12: Chapter 12 I Don't Understand the World of Geniuses

"Young Lord, are you planning to become a blacksmith?"

Xiamo's voice trembled slightly.

Qiuyin's face also turned somewhat pale. She tugged at Xiamo's sleeve and gently advised, "Young Lord, the art of Artifact Refining is profound and vast, and it is extremely taxing on both mind and time. Your talent lies in the Sword Dao, and the Peak Master holds high hopes for you. If you become distracted by other matters, I am afraid that..."

Her words were unfinished, but her meaning was very clear.

You are like a top student guaranteed admission to a prestigious university, yet now you say you want to learn cooking at a trade school; who could handle this?

"I understand what you mean." Zhao Ruoan smiled and placated them, "Rest assured, I will not delay my Cultivation."

"I am simply a bit curious and want to go understand it. Besides, having an extra skill is never a bad thing."

"However, what about the Peak Master..." Qiuyin was still uneasy.

They had witnessed how much importance Yun Qinghan attached to Zhao Ruoan. If she found out that instead of properly Cultivating, he ran off to learn blacksmithing, she would likely be displeased.

Zhao Ruoan lowered his voice. "Therefore, can't we just go quietly, without letting her know?"

The two maidservants exchanged a glance, both reading helplessness in each other's expressions.

Since the Young Lord had said so, what other recourse did they have?

"Then... very well." Qiuyin softly agreed, "Tianhuo Peak is in charge of matters relating to Artifact Refining and Alchemy, and it is not far from our Qinghan Peak, but..."

"But what?"

"We have not yet reached the Void-Soaring Realm and cannot fly on swords. I am afraid we must wrong the Young Lord by having him walk over with us," Xiamo said with a hint of embarrassment.

"It is fine. We can just enjoy the scenery along the way." Zhao Ruoan did not mind at all.

Saying and doing as they pleased, the three of them left Qinghan Peak.

As soon as they stepped out of the area shrouded by the cold Spiritual Qi of Qinghan Peak, a scorching heat wave rushed straight at them.

The further they walked in the direction of Tianhuo Peak, the more intense this heat became.

The air was permeated with a faint scent of sulfur and burning metal.

The ground beneath their feet carried warmth, forming a stark contrast with the icy cold white jade ground of Qinghan Peak.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a completely crimson mountain appeared before their eyes.

The entire mountain looked as though it had been scorched by flames; the rocks were rugged and barren, with only some fire-resistant ironwood growing stubbornly.

Above the peak, heat rose in shimmering waves, making the distant scenery appear somewhat distorted.

In front of the mountain gate, two Disciples wearing crimson Sect attire held long spears, blocking the path of the three.

"Who goes there? Tianhuo Peak is a forbidden ground, idlers keep out." One of the Disciples shouted loudly, his attitude stern.

Xiamo stepped forward, about to speak.

However, Qiuyin took a step ahead of her, drew a jade token from her bosom, handed it over, and said gently, "Senior Brother, we are from Qinghan Peak and wish to visit the steward of Tianhuo Peak."

The mountain-guarding Disciple took the jade token and gave it a casual glance, before suddenly freezing entirely.

Qinghan Peak!

Throughout the entire Qingxuan Sect, who did not know what this token represented.

The Disciple's attitude made a 180-degree turn. He hastily bowed and returned the jade token to Qiuyin, his voice tinged with awe.

"So it is the Senior Sister from Qinghan Peak! Forgive my lack of respect!"

The other Disciple also snapped out of it and hurriedly followed suit with a salute.

They simultaneously looked toward Zhao Ruoan, who was standing behind Qiuyin and Xiamo.

Qinghan Peak... male Disciple...

"You... could you be... Uncle-Master Zhao Ruoan?" the earlier Disciple asked stammeringly.

Zhao Ruoan was somewhat surprised. Had he become this famous already?

"Indeed, it is I."

The two mountain-guarding Disciples simultaneously drew in a breath of cold air.

"Disciple Zhang Shan (Lisi), greets Uncle-Master Zhao!"

Yesterday's earth-shattering Sword Intent phenomenon had long since spread like wildfire throughout the entire Qingxuan Sect!

At fifteen years old, experiencing an Epiphany into the Fifth-Order Sword Intent, and being exceptionally accepted as a Personal Disciple by the Immortal Emperor Ancestral Master!

Such a Prodigy, one who only existed in legends, had appeared living and breathing right before their eyes!

Qiuyin and Xiamo stood to the side, watching this scene before them, their little faces filled with shared pride and glory.

Look, this is our Young Lord!

"The two Senior Brothers need not stand on ceremony." Zhao Ruoan said gently, "We wish to go inside; I wonder if you could make things convenient for us?"

"Convenient! Extremely convenient!" The Disciple named Zhang Shan nodded his head like pounding garlic, "Uncle-Master, you can go anywhere you wish! Lisi, you keep watch here; I will personally guide Uncle-Master Zhao!"

"Yes, Senior Brother!" Lisi acknowledged, standing straight and not even daring to breathe loudly.

Zhang Shan approached Zhao Ruoan with a face full of smiles, making a gesture of invitation.

"Uncle-Master Zhao, this way please."

He walked half a step ahead, his waist slightly bowed, his attitude extremely humble.

Along the way, Zhang Shan racked his brains to find topics of conversation, wanting to become familiar in front of this future super backer.

"Uncle-Master, I wonder if you have come to our Tianhuo Peak because you have some Magic Treasure that needs repairing, or if you wish to refine some special item? Just give your orders, and I guarantee to find you the best Artifact Refiner!"

"Neither." Zhao Ruoan shook his head.

"I am here to learn Artifact Refining."

Zhang Shan's footsteps stumbled.

He abruptly turned his head back, his expression looking as if he had seen a ghost.

Learn Artifact Refining?

Did he not hear correctly?

A peerless Prodigy whose sword-path talent shook past and present, instead of properly going into seclusion to break through his Realm, ran over to their smoky Tianhuo Peak to learn how to swing a hammer?

He completely failed to understand this move.

Could this be the way of thinking of a top Genius? Unpretentious and yet dull?

Zhang Shan's heart churned with stormy seas, yet on his face he dared not show the slightest bit, only dryly laughing in agreement, "Ah... Ah? Uncle-Master truly has... truly has a fine interest, a fine interest."

Amidst their conversation, the few of them had already ascended to the summit of Tianhuo Peak.

Completely different from the desolate serenity of Qinghan Peak, this place was practically a huge open-air factory.

Massive stone-built structures rose from the ground one after another, with huge skylights opened on their roofs, and thick black smoke mixed with sparks soaring into the sky.

The clanging sounds of "ding-ding-dang-dang" were endless, merging into a wild symphony.

The heat wave in the air was even more blazing, as if one were standing beside a gigantic smelting furnace.

Countless Disciples came and went, most of them bare-chested, revealing bronze, robust muscles, their bodies and faces stained with black soot, with only a pair of eyes shining astonishingly bright under the reflection of the smoke and fire.

"Uncle-Master, this is the Weapon Crafting Hall of our Tianhuo Peak." Zhang Shan wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

"I want to find the steward here," Zhao Ruoan said.

"Understood!" Zhang Shan nodded immediately, leading him through the noisy crowd and arriving before the tallest grand hall.

"Steward Duan! Is Steward Duan inside?" Zhang Shan shouted toward the hall.

Soon, a slightly plump middle-aged man walked out from inside, frowning, "Zhang Shan, what are you making a racket for? Don't you know I'm checking accounts?"

"Steward Duan, it's not that this Disciple is rude, it's... it's that an honored guest from Qinghan Peak has arrived!" Zhang Shan hastily explained.

"Qinghan Peak?" The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned.

His gaze fell upon Zhao Ruoan.

Qinghan Peak... honored guest... and a male Disciple with the appearance of a youth...

Duan He's body instantly tightened.

He rushed down the steps in two or three strides and gave Zhao Ruoan a ninety-degree deep bow.

"Oh my! Unknowing that Uncle-Master Zhao was gracing us with his presence, Duan He failed to welcome you from afar; my crime, my crime!"