Nouveau Riche Sword? Could Zhang Zhi be anymore informal? Why not call it Fortune Sword?
If the audience in the blacksmith were not all cultivators, the lousy naming might kill them all instantly.
Someone asked, “Owner Zhang, Nouveau Riche Sword doesn’t sound as grand as Tripedal Crow.”
“I don’t care, I like it.” Zhang Zhi smiled and caressed the sword in his hand, he looked extremely satisfied.
“Tuhao, we are friends from now on.”
Everyone was rendered speechless, even the Grand Elder had a difficult time breathing.
It was then that Ouyang Changtian spat blood and shocked everyone.
“Changtian?” The Grand Elder raised a curious brow.
‘Qi Deviation?!’
Ouyang Changtian shook his head and struggled to get up on his feet. He stared at Zhang Zhi, “It seems like this world is bigger than I thought and there are many more who are better than me. You have opened my eyes today, I accept my defeat!”
He then took a little ceramic bottle out of his sleeve and tossed to Zhang Zhi, “From today onwards, I will be in closed-door training to devote myself to researching the art of forging. When I am able to forge spirit artifacts, I will come back and challenge you!”
Ouyang Changtian then transformed into a golden light and flew away.
Elder Wu frowned and wanted to catch him since Lingtai Town was a no-fly zone.
The Grand Elder sighed and stopped Elder Wu, “Let him be.”
He stared at where Ouyang Changtian disappeared to and nodded in satisfaction.
There were some who would fall into the abyss upon defeat but Ouyang Changtian embraced his shame and was brave enough to admit defeat. He ought to be a better and stronger person in the future.
It was the sect’s blessing to have such an elder.
Zhang Zhi did not take Ouyang Changtian seriously. He believed when Ouyang Changtian could forge a spirit artifact, he might have already forged an epic spirit artifact.
He looked at the ceramic bottle in his hand. Inside it was a pill, and it attracted jealousy and desire from the other cultivators.
Zhang Zhi knew why. The system told him that the Qi Concentration Pill was a precious pill that could help a Foundation Building cultivator ascend into the Golden Core stage.
However, it was rather useless to Zhang Zhi. Even though the pill could increase the rate of core creation in the body, Zhang Zhi had the system, he would never reach the bottleneck and never had to cultivate.
A little hesitance later, he tossed the bottle to Han Ling’er, “Thank you for guarding me today. Here.”
Zhang Zhi was never stingy to those who were kind to him.
Han Ling’er was caught off guard. Her hands were shaking and the bottle almost slipped out of her hand. She rejected in fear, “Zhang Zhi, this is a little too much, I can’t…”
The others sighed ceaselessly one after another. The scrooge gave a precious pill to someone in the blink of an eye, was he still the scrooge that the people know?
Of course, the others were also jealous of Han Ling’er. Some of the female cultivators started to flatter Zhang Zhi, “Owner Zhang, we were also here rooting for you, we must have done at least something to cheer you right?”
“Senior Sister Ling’er, if you don’t want it, give it to me!”
Zhang Zhi smiled and asked Han Ling’er, “You really don’t want it? Then I’ll give it to someone else.”
He was only joking. The others did nothing but watch, so why would he give them the pill? Even if Han Ling’er did not want it, he would simply take it as a candy.
Han Ling’er took Zhang Zhi seriously and clenched her teeth nervously. She kept the bottle right away.
‘Hmph, Zhang Zhi gave this to me, why should I give it to others!’
Of course, deep down in her heart, happiness was overflowing. She was the first one Zhang Zhi showed his sword to after forging and he even gave her a precious Qi Concentration Pill. She was drowning in happiness.
The Grand Elder smiled at the scene. Then, a thought popped in his head and he asked, “Zhang Zhi, are you interested in being a guest elder of Lingtai Sect?”
Guest elder, an elder position with only the title and no authority, but due to the prestigious position, one was eligible to enjoy the resources that an executive elder could get from the sect.
Usually, only Golden Core experts who contributed to the sect would be granted the title of guest elder.
Zhang Zhi pretended to be only a Qi Refining cultivator, due to the concealment, others could not see through his current cultivation. Nonetheless, the Grand Elder himself invited him to be a guest elder, it was probably the highest honor that one could get.
If he accepted the title, the disciples of Lingtai Sect would have to bow respectfully at him and call him elder.
The others also understood why the Grand Elder broke the rules to invite Zhang Zhi into the sect. Zhang Zhi had outstanding forging skills and it could easily make up for the lack of cultivation.
The cultivators looked at Zhang Zhi with a blistering gaze. If he agreed to be a guest elder, they would be within the same sect and might be able to enjoy a discount for further refinement or restoration.
Everyone hoped that he would say yes to the invitation because it would only benefit him in a thousand ways.
However, after some thoughts, Zhang Zhi said, “Grand Elder, I thank you for the kind invitation but I am a free man. I am so used to being free, so I don’t think I can become a guest elder.”
Being his own boss was better in many ways, he could enjoy much more freedom than if he became a guest elder. Even though a guest elder was entitled to the sect’s resources with no strings attached, Zhang Zhi believed power and responsibility were equal factors.
Once the sect found a way to use him, they would certainly exploit his value.
Han Ling’er was utterly confused. If Zhang Zhi agreed to be a guest elder, the matter with Li Xingchen would solve itself.
No matter how bold Li Xingchen was, he would not kill an elder of the sect.
Han Ling’er nervously persuaded him, “Zhang Zhi, if you become a guest elder of the sect, the problem with Li Xingchen will solve itself!”
“I said it before, I want to forge an ultimate weapon to kill him like a dog. Now that I’ve gotten my ultimate weapon, why should I sneak away using a title?” Zhang Zhi looked straight into Han Ling’er’s eyes.
Moreover, if he became a guest elder without the corresponding cultivation level, he would eventually end up as a joke to others.
Zhang Zhi sounded determined and strong. Even though a high-tier artifact could really slay a Golden Core expert as easily as killing a dog, it was also user-dependant. Zhang Zhi’s cultivation level was too low, he would never be able to bring out the full potential of the ultimate weapon!
Han Ling’er and the other cultivators understood this. She tried to persuade him further but he stopped her, “I’m exhausted, so I guess I’ll call it a day. Off you go, everyone.”
Zhang Zhi held on to his stand strongly and wanted to send everyone on their way.
The Grand Elder reacted normally to the rejection, he sighed, “I guess it’s a little bit abrupt. We will meet again, Owner Zhang.”
Since the Grand Elder was leaving, the others had no reason to stay anymore. Everyone left the magical blacksmith.
On the street, the Grand Elder called out to Han Ling’er, “Are you Han Wushuang’s daughter?”
Han Ling’er was still confused about why Zhang Zhi rejected the invitation. She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her name called and answered respectfully, “Grand Elder, yes I am.”
“You mother is also my grandstudent. It’s really unfortunate…” The Grand Elder sighed.
Han Ling’er looked a little gloomy, she bowed and said, “Thank you Grand Elder for your condolences.”
“If you can do me a favor, I’ll use the Soul-Gathering Banner to try and gather your mother’s soul.”
Han Ling’er’s eyes were glowing when she heard the Grand Elder’s offer.
Her mother died during the war between the domains. Her father went through a bloody fight to bring her mother’s body back to the sect for proper safekeeping.
Her father hoped that, one day, he would be able to revive his wife. There were previous examples of revival within the sect, so it was not entirely impossible.
However, after Han Wushuang, Han Ling’er’s father, returned, he went on a frenzy in clearing all the sect missions. He wanted to use his credits to exchange for a single use of the Soul-Gathering Banner, he would be able to use it to call the soul of his wife back.
Han Ling’er always sent her father out on missions but she would welcome back an injured and badly beaten father every time. It pained her to see her father pushing himself so far, so the offer from the Grand Elder made her extremely happy.
“Grand Elder, I’ll climb the highest mountains and swim the deepest sea for it!” Han Ling’er started to tear up as she expressed her determination.
The Grand Elder sighed, “Child, it’s not that serious. There are many flying swords in the armory and most of them have not been cared for for a long time. You are now responsible to find those damaged swords and bring them to Zhang Zhi for restoration. The sect will pay for them.”
“That’s it?”
Han Ling’er looked at the blacksmith. When the thought of seeing Zhang Zhi everyday in the future popped in her mind, she blushed.
A while later, the Grand Elder followed Elder Wu back to his office for a quick tour. The office was in fact the central monitoring station and when the Grand Elder saw everything was in place, he said in a sentimental tone, “Wu, it has been so many years since you’ve started governing Lingtai Town, it must be difficult for you.”
“Nothing is difficult if it is for the sect,” said Elder Wu respectfully.
Grand Elder nodded happily and said, “There, Zhang Zhi’s place. Pay more attention to him.”
Elder Wu nodded but looked a little troubled.
The Grand Elder spotted the unusual reaction and said with a smile, “Are you trying to ask why I sent Han Ling’er to approach him and am now asking you to keep an eye on him?”
“Questioning is not within my duty,” said Elder Wu in an old-fashioned manner.
The Grand Elder was an easy-going person, he was like a kind old man. He gazed into the distant space and said, “The war between the north and east left us heavily damaged. Our skilled craftsmen are all dead. Zhang Zhi might not have a high cultivation level but his forging is unrivaled. Perhaps, he will become a strong pillar that supports the Eastern Domain in the future.”
“Since he didn’t want to be tied down, I decided to send Han Ling’er to his side. I’m not forcing her though, I can tell that she has feelings for Zhang Zhi and I did not see any rejection from his side.”
“Whether or not Zhang Zhi will eventually work for Lingtai Sect, at least I did something good for two young children, am I right?” said the Grand Elder with a smile.
Elder Wu’s strict face showed a smile.
The Grand Elder’s insight and benevolent method of thinking on behalf of the sect while maintaining the disciple’s well-being and benefit earned Elder Wu’s admiration and respect.
“As for paying more attention to Zhang Zhi, I heard that he got into a little misunderstanding with Li Xingchen. It’s fine when the young ones are being competitive since competition drives improvement. But the two of them are geniuses in their own way, losing either one of them would be a great loss to Lingtai Sect and even the entire Eastern Domain.”
Elder Wu knew what he must do after listening to the Grand Elder’s advice: protect Zhang Zhi from being killed by Li Xingchen.
“I fought Li Xingchen before but I failed to keep him in check. If he’s ascended to Golden Core, I might not be his match,” said Elder Wu, voicing his concern.
“This is why a genius is something to be feared!” The Grand Elder shook his head and burst out in a silent laughter. He then gave Elder Wu a badge.
“Use the sect badge when it is critical.”
“I understand.” Elder Wu respectfully took the sect badge from the Grand Elder.
It seemed like the Grand Elder had high hopes for the two young men.
“We are old, the world belongs to the young ones now.” The Grand Elder chuckled and disappeared like mist.
Back at Lingtai Sect, the news about Zhang Zhi forging a high-tier artifact flooded every corner like a tsunami.
“Zhang Zhi forged a high-tier artifact? How old is he? Elder Ouyang can’t even do that yet!”
“Believe it or not, both the Grand Elder and Elder Wu were astonished, and they were at the blacksmith that time, witnessing the birth of a high-tier artifact!”
“Holy moly! I was there too, I thought Zhang Zhi was bluffing, so I left earlier. I instantly regret my decision! Why didn’t you hold me back?”
“Zhang Zhi said he wanted to forge an ultimate weapon and kill Li Xingchen like a dog. Now, he already has the ultimate weapon, do you think he can really kill Li Xingchen?”
“I don’t think so. His weapon might be powerful but it depends on the user as well. Zhang Zhi is just a Qi Refining cultivator, he’s almost two stages away from Li Xingchen, who’s going into Golden Core soon. It’s like a baby swinging a cleaver, he might hurt himself before he does any damage.”
“Speaking of which, what did he name the high-tier flying sword?”
“Zhang Zhi rejected the Grand Elder’s naming of Tripedal Crow and named it… Nouveau Riche Sword!”
“What in the f*ck?”
All the cultivators, regardless of cultivation level or manners, cursed out loud when they heard the news.