The Dragon Scale Armor Leaf clanged under the slap, but he paid it no mind. A grin split his face, revealing the sa rugged smile familiar from their escape across the Eight-Hundred-Mile Desolate River Ice-Plains. "Damn it! I thought so old monster from the Taoist Sect had co out of seclusion, but it was you all along!"
A rough hand suddenly clamped onto the back of Xu Yunfan’s neck. He lowered his voice. "Are you here to beco a disciple?"
Before Xu Yunfan could speak, Fang Mushan was already thumping his chest. "Don’t worry! With your Brother Fang here, you’ll absolutely get into the Taoist Sect today. That Elder Bi was a real piece of work, not taking you with him back then. But now you’ve crossed mountains and waded rivers to get here, showing your sincerity. Even if your aptitude isn’t up to snuff, the Taoist Sect will take you for your sheer tenacity."
Xu Yunfan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I already have a master. I’m a disciple of the Celestial Craft Cave now."
He knew Fang Mushan ant well. Upon seeing him, his friend had naturally assud Xu Yunfan had co seeking their help. Given the life-and-death bond the three of them shared, Fang Mushan would spare no effort.
Back on the Eight-Hundred-Mile Desolate River Ice-Plains, Xu Yunfan had helped him on many occasions, a debt he had never forgotten.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been constantly muttering to Bi Sheng, complaining about how they’d failed to bring Xu Yunfan back with them.
At his words, Fang Mushan’s eyes widened. "What? The Celestial Craft Cave?"
He scratched his head and turned to Li Haomiao. "Old Li, what kind of sect is that? How’s it compare to the Taoist Sect?"
Li Haomiao was in the middle of chugging wine, head tilted back. His wrist froze at the question, and amber liquor trickled down from his chin.
He wiped his mouth and shot Xu Yunfan a sidelong glance. "It’s a second-rate sect that specializes in casting weapons and artifact refining. Their strongest expert, Hong Baichuan, is rely at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm. So ti ago, the Celestial Craft Cave transford Celestial Craft City into the Celestial Craft Fortress, which shocked the entire Mortal World for a good while. That sect... isn’t half bad, actually."
Reunited with an old friend with whom he shared a life-and-death bond, his mood naturally lightened considerably.
When the Celestial Craft Fortress relocated, it passed through the lands of two provinces and caused a huge stir. Many curious Rangers followed it nearly the whole way, so of course the Taoist Sect knew about it.
"The Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm?!"
Fang Mushan’s voice suddenly shot up, so loud it shook the dewdrops from the pine branches, which ca rustling down.
He grabbed Xu Yunfan, his voice filled with anguish. "Brother, what were you thinking?!"
His rough finger jabbed at the Dragon Scale Armor on Xu Yunfan’s chest. "With your skills, you’d be more than qualified to be an Inner Sect Disciple in the Taoist Sect! To run off to the Celestial Craft Cave and... wait, what? You’re a True Disciple at the Celestial Craft Cave?!"
Fang Mushan’s voice rose again in disbelief. Though he was also called a True Disciple, his cultivation speed was dreadfully slow. Li Haomiao was on the verge of the Flesh Refining Realm, while he had only just entered the Outer Three Harmonies. If it weren’t for his exceptional aptitude and Innate Divine Strength, he probably wouldn’t even have a ranking on Divine Sky Peak.
Fang Mushan said, "Brother Xu, you’ve lost your mind! Even being a True Disciple there isn’t as good as being an Inner Sect Disciple in the Taoist Sect! Like Brother Li just said, the Celestial Craft Cave is a second-rate sect, and they just smith all day... Your martial arts training will be ruined!"
As he said this, Fang Mushan trailed off. His gaze fixed on the Red Fire Dragon-Swallowing Mace on Xu Yunfan’s back and the Dragon Scale Armor he wore, and he hesitated.
"Brother Xu, this armor..."
"It’s Dragon Scale Armor, a Divine Weapon. My master gave it to specifically!"
"What?!"
This ti, Fang Mushan’s expression changed completely. He truly hadn’t expected the Celestial Craft Cave to be so generous as to hand out a Divine Weapon.
Even though he and Li Haomiao had joined the Taoist Sect, he still didn’t have a decent weapon. The Coiling Dragon Spear on his back was one he had to spend a fortune on at the Taoist Sect’s Weapon Casting Hall.
After a mont of silence, Fang Mushan tried a different, more earnest approach. "Brother Xu, the Celestial Craft Cave’s resources can’t be that good. I’m afraid your martial arts will be held back. Sure, you have a master, but where will you get your cultivation resources?"
Xu Yunfan said, "Oh, it’s because I’m now the number one True Disciple of the Celestial Craft Cave, so all the sect’s resources are being channeled to . I’m not too worried about them running short. As for things like Treasure Elixir Pills, the Celestial Craft Cave’s Weapon Casting Hall exports a lot of weapons, so many sects looking to buy Treasure Weapon Blades are more than willing to trade valuable elixirs for them.
And on top of that, I can now forge Sharp Blade Level weapons myself..."
"What?!"
At that, Fang Mushan completely lost his composure and started shaking Xu Yunfan with both hands.
"You can forge Sharp Blade Level weapons?!"
Shaken until he was dizzy, Xu Yunfan gave a wry smile. "Brother Fang, I..."
From the side, Li Haomiao comnted dryly, "Junior Brother Fang, it seems Brother Xu is doing far better than you are. Sotis, it’s better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix..."
Realizing he’d lost his composure, Fang Mushan’s face flushed red. He coughed dryly, cutting Li Haomiao off, and began counting on his fingers as he lectured Xu Yunfan.
"Do you have any idea how many ultimate skills are in the Daoist Scripture Pavilion? Ever heard of the Golden Locking Jade Twelve Formulas? Master it, and you can enter the Ninth Realm, ride the wind, and cross the Ruishui River! And the Taiyi Cyan Sky Sword Manual! A single slash can make a hundred ghosts wail!"
Growing more and more agitated, he suddenly lowered his voice and leaned in close. "If all else fails... I’ll give you half of the General Outline of Old Li’s Yellow Island Secret Manual, the Dragon Sparrow Bone Tempering Technique! No matter how good the Celestial Craft Cave is, its martial arts can’t possibly be as profound as the Taoist Sect’s, right?"
Seeming to have regained his confidence, Fang Mushan thumped his chest. "With my pull, that Elder Bi will absolutely have to agree to let you join."
Li Haomiao sprayed a mouthful of wine. "FANG! MU! SHAN!"
Xu Yunfan had to suppress his laughter so hard his shoulder plates were shaking.
But Fang Mushan thought he was wavering. Striking while the iron was hot, he pulled a greasy-looking token from his robes. "See this? A Daoist Order, bestowed by a Taoist Sect Elder! I got it for helping them slay a Huo Dou Demon Beast last year during the revival of the Primordial Spirits."
The token SLAPPED into Xu Yunfan’s palm. "I’ll use this token to guarantee your entry today. If Elder Bi dares to stand in the way..."
Xu Yunfan was genuinely touched. Fang Mushan might be reckless, but out in the world, soone in need would fight tooth and nail for that Daoist Order, starting at a price of 100,000 taels of Snowflake Silver. For him to just toss it out like that was a true testant to his loyalty.
"Brother Fang..."
Xu Yunfan finally found a chance to speak. With a light flick of his finger, he sent the token tumbling back into Fang Mushan’s robes. "My master has already imparted to the true inheritance of the Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hamr Technique..."
As he spoke, he suddenly ford his fingers into a "sword." A wisp of azure light shot from his fingertips, carving a three-inch-deep gash in the snow. It was none other than the heavy, wave-like Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength.
Fang Mushan’s jaw dropped so wide you could fit a goose egg in his mouth.
Li Haomiao’s pupils contracted. With a CRACK, a fissure split his wine jug. "Strength?!"
He stared blankly at Xu Yunfan, speaking one word at a ti.
"The Flesh Refining Realm?!"
"Not the Flesh Refining Realm," Xu Yunfan replied airily.
At his side, Fang Mushan’s expression relaxed. He laughed. "See? I told you. Yunfan’s aptitude is worse than mine. I’m still lingering in the Outer Three Harmonies, so how could he possibly have entered the Flesh Refining Realm? It must be a trump card his master gave him, sothing that lets him release a sudden burst of Powerful Qi..."
Xu Yunfan said quietly, "I’m in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm now."
*(Author’s Note: Sorry everyone, got back late from working overti today. I’ll post more tomorrow.)*
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