Chapter 140: The Old Ape's Wish, Preparing for Seclusion!

"When they were chasing me before, the Yun family wasn't involved—did other clans and powers cause trouble for the Yun family over this?"

Glancing at Yun Wan's profile, Fang Xu spoke casually.

Based on the situation he currently knows, the Yun family's circumstances are somewhat unfavorable.

Originally, their strength was already at the bottom among the first-rate powers of the Great Yu, and after Yun Tianhe, the second master of the Yun family, died in Maple Forest Town, the entire Yun family now relies solely on Yun Tianming, Yun Wan's father, to hold things together.

Because of the Divine Extension Canon, he had a tense period with the Yun family, but later, whether it was Yun Wan or her brother Yun Qing, both helped him considerably.

Fang Xu naturally doesn't want to see the Yun family fall into difficulty because of this.

"But if you forge a piece of Hundred-Forged Scarlet Yang Iron, I can reward you with five hundred contribution points and exempt you from one month of menial labor."

Outer sect disciples wishing to advance to inner sect disciples must complete the three extreme tasks assigned by the Transmission Elder.

It was also him who brought the old ape out of the Crimson Blue Mountains, causing him to fight to the death against Lü Shengren and Tuoba Xiong, ending up in his current state.

Fang Xu glanced at those Twilight Cloud Iron Mine workers and bowed: "Iron Mountain Steward, disciple plans to enter seclusion for cultivation in a few days; I wish to finish all upcoming tasks first—what do you think?"

Although Yun Wan's martial talent is decent, her worldly experience is still too little—she can't even lie well.

This research took two days.

"Kid, still unwilling to share a drink with the old man?" Seeing Fang Xu hadn't brought alcohol, the old ape spoke.

"You—cultivate well; if you can one day help my Demon Ape clan return to our ancestral land, it won't have been in vain for me to accompany you into the mortal realm."

Si hour.

Fang Xu shook his head: "Just eating vegetables, no alcohol."

The old ape's qi and blood are exhausted; the outside world has no suppressive restrictions—ultimately, he cannot rely solely on brute strength and the force of a Martial Master or Martial Venerable to brute-force through.

The content above lacks beginning and end, merely recording some force techniques simply, accompanied by a few character illustrations.

Suppressing the doubts and shock in his heart, Fang Xu began to circle the massive short sword, examining it.

The Scarlet Yang Iron on the anvil has now fully transformed into the Hundred-Forged state, yet Fang Xu continues hammering it.

The old ape smiled as he sat on the stone bench, looking at the food before him with great delight.

After leaving the Divine Arms Hall, Fang Xu went to report his leave to the Transmission Elder, then headed straight for the mountain gate.

"Alright, the old man is full."

Holding some food and wine, Fang Xu approached the old ape, slowly crouched down, and grabbed the old ape's arm.

Mysterious patterns are carved into the broken blade's body, resembling some kind of script, yet also like traces of a mysterious formation.

"What do you mean by that?"

Fang Xu shook his head: "No, I still need to break through to Martial Master soon—I have more important matters to attend to."

This melody progresses with order—urgent like a sudden downpour, slow like drizzle from blue eaves, heavy like a collapsing mountain, light like a breeze...

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu quickly rose and approached him: "Please speak."

Two inner sect disciples, one elderly servant responsible for the daily lives of three people.

"This kid has excellent comprehension—no wonder he's the top outer sect disciple this time."

The old ape nodded: "Rest assured, I have it figured out."

"Ape Uncle."

"The kid will surely find a way to cure you; when the time comes, he will definitely take you to properly tour human cities, to see the rivers and mountains of humanity."

"Iron—" Having observed for a moment, Fang Xu was about to speak when he noticed Iron Mountain had already turned and walked away.

"That would require some time..."

"These are five sixth-grade Blood Qi Pills."

After the entrance examination ended, Mu also went to the Hundred Herbs Hall.

He likes coming to the Divine Arms Hall not because he particularly enjoys forging weapons, but because he possesses immense strength—compared to searching for herbs or tending medicine gardens, hammering iron embryos here is simpler and less troublesome.

At this moment, the patterns on the broken sword have been gradually fully replicated by him; after his spiritual attribute reached 75 points, his memory and comprehension have greatly improved, and these patterns subtly share commonalities with those on the bone stele in the Crimson Blue Mountain ruins and those on the Ascension Society's "Heavenly Cliff Scripture."

Fang Xu nodded.

He has never systematically studied forging techniques and thus cannot properly control the force when hammering Scarlet Yang ore.

He left the old ape alone in this detached courtyard.

"Kid, what are you saying?" Feeling the guilt in Fang Xu's words, the old ape immediately tried to rise.

Qi and blood are rapidly declining; at this moment, the old ape's strength has fallen below the Martial Venerable realm, unable to even maintain a basic human form.

Fang Xu thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said: "Catch!"

"Come?" Iron Mountain chuckled, sizing up Fang Xu: "Outer sect disciples generally don't want to come to my Divine Arms Hall, but you—you come every day."

"Why does Ape Uncle need Blood Qi Pills?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

Huang Lightboat nodded in agreement: "Are you preparing to break through to Martial Master?"

Although this broken sword doesn't allow one to comprehend martial techniques or cultivation methods like the Jade Stele of the Heavenly Cliff Scripture, after careful contemplation, Fang Xu still gained considerable insight.

Iron Mountain truly cherishes talent and again urged Fang Xu.

"Senior Brother Huang."

The content on the beast skin appears brief, but as Fang Xu researched it, he discovered the force techniques recorded there are profoundly mysterious.

Wanting to accumulate enough time for seclusion as soon as possible, he could only accept this task.

Fang Xu smiled and said nothing.

The hammering continued without pause.

"If Ape Uncle wants to drink, I'll have the liquor shops in Zhongzhou City regularly send some over."

Iron Mountain pointed to the forge in the stone chamber: "Inside are three pieces of Scarlet Yang ore—if you can forge any one of them into Hundred-Forged, I'll exempt you from this month's menial labor."

Mountain-foot detached courtyard.

The two of them quietly ate their meal like this.

From her expression, Fang Xu could clearly see that the pressure the Yun family was currently facing was certainly not small; Yun Wan said this only because she did not want to show her embarrassed side in front of him.

This commotion directly caused Fang Xu to withdraw from that mysterious state.

For outer sect disciples, few are willing to do the menial tasks at the Divine Armaments Hall.

"Yuan Bo, tomorrow I will prepare to enter seclusion; during this period I may not be able to keep you company..." After taking a bite of food, Fang Xu spoke.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu was slightly startled.

Fang Xu had previously deeply felt this point.

With each hammer strike falling, a large amount of impurities separated from the ore, and the Chiyang iron on the anvil gradually turned into a translucent, crimson glass-like state.

This...

"Don't get too happy too soon." Seeing his face reveal uncontainable joy, Tieshan said lightly: "Chiyang ore is a fourth-grade material, extremely unstable."

Having joined the Ascension Immortal Society for some time, with affairs now stabilized, he must quickly improve his cultivation; at present, his enemies are too strong—whether it is the Yanshen Sect hiding in dark corners, or the various great clans and powers of Yu State—if they strike again, they will certainly not send mere trifling warriors like before.

"Alright." Huang Luzhou solemnly took the token, then said: "Would you rather wait until after the age festival to enter seclusion? Anyway, it's only a few days."

Fang Xu's eyes fixed intently on the Chiyang iron before him, constantly being hammered and deformed, gradually sinking into a strange state.

But in the end, either he was scared off by Tieshan's perverse assessment task, or he could not endure this near-abandoned cultivation life and defected to serve under other stewardship departments.

It was he who fled to the depths of the Lotus Basket, bringing crisis to the Disha Magic Ape clan, forcing them to leave that secluded mountain valley, which was like a paradise beyond the world.

"As long as it goes smoothly, as long as it goes smoothly."

"Yuan Bo, do not easily take it."

Outside the gate of the Divine Armaments Hall.

"Take a look at this; it will help you complete your task." Tieshan said, producing from somewhere a tattered beast skin and throwing it to Fang Xu.

As exemplified by the ancient Chinese martial art Taiji's "four ounces deflect a thousand pounds," and also techniques like borrowing force to strike force, striking through mountains to hit cattle, and in Baji Quan using the rebound force from the Baji step to punch—all are applications of force.

Ding ding dang!

Ding ding dang!

The rhythmic hammering sound came, causing Tieshan outside the door to reveal a faint smile.

The courtyard gate slowly opened, and Fang Xu's figure walked in.

"Perhaps when you emerge from seclusion, I will already have left the Ascension Immortal Society." Yun Wan said with a somewhat complex expression.

Placing the beast skin aside, Fang Xu came to the forging furnace and began preparing to attempt forging the first piece of Chiyang ore.

"Having lived a lifetime in the mountains, now old, I suddenly really want to return."

Upon hearing this, Tieshan slowly sat upright, looked at Fang Xu, and said: "Are you preparing to break through to Warrior?"

The dark red ore was thrown into the furnace, subjected to fierce flames, the ore gradually turned red; when the temperature reached a certain level, Fang Xu took it out with tongs, placed it on the anvil, and began hammering.

He did not understand why Fang Xu himself drank alcohol, but was unwilling to drink with him.

"Cultivate well; after you break through to Warrior, you may consider becoming my disciple."

He did not immediately enter seclusion to cultivate, but instead sought out Huang Luzhou, whom he had not seen for a long time.

Fang Xu, while observing, also firmly memorized the patterns on the broken sword in his heart.

After parting with Yun Wan, Fang Xu directly went to the Divine Armaments Hall.

"Hehe..." An embarrassed laugh, the old ape lightly patted Fang Xu's palm and said: "Have your cultivation studies been going well lately?"

Taking the beast skin, Fang Xu glanced at it.

Although the treatment of outer sect disciples in the Ascension Immortal Society is not as good as that of inner sect disciples, their lodgings are still private courtyards.

He came in surprise from outside to silently arrive at the door of Fang Xu's stone room, seeing at this moment that Fang Xu was already completely immersed.

"Three pieces of Chiyang ore are worth three hundred contribution points; all three pieces are scrapped, you must compensate me three hundred contribution points."

Without being a Warrior, facing these people, one ultimately remains at a certain disadvantage.

"You have also seen, my door is quiet, with not too many affairs; becoming my disciple will not affect your cultivation."

"Kid, enough, you've passed."

The two walked on, and along the way they did not speak much more.

Such tasks are called extreme tasks precisely because the task itself is assigned by the Transmission Elder based on each outer sect disciple's strength; along the way, disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall accompany them, prohibiting participants from using their family's power, and they must complete it alone.

"I am about to enter seclusion; during this time, if Senior Brother has time, please buy some wine and meat to visit Yuan Bo more often."

"Never mind, never mind, you don't need to go through all this trouble; I, an old man drinking alone, am also not very interested."

Under Tieshan's greeting, Fang Xu came before something resembling a stone tablet.

"Come with me." Lifting the cane beside him, Tieshan led Fang Xu into the interior of the Divine Armaments Hall.

In this state, the Chiyang iron before him, resembling translucent crimson glass, gradually grew larger until finally, Fang Xu's eyes seemed able to see through its surface and clearly perceive all minute details within.

"This is..."

Previously, from afar, he thought what stood upright on the ground was a stone tablet; but upon approaching, he realized this was not a stone tablet at all, but clearly a huge broken sword!

Impurities... cracks... and the process of the Chiyang iron deforming when his hammer fell.

"Go into seclusion; when you break through successfully, just tell me here how much time it took."

"Take a look."

The broken sword, unknown of what material it was forged, exceeds three feet in width; even broken, it is over a zhang in length!

"What kind of existence could wield such a huge sword as a weapon?" Fang Xu exclaimed in alarm.

The material of the giant sword appears somewhat like bronze, but is far from comparable to bronze.

The old ape pondered for a moment, then sighed: "If I die, you just take some time to send my corpse back to Lotus Basket Mountain."

"Also, if Elder Jiang sends people to find me, Senior Brother, just take this token and bring Yuan Bo to see him."

Tieshan could not sit still!

After eating a meal with the old ape and staying until evening, Fang Xu then returned to the Ascension Immortal Gate.

Ding ding dang!

……

"He's simply a born blacksmith!"

This time, over seven hundred outer sect disciples joined the Ascension Immortal Society; aside from the Divine Armaments Hall, miscellaneous tasks elsewhere had long been snatched up.

After a moment of regret, just as he was about to fetch another piece of Red Yang ore to place in the furnace, Fang Xu suddenly noticed Iron Mountain standing before him out of nowhere.

Combining beast skin with some of his past-life experiences, he gained a new insight into the application of force.

If his previous hammering merely followed a simple rhythm, then his current hammering had completely formed a musical movement.

"However, you ruined a piece of Red Yang iron ore, so no contribution points will be awarded."

Moreover, after his qi and blood were depleted, each time he took a Blood Qi Pill, it merely accelerated the consumption of his own qi and blood.

Upon hearing this, Huang Qingzhou did not urge him further.

Once it passes through your hands, drinking it will inevitably result in being forcibly added to the friend list.

With some difficulty rising from the recliner, the old ape walked a few steps with a hunched body, looked up at the snow-covered Huayang Mountain, then suddenly turned to Fang Xu and said: "Fang lad, I beg you for one thing."

He had a feeling that this pattern seemed to be some kind of extremely mysterious inheritance.

"Iron Mountain steward?"

Ding ding dang dang!

"By the way, Fang lad, leave some Blood Qi Pills for me." The old ape suddenly spoke.

Iron Mountain stroked the broken sword, his face filled with deep reverence: "I owe my present state to this sword; the connection is inseparable."

Fang Xu hurriedly stepped out from behind the forging furnace, clasped his hands toward Iron Mountain, and said: "Thank you, Iron Mountain steward!"

Fang Xu nodded.

Only then did Fang Xu realize, placing the food he had bought on a nearby stone table: "I bought you something to eat."

If the three pieces of Red Yang ore were ruined by hammering, not only would three hundred contribution points be lost, but the upcoming secluded cultivation would also come to nothing.

Previously, many outer sect disciples had come seeking his forging skills, hoping to become his disciples.

"When forging, if the force is too great, it will shatter; if too small, impurities cannot be fully stripped away, and the state of hundred-fold forging cannot be achieved."

"No matter, I won't press you to answer now; you just think it over." Seeing Fang Xu seemed hesitant, Iron Mountain waved his hand, then pointed to a basket of black iron ore beside him: "This is your task today—forging these Twilight Cloud iron ores into crude embryos."

Li Xun seemed to be an exception, but he dared not gamble.

"Uncle Ape, Elder Jiang has already promised the lad a way to extend your life by one year."

Fang Xu turned his head to glance at her, then did not press further.

"Good lad!"

To forge Red Yang ore into Hundred-Forged Red Yang iron, one must first remove the impurities from the ore.

Passing by two inner sect disciples diligently crafting these weapons, the two arrived at the entrance of a stone chamber.

Looking at the already shattered Red Yang iron before him, he knew he had failed.

"By the way, I'll take you to see something." Iron Mountain said, then strode directly toward the depths of the Divine Armaments Hall.

Reaching out to touch it, he could still feel faint traces of sharpness transmitted through the broken sword's blade, making him worry that the next moment the sword would leap from the ground and cleave him in two.

But his body suddenly stiffened; seeing this, Fang Xu quickly stepped forward and helped him up.

"This matter..." Yun Wan hesitated slightly, squeezed out a faint smile, and looked toward Fang Xu: "No problem; the Yun clan has operated in Huangzhou for years, and minor troubles can still be endured."

In this state, Fang Xu completely forgot everything, immersed in the joy of forging.

His somewhat muddy gaze stared blankly at the sky above, unknown what he was thinking.

Upon hearing this, the old ape's chopsticks, which had reached the plate, paused slightly, then withdrew again.

The Way of Force: proper force application techniques versus relying solely on brute strength—the difference is as vast as heaven and earth.

Fang Xu pondered for a moment; a flash of light appeared in his hand, and a porcelain bottle emerged.

"Fang lad, your family's affairs are your own; this old body of mine has already burned out its oil and dried its lamp."

Jiang Feng said he would help the old ape prolong his life, but during this period there has been no news; he fears that if he enters seclusion, Jiang Feng might come and cause him to miss this opportunity.

Iron Mountain did not even ask what Fang Xu had comprehended from the broken sword, but directly led him away from this place.

Iron Mountain also did not disturb him, simply standing quietly beside him, watching.

Fang Xu could tell at a glance just how false that smile and composure really were.

After bidding farewell to Huang Qingzhou, Fang Xu returned to his residence.

"If it weren't for the fact that blacksmiths lack a sacred body, I'd suspect you were born solely for forging."

"Uncle Ape, I've troubled you during this time." Looking at the old ape, Fang Xu felt deep guilt and sorrow in his heart.

Handing over the token Jiang Feng had given him to Huang Qingzhou, Fang Xu spoke.

"Hehe... no problem; I just bask in the sun daily in the courtyard, which is quite nice."

"Iron Mountain steward." Arriving at the gate of the Divine Armaments Hall, Fang Xu immediately saw the one-legged elder sitting calmly before the gate, sipping tea leisurely.

The two passed through layer after layer of stone gates and soon appeared in a small mountain cave.

"Fang lad, come over."

Fang Xu looked somewhat embarrassed toward Iron Mountain and said: "Iron Mountain steward, you're making things difficult for me."

The old ape's current physical condition makes taking Blood Qi Pills nearly ineffective.

"Will you accept or not?" Iron Mountain looked at him with a half-smile.

"What good stuff did you bring?" Finding these topics too heavy, the old ape glanced at the item Fang Xu was carrying and shifted the topic.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu's heart suddenly ached.

He knew the old ape found the human world dull precisely because he had been confined to this courtyard all this time, unable to go out.

From other disciples, Fang Xu also roughly learned that Iron Mountain hardly cared for his own disciples at all, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Fang Xu followed behind, curiously looking at the passage gradually growing dim ahead, wondering what Iron Mountain intended to show him.

"I've had some recent insights and want to try something," the old ape said casually.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

Exemption from one month of menial labor!?

This wine, as long as it doesn't pass through my hands, is fine to drink.

"These past few days, I've observed that you possess astonishing natural strength, making you excellent material for a blacksmith..." Looking appreciatively at Fang Xu, Iron Mountain smiled: "How about you become my disciple when the time comes?"

In a few days, he needs to enter seclusion for training, preparing to use this time to complete his daily tasks first; otherwise, if he's absent then, he'll lose contribution points.

Fang Xu slightly nodded: "It's time to break through."

"Fang Xiazi." The old ape, having reverted to his ape form but still wearing human clothing, showed a faint smile on his aged ape face upon seeing Fang Xu.

Bang!

As his words fell, Fang Xu suddenly brought down a heavy hammer before him, causing the Chiyang Iron before him to undergo violent deformation, then shatter like glass into fragments of various sizes.

"Hehe... you little brat were born to be a blacksmith."

After returning, Fang Xu immediately hung a red lantern outside his dwelling.

"Do you like forging weapons?"

Half a day later, Fang Xu finally moved.

The entire Divine Armaments Hall, including Iron Mountain, consists of only four people.

He gazed deeply at the short sword, then bowed his hands to Iron Mountain in thanks.

For so long now, he has roughly understood that anyone who appears on his friend list will never have a good ending.

He had carefully observed both the bone stele and the cliffside heavenly scriptures, gaining some understanding of these mysterious patterns.

"Done?"

Seeing Fang Xu in this state, Iron Mountain couldn't help but praise him.

"The human world is just this boring."

Helpless, he could only sit cross-legged in the stone chamber and begin studying the things on this beast skin.

Join the Divine Armaments Hall?

Fang Xu frowned slightly; after these few days of helping at the Divine Armaments Hall, he had roughly understood both the hall and Iron Mountain.

"Steward Iron Mountain, thank you."

Upon hearing this, the old ape's originally dull and lifeless eyes suddenly burst forth with a flash of brilliance, then quickly faded.

Time passed quickly, three days went by, and Fang Xu stood motionless before the broken sword.

"We'll meet again." Fang Xu said with a light smile.

"Let's go."

"Remember this, brat." Fang Xu slightly bowed his hands, then turned and left the Divine Armaments Hall.

On the recliner in the courtyard, the old ape's withered body lay there basking in the sun.

Fang Xu nodded.

"I heard Longlong say you've been preparing these days to break through to Martial Master in seclusion?"

This is a "Do Not Disturb" sign; throughout the Ascension Immortal Assembly, aside from the Law Enforcement Hall disciples, no one may forcibly enter the residence of a disciple hanging a red lantern.

After everything was ready, he sat cross-legged in the secret chamber and began his seclusion.

(End of Chapter)