The cave was pitch black inside, and although Chen Nan's cultivation was not weak, he still felt a sense of eeriness walking within.

This cave wasn't very deep; after walking about twenty to thirty meters in, Chen Nan reached the end.

Looking at the scene at the end, Chen Nan couldn't help but be a bit dazed.

On a stone stand about one and a half meters high lay a golden, shining Golden Phoenix Wing Mace. This mace resembled a fork but was heavier, with a sharp spear-tip forming the main blade. Two serrated edges extended from its sides, curving upward into a crescent resembling phoenix wings, attached to a long handle, three meters in length, both beautiful and imposing.

Chen Nan estimated roughly that the main blade of this weapon was about 30 centimeters long, and the serrated blades on each side were 25 centimeters long with barbed points, giving it an immensely heavy feel.

Upon seeing this weapon, Chen Nan's eyes lit up.

He always preferred using long weapons. When he rescued Yu Wenqingxue before, the Fangtian Hua Ji he used was excellent for cutting and thrusting, with an ideal length, but its only flaw was its lightness.

The Golden Phoenix Wing Mace, however, is generally heavier than the Fangtian Halberd, and is a weapon that combines strength with agility, suitable for both offense and defense.

Chen Nan strode over, grabbed the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace, and tried to lift it with force, but surprisingly failed to do so.

The weight of the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace was far more than he had imagined.

Clearly, this wasn't an ordinary weapon. Chen Nan channeled Inner Strength into the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace, trying to lift it with his Inner Strength, but the moment he did this, Chen Nan felt a mental jolt as if his Divine Sense had established some connection with the golden mace in front of him.

"Swish..."

With a mere thought, the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace transformed into a purple-gold light and disappeared from his hands, integrating into his Conscious Sea.

This was not Melt Soldiers and Refine Body, but truly merging with his consciousness.

With a mere thought, the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace instantly materialized in his hand.

Overjoyed, Chen Nan was ecstatic; this was a weapon seemingly tailor-made for him!

For a martial artist to come across a weapon that perfectly matches their needs is akin to a treasure-loving person suddenly winning a huge jackpot—an inexplicable feeling.

Chen Nan swung the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace around inside the cave. Despite it being his first contact with the golden mace, he found it fitting his every move, feeling like it had become part of his own body.

Despite his excitement, Chen Nan was also somewhat puzzled as to why, after channeling his Inner Strength, this golden mace became a part of his Conscious Sea.

This strange occurrence had never happened before.

Typically, people choose the weapon that suits them best, but this time, it seems the golden mace chose him.

The solid weight of the golden mace in his hands made it clear to Chen Nan that its grade was not low, and its contained power should not be beneath the Heavenly Punishment Demon Sword.

To verify this fact, Chen Nan took out the Heavenly Punishment Demon Sword.

With a weapon in each hand, he struck them against each other, causing the ground to shake violently with an explosive force, the entire cave quivering in the aftermath.

Neither the Heavenly Punishment Demon Sword nor the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace was damaged in the slightest.

Though it seemed like a tie, Chen Nan had a gut feeling that the durability of the golden mace might surpass that of the demon sword.

Stowing away his weapons, Chen Nan prepared to turn and leave.

But just as he turned, he noticed some carvings on the stone stand where the golden mace had been placed. Blowing off some dust, he found out that it was an etched manual of Tang Techniques.

These carvings depicted a total of eighteen techniques.

The name of this set wasn't etched on it, but at a glance, Chen Nan could sense the depth of the techniques.

Since there was such a mysterious set of Tang Techniques, Chen Nan naturally didn't just leave it behind, and began practicing it on the spot.

This set of Tang Techniques was extremely profound, both offensive and defensive, with each movement containing the way of Heaven and Earth. If Chen Nan hadn't been practicing with the eighteen types of weapons since childhood, mastering the essence of each, it would be difficult to comprehend it in such a short time.

...

While Chen Nan practiced the Tang Technique.

In the very center of the Kuang Clan's territory, within an ancient residence.

A middle-aged man from the Kuang Clan entered, bowing to an already white-haired elder: "Clan Leader, that person named Chen Nan has obtained the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace and is practicing that mysterious Tang Technique."

This elderly man was none other than the Kuang Clan Leader—Kuang Zhen Tian.

He slowly turned around to look at the middle-aged man, nodding: "I know, you may leave."

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then said: "But Clan Leader, I don't understand the identity of this Mr. Chen, why you treat him so favorably, even giving him the golden mace treasured for many years."

Kuang Zhen Tian remained silent for a long time before saying: "This golden mace belongs to him alone."

"What do you mean, Clan Leader?"

Kuang Zhen Tian's expression turned solemn, frowning: "Yu, have you forgotten my prior orders? No one is to inquire further about matters concerning Chen Nan."

"But Clan Leader..."

Kuang Yu looked at Kuang Zhen Tian, words faltering.

Kuang Zhen Tian waved his hand dismissively, sighed, and said: "Leave now; in time, you will understand the reasons behind my actions today."

"Yes, Clan Leader."

Kuang Yu bowed and turned to leave the ancient residence.

Kuang Zhen Tian moved to the bedside, stroking his snowy white beard, gazing in the direction of the bamboo grove where Chen Nan was, sighing deeply: "Among the countless cultivators in the Four Extremes World, only you are worthy to wield this Golden Phoenix Wing Mace."

He drifted into thoughts for a moment longer before turning back inside.

...

One hour later.

Within the bamboo grove of the grand residence, Chen Nan had already practiced the entire set of eighteen Tang Techniques.

However, to his surprise, the eighteen Tang Techniques seemed innately familiar to him. After just one practice, he could execute them with ease, as if practicing hundreds of times, becoming second nature, with every detail of each move clear in his mind.

Chen Nan himself was bewildered by this.

Although talented, he had never grasped martial arts so thoroughly after only practicing a few times; it had always taken repeated efforts and gradual comprehension.

Looking at the Golden Phoenix Wing Mace in his hand, Chen Nan stroked the sharp edge of the main blade. Dust scattered, releasing a chilling killing aura as if the temperature around him dropped.

Only a weapon baptized in much blood could possess such intense killing intent.

This Golden Phoenix Wing Mace surely has a glorious history. Though Chen Nan hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he could imagine the invincible might it wielded under its former master, conquering lands.

"In my hands, you will not be brought to disgrace."

Chen Nan absorbed the golden mace into his Conscious Sea and marched out of the cave.

(Tang, pronounced "tang" in the third tone, is a rather uncommon weapon. If you haven't seen one before, you can view a picture in my QQ space. I'll post one there soon. The number is 307632143, repeating it once more.)

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