Weapon Refining Seedling Selection

What a coincidence—speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrived.

Ling Pengyun, who had been stationed on Azure Stone Mountain, had earlier sensed an exceptionally powerful spiritual energy fluctuation erupt from nearby Azure Stone Lake. He immediately stopped cultivating and examined the situation. Once he saw that it was Ling Yunhong, Ling Ruxian, and an unfamiliar face setting up an array formation, he finally relaxed.

He had thought that the Mystic Water Iron Mine had been discovered by outsiders, and that they had fought with Ling Ruxian, who was guarding the mine.

After realizing what had happened, he immediately descended the mountain and hurried over, arriving beside Ling Yunhong and Ling Ruxian at the shore of Azure Stone Lake.

Ling Pengyun asked curiously, "Third Grandfather, Thirteenth Grandfather, were you setting up an array formation above that mine just now?"

"Indeed!" Ling Yunhong replied. Then, recalling something, he asked, "Pengyun, how far have you comprehended the Earthly Fiend Swordplay Secret recently?"

Ling Pengyun was not surprised that Ling Yunhong knew he was studying the swordplay secret. He answered simply, "There has not been much progress. By my estimate, I fear it will take at least three to five years to comprehend this swordplay secret!"

Upon hearing this, both Ling Yunhong and Ling Ruxian inwardly shuddered.

Seeing the helpless look on Ling Pengyun's face, Ling Yunhong smiled. "Your Thirteenth Grandfather spent seven years comprehending this swordplay secret. Peng Xing spent five years, while I spent four years comprehending this sword formation. If you are confident of comprehending this swordplay secret within three to five years, your comprehension is already quite good—enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Do not lose heart!"

"This swordplay secret is the core of the Sword Formation, so naturally it is more difficult to comprehend!"

Hearing those comforting words, Ling Pengyun's eyes lit up. He had thought he was progressing slowly in comprehending the swordplay secret. Who would have thought he was actually rather fast?

It seems that breath of Yin Yang Primordial Qi truly improved my comprehension quite a bit!

"It is getting late, and I still have important matters to attend to. I will return to the lineage first. You two continue talking!" After saying that, Ling Yunhong mounted the Immortal Spirit Crane King and hurried back toward the lineage.

"Pengyun, have you encountered any difficulties while comprehending the swordplay secret?" After hearing of Ling Pengyun's speed in comprehending the swordplay secret, Ling Ruxian was greatly satisfied. Only then did he take the initiative to offer him some guidance.

Ling Pengyun did not stand on ceremony and began, "Yes. When I was comprehending this swordplay secret..."

Thus, the two stood at the shore of Azure Stone Lake and held a Dao Discussion with the swordplay secret as their subject.

Several hours passed before this Dao Discussion finally ended.

Ling Pengyun glanced over and saw quite a few Azure Stone Village villagers poking their heads out and watching this place. His brow furrowed as he asked, "Thirteenth Grandfather, what should we do about those Azure Stone Village villagers who, like me, were drawn here by the phenomena from the array formation protecting the mine?"

"Let them be. Even if they spread rumors recklessly, it will not matter. Now that the Hundred Spirits Sect is involved with this mine, the other Foundation Establishment Families of Huai River County cannot do anything to us. The other great sects of Yan Kingdom would not even look twice at such a small mine. Rest easy!" Ling Ruxian waved a hand.

The two chatted idly for a while longer before parting ways.

One returned to Azure Stone Mountain, while the other returned to the Mystic Water Iron Mine at the bottom of Azure Stone Lake.

Lingxiao Mountain, Council Hall.

As soon as Ling Yunhong returned to Lingxiao Mountain atop the Immortal Spirit Crane King, he summoned Grand Elder Ling Ruda and Fifth Elder Ling Yunxi, who were within the lineage, to the Council Hall.

Having received the news, Ling Ruda entered the Council Hall together with Ling Yunxi. Seeing Ling Yunhong seated at the head of the long table, his face glowing red and brimming with anticipation, he asked,

"Yunhong, did you gain anything from your trip to the Hundred Spirits Sect?"

"Third Brother, did you obtain the Second Rank Alchemy Inheritance?" Ling Yunxi wore the same expression as she spoke.

Ling Yunhong smiled and carefully recounted the gains from this trip. "I did not fail my mission. During this trip to the Hundred Spirits Sect, we used Mystic Water Iron Ore to exchange not only for the Second Rank Alchemy Inheritance and the First Rank Weapon Refining Inheritance, but also for a set of First-Order Array Master Inheritance. As for the Foundation Establishment cultivation method, I chose the gold-attribute Geng Metal Sword Classic, which complements Peng Xing's primary Gold Spirit Root."

"The first reason for choosing this sword cultivator method centered on the Gold Spirit Root is that our lineage possesses the Earthly Fiend Sword Formation. If it is wielded using a sword cultivator method, it will surely unleash the full power of this Sword Formation. Slaying multiple enemies across realms may even be possible!"

"The second reason is that Peng Xing, who primarily cultivates a Gold Spirit Root, is likewise walking the path of the sword cultivator. He comprehended the Sword Formation and sword intent early on, which is why I chose it!"

"However, to exchange for these four items, we spent more Mystic Water Iron Ore than we had anticipated—an entire fifty thousand jin of it!"

Ling Ruda did not care about the amount of Mystic Water Iron Ore spent. Instead, he burst into laughter. "No matter, no matter! With the Second Rank Alchemy Inheritance, so long as you, Yunhong, can become a Second Rank Alchemist and those two alchemy seedlings in the lineage prove worthy, our Ling Clan will surely flourish. Furthermore, these three hundred arts inheritances you acquired this time will complete the five arts of arrays, weapon refining, talismans, alchemy, and spirit plants that our Ling Clan previously lacked. Our Ling Clan already possesses First Rank inheritances in all these hundred arts. Our foundation will likely be enough to rival certain long-established Foundation Establishment Families. Why should we fear that we will not prosper!"

As for Ling Yunxi, who had been stuck at First Rank Middle Grade in the art of array formations for many years due to lacking a complete First-Order Array Master Inheritance, she had long since smiled so broadly that she could not close her mouth upon hearing of this additional gain. For a time, she was utterly lost in thought.

Only after quite a while did she return to her senses and thank Ling Yunhong. "Third Brother, thank you!"

Ling Yunhong understood her meaning. He took a book from his Storage Bag and tossed it to Ling Yunxi. "No matter. Exchanging for this array formation inheritance was both for you and for the lineage. This is a copied version of the First-Order Array Master Inheritance. Do not spread it outside!"

Ling Yunxi caught the book and flipped through it. When she saw the array formation contents within, her expression became incomparably excited.

"Fifteenth Sister, enough. Put aside your study of array formations for now. The lineage has long selected key seedlings for alchemy and spirit talismans, but we have yet to select seedlings for array formations and weapon refining! During my absence, have you found any suitable candidates?" Seeing Ling Yunxi's expression, Ling Yunhong interrupted and asked.

Ling Ruda said nothing, merely turning his gaze toward Ling Yunxi. Clearly, Ling Yunxi had someone she wished to recommend.

Ling Yunxi glanced at Ling Ruda and met his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, "Third Brother, you also know that the path of array formations is far more difficult than the other hundred arts. As the lineage's only Array Formation Master, I search every year for people with talent in array formations. Yet among the entire clan, only my granddaughter Peng Lin has some talent. I intend to recommend Peng Lin as a key seedling for the art of array formations. Would that be acceptable?"

To prevent Clan Head Ling Yunhong from suspecting her of using her position for personal gain by promoting a descendant of her own branch, Ling Yunxi added another sentence.

"Third Brother, please believe me. I have no intention of using my position for personal gain. This child Peng Lin truly is quite talented in array formations. Under my instruction, she is now on the verge of entering the First Rank Low Grade realm in array formations!"

Ling Yunhong said, "We have known one another for decades. I know what kind of person you are. The key clan member for array formations shall be Peng Lin, the tenth of the Peng Generation. From now on, she may receive support from the lineage's resources for setting up array formations. However, Fifteenth Sister, I will say the harsh words first. Like the key clan members cultivated in alchemy, spirit talismans, and spirit plants, Peng Lin must formally enter the First Rank Low Grade realm in her respective hundred art before she turns eighteen. Otherwise, she will lose the lineage's key cultivation!"

Ling Yunxi said joyfully, "Third Brother, rest assured. Within a year, Peng Lin will be able to set up array formations herself and enter the First Rank Low Grade realm!"

"Good. I will wait for the day our Ling Clan gains another Array Formation Master. Fifteenth Sister, Eleventh Uncle, have you found a candidate for the sole missing weapon refining seedling among arrays, spirit plants, alchemy, weapon refining, and talismans?" Ling Yunhong asked.

"No! Over the past few months since the Mystic Water Iron Mine was discovered, I had Yun An screen the Xiao and Peng Generations in the lineage for seedlings talented in weapon refining. Yet apart from Xiao Hua, who had long followed Yun An and handled the refining of ores into spirit iron, no one else had any talent for weapon refining. But Xiao Hua is already fifty years old. Though he has some talent in weapon refining, it is limited. All these years, he has remained an apprentice weapon refiner, with a low success rate in weapon refining, and has never crossed into the First Rank realm! Making him our Ling Clan's weapon refining seedling would be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut." Ling Ruda shook his head.

At this, Ling Yunhong's brows drew together slightly, and he was deeply disappointed.

He had paid a tremendous price to exchange for the weapon refining inheritance from the Hundred Spirits Sect, yet there was no one in the lineage capable of inheriting it. This was truly the sorrow of the Ling Clan.

With a helpless sigh, Ling Yunhong thought of himself. Not only was he a Second Rank Spirit Plant Master, but he was also a First Rank Middle Grade Weapon Refiner and a First Rank Low Grade Alchemist, cultivating three hundred arts at once.

He then planned to have a clan member with outstanding comprehension cultivate two hundred arts simultaneously, thereby preparing for after Ling Yun An's death and preventing the lineage from falling into a situation where it had no Weapon Refiner.

His eyes brightened as he made a suggestion.

"What do you think of Pengyun?"

As soon as this suggestion was voiced, Ling Ruda, who regarded Ling Pengyun as his successor, sternly rejected it. "No. Setting aside whether Pengyun can comprehend weapon refining, he has already entered the path of spirit plants and still needs to cultivate. If he is made to step into weapon refining as well, I fear he will have no hope of breaking through to Qi Training Completion before the age of sixty!"

Seeing Ling Ruda refuse, Ling Yunhong's brows furrowed slightly as he said, "Eleventh Uncle, everyone knows that every hundred art places great importance on comprehension and Divine Sense. Among the Peng Generation, the only one who can compare with Pengyun in comprehension and Divine Sense is likely Peng Xing. Although Peng Xing does not practice any hundred art, he has already entered the path of the sword and finds it difficult to divide his attention!"

"There is basically no talent left in the Xiao Generation. Among the young Peng Generation, every person whose name can be mentioned has already entered another path. I am a Spirit Plant Master myself, so I naturally know that compared to the other hundred arts, the path of spirit plants does not require much time."

"Besides, even without weapon refining holding him back, what chance does Pengyun have of breaking through to Qi Training Completion before sixty?"

"What chance does he have of entering Foundation Establishment?"

"Rather than let things remain this way, it would be better to give him another path to earn Spirit Stones. If Pengyun proves worthy, he can completely follow my example from my youth and walk the paths of spirit plants and weapon refining side by side, relying on both arts to earn Spirit Stones, purchase resources, and accelerate the pace of his cultivation!"

"Furthermore, Pengyun and I have made an agreement. If he can break through to Qi Training Completion before the age of sixty, the lineage can jointly fund the purchase of an inferior Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object with him. If he relies solely on the path of spirit plants to earn Spirit Stones, it will likely be rather difficult for him to earn that many Spirit Stones!"

"Though I am also a Weapon Refiner, I must shoulder the lineage's alchemy path and raise my alchemy rank to the Second Rank as quickly as possible, so I have little energy to refine magical artifacts for the lineage. Yun An, the lineage's other Weapon Refiner, also does not have much lifespan left. We must find another weapon refining seedling. Otherwise, our Ling Clan's magical artifacts will be constrained by this in the future, and we will be able to purchase them only from outside. The weapon refining inheritance would also be wasted for nothing."

Upon hearing these words, Ling Ruda was immediately speechless.

Indeed, the lineage lacked talent. Of the few people worth mentioning, all were already seedlings in other hundred arts. Only Ling Pengyun cultivated the path of spirit plants, which required relatively little time compared to the other hundred arts, and possessed excellent comprehension and Divine Sense.

"Fine, I agree to this matter. But if Pengyun does not agree, you must not force him!" Ling Ruda said helplessly.

"Of course!" Ling Yunhong said with a smile.

With the seedlings for weapon refining and array formations selected, this council meeting was also nearing its end.

Thanks to Yun Tianwang Chuimo Qingchi for the monthly ticket.