Chapter 313: The Helmets—One Hundred Thousand Each—Have Finally Arrived!

News that Su Wangchuan, Helm Leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm, had killed Luo Laoqi in Hejiang Town quickly spread throughout the entire Sanhe Commandery. Every dock hall and gang, large or small, now knew the name Su Wangchuan.

Although he possessed only the cultivation of a Second-Rank Martial Artist, he had openly slain the Dog-Meat Branch Master, Luo Laoqi. That alone proved his strength was already comparable to a Third-Rank Martial Artist.

The Caobang seized the opportunity to spread the story everywhere—how Su Wangchuan had fought Luo Laoqi and how the Beggar Sect had retreated from Sanhe Commandery in disgrace. At last, the reputation of the Sanhe Commandery hall was restored.

After the Beggar Sect’s second operation failed, Old Seven arranged for several Second-Rank Martial Artists to take over the Leishui Branch Helm and the Jinhe Branch Helm. The shipping operations of the various branch helms gradually regained some vitality.

The rewards granted to Su Wangchuan by the Caobang also arrived.

One Lesser Rejuvenation Pill.

Five hundred taels of gold.

One Thousand-Forged Longsword.

One Heart-Piercing Crossbow.

Su Wangchuan specifically examined the Thousand-Forged Longsword.

Thousand-Forged Longsword: Green Grade (Durability 100/100)

Attack: 25–30

A weapon forged through a thousand temperings—sharper and tougher.

On the market, a Thousand-Forged weapon usually sold for around fifty taels of gold.

Compared with the equally Green-Grade flexible sword, the Thousand-Forged Longsword possessed slightly higher attack power.

A flexible sword had modest attack strength, but its advantage lay in being difficult to block. It could slip past an opponent’s weapon and strike from trickier and more flexible angles, unleashing deadly effects.

Flexible Sword: Green Grade (Durability 100/100)

Attack: 18–20

Ignores blocks and strikes the enemy.

Increases the probability of a throat-slitting strike, triggering triple critical damage and a bleeding effect.

Back then, the assassin from the Crimson Pavilion had relied on this very weapon to kill two Deputy Helm Leaders of the Sanjiang Branch Helm in an instant and overwhelm Bai Jingtang, nearly rampaging through the branch helm unchecked.

Now Su Wangchuan had used the same weapon to counter-kill Luo Laoqi.

Su Wangchuan personally preferred the flexible sword, but having another Green-Grade weapon was certainly not a bad thing.

He switched to the new weapon.

The Heart-Piercing Crossbow was also an excellent piece of equipment.

Combined with armor-piercing bolts, it could deliver 120 attack power and +2 armor penetration.

If the flexible sword had failed to kill Luo Laoqi earlier, the only remaining option would have been the Heart-Piercing Crossbow and the Tang Sect Hidden Crossbow…

Fortunately, this time he had only revealed one of his hidden cards.

He accepted the five hundred taels of gold in gold notes without hesitation, then picked up the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill with a smile.

The Caobang had truly given him a generous reward.

The four rewards combined were worth nearly two thousand taels of gold.

No wonder the Caobang was known as the richest gang under heaven.

“Ergou.”

“Your subordinate is here.”

Chen Ergou bowed respectfully.

Su Wangchuan handed him the Heart-Piercing Crossbow.

“This Heart-Piercing Crossbow can deal with Third-Rank Martial Artists and even threaten Fourth-Rank Martial Artists. Take it with you in case of emergencies. As for the armor-piercing bolts, you can request them from the Weapon Room.”

“Thank you for the reward, Helm Leader!”

Chen Ergou was overjoyed.

In terms of archery, he could not match Captain Zhao. With the Heart-Piercing Crossbow in his hands, his long-range combat strength would greatly increase.

…

After Luo Laoqi’s death, Sanhe Commandery indeed became much quieter.

The Caobang continued recruiting people to fill manpower shortages.

Monk Dalong, Old Qiu, and the others were all recruited into the Caobang. However, their daily duties consisted of accompanying transport convoys to ensure the safety of cargo ships.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Wangchuan trained Li Xiangyang’s 《Short Blade Assassination Technique》 until it reached Practice Makes Perfect, gaining three points of Agility.

After reaching a bottleneck, he went to the Bajiquan Martial Arts Gym to learn new martial arts from Lin Jiahe.

Lin Jiahe welcomed him without hesitation.

He even taught him another technique called Bench-Flower.

Unfortunately…

This niche martial art was not recognized by spirit realm.

The 《Bagua Saber》, which allowed simultaneous offense and defense with both hands, formed a flexible close-range combat technique. Although it was only First-Rank, its extremely high demands on eyesight and reaction speed earned recognition from spirit realm.

That day—

While Su Wangchuan was sparring with Lin Jiahe and practicing offensive exchanges with the 《Bagua Saber》, Chen Gang stood staring blankly at the television mounted on the wall.

Chen Dan walked over with a peeled apple. Seeing her brother’s expression, she glanced at the screen and froze in place as well.

“What is it?”

Li Xiangyang entered from outside and found the siblings staring at the screen in a daze.

Chen Gang pointed at the television news.

“Foreign governments are distributing gaming helmets.”

“Many people are lining up…”

Li Xiangyang froze for a moment before grimacing.

“A helmet that costs one hundred thousand?”

“Have they gone insane? Who could afford that?”

Su Wangchuan’s ears twitched slightly as he heard this. He stepped back and halted his movements.

“What happened?”

Lin Jiahe looked puzzled.

Su Wangchuan had already stepped out of the octagonal ring and walked toward the three of them.

The television was broadcasting international news.

“According to our investigation, multiple countries—including Ameilika, Oniya, and Yin Country—have simultaneously begun selling gaming helmets through their governments.”

“This footage shows long lines forming in the streets overseas to purchase gaming helmets.”

Su Wangchuan’s eyes grew serious.

Although the news never mentioned spirit realm by name, his first thought was clear—

The world was preparing to promote spirit realm on a global scale.

Now…

Spirit realm could no longer be hidden.

Lin Jiahe stepped out of the octagonal ring and stood before the television as well, frowning.

“Gaming helmets?”

“Have the officials overseas lost their minds?”

“Are they so desperate to make money?”

“A gaming helmet selling for one hundred thousand?”

Lin Jiahe and the others could afford it.

They simply found the idea absurd.

Entertainment overseas was becoming increasingly excessive.

“Fortunately our country has not done anything so ridiculous.”

Chen Gang sighed sincerely.

“Otherwise, our martial arts industry would decline even further.”

The Bajiquan Martial Arts Gym only received around a dozen students per day. If games were promoted even more aggressively, business would become even worse.

None of them noticed that while they were speaking, Su Wangchuan’s expression had become extremely serious.

“Masters, I suddenly remembered that I still have something urgent to deal with. I will leave first. We can continue training tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

None of them questioned him and silently watched as Su Wangchuan left.

“Chen Gang.”

“It is about time to bring it up.”

“The techniques we know have already been mostly learned by Brother Su. Only the Meteor Hammer and Bagua Saber remain. Even Second Brother’s assassination technique, which he studied for many years, has been mastered by him in a short time… He has practically learned everything we have.”

“I know.”

Chen Gang scratched the back of his head.

“I will find a time… I will find a time.”

…

After leaving the Bajiquan Martial Arts Gym, Su Wangchuan went straight to the seventy-fifth floor of the Warring States Building.

The place was packed with people.

A crowd had gathered outside the office door.

Taotao and several female colleagues were pressing their ears against the door, trying to listen to the conversation inside.

“Helm Leader Su.”

“Boss Su!”

When they saw Su Wangchuan approaching, the group instantly sprang apart like lightning and sat upright in an orderly manner.

In their eyes, Su Wangchuan was part of the studio’s upper management just like Su Wan, naturally carrying an imposing presence.

“What are you all doing?”

“Why are you gathered here?”

Su Wangchuan asked while glancing around.

Taotao gathered her courage and spoke.

“Helm Leader, we all saw the news. Several countries overseas have already begun selling gaming helmets. Does that mean our country will also fully open access soon?”

“If possible… could we reserve a few for our friends? For members of our studio, could we perhaps get an internal price?”

Taotao placed her hands together nervously in front of her, fidgeting with her fingers as she looked at Su Wangchuan with hopeful eyes.