The Silent Youth, the Restless City

For the next few days, the Demon-Slaying City's Number One Forging Workshop was unusually quiet.

No sound of forging emerged. The spirit furnace was extinguished, and a heavy snowfall had buried the eaves of the door.

In contrast, the other seven newly opened forging workshops were bustling with business.

In just a few short days, they had snatched away the market share that originally belonged to Xu Xian. Except for the people of the Wendao Sword Sect who couldn't swallow their pride and still planned to seek out Xu Xian for forging, everyone else chose the newcomers. After all, in the current Demon-Slaying City, the carcass of a fifth-grade beast was being sold for nearly two thousand spirit stones. No one would turn their back on money, especially when that money was earned at the risk of their lives.

Furthermore, the reputations of these seven forging workshops were comparable to the Wendao Sword Sect. Two of them even had seventh-rank spirit forge masters in residence. These were individuals who had long been famous in Fanzhou. In years past, a single weapon from them was hard to come by; today, they had deigned to come to Demon-Slaying City, and the response was predictable.

Of course, in the past, Xu Xian had dominated Demon-Slaying City. Although he didn't bully customers, he was only one person and only accepted full-payment pre-orders. Even if you saved up enough money, you still had to wait in line. There was some resentment. One could say that Demon-Slaying City had suffered under Xu Xian's monopoly for a long time.

At this moment, the Three Sects, Three Schools, and one Chamber of Commerce had suddenly joined forces to strike, catching Xu Xian off guard. These people from the Central Plains indeed held all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support in this matter...

Xu Xian's furnace fires had been out for three days. Rumors were already flying through Demon-Slaying City, saying his forging workshop couldn't survive and was about to close. Xu Xian's furnace fires had been out for five days. Tales were already spreading that he had packed up and fled back to the Wendao Sword Sect.

As the saying goes, good news never leaves the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles. With the people from the Central Plains secretly fanning the flames, the rumors were more ferocious than a tiger.

"Sigh... do you think that Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect really left? I haven't seen his spirit furnace lit for days. It's gone cold."

"Probably. The snow at the door is so thick, and no one's even sweeping it."

"Tsk tsk, you really can't say for sure with people. A month ago, there were long queues at this door and it was hard to get a single order. Now, in just a few days, it's become like this."

"If you ask me, you can't blame Xu Xian for being incapable. It's mainly that the other seven came with such momentum; they clearly came for him. Even two fists find it hard to fight four hands..."

"Exactly. He was just born at the wrong time."

"Why doesn't he lower his prices? Fight them! If he fought a price war, he wouldn't have to leave in disgrace."

"What do you know? He's already made a fortune. He's probably looking to retire. Besides, what's the background of those seven? The people behind them hold half of the Central Plains. Can the Wendao Sword Sect fight them alone? This is a business war, not a brawl. The Wendao Sword Sect is still a bit lacking in this area."

"No, no, no, I think it's not that simple. This doesn't seem like the style of the Wendao Sword Sect..."

"Forget it. He's even abandoned his title as the number one in Demon-Slaying City. What's there left to say?"

Inside and outside the city, rumors were rife. Conversations were overheard, and occasional arguments broke out.

Some felt the Wendao Sword Sect had utterly failed and were gloating. Others felt it was impossible for the Wendao Sword Sect to let it go so easily and were waiting for a good show. Naturally, more people just listened for the excitement; it had nothing to do with them, so they didn't comment or mock. This was especially true for the demon hunters who frequented Demon-Slaying City year-round.

To them, it didn't matter if Xu Xian's Wendao Sword Sect won or the Central Plains sects prevailed. Xu Xian's arrival had indeed tangibly changed the landscape of Demon-Slaying City. In previous winters, this was the off-season for demon-slaying. But now, figures were still moving about. Even the freezing cold couldn't hide the vitality. With more people came more business, and naturally, more opportunities.

The supply of beasts had increased, yet because of the secret competition between the major chambers of commerce, the price of beasts had actually risen. Their income had naturally increased as well.

Most importantly, in the past, spirit artifacts of the Earth Weapon grade were strictly controlled by the major sects as strategic resources. For people like them to buy one, they not only had to pay a high price but also needed connections. Now it was different. In a single Demon-Slaying City, sixth-rank spirit forge masters were everywhere. And the new round of price wars had even suppressed the price of an Earth Weapon to four beast carcasses.

These were all real benefits. And for all of this, Xu Xian's contribution was paramount. Regardless of anything else, he deserved their gratitude. They weren't that noble, but they weren't that base either. They wouldn't help, but they wouldn't disparage him either. That was all.

As for the storm of rumors filling the city, anyone with clear eyes knew it was just a public opinion war pushed by someone in the shadows. They hoped to suppress the Wendao Sword Sect's influence in this Demon-Slaying City and make them suffer a setback. It was understandable, after all. Seven years ago, the Wendao Sword Sect had hung their swords over the southern sky, trampling the dignity of the entire Central Plains into the mud. The Central Plains forces, led by the Three Sects, had likely been looking for an opportunity to reclaim some face for a long time. This had nothing to do with the demon hunters. Over the years, they had heard of many similar occurrences. Back and forth they went; it was nothing surprising.

Inside the forging workshop.

Xu Xian had locked himself in his room and slept for five days without moving. It had Yao Xiaoxiao pacing in circles with anxiety, fearing Xu Xian might never wake up. She nagged incessantly.

How could someone sleep for so long? Was this reasonable? What kind of nascent soul stage cultivator sleeps this long?

Yao Zhijian could only offer words of comfort and persuasion. "The Little Grand-Uncle is indeed too tired. Sleeping more is never a bad thing. Who says those at the nascent soul stage can't sleep? I once slept for an entire month, my spirit wandering the heavens, sensing the world..."

Wen Qingxue remained calm throughout. She was at the peak of the seventh stage and could naturally detect Xu Xian's aura. Everything was fine; there was nothing unusual. Moreover, she thought the same as Yao Zhijian—sleeping more was no harm. She had been ordered to accompany Xu Xian to Demon-Slaying City, and counting carefully, it had been nearly eleven months. Xu Xian's state had visibly thinned day by day.

For over three hundred days and nights, Xu Xian had maintained a high intensity of forging for at least ten hours a day. She had seen it all. Honestly, it wasn't something just anyone could do. Xu Xian's willpower had long exceeded the limits of a normal nascent soul stage cultivator, and the recovery ability of his body was even more astonishing. Likely, even the holy beasts in the Great Desolation, famous for their vitality, could not compare.

Many times, even she couldn't help but advise Xu Xian to take it easy, saying money could be earned slowly, but he only had one life. And every time, the answer was nothing more than two sentences.

One: "I'm poor."

One: "It is but a bit of wind and frost; your Grand-Uncle can handle it."

Now that he could finally idle and rest, she thought it was quite good. Life was important. As for some business war? she didn't understand it much and naturally wasn't interested or particularly concerned...

Just as anxious as Yao Xiaoxiao was Liu Qinghui, who traveled back and forth to the forging workshop no less than several times a day. Every time he came, the first thing he asked was whether the Little Grand-Uncle had woken up yet. Later, he simply moved in. Anyway, his business had been snatched away, and once he cleared his remaining stock, he could only watch as others took over the entire market.

He also complained occasionally. That day, they had clearly agreed to fight a business war. The Little Grand-Uncle had even said they needed to use their brains. That aura and dominance were unforgettable even now. But then, in the blink of an eye, the Little Grand-Uncle had lain down and stayed down for five days. He was utterly confused.

He tested the waters, "Everyone, how about... one of you goes to wake the Little Grand-Uncle?"

Wen Qingxue: "..." Her expression remained unchanged.

Yao Zhijian: "..." He was as still as an ancient well.

Even Yao Xiaoxiao, who had been shouting and clamoring just a moment ago, silently walked away. "I still have a furnace of pills; I'm going to check the fire."

Liu Qinghui: "Uh..."