As the auction day approached, Silver Star City became overpopulated. Many powerful clans arrived in the city, including the Jun aristocrat clan.
With their influence, such news could not escape them. Apart from the Jun clan, the Gao aristocrat clan also sent a representative.
The atmosphere in Silver Star City was tense under the oppressive force of the Jun aristocrats and the weaker Gao clan. Powerful martial artists appeared on the streets with an intimidating presence.
The City Lord was sweating bullets as he tried to keep the city calm without offending the formidable Jun aristocrat clan.
As for the city's inhabitants, they were shocked and scared by the powerful martial artists roaming their streets.
"This is the first time I've seen so many powerful martial artists in my life."
"Not just you. It's like the city is going to war."
"Who knows where these martial artists came from?"
"Who cares? I want to know who put such powerful weapons up for auction."
"Right. Right. I'd like to know, but the Silver Moon Auction House hasn't disclosed the person."
"Anyway, this auction has allowed us to see many powerful martial artists."
While the Jun aristocrat clan entered Silver Star City with a strong presence, they failed to realize that one of their kin was already living in the city.
As for the Gao clan, they dared not throw their weight around in the presence of the Jun clan. Their presence was minimal compared to that of the Jun's.
To maximize his profit, the City Lord leaked the news only to the Gao aristocrats.
Although there were internal disputes among the Jun's, they wouldn't kill a clansman outside. Besides, Jun Wu's father was a force to be reckoned with.
However, the Gao aristocrats held no such reservations. As long as they could kill Jun Wu discreetly, it would be a win for them.
Since learning about Jun Wu's presence, they had been keeping tabs on him, monitoring his every move.
As for Jun Wu, he continued his usual routine, going to Elder Peng's house to learn smithing.
But as the auction day drew closer, Elder Peng grew restless, thinking of ways to get his hands on the Mortal Grade weapon.
So, he asked Jun Wu to come after the auction, which Jun Wu happily obliged.
In a courtyard, a new smithing house had been constructed, and hammering echoed continuously.
Jun Wu had been working tirelessly to understand the initial stage of the One Hundred Folding Technique.
With his high comprehension, he was getting closer to mastering the first stage. After working for another two hours, a bright smile appeared on his face.
"Finally," he muttered, his face filled with joy.
Why was a Mortal Grade weapon different from common weapons? Simply put, Mortal Grade weapons were not solely made of metal but contained inscriptions.
As a Grade-1 array formation master, Jun Wu could create inscriptions, as they were derived from formations. Thus, it was easy for him to understand and comprehend inscriptions.
Apart from that, his primordial heaven meridian shocked him regarding inscription engraving.
The meridian influenced his engraving process, making it easier for him to inscribe.
He had many inscriptions at his disposal, not only from the ancient memories he inherited but also from the One Hundred Folding Technique manual.
Looking at the heated dagger on the anvil, Jun Wu could hardly contain his excitement. He quickly plunged the dagger into cold water to cool it.
After wiping the sweat from his forehead, he picked up the cooled dagger and prepared to engrave an inscription.
Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind and visualized the Sharpening Inscription he intended to engrave on the dagger.
Not every weapon could hold an inscription. The weapon had to be forged with minimal impurities, impossible without a powerful forging technique.
Fortunately, the One Hundred Folding Technique could remove up to eighty percent of the ore's impurities.
While Elder Peng's forging technique could only remove ten to twenty percent of impurities, Jun Wu didn't have to worry.
He held the engraving knife and began to inscribe the dagger. The process was slow, but after twenty minutes, he finished engraving the weapon.
Holding the dagger, it didn't look particularly different, but Jun Wu knew otherwise.
Whoosh!
He swung the dagger against a nearby log, and it sliced through without resistance. Jun Wu's jaw dropped as he stared at the clean cut.
It took him a moment to recover from his shock. Now he understood why Elder Peng and the clans were so obsessed with Mortal Grade weapons.
A weapon needed at least two inscriptions to become a Mortal Grade weapon. Yet, this dagger had only one inscription, and the results were already astonishing.
"Now, I can be considered a Half-Step Mortal Grade Blacksmith."
The Half-Step title was because the dagger wasn't quite a full Mortal-Grade weapon.
"Now, I should try to engrave the second inscription on the dagger," he mused, eyeing it thoughtfully.
Without hesitation, he began the second engraving. But as he worked, cracks began to appear on the dagger.
"Damn it!" he cursed, quickly halting his work.
The dagger couldn't withstand the second inscription. 'What went wrong?' he thought, trying to figure out why the cracks had formed.
Before he could find a solution, the protective formation he'd set around the mansion was triggered.
Anticipating an attack from the City Lord, he had installed the Silent Echo Formation, costing him ten Spirit Stones. When triggered, it sent a mental pulse to alert anyone inside the building of intruders.
Quickly, he left the smithing room and rushed to the courtyard, where he found Zhang Wei and Mao Yun hurrying toward him.
"I know…" he said quickly, his face serious.
"Young Master, be careful…" Mao Yun warned.
"I know. Let's proceed with the plan."
Since their identities had been compromised, they had already devised strategies to deal with any attacks. And tonight, they would put one of those plans into action.
Swiftly, they went to their positions and hid, waiting for the intruders to fall into their trap.
Outside, ten men dressed in black robes moved silently toward the mansion, their eyes gleaming with deadly intent. For this mission, failure was not an option.
Creak.
They opened the main door and slipped inside, only to be met with two piercing eyes.