, pitying smirk directed at me.

⌈Get a load of this loser. God, it's like I'm back in middle school Literature all over again listening to y'all have at it like you're webserial actors. Hahhh....just, like, seriously, don't push it man. If she felt like it Henna could fold you all together into a billet and forge a super-dense alloy out of ya to do arm curls with. If she don't wanna teach you, she ain't gotta oblige just 'cos you decided to play the white knight. Or whatever the equivalent is in xianxia tropelore, I blotted that shit out of memory when I moved up to high school and actually started studying important stuff.⌋

I frown at the venomous words that spill forth from her mouth, not entirely fond of the 'small and cute but foul-mouthed' type. Cool refined  beauties are far superior, but a diversity of types is not a terrible thing for a harem, by design. Whether I actually wish to include her in it or not is a separate matter.

⌈...I will return at a more auspicious moment to plead my case then.⌋

⌈If you simply wish to unlock the subclass, might I advise enquiring at the Pioneers' Alliance? They have facilities and capable teachers employed.⌋

Perhaps enlightened to my charms, the elven beauty takes pity on me and gives an alternative option. Filled with gratitude, I offer her my most charming smile and bow respectfully to her.

⌈Miss Fairy is too kind.⌋

⌈..? By that, are you mistaking me for Miss Fairy, here?⌋

Confused, the pale beauty gestures to the rotten-tongued kitsune, who grunts back in un-ladylike fashion.

⌈No, he's hitting on you, Morn.⌋

⌈Oh.⌋

Miss Elven Beauty looks unsettled for some reason. Hm. Well, if it's fated to be, I will have ample opportunities to demonstrate my virtues in the future, though it would be a shame to lose out, if I lose myself to an obsession chasing women I will end up as a faceless villain character instead of a hero.

So, I will retreat for now.

Truthseekers and Wishing Star Chamber of Commerce, though...I will remember this day.

If the title of Ch.163 was like an itch just barely out of reach to scratch, writing from the perspective of this chuuni idiot was like experiencing full-body pins and needles.

I channelled the spiritual will of the comment sections of dozens of MTL site comment sections to create him (excepting the really out-there and straight-up sociopathic shit - if you know, you know) and I hope he brings you the same pain and entertainment as that did me for me while reading them over the years.

I'm not sorry.

10