Xiao Ran looked up and glanced at the iron ring flickering with a red glow, which gave him the unsettling, jarring impression of artificial intelligence.
Coupled with Gao Shi's lean figure and a height half a head taller than his own, it gave off a stark, cold suppression.
Xiao Ran cupped his fists in a slight salute.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Gao Shi. My sudden visit today has caused much intrusion."
Gao Shi returned the courtesy.
"Junior brother is too polite."
His voice sounded somewhat cold and ruthless, to the point where Xiao Ran began to doubt the accuracy of certain legends about him.
The cliffs of Sword-Tempering Mountain were numerous and appeared somewhat barren, yet they carried their own archaic, razor-sharp edge.
Gao Shi led Xiao Ran into the Yixiantian stone path, speaking as they walked:
"Master is repairing the grand array in the array eye cave of our mountain, so he can only transmit his voice. Do not take offense at not meeting senior face to face with junior brother."
"It is no matter."
They arrived at the Sword-Tempering Mountain reception hall.
The great hall was constructed of iron-stone and dark wood, as simple and sharp as the mountain gate, which naturally made one sit up straight and banished any stray thoughts.
On the Profound Crystal Stone long table in the center sat a set of archaic tea ware, with two cups of hot tea drifting with hazy tea steam.
An aged, vigorous, and slightly raspy voice came from the dome.
"I didn't expect you to come so early."
Following the voice, Xiao Ran gave a slight salute and said, "This disciple greets Senior Uncle Moxia."
True Person Moxia said, "Sit. This is cooling tea boiled with earthfire; have a taste."
Earthfire could brew cooling tea? Wasn't it supposed to prevent internal heat like Wang Lao Ji? Xiao Ran cautiously took a sip.
Accompanied by the dark red tea liquid sending ripples across the tip of his tongue, a dense sword intent quickly penetrated the root of his tongue, spreading along his throat into the blood vessels of his entire body like a cold sword plunging into magma, playing a symphony of high mountain ice and fire.
Setting down the tea cup, Xiao Ran praised with emotion:
"I had some worries before coming, but I never expected senior uncle's tea-making skills to be so exquisite."
True Person Moxia let out a deep laugh.
"This is Gao Shi's handiwork. When would I have the time to make tea?"
It was rare to see Master laugh, so Gao Shi seized the opportunity to take off the black iron ring, unexpectedly revealing a slightly childish face. His stern aura vanished instantly in an Nth degree.
It was a rare shota long face with wandering eyes and not bad facial features; it just looked frivolous, giving the feeling of someone deeply obsessed with having fun.
"Senior brother has fine skills."
Xiao Ran turned to compliment Gao Shi.
After removing the iron ring, Gao Shi was in his element, his temperament changing drastically. However, with True Person Moxia nearby, he still spoke with extreme caution.
"I heard that junior brother was already a master of all trades before cultivation. I'd like to ask for junior brother's detailed views on sword hedges and if there are any areas for improvement."
Xiao Ran picked up his cup.
"I wouldn't dare."
Next, the three of them sipped tea while discussing detailed insights regarding architecture and spirit runes.
Xiao Ran conversed with wit and ease, modest and promising, and his architectural attainments were extremely high, leaving a deep impression on True Person Moxia.
Yet clearly, after so many events within the sect, the interest of the three was no longer in details like architecture.
Before True Person Moxia and the master-disciple pair of Gao Shi was a genuine Great Emperor Potential, a direct disciple hidden by the sect and cultivated with key focus, someone who might grow into the new generation's figurehead of Zongzhi Mountain.
Yet his growth required time, and time was precisely what the Dharma Ending Era lacked the most.
Wraith had already set its sights on Zongzhi Mountain, and the sect leader would be forced to undergo tribulation in three years...
To say they were currently in a state on the eve of battle was no exaggeration.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Gao Shi spoke on behalf of True Person Moxia:
"Junior brother has come here this time, surely there must be other important matters."
Xiao Ran said, "Well, I want a kind of flame fungus that can warm wine. It should be in the aged sword furnaces."
Gao Shi was stunned.
So that thing could warm wine?
That was even more stimulating than using spirit runes to warm tea...
How come he hadn't thought of it?
That wasn't the point! "Did junior brother make a special trip over just to warm wine?"
"Precisely."
Gao Shi rubbed his forehead, his expression suddenly harboring a trace of envy and jealousy.
"Junior brother really knows how to handle women..."
A cold and raspy voice fell like a heavy hammer.
"Gao Shi!"
"Ahem, ahem."
Coughing twice hurriedly, Gao Shi said, "The fungus stones for the flame fungus are not a problem. Later on, I will get some for junior brother."
"Many thanks."
True Person Moxia said earnestly, "A young person's time should be placed on cultivation. Striving in cultivation is the greatest filial piety toward Master."
If I didn't suck up to Master, would I have max level architectural attainments that make you bow in admiration? And without max level architectural attainments, could I be sitting here listening to your nonsense? Faking compliance, Xiao Ran said respectfully, "Senior uncle's teachings are right."
After a brief silence, True Person Moxia asked again:
"How are the preparations for the Sword Inheritance Assembly?"
Finally reaching the core issue, Xiao Ran immediately stated:
"This disciple has decided to pick a day to ascend Sword Mountain within half a month."
"Within half a month?"
True Person Moxia was slightly startled.
Although True Person Yinyue's submitted summary of physical constitutions indicated that Xiao Ran's dantian, after fusing with the flood dragon pill, could ascend Sword Mountain to receive sword inheritance as early as ten days later,
sword inheritance valued divine soul and sword techniques even more than physical constitution.
"The Sword Inheritance Assembly requires that while you possess a heaven-defying will, you must also possess a heaven-compliant sword technique. Have you prepared all of these?"
Though he hadn't fully prepared, Xiao Ran didn't change his expression. "This disciple will have them ready."
True Person Moxia in the array eye cave nodded slightly.
This sentence itself contained a heaven-defying will! A true sword-wielder would not wait for a foolproof opportunity to draw their sword, but would accept fate's inspection at any time.
"The judge for this Sword Inheritance Assembly is Li Wuxie, the newly appointed Dao Alliance Chief of East Floating City. I hear she is a ruthless character and won't let you pass easily."
Xiao Ran thought to himself.
Could she be even more ruthless than Mad Hunt? "In the Dharma Ending Era, nothing is easy. Time waits for no one, and Senior Uncle Sect Leader is about to undergo tribulation. These three years may be the most precious time for Zongzhi Mountain."
"As long as you understand."
Immediately, True Person Moxia had Gao Shi retrieve some ancient texts regarding the Sword Inheritance Assembly to give to Xiao Ran.
Among them, several duplicated copies concerning sword intent and sword techniques were the protective treasures of Sword-Tempering Mountain.
Having given his instructions, True Person Moxia spoke no further and went to concentrate on repairing the grand array.
Only then did Gao Shi heave a sigh of relief. He gulped down a mouthful of tea, patted Xiao Ran's shoulder, and said, "You don't need to be too nervous either. Although everyone is watching you, failure is also a common human experience. It's just like pursuing a woman—if it doesn't work once, doing it a few more times will do."
As he spoke, his expression gradually grew desolate, as if he were intoxicated by the tea.
Xiao Ran smiled without a word.
Chunwa and Qiuchan had once said that Senior Brother Gao Shi was a famously defeated hound within the sect, extremely eager for romance between men and women; yet every single one of his pursuits ended in failure.
It wouldn't work once, and it wouldn't work any time—he could be called the Hanamichi Sakuragi of the cultivation world.
After a brief silence,
Gao Shi stood up and led Xiao Ran together to the sword-casting furnaces to look for the flame fungus stone.
After walking past several sword-casting furnaces, they finally found a massive fungus stone.
The rock was formed from cooled magma, and the flame fungus inside was an ancient fungus of ten thousand years that could generate its own heat and nourish the dantian.
An image flashed in Xiao Ran's mind.
The next time Master suffered from the pain of Gui Water, he would immediately serve up the fungus stone to warm the wine and say with extreme gentleness, "Master, drink more magma!"
Gao Shi asked, "What are you smiling at?"
Xiao Ran said, "Nothing."
Instead of handing the fungus stone to Xiao Ran right away, Gao Shi with a cautious expression fetched a letter from his bosom.
The handwriting on the outer envelope was graceful and delicate, far more handsome than his own.
Xiao Ran looked slightly puzzled.
"This is..."
Gao Shi said with some embarrassment, "This is an expression letter. Actually, I've always liked Junior Niece Chuyan. Previously, because Little Qiong Peak had too many ex-dao companions, I was too embarrassed to confess to her. Now that she has come to Sword-Wielding Mountain, I finally have a chance to confess. Junior brother must make the decision for me."
Taking advantage of the fact that I'm asking you for a favor, you're asking me to play matchmaker for you? True to form!
Little Qiong Peak had too many ex-dao companions?
The object of your confession was your ex-dao companion? Xiao Ran was won over.
"With a generation between you two, how could you bring yourself to do it?"
Gao Shi laughed sneakily.
"Doesn't junior brother also have a generation between himself and the Sword-Wielding Elder?"
"?"
Xiao Ran wore a bewildered expression.
Yet he couldn't even be bothered to explain anything to this lustful, foolish fellow.
He thought to himself that if he were Senior Uncle Moxia, not only would he put a ring on this guy, but he would also lock him in a chastity belt!
Seeing Gao Shi's expectant look, Xiao Ran asked him, "Are you more handsome than me?"
Gao Shi smiled, possessing some self-awareness.
"Naturally, junior brother is more handsome."
Xiao Ran asked again:
"Are you more of a master of all trades than me?"
Gao Shi answered modestly:
"I only know how to smith and brew tea, not a master of all trades like junior brother."
Xiao Ran asked once more:
"Is your talent higher than mine?"
Even though Gao Shi's sword-casting talent surpassed True Person Moxia's, it still fell a bit short compared to Xiao Ran's Heavenly Saint Aptitude.
"There's no comparison."
Xiao Ran's expression suddenly turned cold as he forcefully snatched the fungus stone from Gao Shi's hands.
"She has no interest in someone like me. What makes you think she'll take a fancy to you?"
Before you continue