Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Zhang Zhi ran back to his home like a happy thief.
After he closed and locked the door, he took the box made of Firelord Gold out and played with it. It was 4 to 5 catty heavy yet he paid only 100 low-tier spirit stones for it, he wondered what the man would think or how he would react when he realized someone took his box.
However, it was one of the unspoken rules of picking scraps in the market, every man for himself. There was nothing to be guilty of, the man was not as smart as Zhang Zhi after all.
Since it was getting late, Zhang Zhi went to bed with the Firelord Gold box in his arms.
He ought to forge himself an epic-tier flying sword first thing in the morning tomorrow.
On the other hand, the forging master of Lingtai Sect, Ouyang Changtian, returned to the sect with a gloomy look.
He did not even respond to the disciples who greeted him on the way.
“He’s just someone who knows how to forge, why is he so arrogant?”
“Yeah, and the most important thing is he isn’t as good as Owner Zhang.”
…
The disciples were criticizing Ouyang Changtian softly when he walked away.
Ouyang Changtian returned to Treasured Court, the department where he usually worked. In the past, Treasured Court was the merriest department of Lingtai Sect, many disciples came to the court for refinement but now, there was barely anyone there.
Ouyang Changtian was having a bad day already and when he saw the quiet scene at the court, he frowned and asked, “I’ve only been away for a few days, what happened to the court? It’s so quiet.”
Right after he asked the question, the answer popped up in his mind.
“Hmmm, all the sect disciples came here for me and since I’ve been away for a few days, the disciples rather wait at home than request for someone else to help them with the refinement. Hmph, being the best is really troublesome at times.”
Ouyang Changtian then looked at one of the disciples on duty, he hoped that the disciple would speak his mind.
The disciple on duty did not want to speak the truth but he noticed Ouyang Changtian’s encouraging gaze, so he clenched his teeth and said, “Elder Ouyang, Treasured Court is so quiet because all the disciples went to the blacksmith in Lingtai Town.”
Ouyang Changtian nodded happily and said, “I know, I know, as long as you put in the hard work, you will be as good as me one day.”
The disciple on duty was confused by the answer, ‘What? What does that have to do with me?’
The atmosphere went quiet for a moment before Ouyang Changtian realized the situation. His face flushed because he guessed the answer wrongly. He then asked, “Blacksmith? What’s the name of the blacksmith? Who’s running the business there?”
Ouyang Changtian assumed it was some reclusive master who got bored and decided to open up a blacksmith to kill time, otherwise it would not be good enough to affect Treasured Court’s business.
The disciple on duty responded, “There’s no name, the one who runs the business there is a small fry cultivator of Qi Refining stage named Zhang Zhi.”
Zhang Zhi? The name did not ring a bell, Ouyang Changtian had never heard of the person before.
How good was the Qi Refining stage cultivator in smithing? If he was not some reclusive master, what made it better than Treasured Court?
Ouyang Changtian was unwilling to believe what he heard, he asked, “Is the service there cheap?”
“Cheap?” The disciple on duty looked a little bitter when asked.
“Zhang Zhi’s blacksmith charges 100 low-tier spirit stones just for restoration of a low-tier flying sword; he charges 10 mid-tier spirit stones for low-tier flying sword refinement…”
“What the f*ck?” Even for Ouyang Changtian, a veteran Golden Core expert, he could not hold back his shock and cursed out loud.
The ridiculous pricing was countless times higher than Treasured Court, had the disciples of the sect gone mad?
Before Ouyang Changtian could ask any further, the disciple on duty decided to blurt it all out, “Elder Ouyang, I didn’t want to believe it as well, so I went there to have a look myself a few days ago and guess what I saw? Any low-tier flying sword, be it slightly damaged or broken beyond recognition, 100 low-tier spirit stones is guaranteed to restore the flying sword back to perfection. After restoration, the flying sword even receives a 10% boost in power!
“As for refinement, it is even more ridiculous. Here in Treasured Court, the artifact will only receive a 30% boost in power even if it was refined by your hands, but Zhang Zhi’s refinement can rank up a low-tier artifact into a mid-tier artifact! If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it either!”
The disciple on duty continued, “Everyone said Zhang Zhi’s smithing is better than Treasured Court, so they rather spend a fortune to smith there than here…”
The disciple felt that his words might sound disrespectful to Ouyang Changtian, so he nervously added, “Of course, us at Treasured Court believe that Elder Ouyang’s smithing is definitely better than Zhang Zhi, it’s those sect disciples who are blind!”
Ouyang Changtian felt better after hearing the flattery but he suddenly noticed an unusual look on the disciple’s face, “Lil’ Ma, your sword, when did it become a mid-tier artifact?”
Lil’ Ma was shocked, he looked evasive as he stuttered, “I…I went to the blacksmith to have a look, so… In order to find out whether Zhang Zhi is as good as rumoured, I… let him refine my sword…”
“Elder Ouyang, I swear I really went there to find out more about the competition. As the saying goes, to beat the competition, one must fully understand the opponent first…”
Ouyang Changtian then looked at the other disciples on duty and their swords. They more or less had an extra piece of handicraft, which infuriated him.
He did not say anything. It was not that he did not want to speak, the frustration had robbed his words from his mouth.
On the second morning, Ouyang Changtian made his way to Lingtai Town with a challenge letter in his hand. He had been up all night just to find out more about the blacksmith and the more he knew, the more frustrated he got.
Not only did the blacksmith take all of Treasured Court’s business, everyone in the sect strongly believed that Zhang Zhi’s skills were better than Elder Ouyang.
As for how much better, the disciples described it using height, more precisely three to four-stories higher.
Ouyang Changtian was already a well-known veteran Golden Core expert, even though he believed it was a little shameful for him to challenge a petty Qi Refining cultivator, if he remained stagnant, Treasured Court would be doomed!
Therefore, he ought to hand the challenge letter to Zhang Zhi himself, he wanted everyone in the sect to know who the real forging master was!
On the other hand, Zhang Zhi finally woke up after a good night’s sleep and a sweet dream. He woke up happily and looked at the brightening sky, he believed it was a good day to forge.
Zhang Zhi headed to the blacksmith. His face looked bitter when he heard the commotion outside the closed door. If he wanted to concentrate on forging his epic-tier flying sword, he would have to close for another day but, since he was already closed for one day, it did not feel appropriate.
Through the seam on the door, Zhang Zhi saw the crowd outside. He sighed.
“Being the best is really troublesome at times.”
After some thought, Zhang Zhi decided to tell the crowd that he would be closing for the day as well. He had to forge his flying sword in the blacksmith anyway, so the crowd outside would certainly hear the noises inside.
However, Zhang Zhi dared not open the door, he remembered the individual cultivator was badly beaten up yesterday after he stuck the notice on the door.
Therefore, he said through the seam, “Folks, we are off for the day!”
The crowd were happy when the door opened up, they believed Zhang Zhi would surely open for business but when Zhang Zhi’s voice came through the seam, the complaints flooded the blacksmith.
“Owner Zhang, I’ve been queueing for two days now, please, have mercy on me! Just a quick refinement will do, it will only take you an hour…”
“Owner Zhang, my sect exam is due in two days, please restore my sword!”
“Owner Zhang, if you don’t restore my sword, my future will be ruined!”
…
Zhang Zhi could not bear listening to the wails and complaints outside, he was already thinking about delaying his own forging to tomorrow but the system said, “As the future God of Forging, how can you grant whatever is requested? Reject them and the system will reward you with a special ability.”
He thought about it for a while. Indeed, as the system said, he should not compromise, otherwise he would not have the time to do his own things in the future. Plus, the system tempted him with a reward, so he mustered up his courage and said, “I am doing research on forging skills today, so shut up! I’ll blacklist anyone who makes noise in front of my place!”
The crowd was instantly silenced. After all, they were the one asking for Zhang Zhi’s help, they could not do anything but endure it.
One of them asked, “Owner Zhang, will you be open tomorrow? Just let us know when you will be open.”
“It depends on my mood.” Zhang Zhi’s words almost suffocated them but no one could do anything except sigh.
Since no one was able to break through the defense of the blacksmith, the crowd was welcome to do whatever they wanted, it was no longer Zhang Zhi’s problem.
He turned around and prepared to start forging his flying sword.
It was then that a female voice sounded outside the door, “Zhang Zhi? Are you here? I have something to talk to you about.”
Zhang Zhi recognized the voice, it was Han Ling’er, but he was rather confused by the visit. Nonetheless, he opened up the door and what welcomed him was the grudgeful gazes from all the cultivators.
He could not help but quiver but he swiftly switched his attention to Han Ling’er, “Immortal Han, I’m closed for the day.”
Han Ling’er shook her head, she took out several talismans from her pouch and said, “I’m not here for a refinement. I heard you got on Li Xingchen’s bad side, so… Here, these are Golden Core talismans and pills, take them for now. I’ll try to think of a way to help you.”
Zhang Zhi saw the talismans and pills in her hand and noticed the worried look on her face, it warmed his heart. The other cultivators were here for business purposes, except for Han Ling’er who came here to offer her concern in times of need.
He was deeply moved when he said, “Immortal Han, thank you for your concern but keep the talismans and pills for yourself.”
The talismans and pills must have cost a fortune, Zhang Zhi did not want to take them for free, so he rejected the offer.
Han Ling’er said anxiously, “Is it a little too much? It’s fine, I asked my father to craft them for me, it’s free of charge. I’ll get a few more for you in a few days.”
Zhang Zhi hesitated for a moment and said, “It’s not about that. I want to use my own strength to defeat Li Xingchen in three months.
The crowd envied Zhang Zhi when they saw Han Ling’er giving her a ton of talismans and pills but when he rejected her offer, everyone started to talk about it, “Is he an idiot?”
When Zhang Zhi said he wanted to defeat Li Xingchen with his own strength, everyone gasped in shock, “Zhang Zhi was not an idiot, he’s completely out of his mind!”
He was just a petty Qi Refining cultivator, how could he defeat Li Xingchen, who was already a Semi-Golden Core?
Everyone assumed that the pressure must have driven Zhang Zhi mad, otherwise he would not close shop for two days straight.
“Qi Refining and Golden Core are two different things, it’s like asking a kid to fight an adult, there’s no way you can cross that line.”
“Everyone, I’m going to slay a dragon tomorrow!”
…
The crowd shook their heads in laughter, even though they did not call out to Zhang Zhi, it was obvious that they were ridiculing him.
Han Ling’er was shocked, she did not laugh at him because she believed Zhang Zhi was a man of miracles, she asked with a troubled look, “Then what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to forge an ultimate weapon and slay Li Xingchen like a dog!”
Zhang Zhi’s killing intent surged as the crowd continued to ridicule him.