Chapter 122: 117 Shixiong

Although he intended to make a plan, Tang Zhao did not start immediately because it was time for class.

Carrying the Artifice Lamp and forcing himself to remain calm as he walked across the barren beach, Tang Zhao discovered someone had already arrived when he entered the Gongyu Hall storeroom.

The person was a young man, looking to be about thirty years old, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, a decent appearance with a hint of simplicity, and dressed in a stone-blue robe with tight cuffs—the attire of someone who works.

He was tidying up those Hollow Balls in the Wind-Quality storeroom, holding them one by one in his palm with a cloth pad, and testing them with a special pen-style Art Tool, very focused.

Tang Zhao did not recognize him and guessed he was some Shixiong, so he found it inconvenient to disturb him and waited quietly to the side.

The man finished tidying a few balls, stopped his work, nodded at him, and said, "Tang Shidi, right? I am Shi Chunqing."

Tang Zhao let out an "Ah," and hurriedly bowed, saying, "So it is the eldest Shixiong."

He had heard from Xue Yeyu that there was an eldest Shixiong who had followed Xue Xianyun since childhood like an adopted son, and this was that Shi Chunqing. He was older than all the other Disciples, gentle in temperament, diligent and conscientious, and possessed a deep foundation in Rune Formulas. With his abilities, he could have long since gone down the mountain to stand on his own, yet he remained on the mountain to serve his mentor and take care of his Shidi and Shimei; Xue Yeyu described him as being like half a father.

Shi Chunqing smiled slightly and said, "Shidi, no need for such formalities. I heard our mentor speak of you; he praises you incessantly and thinks very highly of you. You must work hard and not let the old man's expectations go to waste."

Tang Zhao felt a bit embarrassed and, before he could humbly decline, heard Xue Xianyun cough lightly behind them. Both turned around at the same time. They saw Xue Xianyun with a stern face and glaring eyes, saying, "Tang Zhao, your Shixiong is working, and you are just watching? Why aren't you following your Shixiong to learn how to maintain the materials? These will all be your jobs in the future."

Tang Zhao hurriedly agreed and ran in front of Shi Chunqing to learn. Shi Chunqing readily made space and instructed him on how to do these tasks.

These tasks were not difficult, but they were very tedious and required precision; each ball had a different processing method according to its characteristics, and just remembering them one by one was not easy. Fortunately, Shi Chunqing's guidance was meticulous, and Tang Zhao was considered clever and had a good memory, so by slowing down and carefully following along, he did not make any mistakes.

Shi Chunqing was not as strict as Xue Xianyun and said in a gentle voice, "Shidi, don't rush. This is all a matter of practice; you will have to learn it sooner or later, and you will definitely find it useful. Not just here with our mentor, but later on, you will also find it useful when organizing your own inventory."

Tang Zhao suddenly felt a headache and said, "I also need to build these incense balls, mirrors, and the like..."

Shi Chunqing said, "That is natural. Otherwise, where would you put your private materials? The villa has public storerooms that you can rent by spending Origin Stones, but that is not a long-term solution. There is already a cellar dug under your Sword Hut for you to store materials. But take it slow; these implements are expensive, so don't expect to gather a set in three or five years; it would be very good if you could gather a set in ten years."

Tang Zhao nodded, temporarily putting this troublesome matter aside, and followed his eldest Shixiong from the Wind-Quality storeroom to the Fire-Quality storeroom to learn how to tidy up, working until late at night before they finished the two storerooms.

Seeing it was the third watch of the night, Shi Chunqing said, "Let's stop here. Once you are proficient, you will be able to finish in a day. Tidying up once every half month will be enough in the future. Once you can take over completely, I will be relieved." His tone held both gratification and a faint sense of loss.

Tang Zhao bowed to thank him and saw him off, thinking: A Sword Smith is truly complicated; not to mention the money earned later, how much must be invested in the beginning? Just storing materials has so much trouble; those Wind Balls, Fire Mirrors, and Water Bottles look expensive, let alone building several large storerooms—even just having one of each to gather materials for a sword is not cheap. It is better at Ping Xiansheng's place, where one uses an Artifact Jar to store things, and it can even store time; why distinguish between earth-quality and fire-quality?

It is a pity he only has one Artifact Jar; otherwise, if he filled the storeroom with jars, wouldn't this money be saved?

Wait...

The Sumeru Sword, is it in my Sword Manual?

If it is, I can simulate holding it! Then I could use the jar-stored Sword Technique!

As long as I find an Artifact that is seventy-five percent similar to the Sumeru Sword...

Wait, I have an Artifact!

It is the Artifact Ping Xiansheng gave me, which is the Sumeru Sword's own Artifact; what seventy-five percent, the similarity is one hundred percent.

I just need to hold the Artifact to simulate holding it and use the Sword Technique; as for all that earth-quality, water-quality, and messy stuff, I can handle one per jar!

The only pity is that the jar cannot store things related to living beings; it cannot store materials of the Internal Energy-Gang Qi-Sword Essence lineage. If only there were an Artifact of the Pure Yang Sword. The Pure Yang Sword and the Sumeru Sword are complementary; one stores living things, and the other stores dead things.

I wonder whose hands the Pure Yang Sword fell into? The Sword Image and the white-haired person have already been wiped out; it is impossible for it to become a Power Sword. Who took that sword away? Was it the Land Inspection Division or that Ming Jing?

If the Land Inspection Division took it, there is still a chance to bump into it and add it to the Sword Manual; that would be even more convenient then.

But it is not bad now; it is equivalent to having a small storage cheat, and it feels great to keep using it.

Hehe...

"What are you laughing at? Laughing so strangely; you've only been here a few days, and you've already been infected by that idiot A Xiao?" Xue Xianyun's voice came from behind.

Tang Zhao froze instantly, covered his mouth in embarrassment, and remained speechless.

Fortunately, Xue Xianyun did not continue, saying, "You should ask Chunqing for more advice when you have nothing to do. Especially when I am not around; an elder brother is like a father, and it is the same at Zhuoyu Villa. Especially regarding basic knowledge, there is no one more solid than Chunqing."

Tang Zhao said, "Yes, Shixiong is very patient, but he feels a bit tired."

Xue Xianyun felt a bit emotional and said, "He's getting old, not like you young people who can stay up all night without any issues and still go out playing the next day. Now he has reached the age where he cannot stay up late. That is why a Talisman Sword Master cannot give up cultivation, or it will shorten one's life. It is a pity that Chunqing, this child, is limited by his talent; otherwise, with his steadiness and diligence, he could have achieved great things."

He snorted, "However, what if he has talent? Which of the ones behind him has achieved anything? The second is obsessed with officialdom, the third never steps out of the house, Yeyu is focused on raising her owl. The fifth lies flat and sponges off others, the sixth and seventh are single-mindedly forming cliques, and the eighth's biggest hobby is pretending to be a big shot. Which one of these is worry-free?"

He glared at Tang Zhao again and said, "I will try one last time. If you also go astray, I will never take in disciples with outstanding talent again; I will only take in those with average talent who are steady, hardworking, and content to maintain the business. It will save me from getting angry."

Tang Zhao suddenly thought: Have you ever considered that after taking in so many disciples and failing every time, it is not always someone else's fault?

It was late at night, so Xue Xianyun did not give any more lectures and let Tang Zhao go back.

The bright moon hung in the sky as Tang Zhao walked back to the Sword Hut along the small path; the night was deep and the road slippery, and the barren beach was even more desolate and cold. Fortunately, there were no outsiders in the valley; it looked unsafe, but in reality, it was very safe.

It was just that when he passed the pine forest where many owls perched and heard the night owls calling, he felt a bit creeped out.

When he was almost home, Tang Zhao passed by the neighbor's Sword Hut.

Two wings of different colors fluttered in the night wind; that was Jiang Shenyi's Sword Hut.

Passing by the Sword Hut, he heard a great sound of wind in the courtyard. Tang Zhao instantly woke up from his drowsiness and looked inside from the fence.

He saw a youth in white practicing sword in the courtyard.

He was not wearing those flashy wings, just wearing plain coarse clothes, wielding a green blade in his hand. That three-foot sword in his hand was like a ball of light, a pile of snow, omnipresent and penetrating everywhere.

The moonlight shone on him, and he saw his posture was relaxed, his expression focused, and his Sword Technique was both chilling and as elegant as an immortal.

Truly a good Sword Technique.

Tang Zhao now had some discernment and had seen many powerful experts; purely in terms of sword moves, Jiang Shixiong was second to none, and he was dazzled and delighted.

After finishing a set of sword moves, the youth sheathed his sword and stood still, let out a long breath, and looked up slightly, only to see a head behind the fence, and could not help but be shocked, shouting, "Who?!"

Tang Zhao was discovered and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Jiang Shixiong, it's me, your younger brother Tang Zhao; you brought me up the mountain, do you remember? I was just passing by and disturbed your practice."

Jiang Shenyi relaxed slightly, but upon hearing the word "practice," his fair face suddenly turned red, and he said angrily, "Practice? Who is practicing? You are talking nonsense, get out!"

Tang Zhao thought he was dissatisfied with him peeping, and apologized again, saying, "It was my rudeness." He turned to leave.

He heard Jiang Shenyi say from behind, "Come back!"

Tang Zhao turned around and saw his face was even redder, and he said word by word, "Don't tell anyone else."

For a moment, Tang Zhao doubted his own eyesight; had he just stumbled upon some shameful thing Jiang Shenyi was doing? He didn't remember anything; wasn't it just practicing sword? What else was there? Even if he was nearsighted, he wouldn't be blind to this extent, right?

Jiang Shenyi held his breath and said, "Don't tell anyone that I practice sword at night."

Tang Zhao was stunned and said, "Shixiong is so diligent, practicing sword in the middle of the night, isn't that a good thing?"

Jiang Shenyi said angrily, "Good my foot! I am a peerless genius; I am powerful without even trying, how could I secretly practice sword at night?"

Tang Zhao suddenly remembered what Xue Yeyu said about Jiang Shenyi: he doesn't practice all day long and wanders around aimlessly, yet he is capable of everything and strong in everything; he is a once-in-a-generation genius.

So, geniuses secretly work hard at night.

Tang Zhao couldn't help but find it amusing, saying, "What does practicing have to do with 'secretly'? Geniuses have to practice too. A diligent genius is still a genius, isn't he?"

Jiang Shenyi gritted his teeth and said, "Anyway, I am that kind of one-of-a-kind genius, different from others! You are not allowed to tell anyone else."

Tang Zhao almost couldn't hold back his laughter, forcing himself to say, "Fine, I won't tell. Won't others know even if I don't tell?" Aren't you practicing sword in the courtyard? You didn't burrow into a tunnel, so everyone can see it as soon as they look.

Jiang Shenyi hummed, "My place is so remote, who would pass by in the middle of the night? By the way, why did you pass by?"

Tang Zhao pointed to the side and said, "I live in that Sword Hut next door; from now on, I'll be a neighbor to Shixiong."

Jiang Shenyi crossed his arms and said, "Hmph, troublesome. Forget it, since we are neighbors, it surely won't be hidden for long as time goes by. Keep it a secret for me, and I'll give you some benefits later."

Tang Zhao smiled and said, "Many thanks, Shixiong." A thought stirred in his heart, recalling Xue Xianyun's evaluation of Jiang Shenyi: his greatest hobby is pretending to be a big bad wolf.

It seems Master has long known the character of this Jiang Shixiong.

He couldn't help but whisper, "Shixiong, although you are older than me, you are quite childish."

Jiang Shenyi had sharp ears and naturally heard it, glaring and saying, "What did you say, you little brat?"

Tang Zhao smiled and changed the subject, saying, "Shixiong, do you want to practice during the day?"

Jiang Shenyi was indeed curious and asked, "How so?"

Tang Zhao said, "I'll help you. I'm a newcomer and have always admired Shixiong, chasing after you every day to ask for guidance. You'll be annoyed beyond measure and run out to find peace, so you won't have to wander around in front of people all the time. Then, you can secretly return and practice during the day."

Jiang Shenyi pondered and said, "This idea... is a bit silly, isn't it? How did you come up with it?"

Tang Zhao smiled, revealing gleaming white teeth in the moonlight, with quite a bit of the intent of a dagger revealed at the end of a map, and said, "Because I really have many questions I want to ask for guidance on."

Having made an agreement with Jiang Shenyi, Tang Zhao returned to the Sword Hut and began to make his own three-year plan.

It was mainly three lines of his own growth.

Martial arts, Rune Formula, and entrepreneurship.

These three paths naturally have primary and secondary ones, but he would not give up any of them.

Rune Formula is naturally the primary business, and there will be hard indicator assessments after three years. The goal is to reach Intermediate Talisman Sword Master in three years, so he must at least learn thirty-seven Base Fu in three months, learn over a hundred Basic Rune Pattern in one year, and then advance toward Intermediate Talisman Sword Master.

For the study plan, because Master will teach him every day, it will be based on steady and step-by-step diligent study. His own advantages, besides a bit of talent and some diligence, are the annotations from his Glasses, which help him understand. Furthermore, all the Sword Technique and Sword Art in the swords recorded in the Sword Manual can be analyzed in the form of Rune Formula; even if he cannot find similar Dharma Artifact to simulate them for a while, he can directly learn those Sword Art to create Art Tool. This part of the Art Tool will naturally be his unique, trump card kept at the bottom of the box. In addition, it seems that other Sword Art can also be analyzed on the spot when seen, but they are not as well stored as the Sword Manual for ready use at any time.

After the mid-term assessment, his path of learning runes should develop toward Sword Casting, first assisting Master in Sword Casting to gain experience, and then collecting materials to cast swords himself. This process is difficult to set a time limit for, but Tang Zhao hopes that he can complete it in another three years, that is, six years later. At that time, he will be eighteen years old, and he will spend another two years comprehending the sword, passing the Sword Student stage, and becoming a Sword Guest at the age of twenty.

Martial arts are also very important. After all, he learns Rune Formula to cast swords, and ultimately he still wants to be a Sword Guest. Besides knowing how to use Sword Art and Sword Technique ultimate moves, a Sword Guest must also practice martial arts to compete with other Sword Guests. After all, in the mundane world, a Sword Guest cannot randomly unleash ultimate moves, and most of the time, the competition is mainly based on martial arts. Moreover, before becoming a Sword Guest, he also needs the power to protect himself.

Not to mention anything else, is the Spring Talisman Assembly just for everyone to sit and compare their attainments in Rune Formula? This world has never had a rule that one should only have civil disputes and not martial ones. Even if you win a public civil dispute, if others are resentful and give you a physical elimination afterward, is the victory or defeat at the assembly still important?

Therefore, martial arts must be grasped tightly. He only has one month of foundation now, and strictly speaking, he is not even a Knight-Errant. In these three years, he must first master Internal and External Arts and become a Knight-Errant. Then he will practice Mysterious Technique, develop Qi of Geng, and become a Loose Practitioner. By the time he reaches Loose Practitioner, the three years should be up, and the next step is to become a Sword Guest.

There is no master to teach martial arts, and although he can ask Jiang Shenyi for advice, the other party only provides friendly guidance, and it mainly depends on his own practice. He has already learned a lot of martial arts, and there is still Mysterious Technique waiting to be practiced, so at least he doesn't have to worry about not having techniques. As for resources, Zhuoyu Villa also provides them at a high price, but once Tang Zhao learns to make Art Tool, these will not be difficult.

In addition, Tang Zhao has a plan to use the Glasses to upgrade all the martial arts he knows. By then, with better equipment, high-level martial arts will progress quickly and be powerful, which will naturally yield twice the result with half the effort.

As for entrepreneurship, Tang Zhao did not set a hard requirement for himself; as long as he can open a small direct-operated store in three years and gain stable customers, it will be fine. In terms of personnel, he will see if he can poach Manager Liu, and then invite a few Moyu Disciple to be shop assistants, which will be about enough. Tang Zhao does not intend to grow big and strong for the time being; if his own martial arts cannot keep up, the store cannot be opened big either.

These three things all consume energy, but if you think about it carefully, they also complement each other. Rune Formula lays the foundation for Sword Casting, and the Art Tool made can be an aid to martial arts and also products for entrepreneurship. Martial arts are the beginning of a Sword Guest's practice, a guarantee of a Talisman Sword Master's own safety, and also a prerequisite for opening up entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is for making money; money can be exchanged for more resources, provide more materials for the Talisman Sword Master, improve the quality of martial arts, and even develop more connections.

Finally, the three lines converge, intersecting at the point of the Sword Guest. He found the goal he could see and achieve:

At twenty, become a powerful, wealthy, and free Sword Guest!

Then, practice his own ideals and pursue higher dreams.

As he wrote down his goals in the book, time flipped over the pages like turning a book.