Chapter 273: Listening Quietly to Wind and Snow

The Dragon List gathers the most outstanding martial arts geniuses under the age of sixty from the Hengshan Circuit.

Li Yuan glanced up and down, spotting familiar names: Yue Chongtian, famous throughout Dechang Prefecture for his innate Red Dragon Body, ranked over five hundred and forty.

Above and below his rank, disciples from the same intake batch, such as Lin Lin Dongping, Yan Xiong, and Hua Hua Qingwu, were also mixed in.

With over six hundred people on the Dragon List, there are no weaklings; even the one ranked last is a renowned martial arts genius throughout an entire prefecture or commandery.

"A gathering of heroes."

Li Yuan felt some emotion in his heart, yet he could understand it.

Just like in his past life, after entering a prestigious university with excellent grades, his roommates and classmates also had excellent grades; this was not his own decline, but a change in environment.

"The top thirty of the Dragon List, I'm afraid I cannot enter for now."

Li Yuan felt that even with his Meridian Circulation fully matured, he was afraid he could not kill his way into the top thirty, unless he comprehended the Thunder Form and integrated his own fifty forms with the Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon.

Otherwise, he was afraid that before refining his organs, he would only circle outside the top thirty.

"This is still acceptable; with Senior Brother Long's jade before me, it does no harm for me to be slightly conspicuous; if my speed were even faster than his, it would cause some trouble."

Daoist Li was very steady; it was not that he overthought things, but similar matters had already occurred in the Divine Weapon Valley.

Although Long Long Xinglie's spirit was incomparable to Shi Hong's, he felt there was no need to fight for this spotlight; regardless, he intended to consume all the benefits on the Dragon List.

The main peak of the Dragon Gate was towering and magnificent; on the mid-mountain slope lay a vast open space where no fighting platform had been erected, and now many disciples were already sparring within it.

But only some of them; he also saw assessments for smithing, herb gathering, and pill refining.

Although the Dragon Tiger Temple is a Jianghu Sect, it stands as the head of one Circuit, and its interior is quite like the imperial court; naturally, the assessments are not limited to Wu Gong.

Inside, there are three pulses, nine halls, and fifty-four oars; outside, there are the Dragon and Tiger armies; and the powers with connections, both open and hidden, are countless.

Like a giant net, it covers the entire Hengshan Circuit, controls the Sizhou, and governs the various prefectures; it is a true uncrowned king.

In Li Yuan's own understanding, the Dragon List, in a sense, is a protection and tempering for disciples with outstanding talent; just as after passing the Jinshi examination, the excellent ones would enter the Hanlin Academy for further study, and after tempering, be dispatched as officials.

Li Yuan moved through the various assessment grounds, sometimes pausing, sometimes shaking his head, sometimes looking a few more times, feeling in his heart that his thoughts were very accurate.

"The Dragon List lists disciples under sixty years old; that is to say, as long as the talent is good enough, the Dragon Tiger Temple does not mind supporting them until sixty; during this period, even if there are mission dispatches, they are mostly for tempering."

Muttering in his heart, regarding the Dragon Tiger Temple's talent cultivation mechanism, Daoist Li, as a beneficiary, was very satisfied; in his past life, at sixty, he would have been close to retirement.

Rounding up, it is equivalent to the sect supporting one for a lifetime; this treatment is truly beyond words.

"Li, Senior Uncle Li."

Li Yuan was wandering when he heard a somewhat familiar voice; Wang Shan Xuan, dressed in white robes, clasped his hands in greeting with a full face of smiles.

"Senior Nephew Wang."

Li Yuan nodded; he had no good impression of Wang Shan Xuan.

But he could not resist that the other's apology was too thorough; if not for his spiritual rice quota, he would have run out of food months ago.

"Senior Uncle, this disciple has just purchased this year's spiritual rice quota; six hundred jin of red corn have been sent to your small courtyard."

Wang Shan Xuan was very respectful, even somewhat cautious:

"I have not yet used this year's spiritual pill quota; if you have any needs, just give orders."

"Oh?"

Li Yuan looked at him, marveling in his heart.

In less than a year, a stubborn youth who was once driven by others has now become able to bend and stretch; this progress is truly not slow.

"This disciple also has several close friends; if Senior Uncle has needs, this disciple can beg them to provide their quotas for your use."

Wang Shan Xuan lowered his head slightly, feeling somewhat uneasy in his heart.

For the past half year, especially after Li Yuan triple-jumped on the Dragon List and fought his way into the top forty, he would often wake up startled from his dreams every night, filled with regret and fear.

"Then many thanks."

Li Yuan did not decline; his need for spiritual pills was originally great, and if he did not accept this goodwill, it would only make him overthink.

"Where, where."

Seeing him accept so readily, Wang Shan Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief; although it hurt a bit, he thought again that this might not be a bad thing.

He knew very well how many people wanted to befriend this Senior Uncle Li over the past half year; perhaps he would gain fortune from misfortune?

After dismissing Wang Shan Xuan, Li Yuan went to participate in the assessment; the assessment for Pure Gang Oar disciples was naturally smithing, and with his skill in forging weapons, there was naturally no problem.

And his free repair and forging of weapons for sect disciples was enough to offset the missions he had not gone to execute.

Inner sect disciples have dispatched missions every year or half-year, but these missions can be offset.

"The spiritual pill quota will not be used for now; the spiritual rice must be purchased first."

A quota is a quota; whether spiritual pills or spiritual rice, they must be bought with money; Li Yuan calculated and decided to buy the spiritual rice first.

The forty thousand taels he had borrowed from Xin Xin Wenhua previously, actually received as thirty-six thousand taels of gold, were mostly spent on the weapon forging shop, so naturally he had to spend sparingly now.

After passing the assessment and buying the spiritual rice, Li Yuan did not stay long and went straight down the mountain; the supreme-quality Autumn Water Sword he forged for Xin Xin Wenhua was reaching its finishing stage.

Wang Shan Xuan watched Li Yuan's retreating back, finally breathing a sigh of relief in his heart.

He was about to return when he suddenly heard a sneering laugh:

"Arrogant before, humble after; it makes people laugh."

Wang Shan Xuan's face changed; he saw a grey-robed sword-wielder holding his sword and sneering, with undisguised contempt:

"When Master was alive, you ran errands for him; less than a month after Master was severely injured, you hurried to show goodwill to that Li Yuan; hehe, hahaha, laughable, laughable!"

"Senior, Senior Brother Gao."

Wang Shan Xuan's face changed.

This sword-wielder was Chu Shan Xuan Kong's eldest disciple, Gao Gao Wanyong; over ten years ago, he was also ranked in the forties on the Dragon List; if not for his age, he was a expert with hope of breaking into the top thirty.

He gritted his teeth and tried to leave, but was blocked by that sword-wielder.

"Master wants to see you."

Gao Gao Wanyong's expression was cold; the Longhu Temple strictly forbids private duels. Unless Wang Shan Xuan Ying challenges him to a wagered duel, if he acts rashly, he will face dire consequences.

"Hall Master Chutang..."

Wang Shan Xuan Ying's heart trembled; his face turned pale, then flushed.

Gao Gao Wanyong had already turned away, gazing at the Dragon Stele not far off, his eyes flickering:

"Less than a year since entering, yet he has fought his way into the top forty of the Dragon List..."

He himself had fought from beyond six hundred on the Dragon List up to the forties, but it took him nearly fifty years, whereas this young man has been here for only one year.

"No wonder Wang Shan Xuan Ying was terrified; Long Long Xinglie back then was probably no better."

Gao Gao Wanyong's gaze darkened slightly, and he turned to leave.

Wang Shan Xuan Ying hesitated for a long while, then gritted his teeth and followed.

Hiss!

Smoke rose several zhang high from the water pool.

Before the forging table, Li Yuan set down his hammer; a pure yellow hue appeared before his eyes:

"It's done!"

Li Yuan relaxed, a smile appearing on his face.

Originally, given his mastery of weapon forging, the chance of failing to craft a supreme-grade famous artifact was quite high, but the Palm Sound Talisman compensated for his shortcomings.

"Weapon Forging has reached perfection!"

Crafting a supreme-grade famous artifact is the symbol of perfecting Weapon Forging; thus, Li Yuan's forging attainment has now caught up with Lei Lei Jingchuan's.

"It's done!"

As the smoke cleared, Xin Xin Wenhua's eyes also brightened; though he knew nothing of hammering and forging weapons, as a seasoned swordsman, he could naturally discern the quality of a sword.

"It's only half finished."

Li Yuan reminded him; the quenching and tempering succeeded, so the supreme-grade famous artifact was sixty percent complete, but the remaining few steps were actually more troublesome.

Of course, it was merely troublesome, not difficult.

"At this stage, it is already done."

Xin Xin Wenhua reached out, lifted the long sword from the furnace, and gave it a slight shake; the sword's ring was clear and resonant like a dragon. Though unpolished, the blade already bore wave-like patterns:

"Junior Brother Li has superb craftsmanship!"

"I am glad I did not fail in my duty."

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Yuan sealed the furnace fire; although it was still early, after forging this supreme-grade famous artifact, he no longer wished to hammer iron today.

"The subsequent steps need not trouble you, Junior Brother. A fine sword, a fine sword; your craftsmanship, I fear, is not inferior to that of Senior Brother Lin."

Xin Xin Wenhua handled the Semi-finished product sword, quite reluctant to let it go; he originally possessed a supreme-grade famous sword, and inviting Li Yuan to forge this Autumn Water Sword was mostly for testing purposes.

But now that he held it, he found the feel of this famous sword was even better than his previous two; it had nothing to do with grade, but with compatibility.

This sword suits him very well.

"I am glad Senior Brother likes it."

Having his own crafted work praised, Li Yuan felt very pleased.

This was the first supreme-grade famous artifact he had forged; though slightly rough, it was the crystallization of his heart and blood.

While forging this sword, not only did the Palm Weapon Talisman provide enhancement and the Palm Sound Talisman offer assistance, but the 'Sword Heart Illumination' empowered by the Fire Dragon Sword also aided him.

Thus, regarding this sword, he considered himself not inferior to any supreme-grade famous artifact.

"In short, thank you!"

Xin Xin Wenhua was in high spirits and somewhat impatient; after merely offering thanks, he hurried toward the depths of the Pure Gang Rudder, for the final polishing also required the finest craftsmanship.

"Congratulations, Junior Uncle Li!"

"A supreme-grade famous artifact! Junior Uncle Li's forging attainment is now no less than the Rudder Master's!"

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

Once Xin Xin Wenhua left, the crowd of inner disciples gathered around rushed forward to offer thanks, admiration, and praise, one after another.

Li Yuan smiled in response and accepted a large batch of orders; afterward, he carried dozens of various weapons back to his residence.

Whoosh~

At dusk, the wind and snow grew heavier again, and the Hun Tian mountain peaks were a vast expanse of white.

Li Yuan walked slowly along the mountain path, his mood quite good:

"Just half a step away from Great Perfection, and I can begin forging Divine Weapons."

Although the Divine Fire Combined Weapon Furnace could already combine Divine Weapons, this was different in meaning from personally forging a Divine Weapon; the status of a Divine Artisan, even within the Longhu Temple, was extremely high.

"If I truly become a Divine Artisan, it would be unreasonable not to bestow a few Longhu Longhu Dadan, would it not?"

In legend, one such pill could equal sixty years of bitter cultivation; Li Yuan naturally held it in his thoughts, for he had not forgotten the injuries of Old Lei and Old Old Jingtou.

On a hill, Li Yuan stopped to gaze into the distance, overlooking the vast mountain ranges, slightly closing his eyes to listen to the sound of wind and snow.

Within the Palm Weapon Space, the Listening Sound Wood Talisman glowed faintly; it was already ready to advance to the third tier.

"Hmm, before advancing, I cannot waste the opportunities to listen to the Heavenly Sounds..."