Wang Yun

"Mystic Gold is an important material for forging Earth Grade Spirit Artifacts. Its hardness goes without saying. Ordinary mortal flames naturally can't melt it."

Looking at the Mystic Gold in his hand, Ye Lin fell into thought.

Forget the Mystic Gold in his hand—even the Yellow-Grade High-Tier Long Sword he carried couldn't be melted by ordinary flames. To fuse the Mystic Gold into the sword, he would have to get a weapon smith to do it.

"Sun-Moon City is enormous. I wonder if I can find a weapon smith here."

With that, Ye Lin began searching for a weapon smith in Sun-Moon City.

Sun-Moon City was a massive city capable of housing a million people. There were countless cultivators within its walls, so it wasn't impossible that he might find someone with special skills.

After searching half the city, Ye Lin really did find a place.

It was an extremely run-down blacksmith's shop. Why was it so run-down? Because even its front door was broken, and there was a huge hole in the roof. It looked utterly shabby.

If not for the three large characters on the signboard, Ye Lin would have thought it was a slum.

Walking in through the doorway, he saw only a small workshop and an old man sprawled on the ground, drinking.

"Get out. I'm closed. If you want something made, go somewhere else."

Seeing Ye Lin walk in, the old man waved him away casually.

As Ye Lin looked at the old man, a transparent panel appeared before his eyes.

Name: Zhang Si

Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Realm

Fate Rank: White

Fate Traits: [Weapon Smith] (Tier 2)

Destiny: He would spend his life guarding the run-down blacksmith's shop and die in obscurity.

Recent Opportunity: None

[Weapon Smith]: You were born with divine strength and a natural talent for weapon forging. In this craft, you can always stay ahead of others.

Looking at the panel, Ye Lin was startled. He hadn't expected to really find a weapon smith.

Weapon smiths and alchemists were both divided into nine tiers, with Tier 1 the lowest and Tier 9 the highest.

"Senior, I've searched all over the city, but I haven't found anyone with real skill. Yours is the last shop."

"Would you be willing to help me out? I'll repay you handsomely afterward."

As he spoke, Ye Lin took out his Long Sword and the Mystic Gold and set them before the old man. At the sight of them, a glimmer appeared in the old man's cloudy eyes.

"Mystic Gold is a fine material. Once you gather all the necessary materials, you can forge an Earth Grade Spirit Artifact. You're certainly willing to spend."

Seeing Ye Lin take out the Mystic Gold and sword, Zhang Si already understood what he wanted.

Ye Lin gave a bitter smile. The materials for an Earth Grade Spirit Artifact were all exceptionally precious. How could he possibly find them?

"Senior, please."

Seeing Ye Lin bow to him, Zhang Si gave a quiet nod. The appearance of his blacksmith's shop had already driven countless people away, and he rarely met a junior as courteous as this one.

"Since you put it that way, this old man will help you out. Once it's done, I'll need one Mid-grade Spirit Stone."

Zhang Si's words startled Ye Lin, but he silently nodded.

Mid-grade Spirit Stones were certainly precious, but weapon smiths were hard to find, and getting one to work for you was even harder.

"All right. One hour."

After speaking, Zhang Si put away his wine gourd, picked up the sword and Mystic Gold, and went to the workbench. In an instant, a blue flame appeared on it.

Zhang Si tossed the Mystic Gold into the flame with practiced ease and began to refine it.

An hour later, Zhang Si was drenched in sweat.

"Disappear!"

With Zhang Si's shout, the blue flame vanished, revealing a sword gleaming with a frigid light.

"Mysterious Grade Low Tier. Not bad."

Looking at the sword, Zhang Si stroked his beard and smiled. He was a Tier 2 weapon smith, and refining Earth Grade materials was still somewhat beyond his abilities.

"Thank you, Senior."

Ye Lin was overjoyed. He took out a Mid-grade Spirit Stone and handed it to Zhang Si.

"No need. You paid; I did the work."

Zhang Si pocketed the Spirit Stone, lay down, and soon began snoring. Ye Lin picked up the sword, put it in his Spatial Ring, and walked out of the blacksmith's shop.

"Now that I have a Mysterious Grade Low Tier Long Sword to help me, even if I fight Zhang Xiao head-on, I can stand undefeated."

As he walked along, Ye Lin murmured to himself.

He had plenty of methods at his disposal now and wasn't afraid of Zhang Xiao at all. If Zhang Xiao dared to attack, Ye Lin would surely be able to take him down.

"It's time to return to the sect. I still haven't claimed Niu Bo's opportunity."

Ye Lin's lips curled into a smile as he walked.

He hurried toward the Azure Cloud Sect. By the time he reached the foot of the mountain, night had fallen, and the moon hung high overhead.

Halfway up, Ye Lin suddenly stopped and looked around.

"Who's there?"

Ye Lin put on an act, letting the Qi Refining Level 6 spiritual energy surge through his body as he scanned his surroundings, looking ready to strike at any moment.

"Pretty alert. Qi Refining Level 6, huh? Not bad. But Qi Refining Level 6 alone won't be enough."

Just then, a young man in a long robe emerged from the darkness.

"Who are you?"

Ye Lin looked at the man before him, his expression grave.

Name: Wang Yun

Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 6

Fate Rank: White

Fate Traits: [Exceptionally Intelligent]

Destiny: Three months later, he would descend the mountain to eliminate demons, only to have an Evil Demon drain all his blood essence and kill him.

Recent Opportunity: Half a month later, he would go to She Mountain to train. By chance, he would discover a cave and find Mystic-Grade High-Tier Spirit Fire inside.

[Exceptionally Intelligent]: You are clever and always think things through before acting. When you encounter danger, you can always use your keen mind to escape it.

Looking at the Life Panel before him, Ye Lin smacked his lips. Spirit Fire was a flame nurtured by heaven and earth.

Whether for alchemy or weapon forging, one needed Spirit Fire. It was extremely precious. Mystic-Grade High-Tier Spirit Fire was worth at least three High-Tier Spirit Stones, yet even then, it was something money couldn't easily buy.

"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that hiding your cultivation doesn't mean you no longer have to fear Zhang Xiao. The gap between Qi Refining Level 6 and Qi Refining Level 8 is like a chasm."

After saying this, Wang Yun was about to leave, but Ye Lin stopped him.

"Now that you know my cultivation level, you have to die."

Ye Lin's face turned murderous. Spiritual energy roiled through his body, and his killing intent was unmistakable.

"Hmph. You'd have to be able to stop me first."

Wang Yun gave a contemptuous snort, circulated the spiritual energy within him, and vanished into the night with an extremely strange movement technique.

Watching Wang Yun leave, Ye Lin drew his cultivation back into his body.

"Scouting? A petty trick."

Ye Lin sneered and headed toward the Azure Cloud Sect.

Although he had never fought Zhang Xiao, the panel had already told him what he needed to know: Zhang Xiao was cautious. Someone that cautious would surely send someone to scout ahead.

So, ever since leaving the Azure Cloud Sect that morning, Ye Lin had kept his cultivation suppressed at Qi Refining Level 6, all to mislead whoever came to investigate.

He had let Wang Yun go so that he would return and report back. If he killed Wang Yun now, Zhang Xiao would definitely hold back, and things would become troublesome later.

What he had done also matched the future shown on the panel.

"Qi Refining Level 6? Hmph, so that's what you've been relying on? You appear to be at Qi Refining Level 4, but you're actually at Qi Refining Level 6."

"You've only been here for half a year, yet you went from a mortal to Qi Refining Level 6 in that short time. What treasure are you hiding?"

"But even if you do have a treasure, it'll belong to me, Zhang Xiao."

In a grand hall, Zhang Xiao sneered. Wang Yun stood beside him.