Chapter 41

"But, Little Martial Granduncle, you came to strengthen your physique, right?" Ah, so this was what it felt like to call someone Little Martial Granduncle. How strangely subtle. Zheng Jin leaned back against the bookshelf behind him. "Using a sword to form an array is a good idea, but it does not suit Little Martial Granduncle's current needs."

Wen Xu naturally understood this. "Thank you for the reminder, True Lord. You need not call me Little Martial Granduncle."

Zheng Jin immediately seized the opening and pressed his advantage. "Oh, I'd be far too embarrassed. If my master heard it, he'd probably nag in my ear again, saying I had no respect for propriety and no regard for my elders. Sigh."

Wen Xu: ...What a difficult person to talk to.

So he thought about it and simply answered the earlier question. "The Windfold Fan is very good. I like it very much. Thank you, True Lord, for parting with it as a gift."

"I'm glad you like it. No need to call me True Lord. Look, I already agreed not to call you Little Martial Granduncle." Zheng Jin was always skilled at pushing his luck. "Call me Senior Brother Zheng, and I'll call you Junior Brother Wen. How about it?"

...Sure enough, he was difficult to talk to.

Wen Xu decided not to argue over such trifles. He had the feeling that even if he did, it would be useless, so he readily changed his form of address. "Senior Brother Zheng."

Ah, this was quite nice. If Wen Xu had not possessed a Mutated Wind Spiritual Root, Zheng Jin would have dragged him into his master's bowl no matter what. What a pity. Now even his master had to call Wen Xu Little Martial Granduncle.

"Junior Brother Wen, you should be lacking a sword, right?"

With a flip of Zheng Jin's hand, a longsword appeared in his palm. "What do you think of this one?"

First a folding fan, then a sword. Wen Xu did not consider himself particularly likable. "Senior Brother Zheng, why are you treating me so well?"

"If I want to treat someone well, I treat them well. Why must there be a reason?" Zheng Jin idly played with the sword in his hand. It was actually an ordinary low-grade spirit sword. Outside, it would be worth at most a hundred low-grade spirit stones. Its only special trait was that it could adjust the weight of its blade according to the spiritual power used by its wielder.

In other words, it was an excellent beginner's practice spirit sword for Qi Refining Stage cultivators.

Did Wen Xu believe him? Of course not.

"I don't understand."

"Perhaps we simply hit it off."

Zheng Jin suddenly said something serious, but he quickly reverted to his old ways. "Just take it. At worst, you can pay me spirit stones. I just want to make this deal with you today."

In the end, Wen Xu paid eighty spirit stones for the sword, and Zheng Jin thoughtfully provided him with a body-tempering sword technique for reference as well.

"How is this copy of the Nine-Turn Sword Technique?"

Wen Xu used his spiritual power to read the jade slip and quickly discovered that this was a sword technique that ignored Spiritual Root attributes. In other words, cultivators of any Spiritual Root could practice it. But he soon realized that if a Wind Spiritual Root cultivator practiced it, there would be training benefits unique to him.

As its name implied, the Nine-Turn Sword Technique had nine forms, and each form required the sword wielder to turn their body as they swung. After completing all nine forms, the body would turn nine times along with the sword. If practiced frequently and repeatedly, it would not only meet his body-tempering needs, but even allow him to comprehend the formation of wind while practicing the sword.

Wen Xu suddenly realized that every cultivator capable of successfully advancing possessed unparalleled comprehension and insight into cultivation.

Even though Senior Brother Zheng's Spiritual Root had nothing to do with wind, he could still effortlessly find the most suitable body-tempering sword technique for Wen Xu amid the vast sea of jade slips.

Wen Xu was thoroughly convinced. "Thank you, Senior Brother Zheng, for your guidance. Wen Xu has learned much." Having only just formally stepped onto the path of cultivation, Wen Xu had attained enlightenment and advanced to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. Though he had not shown it, he had indeed felt faintly proud within his heart.

But now, that pride scattered in all directions and gradually settled into calmness.

Zheng Jin noticed Little Martial Granduncle's change, and the smile in his eyes immediately overflowed. As expected of a Mutated Spiritual Root—this comprehension was truly beyond words. He could attain enlightenment, and after just a few words from Zheng Jin, he could promptly reflect upon himself. Zheng Jin was already looking forward to next year's Yonglu Mountain disciples' grand competition.

Ah, he loved watching geniuses steal the limelight.

"Since Junior Brother Wen wants to thank me, won't you show it with some practical action?"

For the first time, Wen Xu discovered that talking to someone could be so exhausting. "What do you mean, Senior Brother Zheng?"

Zheng Jin immediately rubbed his hands together. "When you practice swordsmanship, would you mind changing locations?"

"Ah?"

"Artifact Refining Peak, beside my forging furnace. How about it?"

Wen Xu had not expected that this was what Zheng Jin had in mind. Was he asking a Wind Spiritual Root cultivator like him to fan the flames?

"Hey, not refusing means you agree. Hurry, hurry, hurry! There's no day like today. Go copy these three jade slips first, then we'll go fan the wind—oh, no, practice swordsmanship! I came to find you the moment I got out of the Discipline Hall! This is an emergency! If we wait any longer, I'm afraid my forging furnace won't hold up!"

It was Wen Xu's first time being pushed along by someone. By the time he arrived at Artifact Refining Peak with his sword in hand, before he could even steady himself, a young disciple came rushing over with quick, urgent steps. "Little Martial Uncle, you're finally back!"

"Ah, don't rush. Didn't I go bring back our savior?"

Savior? Only then did the young Lu Nian notice the handsome young man beside him with his eyes covered. "Little Martial Granduncle?!" Heaven save us! Little Martial Uncle was being suppressed by seniority and had started bullying the Divine Venerable's disciple! Sect Master, save Artifact Refining Peak! Ever since the Peak Master went into seclusion, Little Martial Uncle had become completely lawless!

"Hello..." Wen Xu had only just greeted him when he was pushed onward again. As he walked, he heard the person pushing him say, "There's no time for pleasantries. Junior Brother Wen, just treat Artifact Refining Peak as your own home. Don't stand on ceremony."

Terror flashed across Lu Nian's face. What Junior Brother Wen? Could it be that Little Martial Uncle wanted to become the Divine Venerable's disciple too?

Peak Master, please come out and take charge!

No one knew of young Lu Nian's furious cries in his heart. Zheng Jin had already brought Wen Xu before his forging furnace. The furnace stood more than ten meters tall, entirely black-gold in color. Intricate runes climbed upward from its base, making it clear that this was an exceptionally high-end forging artifact.

Wen Xu knew nothing about artifact refining, but that did not stop him from sensing that the forging furnace was currently in a state of being "about to explode." "It..."

"That's right. We used too much wind spirit beast blood, so the qi inside the furnace—or rather, the wind—is about to reach its critical point." Zheng Jin made a scattering gesture. "Before long, it's going to explode!"