https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-156-Refining-the-Qiankun-Yiqi-Dai/13688324/
Chapter 157: Meteorite from Beyond the Heavens, Zhu Xin Fang
"Could it really be meteorite from beyond the heavens?" Lu Qing exclaimed, his eyes alight with surprise.
In the Heritage of the Lihuo Sect, such rare spiritual materials had long been recorded—and highly esteemed. They were regarded as one of the finest substances for crafting the embryo of a Spirit Artifact. The middle-grade Spirit Artifact, the Lihuo Ding, had originally been infused with considerable amounts of heavenly meteorite during its forging. The young sect leader of Lihuo Sect had once lamented in the Heritage, regretting that if the entire body of the Lihuo Ding had been forged from heavenly meteorite, they would have surely triumphed in that fateful sect war. But heavenly meteorite was impossibly rare. Even after thousands of years of accumulation, the Lihuo Sect had gathered only a meager amount.
Now, to Lu Qing’s astonishment, he had stumbled upon several sizable chunks of it within the Qiankun Yiqi Dai.
"Looks like I can finally move up the schedule for forging my War Blade," Lu Qing mused. His War Blade had been shattered in his battle against the Kuiwu Dahan, and for days he had been unable to find a suitable replacement. Though the Wei Family had offered him several fine swords to choose from, none of them felt right to him—though they were good, they weren’t much better than his original blade. So he had declined them all.
After obtaining the Heritage of the Lihuo Sect, he had even begun to entertain the idea of forging his own blade. He had originally planned to begin searching for quality ores after attending Ma Gu’s and Wei Zian’s master-disciple ceremony. But now, with this heavenly meteorite in hand, there was no better material available.
After admiring the meteorite fragments for a moment, Lu Qing carefully returned them to the Qiankun Yiqi Dai. He also tucked away the recently purchased books and a few other small items. Now, he felt completely unburdened—only his clothes and the Qiankun Yiqi Dai remained on his person.
Spirit Artifacts could, in theory, be stored within the body. But Lu Qing was not yet a cultivator, nor had he even opened his Qi Cavity—let alone reached the Xian Tian Jing stage. As such, he couldn’t yet store the Qiankun Yiqi Dai in his Dantian to nurture it. For now, he had no choice but to wear it on his person.
Once he’d finished tidying up, Lu Qing stepped out into the small courtyard, found a comfortable spot, and with a subtle mental command, withdrew a book from the Qiankun Yiqi Dai. He began reading leisurely, not immediately tapping into the Abilities Download scroll’s contents. Instead, he savored the simple pleasure of reading—turning pages one by one, letting time pass in tranquility.
After all, life wasn’t just about cultivation. There was value in relaxation. Balance between effort and rest was the true path of cultivation.
It was a pity there was no river nearby—otherwise, Lu Qing might have even considered going fishing.
He spent several hours lost in the pages, enjoying the quiet afternoon. Only when a servant from the Wei Family Residence arrived to announce that evening meals were ready did he finally close the book.
He followed the servant slowly toward the dining hall, a satisfied smile on his face. In just one afternoon, he’d already read through a significant portion of the books he’d bought. He now had a much clearer understanding of this world’s customs, history, and systems. Knowledge, after all, was deeply fulfilling. And so, his mood was light and content.
When he arrived at the dining hall, he found the Master, Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, and even Wei Da Zong Guan present.
During dinner, Lu Qing learned that Wei Da Zong Guan had already finalized the arrangements with the Ma family—the disciple ceremony would take place in three days. The next day, formal invitations would be sent out to all the prominent families and factions in the county town, inviting them to attend the ceremony.
Three days? Plenty of time.
After dinner, Lu Qing sought out Wei Xinghe.
"Master of the Wei Family, I have a small request to ask of you," he said.
"Oh? What is it, Lu Xiao Langjun? Please, do tell," Wei Xinghe responded, his eyes brightening instantly. This was a rare opportunity—a chance to strengthen their bond.
"I have here a list of materials. Would you be so kind as to have your people assist me in gathering them? I’ll cover all expenses," Lu Qing said, handing over a sheet of paper.
"Lu Xiao Langjun, what are you saying? Gathering some materials? Why should you spend a single coin?" Wei Xinghe took the paper and glanced at it, his expression shifting to surprise. The items listed were unusual, indeed—difficult to source.
"May I ask, Lu Xiao Langjun, what purpose do you have for these materials?" he inquired cautiously.
"I’m preparing a special potion. Is it truly so hard to find these?" Lu Qing asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. The list had been compiled from notes in the Lihuo Sect’s Heritage. While no spiritual materials were included, he wasn’t certain whether all of these common ingredients still existed. After all, the Lihuo Sect was ancient—centuries had passed. Who knew if some of these things were even still around?
"Not impossible," Wei Xinghe replied. "Most of these items are already in the family’s secret vault. But a few… they may require some effort. It could take a few days to track them down."
"That’s fine," Lu Qing smiled. "I’m not in a rush. Just do your best to gather them all. If some are missing, no matter. I can compensate with extra effort later."
After all, incomplete ingredients would only weaken the potion’s effect—nothing more than a minor setback. He could always adjust his approach.
"Then I’ll send people out immediately," Wei Xinghe said, relieved. But deep down, he had already resolved to make this a priority. Such a rare chance to serve Lu Qing was not to be missed.
"By the way, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask, Master Wei," Lu Qing added.
"Go ahead."
"Could you tell me which blacksmith shop in this county town is the best?"
---
The next morning.
"Lu Xiao Langjun, this is Zhu Xin Fang—the finest smithy in the entire town. The master craftsman, Lin Jiangshi, is a master of the Liehuo Chui Fa technique—his skill is nearly on par with a true weapon sage," Wei Da Zong Guan explained as they stood before a modest-looking blacksmith shop.
Lu Qing glanced inside. Rows of gleaming weapons hung on the walls, and the faint, smoldering heat of the forge drifted through the air. He nodded. "Then I appreciate your help, Grand Manager."
"Master Wei Da Zong Guan! You’ve come! The master is waiting inside—please, come in!" A stout middle-aged shopkeeper rushed out, bowing deeply.
"Thank you, Wang Zhaoguan. Lead the way."
Knowing Lu Qing wished to inspect the city’s best blacksmith shop, Wei Xinghe had arranged everything the previous night.
"Not at all, not at all. Please, follow me."
Lu Qing and Wei Da Zong Guan stepped inside. Though the front appeared small, the interior was spacious and bustling. As they entered the back courtyard, a wave of heat hit them.
Before them unfolded a scene of lively industry. Multiple forges roared with fire, and over a dozen muscular men—bare-chested and sweating—were working in unison: some pumped bellows, others hammered molten metal, and others plunged blades into water to quench them. Each had a role, and all moved with fierce energy.
At the center stood an older man of short stature but broad-shouldered and powerfully built, his arms thick as tree trunks. His red face bore a stern expression as he strode among the workers, barking orders and correcting their techniques with sharp precision.
The middle-aged shopkeeper hurried over and whispered to him. The man turned, then walked toward them with a firm step.
"Master Wei Da Zong Guan has honored us with his presence. Lin Jian has failed to greet you properly—please forgive me," the elder said, bowing deeply with a booming voice.
"Lin Jiangshi, you flatter me. I should be the one apologizing for intruding on your busy work," Wei Da Zong Guan replied with a smile.
"Hah! Nonsense! It’s an honor for us to host a man of your stature. Welcome to our humble Zhu Xin Fang!"
The elder then turned his gaze to Lu Qing.
"This must be the young hero you mentioned in your letter—the one who wishes to tour our smithy?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
