"Grandpa Lian, I've obtained an extremely precious ore; based on my estimation, it should be an Immortal Upper Grade ore," Qin Yu's first statement made Lian Yan jump to his feet.
Shock filled Lian Yan's eyes as he looked at Qin Yu in disbelief. After a long time, he finally spoke, "Little Yu, this isn't something to joke about. Immortal Upper Grade, that's the kind of ore that Innate Experts dream of. The weapons refined from this ore would absolutely be Divine Weapons. How could such top-grade ore be so easily obtained?"
To the people of the Hidden Dragon Continent, weapons were simply divided into Mortal Items and Immortal Items, with Immortal Items split into three levels: lower, intermediate, and upper—and ore was classified the same way. Even Prince Zhen Dong with his power and influence, of the dozens of items stored in the Hidden Weapons Storage, most were Lower Immortal Grade, then a portion were Intermediate Immortal Items, and there were only two of the Upper Immortal Grade.
"Grandpa Lian, when did I ever deceive you? I tried chopping it with the Fish Intestine Sword, and not a single imprint was left. If it's not an Immortal Upper Grade, what is it?" Qin Yu immediately explained.
"Chopped with the Fish Intestine Sword, and not even an imprint?" Lian Yan understood in his heart—if not even the Fish Intestine Sword could leave an imprint, it must definitely be Immortal Upper Grade ore, "Little Yu, what does this ore look like? How big is it? Is it the size of a fist?"
The more precious the ore, the smaller it generally was. If there was one the size of a fist, it would be enough to refine into items like short swords or short knives.
"A fist?" Qin Yu exclaimed in surprise.
The fiery red crystal stone he obtained was nearly one meter high and as thick as a thigh, which was much larger than a fist.
"It's not even the size of a fist? Then it can only be made into weapons like daggers. Still, that's not bad, as it would at least be an Immortal Upper Grade weapon," Lian Yan said with a smile. It was at this moment that Qin Yu finally grasped Lian Yan's meaning and couldn't help but laugh.
"You're wrong, Grandpa Lian. The ore I got is quite large; it's cylindrical, about one meter tall and as thick as a thigh—much larger than a fist," Qin Yu said, gesturing with his hands.
Lian Yan's eyes widened instantly, and his face began to flush red.
"Cylindrical, and one meter tall?"
Lian Yan was not Qin Yu. He thought much further ahead. Such a large piece of ore, and an Immortal Upper Grade at that—if one were to refine war sabers, for example, it would be possible to refine dozens of them. That would be dozens of top Immortal Upper Grade Divine Weapons.
Dozens—that's an unimaginable concept.
"Of course it's real. Do you even have to ask?" Qin Yu felt helpless faced with Lian Yan's repeated inquiries, not realizing that it was Lian Yan's disbelief at such good fortune that made him keep asking—it's hard for anyone to believe when a pie falls from the sky, even temporarily.
"Quick, take me to see it," Lian Yan said to Qin Yu right away. Qin Yu nodded in agreement and then hurried to the underground chamber with Lian Yan.
In the underground chamber, Lian Yan's eyes sparkled as he looked at the fiery red crystal stone.
The fiery red crystal stone emitted a hazy soft red glow, crystal clear and even the patterns inside the stone could be seen. As soon as Lian Yan saw the exterior of this crystal stone, he knew it was a priceless treasure; compared to it, pearls and agates seemed completely lackluster.
Lian Yan drew his hand to his waist and pulled out a purple soft sword, which instantly stood rigid at his command before transforming into a purple streak that slashed across the fiery red crystal stone.
"Just as I thought," Lian Yan's eyes flashed with a fierce glint as he stared at the fiery red crystal stone before him, "even my Purple Core Soft Sword can't leave the slightest mark. It must be a high-grade Immortal Item." He turned to Qin Yu and said earnestly, "Little Yu, such a treasure must be sent to the Prince Mansion immediately. If you wish to craft any Divine Weapon, you may ask Mr. Hei, the Artifact Refining Master, to help you. With so many crystal stones, you'll undoubtedly have leftovers after crafting weapons and battle armor, which should then be given to your father. Is that agreeable?"
Upon hearing Lian Yan's words, Qin Yu instantly understood everything.
Such precious ore would surely result in the creation of Divine Weapons. If presented to his father, the Prince could unleash their power in war. Qin Yu had no interest in money or spiritual treasures.
"It's no trouble; I only need one-tenth of this fiery red crystal stone. The rest can go to my father," Qin Yu replied with a smile.
Lian Yan's gaze was full of admiration as he looked at Qin Yu, "Little Yu, at such a young age, you're not bewitched by such a treasure; indeed, your heart surpasses the ordinary." For someone to be so indifferent to such treasures, their state of mind had to be beyond what most could comprehend. For a martial artist to make a breakthrough, they must possess a mindset that matches.
When Qin Yu saw the way Lian Yan was looking at him, he said, "Grandpa Lian, don't look at me like that. It makes me feel embarrassed," pretending to be shy, which made Lian Yan laugh heartily.
A person's character requires tempering, and Qin Yu had started doing so from the age of eight. Every extreme breakthrough was a test of character, rendering his resilience incomparable to ordinary people.
Loners typically follow their own path, developing a unique style of living. Being alone often, one naturally reflects.
Thinking about life, one's value, and seeing through many things with excessive contemplation.
Qin Yu was no exception; often alone, watching the stars, and after experiencing certain events, the now fully mature Qin Yu understood very clearly how to live: In this world, what matters most is the bond of family, the kinship that runs deeper than emotion. Wealth and treasures are just to ensure a basic living; what does one do with excess? Ten thousand silver taels may suffice for a lifetime, so what use is a hundred thousand? Hence, he had no greed.
Everyone has dreams, and so did Qin Yu. Family and emotions are his top priorities, followed by his dreams. Life without family or dreams is but a lifeless husk.
In moments of extreme breakthroughs, Qin Yu grew fond of the boiling blood and excitement that followed, enjoying close combat and the thrill of life-and-death decisions. His dream was to ignite his life's passion, burning fiercely like a falling star; life should be filled with such fervor...
"Grandpa Lian, are we still preparing to send this fiery red crystal stone to the Prince Mansion?" Qin Yu asked with a smile.
"Yes, I'll arrange for someone right away," Lian Yan responded promptly — this matter was too important for any delay. As he went to make the arrangements, Qin Yu gave the fiery red crystal stone a final glance, thinking to himself, "Who knew this crystal stone would be so beneficial to my father as well," before turning and leaving the secret chamber with a smile.
At the Prince Zhen Dong's mansion, in one of the courtyards, a crowd had gathered, including Prince Zhen Dong's three Princely Heirs, Lian Yan, steward Ge Min, three shirtless and brawny men, and a man in black – all focusing on the fiery red crystal stone at the center.
"Mr. Hei, do you have a method to refine it?" Lian Yan inquired of the man in black.
But the man in black did not reply; instead, he stood beside the fiery red crystal stone, eyes wide and intensely observing every detail, deeply engrossed, while Qin Yu and others watched on without disturbing the Artifact Refining Master's concentration.