The Gift

Crack!

Several consecutive bolts of lightning crashed down. The Heavenly Weapon only grew more resilient through each wave of the tribulation, the luster radiating from its blade becoming richer and deeper.

“Flawless quality,”

Mo Yan murmured softly.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the thunderclouds receded, and the quiet of the night returned. However, the blade floating in the sky only grew more dazzling, letting out a melodious chime.

Wang Xuanyi retrieved the blade and walked over to Mo Yan and Zhu Huai. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he held out the Heavenly Weapon and said, “Little girl, this is the gift your senior brother promised to forge for you.”

The slender blade was as clear as jade. It was simple yet dignified, free of any gaudy embellishments, yet radiating an indescribable sharpness.

True treasures did not flaunt themselves; it was ancient and elegant.

Zhu Huai took the blade and hugged Wang Xuanyi, saying, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“Haha, it's nothing,” Wang Xuanyi said, rubbing the head of the now-unveiled Zhu Huai. “To be honest, now that you've changed back to a girl, I'm still a bit unused to it.”

...

Zhu Huai fell silent first, then sighed quietly to herself, “Senior Brother is as terrible at small talk as always.”

Afterward, Wang Xuanyi spoke a few words with Mo Yan and followed behind him to stand before the Sect Master.

“Sect Master...”

Shen Shi waved his hand and said, “Heroes indeed emerge from the youth. I never expected that our Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect would produce a master blacksmith who could forge a Heavenly Weapon while only in the Foundation Establishment Realm. This is truly a blessing for our sect.”

“You overpraise me, Sect Master.”

“There is no such thing as overpraise; this is a reward you well deserve.” After saying this, Shen Shi looked at Mo Yan and praised him as well. “Mo Yan, you have raised an excellent disciple.”

“You overpraise us, Sect Master.”

Mo Yan bowed as he spoke. His face was as calm as water, but in reality, his heart was more shocked than anyone else's.

Having raised Wang Xuanyi for so many years, this was the first time Mo Yan felt he was truly seeing his grandson, and he felt a deep, heartfelt pride.

With this, the matter came to a close.

Although the various Peak Masters, elders, and disciples still wanted to see more, they all returned to their respective homes to sleep. After all, this didn't have much to do with them.

After the crowd dispersed, Mo Yan and the other two also returned to Tianzhu Peak to rest.

Along the way, Wang Xuanyi asked Zhu Huai what she wanted to name the sword.

Zhu Huai smiled and replied,

“The Zhuxuan Sword!”

Wang Xuanyi didn't quite understand the meaning and merely remarked, “You really do love bamboo, don't you?”

His words plunged Zhu Huai into silence once more.

After returning to his bamboo cottage, Wang Xuanyi casually melted down two pieces of Thousand-Year Black Iron along with some rarely used materials to forge five Ultimate King Weapons, engraving slightly better sword runes onto them.

He planned to give these five blades to Tianyun Peak.

For no other reason than to settle the score from earlier that day.

Furthermore, since the Sect Master and the others hadn't brought up the matter of the Heavenly Weapon just now, they would likely convene a Peak Master meeting tomorrow to make a decision on it.

Likewise, Wang Xuanyi's reputation was bound to spread far and wide within the Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect.

“Tsk, I was too careless. I didn't expect to forge a Heavenly Weapon. What a slip-up, what a slip-up.”

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Wang Xuanyi began to restore his nearly depleted spiritual energy. This forging session had practically hollowed out his body, and he desperately needed a good rest.

The next day.

As expected, the Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect convened a grand assembly to discuss the events of the previous night.

Quite a few elders felt that the Heavenly Weapon Wang Xuanyi had forged should be placed in the sect's armory for someone more capable to use, rather than being given to an outer sect disciple.

However, some elders defended him, arguing that it was a weapon forged by the disciple himself, and they had no right to decide how he should dispose of his own property.

Because of this, the elders argued endlessly.

The Sect Master was also caught in a dilemma. On one hand was his daughter, and on the other was the sect. He found it impossible to make a definitive decision.

In the end, it was a single statement from Mo Yan that silenced everyone.

“If we strip our disciples of their freedom to forge today, we will not only break their hearts, but the Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect will also permanently lose the ability to attract other blacksmiths.”

“In my opinion, we should go with the flow. We should publicly praise Wang Xuanyi, bestow generous rewards upon him, and use this to inspire other disciples to explore new paths of cultivation.”

Once these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Ultimately, the Sect Master agreed with Mo Yan's suggestion. He rewarded Wang Xuanyi, increased his monthly cultivation resources, and granted him unrestricted access to the forging department.

...

Tianyun Peak.

Wang Xuanyi arrived with Zhu Huai, intending to return the favor so that neither side owed the other anything.

“Martial Aunt, Senior Sister Leng, Senior Sister Wen... Please forgive Xuanyi for the intrusion.”

“It is fine,”

Xiao Hongye and the others replied, looking at Wang Xuanyi and the petite, exquisite Zhu Huai behind him with complicated expressions.

The scenes from last night were still vivid in their minds. They had been present as well, so how could they have missed that brilliantly shining Heavenly Weapon?

That was undoubtedly his way of telling them: It's not that I don't have top-grade weapons, I just don't need them. Since you think our Tianzhu Peak is poor, I will show you what we can do.

“Xuanyi, is there something you need?” Xiao Hongye asked.

“Nothing much. I just came to deliver some gifts.”

With that, Wang Xuanyi opened his hands, and five pitch-black King Weapons appeared before them, letting out low, buzzing hums.

“These are...”

Bowing respectfully, Wang Xuanyi said, “Martial Aunt, these are weapons your nephew specially forged yesterday for Senior Sister Leng and the others. I hope you will accept them.”

“Five Ultimate King Weapons, forged by your own hands?”

“Yes. Tianyun Peak usually looks after the three of us, master and disciples. This is merely a small token of my appreciation, not worth mentioning.”

Hearing this, Xiao Hongye's expression grew even more complex.

How could she not recognize the raw materials of those five blades? They were the exact pieces of Thousand-Year Black Iron she had given away yesterday.

“Is he... rebuking me?”

Xiao Hongye thought, unable to voice her words.

Seeing that Xiao Hongye and the others remained silent, Wang Xuanyi bowed respectfully. “Martial Aunt, Senior Sister Leng... I was too exhausted last night, so I shall take my leave now.”

With that, Wang Xuanyi departed with Zhu Huai.

It truly was a case of coming and going in a flash, never staying a moment longer than necessary.

Ever since Xiao Hongye and the others had met Wang Xuanyi, the longest they had ever spent in his company was when Long Zitian and Huo Huang had first joined the sect, and yesterday on Tianzhu Peak.

Any other time, they never interacted for more than fifteen minutes.

“Ning'an.”

“Master, I am here.”

“Take these King Weapons. Consider them a gift from Xuanyi.”

Having said that, Xiao Hongye also left the wooden cottage.

This left Leng Ning'an and the other two completely dumbfounded.

“It would be foolish not to take them. Since we have free King Weapons to use, who would want to keep using scrap metal?”

Huo Huang thoughtlessly picked up one of them. She was immediately drawn in by the powerful aura radiating from the King Weapon, and she instantly broke through to the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm.

At the same time, the layer of impurities coating the surface of the King Weapon fell away, revealing its true luster. It was incredibly smooth, reflecting Huo Huang's eyes.

A gentle sweep of the sharp blade let out a sharp, air-cutting sound.

It was a true masterpiece of a weapon.

“So... so strong!”

Seeing this, Leng Ning'an and the other girl hesitated no longer. Each of them selected a King Weapon that suited them, and without any surprise, both of them broke through as well.