Chapter 109: Honored Guest
Chapter 109: Honored Guest
“Master Yan He, please grace us with your presence at my Sun family’s residence for a discussion! My house holds a Fourth-Order Armament blueprint—’Heaven’s Chosen’—which would be of great benefit to you!” someone artfully tempted.
“Who dares contend with me? I am the Empire’s Grand Minister of Agriculture!” Zhu Wen shouted arrogantly.
“Grand Minister of Agriculture? Former Grand Minister of Agriculture! My elder brother is the current Junior Official! Besides, what’s a Fourth-Order blueprint? Master, my family possesses one that has been treasured for many years…”
The clamor and arguments continued, it was even livelier than a marketplace.
It was no surprise; the impact of this Profound Darkness Heart on people’s senses and minds was simply too immense!
Bloodline Resonance was already a ladder to the heavens, and this armament could actually strengthen Battle Aura, with the strengthening direction being the unparalleled quality—”Heavy Water”! Bloodline Resonance might only be useful to the Zhang Family, but “Heavy Water” was absolutely what water-element martial artists dreamed of!
Following the young boy, Li Yi secretly made his way towards the Inner Manor, inwardly mourning for Yan He.
Passing through a deep and secluded path, walking past the carp pond, and crossing through the willow grove, he finally arrived at a rugged stone forest.
The stone forest was elegant and beautiful. The stone table and chairs right in the center were actually naturally formed!
His gaze fell upon the stone table. Li Yi’s body shook, and he stared dumbfounded.
On the table surface, three dazzling crystals were placed in a row, actually warping space and causing elements to form vortices!
With one glance, he recognized that these crystals were not ordinary Magic Crystals, but—Mystic Crystals!
Mystic Crystals held vast and pure energy. They could not only be used in many rare magic arrays and Super Magic Arrays, but could also replenish Mana during spellcasting and enhance spell effects.
What truly made Li Yi’s heart drum wildly was the value of one Mystic Crystal, about one hundred thousand White Crystals!
Three Mystic Crystals, three hundred thousand White Crystals, just casually placed on the table like this?
My heavens!
Only then did Li Yi truly realize that he and these great, wealthy families were simply not in the same world.
“How about it? Want them?” Zhang Tianjing, mischievous and clever, couldn’t miss the eagerness in Li Yi’s eyes. With a sudden wave of his hand, he promised in an old-fashioned manner, “As long as you join my Zhang Family, these three Mystic Crystals are yours!”
“Join your Zhang Family?” Li Yi looked at this little boy acting like an adult, finding it both funny and exasperating.
“What, isn’t joining my Zhang Family good? Directly be granted the surname Zhang, or marry into a branch family of ours, you choose one!” This little fellow clearly idolized his elder brother, imitating his lazy demeanor in every gesture.
However, with his chubby, round face, he simply couldn’t look lazy.
“Sorry, I’m used to being a free spirit,” Li Yi joked, refusing. “I can’t handle a constrained life.”
“You kid really don’t know what’s good for you!” Zhang Tianjing felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed. Didn’t the books say that when one’s kingly aura was revealed, the other party would immediately prostrate themselves in submission? So which part went wrong?
“You little rascal, taking matters into your own hands again!”
Thump!
Zhang Mingshi’s figure appeared, followed immediately by a light flick of his knuckles on his younger brother’s forehead.
“These three Mystic Crystals are your reward.” Zhang Mingshi smiled warmly, a faint light flickering in his palm. “Furthermore, I’ll add two more! One is to repay you for salvaging the Zhang Family’s face; the second is for defeating Li Heng and breaking his confidence…”
“This… isn’t it a bit too much? Wasn’t the agreed amount only fifty thousand White Crystals?” Li Yi feigned politeness, but the heat in his eyes betrayed him.
Five hundred thousand White Crystals!
That was ten times the amount!
To say he wasn’t tempted by such a windfall would definitely be a lie.
Just a while ago, he was distressed over the two thousand White Crystals he lacked for the “Softshell Turtle Dream Art.”
And now, earning five hundred thousand in just this month?
He hadn’t chosen the path of an Armament Master wrongly!
“Don’t worry, this is what you deserve!”
“Oh?”
“These three Mystic Crystals were originally intended as payment for the ‘Broken Cliff Water Curtain,’ but… you saw the result…” Zhang Mingshi sneered, not hiding his disgust for Zhou Xun and the others. “Don’t worry, Yan He and the others will also receive their own rewards. I won’t favor one over another.”
“Well then, I’ll graciously accept!” Li Yi took the offered opportunity. His Sumeru Ring flashed, and the five Mystic Crystals vanished into his palm.
“Sit for a while. My father also wishes to speak with you…”
“Oh?”
Zhang Zhen?
Wow, young, youth, and old, all three generations were making an appearance!
Was his own face really that big?
…
After waiting for a long time, Zhang Zhen finally appeared. Li Yi understood; he needed to host the guests and couldn’t just leave his seat casually.
“The younger generation is formidable!” Zhang Zhen began with praise right off the bat. “You know? In my youth, I had dealings with many Armament Masters. But none were as outstanding as you!”
Li Yi blushed upon hearing this and repeatedly claimed he didn’t dare accept such praise.
“However, back then, there were also many Armament Apprentices who made a splash, but without exception, they either withered away or became despondent.” Zhang Zhen’s tone shifted. “People like Wu Yi, Zhang Baichi—during their apprentice stage, they were complete nobodies. Yet, it was these very nobodies who surpassed others later on…”
“Please advise me!” Li Yi understood Zhang Zhen was giving him pointers and quickly adopted a humble posture.
“Tell me, what is Dao Transformation Armament?” Zhang Zhen asked abruptly.
“Rule/Law!” A sharp glint flashed in Li Yi’s eyes as he answered decisively.
“Oh? That’s insightful!” Zhang Zhen’s face showed faint approval. “Correct, the essence of Dao Transformation Armament is Rule/Law! And to create one, you must comprehend the Rule/Law, then commit that Rule/Law to paper!”
Li Yi nodded in agreement.
“The Rule/Law within this Profound Darkness Heart, you obtained it through imitation, right?”
“Yes.” Li Yi saw no need to hide it.
For this Profound Darkness Heart, its framework was the Soaring Serpent core, its soul the spirit of the serpent spear weapon—all were born from Li Yi’s observation, imitation, and transformation, not from his own comprehension.
“Using the same serpent Conceptual Realm/Artistic Conception, could you create an armament possessing the ‘Feathered Serpent Conceptual Realm/Artistic Conception’?”
“No.” Li Yi understood something.
“Imitating is for the purpose of perception and study. The next step is integration and creation! And there are no shortcuts in this process; you can only comprehend and absorb bit by bit. Those who were precocious all had halos that were too heavy and minds too cluttered, ultimately ending up accomplishing nothing.”
“Thank you for the guidance!” A sharp glint appeared in Li Yi’s eyes as he nodded repeatedly. He then asked, “How does one comprehend this thing called Conceptual Realm/Artistic Conception?”
“This mystical, profound path can only be grasped intuitively, hard to put into words. Moreover, each person’s path is different…” Zhang Zhen laughed heartily. After thinking for a moment, he said, “However, many Armament Masters choose one or two side pursuits. They don’t need to master them, only to draw parallels. From what I know, Ye Liu is a qin player, skilled in music. Many of his armaments contain sound wave attack techniques.”
Thinking of that rather mysterious “Soul-Stirring Brand,” Li Yi nodded repeatedly.
“And also, my clansman Zhang Baichi had extremely mediocre talent, yet he still managed to become an Armament Master. The reason was his farming since childhood. Somehow, he actually comprehended the earth Conceptual Realm/Artistic Conception! That ‘Broken Cliff Water Curtain,’ while seemingly aligned with water-element Battle Aura, at its root is still the earth Conceptual Realm/Artistic Conception…”
Li Yi found this interesting and listened with relish.
“The path of armaments has no rigid conventions. Different paths lead to the same destination; don’t get too fixated on my opinions.” Zhang Zhen suddenly laughed. “Besides, I’m not an Armament Master. I can only give some advice based on personal insights. Don’t laugh at me…”
“Not at all! A single conversation with Uncle Zhang is truly worth ten years of study!” Li Yi offered a small flattery.
It had to be said, Zhang Zhen’s methods were indeed shrewd and experienced. Just a few pointers had filled him with gratitude.
“By the way, I also want to make a deal with you…” Zhang Zhen added.
“Please speak, Uncle!” Li Yi quickly responded.
“Eight years from now, my second son Zhang Tianjing will also embark on his Blood Baptism Journey… At that time, I want a Dao Transformation Armament that surpasses the ‘Profound Darkness Heart’!” A sharp, electric light shot from Zhang Zhen’s eyes. “Can you do it?”
“This… I can’t guarantee it, but I will do my utmost!” Li Yi’s gaze also turned solemn.
“Good lad!” Zhang Zhen showed a smile, patting Li Yi’s shoulder. “Take this thing.”
A silver-shining token was offered before his eyes.
“Oh? This is…” Li Yi took it and asked softly.
“This is my Zhang Family’s Honored Guest Token!” Zhang Zhen declared with a hearty laugh. “Your treatment is the same as Yan He’s. If you encounter any trouble, just go to any Zhang Family business, and you’ll be safe!”
“Thank you, Uncle!” Li Yi’s eyes lit up with pleasant surprise as he bowed.
Thinking about it, the Jiangyue Zhang Family, the Jianpao Wang Clan, plus Wu Yi who was about to become his master… he already had three big backers.
In this Dusk Capital, he could practically walk sideways!