Immortality begins with becoming a master weapon refiner

Chapter 17 The Cycle of Heaven
However, it is expected that it will be several months slower than them to break through to the fourth step.

The tempering of the internal and external three elements requires even more patience and perseverance than the growth of qi and blood, waiting for the right time to achieve a complete transformation.

He also managed to complete the task of commissioning Gu Qing to refine the weapon in his spare time.

Gu Qing had a trick up his sleeve; he forged divine weapons for the three of them that were four times refined and eight times stacked, just one step away from becoming weapon blanks.

Even cats hold back when teaching tigers, so naturally he would hold back as well.

This has nothing to do with gratitude or not; it's simply a matter of principle in dealing with people. He wouldn't be completely devoted to anyone or anything because his upbringing was too difficult. The evil in people should not be taken lightly!
Panlong Spear, Chilan Sword, Moyu Knife.

The three custom-made weapons suited them perfectly, and they were not only satisfied, but also placed even greater emphasis on Gu Qing's weapon-forging skills.

Having acquired the [Metal and Stone Refining Method], the Zhao family had gained some understanding of the art of weapon forging over this period of time, and were now clear about the classification of magical artifacts.

The fourth level of crafting has essentially reached the limits of the mortal realm.

To truly refine a weapon embryo, one must hone the [Metal-Stone-Fire Refining Method] over many years. Gu Qing has only had this method for a short time.

With a solid foundation, it's normal for skills to improve rapidly; it would be strange if they all achieved perfection at once. Therefore, all three believed that Gu Qing had already done his best.

It was a win-win situation.

This day.

It was the day the envoy from the Sword Casting Manor arrived. The three who met the standards, along with many Zhao family disciples who were in seclusion, and the two elders, Sang and Bai, waited together in front of the archway.

Winter has arrived, and the weather is rather cold.

As the early snow and north wind howled past, the few eleven or twelve-year-old Zhao family disciples, whose cultivation was not yet up to par, shrank back and muttered in low voices.

"Why is the envoy taking so long to arrive this year?"

“In previous years we arrived early, but judging from the sky, it will take at least two hours if we are late.”

"Shut up!"

Elder Bai turned around and glared at the complaining boy, wondering to himself that such an important annual event was never late.

Always punctual.

Just then, a figure was rushing towards them through the snowstorm in the distance. When he got closer, everyone realized that it was Zhao Huaide, whose steps were as swift as the wind.

This is a far cry from the image of someone who used to need crutches to walk.

He was at least a Grandmaster-level expert, which made Gu Qing look at his mind even more highly; he was simply a shrewd person!
"Elder Sang, Elder Bai."

"Huai De, what brings you here? Has something happened?"

"Ugh……"

Zhao Huaide glanced at Gu Qing and said.

"Yu Yang, Yu Shan, Dan Ya, and Gu Xiaoyou, the four of you will now come with me to the ancestral home in the mountain cave. The envoy has sent others over, and we will discuss the matter further on the way."

"Yes! Grandpa."

"Row."

The four of them set off together, and Zhao Huaide finally explained the reason.

"This incident was actually caused by the machinations of a villain."

Zhao Yuyang asked, puzzled.

"Grandpa, what do you mean by that?"

"The envoys from the Sword Forging Manor usually come from the prefectural city of Fengming Prefecture before they come to my Zhao family. The Yun family, which has served as prefects for generations, has also produced many disciples of Baiyue Mountain."

"It is a hundred years older than my Zhao family, so every year dozens of Yun family members come to the Sword Casting Manor."

"Young friend Gu, do you still remember that before we entered the mountains, Fengming Prefecture dispatched prisoners from various places to transport laborers to Qishan County for mining?"

"I remember."

Gu Qing explained, "At the time, I thought military supplies were running low and anticipated that war was imminent, so I consulted Brother Huaiyi about avoiding disaster. Was there more to the story behind this?"

"Yes."

Zhao Huaide sighed deeply.

"The increased manpower that Fengming Prefecture sent to the iron mine in Qishan County is not for war preparations, but to work for the Sword Casting Manor."

"Beneath that iron mine lies a land brimming with spiritual energy. According to the pulse finder, this [Swallow Feather Treasure Land], which is slightly smaller than the royal family's, contains a large amount of spiritual material—Phoenix Flame Gold."

"It is a top-grade artifact crafted by a celestial master."

"Ranked as a mid-grade spiritual material."

"The Sword Forging Manor only wants the mineral deposits, while the Yun family of Fengming Prefecture wants that precious land for their inheritance."

At this moment, Zhao Danya asked in confusion.

"Even so, what does it have to do with my Zhao family? Grandpa, are you trying to get a share of the pie?"

"No."

"The Zhao family's foundation is far inferior to that of the Yun family. They are like a snake trying to swallow an elephant; their greed is insatiable, and they may face disaster."

"Then why was this year's selection delayed?"

"In Qingmu Prefecture, there is a rebel king who calls himself the Heavenly King Zhou, whose 100,000-strong army was instructed by someone with ulterior motives to seize the Qishan Iron Mine ten days ago, causing the mining work to come to a complete stop."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing's expression hardened slightly.

"A hundred thousand troops have all entered the city? Aren't the Fengming Prefecture's troops going to do anything about it?"

"That's not the case. The rebel king only brought about thirty people, all of whom were experts in the Inner Qi Realm. He himself had also broken through to the Grandmaster Realm and was only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old."

"Theoretically, they also qualify to join the Sword Forging Manor."

"Twenty-six or twenty-seven is fine too?"

Gu Qing was even more puzzled. The requirement through the proper channels was eighteen years old. Why should someone older than him, whose cultivation level was only one step higher, have the right to be directly recruited?
"That's true in theory, but not necessarily."

"It requires the envoy from the Aoki Mansion to make a judgment. If they pass the test, they will all be members of the same faction from now on."

"Therefore, the envoy in charge of Fengming Prefecture did not want to damage the harmony, so he did not take any action. The Yun family followed the envoy's wishes and did not take any action either."

He's just a sycophant.

Gu Qing finally understood. In the end, it all came down to following the procedure, as had been said earlier.

The Yan state had 108 prefectures in its twelve provinces, and 108 envoys were dispatched to each prefecture, each responsible for a specific territory.

People like Zhao Yuyang, who meet the standards and are from legitimate backgrounds, can join the Sword Casting Manor without any tests.

That means Jay Chou still needs to be tested, which shows that his status is not as high as theirs.

As for why the envoy from Fengming Prefecture insisted on waiting for the envoy from Qingmu Prefecture, after much thought, the only explanation is profit!
Perhaps these envoys are burdened with a certain number of enrollment quotas, so it would be reasonable to punish them less and reward them more.

Feng Yanjin belongs to the manor, so whether it's faster or slower makes no difference. If it concerns his own interests, how could an envoy, who was promoted by others, not care?

In a short while, Gu Qing had sorted out his thoughts and gained a certain understanding of the current situation.

Zhao Huaide had been observing them. Seeing that Gu Qing's expression had relaxed a bit, he knew that Gu Qing had figured it out. Zhao Yuyang was a step behind, not because he lacked comprehension, but because he didn't know as much as Gu Qing.

Zhao Yushan and Zhao Danya, however, were rather mediocre when it came to scheming and intrigue, remaining completely clueless.

"I just said that there were villains causing trouble. It was Song Long, the county magistrate of Qishan, who was among the servants of the Yun family and slandered us in front of the envoy."

"How dare he, a mere servant of average worth, know such things?"

"Not necessarily. If the Yun family obtains this treasure land that nurtures the Phoenix Flame Gold, their original small treasure land will become useless, and they will inevitably want to expand their power."

"Besides self-reproduction, integrating foreign bloodlines is also a method, and the Song family may have learned about it during this period."

(End of this chapter)