I Was Born with Great Strength, and I Also Have an Ancestral Black Bull

"It's alright, Old Bull. Once we have money, I'll buy you a wooden carving of a Little Heifer."

"Moo~ moo~"

Black Bull's mind instantly cleared, and it happily mooed twice.

Today was the year's end. By the river, things resembling sky lanterns slowly rose into the air, carrying the people's beautiful wishes for the coming year. The entire Panning City was illuminated brightly.

This was a custom of Panning City, and the locals called them Wish Lanterns.

Chen Xun looked up at the sky, an unconscious smile touching his lips.

"Old Bull, should we set one off? Let's bleed ourselves dry for once!"

"Moo! Moo!"

Black Bull's eyes gleamed. Only an idiot would refuse; it had far too many wishes in its heart.

The riverbank was packed with people, and there might even be immortal cultivators among them. In a corner by the river, Chen Xun bought two Wish Lanterns. One man and one bull would not squeeze in with the others.

"Old Bull, what wish do you have? Let's write them down. They say that makes them come true more easily."

Holding a piece of charcoal, Chen Xun looked at Black Bull. "Just hold it in your mouth and write. Didn't I teach you how to write?"

Moo!

Black Bull immediately snatched the charcoal with its mouth. A thoughtful look appeared in its eyes as it began writing on the Wish Lantern.

"Hehe, it's not something about a Little Heifer, is it?"

Chen Xun gave a lewd grin as he watched Black Bull's Wish Lantern. If that were the case, it would truly be a Little Heifer riding a Wish Lantern—bullish as hell, straight to the heavens.

"Forever... what?"

Chen Xun frowned. Black Bull's writing was crooked and twisted. "Follow... Chen."

His heart trembled. He looked deeply at Black Bull as the two Wish Lanterns slowly floated away, merging into the countless lanterns before gradually vanishing from sight.

"Moo?" Black Bull nudged Chen Xun.

"If you say your wish aloud, it won't come true anymore. Understand?"

Chen Xun spoke mysteriously. Black Bull's eyes widened, and it believed him again, no longer nudging Chen Xun.

The man and bull resumed their nighttime stroll through Panning City. Chen Xun also took the opportunity to see what work could be found in the city. After all, he now knew all eighteen martial arts.

Having tasted the benefits of speed, Chen Xun continued adding this year's Longevity Points to speed. He also added one point for Black Bull.

The next day, Chen Xun went to a blacksmith shop in the city. The moment he entered, he put on an overwhelmingly cocky air, startling the owner into a daze. The man thought he had come to cause trouble.

"Little brother, we don't take in cattle here."

"I was born with great strength. I think your blacksmith shop might be missing something without me."

"What do you mean?"

"Boss, are you hiring?"

Chen Xun suddenly broke into a broad smile and bared his arms. "One of me is worth two men, and I've got my ancestral Black Bull here to help. I guarantee your business will flourish!"

Bang!

Chen Xun was thrown out. The blacksmith shop owner spat and cursed, "Do you think I take in every person of unknown origin?"

Moo!

Black Bull flew into a rage. Why was this owner insulting people? It spat back at him too.

Chen Xun hurriedly stopped Black Bull and said coldly, "If this place won't keep me, another place will."

The owner folded his arms, and several blacksmiths emerged behind him. From the look of things, if Chen Xun said one more word, they would start fighting.

Chen Xun silently grabbed the rope, said nothing more, and dragged Black Bull away at a run.

"Tch!" The men waved dismissively, then went back inside to forge iron.

On the road, Black Bull nudged Chen Xun, telling him not to be angry anymore.

"It's fine. I asked around—there's another blacksmith shop on the next street. I heard business isn't doing well there. Let's give it a try."

"Moo!" Black Bull nodded.

When they arrived at that blacksmith shop, Chen Xun was greatly startled. Why did it feel like the place was already on the verge of closing down? A little old man was even sitting in a chair, dozing off.

"Sir." Chen Xun led Black Bull inside. There was not a single customer.

"Ah."

The little old man sprang to his feet. His eyes were clouded with age. "What would you like to buy, little brother?"

"Hehe, I was born with great strength. Is your blacksmith shop hiring?" Chen Xun asked with a smile.

"Haha... we are."

The little old man nodded fiercely. "It's just that all the blacksmiths in this shop have run off, and there's no wage to pay."

"That's fine. Boss, just give us a place to stay."

"Then that works."

The little old man said happily, "You can live in the backyard of this blacksmith shop however you like."

The two immediately hit it off. Chen Xun and Black Bull sorted out their pots, bowls, and utensils, while Black Bull searched everywhere for a place to hide their rice.

"This world really is vast."

Chen Xun sighed. The shop was so spacious that even Black Bull could roam through it without obstruction.

An hour later, he and Black Bull began forging together. Clang after clang rang out from the blacksmith shop, making the little old man's eyelids twitch. What tremendous strength.

"Little brother, judging by those techniques, have you forged iron before?"

The little old man's eyes gleamed as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Though your technique is a bit rough."

"Of course. Sir, to be honest, I have five years of work experience. Whoever hires me is definitely getting a bargain."

Chen Xun boasted. He liked forging iron very much. It was a form of control over strength, though he still could not achieve a level of meticulous precision.

"You can't forge iron like this."

The little old man shook his head. Chen Xun was wasting far too much strength. "Let me show you a thing or two."

A master! Chen Xun watched the little old man's forging method. It was completely different from the village blacksmiths', but before long, the old man was already panting for breath.

"I'm old, I'm old. Little brother, you do it."

The little old man waved his hand and looked toward Black Bull. This bull truly was intelligent.

"Alright."

Chen Xun copied the old man's technique. Sure enough, it really worked. It seemed that his control over his body's strength was gradually improving.

Over the following year, Chen Xun brought Black Bull to forge iron every day. The little old man gave pointers from the side, and even offered Black Bull some guidance.

Whether immortal cultivators or ordinary people, everyone possessed their own flashes of brilliance and wisdom. Chen Xun benefited immensely from this blacksmith shop.

"Elder Sun, our blacksmith shop's business is getting better and better."

Chen Xun said with a bare chest and a smile. The shop had begun making money, and both he and Black Bull had some savings, which the latter buried in the backyard dirt.

The little old man was named Sun Kaile. He had once had a son, but when his son went to Ningyun Mountain Range seeking immortality, he died an unnatural death. Sun Kaile had lived alone ever since.

"Hehe, very good."

Sun Kaile smiled. Ever since Chen Xun came to the blacksmith shop, there had been much more laughter on his face.

Chen Xun's forging speed and quality surpassed those of the other blacksmith shops by far. Word spread from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred. People often came to commission ironware, and they always left with satisfaction in their eyes.

"Chen Xun!"

A loud shout came from the street. A burly man approached with two others, a long saber hanging from his hand.

"Brother Zhang is here."

Chen Xun greeted him with a smile. "What do you want forged? I'll make sure Brother Zhang gets exactly what he needs."

Brother Zhang's name was Zhang Jiang. He was the senior disciple of a martial sect, a bold and generous man who often patronized the blacksmith shop and even sent his fellow sect members here.

Zhang Jiang stepped forward and shouted, "One hundred sabers. Can you take the order?"

A huge order! Chen Xun's eyes lit up, though his hands kept forging. "Of course. When do you need them, Brother Zhang?"

"Within two months. If you finish them in one month, I'll pay extra." Zhang Jiang grinned.

"Why add extra money? Brother Zhang, you're treating me like an outsider. I'll have everything ready for you within a month."

Chen Xun shot Zhang Jiang a reproachful look. What's yours and mine between brothers? "Come pick them up at this time next month."

"Straightforward! See? Brother Chen Xun knows how to do business."

Zhang Jiang shouted and looked at the two men behind him. They too clicked their tongues and nodded. People of the martial world liked Chen Xun's type.

"Brother Chen Xun, don't go eating that Black Bull of yours in the back. Old Bulls this intelligent are rare nowadays."

"It's an ancestral heirloom from my family. Can't eat it." Chen Xun hurriedly waved his hands.

"Alright, I'll be going. If anyone dares cause trouble at the blacksmith shop, let Brother Zhang know."

Zhang Jiang laughed heartily and looked at Black Bull behind him. "Black Bull, I'm leaving. See Brother Zhang off."

"Moo!" Black Bull turned its head and actually mooed.

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Jiang left with the other two. Chen Xun's farewell called out from behind him. Zhang Jiang raised one hand in a wave, and his figure disappeared down the street.