Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lingtai Sect’s training ground.
Tang Tang used the newly ascended Mystic Fire Sword to spar with Han Ling’er again and, since the flying sword was already a mid-tier artifact, the spar ended with a draw.
Han Ling’er sheathed her sword and said with a smile, “Tang Tang, Mystic Fire Sword is really powerful now that it’s a mid-tier artifact!”
“Of course! When I master it, I will definitely defeat your Flying Swan Sword!” said Tang Tang with a proud smile.
Han Ling’er did not comment on her words, instead something caught her mind and she asked, “Oh right, Tang Tang, I heard you went to the blacksmith twice before Zhang Zhi agreed to refine your sword, what happened?”
“Hmph! Don’t even get me started! The first day I went there, he said he will only refine one sword a day, so I was forced to go to the blacksmith on the second day,” grumbled Tang Tang.
“Owner Zhang is such a jerk! I had to sell almost all of my possessions to get 10 mid-tier spirit stones and he even took a precious treasure from me just to make up for the restoration fee! That scrooge! My blood and sweat is all gone!”
Tang Tang was happy with the refinement but she was unhappy with how much Zhang Zhi charged her and, since she was in front of her friend, she simply complained about the ridiculous price to vent her emotions.
As for the so-called precious treasure, it was just a broken tortoise shell which she failed to identify the value of, yet it did not stop her from boasting in front of her friend.
On the other hand, Han Ling’er’s heart raced when she heard Tang Tang’s complaints. She too was short of spirit stones during the refinement but she was able to make it up by throwing in an extra talisman.
Zhang Zhi even used a Sky Crystal for her refinement, which far surpassed the value of the payment and the talisman combined, he did not even give her a difficult time throughout the process!
She strongly believed she was treated specially.
Han Ling’er’s face flushed.
“What am I going to do? He’s so kind to me, should I accept him? No, no, that scrooge did not even confess to me…”
Tang Tang was confused by the murmurs from her friend, she asked, “Ms. Han the Great Beauty, what are you talking about? That scrooge likes you?”
Han Ling’er was shocked, her face was as red as an apple, she squealed, “Tang Tang, you!”
She then turned around and disappeared from the training ground together with her flying sword.
Tang Tang was frozen for a while as she watched Han Ling’er fly away, she sighed, “Geez, you are asking for it, girl…”
Back at the blacksmith, Zhang Zhi was having his afternoon break when a sudden sneeze woke him up from his nap.
“Huh? I caught a cold? No way, I’m a Veteran Qi Refining cultivator, I would never catch a cold! Someone must be talking behind my back, or having a crush on me! Yeah, that must be it!”
Zhang Zhi smiled happily and went back to dreamland.
A few days flew by in the blink of an eye.
The news about Zhang Zhi refining a low-tier artifact into a mid-tier artifact spread like a plague and soon it spread beyond Lingtai Sect, even the individual cultivators of Lingtai Town heard the news.
Almost everyday since the news got out, there would be a group of cultivators waiting for Zhang Zhi in front of his blacksmith before the sun even rose.
The moment Zhang Zhi opened the doors, the group would swarm in like flies with their spirit stones and flying swords, “Owner Zhang, refinement please! Like please! Comment please!”
“Comment and like? What are you people talking about?” Zhang Zhi was confused by the crazy cultivators.
The cultivators were fighting each other just to get Zhang Zhi’s attention, similar to how the consorts and concubines competed for the emperor’s love, they were dry and desperate.
Zhang Zhi found himself in an awkward situation because he would offend the others no matter who he selected for the refinement slot of the day.
A scrawny cultivator got squeezed away from the ground and started crying at the rear, “Owner Zhang this is my third day here!”
Zhang Zhi remembered the poor guy, he really had come to the blacksmith for a few days already. He pointed at the guy and said, “You, you, yeah you! You are the one!”
The guy was exalted, it was as if he had won the lottery, “Me? IT’S ME! Owner Zhang chose me! Hahahaha!”
The others sighed in disappointment as they looked at the guy with utmost jealousy.
The scrawny guy pushed himself through the crowd and passed his sword and spirit stones to Zhang Zhi. The excitement got to his head and caused him to talk strangely, “Thank you Owner Zhang! Thank you my parents, thank you the world for your fairness…”
Zhang Zhi was happy to get the payment. He took the spirit stones and the sword to the rear for refinement.
As for the other cultivators who were not chosen, they decided to stay to witness the ascension of a low-tier artifact to a mid-tier artifact, it was quite a rare scene and they could stare at it for a whole day.
It was at that moment that a strong and cold voice sounded, “Hold on.”
The crowd followed the voice and saw a young gentleman in white. His eyes and brows were sharp, his sword was tied at his waist and the moment he appeared, the female cultivators squealed excitedly.
Even though the young man in white did not wear the attire of Lingtai Sect, many recognized him.
“He is… No.1 of Lingtai Sect, the Stardust Swordsman, Li Xingchen!”
The individual cultivators were in awe.
“Li Xingchen? The swordsman of Peak Foundation Building and Semi-Golden Core? The Li Xingchen who killed a Golden Core king beast with a single sword?”
“Yeah, THAT Li Xingchen!”
As for the sect disciples, every single one of them lowered their heads and bowed respectfully, “Senior brother.”
It seemed like someone important had arrived at the blacksmith.
Zhang Zhi fixed his gaze at Li Xingchen while Li Xingchen sized up Zhang Zhi carefully.
Li Xingchen’s gaze felt like he looked down on all life on earth, the coldness was unrivaled.
After a little staring competition, Li Xingchen said, “You are the blacksmith who can ascend a low-tier artifact to mid-tier artifact?”
The cultivators who visited the blacksmith respected Zhang Zhi, everyone of them addressed him as master or owner, but not Li Xingchen, he spoke with disdain and called Zhang Zhi blacksmith instead.
Even though Zhang Zhi was indeed a blacksmith, he was no common blacksmith and Li Xingchen calling him by his occupation sounded rude. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, be it the individual cultivators or the sect disciples, everyone frowned at Li Xingchen’s attitude.
Zhang Zhi, however, did not mind the attitude, he was a blacksmith after all. He nodded and said, “I guess that’s me.”
Even though he sounded nonchalant, the crowd found it amusing. The answer was either yes or no, yet Zhang Zhi said ‘guess’, his humour somehow softened the atmosphere a little.
Li Xingchen reacted nonchalantly, he drew a flying sword from his magical pouch and said, “Right. Refine this sword for me. Hurry up, I’m busy.”
His tone sounded flat but everyone else had a feeling that he was being arrogant, as if it was Zhang Zhi’s honor to be able to refine his sword.
Li Xingchen had strength and power that corresponded with his arrogance and no one could deny that. However, everyone’s heart skipped a beat because they knew Zhang Zhi only refined one sword per day, he never made any exceptions.
If Li Xingchen had arrived earlier, no one would dare to fight him for the slot but it was only moments ago that Zhang Zhi had accepted payment for the refinement.
What should Zhang Zhi do now? Reject the renowned Stardust Swordsman? Those who opposed him in the past ended up dead.
Just when the crowd started to worry about Zhang Zhi, Zhang Zhi casually said, “Okay, come earlier tomorrow.”
Holy sh*t! The crowd gasped in shock and all kinds of thoughts popped up in their minds.
‘Boss Zhang, we know you are a man of principles but you are talking to the Stardust Swordsman!’
‘Even if you only refine one sword per day, can you tell him that in a softer way?’
‘If you simply tell him to come earlier tomorrow, it’s like stepping on his tail!’
A hint of anger appeared in Li Xingchen’s eyes but he was able to keep his calm. He switched his attention to the sword in Zhang Zhi’s hand and said coldly, “Whose sword is this?”
The scrawny cultivator shook when his sword was called. The sweat rolled down his forehead as he clenched his teeth, he knew what Li Xingchen wanted to do, so he went up to Zhang Zhi and said, “Owner Zhang, I’ll pass for today.”
Zhang Zhi saw the aggrieved look on the poor guy’s face, he then looked at the intimidating Li Xingchen and said with a smile, “Money that comes into my pocket stays, there’s no reason for me to return it.”
The crowd was instantly astonished by Zhang Zhi’s stinginess, but in a good way. They knew the poor guy was being oppressed by Li Xingchen and wanted to leave yet Zhang Zhi used his stinginess to indirectly protect the poor guy while maintaining his own profit.
The poor guy was deeply moved, his nose got runny and his eyes got teary. People said Zhang Zhi was a heartless, stingy businessman but now, the poor guy finally realized Zhang Zhi was a sentimental and emotional human being, he was a thousand times better than the other sect disciples.
“Owner Zhang, you can keep the money, I’ll just take my sword back.” The poor guy knew Zhang Zhi was protecting him but he also knew his own place. Knowing that Zhang Zhi sided with him was enough, he did not want to drag Zhang Zhi down, therefore he wanted to leave even if he would lose the money.
“I’m running a proper business here. Since I took your money, I will do my best to refine your sword. It won’t take long, at most an hour and it’s done, don’t worry.” Zhang Zhi tapped the poor guy’s shoulder and turned around to the rear.
Everyone else in the shop was deeply moved by Zhang Zhi’s actions. He held on to his principles even in the face of power, such boldness!
“It’s about money right? Here, 20 mid-tier spirit stones, twice the price that you are charging, refine my sword now,” said Li Xingchen in an arrogant tone.
The crowd knew Li Xingchen was insulting Zhang Zhi and they felt sorry for the blacksmith. However, none of them dared or could do anything because Li Xingchen was too powerful, he was like a mountain that no one could climb.
Zhang Zhi turned around and looked at the pouch on the ground, he then looked at Li Xingchen and shook his head, “No matter how much money you have, you must follow the rules.”
“Hoho? I would like to test that out then.” Li Xingchen grinned before he tossed another pouch at Zhang Zhi. Even though it was physically harmless, it was extremely insulting.
After four to five pouches, Zhang Zhi remained as still as a monolith. Li Xingchen noticed the stubbornness, so he fished for a piece of red gemstone from his pocket.
The crowd gasped in shock. Even though none of them liked Li Xingchen’s arrogance, they were in awe of the gemstone in his hand, “High-tier spirit stone!”
Li Xingchen always enjoyed the shock from the lowlives, he grinned wider and stared at Zhang Zhi, “Rules are meant to be broken. Refine my sword and this will be yours!”
He then utilized a hint of his Peak Foundation Building spiritual power and fired the high-tier spirit stone at Zhang Zhi.
Zhang Zhi was just a Veteran Qi Refining cultivator, he was worlds apart from Li Xingchen, so it was impossible for him to dodge it.
The spirit stone hit Zhang Zhi in his chest and caused him to stagger backward. Blood spewed from his mouth.
“Owner Zhang!” The crowd cried but none of them dared to interfere.