Chapter 36: Iron Stick

## Chapter 36: The Black Iron Rod

Leaving the Nine Clear Pavilion, Ye Chen led the Tiger Cub towards the Spirit Tool Pavilion, intending to select a suitable spirit weapon for the boy.

"Big brother, I… I disgraced you," the Tiger Cub suddenly mumbled, his head lowered as they walked.

Ye Chen was momentarily taken aback.

But quickly, the reason dawned upon him. The Tiger Cub, honest and sturdy, still seemed troubled by the earlier incident. Both were leading youths of similar age, yet Qi Hao, with Qi Yun at his side, appeared far more formidable than the Tiger Cub.

He had long heard of Qi Hao's background: the young master of a cultivation family, sent to the Heng Yue Sect from a tender age. And the youth named Qi Yun was clearly also a member of the Qi family, likewise dispatched to the sect for cultivation.

The Great Chu Empire was not without its cultivation families – like the Shangguan family of East Yue, the Situ family of West Shu, the Qi family of South Border, and the Wang family of North River. Both Qi Hao and the youth Qi Yun were disciples of the South Border Qi family.

While cultivation families might not possess the profound foundations of sects, they were by no means simple. Their disciples, from childhood, were steeped in medicinal baths, their path paved with a constant supply of spirit elixirs.

In this regard alone, not only the Tiger Cub but even Ye Chen himself could not compare.

"You've just embarked on the path of cultivation; the road ahead is long, isn't it?" Ye Chen said with a comforting smile, patting the Tiger Cub's shoulder.

"Should I not have come?"

"Since you are here, then settle in. The world is naturally divided into strong and weak, but heaven is fair. Being temporarily outmatched doesn't mean being forever so. When I first arrived, wasn't I also looked down upon?"

"Mm, I will work twice as hard, and absolutely not bring shame upon Big Brother."

As they spoke, the two arrived before the Spirit Tool Pavilion.

Upon entering, the elder of the Spirit Tool Pavilion, Zhou Dafu, who had been dozing, drowsily opened his eyes.

"Go on in! Only one item allowed," Zhou Dafu said, waving his hand casually.

"Go on!" Ye Chen gently pushed the Tiger Cub forward. "Choose one that feels right for now; later I'll find you a better one."

Ye Chen's arrival seemed to dispel Zhou Dafu's interest in sleep. He sat up, stretched languidly, and then yawned.

Seeing that Zhou Dafu was awake and the Tiger Cub had not yet emerged, Ye Chen stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Elder, do you happen to have any profound iron or profound steel here?"

Profound iron and profound steel were precious materials for artifact refining, always priceless and hard to come by, matters of chance rather than seeking.

And Ye Chen's reason for inquiring about them was obvious: he intended to refine the essence of profound iron and profound steel into his Chi Xiao Sword. Profound iron was hard, profound steel flexible; these two working in concert were absolutely a superior choice.

At least, the artifact refining formula stated as much.

"Profound iron and profound steel are exceedingly precious. I do have some, but I fear you might not be able to afford it!" Zhou Dafu rubbed his sleepy eyes.

Ye Chen's eyes brightened, and he quickly asked, "Elder, how much?"

Zhou Dafu didn't speak, merely extended a single finger.

"Ten thousand?"

"Ten thousand? What are you thinking? It's a hundred thousand."

Gulp! Ye Chen swallowed hard on the spot.

"A hundred thousand is already cheap. Pang Dahai's Myriad Treasure Pavilion sells it even more expensively." Zhou Dafu glanced at Ye Chen's astonished expression and continued, "Moreover, a hundred thousand spirit stones are only enough to buy a piece of profound iron or profound steel the size of an egg."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but swallow again.

He knew of the preciousness of profound iron and profound steel, but he had still underestimated their value.

A hundred thousand spirit stones.

What kind of concept was this? Outer sect disciples, even living in the sect for a lifetime, might not necessarily accumulate that much. Even he, capable of refining Jade Spirit Liquid, would need a considerable amount of time to gather a hundred thousand spirit stones.

"Of course, there's a place where it will be very cheap," Zhou Dafu continued.

"Where?"

"The Netherworld Black Market."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but touch his chin, secretly thinking, "Indeed, I forgot that place."

The Netherworld Black Market, located at the junction of the Heng Yue Sect, the Positive Yang Sect, and the Green Cloud Sect, was not only a place for transactions but also a den of illicit trade. Precisely because of this, it was not very peaceful, often frequented by notorious villains, infamous throughout history.

Although Ye Chen had never been to the Netherworld Black Market, he had long heard of its ill repute.

Of course, the Netherworld Black Market wasn't only known for its infamy. While chaotic, it didn't lack rare treasures among its wares, and the prices were lower compared to the market. Many cultivators would go there to seek out treasures.

"How much cheaper can the profound iron and profound steel in the Netherworld Black Market be compared to yours here?" Lost in thought, Ye Chen looked towards Zhou Dafu.

"The profound iron and profound steel there are all of questionable origin. Most of the sellers are in a hurry to dispose of them. Calculating it, it could probably be four or five tens of thousands cheaper!"

"Four or five tens of thousands." Ye Chen touched his chin again. To him, four or five tens of thousands of spirit stones was not a small sum. If he could truly buy profound steel and profound iron at the Netherworld Black Market, he wouldn't mind making a trip.

"The Netherworld Black Market is not necessarily a good place. You could lose your life at any time. You might want to think carefully," Zhou Dafu said, glancing at Ye Chen.

"There's no other way. Who told you to sell it so expensively here!"

"Four or five tens of thousands alone… saving up a bit will eventually get you there," Zhou Dafu coughed. "This profound iron and profound steel didn't just fall into my lap either. I spent a great deal of effort. At least let me earn a little!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but pout, secretly thinking that this Zhou Dafu was just like Pang Dahai – both of them were old cunning foxes.

As the two were talking, the Tiger Cub emerged, hugging the weapon he had chosen.

He hadn't selected a spirit sword, but an iron rod. Although its length was somewhat mismatched with his height, it was still reluctantly usable.

"Black Iron Rod," Zhou Dafu said, seeing it and looking at the Tiger Cub. "Little fellow, with so many spirit tools, why did you choose this one?"

"Tiger Cub, you can go change it," Ye Chen also said with a smile.

Among many weapons, the spear was the hardest to master. And this Black Iron Rod was only missing a spearhead compared to a long spear; the difficulty of practicing it was imaginable. This was also the reason why Ye Chen and Zhou Dafu didn't suggest the Tiger Cub choose the Black Iron Rod.

"No need, no need. I like this Black Iron Rod very much," the Tiger Cub said with a chuckle.

"Then so be it!" Knowing the Tiger Cub's stubborn nature, once he set his mind on something, he wouldn't change it, Ye Chen didn't press the matter further.

"A sword has the sharpness of a sword, a rod has the wonder of a rod. If you've chosen it, then so be it!" Zhou Dafu no longer objected.

"Elder, do you happen to have any profound techniques for rod methods?" Ye Chen looked towards Zhou Dafu.

The Tiger Cub had just entered the ranks of cultivators and didn't understand much. Furthermore, he had chosen the Black Iron Rod as his weapon. Even he, Ye Chen, was completely ignorant of rod methods, let alone the Tiger Cub.

"Rod methods are considered a side path. I don't have any here," Zhou Dafu shook his head. "You can go to the Myriad Treasure Pavilion to look. Old Man Zhou there might have some."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen felt a little disappointed.

"Since that's the case, we shall take our leave." Ye Chen cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and led the Tiger Cub out of the Spirit Tool Pavilion.

They made another trip to the Myriad Treasure Pavilion afterward, but returned disappointed.

Ye Chen arranged for the Tiger Cub to stay on the small mountain peak where he cultivated. They looked out for each other, and sometimes he would offer the Tiger Cub some guidance.

"Tiger Cub, diligence can compensate for lack of talent. You must work hard!"

"Mm, I will cultivate twice as hard and not bring shame upon Big Brother."

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