Starting with Fireflies, Speedrun the World

But why had he never heard of such a swordsmith before?

Alchemists have a specialized organization in Central Continent called the Pill Tower. However, the swordsmiths that Yun Li mentioned are nowhere to be found on this continent.

(Teacher, are you saying that this "sword" can threaten even a child who has reached the Dou Zong level? That's an exaggeration, isn't it?)

Although he was also shocked by the sword forged by Yun Li, he found it even more unbelievable when he heard Yao Lao's words: a Dou Zong!

That's someone who surpasses even the Dou Huang level, the strongest person in many large forces, a Dou Zong level expert. If someone could threaten a Dou Zong, wouldn't the entire empire be able to act without restraint?

(This is not an exaggeration at all; it has a more direct destructive power than any strange fire, and even a Dou Zong might not be able to withstand it.)

(No wonder it requires powerful flames like strange fire to forge; if all swords are like this, then it makes perfect sense!)

15

Chapter 15 Yun Li is cute, but she's just a little sister.

The next morning the weather was fine.

It was a rare good day.

"That's a Ground Pattern Fruit..."

Xiao Huohuo looked at a strange fruit tree with spiritual fruit hanging on the open ground in front of him. The fruit was not big, about the size of a plum.

The number isn't too many, only about a hundred.

This is a key ingredient for refining the Grade 3 elixir, the Azure Spirit Pill, and it is quite rare even in the Monster Mountain Range.

However, in the Monster Mountain Range, such treasures are usually guarded by magical beasts. A third-tier magical beast resembling a leopard was lying beneath the spirit fruit, which explains why there weren't many other magical beasts around.

"Little guy, that's a Tier 3 magical beast, the Earth Cloud Leopard, a powerful earth-attribute magical beast. It might be a bit difficult for you to collect this spiritual fruit."

The herbalist appeared beside Xiao Huohuo, looked at the situation ahead, and noticed his disciple's gaze, so he couldn't help but remind him.

A third-tier magical beast is equivalent to a Grand Dou Master. Although it's nothing to Yao Lao, he can't always help him. Otherwise, when will Xiao Huo Huo ever grow stronger?

Xiao Huohuo is currently a mere fighter, but he's still two major levels below it.

"I have my own way!"

Xiao Huohuo naturally knew that the magical beasts ahead were not simple, especially the earth-attribute magical beasts, which were very resilient.

However, his goal was not to kill it, but simply to obtain the Earth Pattern Fruit.

Xiao Huohuo first covered his mouth and nose with a cloth, then took out a bottle and threw it at the monster in front of him.

Although the clouded leopard reacted immediately and noticed the small bottle, before it could take any action, the bottle exploded on its own, producing an extremely foul-smelling mist.

This disgusted even the third-tier magical beast, the Earth Cloud Leopard, who instinctively chose to stay away from the area. Just then, Xiao Huohuo made his move, rushing to the spirit fruits and quickly harvesting most of them.

The clouded leopard noticed Xiao Huohuo's actions and instantly flew into a rage. No longer caring about the foul smell of the fog, it pounced directly at the damned human in front of it!

Xiao Huohuo knew when to stop and didn't collect everything. When he saw the monster rushing towards him, he immediately turned and ran away.

Although it wasn't a third-tier magical beast letting go, he managed to shake off the Earth Cloud Leopard by constantly changing his escape route.

"Phew...finally rid of that guy."

Xiao Huohuo breathed a sigh of relief, then took out the collected spiritual fruits, a total of seventy-eight, which was about two-thirds of what was on the tree before.

However, he did not collect these spiritual fruits for the purpose of refining medicine.

Xiao Huohuo touched the storage ring on his hand, took out the honey he had previously obtained from the hive of a group of first-tier magical beasts, the Mad Bees, and the juice of a fragrant herb, and began to refine them...

He coated the Earthweed Fruit with the melted honey essence and then strung them together.

Seeing Xiao Huohuo's actions, Yao Lao immediately understood his disciple's purpose.

Good guy!

He had previously thought that the man risked his life to collect spirit fruits in order to prepare the ingredients for the Jade Spirit Pill, but he never expected that it was actually to prepare food for that girl Yun Li.

I've never seen Xiao Huohuo so serious before, he even risked his life to collect spiritual fruits.

"Little guy, you don't actually have a crush on that girl, do you?"

The herbalist couldn't help but speak up. Although he never interfered in his disciples' private affairs, Yun Li's situation was too different.

"Teacher, what are you saying! How could I possibly have feelings for Yun Li? I'm not that perverted to like such a young girl."

After carefully putting away the prepared skewers, Xiao Huohuo almost knelt down upon hearing Yao Lao's voice. How could he possibly have such thoughts?

"……Really."

However, the medicine seller had a half-smile, and his eyes made Xiao Huohuo very uncomfortable.

He might not know about others, but regarding Xiao Huohuo... while his overall attitude was perfectly fine, respecting his teacher, he wouldn't comment on some of her private matters.

His childhood sweetheart was only a few years old back then.

Much smaller than Yun Li is now...

Yun Li is adorable, no less so than Xiao Xunsi, and has the added bonus of being a violent barefoot loli, so it's not surprising that people would like her.

"It's not what you think, teacher!"

Feeling as if she had been labeled a lolicon in the teacher's eyes, Xiao Huohuo quickly explained.

"I do think Yunli is cute, but I only see her as a sister, nothing more. It's only right to spoil her a little, especially since... I have something I want to ask her for a favor."

It's undeniable that Yun Li is very cute, making people want to pat her head and get close to her, but he definitely doesn't have any other thoughts.

"……matter?"

The herbalist seemed to have guessed what Xiao Huohuo was planning to do.

Xiao Huohuo didn't say anything more, but took the prepared skewers and walked towards where Yun Li was.

Before Xiao Huohuo could even get close, Yun Li, who had smelled the aroma of the skewers from afar, leaped down from the tree in a somersault.

It appeared in front of the skewers at top speed.

Then, with her big eyes fixed on the skewers in Xiao Huohuo's hand, she subconsciously wanted to take a bite, but was dodged.

"Yun Li...do you want to eat?"

Seeing Yun Li's adorable appearance, Xiao Huohuo always felt like he was teasing a cat with dried fish.

"Hmph, I'll hit you then."

Feeling as if the guy in front of her was toying with her, Yun Li clenched her small fist.

"Don't be impulsive, here you go."

Looking at Yun Li's small fist, although it looked small, fair and tender and not very strong, he knew very well that if he took a punch, he would probably be completely destroyed.

He stopped teasing Yunli the cat and handed her the skewers directly.

After receiving the skewers, Yun Li was finally satisfied. She then took a bite of a fruit with a contented expression. It seemed different from the previous ones, even tastier.

Could it be that Xiao Huohuo has a talent for making skewers?

"What's your purpose? I might consider it for the sake of the skewers."

Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing.

Yun Li could naturally tell that Xiao Huohuo had prepared this especially for her, so he must have something to ask of her.

If it's not too difficult, or something she doesn't want to do, she doesn't mind helping out.

"I didn't have any particular purpose..."

Xiao Huohuo was surprised that the girl in front of him saw through his purpose so quickly, and he was a little unsure how to start the conversation.

"fine!"

Seeing the boy's appearance, Yun Li didn't bother to ask any more questions and prepared to turn around and leave.

She prefers to be straightforward; there's no need to continue communicating if someone beats around the bush, and she doesn't have the time to understand it.

"Hey? Yun Li, wait a minute."

Seeing Yun Li about to leave, Xiao Huohuo quickly called out to her, no longer caring about saving face, and directly stated his request.

It's about sword forging...

Although precious swords and divine swords are merely external objects, aren't combat skills and elixirs also external objects? As long as they truly enhance one's strength, they become part of one's own strength.

Moreover, the three-year agreement was fast approaching, and although Xiao Huohuo was confident that he could definitely defeat her, sometimes having an extra trump card is always a good thing, especially since her opponent was, after all, the young sect master of the Yunlan Sect.

Xiao Huohuo couldn't say for sure how Yunlan Sect would train her.

He witnessed the power of the sword forged by Yun Li yesterday and couldn't sleep all night.

Of course, he didn't expect to possess a divine sword capable of defeating a Dou Zong immediately; he simply wanted to take it a step further and enhance his weapon.

This gives me more confidence...

If possible, he would also like to learn about the art of sword making.

Of course, he knew this request was a bit excessive, so he didn't mention it. Although things were going well so far, they had only known each other for a short time.

"To forge swords?"

"That's possible. Your sword blank is excellent; perhaps it can truly be reforged into a divine weapon."

Upon hearing Xiao Huohuo's request, Yun Li considered it for a few seconds and wasn't entirely opposed to it. She had had this idea since she first came into contact with the heavy ruler.

Because this is indeed an excellent sword blank, just like my old friend.

However, Lao Tie's potential was far greater than that, so she wasn't in a hurry to fully develop it. But if it were Xiao Huohuo's heavy ruler that was fully developed, there wouldn't be any wasted potential.

After all, Xiao Huohuo was not a swordsmith and could not continuously add better materials to it like I could.

She also forged a weapon for Xiao Huohuo, believing that this weapon would one day become awe-inspiring in his hands.

In the original novel, many people judged Xiao Huohuo by the heavy ruler on his back, and only then did they confirm his identity.

In some ways, his heavy ruler is far more famous than Xiao Huohuo himself.

"Really? Thank you so much, Yun Li!"

Upon hearing that Yun Li had agreed to forge a sword for him, Xiao Huohuo was overjoyed.

Judging from the girl's expression, it was definitely not just a matter of casually forging and strengthening, but a complete reforging of a fully formed weapon.