A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 161 - 132: First Among the Six Houses, Ninghai Zen Returns (Part 2)

Lao Dao jested.

"Anyway, I left through the broken gate without any care. Back when Baisheng was about to destroy my hands, it was Brother Dao who helped me escape. Now returning the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique to Tongwen Hall is only proper."

Li Yuan showed a hint of gratitude in his eyes.

Craftsmanship has strict rules; betrayal of mentor, breaking ties to establish oneself.

Minor actions result in a loss, skills retrieved; severe ones create enemies, relentless to death.

If it weren't for crafting a weapon for Ninghai Zen once, with some favors involved, and Lao Dao's kind heart, secretly protecting me a few times, I might not have been able to save my hands.

"Baisheng was relentless in pursuing you, Younger Brother Li, you handed over the craft of forging the Wind-listening Saber, along with the secret recipe for Quenching Iron Water hidden at the bottom of the chest, enough to repay the teaching grace.

They took the benefits first, then relentlessly chased afterward, it was too much."

Lao Dao waved his hand, outside the snow fell tightly, holding the hot tea while chatting with an old friend about past events, inevitably brought emotions, unknowingly, the young master has been away from Yihai Prefecture for so long.

"What surprised me was, Master Ning's disciple not only excelled in martial arts, but also has great talent in forging! He forged Hundred-refined Steel right in front of me!"

Li Yuan spoke solemnly, word for word:

"Among the few disciples I have taken, the eldest is patient enough to fire porcelain, the second is steady in doing things, can fire bricks, but as for forging... originally, Lao San has the stature of a bear, barely considered talented, but his nature is too sticky, hard to achieve greatness in the future.

Today, I saw Bai Qilang, just like back then when my master first saw me!"

Lao Dao's eyebrows slightly furrowed, pondering the meaning behind Li Yuan's words.

Is this a fight for disciples?

"Younger Brother Li, in this matter, I'm not the right person to make decisions. Although Tongwen Hall's previous generations of ancestors ate a hundred families' meals, learned from a hundred families..."

Lao Dao pondered for a moment, somewhat amused:

"Even the young master himself delved into disguise, poison crafting, using concealed weapons... but forging, is not part of martial dao."

Li Yuan replied earnestly:

"Brother Dao, this statement is wrong! Master Ning often says, martial dao is not something that can be limited by such trivial matters!

All sorts of martial arts, and forging is among them!

The Nine Flames Wave Hammer, which I figured out myself, can forge steel and also kill enemies!"

Is the Seventh Young Master's forging talent really that excellent?

Looking at Li Yuan's sincere words, incredibly diligent demeanor, Lao Dao finds it extremely surprising.

To make the fiery and stubborn Master Li requite him again and again,

is definitely a rare occurrence.

"Craftsmanship is not just about disciples yearning for good mentors, mentors also want to meet good disciples.

Because crafting and forging weapons aren't simple tasks that can be done by one person alone.

Ten forgings, fifty forgings, hundred forgings, thousand tempers, these are not difficult for me.

But for ten-thousand-tempered treasure blades, it requires disciples to assist with the secondary hammer, help out.

As for the legendary divine soldiers, it also requires favorable timing and conditions."

Li Yuan knew he couldn't compete with someone like Ninghai Zen for direct disciples, he said solemnly:

"Master-apprentice title is nothing, as long as Qi Lang is willing to learn from me, I will definitely pass on the Nine Flames Wave Hammer Technique to him entirely.

Even the Hongming workshop in Yihai Prefecture could be entrusted to him in the future! With his talent, he can certainly become a Master Craftsman!"

In the Six Families, craftsmanship is the foremost!

This craftsmanship is not just an artisan, but a Master Craftsman, Divine Craftsman conferred by the Dragon Court!

If he can securely hold the top position in craftsmanship and forge a legacy treasure.

Then his name can be entered into the Yellow Register, become part of the Construction Bureau, and enjoy a meal provided by the Official Family.

"Yellow" means "Imperial", i.e., elevated to imperial use.

Lao Dao knows well that Young Master Qi is of an ambitious nature, sooner or later he will venture to Yihai Prefecture.

If protected by an official status from the Construction Bureau, it may avoid many troubles.

"Younger Brother Li comes to the door wanting to whisk away Tongwen Hall's heir, this is not urgent, wait until spring, when the young master returns, then we can talk.

Actually, the young master mostly doesn't care, it's mainly about Young Master Qi's attitude."

Lao Dao cheerfully pointed out:

"If he wants to learn your Nine Flames Wave Hammer, inherit from your mantle, how could we and the young master not let him."

Li Yuan awkwardly smiled:

"We must notify Master Ning and seek his opinion."

...

...

Five hundred miles road, Longkang Mountain.

In the bitter cold when water freezes into ice, there were hunters or medicine gatherers who braved the heavy snow into the mountains. During their journey, they would pass by the Fox King Temple, often lighting an incense for safety.

As soon as they stepped into the spacious mud-brick temple, they felt warm, no longer chilled to the bone.

An enticing aroma spread in wisps, quickly seeping into their nostrils.

Upon closer inspection, the table was laden with fine wines and delicacies.

Several beauties, draped in thin veils with alabaster skin, were laughing and dancing gracefully, revealing glimpses of the glorious spring scenery.

Hunters and medicine gatherers who had only known clandestine prostitutes behind half-open doors had never witnessed such a scene.

They were immediately captivated, losing themselves in indulgence, unable to extricate themselves. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Moments later.

The snow remained the same.

Only within the Fox King Temple.

There suddenly appeared several naked, frozen bodies, stiff in death.

"I can't stay at Longkang Mountain any longer! This empress must move quickly!"

The statue of the Fox King worshipped in the temple cracked open with a "kacha," followed by gusts of eerie wind, consolidating into the alluring form of a bewitching woman.

"That old tiger was unlucky, falling into the hands of the Living Yama, and that's that.

Even the Demon King who emerged from nowhere recently was killed by a fierce man.

Clearly, Longkang Mountain is no place to be! I'll finish the last of the incense and make haste to flee far away!"

The Mountain Deity possesses spirits, each distinct, mostly incarnations of creatures feeding on the incense offered by the people.

This red fox, nearing six to seven hundred years of cycles, was one of them.

Initially, it had saved hunters trapped in the deep mountains and guided medicine gatherers to find lingzhi. Through word of mouth, the Fox King Temple was established.

But over time, the mixed incense tainted its mind, causing its desires to grow increasingly apparent, much like a gambling addict obsessed with the vitality of humans.

The once proper Mountain Spirit was gradually turning into a "Fox Demon."

"Humans eat our flesh and blood, yet none of them have 'turned into demons.' Yet if we drink a little human blood or eat a bit of human flesh, we easily 'become demons.' The Celestial Lord is so unreasonable!"

The red fox packed its belongings, and when darkness fell, it swiftly transformed into a gust of eerie wind, carrying away years of accumulated wealth, heading towards Fulong Mountain.

"With this empress's looks, I'm more than suitable to be the Demon King's chief wife. Soon, I'll find some kinfolk to marry within the clan, then make some sworn brothers and fathers, and I'll become a great demon of Fulong Mountain!"

The eerie wind blew through the forest path, like a wild horse galloping. Within the span of a few sticks of incense, it had left the boundaries of Black River County.

The red fox with two tails thus traveled concealment by day and journeyed swiftly at night.

The vast three-thousand-li expanse of Fulong Mountain in Yihai Prefecture soon loomed close.

"Nestled in a small place like Longkang Mountain, eating a few hunters and absorbing a bit of vitality, I always have to be wary, unable to sleep soundly. Afraid that one day, bad luck will strike and I'll run into a fierce man."

The red fox, wrapped in eerie wind, let out a tinkling laugh:

"Moving house is indeed wise..."

A mass of eerie wind carried its body, suddenly passing through the broad official road covered with thick snow. On a night with sparse stars and moonlight, there was unexpectedly someone walking alone.

"Heh heh, just perfect to seal a fate and borrow some of his vitality!"

The red fox seemed to crave it, hurriedly revealing its true form, standing upright by the roadside.

Most spirits have the knack for sealing fates.

This is a form of forging connections.

Whether the connection is benevolent or malevolent depends entirely on fate.

Once, a woodcutter in the mountains encountered a giant python and casually said, "You've grown horns, like a true dragon."

Unexpectedly, he sealed the python as a dragon, helping it successfully overcome its tribulation.

There was also a time when someone met a weasel in the middle of the night, respectfully asking if it looked human.

If replied "looks like," it could smoothly transform.

If replied "doesn't look like," it would easily concoct enmity and trouble.

When the footsteps were near, the red fox suddenly leapt out, blocking the man in his path.

"You... oh dear!"

Opposite stood a scruffy-bearded man in a cyan robe.

Glancing at those dagger-like eyes.

The red fox felt its blood turn cold halfway through, its two fluffy tails puffed up, appearing frozen stiff, stuck there.

"Familiar face."

Ninghai Zen reached out and grabbed a stream of air, detecting the mixed incense, dim blood aura, and weakened vitality, the composition quite complex.

"Coming from Black River County? I'm on my way back, talk about coincidence. Fate is truly beyond words!"