Hao Ren took the small hammer back to his mansion and locked himself inside the forging room. He knew that the news of his gains would spread through the entire city and the elders of the northern and eastern sectors would come over to take the artifact away from him. He had to be fast and he had to be resolute in his actions.
Inside his forging room, Hao Ren erected several barriers around him and sat down in the void to comprehend the mystery of this object. The hammerhead was covered with intricate patterns and Hao Ren sensed that something about them was odd. To get a better view he enlarged the hammer by one size and now it was just as big as a normal hammer.
Hao Ren ran his gaze around the patterns and after a few minutes, he was lost in a daze, and he asked, "God damn it, I knew something was seriously wrong with this thing. This is a body tempering art and the art of nirvana refining. The owner of this hammer engraved them so cleverly on the surface of the hammerhead that the people all thought it was just a simple decoration. Motherfucker, hiding in the plain sight has never been so better."
A calm voice sounded around him, "Well, youngster, while you points are clear you are abusing a bit too much. Can you tame down your temper in the presence of an elder?"
Hao Ren was surprised and then he looked at the hammerhead as he asked, "Senior, I didn't know you were a spirit artifact."
A small silhouette manifested before Hao Ren, and it stood atop the hammerhead. Hao Ren could see the person clearly and his features were that of a handsome young man. The spirit phantom spoke, "Nirvana Hammer that is the real name of this artifact and the spirit is sleeping, in future if you managed to awaken him, it would be your luck. As for me, I am a tiny wisp of consciousness left behind by the last owner of this magnificent artifact, Tang San." Read complete version only at novel✦fire.net
Hao Ren was shocked and bowed his head, "I have seen senior Tang."
The spirit phantom nodded and said, "Good, so tell me what do you think of this artifact?"
Hao Ren replied, "It is a great tool."
Tang San asked, "How about you drop a little bit of your blood on the hammer and refine it?"
Hao Ren shook his head and said, "Senior, there are many elders who want this thing and if I took it for myself. I would have to reveal my truth to them sooner than necessary. The only thing that I am gonna use this tool is for the arts that you left behind. However, I will not share them with the old people."
Tang San chuckled and said, "It is indeed your fortune to have acquired them. However, why not take this hammer. If you want, I can tell them to not bother you. I am sure, I still hold some goodwill in this world."
Hao Ren shook his head and replied, "This is the legacy of forging and it belongs to the ones who can perceive it, I am sure that there are more people who can see through your designs, so I should give them a chance."
Tang San's face turned serious and he asked, "Kid, be honest with me what do you have in your mind, don't fool me."
Hao Ren flinched a little and said, "Well, this tool is so high above my current level that keeping it would only bring me trouble, so I will give it back to the council. However, when I have the capability to wield it properly, I will take it back to create artifacts that no one could match."
Tang San smiled and said, "Good, if you learn to lean on a tool to walk your path, the impact would leave you limping for the rest of your life. I support your decision, since you have decided to give up the hammer, I will give you a reward to compensate."
The spirit phantom raised its hand and a ray of golden shot through the void end entered Hao Ren's forehead. These were all designs and the comprehension of the runes that were needed to become the Grandmaster.
Hao Ren was shocked and he thanked Tang San, who said, "You can let go of the hammer, the people are here, I will handle them for you, stay here and focus on comprehending the path. Only saints can save the world from falling apart."
Hao Ren was surprised and also confused by the sentence spoken by the spirit phantom. The next moment, he let go off the hammer and watched it fly in the void, it bypassed all the barriers that Hao Ren had set up and flew out of the window.
Outside the mansion, the three directors, various high ranking officials and the grandmasters or ancestors of great forging families appeared around the mansion. Their eyes were flickering with desire and just when one of the director was about to raise their hands to make a move. Samaira said, "Director, I think we are still rushing things a bit too much, this action can really cause the heart of the talented people to chill."
The old man from the northern district said, "I don't care, but the Divine Hammer belongs to the Council only."
A calm voice echoed in defiance, "Oh, I don't remember leaving behind the hammer to be controlled by the council."
The calm voice drew all the gazes and the people saw a Spirit Phantom manifest in the void holding the giant war hammer. The people were stunned, and one of the oldest ancestor among the crowd shivered and mumbled, "I have seen the refining saint, Lord Tang."
Refining Saint was the title of Tang San, nobody dared to claim this title after his ascension. The spirit phantom looked at the old ancestor and asked, "Old Lu, have you been well? I assume that you finally managed to breakthrough to the barrier of the elemental union theory of yours?"
The old ancestor shivered and replied, "By your blessings back then, my lord, I managed to discover something useful. It was all thanks to your guidance."
Tang San nodded with a smile and said, "It seems you are the only old relic from our generation left here."
Elder Lu chuckled and said, "Fate decrees that all that is born shall perish. We all are just trying to defy that."
Tang San nodded, and turned his gaze to look at the Northern Director as he asked, "So, what were you saying, kid?"
The people froze, the smile and calm on Tang San's face was missing, and the northern director was shivering. Tang San said, "The hammer belongs to the one who is worthy. It is not yours to command. If that kid managed to awaken the spirit sleeping inside in the future he can take it away.
Remember this, even my spirit phantom is stronger than you, and if I found any deliberate hinderance to his path, I will reduce this entire city to rubble."
As he said that, the entire city shivered for real. The northern director realized that it was a warning for him, and a blatant one that involved the city. If the Spirit Phantom manifested, and attacked the city, then none of the directors here had what was needed to avoid that disaster.
The people from the council were shocked to hear such a warning from the spirit phantom. However, the northern Director thought about it, 'Hump, the phantom will vanish and then I will pire the mouth of that little cheat to get the secrets.'
However, Tang San tilted his head and then he said, "You think too highly of yourself."
The northern director froze and the next moment, both his arms exploded with a splash of blood. The people were shocked and before they could react, Tang San said, "This is the last warning, after this, I will really kill you all for going against my authority."
The people who had similar thoughts like the northern director felt a chill run down their hearts. Tang San waved his hand and the northern director was knocked out, before he continued, "You think it is hard for me to deal with you once I vanish? Wrong, I have just been silent and don't think of that as my weakness. Even my spirit phantom can kill you all ten times over. Do you understand?"
The people bowed and nodded in understanding. Tang San said, "Get lost."
Everyone vanished and the hammer hovered over Hao Ren's mansion for a few minutes, before it reappeared inside the council hall. It's status, was now even more revered than before.
Inside his house, Hao Ren was sitting with his eyes wide open. He had seen what Tang San had done, and just when he thought it was all over, a mark appeared on his brow. The mark looked like a red diamond etched in his forehead and it was stinging him.
However, after a few minutes, the mark vanished and Hao Ren began to comprehend the two arts that he gained from the hammerhead before he could head to the blue prints Tang San gave him.