Longevity by Grinding Skills

After a pause, Fu Jin continued, "The Incense and Candle Sect in Wuzhou has also grown powerful. They’ve become too big to control, far beyond what the one-hundred-thousand-strong Hu Ben Profound Armor Army could ever extinguish. The leader of the Incense and Candle Sect, Luo Kai, is a Supreme Qi Refining Grandmaster of the Ninth Realm. And now that the Empress has taken the throne, the Qi Cultivation Grandmasters of the Great Zhou Imperial Court have all gone into seclusion.

"That Empress must have lost her mind. The one hundred thousand troops of the Hu Ben Profound Armor Army entered Wuzhou, but instead of aiming their blades at the Incense and Candle Sect, they raised their butcher’s knives against the fourteen sects of Wuzhou."

Fu Jin grunted as he said this.

"That Empress, completely ignoring the common people... She’s truly inhuman."

Watching Fu Jin stomp his feet and curse the current Empress, wishing he could smash her head in with his twin heavy hammers, Xu Yunfan quietly mulled things over on the side.

’That Empress managed to ascend to the throne as a mere woman. Her methods and cunning must be far beyond that of an ordinary person. This move of hers probably has a deeper meaning.’

’Those in high positions can plunge the common people into deep water and scorching fire with a single whim.’ Having come from Wuzhou, Xu Yunfan naturally understood this all too well.

"Senior Brother, with this move, the Empress has likely pushed the sects into opposition. What on earth is she trying to do?"

Hearing this, Fu Jin’s cursing immediately quieted down. He let out a breath and sighed as he brushed the dust from his clothes, "Back then, people from the Jiuyao Sect went into the Jade Capital. They didn’t say a word after they came out. It was as if the whole thing never happened."

He paused, then said, "I’m afraid only Sect Leader Hong knows some of the inside story. We don’t need to be too anxious. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. The most important thing for you right now is to prepare for the True Inheritance Ceremony."

Xu Yunfan readily agreed and then told Fu Jin what had just happened.

A cold sneer spread across Fu Jin’s face as he listened. "Junior Brother, you did the right thing. You can be even more unrestrained in the future. That Qi Huan is the head disciple of the Hidden Blade Pavilion. His talent is excellent, and his Fast Sword technique is truly superb. But he’s a narrow-minded person who can’t tolerate the slightest offense. He’ll hold a grudge over any little thing and is always trying to stir up trouble in the shadows."

He said with a look of disdain, "He’s cut from the same cloth as their Hall Master. Next time you run into him, just find a chance to give him a taste of your hammer. Our Weapon Casting Hall may be low-key, but we won’t be bullied and then tuck our tails between our legs."

"..."

In the following days, Xu Yunfan became a recluse, constantly practicing the Celestial Cicada Force. With the Secret Martial Heavenly Cicada Body Refining Technique to aid his cultivation and a sufficient supply of elixirs and Exotic Beast Flesh to supplement his training, his Skill Level increased at a blistering pace.

In five months at most, he would be able to bring his Bone Training Skill Level to Perfection.

... ... ... ...

Time flew by. Xu Yunfan remained a complete recluse, spending all day in his courtyard refining his Celestial Cicada Force.

「One month later.」

The Refined Steel walls of Celestial Craft City gleamed with a cold light, the midday sun branding the shadows of the crenellations onto the bluestone slabs below.

The city grew ever more crowded with Martial Artists converging from all directions. At the north gate of Celestial Craft City, sixteen Dragon Blood Horses snorted out sulfurous breaths, their Profound Iron Carriage carving half-a-foot-deep ruts into the bluestone slabs.

A whiskered carriage driver held a stone lock with one arm, the veins on his wrist writhing like Iron Chains. He was in a standoff with the chief of the Changfeng Escort Agency over who would enter the city first. Sweat dripped from the chief’s forehead, so heavy it shattered three paving stones where it landed.

The two groups already had a history of both new and old grudges. If they weren’t wary of the Jiuyao Sect behind them and the fact that they were on Celestial Craft Cave’s territory, they probably would have started fighting on the spot.

...

Once all the honored guests for the ceremony were seated.

In the grand plaza of Celestial Craft Cave’s Mechanical City, the seven statues of the Ancestral Masters gleamed with a cold, sharp light, having been polished to a shine. On the high platform cast from hundred-times-refined steel, the muscles under Hong Baichuan’s brocade robe bulged like the gnarled roots of an old tree.

This was the Grandmaster who had become number one in Cangzhou by mastering the Nine Revolutions Star Wheel Pulse Forging Technique. With every step he took, he left a half-inch deep footprint in the ironwood surface of the platform. Below the stage, the leader of the Red Flood Dragon Gang narrowed his eyes, counting the indentations.

’Three steps to shake a tiger, seven steps to crumble a mountain. That Old Ghost Hong... his Bone Marrow Cleansing Power has already reached the Transformation Realm. If he weren’t past his peak and without any chance of a breakthrough, I’m afraid he might have actually stepped into the stage of Refining the Internal Organs.’

"Esteemed heroes, today is the day of the True Inheritance Ceremony for my Celestial Craft Cave’s Weapon Casting Hall. I thank you all for gracing us with your presence.

"Since its founding, the Celestial Craft Cave has always upheld the principle of ’carrying the Dao with tools, and commanding tools with the Dao.’ The Weapon Casting Hall is the cornerstone of our Celestial Craft Cave, so the selection of a True Disciple is naturally of utmost importance. In inviting the various sects to observe this ceremony today, we also wished to take this opportunity to once again open our armory."

Hong Baichuan’s voice was resonant, echoing above the plaza.

Upon hearing that the armory would be reopened, even the envoy from the Jiuyao Sect couldn’t help but sit up straighter.

Below, the Sect Leader of the Cyan Simurgh Sword Sect revealed a look of understanding.

"Heh. So that was Old Ghost Hong’s ultimate goal. The True Inheritance Ceremony was probably just a convenient excuse... He’s so damn greedy!"

"If he weren’t so greedy, how could he have built this Mechanical City? It’s one of a kind in all of the Great Zhou."

The one who spoke was a large, bearded man, the head of the Mountain Observation Sect, one of the Eight Sects of Cangzhou. His face held a hint of wistfulness, clearly envious of the Celestial Craft Cave’s money-making abilities.

...

Xu Yunfan watched as Hong Baichuan finished speaking, then saw him and Zhan Yan both turn to look at him.

Xu Yunfan let out a breath. The Thunderfire Qilin Hammer on his back glinted with a dark luster under the sunlight.

’It’s my turn.’

The nearly four-hundred-jin Heavy Hammer didn’t affect his movements in the slightest. His steps were silent and his motions were gentle, yet they radiated an immense sense of power.

Zhan Yan stood to one side of the high platform. A flicker of gratification flashed in his eyes as he watched Xu Yunfan walk up onto the stage.

He stepped forward, cupped his fists to the crowd below the platform, and announced, "Everyone, this is the new True Disciple of our Weapon Casting Hall, Xu Yunfan."

His gaze swept over the Nine Peaks and Six Ministries of the Celestial Craft Cave. A smile touched his lips as he cupped his fists again and said, "If there is anyone within the Celestial Craft Cave who is unconvinced, you may come forward for a spar. If you are victorious, you can claim a position as a True Inheritor of the Weapon Casting Hall!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many of the disciples who had been kept in the dark immediately erupted into a clamor. They began to discuss it amongst themselves, their eyes filled with eager anticipation.

’A True Disciple of an entire Hall!’

’That means they would be nurtured with every available resource, with nothing held back.’

’Look at Xu Yunfan standing on the high platform. The head of the Heavy Hammer behind him glinted with a purplish patina under the sun. Every single Thunder Pattern was a groove personally hammered out by Zhan Yan using the tailbone of a Chi Long. How many people could ever enjoy such treatment?’

The sound of grinding metal came from the guest seating area. Yue Mountain of the Hidden Blade Pavilion was grinding his back molars. His new Bronze incisors were still flecked with cypress wood shavings. Fu Jin had thrown him earlier, shaking his teeth so badly that he had no choice but to go to the Mechanical Hall to get two new ones installed.

After waiting a moment and seeing no one make a move, Zhan Yan pointed a hand toward the fiery cave behind them, which glowed with a flickering light.

"Walk out of the Quenching Cave and pass through the Quenching Fire Pass, and you will be granted the True Inheritance Token!"

Someone below let out a soft laugh. "The Celestial Craft Cave must be running out of people. Just letting a disciple like this walk through the Quenching Fire Pass to get the status of a True Inheritor... I suppose it’s passable."

"Hold on!"

A sharp cry interrupted the established procedure.

The representatives from the other seven great sects and the envoy of the Jiuyao Sect finally got the look they’d been waiting for.

’Which sect’s True Disciple didn’t have to fight their way to the top? Just taking a casual stroll through a trial? There’s no way it could be that easy.’

Qi Huan of the Hidden Blade Pavilion strode into the center of the plaza. After saluting everyone, he turned to Xu Yunfan and announced in a loud voice, "Qi Huan of the Hidden Blade Pavilion. My Martial Arts is the Thousand Waves Sword, and I am a Third Level Martial Master. I have come to ask for a lesson. Do you dare to compete with me? If you are unwilling, then the Weapon Casting Hall must cede a True Inheritor position to my Hidden Blade Pavilion!"

As he spoke, he let the Fine Steel Sword Box on his back slam to the ground. The heavy impact made the ground tremble slightly, and the Fine Steel Sword Box actually sank three inches into the stone bricks.

Xu Yunfan raised an eyebrow. He took the Thunderfire Qilin Hammer from his back, walked down from the high platform, and stood facing Qi Huan.

"Why wouldn’t I dare?"