Teaching the Way

Zhang Yang collected the reward on Xu Xian's behalf and returned to the courtyard, pushing the door open.

"Brother Xian, I've got the reward. It's a piece of Cold Nether Stone."

Ores in the world were divided into three grades.

Mortal iron, spirit ore, and immortal gold.

Immortal gold was the highest, and even it was divided into various ranks. The deep sea meteoric iron Xu Xian had wasted before belonged to the lowest rank, the Blazing Red Crystal he had used was of the highest rank, and this Cold Nether Stone before him belonged to the second rank.

It was the best material for forging armor.

Its value was worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, which translated to several million merit points.

Zhujian Peak.

They certainly had some resources.

He heard that the rewards for second and third place were also immortal gold.

Xu Xian lay on the ground, saying listlessly, "Just put it on the floor."

"Oh! Brother Xian, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"Qianqian and the others want you to go out for a drink... to celebrate your success."

"You guys go ahead, I'm tired."

"Oh!"

Zhang Yang closed the door and retreated. Hushed voices of conversation drifted in from outside the courtyard.

"Brother Xian is tired."

"Yeah, he's been swinging that hammer all day..."

"What should we do then? I already bought the wine."

"We'll just drink it ourselves..."

"Sounds good to me."

Their footsteps grew distant, seemingly leaving the side courtyard to celebrate in the main courtyard.

With a thought from Xu Xian's divine sense, the piece of immortal gold floated before his eyes. He took it in his hand, examined it closely, then sat up and took a few pills.

The youth sat cross-legged, circulating his qi to recover his depleted spirit essence.

A sleepless night passed.

Yao Xiaoxiao and the others had spent the night drinking under the moon until they were dead drunk. When Xu Xian got up, Yao Xiaoxiao was still snoring away, and the others were nowhere to be seen. However, by the small pond in the bamboo garden, wine jars were scattered all over the ground.

It was a complete mess.

Xu Xian had no choice but to clean up. Li Qingshan passed by and glanced at Xu Xian without saying a word, though his eyes seemed full of reproach.

He was complaining that Xu Xian hadn't invited him to drink.

Xu Xian said, "I didn't drink."

Li Qingshan said indifferently, "None of my business!"

Xu Xian: "...."

After finishing the cleanup, Xu Xian went to the spirit herb field to water and fertilize. Suddenly noticing the empty space he had reserved, he muttered, "Hmm... there's another one?"

Life continued as usual.

Xu Xian did not become arrogant because he had forged an earth weapon. He still woke up Yao Xiaoxiao and dragged the reluctant girl to Zhujian Peak as he did every day.

On the way.

They frequently encountered disciples flying on swords who greeted him.

The cries of "Little Grand-Uncle" sounded even more affectionate than before.

When he arrived at the forging workshop.

He found the originally quiet courtyard packed with people. At a glance, familiar and unfamiliar faces alike were all forge masters of the fifth-rank or higher from Zhujian Peak.

Even the only two seventh-rank forge masters were among them.

Seeing Xu Xian arrive.

The crowd swarmed around him, offering warm greetings and flattery.

"Little Martial Uncle..."

"Little Grand-Uncle..."

"Little Martial Uncle's performance yesterday truly gave us all a massive shock. To forge an earth weapon from spirit ore—who in the world today could achieve such a feat?"

"The student surpasses the master. Little Grand-Uncle's current forging level could rank in the top hundred of our Zhujian Peak."

"You're thinking too small. In my opinion, he is second only to Master Ruan; even the Peak Master cannot compare."

Han Yi immediately spoke up, "That's right. I am indeed inferior to Little Martial Uncle."

They crowded around the youth, praising him until Xu Xian felt embarrassed.

Xu Xian smiled slightly and got straight to the point. "Everyone, there's no need to beat around the bush. If there's something on your minds, why not just say it?"

Hearing this, the crowd looked bashful. They nudged one another, hesitating to speak, clearly embarrassed to ask.

Ruan Hao sat on a rattan chair in the courtyard, took a puff from his tobacco pipe, and said bluntly, "What else could it be? They all want to know how you forged immortal gold from spirit ore..."

"Is that so?"

The crowd laughed sheepishly, everyone speaking at once.

"Old Ruan is right. We've all come to seek guidance from Little Martial Uncle."

"However, if Little Martial Uncle is unwilling to say, we will absolutely not force it."

Looking at the thirst for knowledge and longing in their eyes, Xu Xian sighed and said warmly, "There's nothing that can't be said. If you want to know, I'll tell you."

"That's wonderful!"

"Thank you, Little Martial Uncle!"

Xu Xian smiled. "Shall we sit and talk?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The youth sat beside Old Ruan, while the group of elders sat properly on the ground. Xu Xian exchanged a glance with Ruan Hao and began his lecture.

He spoke eloquently.

Yao Xiaoxiao sat on the stone steps, her face resting in her hands, her eyes sparkling with starlight.

Although she didn't understand a single word, she felt that Little Grand-Uncle was amazing—he seemed to be glowing.

"Hehe, so handsome!"

Xu Xian taught very seriously, and the crowd listened intently. Ruan Hao leaned to the side, taking puff after puff of smoke...

In the Wendao Sect.

The strong never hoarded their knowledge.

If you asked, they would answer. Just like the manuals in the Dao Pavilion, which could be chosen freely...

As for whether you could learn it.

That was your own business.

Just like what Xu Xian taught today; it was his own experience.

The logic was simple.

The theory wasn't complex either.

In the end, it was nothing more than ore purification, ore tempering, and ore spirit infusion—things every Zhujian Peak disciple knew.

It was about combining the three.

Using quantitative change to produce qualitative change.

It sounded simple, but in practice, it varied from person to person.

It was like how everyone knew that by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and meditating on the Dao, one could cultivate and break through to the tenth stage to transcend the tribulation.

But everyone did that. How many people throughout history had actually reached tribulation transcendence?

Xu Xian forging immortal gold from spirit ore followed the same principle.

The method had been told to them.

The path had been pointed out.

As for whether they could walk that path to the end.

That was not something he could control.

After all.

Not everyone possessed the Pupil of Insight.

At noon.

Xu Xian finished his lecture. The crowd thanked him and left one after another, discussing and debating in low voices.

Ruan Hao teased, "You kid, not bad. I didn't expect you'd actually be willing to share it?"

Xu Xian took a sip of tea and said with an air of feigned maturity, "It can't be helped. As the Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sect, I bear a great responsibility. I must always keep the rise and fall of the sect in my heart. If they are willing to learn, I am willing to teach."

Ruan Hao smiled and said frankly, "Teaching them is useless. They can't do it."

"Hmm?"

Ruan Hao said sincerely, "Not everyone has a shocking talent like yours."

Xu Xian raised an eyebrow slightly but did not refute him.

Ruan Hao puffed on his pipe and said slowly, "What are your plans next?"

Xu Xian shrugged. "What else? I'll just keep forging swords with you."

Hearing this, Ruan Hao gave a bitter smile and mocked himself, "I have nothing left to teach you."

Xu Xian was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Ruan Hao said dejectedly. "Or rather, from beginning to end, I haven't really taught you anything. As expected, that old saying is absolutely right: there are no useless masters, only useless disciples. As long as the disciple is capable, anyone can teach them. Hahaha!"

Xu Xian shrugged and countered, "Master, you're overthinking it."

Ruan Hao didn't continue the topic. No master didn't hope for their beloved disciple to surpass them and bring glory to their lineage; he was the same.

Although he might not have anything left to teach Xu Xian regarding forging, he could still protect and guide him.

He could put in some effort to help clear the path ahead.

Then he said, "I watched your process of forging immortal gold yesterday. Theoretically, there's no problem, it's just..."

"Please speak plainly, Master."

Ruan Hao stated bluntly, "It's just that the cost is too high; it's counterproductive."

Xu Xian did not deny it. He lowered his eyes. "Yeah. The amount of spirit ore used yesterday was enough to buy two pieces of regular immortal gold. It sounds impressive, but it's all surface-level and vanity. It's not practical at all."