On Li Fire Peak, in Elder Tie Fu’s Forging Field, the furnace blazed red-hot, sending out waves of scorching heat.
As this was Elder Tie Fu’s personal Forging Field, only disciples he favored were qualified to practice their Weapon Forging Skill here. To be present in this place was a sign that one had a promising future in the art of weapon forging.
Xiong Kun felt a surge of emotion. At first, Elder Tie Fu hadn’t thought much of him, but as Xiong Kun progressed in the Thousand Forging Technique, he had earned the elder’s approval and the right to practice here.
CLANG! CLANG!...
His gaze fell on a nearby spot where Lu Ren stood, shirtless and drenched in sweat, revealing muscles that looked as if they were cast from molten iron.
Lu Ren’s expression was intent as he executed the Thousand Forging Technique, relentlessly hammering a piece of Profound Iron on the anvil. With every strike, a wisp of Gang Qi fused into the metal, causing the entire block of Profound Iron to glow ever brighter.
’Such enviable talent!’
Xiong Kun’s eyes filled with envy.
He had started practicing the Thousand Forging Technique before Lu Ren, but while his own skill was still at the Minor Achievement Realm, Lu Ren’s had reached Great Success a few days ago.
If not for the month-long delay from his training in Tianfeng Valley, he would have likely already reached the Perfection Realm.
CLANG!
As the final hammer fell, a piece of Profound Iron, its quality and properties greatly enhanced, lay quietly on the anvil.
"Brother Lu, your talent is truly astounding! I bet it won’t be long until your Thousand Forging Technique reaches the Perfection Realm. At that point, forging a Half-Spirit Weapon will be no trouble at all. Give it another two or three years to settle, and you’ll become a Spiritual Weapon Master."
Xiong Kun strode over, grabbing the Profound Iron from the anvil and turning it over in his hands. His face was filled with envy. With this kind of talent, even if Lu Ren’s Martial Arts Talent was a bit lacking, his future achievements would still surpass his own.
Lu Ren’s expression was placid. "I have no desire to become a Spiritual Weapon Master," he said.
He thought Jiang Fan had been right about one thing: Pill Masters and Weapon Forgers alike all just served the strong.
It was just like the Purple Sun Sect—whether Li Fire Peak or Medicine King Peak, both existed to serve Tianquan Peak. Tianquan Peak was the true master of the Purple Sun Sect.
He wanted to be a peerless master who roamed the Jianghu, not a Weapon Forger in service to others. But sadly, his talent was insufficient, and he had no background. He could only walk a path he disliked to support his Martial Dao.
"Who doesn’t? But then you think about people like Xu Yang, and we actually have it pretty good. We can at least hone our skills here in peace. They have to go out and fight for their lives.
I heard he was sent to annihilate one of the Blood Lotus Sect’s strongholds. Who knows if he’ll even make it back alive."
Xiong Kun agreed with Lu Ren, but the thought of Xu Yang made him feel that his current life was already quite good.
Those vicious thugs from the Blood Lotus Sect were not to be trifled with. Who knew how many people from the Purple Sun Sect had died at their hands.
"Xu Yang..."
At the mention of Xu Yang, a spark finally lit up in Lu Ren’s eyes. He had always been competing with Xu Yang, and every time he felt he had surpassed his rival, Xu Yang would find a way to one-up him.
This time, in terms of weapon forging talent, he had finally surpassed Xu Yang—and in a way that Xu Yang could never hope to catch up.
In three years, he had a hope of achieving Dragon Ascension; Xu Yang likely had none.
"You really know how to cheer a person up, Brother Xiong." Lu Ren broke into a smile.
He took pleasure in hearing that Xu Yang wasn’t doing well.
"They’re back! Senior Brother Gao Lin and Senior Brother Lu Chuping, they’re back!" a voice shouted from outside.
Lu Ren and Xiong Kun exchanged a look and strode out of the Forging Field.
With several Purple Sun Sect disciples having died at the hands of the Blood Lotus Sect recently, Gao Lin and Lu Chuping leading the disciples of Li Fire Peak to annihilate a Blood Lotus Sect stronghold was an inspiring, morale-boosting event.
Both of them had wanted to participate, but Elder Tie Fu hadn’t gotten involved. By the time they heard about the mission, Xu Yang and the others had already left the Purple Sun Sect.
"How many Blood Lotus Sect members did they kill?" others called out as they emerged, drawn by the sound.
"Everyone at the stronghold was wiped out! They killed three at Marrow Cleansing Great Success, eight at Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, twelve who had just entered the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and dozens of others."
Everyone’s spirits lifted at this news. They had killed so many! The Blood Lotus Sect had suffered a truly devastating loss this time. Their fallen brothers could finally rest in peace.
The messenger laughed. "I’ve got an even more shocking piece of news. Want to hear it?"
"Stop wasting time and just say it!" someone shouted.
"Xu Yang has reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement! During the great battle to annihilate the Blood Lotus Sect stronghold, he killed multiple Demons at the Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement Realm and earned the most contribution points."
CLATTER!
The piece of Profound Iron Xiong Kun was holding fell to the ground, but he seemed not to notice, his face completely stunned.
CLANG!
Lu Ren’s Forging Hammer also dropped to the ground, gouging a small pit in the earth.
He forgot everything. His mind was consumed by a single thought: Xu Yang had reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement.
Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement!
Xu Yang had reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement!
’How could he have reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement?’ That long-forgotten, nameless dread resurfaced, creeping over Lu Ren’s heart.
’That bastard did it again!’
Every time Lu Ren thought he had finally surpassed him, that they were no longer on the same level, Xu Yang would just spring out of nowhere and put him back in his place.
An indescribable panic set in, and Lu Ren felt his body begin to tremble.
"Brother Lu, am I hallucinating?" Xiong Kun said in a daze. "He said Xu Yang reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement."
If Xu Yang had reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, wouldn’t he be kicked off the Ten Heroes List? He had barely even warmed his spot.
"I think I’m hallucinating too."
Lu Ren’s expression grew crazed. "It’s a lie. It’s all a lie! I must be dreaming! Wake me up!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"How could Xu Yang possibly have reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement!"
"This joke isn’t funny at all."
"Is it fun to mess with us like this? Who do you think Xu Yang is, the Young Master Marquis? Or Li Chuyang?"
...
It wasn’t just Lu Ren and Xiong Kun who found it hard to believe; no one else could accept it either.