Chapter 16: Treatment at the Dojo! Elementary Blacksmithing!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“It’s all thanks to Qin Huai that the Luo family’s bloodline is preserved.”

In the Luo residence, Father Luo hosted a banquet for Qin Huai at noon. He sat in the main seat, and on his left was a beautiful woman in elegant clothes. On her right was Luo Ya, and next to her was Qin Huai, who had changed into clean clothes.

He washed his face and had his hair cut by the craftsmen in the Luo residence. Now, he had delicate features and was no longer as dark as he was a year ago. Even if he was only wearing a plain robe, he had the air of a young master.

“I really didn’t expect you to be able to slaughter the Blackhawk Gang all by yourself. I even said that I would give you the entire Luo mansion if you could do it.” Luo Fei laughed. “What a pity. The world is too chaotic now. My Luo mansion is not worth much.”

As Luo Fei drank his wine, he began to stray from the topic. “Now, the disaster of the demons has affected sixteen states. Fertile land has been destroyed, and the territory has melted. Many of the people in the villages and towns below don’t even have clothes, much less food.”

Qin Huai was silent. These were all facts.

The inflation of prices in Pingnan City was also caused by the demon disaster and the turmoil of various forces.

“Recently, there have been rumors from the martial arts centers that traces of demons have been discovered a hundred li away from Pingnan City. In the future, even ordinary cultivators won’t be able to live a stable life.

“In this world, one can only survive by constantly advancing to higher realms. In Pingnan City, martial arts represent the eight major martial arts centers.” Luo Fei’s expression was solemn, and he looked at Qin Huai with a profound look.

Qin Huai’s heart jolted. If traces of demons were discovered a hundred miles away, it meant that they could appear in Pingnan City at any time. Given his current strength, if he were to go up against Reihom’s demon pig, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Uncle Bai, why don’t you tell Senior Brother about the rules of the dojo?” Luo Ya shook Bai You’s hand. “Anyway, didn’t we already get the spot for the small test?”

“Yes, yes, yes! I almost forgot about the important thing. Bai You was a brilliant disciple from the Thunderbolt Dojo in his early years!” Luo Fei complimented with a smile.

“What brilliant disciple? I’m just an abandoned disciple.” Bai You waved his hand, but there was still a flash of arrogance between his brows.

“However, the young miss is wrong about one thing. Just because we have the quota, it doesn’t mean that Little Brother Qin Huai has already entered the dojo.

“There are two ways to enter the dojo. The first is to pay 50 taels of silver to the eight martial arts centers to test your root bone, check your Qi and blood, and test your talent. If you can enter the sect within three months, you’ll be considered to have entered.

“There’s another way. If you want to enter the dojo, you’ll have to take the test. We call it a small test. Compared to those without cultivation, the test also requires someone in the dojo to recite it.

“But no matter what, it all depends on innate ability and talent.” Bai You’s eyes were filled with reminiscence, as if he had returned to the past.

“The tokens of Changshan Dojo and the Tyrant Fist Dojo are valuable then.” Qin Huai suddenly realized.

Bai You nodded. “It’s also a kind of memorization. However, according to Miss, this token should allow you to enter the dojo directly and become an apprentice. After all, you’re in the limelight now. I’ll get a good impression of you if I accept you. But the test of innate ability, talent, and vitality strength should be an indispensable test.”

After lunch, Qin Huai was quietly taken to a corner by the beautiful woman, Yu Xin.

“Madam, I can’t do this!” Qin Huai was stunned as he looked at the silver notes that Yu Xin stuffed into his hands.

It was a total of two hundred taels. Even if he was a second-refinement martial artist now, it would still take a long time to return the money.

“If there’s a problem in the small test, give 200 taels to the main examiner, and you’ll probably pass.” Yu Xin wanted to provide Qin Huai with a layer of insurance.

“I don’t even know how to repay such a great favor.” Qin Huai felt that it made sense, so he didn’t reject the money.

Yu Xin smiled, but her smile had a deeper meaning.

…

As soon as Yu Xin returned to her bedroom, she saw the father and daughter sitting upright, waiting for her.

“Mother, what did you say to Senior Brother just now?” Luo Ya pretended to be serious, and she even held a small leather whip in her hand.

“Of course, I’m going to tell you about how my precious daughter anxiously begged her father to save the person she loves last night,” Yu Xin retaliated.

Luo Ya’s face turned red, and she was speechless.

“Mother!” She was furious.

Yu Xin then explained the entire sequence of events.

“You only gave Senior Brother two hundred taels? What if it’s not enough?” Luo Ya was worried. This caused Luo Fei to feel a sense of melancholy.

“My dear, you really don’t know how expensive rice is. Even if your senior brother in the second refinement realm were to earn 200 taels of silver day and night, it would take almost a year. I think you really want me to give the Luo residence to your senior brother, don’t you?” Luo Fei was jealous.

“What?!” Luo Ya was speechless.

“However, this Qin Huai is not bad looking, and he is also loyal and righteous. He dared to attack the Blackhawk Gang for Ya’er. Also, he’s at the second refinement realm. He’s good enough to be her husband.”

“Most importantly, Ya’er likes him too.”

“Indeed. I’ll train his business skills in the future. In about three to five years, he’ll be able to take over the Luo family’s business.”

The couple chimed in. Their words were so shocking that Luo Ya, who was standing at the side, could not say anything but blush.

Was it so obvious that she liked her senior brother?

…

Both the Thunderbolt Dojo and the Changshan Dojo are in charge of the mines. Their disciples and apprentices earn money by mining and forging iron, in addition to collecting security fees from the families in Pingnan City.

The next day, Luo Fei led Qin Huai around his family’s blacksmith shop.

“Isn’t it a waste for martial artists to mine and forge iron?” Qin Huai was puzzled. “Besides, how can a martial artist not have resentment?”

Luo Fei chuckled. “Martial artists are more efficient, and the quality of refined iron forged by martial artists is higher. The thousand refined iron forged by them is several times better than the thousand refined iron forged by our blacksmith shop, so the price is naturally several times higher.

“If it weren’t for the scarcity of martial artists, the smithing business wouldn’t have fallen into our Luo family’s hands. Therefore, if these two martial arts centers recruit apprentices who know blacksmithing, it will definitely be a huge advantage.

“As for the grievous energy you mentioned, these two martial arts centers have been divided into different levels using the blacksmithing technique. Different levels can receive a lot of vitality soup and even vitality pills every month!”

‘Oh, soup and pills!’ Qin Huai’s eyes lit up when he heard those words.

The soup and pills could increase a martial artist’s qi and blood, and breaking through a supporting cultivation skill could also increase the effect of the qi and blood.

After drinking enough blood and Qi soup, it was equivalent to cultivating a technique. No cultivator could refuse such a condition.

In front of the blazing furnace, the clanging of iron hammers was heard. It was accompanied by a white experience ball that only Qin Huai could see.

Of course, Qin Huai didn’t reject them and picked them up.

“Ding! You have collected a [Smithing Skill Essence (White) ], [Smithing Skill] Experience +1.”

“Ding! You have collected a [Smithing Skill Essence (White) ], [Smithing Skill] Experience +2 ”

“Ding! You have collected a [Smithing Skill Essence (White) ], [Smithing Skill] Experience +1.”

The small test of the Thunderbolt Dojo would start in a few days. In the meantime, Qin Huai was waiting at the Luo residence.

Of course, he had not been idle these few days. He would go to the Luo family’s blacksmith shop every day to collect the smithing experience balls.

Qin Huai also took the opportunity to see the scale of the Luo family. There were seven medium-sized Luo family smithies in Pingnan City.

In just a few days, he had raised his blacksmithing skill to beginner (43/200).

On this day, Qin Huai finally received the notice of the small test at the Thunderbolt Dojo. He took the token given by Luo Fei and followed the map all the way out of the city from the north gate.

Although the eight martial arts centers were all built outside the city, they were not far from each other. After all, their daily needs, desires, and the families of many disciples were all in the city.

The eight Martial Arts Centers were also the first city wall of Pingnan City. The two complemented each other.

After some time, Qin Huai found a valley, and he looked down. The continuous stretches of wooden buildings were connected vertically and horizontally, spread out in the wilderness of the valley.

The stone tablet in front of him had the words “Thunderbolt Dojo” on it. It was vigorous, powerful, and domineering.

“It’s like a small city,” Qin Huai was shocked. This martial arts center was one-tenth the size of Pingnan City.

He quickly walked down and was stopped by someone. After showing the token, he was brought into this ‘wooden city’.

Qin Huai was then brought to a large hall. There were two middle-aged men with waistbands sitting in the hall.

There were a total of ten people who participated in the test with him. Some were dressed like hunters, some had the air of bandits, and there was even one who was wearing strange animal skins.

In any case, other than Qin Huai, none of them looked like they were from the city. This was probably the so-called rogue cultivator.

“Come in.” The two middle-aged men didn’t waste any words and walked to the left and right sides of the hall.

Qin Huai was the last to enter. He looked at the people walking in and out of the building. There were some disappointed, some happy, and some expressionless faces.

Finally, it was his turn. When Qin Huai walked in, there was only a table and a chair in the side hall.

There were two blood-colored stones on the table. One was the size of an egg, while the other was about the size of a goose egg.

The one sitting on the chair was the main examiner, Gu He. He smiled and waved at Qin Huai.

Then, a pair of hands pinched Qin Huai’s hand bones and moved up.

Gu He’s brows were tightly locked together. He shook his head after he touched it, and only a polite smile remained on his face.

‘His root bone is too weak. He has almost no talent for cultivation.’