Chapter 21: Senior Brother is Surprised, Monthly Salary Increase! (Seeking Investment, Seeking Follow-up Reads)

For a long while, Yang Sen broke the silence.

"Yiru, has Hong Yuan entered the Spirit Beast Hall?"

"Perhaps..." Lin Yiru's expression was wistful, her tone complex.

Born of extraordinary origins, she immediately recognized that the three oddly shaped Tiger Head Bees already possessed first-order strength. She wasn't even confident she could handle one on her own.

This definitely wasn't part of the Spirit Beast Hall; the disciples there should still be learning how to communicate with spirit beasts at this time.

If the Tiger Head Bees were like this, then to what realm had Hong Yuan, their master, ascended? Lin Yiru dared not speculate too deeply.

One could only say that although they were both Class A Aperture talents, there was still a huge chasm between them!

「...」

「Back to Phoenix Creek Sect.」

Hong Yuan first made a trip to the trading market. After purchasing all the bee-keeping tools he needed, he returned to Phoenix Fire Peak.

He needed to create a living space for these Tiger Head Bees; at a minimum, he had to ensure they could survive.

「Phoenix Fire Peak, Hong Yuan Courtyard.」

Hong Yuan, carrying his tools, refitted the two storage rooms at the front and back, nailing wooden boards tightly over the windows, blocking out every sliver of sunlight.

After toiling for half the day, he finally completed the job.

One room was for housing the Tiger Head Bees, and the other for refining Worms.

CLAP.

Hong Yuan gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face breaking into a joyful smile; he was very happy.

Being a cultivating disciple is great. No, it's having a powerful master that's truly great.

To be a mere cultivating disciple yet occupy such a large courtyard within Phoenix Creek Sect was extraordinary. No wonder Xu Hongde had envied and resented him, unable to control his emotions back then.

Looking at it this way, the treatment Hong Yuan enjoyed was indeed much better!

With a thought, Hong Yuan released a Sting Bee Worm from his Aperture.

HUMMING.

The Sting Bee Worm flew out of the Aperture and hovered in front of Hong Yuan, awaiting his command.

"Feed..."

Upon receiving Hong Yuan's command, the Sting Bee Worm activated its Innate Ability and summoned the entire swarm of Tiger Head Bees from their hive.

Then, under its lead, the swarm of Tiger Head Bees swooped down into the oversized feeding trough to eat meat and drink water.

Once a day, just like feeding chickens. But it's much easier than raising chickens since I can just manipulate the Sting Bee Worm to handle any situation, Hong Yuan muttered to himself.

「The next day.」

「A06 Workshop.」

As soon as the doors opened, Hong Yuan followed Li Wu into the workshop and changed his clothes.

When Hong Yuan returned to his workstation, ready to fire up the furnace, he could feel a stark, undisguised gaze upon him.

Glancing sideways, he saw that it was Senior Brother Zhu Wushang scrutinizing him.

Their eyes met, and Senior Brother Zhu Wushang nodded at him. Hong Yuan quickly nodded back in acknowledgment and then proceeded to fire up the furnace.

Not late and full of energy. It seems Yuan has taken my words to heart and hasn't been fooling around. Good, very good, Yuan has the makings of a capable person, Zhu Wushang thought to himself, beaming with satisfaction and a cheerful grin.

Hong Yuan's performance after his time off had pleased him, so he then turned his attention to another junior brother—Zhao Gonghe.

But the moment he laid eyes on him, a nameless rage surged in Zhu Wushang's heart, and his thick eyebrows involuntarily shot up.

「Beside furnace E05.」

Zhao Gonghe looked listless and low on energy, frequently yawning, his eyes barely open as if he were catching up on sleep.

You, Zhao Gonghe, not listening to a word of advice! Just after receiving your monthly stipend, you go off splurging it away. Damn you! Zhu Wushang exploded with anger.

His master had entrusted him with two junior brothers to help lay their foundations. This was undoubtedly a sign of his master's trust in him.

He had always approached nurturing his two junior brothers with great enthusiasm, just as his own Senior Brother had taught him to lay his foundation back in the day. He was deeply invested in Hong Yuan's and Zhao Gonghe's progress as casting masters.

Zhao Gonghe's appearance of excessive indulgence was truly infuriating to Zhu Wushang. The more Zhu Wushang looked at Zhao Gonghe's degenerate state, the angrier he became. Out of sight, out of mind. Zhu Wushang averted his gaze, and soon he was captivated by what Hong Yuan was doing.

Hong Yuan was currently engaged in forging.

A day's absence truly made a world of difference.

With robust arms swinging the large hammer, Hong Yuan repeatedly struck the Hundred Tempered Fine Iron with precision, flattening the red-hot metal over and over, removing impurities.

This alone was not enough to capture Zhu Wushang's attention. The crucial part, however, was that Hong Yuan's hammering was rhythmic, and his impurity removal speed had already reached the level of a first-grade casting master!

At some point, Zhu Wushang had walked out of the small room and come to Hong Yuan's side to watch the forging process.

Hong Yuan noticed and quickly displayed all his Skills and Arts.

Actions spoke louder than words; he wanted to show his Senior Brother that he, Hong Yuan, possessed the skills of a first-grade casting master!

DANG DANG DANG!

Hong Yuan breathed steadily, repeatedly hammering the Hundred Tempered Fine Iron. Soon, he had forged the rough shape of a Miao Blade.

Ordinary people would need to stop and rest after dozens of strikes, but Hong Yuan maintained his rhythm, as if intending to settle the matter with one final blow.

He was like an old ox, possessing enduring strength and seemingly tireless.

Has Yuan's physical strength increased? Zhu Wushang was puzzled, but soon he lightly shook his head. No, it's Yuan's forging Skills and Arts that have improved. He understands how to remove impurities more efficiently and shape the fine iron.

Soon, Hong Yuan stopped his hammering actions because he needed to fold the fine iron.

At that point, Zhu Wushang extended his hand to stop Hong Yuan's movements.

"Yuan, stop forging the standard Miao Blade. Put that down." Zhu Wushang continued, "Come with me. I'll teach you how to forge a first-grade weapon."

With that said, not giving Hong Yuan a chance to refuse, Zhu Wushang headed towards the first-grade weapon forging area.

「...」

There were three first-grade casting masters in workshop A06: Lin Qi, Wang Dali, and Qian San.

They watched as Hong Yuan followed behind Zhu Wushang, bypassed them, and stopped next to the Heavenly One Furnace, extremely close to the second-grade weapon forging area.

Goodness, Big Brother Wushang doesn't really think his little junior brother has the skills of a first-grade casting master, does he? Lin Qi clicked his tongue in wonder.

Yeah, the art of forging isn't like other skills; what it needs most is painstaking effort. Having a Class A Aperture doesn't make much difference, Wang Dali said with a tinge of jealousy.

This Hong Yuan has only been with us for just over a month. Big Brother Wushang must just be passing on some advanced knowledge to him, Qian San chuckled.

Qian San didn't believe for a moment that Hong Yuan could reach the level of a first-grade casting master so quickly. Even his most admired Big Brother Wushang had taken a full six months to successfully advance to become a first-grade casting master!

「By the Heavenly One Furnace.」

Zhu Wushang proactively started the fire for Hong Yuan. Not only that, but he also helped Hong Yuan with preparatory tasks like working the bellows.

Hong Yuan looked at the first-grade Cold Iron in front of him, a surge of excitement in his heart.

"Yuan, start hammering. Let me see to what stage your forging craftsmanship has advanced. Don't be afraid of wasting materials," Zhu Wushang encouraged.

A piece of first-grade Cold Iron was worth five Energy Stones on the market, but Zhu Wushang didn't care in the slightest. As long as it could genuinely confirm Hong Yuan had reached the level of a first-grade casting master, wasting a few materials wasn't a problem at all!

"I understand, Senior Brother," Hong Yuan answered, lifting the hammer and striking down forcefully.

DANG DANG DANG!

The first-grade Cold Iron began to deform.

What's going on? Does this guy actually have the ability to forge a first-grade weapon?! Lin Qi blinked rapidly, afraid he was seeing things.

GULP. Wang Dali's throat hitched, his eyes fixed on Hong Yuan's arms in shock.

Impossible, absolutely impossible! Hong Yuan can't be more talented than Big Brother Wushang! Qian San kept shaking his head, unwilling to believe that Hong Yuan's forging talent surpassed Zhu Wushang's.

「An hour later.」

Watching Hong Yuan fold the Cold Iron, the three first-grade casting masters fell silent in unison.

Hong Yuan truly possessed the ability of a first-grade casting master, and his forging Skills and Arts were even somewhat better than theirs.

「...」

「As dusk fell.」

Hong Yuan watched as his Senior Brother Zhu Wushang threw the incredibly sharp and keen Miao Blade he had forged into the ice water pool.

PLUNK.

The Miao Blade sank into the ice water, settling at the bottom of the pool.

"Yuan, well done," Senior Brother Zhu Wushang said, breaking into a smile and heartily clapping Hong Yuan on the shoulder to show his affection. "From now on, you'll work in the first-grade weapon forging area. Your daily pay will increase from one Energy Stone to three. Additionally, for every first-grade weapon you forge, I'll give you a commission of two Energy Stones."

Upon hearing this, Hong Yuan was delighted and quickly thanked his Senior Brother, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Haha, you're my junior brother. If I don't help you, who will? Come on, after you bathe, I'll take you to the Delicious Meal Tavern to celebrate," Zhu Wushang laughed heartily, growing more pleased with Hong Yuan by the minute.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Zhao Gonghe? Who was Zhao Gonghe? As far as Zhu Wushang was concerned, everything was fine as long as that good-for-nothing wasn't mentioned.