“Grand Elder.”
All the Golden Core experts quickly bowed at the arrival of the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder regained his senses and subtly wiped the drool away with his sleeve. “At ease.”
Then, Grand Elder looked at Zhang Zhi as if he was a perverted old man trying to kidnap a child. “Friend, this stone that you have, it’s beautiful, can I have a look?”
The immortal stone was at the same level as the epic-tier artifact but the immortal stone was much more tempting to the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder was already at Nascent Soul stage, even though he had access to epic-tier spirit stones, it was difficult for him to reach newer heights in his cultivation. With an immortal stone, he could boost his cultivation level higher and enjoy the process.
That was the reason why the Grand Elder showed a strong desire for it.
Zhang Zhi felt helpless. He originally thought the system would simply borrow him the high-tier spirit stones that it took from him, around a hundred would be enough for the bet, but the system lent him a low-tier immortal stone instead.
Great. Now, even a Nascent Soul Patriarch came to the blacksmith because of the immortal stone.
The Grand Elder acted like he had never heard of an immortal stone before but Zhang Zhi knew what was going on in the man’s head. “There’s nothing special about it, it’s just a low-tier immortal stone.”
Zhang Zhi sounded nonchalant but he was afraid that the Grand Elder would forcefully snatch it from him. The Grand Elder might be a kind man but once the temptation reached a certain level, even a kind man might break his own rules.
As the saying goes: one should not have the heart to harm others but must be vigilant so as not to be harmed.
Zhang Zhi kept the stone in his magic pouch.
The Grand Elder sighed and clicked his tongue in disappointment. He really thought he would do whatever it takes to get his hands on the immortal stone but in a moral and legitimate way. He could use other items or spirit stones of equal value to exchange for it and try his best to satisfy Zhang Zhi. The stone was useless to Zhang Zhi anyway.
However, based on Zhang Zhi’s reaction, he obviously knew what the Grand Elder was trying to do, which embarrassed the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder blushed. In order to divert attention, he asked, “Why is there a crowd in your blacksmith?”
One of the Golden Core experts, a purple inheritance disciple, answered, “Grand Elder, Heavenly Soldier Pavilion is here to compete with Owner Zhang. Yin Wenbin here is betting the epic-tier spirit stone and Owner Zhang…”
The inheritance disciple gulped nervously before he continued, “…is betting the low-tier immortal stone.”
“Hmmph?” The Grand Elder looked at Yin Wenbin and his junior sister with slight dissatisfaction.
Through the brief conversation, Yin Wenbin knew that the man was the Grand Elder but he was not afraid because he had Heavenly Soldier Pavilion to back him up.
If the Grand Elder treated him unfairly, he would escalate the matter and report it back to his sect.
He cupped his fists and said, “I am Yin Wenbin, a disciple from Heavenly Soldier Pavilion. Grand Elder, is there anything that you would like to enlighten me?”
The Grand Elder knew why Yin Wenbin and his junior sister came to Lingtai Town after a quick thought but if he simply told them to leave, he might offend Heavenly Soldier Pavilion.
Therefore, after some serious consideration, he came up with a good idea.
Since Yin Wenbin was here to challenge Zhang Zhi, the Grand Elder ought to play along and let Yin Wenbin realize his shortcomings.
After he made up his mind, the Grand Elder said, “There’s only improvement with competition. I don’t have anything to say but I will bet with you on behalf of Zhang Zhi.”
He then offered a piece of epic-tier spirit stone. As a Nascent Soul Patriarch, of course he was able to offer a piece of epic-tier spirit stone.
The reason the Grand Elder was so generous was because he did not want to put the immortal stone in danger. At the same time, his goodwill could appeal to Zhang Zhi and it would be easier for him to talk to Zhang Zhi about the immortal stone later.
However, Yin Wenbin refused to comply. He said with a grin, “Grand Elder, I understand what you are trying to do but Owner Zhang already said he would be betting the immortal stone. It’s best for him to keep his promise if he’s a man! Grand Elder, as a senior, I suppose you wouldn’t want to encourage such an act right?”
“You!” The Golden Core experts did not expect Yin Wenbin to be so stubborn and harsh.
Right before they could criticize him, Zhang Zhi stepped in. “Grand Elder, this is between me and Yin Wenbin, I hope you can leave it to me.”
Zhang Zhi wanted to complete his mission, therefore he was unhappy about the Grand Elder’s sudden intervention.
The Grand Elder was shocked. ‘Is he out of his mind? Is he really betting the immortal stone?!’
Before the Grand Elder could say anything, Yin Wenbin laughed brazenly. “Hahaha! What a man, Owner Zhang! Since you are betting with the immortal stone, I won’t take advantage of you either!”
He took a step back to seize the opportunity and took out a piece of white iron. “Even though an epic-tier spirit stone and this White Tiger Iron combined is still lackluster when compared to a low-tier immortal stone, the value is close enough. I hope Owner Zhang doesn’t mind.”
White Tiger iron was one of the best iron out there. Together with Azure Dragon Iron, Vermilion Bird Iron and Black Tortoise Iron, they were known as the Four Constellation Dragon and were perfect materials to forge a high-tier spirit artifact.
Even though the White Tiger Iron was only as big as a thumb, it was worth quite a number of epic-tier spirit stones. The value was still far inferior to the immortal stone but its rarity could make up for its lacking value.
If it was not for the Grand Elder’s vast knowledge, the other Golden Core experts might not even know what the piece of iron was even after explanation.
Yin Wenbin’s junior sister did not expect her senior brother to be this bold. He did not only bet the starting funds, he even threw in the most precious material they possessed. It scared her a little.
“Senior, if we lose, we lose everything…”
“Hmph! Shortsighted! How could I lose?” Yin Wenbin did not only want to destroy Zhang Zhi, he also wanted the immortal stone.
The epic-tier stone and the White Tiger Iron belonged to their sect, if they could use the sect’s property to win themselves a piece of immortal stone, it would be great.
He never even considered the possibility of losing to Zhang Zhi. The owner of a puny blacksmith in a rural town, even if the owner was skillful, could never win against him, who was from Heavenly Soldier Pavilion.
That was the reason why he called his junior sister shortsighted and why he said he would never lose.
The junior sister knew what her senior brother was thinking. If the two of them worked together, they were able to forge a low-tier spirit artifact, so there was no reason to be afraid of a puny blacksmith owner.
She decided to go along with the bet.
On the other hand, Zhang Zhi originally only wanted the system’s reward and did not take the epic-tier spirit stone seriously. After all, even if he got the stone, the system would take 90% of it and leave him with only 100 high-tier spirit tones.
Now, Yin Wenbin added the White Tiger Iron in the bet and it made Zhang Zhi happy.
“Okay, let’s start! But how should we compete?” Zhang Zhi was impatient to get his hand on the piece of iron.
If they were fighting, they could rely on their respective cultivation level to determine the victor but they were having a forging competition, Zhang Zhi had no idea how the competition would work.
“According to Heavenly Soldier Pavilion’s rules, since I initiated the challenge, you have the right to determine what kind of artifact we are forging,” Yin Wenbin said generously.
Whether it was a trap or not, Zhang Zhi could only forge flying swords now, so he said, “Flying swords then.”
“Great!” Yin Wenbin looked delighted. He added, “Since you’ve decided the artifact, I will set the rules for the competition…”
It was at that moment, the others knew what Yin Wenbin was trying to do. No matter what kind of artifact Zhang Zhi decides, Yin Wenbin could turn the competition to his advantage by setting the rules.
It was an obvious trap and the Golden Core experts felt bad for Zhang Zhi. However, it was too early to jump to conclusion, they could criticize Yin Wenbin after he set the rules.
A quick thought later, Yin Wenbin said, “How about this? Since Owner Zhang can also forge high-tier artifacts, let’s forge one within a certain time limit. How does the duration of a joss stick sound? As for how to determine the victor, we will fight each other using the swords and the sword that emerges unscathed will be the winner. How’s that?”
The Grand Elder kept quiet. Yin Wenbin did not want to compete using the sword’s tier, instead he wanted to test the sword’s integrity. In other words, he was trying to compete with raw material.
Yin Wenbin was from Heavenly Soldier Pavilion and since he could offer a White Tiger Iron, he must have other valuable items in his possession.
On the other hand, Zhang Zhi might be skillful but being a rural town, Lingtai Tai Town’s resources were scarce.
Yin Wenbin was prepared to accept criticism from the others after he revealed his plan but the Grand Elder and the Golden Core experts only showed surprise and nothing else, they did not criticize him at all.
He was a little shocked. His plan was simple and yet none of them was able to see through him? Bumpkins were really stupid but it saved him a lot of trouble.
The truth was, the Grand Elder and the other Golden Core experts knew what Yin Wenbin was trying to do but they did not criticize him because Zhang Zhi usually provided the materials for restoration and refinement, it should be easy for Zhang Zhi to take something precious out of his sleeve.
The others might not say it out loud but they were delighted deep down.
‘A forging material contest? Owner Zhang got this in the bag!’
Zhang Zhi reacted bitterly at the Golden Core experts’ anticipated gaze. He knew what they were thinking but the materials that he had been using were provided by the system only for restoration and refinement.
The system told him that if he wanted to forge, he must secure his own material even in this competition. He tried to negotiate with the system but the system rejected him.
‘What a sh*tty system…’
Nevertheless, Zhang Zhi agreed. He believed in his own forging skills and besides, falling out now would attract more trouble than before.
“Since Owner Zhang agreed with the terms, let’s start now.”
Yin Wenbin was afraid that Zhang Zhi would back away from the promise, so he quickly took a joss stick out and lit it up.
“Grand Elder, you are the most respected figure here, so please be a witness to the competition so that no one will criticize the fairness after this.”
Yin Wenbin was actually afraid that the Grand Elder would turn on him and side with Zhang Zhi, hence the little request. With that, it would be inappropriate for the Grand Elder to bias towards Zhang Zhi.
Yin Wenbin’s plan was meticulous and almost flawless.
The Grand Elder did not say anything. After all, he knew Zhang Zhi provided materials for restoration and refinement, so worries were unnecessary.
He said, “Not a problem. I am honored to witness the competition between Heavenly Soldier Pavilion and Lingtai Town’s young and aspiring blacksmith.”
Yin Wenbin expressed his gratitude before he took his tools out of his magic pouch.
A mobile heart, a wind box and many other forging tools. Every tool that he possessed was embedded with either gold or silver. In terms of looks, Yin Wenbin looked a lot stronger than Zhang Zhi’s dull and plain hammer and anvil.
He then took several pieces of iron and tossed it into his hearth. He even used his spiritual power to boost the hearth’s temperature so that he could finish within the time limit.
On the other hand, Zhang Zhi watched and nodded repeatedly at Yin Wenbin’s smooth operation, as if he was just a viewer.
The Grand Elder curiously asked, “Zhang Zhi, what are you doing? The duration of one joss stick will soon pass, hurry up and forge the sword!”
“Oh. Okay then, can you watch my blacksmith for a while? I’m going to the market right now.”
Zhang Zhi wanted to leave as he said and it caught everyone off guard.
“Why are you going to the market now?”
“I’m going to buy some materials. How can I forge a flying sword without materials?” Zhang Zhi sounded natural and right.
Yin Wenbin was shocked when he heard that. Distracted, he lost his balance and accidentally hammered his hand, causing him to squeal in pain.