Chương 27: This Disciple Is Terrified of Dying!

"Master, what exactly is the Sword-Casting Manor?" Su Zhe asked immediately whenever he didn't understand something. The world's productivity was painfully low. Unlike his previous life, there was no internet—no endless stream of information at one's fingertips. As a result, news traveled slowly, and knowledge remained highly localized. Su Zhe had only been with the Blacksmiths' Guild for a little over a month.

He hadn't even figured out all the power structures within Lu County, let alone some distant force called the Sword-Casting Manor.

"You should know that Lu County is one of eighteen counties under the jurisdiction of Tang Prefecture."

"The Sword-Casting Manor is the strongest sect in the entire prefecture. The Prefect changes every three years, but the Sword-Casting Manor has stood for over a thousand years. Even the Prefect must consider its wishes before taking action."

"The Great Qian Dynasty rules through martial power. It was founded by martial power. Yet the Nine Provinces are governed jointly by the imperial court and the great sects."

"A small organization like our Blacksmiths' Guild naturally depends on the Sword-Casting Manor. Every year, we receive one recommendation slot. You have the potential to qualify. If you can enter the Sword-Casting Manor, your future will soar."

"Our guild's reputation would rise as well, strengthening our position. As long as you remain standing, the River Transport Guild won't have a chance to surpass us." Sun Tiexin clearly valued this disciple greatly and patiently explained the Manor's influence. The more Su Zhe listened, the more astonished he became. According to Sun Tiexin, the three leaders of the Blacksmiths' Guild were all peak Third-Rank martial artists.

Yet they lacked a true high-grade cultivation art and therefore could not break into the Fourth Rank. The Sword-Casting Manor, however, was filled with experts. There were thousands of Fourth-Rank cultivators and above. Its greatest masters had already reached the Seventh Rank—a realm so profound that they had transcended ordinary human understanding. To common people, their abilities seemed little different from immortals. Any one of them could wipe out the entire Blacksmiths' Guild without difficulty.

That was why every faction in Lu County desperately sought opportunities for their disciples to enter the Sword-Casting Manor. The Manor's disciple selection process placed overwhelming emphasis on innate talent. Anyone below Grade-A aptitude wasn't even considered. Under normal circumstances, Su Zhe would never have had such an opportunity. But there was one exception. An unwritten rule. If someone possessed truly heaven-defying talent in the Crafting Path, the aptitude requirement could be waived entirely.

Crafting talent was a vague and mystical concept—not nearly as easy to measure as innate aptitude. The Sword-Casting Manor therefore established a practical benchmark: A genius craftsman had to forge a usable weapon on their very first attempt. Su Zhe matched that requirement perfectly.

"This... this is too much of a coincidence..."

"They value weapon smiths that highly?" Su Zhe couldn't help taking a sharp breath. Sun Tiexin shook his head.

"I don't know the Manor's true intentions. The Sword-Casting Manor is far beyond the Blacksmiths' Guild. As the ruling sect of Tang Prefecture, it commands tens of thousands of Black-Armored Sword Guards."

"If you enter the Manor, you'll be allowed to recommend a Third-Rank martial artist for the Black-Armored Sword Guards." Stolen novel; please report.

"The Manor can then grant them a Treasure Art and help them advance to the Fourth Rank." He snorted coldly.

"Hmph! That sickly cat has been planning exactly that. Before that brat Yu Yi even joined, the two of them were already getting cozy. Don't think I haven't noticed." Yu Yi... Wang Shan... After spending some time in the Artisan Heart Hall, Su Zhe naturally understood who the "sickly cat" was. It was the person Sun Tiexin cursed about almost daily: Wang Shan, one of the three giants of the Blacksmiths' Guild and Hall Master of the Army-Breaking Hall.

Thanks to Sun Tiexin's explanation, everything suddenly made sense. Yu Yi's Grade-A aptitude wasn't merely talent. It represented Wang Shan's chance to reach the Fourth Rank.

"The path to the Fourth Rank... a Treasure Art..." Su Zhe exhaled slowly.

"Could Huang Mazi's mysterious patron really be Wang Shan?"

"The Flood Dragon Sea-Entering Art may be incomplete, but it's still a Treasure Art capable of leading someone into the Fourth Rank." The realization sent a chill down his spine. Without even realizing it, he had already become entangled in a conflict with one of the three most powerful figures in the guild. A sense of danger settled heavily in his heart.

"I thought the Artisan Heart Hall had no chance this year. Then a freak like you appeared."

"Don't worry. As long as there's even the slightest opportunity, I won't let you be treated unfairly."

"We have to fight for this chance at the Sword-Casting Manor." Sun Tiexin looked at him with burning determination. Su Zhe immediately bowed.

"If this disciple enters the Sword-Casting Manor, I will certainly seek an opportunity for Master to advance to the Fourth Rank." To his surprise, Sun Tiexin waved dismissively.

"Fourth Rank? I don't care about that."

"I'm a Third-Rank martial artist, but I'm also a peak Third-Rank Master Craftsman."

"No matter where I go, my status isn't lower than that of a Fourth-Rank martial artist."

"Your Senior Brother Xiao also possessed Grade-A aptitude. He once had a chance to enter the Sword-Casting Manor, but his character was lacking. The Manor ultimately chose someone else."

"This year, both the River Transport Guild's candidate and Yu Yi are even more talented than your Senior Brother Xiao was."

"If you get the opportunity, then fight for it. If not, let it go."

"No matter what choice you make, I'll support you with everything I have."

"My only requirement..."

"The Crafting Path must never be abandoned." As he spoke those final words, Sun Tiexin's expression grew unusually serious. To him, the Crafting Path seemed even more important than the Sword-Casting Manor itself. Su Zhe nodded firmly.

"The Crafting Path is already this disciple's lifelong pursuit. I would never forget my roots." Having lived two lives, Su Zhe was highly perceptive. He could tell that this powerful master carried secrets of his own. Wang Shan pursued everything for the sake of reaching the Fourth Rank. Sun Tiexin, however, seemed strangely indifferent toward pure martial advancement. Instead, he cared deeply about preserving the Crafting Path. Still, Su Zhe wasn't the type to pry into other people's secrets. At least for now.

Sun Tiexin had treated him exceptionally well. That alone was enough. As for the Flood Dragon Art, the more Su Zhe learned, the more he realized how significant it was. Because of that, he became even more determined to keep it hidden—even from his own master.

"Come."

"Today I'll teach you the killing techniques of the Savage Bull Art and grant you a Third-Rank mortal weapon." Sun Tiexin stood.

"Master, this disciple has a request." Su Zhe spoke up quickly. His request was simple. He wanted Sun Tiexin's help purchasing a residence within Lu County. One that was secure and discreet. Sun Tiexin barely thought twice about it. Naturally, Su Zhe intended to bring his uncle and aunt to live there. For a martial artist, nothing was more important than personal strength—except the safety of one's family. In the end, Sun Tiexin sold him a residence located directly beside the Sun Estate.

When he originally purchased the estate, he'd wanted peace and quiet, so he'd simply bought most of the neighboring properties as well. After serving as Hall Master of Artisan Heart Hall for so many years, Sun Tiexin had earned the gratitude of countless martial artists. As a result, the Sun Estate possessed far greater defensive strength than any ordinary residence. If Su Zhe's relatives lived next door, the Sun Estate could protect them immediately if danger arose.

There was even a concealed passage connecting the properties. The Sun Estate was practically impregnable. Even a Third-Rank martial artist would struggle to infiltrate it unnoticed. As for the price, Sun Tiexin hardly cared about money. He symbolically charged Su Zhe one hundred taels of silver. The property itself was worth more than three hundred taels. The protection of the Sun Estate was priceless. Su Zhe had obtained a tremendous bargain. Master doesn't realize that not everyone is as wealthy as he is...

After buying this place, I only have eight taels of gold and one hundred taels of silver left. I'm practically broke! Naturally, he kept those thoughts to himself. After all, Sun Tiexin had already helped him more than enough. The old master then taught Su Zhe the combat techniques of the Savage Bull Art. Thanks to his unique cheat-like ability, Su Zhe had already mastered most of the techniques beforehand. Afterward, Sun Tiexin brought him to select a Third-Rank weapon. The Artisan Heart Hall Armory.

This was where the hall stored its martial weapons. The two headed directly to the third floor. Along the way, Sun Tiexin explained:"Third-Rank mortal weapons are already quite powerful. Once a weapon reaches the Fourth Rank, it becomes a Treasure Weapon and gains inscribed spirit runes."

"Given your current situation, you could choose a warhammer personally forged by me. Your combat strength would increase dramatically."

"Of course, the decision is yours."

"What kind of weapon do you want?" Su Zhe thought for a moment before answering firmly:"Armor."

"Master, I would like an inner armor."

"Inner armor?" Sun Tiexin raised an eyebrow.

"You don't want a warhammer? You want armor instead? Why?" Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Su Zhe replied:"This disciple rarely fights anyone."

"A warhammer is certainly powerful, but it doesn't help me much."

"An inner armor can save my life when danger comes unexpectedly."

"This disciple..." He paused before speaking with complete sincerity.

"... is extremely afraid of dying." Yes. Su Zhe was afraid of death. Especially now that he possessed a Treasure Art like the Flood Dragon Art. He was absolutely terrified of dying.