Chapter 166 – 145 Growth_2
Chen Mu looked at the Fine Iron Knife in his hand and shook his head slightly.
Only to see.
The Fine Iron Knife that had accompanied him for a long time was now covered in marks, clearly unable to bear the fourth strike just made; if forced, the blade would probably completely shatter before even falling.
“Is it because my grasp of the Separating Fire Artistic Conception isn’t enough?”
“No, the application of a single Artistic Conception and that of multiple Artistic Conceptions is ultimately different.”
Chen Mu murmured to himself while looking at the knife in his hand.
Four months had passed, and he had naturally mastered the Separating Fire Artistic Conception, even having deduced it twice, accumulating much experience. With some more time, he would be able to step into the second phase of the Separating Fire Artistic Conception.
Although going from Minor Achievement to Perfection in Bone Tempering was not a qualitative change, it was a solid and steady enhancement. Moreover, having mastered an additional Artistic Conception, his strength was almost doubled compared to before!
In truth, had it not been for the various matters of the Inspectorate taking up some of his time every day, perhaps he would already have entered the second step of the Separating Fire Artistic Conception. However, every situation has its pros and cons.
Since he assumed the role of Metropolitan Commander of the Inspectorate, the He Family had completely quieted down in this period, and no assassin from the Blood Hidden Pavilion had shown up before him, making these four months quite peaceful.
“It seems it is time to find a suitable and good knife.”
Chen Mu lifted the Fine Iron Knife in his hand and shook it.
Normally speaking, wielding an Artistic Conception should not damage the weapon but even provide some protection to it. Otherwise, if one were to use fists to exercise the Artistic Conception and damage their own body first, that would be a bit too outrageous.
The reason his knife ended up in such a state of being unable to bear the burden was more due to the overlaying application of multiple Artistic Conceptions.
The Artistic Conceptions of Wind, Thunder, and Fire, no matter how similar they are or how they generate each other, are still three different Artistic Conceptions. When applied at the same time, they inevitably cause changes, affecting the blade.
Especially when the three Artistic Conceptions were used simultaneously, the impact was even more severe.
A Fine Iron Knife of such quality is not bad, but in his hands, it could only bear about a dozen uses of his triple overlaid Artistic Conceptions before it would end up in its current state, battered and almost on the verge of collapsing.
Clang.
Chen Mu sheathed the Fine Iron Knife and turned to walk out of the Silent Chamber where he had been practicing, returning to the yard on the ground.
After a brief contemplation, instead of looking for Little Lotus, he walked out of the courtyard and made his way to the Ancient Courtyard located deep within the Yu Family. He did not go deep into the Ancient Courtyard but only to a courtyard in front of it.
In this courtyard lived several elders. Though all were advanced in years, each had a certain dignified demeanor. Seeing Chen Mu approaching, one of them immediately showed a kind expression and said, “Is that Little Mu? Do you have a need for something?”
Upon hearing this remark,
The other elderly men, who had been either resting with closed eyes or not paying much attention to Chen Mu, turned to look at him one after another.
“Is that Chen Mu? The grandson-in-law of Yu Zuyi?”
“Humph! Zuyi that guy, to have such a good daughter is not enough, but he also got a good grandson-in-law!”
Some of the elders suddenly began murmuring and complaining, seemingly quite dissatisfied with Yu Zuyi.
One of them, with a chuckle, came up to Chen Mu and said, “Little Mu, I too have a granddaughter named Yu Yun. She’s lovely and cute, obedient and well-behaved. Although you’ve arranged a marriage with Hongyu, she’s, after all, just Zuyi’s granddaughter. I think, with your wedding drawing near, why not add to the family, and marry into both families? What do you think?”
Chen Mu’s lips twitched slightly upon hearing this.
In his mind appeared the image of Yu Yun, and he truly wondered how “obedient and well-behaved” could describe her.
Before Chen Mu could reply,
another old man walked over, glared at the person, and said,
“Get lost, get lost. My Yun girl and little Mu don’t match well at all. You old coot, stop trying to pair them off haphazardly. Huh… Actually, my granddaughter Yu Rui, who just turned twenty-eight this year, has quite good natural talent and qualities. She would be a better match.”
“Don’t spout nonsense. How is your granddaughter any match for my little Yun?”
“It seems you’re the one who’s senile. Yun is also eighteen this year, isn’t she? Rui is only sixteen.”
“What are we even comparing here! Then, my granddaughter Yu Fu is only thirteen this year!”
A few of the second generation Yu Family elders made such a noisy argument that it gave Chen Mu a headache, especially when he heard the direction of their argument turning more and more perilous, so he hurriedly interjected,
“Elders, I came here looking for a suitable knife. I wonder if there are any appropriate weapons or materials available.”
“Oh, that’s what you’re here for.”
Yu Zuting pulled himself out of the argument and cheerfully said to Chen Mu, “If you need it, then we must make it available, of course. Let me go look for it.”
With that,
Yu Zuting entered one of the rooms, and after a short while, he returned with a fist-sized, silver-colored mineral stone that faintly showed streamline shapes. He said, “There are no treasured sabers currently stored, but we have a piece of ’flowing silver ore.’ Combine it with a portion of the finest mysterious iron ore, and it will be enough to refine a treasured saber.”
Saying so, he pushed the ’flowing silver ore’ directly into Chen Mu’s hands and continued with a chuckle, “Actually, my granddaughter Yun is indeed very charming. If you don’t find her suitable, Fu is also getting to the age to be married off…”
Chen Mu hurriedly cut him off, “Thank you for the trouble, Elder. I have urgent matters to attend to and don’t want to disturb your rest any longer, so I’ll take my leave now.”
After giving Yu Zuting a bow, Chen Mu quickly left the courtyard.
Yu Zuting looked at Chen Mu’s departure with some regret, shaking his head and saying, “Zuyi that old thing really knows his stuff; all the advantages seem to go his way. My two granddaughters can’t compare to his one granddaughter.”
Looking across the whole Yu City now, aside from the disciples of the Four Great Sects, there was no young man more outstanding than Chen Mu. If Chen Mu was interested, even if it meant marrying both Yun and Fu, he would be very pleased and eager to facilitate the marriage.
However,
just then, another old man beside him suddenly harrumphed and said, “Zuting, you’re foggy-brained too, giving him a piece of flowing silver ore to craft a treasured saber. Have you forgotten that flowing silver ore needs to be paired with mysterious iron ore, which has been tightly controlled by the He Family for over a decade? It’s tough to get a piece or two, where do we even have any stock left?”
“Oh no, I forgot about the serious matter!”
Yu Zuting smacked his forehead, showing an annoyed expression, then shook his head and said, “Never mind, never mind, perhaps the Refining Hall still has some in stock. If not, I’ll just have to exchange it for something else when he returns. It’s just one more trip.”
The old man standing by chuckled and said, “With you being so scatterbrained, how would anyone think highly of your granddaughters? What if they inherit your confusion? And end up raising another scatterbrained child, heh heh heh.”
“Hmph! Like you’re any better, you even got someone else’s name wrong last month! And you did it twice!”
Yu Zuting retorted with a snort of ridicule.
“That was a slip of the tongue! I already said that’s not to be mentioned again!”
The old man became furious.
Yu Zuting chuckled coldly, and the courtyard quickly became noisy once again.