11: Chapter 11 I Want to Be a Blacksmith

Zhao Ruoan bowed respectfully to Luo Li once again.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

The sharp lines on Luo Li's cold and aloof face seemed to soften by a fraction.

"Mn."

She simply acknowledged it with a soft sound and turned around.

Xia Hui, who had been accompanying them with a smile the whole time and rolling his eyes around slyly, quickly hurried over at this moment.

He held a card made entirely of mithril, engraved with intricate cloud patterns, in both hands and respectfully presented it before Zhao Ruoan.

"Uncle-Master Zhao, this is a small token of appreciation from our Jiuxuan Chamber of Commerce. Please accept it."

Before Zhao Ruoan could speak, Luo Li glanced at the card first.

"Jiuxuan Silver Card?"

Her tone carried a hint of surprise.

"This thing cannot be bought with Spirit Stones alone."

Luo Li explained, "Holding this card, you can enjoy a twenty percent discount on any purchase at all branches of the Jiuxuan Chamber of Commerce spread throughout Cang Prefecture. Some rare items that are not sold to the public are only open to cardholders."

Xia Hui's waist bent even lower, and his smile was radiant.

"Fairy Luoli has sharp eyes. In the entire Qingxuan Sect, aside from several Peak Revered Masters and the Grand Elder, only you and the Sect Master possess this silver card."

The implication was that the true value of this card far exceeded the discount it represented.

It was a symbol of status.

Zhao Ruoan understood instantly.

This gift was not given to him, but to Qinghan Peak and his Revered Master, Yun Qinghan.

Xia Hui was making an early investment, using a priceless silver card to forge a good affinity.

"Then many thanks, Supervisor Xia."

Zhao Ruoan did not refuse; he reached out and took the thin yet heavy silver card.

"It is only right, only right! Uncle-Master Zhao, you are too polite!"

Xia Hui's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Leaving the Jiuxuan Chamber of Commerce, the two once again soared into the air on their Flying Swords, transforming into a streak of light as they flew toward the direction of the Qingxuan Sect.

"External objects are external objects after all. Do not indulge in them and delay your cultivation."

Luo Li's voice came through the wind, still cold yet carrying a hint of concern.

"On the path of cultivation, the Foundation is the root."

"Junior Brother understands."

Zhao Ruoan nodded in acknowledgment.

Soon, the mist-shrouded Qinghan Peak appeared before their eyes.

The Flying Sword landed steadily on the square at the Peak.

"I need to enter seclusion for a few days to stabilize my Realm."

After landing, Luo Li left only a sentence before her figure transformed into a sword light, disappearing into her own small courtyard.

Coming and going like the wind, without a trace of hesitation.

Zhao Ruoan looked in the direction she left, feeling a sense of emotion in his heart.

Luo Li's Comprehension Ability was already peerless, yet she was still so diligent and self-disciplined; no wonder she had achieved such feats at such a young age.

He should also work hard.

Returning to his own courtyard, Zhao Ruoan closed the courtyard door.

He sat cross-legged and began to look inward at his body.

The Great Dao Scripture operated automatically at all times, and the majestic Spiritual Qi surged like a rushing river, scouring and flowing through his Meridians.

The barrier of the Peak Body Refining Realm had long been scoured until it was tottering.

A strong urge rose within his body.

As long as he was willing, he could now draw the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to flood his body, break through the shackles in one go, and step into the Foundation Establishment Realm.

However, Zhao Ruoan forcibly suppressed this urge.

His brows furrowed slightly.

No, it was too fast.

From the third tier of body tempering to the current Peak Body Refining Realm, all things considered, it had only been a few days.

The Foundation was still not stable enough.

The enhancement brought by the Great Dao Scripture was too overbearing, but the Foundation had not yet been laid firmly; the higher the building rose, the greater the risk of collapse in the future.

What he pursued was not a simple Breakthrough, but a perfect Foundation Establishment.

He must polish his Physical Body and Meridians to the ultimate limit of his current Realm, leaving not a shred of room for improvement, before considering the next step.

Haste makes waste.

He understood this principle better than anyone.

With a thought, Zhao Ruoan began to actively guide the surging spiritual power within his body, no longer attacking the Realm barrier, but instead repeatedly tempering his bones, flesh, and Meridians.

This was a gradual process, tedious and time-consuming.

But for the sake of his future Dao path, he still had this bit of patience.

After completely calming the restlessness of his cultivation base, Zhao Ruoan then refocused his mind into his Sea of Consciousness and opened the long-floating System panel.

[Exclusive Quest: A Token of Appreciation]

[Novice Welfare: Career Comprehension Card Choice of Three]

[Option One: artifact refining grandmaster comprehension card]

[Option Two: Alchemy Grandmaster Comprehension Card]

[Option Three: Spirit Chef Grandmaster Comprehension Card]

Zhao Ruoan's gaze slowly moved across the three options, and he began to analyze them seriously.

Alchemy?

Refining some Youth-Preserving Pills or Medicinal Pills that enhanced cultivation for his Revered Master and Senior Sisters would certainly make them happy.

But Medicinal Pills were consumables after all; once eaten, they were gone.

Spirit Chef?

Making a delicious meal imbued with Spiritual Qi was indeed very novel.

But just like Medicinal Pills, after the time it took to eat a meal, the sentiment would also be tasted and gone, unable to be preserved for long.

His finger finally stopped on the option of [artifact refining grandmaster comprehension card].

Artifact Refining.

Crafting an item for them to wear on their bodies for a long time.

Seeing the object reminds one of the person.

Whenever they saw these small gifts, they could think of the heartfelt sentiment of their Junior Brother.

This was the ultimate Profound Truth of gifts.

Compared to Medicinal Pills and dishes eaten into the stomach, the emotional value of an object that could accompany them for a long time was completely different.

Choose this one!

"System, I choose the artifact refining grandmaster comprehension card."

Zhao Ruoan made his decision in his heart.

[Ding! Selection successful!]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining 'artifact refining grandmaster comprehension card (Limited Time)' x1!]

A card flowing with flame patterns, seemingly cast from magma, appeared in his System inventory.

Zhao Ruoan immediately clicked to view the details.

[artifact refining grandmaster comprehension card (Limited Time)]

[Effect: After use, within the next seven days, the host's comprehension speed for all knowledge, techniques, and methods related to 'Artifact Refining' will be increased by 1000%.]

[Special Bonus: While the card is in effect, every Magical Artifact personally refined by the host has a 10% chance to trigger the 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' effect, randomly granting an additional special trait.]

Comprehension Ability increased tenfold!

There was also a chance to trigger special traits?

Zhao Ruoan's heart beat faster uncooperatively.

With this card, let alone preparing gifts for his Revered Master and Senior Sisters, he felt that if he worked hard, he could even go take an Artifact Refiner qualification test and find himself another way to make a living.

Of course, this was just a joke.

The urgent task was to find a place and start learning from scratch.

He stood up, pushed open the courtyard door, and called out to the two maids standing guard outside the courtyard.

"Qiuyin, Xiamo."

"Uncle-Master Zhao."

The two pretty maids immediately bowed in salute.

"I want to ask you two something."

Zhao Ruoan cleared his throat, "Do you know which mountain Peak in the Sect is dedicated to Artifact Refining?"

Hearing this, Qiuyin and Xiamo were both stunned at the same time.

The two looked at each other, seeing the same bewildered and puzzled expression on each other's faces.

Artifact Refining?

Why was the Young Lord asking about this?

Qiuyin mustered up her courage and asked cautiously,

"Young Lord, do you want to... repair some Magic Treasures? You can just leave such trivial matters to us."

"It's not repairing."

Zhao Ruoan shook his head.

"I want to learn Artifact Refining."

The courtyard fell into a dead silence.

Both Qiuyin and Xiamo were dumbfounded.

Learn Artifact Refining?

Isn't that... blacksmithing?

"Young Lord, do you want to be a blacksmith?"