"Lu Ren... he actually forged a Half-Spirit Weapon..." Xiong Kun was so shocked, he completely forgot about Xu Yang calling him out.
He had started practicing the Weapon Forging Skill even before Lu Ren. But while he hadn’t even reached Perfection in the Thousand Forging Technique, Lu Ren had already forged a Half-Spirit Weapon.
The entire dining hall was stunned by Lu Ren’s talent. At this rate, in a year or two, he would be another Spiritual Weapon Master.
Xu Yang, too, was somewhat surprised by Lu Ren’s talent!
The fundamental techniques of weapon forging include the Iron Refining Hand, Thousand Forging Technique, Gold Melting Skill, Shaping Technique, and Soldier Nurturing Skill.
At present, he had only reached Perfection in the Iron Refining Hand, Thousand Forging Technique, and Shaping Technique. He had yet to even start practicing the Gold Melting Skill and Soldier Nurturing Skill.
He hadn’t been able to practice the Gold Melting Skill because he lacked the necessary materials at a place like Moon Lake.
As for the Soldier Nurturing Skill, he hadn’t obtained the inheritance for it and had yet to go ask Elder Huoyun for it.
Just then, Lu Ren walked in, looking radiant and in high spirits.
Xu Yang felt as if he was once again seeing that spirited young genius from their time at Weiyuan Hall. The difference was that he looked more weathered, no longer as conceited and disdainful as he once was.
"Junior Brother Lu, congratulations!"
"Junior Brother Lu is a true genius!"
...
Many people rose to congratulate Lu Ren, and some even began to present him with gifts.
No matter how talented Xu Yang was, they might not need his help in the future. That was why when he reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, most people, aside from those on good terms with him, hadn’t given him any gifts.
But Lu Ren was different. No one could guarantee that they wouldn’t one day need to ask a genius Weapon Forger like him for help forging a weapon.
Lu Ren responded with a smile, accepting any gifts offered without hesitation.
After making his rounds, he came and sat down with Xu Yang.
"When did you get back?" he asked with a smile.
Xu Yang smiled back. "Today."
The tone of their conversation was like that of friends.
"I’m really jealous that you get to travel everywhere," Lu Ren said.
He didn’t actually want to be a Weapon Forger, as his ambitions lay with the Martial Dao. Unfortunately, his progress stalled upon reaching the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. Without enough resources or an alternative path, he didn’t know how many years it would take to reach the Celestial Essence realm.
Xu Yang shook his head. "Don’t be jealous. Your cultivation is still low for now. Once you reach Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, you’ll have plenty of chances to go out and adventure."
Lu Ren: ...
’Alright, he still hasn’t reached Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement. His cultivation really is a bit low.’
"I will join you for the Secondary Dragon Ascension!" Lu Ren said confidently.
Before, he hadn’t been confident about participating in the Secondary Dragon Ascension. But things were different now that he had forged a Half-Spirit Weapon. Resources were no longer so difficult for him to obtain. Moreover, he’d received reliable news that the Sect would be funneling resources his way. He just might have a chance to take part in the Secondary Dragon Ascension in two and a half years.
Xu Yang simply smiled without a word, stood up, and left. He went to the Outer Disciple Task Hall to settle his contribution points from Moon Lake.
"Junior Brother Xu, your mission settlement slip, please," Sun Ke said, ushering him into a side hall.
Xu Yang handed over the settlement slip.
"Four months, at a base of one hundred contribution points per month. Junior Brother Xu, you killed that Tuo Dragon, so that’s a reward of two hundred contribution points, as previously determined by the Sect. You also killed Guan Du, the Blood Lotus Sect spy, which is another two hundred points.
For discovering Chen Yong and Guo Yun secretly stealing Sect assets, you get one hundred contribution points according to the rules. As for the Spirit Iron you recovered from Guan Du, the Sect’s upper management has instructed me to award you four hundred contribution points..."
After all the calculations, Xu Yang would receive a grand total of one thousand eight hundred contribution points for his four months of work.
Sun Ke looked utterly shocked. Many cultivators at Marrow Cleansing Great Success might not earn that many contribution points even after a full year of missions.
In just a few short months, Xu Yang had slain an Exotic Beast and a Blood Lotus Sect spy, earning a terrifyingly large sum of contribution points.
To put it in perspective, a single Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill only cost three hundred contribution points.
One thousand eight hundred contribution points were enough to exchange for six Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pills.
"If you have no objections, Junior Brother Xu, I’ll go get your contribution points for you," Sun Ke said.
Xu Yang smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Sun."
’He hadn’t expected to get so many contribution points. He’d been worried he wouldn’t have enough to exchange for the main ingredients of the Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill, but it looked like this would be plenty.’
After bidding farewell to Sun Ke, he left the Task Hall to find Xu Qing.
He hadn’t seen her in four months and was starting to miss the young girl. It was still too early, however, so he could only wait outside her courtyard.
As evening fell, a graceful figure approached from the distance. Their eyes met in the evening breeze.
"Brother!"
The moment she saw Xu Yang, Xu Qing could no longer maintain her ladylike composure. Overjoyed, she sprinted toward him, intending to leap into his arms, but she noticed the people around and forced herself to a halt at the last second.
A smile played on Xu Yang’s lips. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes!" Xu Qing nodded emphatically.
"I missed you too. Come on, let’s go get something to eat."
A smile bloomed on Xu Qing’s face as she trailed after Xu Yang. "I learned how to make Qi Blood Powder and Body Refining Soup! Senior Brother Sun Jian said if I practice and consolidate my skills a little more, he can teach me how to refine Qi Gathering Pills."
She excitedly reported her recent accomplishments to Xu Yang—she had learned how to refine two types of Low-Level Elixirs.
These items might be considered the lowest level, but if she ever found herself unable to get by in the Purple Sun Sect and had to return to a place like Qingyuan County, she would instantly be hailed as an Alchemy Master, earning the reverence of all Martial Artists.
"Amazing!"
Xu Yang gave her a thumbs-up. "Amazing! But how is your cultivation coming along? Alchemy is just a means to make a living; cultivation is the foundation. You absolutely cannot let it slide."
He had taught Xu Qing the Breath Concealment Skill, so he was unable to sense her level of cultivation.