The Hero's Tower's Arrogance, Joining the Weapon Forging Workshop

Upon seeing the letter, the guard dared not be negligent and invited Zhou Qiming upstairs to meet Tower Master Ren Pingsheng.

Seeing the guard treat the youth with such respect, the diners in the first-floor hall all set down their chopsticks and cast curious glances.

"Doesn't look like an expert from the Human Ranking. New face."

"Maybe he's here to challenge. Wonder how many moves he can last against Overlord Saber Liu Wuming."

"Last month, Mad Saber Bai Hao of the Four Young Masters of Luoshan defeated Liu Wuming in ten moves, securing a spot at the bottom of the Human Ranking. The Bai Family truly produced a remarkable Heavenly Prodigy. Worthy of the name Mad Saber."

Zhou Qiming overheard the crowd's chatter and quickly grasped the situation.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking was divided into the Dragon Ranking and the Human Ranking. The Human Ranking collected the battle records of young experts from all prefectures and counties under Yuyun Prefecture, while the Dragon Ranking ranked the entire Great Xia.

As for Overlord Saber Liu Wuming, he was a veteran Tendon Transformation Martial Artist, solidly the gatekeeper of the Human Ranking. Defeating him would grant permanent free VIP access to the top floor of Hero's Tower.

Zhou Qiming shook his head with a faint smile, letting the words fall behind him. He had come to seek out Ren Pingsheng for development, aiming only to establish a foothold in the county. If he rashly revealed his strength for a moment of pride, he would put himself in danger.

At the second-floor stairway, Liu Wuming, in his fifties or sixties with a few strands of white hair, wore brocade robes. He stood like a straight, razor-sharp saber.

His saber aura surged as his gaze swept over Zhou Qiming like lightning.

"Another one trying to step on this old man to make a name for himself?"

He had seen plenty of ambitious youths like this over the years, and all had fallen to his Overlord Saber. Those with Human Ranking strength, like Mad Saber, were ultimately rare.

Liu Wuming stepped forward, intending to suppress the youth with his momentum and give him a taste of his authority.

Suddenly, the aura he had built up crashed against what felt like a towering snowy mountain, shattered and scattered by an invisible force. He let out a muffled groan and stumbled back, clearing the path to the third floor.

"What? Could this be the Hua Jin level—where not even a fly can land, not even a leaf can touch?"

Liu Wuming's face changed in shock. Watching the youth ascend the stairs, his scalp tingled.

He felt that Zhou Qiming's strength was unfathomable. He immediately lost the courage to draw his saber and test him. If he did, he might die.

This youth, barely in his teens, already possessed strength no less than Bai Hao's. In the future, he would surely have the foundation to challenge the top ranks of the Human Ranking!

The guard beside him, unaware of the truth, only saw Liu Wuming step back and make way. He assumed the Overlord Saber was in an unusually good mood today and hadn't lashed out at the challenger.

"This young man must have a significant background. Even Uncle Liu dares not make a move. Maybe he's a distant relative of the Tower Master." The guard grew more cautious, not daring to slack off.

Zhou Qiming climbed the stairs, his expression shifting slightly. "The heroes of this world are truly as numerous as carp crossing a river. Even a Tendon Transformation Martial Artist is only fit to guard the door."

He had only just arrived in the county and already encountered a Tendon Transformation expert, and the man was merely the gatekeeper of Hero's Tower. It seemed the waters in Luoshan County ran deep. He couldn't afford to be reckless.

"Nephew Zhou, you want to join Hero's Tower?" Ren Pingsheng had already read the letter. He frowned and stood up to ask.

"Whatever arrangement the Tower Master sees fit. This Humble One merely seeks a job to make a living." Zhou Qiming cupped his hands politely, choosing to trust Uncle Xu's judgment of people.

"Leave. I have no vacancies here at the moment." Ren Pingsheng shook his head, keeping his distance.

"What? But..." Zhou Qiming was taken aback, then asked with concern, "Has Hero's Tower encountered some thorny problem? Perhaps I can help."

After all, Xu Hailai had treated him well. Hero's Tower must be in some kind of trouble.

But Ren Pingsheng only shook his head with a cold laugh and clapped his hands to order the guard:

"If you find this book enjoyable, to avoid losing it next time, please remember to add it to your bookshelf."

"Show him out. Even if Hero's Tower has trouble, how could a country boy like you help? Who do you think you are, trying to claim a connection? You're Old Xu's son, aren't you? My daughter will never marry you now. Give up."

With that, he ordered a guard to fetch one hundred taels of silver as travel expenses and repayment, then kicked Zhou Qiming out.

"It seems you've misunderstood something. If this place won't keep me, there are plenty that will. Keep your silver for your daughter's dowry."

Zhou Qiming snorted coldly and swept out, deeply disappointed in Ren Pingsheng.

A tower master of such standing repaying a benefactor who once gave him a meal of charity like this—it was chilling.

"A toad lusting after swan meat. Don't blame me, Old Xu. My daughter has already connected with the Bai Family's young master. That old joke of an agreement can be buried in the coffin."

Watching Zhou Qiming leave, Ren Pingsheng's expression was cold. He carefully tucked away the one hundred taels of silver.

Just then, his daughter Ren Xue came out at the sound of the commotion. Her face was as fair as snow, her temperament cold and aloof.

She parted her red lips and asked, "Father, what was that about?"

"Just the descendant of an old acquaintance, trying to use a small favor from the past to get me to arrange a job. With all the business Hero's Tower has, I can't afford to keep idle hands."

Ren Pingsheng shook his head and recounted the old story.

Years ago, when his hometown was struck by a locust plague, he fled to Jinshui Town and was saved from starvation by Xu Hailai's charity. At the time, they agreed to repay the favor, with their descendants becoming sworn siblings or marrying.

Clearly, now that Xu Hailai had sent a letter, he must have seen Ren Pingsheng's rise to wealth with Hero's Tower and wanted to leverage the old favor to seize assets through marriage.

"I see. How shameless. That youth would probably have to work a long time to earn one hundred taels. The pride of youth is worthless."

Ren Xue sneered in disdain, gathered her clothes, and called for a carriage to head to the Outer City's City Guard Department for her shift.

"A cook from some backwater village, and he thinks he's worthy of marrying me? My husband should be a Heavenly Prodigy on the Human Ranking, like Young Master Hao."

"Xue'er is right." Ren Pingsheng stroked his beard and nodded with a smile.

On the other side, Zhou Qiming glanced at the recruitment notices from the City Guard Department and the Luoshan Army, shook his head, and ultimately chose to head to the Weapon Forging Workshop to seek out the person Uncle Zhang Tie had recommended.

As for the farce and grudges at Hero's Tower, he didn't take them to heart at all. He had no idea that Ren Pingsheng and his daughter had spun such elaborate fantasies. He had simply wanted to find a job!

"Uncle Xu misjudged them. Hero's Tower will pay for today's arrogance."

Zhou Qiming sighed softly. A mere hundred taels of silver was like tossing scraps to a beggar—he couldn't bear the shame, nor could he drag Xu Hailai's face and pride down with him.

The Weapon Forging Workshop stood on a bustling street, sprawling in size. Like the Hero's Tower and Treasure Pavilion, it was one of the major powers in the county town, with holdings in both the Outer City and Inner City.

Before him lay a grand manor estate covering about an acre, with a pair of large stone lions flanking the entrance.

Stepping through the gate, he saw laborers hauling iron ore, while master craftsmen, bare-armed, swung their hammers. Bellows and furnaces roared in unison.

The gray-haired steward, Mo Bing, received him warmly. Upon hearing that Zhang Tie had recommended him, his delight grew even more.

"Workshop Master Mo Yu has said to start you off as a forging apprentice. From now on, you'll officially be part of the manor."

After Mo Bing went in to report, he soon returned with the good news. Zhang Tie had once studied and trained here, earning Mo Yu's high regard. Anyone he recommended was bound to be a promising talent for forging.

"Then I thank the steward." Zhou Qiming clasped his hands in a bow of gratitude. He registered his name in the manor's roster, officially affiliating himself.

The reason he had chosen the Weapon Forging Workshop was twofold: first, to learn the craft of smithing and increase his Root Bone Value; second, because the place was rich in iron ore resources, allowing him to use his Iron Gall attribute to push the Bone Forging Realm to its peak as quickly as possible.