ragginovel Chapter 43 Planning
Chapter 43 Planning
"Uncle Qin".
Fan Zhou walked to the center of the hall and bowed to Qin Zhiyuan, saying:
"This disciple has fortunately fulfilled his mission."
Qin Zhiyuan propped his head up with one hand, watching him with great interest, his smile growing wider and wider until he finally burst into laughter.
"Good, good, good! You've really surprised me!"
He stood up abruptly and said seriously:
"I, Qin, keep my word. Now that you've cultivated four basic qi techniques, come work for me tomorrow!"
Fan Zhou was overjoyed, "Yes, Senior Uncle Qin!"
Several deacons also stood up one after another and offered their congratulations to Fan Zhou.
Old Hu, however, wouldn't let go of Tian Youliang, reminding him:
"You said you'd treat me to drinks last time, so I think we should do it today."
Wang Xiaoshan added, "We can't just invite Lao Hu; we have to bring us along too!"
Qin Zhiyuan also said seriously, "Yes, you brought Fan Zhou back, so you have to show your appreciation."
Tian Youliang grinned broadly and waved his sleeve generously: "Let's go, to Yingchun Tower right now!"
"Old Tian, this time we're going to rip you off."
A group of people walked out of the reception hall chatting and laughing, and flew directly to Yingchun Tower, where Hou Yi casually arranged a table for them.
When Hou Yi learned that Fan Zhou had successfully joined the weapon forging workshop, he prepared a table full of his signature dishes.
The group chatted and laughed in the private room, discussing the future development of the market.
Fan Zhou also ate meat heartily and drank wine from large bowls.
These are all spiritual items; consuming them can increase one's cultivation level, so he won't be polite.
When they had almost finished eating, Qin Zhiyuan remembered something and said to Fan Zhou:
"A-Zhou, go back and tell the villagers in the market not to go to the places where those great demons are during this time, it will be dangerous."
Fan Zhou, who was still a little tipsy, was immediately jolted awake by these words.
"What's wrong, Uncle Qin?"
Qin Zhiyuan shook his head, his eyes darkening. "That's all I can tell you right now."
Fan Zhou had a bad feeling. Qin Zhiyuan must know some secret, but why didn't he say it?
What happened to those powerful demons?
His gaze swept over the deacons, each with a different expression, but none of them spoke.
Fan Zhou sensed a suffocating atmosphere.
The crowd dispersed in silence.
Tian Youliang took Fan Zhou back.
Fan Zhou couldn't help but ask, "Master Tian, what is it that even Uncle-Master Qin can't tell you?"
Tian Youliang sighed and said to him earnestly:
"Ah Zhou, we are just insignificant people. Although we have cultivated some magic and gained some skill, there are many things in this world that are beyond our control. Do you understand?"
Fan Zhou hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded sullenly:
"I see."
Tian Youliang patted him on the shoulder and didn't say anything more.
He escorted Fan Zhou home, and before leaving, he took out a spirit stone from his storage bag, handed it to him, and said:
"The weapon forging workshop is tough. This money is for you to buy healing medicine. Be careful not to overwork yourself, or it will affect your future cultivation."
Fan Zhou took the spirit stone, somewhat speechless, and said, "Master Tian, is it really necessary to go this far?"
A hint of reminiscence appeared on Tian Youliang's face:
"Don't dismiss this. As the saying goes, life has three hardships: rowing a boat, blacksmithing, and grinding tofu. Do you think forging armor is an easy task?"
"In the forging workshop, gold is burned and iron is smelted, and steel billets are forged. The workshop is full of carbon dioxide, fire, and metal. If you stay there for a long time, these fumes will enter your body through your breath, and by the time you realize it, it will be too late."
Fan Zhou asked curiously, "Don't the weapon forging workshop issue elixirs?"
Tian Youliang chuckled, "Have you forgotten that you're still just a menial disciple?"
"Even if you get into the weapon forging workshop, you'll start as an apprentice."
"You're just a menial apprentice, do you expect others to care about your feelings?"
Fan Zhou remained silent.
Because of Tian Youliang's special care, he hadn't been able to go to work for many days and was living a very comfortable life, almost forgetting that he was still an ordinary handyman.
Fan Zhou raised his head, his eyes fixed on Tian Youliang:
"Master Tian, how can I avoid being a menial laborer?"
Tian Youliang sighed and slowly said:
"In the Sword Furnace, disciples are mainly divided into four categories: miscellaneous disciples, nominal disciples, inner disciples, and true disciples."
A hint of self-mockery appeared on his slightly drunken face:
"As early as when one becomes a disciple of the Sword Furnace, one's spiritual root aptitude determines one's status."
"Just like selecting materials for forging a sword, a low-grade spiritual root is like a menial servant, a mid-grade spiritual root is like a nominal disciple, and a high-grade spiritual root is like a close disciple."
"As for true disciples, there are only two or three per generation, and they must be extraordinary talents, beyond our imagination."
"As for how to be promoted from a menial disciple to a registered disciple, there are two main ways."
Tian Youliang extended two short, thick fingers:
"The first way is to break through to the Qi Refining stage; that's how most people get there."
"And the second one," Tian Youliang said solemnly, "is to prove to everyone that you are not ordinary iron, but a fine piece of material!"
"Good materials?"
Fan Zhou asked, puzzled, "What kind of material is considered good?"
"I have no idea."
Tian Youliang placed his hands on Fan Zhou's shoulders, his eyes exceptionally clear:
"But I hope you can let me know."
Fan Zhou felt an unusually heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders, but a surge of strength rose within him, filling every corner of his body.
He responded firmly:
"Teacher Tian, I will."
Tian Youliang laughed. He said nothing, threw out the handkerchief talisman, and flew away on the clouds.
Fan Zhou took a deep breath and returned to the room to meditate and gather his energy.
He has been practicing Changchun Gong for half a month now, and can now sit still for an hour without moving his body or mind, and his internal energy can also flow along several meridians.
However, because his skills were still shallow, he could not yet experience the feeling of yang energy arising.
And this is the normal way to cultivate internal energy.
It often takes cultivators several months to find the corresponding Qi within their bodies, and then a period of nurturing and refining is required before it can produce a considerable effect.
"But I possess the Heavenly Craftsmanship Furnace; completing the first level will only take a month."
Fan Zhou believed in himself from the bottom of his heart; he was definitely good material for cultivation.
It might even be a rare and extraordinary material that would shock everyone.
The sun and moon turned, and the next day arrived.
Fan Zhou arrived at the weapon forging workshop early. The gatekeeper disciple greeted him with a smile and said:
"Senior Brother Fan, Senior Brother Peng instructed that if you come, he will take you directly to see him."
Thank you for your trouble.
Fan Zhou followed him into the forging workshop.
Yesterday at the banquet, Qin Zhiyuan mentioned that he should learn more from a guy named Peng Yue, so this must be the senior brother Peng.
Soon, he arrived at a spacious blacksmith's workshop.
Everywhere you look, there are roaring brick kilns and rows of anvils.
The people inside were all shirtless, constantly forging red-hot iron blocks. The entire workshop echoed with the clanging and hammering sounds, and the billowing heat was like a steamer.
Fan Zhou followed the gatekeeper disciple to a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes.
This person was the senior brother who led the way yesterday.
"Senior Brother Peng, I've brought the person," the gatekeeper disciple said respectfully.
Peng Yue was forging steel billets. He glanced at Fan Zhou and pointed with his chin to an anvil next to him, saying:
"Light the furnace, and I'll teach you how to forge iron."