Chapter 28: The Realm Lord Returns

Ye Jiuyao gazed at the long sword suspended within the cauldron, his heart surging with excitement. Though he knew he would not fail, witnessing the successful forging still sent waves of exhilaration through him.

“Hmm, not bad. It’s a bit rough, but you’ll improve with practice. After all, it’s your first time…” Lian Wudi commented without even looking at the sword Ye Jiuyao had crafted. Suddenly, his words stopped abruptly.

His hands trembled as they touched the cauldron, his lips twitching, his expression unnatural, and his entire body quivered. Clearly, he sensed something extraordinary.

“This can’t be right. Forging a Yuan Weapon on the first attempt? Could I have sensed wrong…” Lian Wudi could hardly believe his own perceptions. Yet, the weapon floating in the cauldron emitted a pressure that made even the Yuan Weapons he had forged shudder in fear.

“Father Wudi, did I make a mistake?” Ye Jiuyao, clueless about the intricacies of the forging arts, saw Lian Wudi’s grim expression and assumed he had erred.

“No, no, you didn’t make a mistake. The mistake is mine! Why did I ever teach you…”

Lian Wudi infused his energy into the cauldron and took out the sword Ye Jiuyao had made. He tapped it lightly with his right hand; the blade rang with a metallic hum, and a fierce sword wind howled forth.

“A good sword, a good sword, a magnificent sword! The books in my study are yours to peruse as you wish—I must go!” Lian Wudi stroked the sword’s blade, repeated “good sword” three times, then abruptly turned and hurried away.

Ye Jiuyao was left bewildered. Hadn’t he just returned? Why leave so suddenly? But he didn’t dwell on it, instead taking both swords from the cauldron to examine them closely.

After some time, Ye Jiuyao finally withdrew his gaze.

Lian Wudi, who had rushed out, went straight to find Lady Xuan, his face radiant with joy.

“Lady Xuan, how is Ye Jiuyao becoming more terrifying with each passing day? He used to dislike cultivation, and I never noticed anything special. Now, he’s forged a Yuan Weapon on his first attempt…”

“A Yuan Weapon! That’s a blade attuned to the mind, responding as naturally as one’s own limb…”

Lian Wudi was elated. Lady Xuan was initially puzzled, but when he mentioned “Yuan Weapon,” her lovely face was instantly struck with astonishment.

A Yuan Weapon was the pinnacle of forging—most weapons were mortal arms, suited for those unable to cultivate, followed by lower, middle, and upper tier arms, each representing a different standard.

It wasn’t so much that Yuan Weapons were powerful, but that a forger who could craft one had mastered fire, ore, and all other elements to perfection.

Normally, forging from mortal arms to lower tier weapons required over a decade of arduous practice, only after thoroughly understanding the principles could one hope to advance.

Any slight misstep, and the result would remain a mortal weapon rather than a lower tier one; the same held true for subsequent levels.

Yet Ye Jiuyao succeeded in a single attempt—how could Lian Wudi not be shocked, hence his urgent departure.

“This boy has always been gifted. Unfortunately, we are only temporary guardians here; otherwise, we would have cultivated him into someone stronger than ourselves…”

“Lady Xuan, don’t forget who the boy really is…”

“Lian Wudi, mind your words, lest you risk your very life!” Lady Xuan hurriedly stopped him, her face pale with fear. Lian Wudi realized he had nearly committed a grave mistake and immediately fell silent.

After a pause, the two resumed their discussion about Ye Jiuyao.

Meanwhile, Ye Jiuyao was already immersed in a sea of knowledge, tirelessly absorbing information as if possessed.

Outwardly, he still appeared to be sleeping soundly, but few knew he was inside the Canglang Diagram, desperately learning the art of forging.

When he finally awoke, seven days had passed.

“Ah… So tired, but finally I’ve finished learning. I’ll try again next time, though I still find arrays more interesting.” Ye Jiuyao woke leisurely, exhaustion on his face, but his eyes gleamed with brilliance, his whole body charged with boundless energy.

“There should be half a month left—enough time for you all to arm yourselves. When the time comes, I’ll crush him…”

Seeing night fall once more, Ye Jiuyao skipped supper, choosing to rest again to conserve his strength.

“You brat, get up! The Domain Lord is here again…” Ye Hanzhou launched a flying kick, his movements fluid and practiced, no longer as clumsy as before.

Ye Jiuyao yelped, rolling off the bed, his eyes drooping, his face full of resentment. If Ye Hanzhou weren’t his father, he would have beaten him into helplessness.

“Domain Lord, I’ve brought the boy.”

“Hmm.”

Ye Jiuyao remained drowsy, and if Ye Hanzhou weren’t supporting him, he would have collapsed to the floor.

“Ye Jiuyao, did you set up this Spirit Gathering Array?”

“Snore…”

Ye Jiuyao began to snore, having fallen asleep again. The Domain Lord of Central Heaven looked awkward; this was a first.

No, a second. Both times with the same person, yet he couldn’t scold or strike him, lest he be accused of bullying the young. Why was being Domain Lord so difficult?

“You brat, the Domain Lord is asking you.” Ye Hanzhou, acting on instinct, delivered another kick. Ye Jiuyao was speechless—was this really his father?

“Go ahead and ask, but let me say this first: if the question’s pointless, I won’t answer.”

“You…”

“Forget it—I’ve finally seen through this boy.” The Domain Lord of Central Heaven was genuinely at a loss, his face resigned as he spoke.

Ye Jiuyao, seeing the Domain Lord’s sincerity, nodded and replied, “Your cultivation’s decent, and your attitude’s not bad. Have you considered joining the Great Zhou? I could help you break through to the late Comprehension Stage—if I’m in the mood, it’s entirely possible…”

“…”

Ye Hanzhou and the Domain Lord of Central Heaven were both speechless; their expressions shifted wildly with his words.

“Did you really set up this Spirit Gathering Array? It doesn’t seem like anything from our mortal world.”

“Of course not—it’s hardly mortal. You should consider who you’re dealing with: someone who single-handedly fought hundreds of Condensation Stage cultivators.”

“Get lost!”

Ye Hanzhou could endure no longer, delivering another kick, but Ye Jiuyao instinctively countered, his right hand bursting with energy to rebound the blow.

“You’ve broken through again?”

“Mid Condensation Stage. Strange? If I hadn’t been sleeping…”

“Enough of your nonsense!”

Unable to tolerate Ye Jiuyao’s swagger any longer, the Domain Lord of Central Heaven unleashed overwhelming pressure.

“If you dare, I’ll make sure Great Zhou abstains, and your reputation will be ruined.”

“My father can hit me—you cannot!”

Ye Jiuyao suddenly shed his sleepy demeanor, his eyes flashing with chilling intensity as he stared directly at the Domain Lord.

In an instant, the Domain Lord was caught off guard, unable to decide whether to press his aura or withdraw it. The people of Great Zhou rushed over, their faces brimming with anger as they glared at him.