Chapter 73: Advancement

[Hero’s Warrant: An official warrant formally signed by the government, recognized by the official mandate, allowing the bearer to maintain three household guards (0/3) and one hundred household retainers (0/100). All guards and retainers are permitted to be equipped with arms and armor—including but not limited to prohibited items such as armor sets and crossbow bolts.]

Picking up the Hero’s Warrant once again, Wang Liang immediately noticed that its attributes had changed.

Previously, the warrant only allowed him to recruit some volunteers to join him, but this time, aside from recruiting troops, it also granted him the right to use armor and prohibited items like crossbow bolts. That was a significant difference.

Wang Liang glanced toward Magistrate Wu, who was stroking his beard with a smile.

“The deeds of Lord Lu, the City God, and General Yu—I certainly wasn’t blind to them. Even if they hadn’t spoken, I would have known your identity. I see you came here alone, so naturally you wouldn’t dare to release some untrained fighters. But with this warrant, everything changes. You have full authority to act on Song territory as you see fit.”

Wang Liang immediately understood that Magistrate Wu must have been imagining things again, but such benefits were certainly worth accepting.

The moment Wang Liang took hold of the Hero’s Warrant, a voice echoed in his ear:

“Congratulations, player! You have completed the regional campaign mission: the assault on Jingyang Hill, and achieved final victory. Beginning campaign settlement now.”

“Your score for this campaign is 3,197 points, ranking first. Congratulations! You have earned 319,700 experience points, one blue-grade magic treasure matching your level, and one purple-grade magic treasure matching your level.”

“Congratulations on acquiring the titles: Brave General (First Place Regional Campaign Reward), Tiger Slayer (Dealt over 30% damage alone facing the Demon Tiger).”

“Rewards have been distributed. The regional campaign mission is now complete.”

As the notifications ended, Wang Liang felt a warm surge throughout his body. A white light, visible only to him, flashed by, and his level rose once more.

However, this time the gain was not as great as in the previous game; he only leveled up three ranks.

Considering he had defeated several bosses and received campaign mission bonuses, a mere three-level increase revealed just how much harder it had become to rise in rank.

After leveling up, Wang Liang quickly allocated his free attribute points to Spirit, just enough to meet the requirements for using the Xuanguang Ruler.

[Name: Wang Liang (Multitalented Wang Jilong)]

[Gender: Male]

[Profession: None]

[Level: 24 (31%)]

[Status: None]

[Attributes (Unequipped): Strength 10, Agility 4, Constitution 10, Spirit 20, Condition: Good, Free attribute points: 0]

[Talents: Dream Realm Celestial Level 1 (Activated), Purple Aura Three Thousand (Golden Core Special Effect, Activated)]

[Skills: Master of Tai Xuan Classic Level 4, Proficient in I Ching Level 3, Specialized in Foreign Sword Level 2, Horsemanship Level 1, Archery Level 1, Self-Sacrificing Slash Level 1, Introductory Innate Heaven and Earth Technique Level 1, Introductory Water Avoidance Spell Level 1]

[Secondary Skills: Basic Cooking Level 1, Basic Archaeology Level 1]

As he raised his Spirit attribute to 20, Wang Liang suddenly felt a heightened awareness in his hands. His perception of certain matters had sharpened considerably; many schemes against him now revealed themselves naturally.

This was the result of his spirit power enhancing his I Ching abilities. No wonder masters of the I Ching often sensed subtle shifts in their enemies’ intentions.

Wang Liang pondered whether, upon returning, he should invest in leveling up his I Ching skill. He recalled that in Chang’an City there was a Taoist who was deeply knowledgeable of the I Ching, capable of forecasting major events centuries into the future.

If not interrupted, this master could even continue divining indefinitely.

It seemed worthwhile to seek him out and learn something valuable.

His thoughts drifting, Wang Liang’s hands did not pause. The jade bowl lamp he held kept stirring the pot until the medicinal fragrance gradually faded, and the dark concoction inside the cauldron became as clear as water. Only then did he cease the motion.

As Wang Liang stopped, a clerk quickly stepped forward to remove the tiger bones from the pot.

Now, the tiger bones glowed a dull red, as if freshly pulled from a forge. They were immersed in large quantities of beeswax, which swiftly melted, enveloping the bones and transforming them into peculiarly shaped wax blocks.

Only then did Wang Liang take the beeswax-coated bones, melt away the wax, and retrieve the tiger bones.

Following the traditional method of making tiger bone ornaments, he used melted beeswax as a base to piece together and bond the tiger bones one by one.

Finally, he arranged all the bones into the posture of a fierce tiger descending a mountain—a stance Wang Liang was intimately familiar with. Not because he had ever seen it before, but because the tattoo of a tiger on the back of Xiao Hui was a perfect model of a descending tiger.

At the same time, Wang Liang crafted mountain stones and other elements with beeswax. Once everything was prepared, he began applying clay over the beeswax.

Although Magistrate Wu was a civil official, he was somewhat knowledgeable and, observing Wang Liang’s actions, could not help but ask:

“Is this the lost wax method?”

Indeed, the technique Wang Liang employed was a form of clay mold casting known as the lost wax method.

This process, also called the investment casting or precision casting method, is used for crafting intricate bronze and other metal artifacts.

The method involves sculpting a wax model, then covering it with refractory materials to form an outer mold and clay core.

When heated, the wax melts and drains away, leaving a hollow cavity matching the original model.

Molten metal is then poured into this cavity to cast the final piece.

Wang Liang was using the most fundamental version of this technique. After applying clay over the beeswax, he was ready for the next step.

Magistrate Wu whispered, “Will this work? Won’t the final piece look like wax under the clay?”

“Don’t worry about that,” Wang Liang replied. “The tiger bone ornament will be activated during casting. That will ensure the bronze on the bones is properly handled. By the way, have the copper coins I requested been prepared?”

“They’re ready. But why copper coins? I know several merchants whose families possess ancestral ritual vessels—they’re willing to offer those instead.”

“Ritual vessels represent the incense of a single family or clan, but copper coins carry the incense of thousands of households. Which do you think is more important?”

“Well said,” Wang Liang finished, just as the voice of Lord Lu, the City God, came from behind. It was clear he had overheard the conversation between Wang Liang and Magistrate Wu.

Wang Liang paid no heed. At that moment, he was carefully applying clay over the tiger’s head—the most critical part. If not assembled precisely, the tiger’s head would be crooked, ruining any sense of majesty and making the entire piece look as if it should be discarded.

Thus, Wang Liang handled the process with utmost seriousness, leaving nothing to chance.