Divine Weapon Academy

Divine Weapon Academy

Qin Wentian cast a discerning glance at the young man, quickly assessing his cultivation level. It was evident that this individual was a sixth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereign, exuding an air of pride from his very being. Walking behind him was a young woman, elegantly dressed in a purplish-red gown that gracefully emphasized her figure. Her long, flowing hair resembled a waterfall, revealing traces of her slender, fair neck. Her skin was as smooth as water, radiating an air of regal beauty and elegance.

The girl's eyes gleamed with excitement as she fixed her gaze on the petite white tiger that Little Rascal had transformed into. It was clear to everyone that the young man's intention to acquire this demonic beast pet was driven by his desire to bring joy to the girl.

Qin Wentian politely declined the offer, waving his hand to return the substantial Yuan Meteor Stone to the young man.

A hint of displeasure flashed across the young man's face, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He addressed Qin Wentian, "I'm Rong Yan from the Divine Weapon Academy, and this is my junior apprentice sister, Shen Jing. She has taken a liking to this demonic beast, and since you seem uninterested in keeping it as a pet, how about trading it to me? If the Yuan Meteor Stone isn't enough, just name your price."

The onlookers murmured among themselves, well aware of the reputation of the Divine Weapon Academy. It was known for producing expert weaponsmiths, some of whom went on to become fifth-ranked Divine Inscriptionists. These individuals were known for their wealth; there was no such thing as a poor divine inscriptionist.

"The Divine Weapon Academy," Qin Wentian mused, his eyes gleaming. His early arrival in the Sacred Royal City was indeed related to weapon forging. He needed a substantial sum of money, and crafting divine weapons was the most efficient means to achieve his goal.

As Qin Wentian's eyes flickered with anticipation, Rong Yan couldn't help but sneer. The Divine Weapon Academy enjoyed a renowned status in the Royal Sacred City, and many sought to curry favor with its future weaponsmiths. The academy's students were all elite individuals, and it appeared that Qin Wentian, like others, was changing his attitude upon learning of Rong Yan's identity in an attempt to gain favor.

"I am Tianwen, a humble traveler. I heard about the upcoming grand battle of absolute geniuses on the Sacred Battle Platform, so I traveled from afar with the hope of witnessing this extraordinary event," Qin Wentian chuckled. Little Rascal rolled his eyes, inwardly cursing Qin Wentian for his shamelessness. Claiming to be one of the absolute geniuses was simply audacious.

"Mhm. The arrangement between Qin Wentian and Di Shi has stirred quite a commotion throughout the Royal Sacred Region. Many are flocking to our city as we speak, and I'm certain the battle will be exceedingly captivating," Rong Yan nodded, his gaze still fixed on Little Rascal.

A devious glint danced in Qin Wentian's eyes as he glanced at Little Rascal, who couldn't help but shiver under the weight of that gaze. What was his master plotting?

"Oh, this little demonic beast may be quite unruly, but if Miss Shen takes a liking to it, I don't mind letting it keep her company. And when Miss Shen grows tired of it, simply returning the white tiger to me will suffice," Qin Wentian remarked, his eyes fixed on the duo as if he had stumbled upon a treasure. After all, they were here to present a "gift" to him; how could he not be delighted?

Shen Jing furrowed her brows slightly, sensing that Qin Wentian harbored some ulterior motive. His gaze made her uneasy, but at that very moment, the white tiger transformed into a smaller size and shot toward her like a beam of light, landing gently in her embrace.

Shen Jing was taken aback, her gaze locking onto the adorable white tiger cub. Fondness welled up within her as she gazed into its pure, endearing eyes.

"You're such a pretty sister!" Little Rascal chimed in with a baby-like voice, his words causing Shen Jing to break into laughter.

"Beautiful sister, your smile is so enchanting," Little Rascal continued, clambering up onto her chest and playfully batting at her bouncing happiness. Qin Wentian couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Shen Jing as he observed this scene. It reminded him of Qing`er, who effortlessly understood and cared for Little Rascal.

Shen Jing had never encountered such an adorable white tiger cub before, so how could she think of anything else? Despite a strange sensation when her chest was lightly touched, when she looked into the innocent and pure eyes of Little Rascal, all other thoughts vanished. She simply rubbed Little Rascal's head and said, "How can there be such a cute little demon cub like you? It's unbelievable that someone would resort to violence against you."

"Mhm, he's a wicked person. He's completely powerless with a weak cultivation, and he's even made me go hungry on numerous occasions," Little Rascal chimed in, blinking its eyes. Although it spoke with a childlike tone, it no longer slurred its words when using human speech.

Shen Jing cast a cold gaze at Qin Wentian, only to find him gazing back at her with an odd glimmer in his eyes. This only fueled her growing disdain for him.

"Miss Shen, I have a strong desire to learn the art of weapon forging. Would you be willing to recommend me to the Divine Weapon Academy?" Qin Wentian inquired, further diminishing Shen Jing's impression of him.

Beside her, Rong Yan, who had been standing arrogantly, sneered as he realized that Qin Wentian had ulterior motives. He responded coldly, "Recommendation is possible, but gaining admission to the Divine Weapon Academy is no simple task. You might have to start as an apprentice if you're truly interested."

The onlookers were brimming with curiosity, their faces betraying their interest. Being a disciple of the Divine Weapon Academy carried immense prestige, but an apprentice was essentially a glorified errand runner. Weaponsmiths could easily vent their frustrations on them, and they held a lowly status. It was clear that Rong Yan had ulterior motives for "inviting" this guy to join as an apprentice.

"Of course! In that case, I'll express my gratitude in advance," Qin Wentian replied, seemingly unaware of Rong Yan's true intentions. A smile played on his lips, masking the amusement he felt inside. Did Rong Yan truly expect him to join as an apprentice? If he were the one forging the weapons, these two academy disciples would likely stand by, helpless and awestruck, watching his mastery.

Rong Yan's eyes, filled with contempt, only grew more pronounced. Someone willing to become an apprentice was unlikely to possess any remarkable skills. As for the little demonic cub, if his junior apprentice sister adored it, did he even need to return the pet to this man?

However, Rong Yan couldn't help but harbor suspicions about Qing`er standing behind Qin Wentian. He couldn't resist asking, "Who is she? Why is she veiled?"

"She's my sister. Her frail health can't withstand exposure to the wind and cold," Qin Wentian casually replied. Though Rong Yan remained skeptical, he didn't press the issue any further.

"Let's go," Shen Jing ordered, her gaze avoiding Qin Wentian as she walked past him.

Qin Wentian and Qing`er followed suit. Meanwhile, Little Rascal seemed to be having a grand time, burying its head in Shen Jing's chest. Qin Wentian couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, as though he had committed a crime.

...............

The Divine Weapon Academy exuded an ancient aura. The moment Qin Wentian arrived, he sensed the energy fluctuations of countless divine inscriptions permeating the air. Silvery-white pillars dotted the surroundings, radiating an enigmatic air, as if they were all completed divine weapons.

"Stay close," Rong Yan commanded, leading the way as he informed the guards and ushered Qin Wentian into the academy.

Unlike a sect, an academy was less stringent, which allowed Rong Yan to easily bring Qin Wentian inside the Divine Weapon Academy.

"Let's head to the weapon forging pagoda. The year-end weapon forging examination is approaching, and everyone should be there," Shen Jing said in a hushed tone.

Rong Yan nodded and smiled. "With Junior Sister's talent in weapon forging, you're already capable of crafting a high-grade fourth-ranked divine weapon. I'm certain you won't disappoint our teacher during the exam."

Shen Jing remained silent as they reached a public square. At its center stood a towering pagoda dedicated to weapon forging. The pagoda consisted of tens of levels, each equipped with facilities for crafting weapons. It resembled a divine armory, emanating a daunting heat that caused the surrounding air to sizzle.

"This intense heat is consistent throughout the entire pagoda. Here, you don't have to worry about flame temperature. As long as you're a weaponsmith, you can instantly open a furnace and begin crafting divine weapons. Quite remarkable," Qin Wentian remarked as he gazed at the treasure pagoda. The number of forging facilities decreased as one ascended the pagoda, but those at the higher levels were highly skilled weaponsmiths, and their weapon-making processes were open for all to observe.

"Senior Brother Wang Yunfei is still as impressive as ever. He can already forge a top-grade fourth-ranked divine weapon. If it weren't for the limitations of his cultivation base, perhaps his understanding of divine inscriptions would have enabled him to craft a fifth-ranked weapon, elevating him to the status of a fifth-ranked divine inscriptionist grandmaster," Shen Jing said, her eyes filled with admiration. In the Heavenly Dipper Realm, the person who had impressed her the most was none other than her senior apprentice brother, Wang Yunfei of the Divine Weapon Academy.

His skill in forging weapons was exceptional, and his combat prowess matched it. He could be considered a perfect Heaven Chosen.

"Indeed," Rong Yan agreed, though a hint of jealousy lingered in his heart. Still, he couldn't deny Wang Yunfei's outstanding abilities.

"Junior Sister Moon, you're here too," a young woman suddenly appeared beside Rong Yan, offering a brilliant smile. Shen Jing's presence seemed to overshadow her. Clad in simple attire, her delicate features seemed to pale in comparison to Shen Jing's radiant purplish-red dress.

"Senior Brother Rong Yan," Moon greeted in a soft voice.

"Apprentice Sister, I heard that you needed an apprentice. Earlier today, I found one while wandering the city for you. Here he is," Rong Yan said, gesturing toward Qin Wentian.

Moon turned her gentle smile toward Qin Wentian. "My name is Moon."

"I'm Tianwen," Qin Wentian replied with a nod.

"Tianwen, come with me," Moon said, leading Qin Wentian away. He noticed that Rong Yan and Shen Jing didn't spare him a second glance. To them, there was no longer any need to return Little Rascal to him.

"Tianwen, why have you come here as an apprentice? An apprentice here won't even get the chance to learn anything. It's highly unlikely that those divine inscriptionists will pass down their inscriptions for you to study," Moon said, her worry evident as they walked a short distance. "And consider your age. If you're just starting, it might be best to focus on other areas besides divine inscriptions."

Qin Wentian gazed into Moon's eyes. While Moon lacked Shen Jing's striking beauty, she possessed a unique charm of her own. Her soulful eyes radiated a pure innocence. With a little effort in dressing up, she could easily match Shen Jing's beauty.

"Obtaining divine inscriptions here is quite challenging, isn't it?" Qin Wentian inquired. He understood the significance of divine inscriptions. Who would readily share their expertise and intricate inscriptions with others, especially in an institution like the Divine Weapon Academy?

"Yes, the Divine Weapon Academy is not your home. Even if you were a disciple, they wouldn't grant you unrestricted access to all their divine inscriptions. Only after achieving certain accomplishments will they offer you some inscriptions. I've been here for almost a year, and the inscriptions I've received are all at my level. However, if I perform well in the year-end examination, I might have the chance to learn more profound inscriptions!" Moon's eyes gleamed with excitement. It was clear that she had been eagerly anticipating the examination for a long time.