Chapter 122: Sword Embryo

　　Li Chunyang said, “Thousand Treasures Trade Fair only accepts Primordial Stones or barter. I will exchange Primordial Stones in large quantities during these days.”

　　Zhang Qingfan added, “I still have a lot of Primordial Stones. I’ll lend them to Young Master Yun if needed.”

　　Yunxiao casually took off his ring and gave it to Li Chunyang. “Exchange everything inside into Primordial Stones. Master Zhang, I plan to refine my sword Blackgirl, and I need to borrow an alchemy chamber.”

　　His eyes lighting up, Zhang Qingfan said hurriedly, “The best alchemy chamber in Tianshui is owned by the alchemist association. I’ll inform Xu Han right now.”

　　To them, watching Yunxiao refine something was not only a visual enjoyment, but also an opportunity to learn something new. Such an opportunity was rare and could not be asked for.

　　Yunxiao laughed and said, “I’ll go with you then.”

　　After they left, Li Chunyang sent his divine sense into the ring. What he saw turned his mind completely blank, and he almost fainted. The amount of wealth inside was beyond his imagination. They were things Yunxiao looted from various cities and won from Sun Zhengzong. All the useful things had been separated by him, and these were all useless to him. Even without the Thousand Treasures Trade Fair, he would still exchange them all for Primordial Stones.

　　Soon, the whole Li Family began busy purchasing and exchanging Primordial Stones, which directly caused the price of Primordial Stones in the capital to jump by at least threefold.

　　In the alchemist association, when Xu Han heard that Yunxiao was coming to refine a sword, he immediately jumped out of his seclusion. Lu Yao had just moved all the documents that needed to be settled urgently but had been piled up for some time into his room, but in the next instant, they were all throw out of the windows by him as he even ordered, “Do not let anyone disturb us even if the sky is falling!”

　　That frightened Lu Yao, because she had never seen him so fierce. But, when she saw Yunxiao walk into an alchemy chamber with a smile, she immediately understood what had happened.

　　Yunxiao took out Blackgirl and observed it for some time, then began to ponder carefully. Both Zhang Qingfan and Xu Han stood excitedly to the side as they held their breath and watched him without blinking their eyes.

　　“The array of one-hundredfold gravitational force can be used as a surprise attack when the opponent is a Great Martial Master, but it will be completely useless when I’m against a Martial Lord. I guess it can be removed.”

　　After murmuring to himself, Yunxiao threw the sword into the air and crushed a superior-grade Primordial Stone with his hand before blasting it out with his Primordial Qi. The powder kindled and turned into a stream of fire, completely enveloping the sword and tempering it.

　　With the arrays and various seals wiped away, the sword turned into a long black bar. Then, Yunxiao began taking all kinds of materials out of his ring and adding them to it while throwing out various hand seals to fuse them together.

　　Zhang Qingfan and Xu Han’s eyes grew wide, and their hearts were filled with shock. “Is Young Master Yun trying to refine a first-tier mystic weapon directly to third-tier, skipping a tier? Can this be even done?”

　　Both men exchanged a look in terror, and then they smiled wryly at the same time. Almost every time Yunxiao refined something, he broke their common sense, and they were starting to almost get used to it. Shaking their heads, they continued to watch attentively.

　　Very soon, the sword was completely tempered, turning flat and thin and looking like a normal sword. The sword embryo’s surface rippled with streaks of light, which showed that it was sentient and forging itself by absorbing the surrounding power.

　　Yunxiao’s hands flashed with various incantation gestures. Under the effect of the formations in the chamber, the surrounding Primordial Qi turned corporeal like Qi dragons as they poured into the sword. Finally, after he had fused a third-tier Steel Soul Stone with the blade, he said, “It’s done.”

　　Meanwhile, the sword fell from mid-air and stabbed into the floor with a clang.

　　Zhang Qingfan and Xu Han exchanged a look, their faces puzzled. After they confirmed he was really done, they walked up and pulled the sword out, studying it carefully. Unable to contain his doubt, Zhang Qingfan asked, “Young Master Yun, although this sword is extremely sharp and full of spirits, I have a feeling that it lacks something. Since you didn’t use the sword condensing incantation gesture, the refining is not complete yet, right?”

　　Yunxiao smiled and said, “It is only a sword embryo for now. I wanted to refine a third-tier mystic weapon, but when I heard you say the Thousand Treasures Trade Fair is just a few days away, I changed my mind. I want to see if I can find some good things to refine it into a pseudo-fourth-tier mystic weapon.”

　　“A sword embryo?” Xu Han was shocked. “Wouldn’t such intermittent refining damage the spirituality of the sword?”

　　Yunxiao lightly tapped the sword embryo with a finger as he chuckled and said, “Indeed, the refining needs to be done in one go if you are refining within the same tier. This is a third-tier sword embryo, and I will make it into a pseudo-fourth-tier, which means it will increase by half a tier, so its spirituality will not be damaged.”

　　Zhang Qingfan said, “Young Master Yun, why don’t you give us this sword embryo and let us refine it for you? Both of us are, after all, genuine fourth-tier alchemists. As long as Young Master Yun can guide us, we will definitely refine a true fourth-tier mystic weapon that satisfies Young Master Yun.”

　　Xu Han, too, looked expectant. It was extremely difficult, if not impossible, for common people to ask both of them to refine something. But now, they were offering help to Yunxiao, because they would make new breakthroughs each time they got his advice.

　　“There’s no need. The mystic weapon refined by myself is more comfortable to use. Moreover, with my current strength, I can’t fully utilize the power of a fourth-tier mystic weapon.”

　　Yunxiao’s answer disappointed both masters, so he smiled and said, “But, when I refine it, I hope both of you can assist me. We can discuss it together.”

　　Hearing that, they agreed to it happily.

　　…

　　Had it not been because of the Thousand Treasures Trade Fair, Yunxiao had no interest in visiting Yanwu at all. After having a long talk with Qin Yue in the imperial palace, he packed his things and was ready to leave for the city.

　　Initially, he planned to bring only a few people with him and leave quietly. But, on the day of setting out, he found that the whole capital was hung with lanterns and beautifully decorated, and people were packed the sides of the streets to see him off. Qin Yue even led all the courtiers to bid him farewell at the city gates.

　　‘Since you are not fond of the power and honor in the secular world, I’ll give you aplenty, showering you with courtesies and favors.’ Looking at the chariot approaching from the distance, Qin Yue felt relaxed and relieved.

　　Even if he gave the whole Tianshui to Yunxiao, the latter would not want it, let alone a mere city of Yanwu. On the day the army returned and he was made the crown prince, Qin Yue finally understood the gap between the secular power and those who pursued martial arts and alchemy. He could only be an emperor on the earth, but these people would soar over the clouds in the sky.

　　“Young Master Yun, I wish you a safe and smooth journey to Yanwu.” Qin Yue proposed a toast and downed the wine in his cup.

　　Yunxiao patted him on the shoulder as he chuckled and said, “I hope you will be a good emperor.”

　　Qin Yue laughed, then pointed at a row of State Guardians behind him and said, “I afraid that you do not have enough manpower in Yanwu, so I’ve ordered them to follow you. You can send them back when you no longer need them.”

　　“The commander of the first unit of the State Guardians, Yian, offers greetings, Young Master Yun!” A middle-aged man stepped out the rank and bowed.

　　Yunxiao glanced at him and found that he was a peak nine-stars Great Martial Master. On the day Qin Yue was made the crown prince, Gao Feng was arrested and put in jail. Hence, Yian was promoted to replace him.

　　Yunxiao was about to reject when he heard Xiao Qingwang say, “Bring him, he’s a good lad.”

　　Because they needed to continue their treatment, Xiao Qingwang and Chen Dasheng followed Yunxiao, as Luo Yunshang was with him. Li Chunyang and Li Changfeng had nothing to do in the capital, so they were in the party as well. Of course, Yunshang’s loyal fans, Chen Zhen and Han Bai, were among them as well. Almost all the high-end fighting forces of Tianshui were here.

　　Looking at Bai Mou, who was standing behind Qin Yue, Xiao Qingwang smiled and said, “Your Majesty, Bai Mou is one of the two most beautiful ladies in State Guardians. Since she has decided to follow you, please take good care of her.”

　　Although Bai Mou’s face was veiled with a thin satin, everyone could see her face blush, which made her look even more charming.

　　Qin Yue roared with laughter. “I’ll not disappoint you!”

　　With a hint of a smile in his eyes, Yunxiao said meaningfully, “Bai Mou’s cultivation of divination arts has just reached the white-tier, so remember to not use it at will. Otherwise, the backlash you suffer when you meet an expert will break all your meridians and even turn you into a cripple. If I remember correctly, the fifth elder of your sect is a cripple because she had performed divination on some expert.”

　　Bai Mou’s face fell as her pupils turned blank and spiritless, and her eyes were filled with shock and terror. Yunxiao knew she had performed divination on him! And not only that, he even guessed out her sect! And what horrified her the most was that he knew the secrets within her sect!

　　The fifth elder rarely showed herself in the public. Although her status was high, it was said in private that she was a cripple who did not have any cultivation base. Bai Mou was just a little disciple in the sect, but she, too, had heard many rumors about the fifth elder. Some said she was amazingly gifted and was supposed to be the next sect leader, but her arrogance made her overreach herself and perform divination on someone she should not have, which turned her into what she was today. Bai Mou did not know about the details, but she did not expect Yunxiao to mention it. And judging from his tone, he seemed to know the details of that incident.

　　How did he know that? Who exactly was he? Bai Mou’s mind was completely blank.

　　Qin Yue’s expression changed drastically as well. His eyes flashed with a nervous look as he said hurriedly, “Young Master Yun, don’t blame Bai Mou! I made her do it! This…”

　　“I know, you don’t have to explain.” Yunxiao patted him on the shoulder as he smiled and said, “If I were you, I would do the same. It’s good that you understand my stance. There will be no conflict between us at all. In fact, after I’ve helped you ascend the throne, I believe our interaction will be rare in the future.”

　　Qin Yue heaved a sigh of relief in his heart, but he felt a little sad at the same time. As the monarch of a state, he actually envied Yunxiao at this moment. No matter how high had he climbed, he would always be a dragon on the earth. But, Yunxiao would be a dragon who soared in the sky.

　　“I will always welcome you back, and you will always be Tianshui’s King of Wucheng!”

　　“King of Wucheng!”

　　“King of Wucheng!”

　　Above and below the city gate, the courtiers and common people cheered.

　　Yunxiao chuckled as he waved, and in the envious eyes of all the courtiers, he left the capital with the others.