Shi clan, Shi Zhang's smithy.
"Master!" Shi Li screamed as he ran towards Shi Zhang who was currently in the process of forging another sword.
"Eh?" Shi Zhang, who was currently focused on hammering the edges of the blade he held, was disrupted by a voice which made him frown. But once he turned his head, he couldn't help but smile at the person running towards him. "Well if it isn't Shi Li!"
Shi Li, a disciple he took pride in. Although he was subjected to a torturous training session for a week, he was the first one to truly complete it, surprising him. Not long after, Shi Li was given the [Energy Condensation Art], to which Shi Li successfully achieved within a week. Afterwards, he learned multiple forging blueprints from Shi Zhang, from swords to even rakes. Everything that Shi Zhang taught to Shi Li was understood by him in just hours, making Shi Zhang wonder how far this kid will go.
Shi Zhang stopped his work and dropped his hammer as he turned to face Shi Li. "What brings you here?"
Shi Li catched his breath for a bit before explaining, "I'm here to borrow a sword, Master."
"A sword?" Shi Zhang didn't expect that Shi Li came here to borrow a sword rather than learning a new forging blueprint. "What do you need it for?"
"I'm going to head to the Forest of Ruin," Shi Li replied calmly after making sure his breathing was stable. "I need a sword so I could fulfill the patriarch's wishes. I need to kill 20 Rank 3 Beasts and 30 Rank 2 Beasts within a week."
Shi Zhang coughed loudly after he heard how much beasts Shi Li needed to kill within a week. "Fi-fifty beasts within a week? And not to mention, almost half of them being higher than you by one stage? That's tantamount to suicide!"
At this point, Shi Zhang couldn't help but stand up and press two of his fingers on his forehead to calm down. "I don't know if this will help but..." Shi Zhang went towards the back side of the furnace, to which Shi Li followed.
After reaching the back side, a large black wooden chest could be seen with a lock closing it up. In mere seconds, Shi Zhang removed the lock and opened the chest up, retrieving a sword that had its blade glistening a silver color while its hilt was a dark crimson red.
He then extended his arms towards Shi Li as he gave this sword to him. "This is a Middle Mortal grade sword I crafted quite a long time ago. I call it Sundering Flame."
Shi Li couldn't help but wave his hands once he heard that the sword in front of him was at the Middle Mortal grade. "I can't accept it, it's too precious! A Low Mortal grade would suit me! Although I have a feeling the blade is specialized for flames and I can do the Flame Slash, it's still too much for me!"
Shi Zhang's ears perked up after hearing a certain phrase come out of Shi Li's mouth. "Did you just say Flame Slash? The first technique that you learn from the [Three Element Sword Technique]?"
Shi Li was surprised to hear the technique but easily calmed himself down and nodded. "Indeed Master, it's that specific technique."
"If that's the case, you should really borrow this sword!" Since Shi Li confirmed the technique, Shi Zhang forced Shi Li to grab Sundering Flame from his hands. "This skill increases the damage flame-based techniques deal by quite a considerable amount, thus making it easier for you to kill Rank 3 Beasts!"
Shi Li's eyes widened after hearing that the damage of techniques would be boosted by the sword. Then again, it was hard to not refuse, so he received Sundering Flame with both hands, replacing it with the wooden sword on his back.
Shi Zhang took a few steps back and gave a thumbs up to Shi Li. "With a sword like that on your back, it makes you look like a real swordsman. Good luck on your journey."
Shi Li nodded and thanked his master for giving him a precious sword. But when he was about to turn around and head back to the Logistics Hall, Shi Zhang softly said something as he sat on the chair in front of the anvil, continuing his work.
"After a week, come back to the smithy, I'll teach you the sword techniques that gave me the moniker of 'Slaughterer of the Forge'."
Shi Li solemnly nodded and ran afterwards.
...
Huang clan, a hall within the clan.
Huang Tiankong sat on his throne as he listened to the news relayed by the attendants. For most of the news, he maintained a stern face and said a few words afterwards, but his expression livened up once he heard news about the Seal Breaker Pill.
"Patriarch, according to the news we have obtained from the Red Dawn Pavillion branch, three different types of Seal Breaker Pills will be sold! And according to them, one of these types are the Refined grade Seal Breaker Pills!" An attendant relayed to Huang Tiankong.
Huang Tiankong couldn't help but stand up from his throne as he looked at the attendant in front of him with glee.
In the world of alchemy, specifically in pill concoction, there were different grades to the pills a person could concoct, the best out there being the Refined grade pills! A Refined grade pill would have the effects of the pill be boosted by at most 20%. Although 20% sounded like a small number, an increased chance of breaking to the Martial Lord realm sounded like a dream to Huang Tiankong.
"Relay my words to those who govern the treasury. Make sure that 50% of our assets are stored in preparation of buying Refined grade Seal Breaker Pills!" Huang Tiankong commanded in a serious yet excited voice.
"Yes Patriarch!" The attendant nodded and instantly sent a few wisps of qi that headed towards different directions, relaying the message Huang Tiankong told him.
After sending out the wisps of qi, the attendant in front of Huang Tiankong deeply bowed before being replaced by another attendant.
Huang Tiankong saw this and calmed himself down as he sat down on his throne. "What news do you have for me?"
The attendant took a few deep breaths before kneeling on one knee and saying...
"Patriarch, the Shi clan patriarch's son is currently in the Forest of Ruin on a cultivation journey."
...
The Forest of Ruin. The nearest forest from Verdant Breeze Town, with 20 kilometers of rivers and plains separating them from each other.
Within this forest, multiple beasts of all shapes and sizes lived a life of eat or being eaten. The law of the jungle was everywhere in this forest, with the inner area of the forest being home to the strongest beasts of the forest, the Spirit Beasts.
But this would all soon be changed by a young man who carried food and water on a knapsack as a silver sword hung on his back.
This young man was none other than Shi Li.