The next morning, Xu Yang opened his eyes.
[Became a disciple of Elder Huoyun, Points +30]
[Obtained Thousand Forging Technique, Points +20]
[Obtained Iron Refining Hand, Points +20]
[Martial Arts Longevity Points: 1410]
Nodding with satisfaction, he cultivated for two hours, had breakfast in the dining hall, packed all his belongings, and officially moved into Li Fire Peak.
Having just joined the peak, he didn’t have any tasks to complete yet. After making his bed and hiding the Jade Boxes containing Spirit Iron and Spirit Medicine, he eagerly picked up the Thousand Forging Technique and sat on his cattail mat to study it.
[Thousand Forging Technique - Not yet Entry Level (0/20)]
After one read-through, the panel flickered, and the progress for the Thousand Forging Technique appeared in the Skills section.
’This thing counts as a Skill?’
The Thousand Forging Technique was the foundation of the Weapon Forging Dao, and it was quite peculiar.
Xu Yang gave it a quick read and found it resembled a Martial Technique. It had routes for circulating Gang Qi, a Heart Method Mantra, and even Techniques, but most of it taught how to forge iron.
The main purpose of the Thousand Forging Technique was to enhance the properties of materials, allowing forged Weapons to far surpass the toughness and hardness their base materials would normally allow.
’Infusing my own Gang Qi into the materials during the forging process to enhance their properties... Interesting.’
Xu Yang read through the Thousand Forging Technique again from beginning to end.
This time, he read it very carefully, deducing and comprehending it as he went. By the time he finished, he felt he had completely understood the Thousand Forging Technique.
[Thousand Forging Technique - Entry Level (0/200)]
But when he looked at his panel, he saw his progress was still only at Entry Level.
’According to Senior Brother Gao, cultivating the Thousand Forging Technique requires hands-on practice. I have to personally forge iron to raise my mastery of it.’
Xu Yang put down the Thousand Forging Technique and picked up the Iron Refining Hand. After he read it through carefully, the panel flickered.
[Iron Refining Hand - Not yet Entry Level (81/200)]
This turned out to be a wondrous art that used Gang Qi to burn metal and melt iron. It could not only assist in forging Weapons but was also powerful as an offensive measure. The panel also classified it as a Martial Technique, not a Skill.
’Next, I’ll cultivate the Iron Refining Hand and the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture simultaneously. Once I reach Entry Level in the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture, I’ll deal with other matters.’
He expected to reach Entry Level in the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture within a few days and planned to wait until then before considering anything else.
Cultivation was the foundation; he wouldn’t neglect the fundamentals for trivial pursuits.
Whether it was Alchemy or forging Weapons, they were both just means to earn resources.
In his spare time, he also read the Inner Sect Disciple’s Code of Conduct and learned many of Li Fire Peak’s rules.
「Ten days passed in a flash.」 Xu Yang sat in his quiet room with a solemn expression, his aura churning and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Within his Heart Spirit, a vague Blood Prison slowly took shape.
"HUFF!"
Two hours later, Xu Yang was panting heavily, his chest heaving.
’I’ve finally visualized the Blood Prison. Next is to condense the Saber Intent.’
[Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture - Entry Level (100/5000)]
He struggled onto his bed, his Heart Spirit completely depleted, and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Xu Yang didn’t know how long he slept. When he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. He felt vigorous and full of energy, better than he had ever felt before. Everything in his eyes seemed to have become more vivid.
After a quick wash, Xu Yang pushed open his door, planning to get something to eat at the dining hall.
The Inner Sect also had a dining hall for its disciples, as most of them didn’t cook for themselves. Only those with wives and children would cook their own meals.
"Well, well... a disciple new to the peak?"
He had just stepped out when a teasing voice sounded in his ear.
’There are idiots everywhere!’
Xu Yang looked back and saw a man in green robes walking up from behind. He had a conspicuous purple sun embroidered on his chest and a frivolous expression.
"That’s right," Xu Yang replied nonchalantly, reaching out to close his gate.
"Junior Brother, you’d better be careful. That courtyard of yours is unlucky. Two of its owners have died in the past three years."
He seemed to be offering a kind reminder. After saying his piece, he didn’t linger and strode past Xu Yang.
Xu Yang cursed him as an idiot in his mind and continued toward the dining hall.
He had no idea how many Inner Sect Disciples there were on Li Fire Peak, but whenever it was mealtime, only twenty to thirty people ever came here.
Of course, twenty or thirty couldn’t be all of them. By his estimation, Li Fire Peak should have about a hundred disciples.
After getting a portion of Exotic Beast Meat, Xu Yang found an empty table, sat down, and listened to the others’ conversations to gather information while he ate.
"Tianfeng Valley is opening soon!"
"What do you mean, ’soon’? It’s at least two more months!"
"It only opens a few times a year. We’d better stock up on contribution points."
...
Xu Yang’s interest was piqued. Before he had even entered the Purple Sun Sect, he had heard Li He mention Tianfeng Valley, and knew it was a Cultivation Treasure Land.
Later, in the Outer Sect, no one ever mentioned Tianfeng Valley, so he gradually forgot about the place.
’Tianfeng Valley must be a place only Inner Sect Disciples can go,’ Xu Yang thought.
However, judging by their tone, not just anyone could go to Tianfeng Valley to cultivate. It required contribution points.
He still had some, but not many.
’Should I get some contribution points and go check out this Tianfeng Valley?’
The thought had barely surfaced before he dismissed it.
To get contribution points, one naturally had to do missions. The missions for Inner Sect Disciples were no longer menial tasks like guarding or patrolling the mountain. They were usually things like being sent out to Garrison a certain area or killing powerful experts who had committed crimes within the Purple Sun Sect’s territory.
His cultivation speed wasn’t slow. There was no need to take risks for contribution points. The proper path was to lie low and cultivate safely on Li Fire Peak.
"Haha... Brother Xu, why are you eating alone?" Suddenly, a hearty voice rang out.
Xu Yang looked up and saw Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan striding over.
"I just joined the peak. I don’t know anyone," Xu Yang said with a smile.
Jiang Fan and Jiang Yan got their food and sat down at his table.
Jiang Fan smiled. "I don’t know anyone either. Remember to call me next time you eat. I live in Courtyard Number Ten."
Courtyard Number Ten!
Xu Yang now understood the difference between the residences of Inner Sect Disciples like them. The lower the number, the better and more spacious the place.
His own courtyard was numbered over one hundred.
Of course, after number twenty, the courtyards were all the same. Only the first twenty were adjusted in size and quality according to their number.
"Alright!" Xu Yang smiled.
The three of them quickly finished their meal.
Jiang Fan said, "I’ve pretty much grasped the Thousand Forging Technique and the Iron Refining Hand. I’m thinking of heading to the Forging Pavilion to practice. Is Brother Xu interested in coming along?"
"I was just thinking the same thing!" Xu Yang laughed.
He had reached Entry Level with the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture, so now it was just a matter of cultivating it step-by-step. With more time on his hands, it was time to start learning the Weapon Forging Dao.
The three of them stood up and walked toward the Forging Pavilion.
The so-called Forging Pavilion was actually just a large, walled-off area filled with furnaces and Forging Platforms for the disciples of Li Fire Peak to hone their Weapon Forging Skill.
Next to it was a large hall that sold all sorts of purified metals for practice.
"You two don’t have your own Forging Hammers yet. You should probably buy one first," Jiang Yan said.
Xu Yang hadn’t expected to have to buy his own hammer.
’I thought the Inner Sect would be better, but it seems they’re still squeezing the disciples for all they’re worth. Someone without family backing really can’t get anything done.’
"The Thousand Forging Technique is not easy to cultivate. It’s very dependent on talent. If you can’t reach Minor Achievement in two months, it’s safe to say you have basically no talent for forging."
Jiang Yan directed this comment at Xu Yang.
On Li Fire Peak, if a disciple couldn’t reach Minor Achievement in the Thousand Forging Technique after two months, they would generally stop wasting time and money on it.
Because continuing would likely lead to little success, it was better to focus solely on cultivation.
After he finished, he turned to Jiang Fan and said, "Brother Fan, if you can’t reach Minor Achievement in a month, you should stop learning this stuff and focus on your cultivation to prepare for the Secondary Dragon Ascension."
It was hardly a respectable matter for the dignified Young Master Marquis to be learning how to forge iron.
But Jiang Fan was headstrong and had joined Li Fire Peak specifically to learn the Weapon Forging Skill. Therefore, the Marquis Mansion had given him a condition: reach Minor Achievement in the Thousand Forging Technique within one month.
If he could reach Minor Achievement in a month, he could continue learning the Weapon Forging Skill. If not, he was to focus on his cultivation.
"I understand!" Jiang Fan nodded.
As they spoke, the three of them stepped into the main hall.