Chương 90: The Linwu Ranking, Seven Northern Dipper Towers

Even after they could make out the outline of Sword-Forging Mountain City, the carriage still traveled for three full days and nights. The saying "a distant mountain can run a horse to death" really wasn't exaggerated at all. Fortunately, the horses of the Lu County Blacksmith Gang carried demonic beast bloodlines. When it came to long-distance travel, they were even fiercer than any thousand-li horse in the mortal world. Otherwise, they would have dropped dead long ago. They entered the city.

Black-armored riders stood guard outside the gates. Su Zhe and the other two took out their "travel permits." The travel permits in this world were somewhat different from those of the ancient times in his previous life. Because the Wu Dynasty and the sects governed the land together, places like Sword-Forging Mountain City, which were controlled by Zhujian Shanzhuang (Sword-Forging Manor), could also issue travel permits.

Without one, traveling all the way from Lu County to Sword-Forging Mountain City would inevitably lead to a round of interrogation. And if they could not prove they were engaged in proper, lawful work, the consequences would naturally be miserable. Once they entered the city, the three of them were like country bumpkins visiting a grand estate.

"Goodness… They say Sword-Forging Mountain City has a population of tens of millions and is a true giant city."

"Now that I'm seeing it for myself, that really seems to be the case." Yu Yi's eyes were full of shock as he muttered to himself. Rows upon rows of buildings stood tightly packed together. Every house was exquisitely decorated and full of character. If buildings of this standard were placed in the small mountain village where Yu Yi was registered, only the richest local squire in the village would have been qualified to build one.

"Are you gentlemen the prodigies from the Lu County Blacksmith Gang?" While the three were still looking around, a young servant came forward. He wore a felt hat and bowed respectfully to them.

"Prodigy is too much. May I ask who you are?" Su Zhe asked in confusion.

"This lowly one's surname is Wu, second in the family. The three young masters may simply call me Wu Er."

"My master manages Tianshu Tower."

"Rooms have already been prepared in Tianshu Tower for this year's disciple recruitment ceremony of Zhujian Shanzhuang."

"The three of you may follow me to Tianshu Tower to rest, conserve your strength, and then stun everyone at the recruitment ceremony three days from now!" The young servant Wu Er explained. Zhujian Shanzhuang's disciple recruitment ceremony was one of the grandest events in Sword-Forging Mountain City. It would be attended by geniuses from the eighteen counties, as well as the talented youths of the city's local clans.

This year, the recommendation quotas had even been opened up to all the various factions under its command. As long as one's innate talent reached Grade A, one could participate. Because of that, this year's ceremony was especially lively. According to Wu Er, there were seven inns prepared to receive these prodigies: Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang. Their names matched the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper. Su Zhe and the others had been arranged to stay at Tianshu Tower.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, brother." Su Zhe gave a light smile and had Wu Er lead the way. Wu Er nodded, then hesitated slightly. With a timid look, he asked,"May I ask… may I ask whether this young master is Su Zhe, Young Master Su, the dual genius of forging and martial arts from Lu County?" Xiao Xunhuan and Yu Yi both looked at Su Zhe in surprise. Xiao Xunhuan even teased him,"Little shidi, your name has actually spread all the way to Sword-Forging Mountain City. Tsk, tsk, tsk…"

Dual genius of forging and martial arts? Su Zhe was stunned. How come even he didn't know he had such a title? Su Zhe looked modestly at the servant and cupped his hands.

"You don't need to call me young master. Just call me Su Zhe." Wu Er led the horses while his eyes shone brightly, as if they were giving off light. He could hardly hide his excitement.

"It really is Young Master Su!"

"This is wonderful… If others find out that I once led Young Master Su's horse, they'll be green with envy…"

"When I went out today, that blind fortune-teller said it was my lucky day and that I would meet a noble person. I didn't believe him at first." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"But now that I look at it, that blind man really is half an immortal!" Su Zhe and the others couldn't help laughing.

"Wu Er, let me ask you. Is Su Zhe really that famous here?" Xiao Xunhuan asked Wu Er with great interest.

"Mm. In Sword-Forging Mountain City, the scholars and refined guests have always loved compiling all kinds of rankings."

"There are many Sword-Forging rankings, such as the Weapon Ranking, Rouge Ranking, Expert Ranking…"

"Right now, with Zhujian Shanzhuang's disciple recruitment ceremony about to begin, the hottest ranking is naturally the Linwu Ranking!" Su Zhe's brows moved slightly.

"The Linwu Ranking?" Wu Er nodded and explained,"The Linwu Ranking refers to young heroes like qilin, meaning the most competitive young talents in this ceremony."

"For someone like Young Master Su, with your great reputation, your body that transformed its innate talent, your genius in the path of forging, and the fact that Manor Lord Jade Body accepted you as a disciple in advance… you are ranked tenth on the Linwu Ranking."

"Everyone in the top ten has hope of taking one of this year's top three spots."

"The Seven Northern Dipper Towers compete with one another in secret too. If this year's top three come from Tianshu Tower, the old shopkeeper will gain a lot of face. He'll definitely receive a large reward from Zhujian Shanzhuang, and business next year will get even better!" Once Wu Er started talking, he couldn't stop. He explained everything in great detail to Su Zhe and the others. Su Zhe understood now.

These Seven Northern Dipper Towers were specifically used to host the martial artists participating in this disciple recruitment ceremony. They were somewhat similar to the "Passing Exam Inns" and "Imperial Scholar Inns" of ancient times in his previous life. If the martial artists staying under their roof achieved good results, the inn's reputation would naturally rise along with them. Su Zhe's eyes moved, and he said to Wu Er,"Those Sword-Forging rankings you mentioned just now—where are they sold?"

"Well… they're sold inside Tianshu Tower. Around ten taels of silver per book." Wu Er scratched the back of his head as he replied. Ten taels of silver per book? The three exchanged looks.

"Damn, that's expensive!" Yu Yi cursed inwardly. They had practiced martial arts diligently every day and had only barely managed to become people of some standing in Lu County. But here in Sword-Forging Mountain City, a single ranking booklet cost ten taels of silver. One had to know that ten taels of silver was enough for an ordinary household in Lu County to eat meat and fish for a year or more.

"Send me every ranking booklet you have. As many as there are. Su will take them all." Although Su Zhe felt a bit of pain in his wallet, he still spoke decisively.

"Right away!" Wu Er beamed. He was responsible for serving Su Zhe and the other two. The more the three of them spent, the more reward money Wu Er would receive from the shopkeeper. A person's name was like a tree's shadow. Although Lu County was a poor and remote place, Su Zhe's reputation was far too resounding, and he was also quite generous. Compared to the other two, he was far better by who knew how much.

Although Wu Er did not say it aloud, the way he looked at Yu Yi and Xiao Xunhuan had already grown somewhat indifferent. There was even a faint trace of looking down on them. … The three moved into Tianshu Tower.

"The dual genius of forging and martial arts from Lu County, Young Master Su Zhe, has arrived!"

"Yu Yi and Xiao Xunhuan of the Lu County Blacksmith Gang have arrived!" Wu Er placed the carriage in the stables and carefully fed the horses. The carriage driver from the Blacksmith Gang was arranged to stay in the drivers' quarters. For this disciple recruitment ceremony, those coming and going were all the top geniuses from the eighteen counties of Tang Prefecture. Naturally, every faction had also assigned carriage drivers.

However, which of these youths would successfully enter Zhujian Shanzhuang and which would return defeated was still uncertain. So these drivers had not left either. If anyone failed, the drivers would inevitably have to drive them back to their respective counties. Afterward, Wu Er led Su Zhe and the other two in through the main entrance of Tianshu Tower. As soon as they stepped inside, Wu Er raised his voice loudly and clearly, announcing the origins of Su Zhe and the others. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

"The dual genius of forging and martial arts! Su Zhe!"

"The disciple of the Ghost-Faced Child Matriarch, ranked tenth on the Linwu Ranking!"

"I heard this person had once-in-ten-thousand inferior innate talent, yet his cultivation is quite impressive! He can even forge peak third-grade mortal weapons! And he's only just past seventeen by nominal age!" The crowd immediately began discussing among themselves and gathering their attention on Su Zhe. Zhujian Shanzhuang's information on Su Zhe was rather delayed and still stuck around the time of the battle at Yandang Mountain. The current Su Zhe was unfathomable.

What they did not know was— If Su Zhe went all out, even the so-called top ranker on the Linwu Ranking would probably pale in comparison before him. Yu Yi and Xiao Xunhuan, meanwhile, looked rather embarrassed. Having come along with Yu Yi, the two of them had practically become little followers, transparent nobodies.

"I am Su Zhe. This is my first time in your esteemed city, so I hope everyone will look after me." Su Zhe remained modest and polite. He cupped his hands and bowed in all four directions. Many people in Tianshu Tower returned the greeting one after another. Then Wu Er led Su Zhe to the inn rooms. … Night fell. Su Zhe's room was already filled with all sorts of Sword-Forging rankings. According to Wu Er, the Rouge Ranking was the best seller.

It recorded all kinds of peerless beauties in Sword-Forging Mountain City and even included portraits of them. Food and lust were basic human nature. No matter the world, there would never be a shortage of simps. But after Su Zhe flipped through it once, he tossed it aside. This Rouge Ranking really couldn't compare to Xiao Xunhuan's copy of The Flower Monk Cultivates Joyful Zen. That one was basically an adult romance action film with illustrations.

"The Divine Weapon Ranking records peak spirit weapons, but no mystic weapons, much less any so-called Mystic Fortune Immortal Weapon." Su Zhe could not help frowning and sighing inwardly. After learning that Zhujian Shanzhuang possessed a Mystic Fortune Immortal Weapon, Su Zhe had been thinking about it constantly. Unfortunately, there was not even the slightest bit of information about it in these ranking booklets. Perhaps he would only be able to get some information after meeting Jade Body shifu.

Su Zhe sighed helplessly.

"I didn't expect you to be so good at enduring loneliness."

"The geniuses from the eighteen counties have just entered Mountain City. They're like birds freed from their cages, all out playing around the city."

"Yet you're here alone reading books. That's rather unusual." Behind Su Zhe came a gentle, warm laugh. Su Zhe rose and hurriedly bowed to the newcomer.

"Su Zhe greets True Disciple Li!" The person who had come was Su Zhe's old friend, Li Shanyun. After Su Zhe read the Rouge Ranking and the Prodigy Ranking, he also learned that Li Shanyun was one of Zhujian Shanzhuang's true disciples and ranked third among the beauties on the Rouge Ranking.

"How distant…" Li Shanyun leaned against the window, then dropped into the room. She said lazily,"Speak. Why did you call me here?"

"Ah, if Martial Uncle Jade Body hadn't told me to look after you a little, I really wouldn't have bothered coming. I'm a dignified true disciple, yet I'm running errands for you… If word gets out, people will laugh themselves silly!" Li Shanyun sounded helpless. When she left Lu County, Li Shanyun had left Su Zhe a special way to contact her. She told Su Zhe that after he entered Sword-Forging Mountain City, he could let her know if he needed anything. Li Shanyun had only meant it as a polite gesture.

But this Su Zhe really hadn't been polite at all.

"Naturally, it is an important matter. How could Su delay True Disciple Li over a private affair?"

"It is because, through a twist of fate, Su learned of something that concerns the safety of Zhujian Shanzhuang. I dared not conceal it and urgently wish to report it. If it is delayed, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Su Zhe spoke with righteous conviction, his face full of upright seriousness. Something concerning the safety of Zhujian Shanzhuang? And he dared not conceal it? Li Shanyun wanted to laugh. What could a kid from Lu County possibly know that concerned the safety of Zhujian Shanzhuang?

But when Li Shanyun met Su Zhe's sincere eyes, her smile slowly faded. She had not dealt with Su Zhe for just a day or two. Su Zhe would only hide his abilities. He would not exaggerate.