Chapter 219: Encounter with a High-Level Master

A total of sixty-seven techniques.

Hmm.

Killing Qi Ze took exactly sixty-seven techniques and fifteen minutes.

Under Li Rui's full power.

Qi Ze's combat strength was already considered decent in Longmen, yet he still couldn't withstand a hundred techniques against Li Rui.

This is the sheer dominance of Dual Form plus self-created Wu Gong.

"Mmm."

Yun Tai dispersed like a receding tide; when Li Rui opened his eyes, he was already back on his bed.

He stretched lazily.

Only then did he rise, washed his face with water from the bronze basin by the bedhead, and stepped out the door.

Out the door.

He had assumed all his disciples were still asleep.

Instead, he saw a sturdy figure standing in the courtyard, drenched in sweat, droplets falling from his hair onto the ground.

Liu Tiezhu heard the sound behind him and turned around.

He stared at Li Rui.

His face held a hint of confusion as he scratched his head:

"Master, have I… broken through again?"

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

So it's "again."

Fifteen minutes later.

The courtyard had grown lively.

Liang He, Wang Zhao, and Yang Yong surrounded Liu Tiezhu, gawking at him as if he were a monster, their mouths making continuous clicking sounds.

"Tiezhu, Tiezhu, can't you slow down a bit and wait for your senior brothers?"

Liang He's mindset had truly shattered.

Liu Tong was one thing—after all, he had better talent, was a Huaqing Sect disciple, and had married into a powerful family.

But Liu Tiezhu—

He was his own junior brother, and had only trained for less than two years!

"Am I doomed to be overshadowed by someone surnamed Liu for the rest of my life?"

Liang He was deeply depressed.

Wang Zhao had no such troubles.

He had trained the shortest time, and had once been just a stable boy; being able to train at all was already enough—he dared not ask for more.

"Senior brother, congratulations!"

For him, a senior brother's breakthrough meant the sect's growth—a great thing indeed. And Liu Tiezhu, his second senior brother, was honest and sincere, even had made him a full set of horse gear out of genuine care—his blessing was heartfelt.

Liu Tiezhu blushed under their stares: "Senior brothers, junior brother, Uncle Yang, please stop looking—I don't even know why I broke through."

Liang He rolled his eyes.

It made him feel even worse.

Li Rui watched his disciple with a smile.

Liu Tiezhu was born with a Golden Body; his speed through the first three ranks had always been exceptionally fast, compounded by the effect of his Immortal Xuan Qi, plus unlimited elixirs—hence this result.

Of course, this also owed much to Liu Tiezhu's own diligence.

Yet his diligence differed from other martial masters'.

Liu Tiezhu could improve his realm simply by forging iron every day.

Quite peculiar.

"Could this be the unique method of a forging master?"

Li Rui pondered.

Otherwise, how else could Liu Tiezhu's breakthrough be so fast? The only explanation was his forging talent.

When the chance arises, find him a skilled forging instructor to maximize his advantage—he might even surpass martial cultivation.

"Tiezhu, well done."

Hearing his master's praise, Liu Tiezhu beamed.

He opened his mouth but hesitated.

Li Rui instantly saw he had something on his mind and said gently: "Speak up. What's wrong?"

Liu Tiezhu froze—he hadn't expected his master to see through him—then suddenly knelt down with a thud:

"Master, I have betrayed my master and my sect. Punish me!"

This time—

Not just Liang He, Wang Zhao, and Yang Yong, but even Li Rui was stunned.

"Betrayed your master and sect? What's going on?"

"Aren't I still alive?"

Li Rui laughed bitterly: "Just tell me what happened."

Liu Tiezhu knelt on the ground, his large head pressed against the dirt, too afraid to look up.

"Master, yesterday I went out and passed a blacksmith's shop. An old master there insisted on pulling me aside, saying my bone structure was extraordinary, perfect for forging, and urged me to follow him."

"I told him I already had a master."

"He wouldn't listen, kept nagging in my ear for half the day."

"Said it was a supreme secret art—that learning it would make me his disciple."

"I didn't want to listen, but even covering my ears, I still heard it. Last night I dreamed of those words, and then I broke through."

"Learning another's martial art—that's betraying my master and sect."

Hearing Liu Tiezhu's words,

everyone was dumbfounded.

Could such a thing exist in this world?

Li Rui blinked.

He muttered under his breath:

"Damn it, is Tiezhu really the protagonist?"

Walking down the street and being handed a martial art? This kind of heavenly fortune—beef dumpling filling, no less—why didn't it fall on his own head?

Heard it even with ears covered, broke through just from a dream.

No need to think—he'd met a high-level elder.

The secret art must be of extremely high rank, and specifically tailored for forging masters.

"Qinghe has become a trade hub between two nations; the Eight Great Sects have come here too. Many outsiders from other provinces have been drawn here. This foolish disciple must have caught the eye of a high-level elder."

It made sense.

Liu Tiezhu's muscular frame made it obvious—he was born to be a forging master.

"Master, kill me."

"I accept it."

He wore a look of grim determination. Li Rui rolled his eyes and kicked Liu Tiezhu to the ground, laughing and scolding: "Do you think I'm so bored I go around killing my own disciples?"

Liu Tiezhu's bulging eyes widened in disbelief:

"Master, you're not going to kill me?"

Li Rui was speechless: "Why would I kill you? You learned it? Good. I have no sect, no clan—learning it is a bonus. There's no such thing as betraying your master here."

He wasn't some narrow-minded old master from Qinghe who forbade stealing techniques. He'd be thrilled if his disciples learned more—even if it wasn't from him.

"By the way, tell me again, in detail, what that man was like."

Seeing that Li Rui had no intention of punishing him or expelling him from the family,

Liu Tiezhu's grin stretched ear to ear.

He'd been sleepless since early morning over this.

He'd practiced fist forms half the night in the courtyard.

Now, he recounted the entire story from start to finish.

In short:

=9+ Shu _ Ba

He'd passed a blacksmith's shop, been drawn in by the old master's craftsmanship, got restless and started forging himself—only to discover the old master was a hidden high-level elder who had passed on a secret art.

Fearing Li Rui's anger, Liu Tiezhu had fled in panic—after all, he truly loved living at the Li residence.

Hmm. That's all.

Stories need logic, but reality doesn't.

Liu Tiezhu just got incredibly lucky.

Li Rui, Liang He, and the others remained silent.

What is "foolish people get foolish luck"?

Liu Tiezhu, a simple-minded, thick-headed oaf, walks down the street and gets noticed by a high-level elder who teaches him martial arts—what else could it be but foolish people getting foolish luck?

Li Rui paused thoughtfully: "Go see tomorrow if that elder is still there. Don't mention becoming a disciple—just say you're there to learn blacksmithing."

Liu Tiezhu: "Master, maybe I shouldn't go?"

"You must go!"

Li Rui said sternly.

This might be a chance—grab it if you can.

You don't understand weapons forging. If Liu Tiezhu stays here, he'll waste his natural talent.

Learning from someone else is fine.

Even if Liu Tiezhu refuses, I'd find someone to teach him.

Now's perfect—it saves me the trouble of finding someone.

Of course, all this assumes the elder has no ill intent toward Liu Tiezhu. As his master, I must guard him well.

"Yes, Master."

Liu Tiezhu felt slighted, but he agreed anyway.

Li Rui had no intention of secretly following him tomorrow.

Going himself would backfire.

The one who taught Liu Tiezhu the secret art is at least fifth rank, possibly higher—Li Rui knew he couldn't help Liu Tiezhu break through with just a single hint.

If he's also fourth rank like Jiang Linxian, I'd be spotted immediately.

The situation could turn from good to bad.

Besides, this is Qinghe—Anning Guard's headquarters.

The stronger you are, the more constraints you face.

He's almost certain Jiang Linxian knows about the old blacksmith.

Since the old blacksmith intends to pass on his art, he at least has no harmful intent toward Liu Tiezhu. Better to let Liu Tiezhu keep learning and observe for a while.

But before that, he must first uncover the old blacksmith's background.

Li Rui immediately left the courtyard.

He headed straight for Jiang Linxian's Assistant Regional Commander's residence.

"Old blacksmith?"

Jiang Linxian paused at Li Rui's words:

"That man is probably Elder Tiekuang from Divine Weapon Mountain."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

Divine Weapon Mountain. Tiekuang.

If Jiang Linxian calls him elder, his strength must be extraordinary.

As expected, Jiang Linxian knew about the old blacksmith.

In the past, Li Rui would never have dared ask Jiang Linxian directly—but now he's sixth rank, Jiang Linxian is his direct superior; he could visit openly.

Jiang Linxian: "Elder Tiekuang was already a fourth-rank Primordial Warrior thirty years ago, and one of Divine Weapon Mountain's rare great weaponsmiths. In forging skill, he could rank first."

"But he's obsessed with forging, rarely leaves his workshop, so few outsiders know of him."

Li Rui's pupils contracted slightly.

"Number one weaponsmith of Divine Weapon Mountain"—that title meant something.

Divine Weapon Mountain is a sect dedicated solely to weapons forging—its prestige is immense.

"Elder Tiekuang came to Qinghe to gather forging materials. He's obsessed with hammering iron, indifferent to worldly affairs—no need to pay him much attention."

"Understood."

Li Rui nodded.

With Jiang Linxian's word, he felt much more at ease.

Divine Weapon Mountain at least claims to be a righteous sect, and Tiekuang is merely a fool obsessed with forging. His disciple Liu Tiezhu should be safe.

He's no stubborn old man—Liu Tiezhu finding a master of forging is a great blessing.

If he becomes a great weaponsmith someday, won't he want to forge a divine weapon as a gift for his master?

Besides, Li Rui can benefit from the Immortal Xuan Qi within Liu Tiezhu's body.

Now that he knows the elder's identity, he can rest easier.

Jiang Linxian pondered briefly, then took a list from beside him:

"You'll need to interact often with people in the city. Here's a list of the city's top experts—more complete than the guard battalion's. Take it, but don't reveal it to anyone."

"Yes, sir."

Li Rui's eyes lit up.

Qinghe is full of hidden dragons and tigers—carelessness could land him in trouble.

With this list, he could act with more confidence.

He took the register.

Then he left Jiang Linxian's residence.

"Time to visit the Weiheshimao Office."

(End of Chapter)