Chương 61: The Three-Spirit Refining Flame, the Greatest Fortune of the Sect

Hearing Su Zhe's answer, Sun Tiexin looked fairly satisfied.

"You're good in every way," he said, "but you're missing something—a warrior's ruthlessness." Su Zhe was momentarily speechless. He had, in secret, killed dozens of people already. Yet in his master's eyes, he was still "lacking the aura of killing intent." That's just unfair. Where was he supposed to complain about this?

"I'm still young, Master. I haven't seen enough of the world," Su Zhe said calmly.

"I can't compare to you—decisive, merciless, truly the embodiment of a real man." He deployed his signature technique —flattery. Sun Tiexin went silent for a moment, then snorted through his nose.

"Cut that nonsense." But his tone had clearly lifted, carrying a trace of smug satisfaction. Flattery never fails. Ever. That truth held everywhere. The outer hall of the Blacksmith Hall was dominated by the forging workshop. To the right, a corridor led deeper into the rear section of the hall. Su Zhe had been there before. It was the ancestral shrine of the Blacksmith Hall. Inside were spirit tablets, incense burners, candle stands—everything properly arranged.

On the main tablet was written:"Ancestor of the Blacksmith Lineage." Su Zhe had once come here to pay his respects after joining.

"Master, why are we here?" Su Zhe couldn't help but wonder. Thud! Sun Tiexin kicked him lightly.

"Burn incense." Su Zhe obediently took the incense stick. Master and disciple bowed three times toward the ancestral tablet. Heaven receives three bows, ghosts receive four. After the ritual, Sun Tiexin suddenly said:"Your uncle—he's only around thirty, right? In mortal terms, seventy is considered ancient. He hasn't even lived half of that." Su Zhe froze.

"…Huh?" Why bring that up all of a sudden? Then—like a bolt of lightning—understanding struck his mind. Those words he had once spoken to County Lieutenant Wang.

"My elders are foolish and muddle-headed…" Su Zhe's throat went dry.

"…Master, this—" He suddenly felt he had been far too careless. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Sun Tiexin—someone who had controlled the Ironsmith Guild of Luxian for so many years—could he really be as crude and simple-minded as he appeared? A person like him… was anything but simple. Trying to deceive someone like that was laughable.

"If it's inconvenient to say, then don't," Sun Tiexin said casually, waving a hand.

"Everyone has their secrets. I know that." He paused, then added with a grin:"You think I didn't consider anything when I had the Sun family protect your Su family?" Warmth rose in Su Zhe's heart. When he had first joined the Ironsmith Sect, he had been wary of this master. But after so long together, that caution had faded. The people of the Blacksmith Hall—master and senior brothers alike—had treated him with genuine sincerity. Even now, knowing he likely had secrets, Sun Tiexin chose not to pry. That trust…

At that moment, Sun Tiexin suddenly snorted coldly.

"County Lieutenant Wang… hmph!"

"The Ironsmith Guild guards are mostly from the Breaking Army Hall. Without Wang Shan's approval, that county officer wouldn't even have been allowed into the guild without reporting first."

"We would have had to decide whether to meet him."

"In my opinion, the Swordsmith Manor incident has stuck in Wang Shan's throat."

"Be careful. That man is capable of anything." Su Zhe shrugged lightly.

"With Master here, what do I have to fear?"

"Are you stupid?" Sun Tiexin retorted immediately.

"I'm about to leave the guild to hunt down cultists. I won't be here."

"If Wang Shan sends assassins for you, how would I reach you in time?" He tapped Su Zhe on the head.

"Don't worry. I've got some self-defense methods," Su Zhe said easily. With his current strength, he wasn't afraid of Wang Shan one-on-one. And if Wang Shan sent subordinates while trapped in Yandang Mountain—then they were just sending themselves to die. Sun Tiexin nodded slightly. He knew his disciple wasn't just talented—his ability to survive was top-tier as well.

"Still, I don't feel at ease. Come with me." He reached forward and pressed his hand against the incense burner. With a low mechanical rumble, the wall beside the shrine began to shift. A deep passageway slowly opened. Su Zhe's eyes widened. A hidden tunnel! So the old man had a backup plan all along! Whoever called Sun Tiexin a brute… Su Zhe would fight them. This wasn't a brute. This was a living Sima Yi. Master and disciple walked forward one after the other. The ancient passage was dim and deep.

As they advanced, night pearls embedded along the walls flickered into life, casting a cold glow over the corridor.

"East Sea night pearls… priceless treasures… and there are this many?"

"If I could take even one… I could immediately open my sixth spirit aperture after reaching Swordsmith Manor…" Su Zhe licked his lips unconsciously.

"Don't even think about it," Sun Tiexin said without turning around.

"These belong to the ancestors."

"If you dare touch them, I'll break your legs."

"You… do you have mind-reading powers, Master?" Su Zhe asked in shock.

"Hmph. When I came here with your grandmaster back then, I thought the same thing." … East Sea night pearls were treasures even the wealthiest families in Luxian could hardly obtain. A single pearl the size of a dragon's eye was worth over a hundred taels of gold. Yet here, they lined the passage densely. Hundreds at least. That was a mountain of gold. After weighing wealth against his legs, Su Zhe wisely chose survival.

"Just who exactly is the ancestor of this sect… to have accumulated such wealth?" he murmured.

"I don't know," Sun Tiexin replied bluntly. Soon, they arrived. Before them lay a vast underground platform. At its center stood a mysterious furnace engraved with ancient runes. Flames roared three feet high above it, suspended beneath a hanging golden lock. The black furnace was engraved with golden script, ancient and profound, surrounded by faint divine radiance.

Refining Flame Furnace Rank: Fourth-grade Treasure Weapon (Sealed) Description: A furnace once used by the Blacksmith Ancestor, containing his forging legacy. It is currently sealed and its power reduced. However, if activated through blood refinement, the seal may be gradually broken. Inside burns an eternal Three-Spirit Flame, capable of sustaining itself with internal energy infusion while tempering a martial artist's qi. Requirements: Melt the Profound Gold Lock.

Traits: Enhanced smithing comprehension Improved forging techniques Increased bone structure and talent Flame Tempering (Fourth-grade): Accelerates and refines internal energy Fire Immunity (Fourth-grade): Resistance to heat and flames Cold Resistance (Fourth-grade): Maintains warmth in extreme cold Special Effect: Unlocks ancestral forging techniques. Currently allows identification of treasure-grade materials. If unsealed, grants spirit-weapon refinement methods. Su Zhe's eyes lit up instantly.

Then he looked at the golden lock above it. Three-Spirit Inheritance Lock Description: A lock forged from Profound Gold. It has no supernatural ability, but contains the inheritance of blood refinement techniques. Blood refinement technique. Su Zhe's breathing quickened.

"So this is it… the ancestral blood refinement method?"

"If I condense essence blood and combine it with this technique from the Chaos Divine Cauldron, I could greatly enhance the power of my weapons!"

"It's actually here…" His eyes burned with excitement. He had always respected his master's dark, ruthless, scheming nature. But he hadn't expected— The old man had been holding back something this big all along.