These vambraces were more like specially made gloves, covering more than half of the arm.
"This item is called the Flowing Cloud Vambraces. I spared no expense to have them crafted back then. They are covered with layers of special refined gold iron sheets over silkworm silk, making them light, flexible, and resistant to blades and swords," Flowing Cloud explained, taking out the vambraces and handing them to Liang Xiao.
"I have long since retired from the martial world, so these are naturally a gift for you."
Liang Xiao held the vambraces, rubbing and tugging at them gently, a secret delight filling his heart.
Indeed, the material was special and remarkably tough. The friction on the surface was similar to human skin. When he pressed them hard, he could feel the layers of resilient material inside!
The finger guards on the vambraces could also be used to draw the Setting Sun Bow, protecting his fingers. This meant he wouldn't need to wear separate finger guards for archery.
When wielding the Sky Dragon's City-Breaking Halberd, he wouldn't have to worry about sweaty palms reducing his grip and affecting its use!
Jian Qinwan remained silent.
Flowing Cloud was a figure even her parents held in high regard. The intention behind Flowing Cloud's gift of the Flowing Cloud Vambraces to Liang Xiao was self-evident; he was clearly convinced of Liang Xiao's true identity.
The Heavenly General!
At Flowing Cloud's suggestion, Liang Xiao had Yu Qingchuan strike and cut the Flowing Cloud Vambraces with his waist sword.
Yu Qingchuan possessed considerable strength, but no matter how hard he tried, his sword could barely scratch the Flowing Cloud Vambraces.
Liang Xiao had thus confirmed the safety of the Flowing Cloud Vambraces. With them on, he could even catch blades barehanded in the future!
No one knew better than Liang Xiao that battles for life and death were no trifling matter. He disliked being overconfident, as enemies might poison their blades or wield divine weapons.
The protagonists in historical dramas and films who casually caught blades with their bare hands, bleeding profusely, were highly misleading. Under ancient medical conditions, such actions could lead to infection, poisoning, or even a severed finger!
After all, the quality of an enemy's blades was unknown, and one had only one life. Reattaching a severed hand or finger would be nearly impossible. Liang Xiao would never do such a foolish thing unless absolutely forced to.
With these Flowing Cloud Vambraces, he could occasionally achieve a surprise attack!
After donning the Flowing Cloud Vambraces and moving around a bit, Liang Xiao put them away and bowed deeply to Flowing Cloud: "Thank you, esteemed elder!"
Flowing Cloud merely smiled and said nothing, then opened the other three chests.
Liang Xiao gazed intently. Two of the chests contained large blocks of pure white metal, while the third held a piece of silver metal.
The pure white metal had a luster almost identical to the Divine Light White Dragon Armor, while the silver metal's color was very close to that of the Sky Dragon's City-Breaking Halberd…
"White Dragon Gold, used to forge armor and shields that are impervious to blades and spears. Silver Dragon Gold, used to forge blades that can slice through iron like mud. Both are rare divine ores, resistant to rust and corrosion, seldom seen in the world. Most of the refined gold in the Flowing Cloud Vambraces is White Dragon Gold," Flowing Cloud yawned again.
"White Dragon Gold and Silver Dragon Gold?!" Jian Qinwan and Liang Xiao's expressions changed drastically.
When they slept together, Jian Qinwan didn't just have Liang Xiao tell her stories from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"; she also shared other tales with him.
White Dragon Gold was precisely the material used to forge the Divine Light White Dragon Armor!
Silver Dragon Gold was a refined metal that had been little known for a hundred years.
Both the Cang Sheng Sword and the Fu You Sword were forged from Silver Dragon Gold…
Liang Xiao touched the two metals and lifted the chests, his heart filled with astonishment.
The White Dragon Gold was as light as the Divine Light White Dragon Armor, while this block of Silver Dragon Gold weighed nearly a hundred pounds!
This world truly contained some special materials that were completely beyond his knowledge!
He was not an expert in chemistry or metallurgy, so he could not explain what these metals were.
However, his experience in battles on the field gave him absolute certainty: White Dragon Gold and Silver Dragon Gold lived up to their names as divine ores!
Jian Qinwan's eyes shone, her heart filled with joy, but soon a trace of disappointment followed: "But the problem is, the renowned blacksmith took thirty years to forge the Fu You Sword with Silver Dragon Gold. Even if he had this material, he wouldn't be able to use it…"
"Is this the material used to forge the Fu You Sword?" Yu Qingchuan and the others suddenly understood, and couldn't help but sigh.
If it were this divine ore, Liang Xiao would likely not be able to use it within thirty years!
The Fu You Sword took thirty years to forge by a master craftsman. For other blacksmiths, it might take fifty or sixty years!
"That may not be the case," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Everyone looked at the confident Liang Xiao with surprise.
Liang Xiao did not explain, as he himself couldn't fully articulate it yet.
It was essentially a matter of furnace temperature. If there was a way to increase the furnace temperature, many ancient smelting problems could be easily solved!
These divine weapons and sharp blades were likely forged by master craftsmen who had mastered the technology of raising furnace temperatures.
The arms factories he established in Yanzhou and the capital were intended to solve future steel production issues.
Once steel production increased, and the army's weapons were revolutionized, many generals and even soldiers could use "bin tie" weapons, greatly enhancing their combat effectiveness!
Liang Xiao's concept of the "Mo Dao" was based on the improvement of steel production!
Besides the Mo Dao, there were also weapons like the "Heng Dao," whose production could be increased as steelmaking capabilities improved.
The steel production capacity of this world could be described as dismal.
Flowing Cloud, who had been somewhat listless, suddenly opened his eyes and became spirited upon hearing Liang Xiao's confident words.
"I did not misjudge you. I believe you will handle these treasures appropriately."
Liang Xiao quickly said, "But such precious treasures, I am undeserving!"
Before Liang Xiao could explain, Flowing Cloud interrupted him, "In this world, is there anyone more worthy of these treasures than you?"
"An Guo Hou is worthy!" everyone chimed in, and the girls also nodded happily.
Liang Xiao still felt a little embarrassed and was about to find a way to compensate when he heard Flowing Cloud say, "How about this? Jiannan Feng has always treated me with the courtesy one shows a father. I am very fond of him. As for the little darling Qinwan, she is like a granddaughter to me. Consider these as her dowry, prepared in advance."
Everyone chuckled.
Jian Qinwan's face instantly flushed red.
Why did the topic turn to me again… But, I feel so happy!
Liang Xiao nodded seriously, still feeling a bit bashful.
Treasures like these could be sold for tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of taels, and someone would likely buy them. Yet, Flowing Cloud simply found an excuse to give them to him?
"From the moment you uttered those two lines of couplets, I knew you were worthy," Flowing Cloud said with a benevolent smile. "How about this? If you still feel undeserving, then write me a few memorable quotes that can be passed down, preferably ones that align with my and the Tai Chi Way's interests."
Liang Xiao readily agreed, and Yu Qingchuan and the others immediately went to fetch the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Meanwhile, at the prefectural office of Chuzhou, the prefect Lin Ming, a man in his fifties, sat opposite Merchant Chen, at a loss for what to do.
Lin Ming said with a wry smile, "To be honest, I have also been under pressure from the Gongyang Clan in Jiangnan. The Grand Tutor has forbidden me from assisting An Guo Hou, and even instructed me to hinder him…"
Merchant Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "Lin Ming, you know that the Gongyang Clan never cared for you before. Being in Chuzhou, they can't do much to you. After all, Chuzhou is full of chivalrous individuals. As long as you are a good official, someone will naturally protect you!"
Lin Ming looked at Merchant Chen with a puzzled expression, "Teacher, I truly don't understand. You have always advocated for self-preservation. Why are you suddenly aligning yourself with this young man from the capital who has so many enemies?"
Young man, capital, numerous enemies – these keywords explained Lin Ming's doubts.
Liang Xiao would eventually return to Yanzhou and the capital. He was a nineteen-year-old young man with many enemies. How could he possibly contend with so many aristocratic families?