Chapter 132: Attempting to Worship the Gods

At the very bottom of the bundle were twelve silver notes.

Five of them were the ones he had sent back, which Li Lin refused to accept; the remaining seven came from the Weapon Forge.

After the news of his becoming a True Disciple spread back, the business at the Weapon Forge improved considerably.

"I suppose he truly isn't lacking?"

Li Yuan thought for a moment; Li Lin was not a pretentious person, so he put the silver notes away.

The Combined Weapon Furnace was a massive drain on silver; right now, he had less than a thousand taels of silver left on his entire person.

"Still poor."

Li Yuan sighed.

Having not slept all night, his spirit was still very good; after practicing several sets of the Weapon Body Stances, he finally pushed the door open and went out.

The sky had just brightened; wisps of cooking smoke were already rising from the Weapon Forge, and the sound of hammering changed from sporadic to dense.

Listening to the sound of hammering, Li Yuan's mood improved.

It was not only because he was familiar with the sound of hammering, but also because this was his stable source of income.

"Only with production can one be freed from production; the earliest prototype of a sect was probably just like this?"

Li Yuan's thoughts surged: "The Divine Weapon Valley and the Weapon Forge actually have no difference..."

Over the past two years, he had gone step by step from an apprentice living from day to day to become the tenth True Disciple of the Divine Weapon Valley.

In this process, he also gradually understood many things.

For instance, the 'Grand Alliance of Sects' that he initially found incredible.

To be freed from production to practice martial arts, one needs not only vast resources and vast industries, but also a large number of personnel to free oneself from trivial matters.

And the martial artists recruited also need resources, need industries, need personnel...

Layer by layer, it naturally becomes a local power, occupying more resources.

From county to prefecture, from prefecture to province, from province to circuit...

"The friction and slaughter between various sects, at its root, is also this principle."

Li Yuan pondered.

He was very good at adapting to local customs and was always in the process of understanding and adapting.

The friction between the Divine Weapon Valley and the Three Great Sects was not an exception; sects throughout the world would be no exception.

Whether it was the Xieshen Sect or the Star-Picking Tower, I suppose they could not jump out of this circle either.

"Brother Li is still this early."

Not long after Li Yuan pushed the door open, Liu Zheng came quickly from outside the shop, carrying two pairs of Six-Comb Boots:

"In recent years, spirit beast leather has been very scarce; just these two pairs of boots are enough to buy one superior-grade sharp blade."

Liu Zheng felt a bit of heartache.

He had not lacked money since childhood, but he had not actually bought many pairs of boots costing over ten taels.

Not to mention buying as many as one wanted.

"It is a bit expensive."

Li Yuan took out the twelve silver notes and handed them to Liu Zheng:

"Not just boots, gloves, outer robes, or ornaments; anything related to spirit beasts can be bought; the more the better."

"Ah?"

Liu Zheng's hands trembled a bit.

Li Yuan did not explain; after giving a few instructions, he left the Weapon Forge, while Liu Zheng arranged for two apprentices to follow and attend.

On the road, he strolled leisurely; his mouth never stopped along the way, and occasionally, when he saw something with interesting control effects, he would buy it.

With the Divine Fire Combined Weapon Furnace, even weapon items that were not ranked, he would pay attention to.

From time to time, he also looked at the passersby on the road.

Fucheng did not lack martial artists; various ranked weapon items were everywhere, but most were swords and blades.

"It is really hard to find a bargain."

Every time Li Yuan went down the mountain, he would stroll on the street, but most of the time there were no surprises.

On the roadside stalls, even superior-grade sharp blades were rare; occasionally encountered ones were either priced too high or damaged extremely severely.

"The sickle from Sanyuan Wu."

In front of a certain stall, Li Yuan stopped; he saw a crescent giant sickle fully two meters long.

This was a second-rank giant sickle; unfortunately, the damage was very severe, and the control effect was average.

Nevertheless, he bought it.

He

Moved quickly and bought a lot; in a short while, the apprentices following him behind changed from two to four, and by noon, they had become eight.

"Just put the things in the courtyard."

Li Yuan wandered to a large three-courtyard mansion, pushed open the door, and let the group of apprentices put the things inside.

This mansion awarded by the Divine Weapon Valley had three courtyards front and back, covered an area of over a thousand square meters, and had more than ten rooms.

After the apprentices put the things inside, they turned back to the Weapon Forge.

"The mansion is nice, but living alone is indeed a bit lonely."

Li Yuan swept his sleeve, storing all the things into the incense burner, locked the courtyard gate, and turned to go to the banquet.

Sun Zan's birthday banquet.

Wangjiang Tower, one of Fucheng's largest restaurants, stands beside the Inner City River, covering a vast area with nine floors from top to bottom.

Under the direct noon sun, the purple-red lacquer shone with a bright luster.

Sun Zan, who had rented out the entire Wangjiang Tower, now sat on the ninth floor, while many disciples of the Divine Weapon Valley greeted guests in the main hall.

As the younger brother of the Divine Weapon Valley Master's wife, Sun Zan held a high status within the valley, and countless friends and acquaintances throughout Fucheng knew him.

There were no shortage of high-ranking officials and wealthy nobles, as well as martial heroes from the Jianghu.

"I am deeply honored by the presence of all my good friends. Sun is truly grateful. Come, let us finish this cup!"

Sun Zan's face was flushed with red, thoroughly enjoying everyone's flattery.

However, when his peripheral vision swept across and he did not see Shi Hong, his heart gave a sudden thump; he set down his wine cup and went to search for him.

Ever since learning that his brother-in-law had suffered internal organ injuries, he had been striving to maintain his relationship with Shi Hong.

"Young Valley Master, what is this?"

Walking into the nearby private room, Sun Zan's drunkenness dissipated by more than half.

By the window, Shi Hong stood with his hands clasped behind his back, while Long Sheng and Ding Zhi either sat or leaned against the walls; the atmosphere inside the room seemed very heavy.

"Yesterday, Su Su Wanxiong appeared outside the city and injured Junior Sister Qiu. If Elder Ku Yue had not intervened in time, I fear, I fear..."

Long Sheng stood up and replied.

"Su Su Wanxiong?"

Sun Zan's drunkenness completely vanished; for a moment, he even stuttered: "Then, then what about Li Yuan?"

"He did not die."

Ding Zhi spoke, seeming somewhat regretful: "According to Junior Sister Qiu, that young man's lightness skill is excellent, extremely alert..."

"That is good, that is good."

Sun Zan breathed a sigh of relief inside his heart; whether Li Yuan lived or died did not matter to him, but who could have known that this time he had personally invited him down the mountain?

If he were dead, there would be no way to explain it; that old thing Han Han Chuijun does not reason with reason...

"Is the Young Valley Master worried about Han Han Chuijun?"

Sun Zan seemed to guess something; he had invited Li Yuan because of Shi Hong.

"What does it have to do with me?"

Shi Hong turned around, his eyes cold: "I just do not understand..."

"Hmm?"

Everyone in the room was stunned: "Do not understand?"

"Only two years of martial arts practice, achieving minor success in body tempering and perfection in hammer techniques is one thing, but his forging talent is also quite high, and his lightness skill shows great aptitude..."

"Mu Mu Xiantian Dragon Form, is it truly so astonishing?"

Shi Hong seemed to be talking to himself.

He had seen Qiu Qiu Changying; that young man's lightness skill was no longer merely a matter of good aptitude; even Qiu Qiu Changying felt surprised, and it was likely not inferior to his own.

Ding Zhi and the other two also frowned, feeling somewhat alarmed.

However, Sun Zan did not take it to heart:

"Han Han Chuijun was the same in years past; the Valley Master's talent was even higher, surpassing him without fail."

"Mu Mu Xiantian Dragon Form..."

Shi Hong sighed.

He was merely the most ordinary of the superior bone structures, far inferior to other true disciples; it was by virtue of his astonishing comprehension that he changed his bone structure several times within ten years, gathering nine forms to cause a sensation in the sect and become the Young Valley Master.

During this period, how much energy and blood did he expend, yet that Li Yuan was born with it...

"Why does the Young Valley Master care? That young man is distracted by other matters; he even learned the Art of Casting Weapons. Even with good bone structure, what can he do?"

Sun Zan offered a word of comfort; he had long since grown accustomed to such things.

accustomed to it.

"It is just some sentiment."

Shi Hong waved his hand:

"I, Shi, am not the kind of person who envies the talented and jealous of the capable; it is merely that thinking of each other, one cannot help but feel moved."

Ding Zhi and Long Sheng nodded in agreement.

'After all, he is young and full of vigor...'

Knowing it had nothing to do with him, Sun Zan set his mind at ease: "Young Valley Master, if that Li Yuan comes, will you see him?"

"No need."

Shi Hong shook his head.

This time, through Sun Zan, he invited Li Yuan down the mountain, intending to see if he would be targeted by others, to see if he could become his 'blade'.

Incidentally, he also held the thought of intervening in time to save him.

But now...

"I do wish to see him."

Ding Zhi set down his wine cup, yet he saw through Shi Hong's thoughts:

"This young man's bone structure is too good; if we do not grind him down while we can, Senior Brother may not be able to use him well in the future."

Shi Hong drained the wine in his cup:

"Be mindful of the limits."

"Senior Brother, rest assured!"

Ding Zhi nodded: "I have already arranged people; we only wait for him to arrive."

Over seventy years of a generation; below the Elders and True Disciples, the Inner Gate actually has quite a batch of 'old disciples'...

"Disciple Ding is still the safer choice."

Shi Hong nodded, then glanced at Long Sheng; the latter immediately stared at his nose and his nose at his heart, pretending not to see.

"Senior Brother, just watch and see!"

Ding Zhi smiled slightly.

He was already prepared, and knew Li Yuan was in Fucheng; everything could only wait for his arrival.

It was just...

"Li, Li Yuan came, didn't go upstairs, ate a meal in the main hall, left his congratulatory gift, and left. If it weren't for disciples checking the gifts, we probably wouldn't even know he came..."

Six hours later, Ding Zhi returned to the private room; his face was gloomy, so angry he stammered.

Crack!

The wine cup hit the ground; glancing at the night sky outside the window, Shi Hong swept his sleeve and left.

"The taste of the spirit beast was too good; pity, there's only one plate per table."

On the carriage leaving the city, Li Yuan looked back at Fucheng.

Sun Zan loved a grand display; the nine floors of Wangjiang Lou didn't know how many guests came, he blended in without standing out, and leaving, he was equally unnoticeable.

Although he didn't know what Sun Zan and Shi Hong wanted to do, he certainly wouldn't go along with them.

The birthday banquet, he went; the meal, he ate; the gift, he left.

As for the rest, what did that have to do with him?

"That Sun Zan, though accustomed to a life of ease, is after all a veteran of the Body-Transformation Art... hmm, whether I can beat him, I must find time to try."

Li Yuan played with the human-skin mask in his hand.

What Shi Hong wanted to do, he decided to find out by a different method.

In these two months, he had searched for many weapons; this time returning to Huishan, he would match them up, then apply the mask; 'Li Li Yuanba' should come out for a stroll.

"For safety's sake, wait for Liu Zheng to buy a few more pairs of boots, and find time to retrieve that set of heavy armor from the Divine Guard Army..."

The carriage sped toward Divine Weapon Mountain; Li Yuan leaned against one side, flipping through the three books Wang Wang Wenyuan had sent, contemplating this Bai Shen Fa.

"The Longevity Method!"

When his heart stirred slightly, Li Yuan decisively closed this Bai Shen Zheng Fa.

He now somewhat understood the martial world rumors of those who, upon obtaining a demonic Gong Fa, would not hesitate to mutilate themselves, even castrate themselves.

Such a Gong Fa was too tempting.

"Go to the Library to flip through books, best go to the Pill Pavilion to see what good pills there are; blood qi entering the brain is no joke..."

For a longevity he wasn't sure was possible, risking life and death, Li Yuan felt this deal was not worth it; he must get it clear first.

By the cold pool at night, there were also ferrymen welcoming and seeing off guests; Li Yuan

immediately spotted Liang Liang Ashui poling the boat on the cold pool.

"Brother Liang."

Li Yuan waited for Liang Liang Ashui to make one round trip before boarding his boat.

Liang Liang Ashui clasped his hands in salute: "Senior Brother Li."

Li Yuan paid no mind to the distance in his words, reached out to take the three-pronged fish spear into his hand, and hefted it:

"This fish spear is somewhat damaged; just so happens I'm going to the Weapon Casting Valley tomorrow, I can take the opportunity to repair it for you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Li."

Liang Liang Ashui sighed inwardly, clasped his hands, and thanked him.

The cold pool at night was quite chilly; Li Yuan stood on the skiff looking around, seemingly admiring the scenery, but his mind was still on the Sea-Splitting Profound Whale Hammer.

The fire vein beneath the cold pool was too active, the temperature too high...

"A weapon that can command water and fire is too rare."

Staring at the lake surface, Li Yuan had a strong urge to dive down and find other paths, but it was only a thought.

The fire vein's heat made it hard to approach; this cold pool water was equally bone-chillingly cold.

"Senior Brother Li, we've arrived."

The small boat docked; Li Yuan picked up Liang Liang Ashui's fish spear, paid no mind to the gaze behind him, waved his hand, and left.

"A True Transmission!"

On the small boat, Liang Liang Ashui let out a long breath; he calculated the silver on his person, estimating he could now gather enough for a batch of top-grade fish bait.

"I heard beneath this cold pool there is a kind of Red Dragon Fish, said to possess the bloodline of a flood dragon; one is worth a hundred gold!"

After returning to Huishan, Li Yuan immediately resumed his previous routine.

Daily iron-forging, modifying his root and bone, borrowing books from the library; tedious yet fulfilling.

In a flash, more than ten days had passed.

Splash splash~

Under the night sky, in the small courtyard, Li Yuan drew several buckets of cold water to bathe.

After washing, he didn't wipe off; he just shook his body, and all the water droplets on his body were shaken into mist, except for his hair.

"If blood qi and strength enter the brain, I suppose one shake could clean it all?"

Li Yuan closed his eyes slightly to sense.

After achieving mastery in Body Tempering, he could now faintly perceive the movement and changes of internal force and blood qi beneath his skin.

In his perception, two great nets existed beneath the skin.

The circulation of blood qi and the circulation of internal qi intertwined yet remained distinct; these two great circulations acted like two layers of internal armor capable of deflecting force, greatly enhancing a Body Tempering martial artist's resistance to blows.

"I cultivate multiple types of internal force; these internal forces do not conflict with one another, but it is said that merging all forms together will cause some trouble?"

Li Yuan pondered with his eyes closed.

Merging all forms has nothing to do with most martial artists; even those with superior bone structure normally possess only two forms, making the difficulty of merging negligible.

"Hoo!"

"Haa!"

Li Yuan adjusted his breathing, coordinating it with the circulation of his own blood qi and internal force.

Moments later, he opened his eyes, put down the hammer, tapped his foot lightly, and leaped into the large vat filled with irregular iron sand.

"Today, the eleventh form will be completed."

Taking a deep breath, Li Yuan took out a Spirit-Nourishing Minor Return Pill; after a slight hesitation, he tilted his head back and swallowed it.

Wooo!

With the Longhu Longhu Dadan acting like a furnace in his abdomen, Li Yuan felt no familiar heat; instead, he sensed a chill spreading from his abdomen throughout his entire body, then surging upward into his brain.

The Spirit-Nourishing Minor Return Pill has the effect of nourishing the spirit, making it perfectly suited to assist in cultivating the Bai Shen Fa!

"Revere oneself as a god..."