Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 119 Taking on a Disciple?

"Grandpa Xu, your...master?"

Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised by this answer.

Xu Fugui's master must be a Foundation Establishment cultivator, or perhaps a Golden Core cultivator?

This seems a bit too audacious... Xu Fugui had been saying he was going to see a senior, but he never expected it would be his master.

"Yes, my master is the Lord of Iron Hammer Island."

Xu Fugui smiled, then summoned a flying boat in the courtyard. "If there's nothing else, come with me."

"good!"

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he summoned the Crimson Sky Boat.

Upon seeing this, Xu Fugui glared.

"Where's Lei Junzhou?"

"This..." Ji Yuan said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'll put it away. It's more convenient to use the Crimson Sky Boat within the sect."

"convenient?"

Xu Fugui chuckled; how could he not understand the meaning behind Ji Yuan's words?

"You're so young, I don't know where you learned to be so cautious."

"Alright, I asked you to take out the Thunder Falcon Boat so that my master could hammer it a few more times later. It's such a waste that such good material was turned into a high-grade magic weapon."

"After my master hammers it a few times, it will become a top-grade magic weapon."

Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a surge of joy upon hearing this.

"Iron...Iron Hammer Senior, are you a weapon refiner?"

"Okay, follow me quickly."

"Grandpa Xu, this is my first visit. Should I prepare a gift for you?"

Ji Yuan couldn't figure out this senior's personality. It would be impolite not to give him a gift, but giving him a gift would seem to change the whole meaning, so he decided to ask first.

"Heh, if you're going to deliver it, you'd better not go. I'm afraid you'll get beaten to death."

Xu Fugui naturally knew what kind of temper his master had.

"Then I won't see you off, I won't see you off."

Xu Fugui chuckled and left, while Ji Yuan quickly followed after switching his flying boat for a Thunder Falcon boat.

Foundation Establishment cultivators usually open islands on the outskirts of the Water Dragon Sect's many islands. Some of them simply pick up existing islands, while others activate the Water Dragon Sect's protective formation to fill in lakes and create land, thus building an island out of thin air for themselves.

The island of Iron Hammer Island Lord is located to the west of the Water Dragon Sect. Ji Yuan followed Xu Fugui and flew for most of the day before arriving near the island group of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Hatchling Dragon Island.

Upon arriving here, out of respect for the Foundation Establishment senior, the two dared not take to the air in their flying boats, and instead moved on the water's surface.

Several more hours passed.

Finally, at the moment when the moon was high in the sky, the two arrived at the front of an island.

Ji Yuan had seen it from afar; even the islands of Foundation Establishment cultivators weren't as big as his own Misty Island...

"Master, your disciple Xu Fugui pays his respects."

Old Master Xu led Ji Yuan outside the island's protective formation and bowed.

Soon, the formation opened a crack, and a rough voice came from inside, "How many times have I told you? Next time you set off from Dragon Hatchery Island, set off at night, so you'll arrive here during the day."

"I'm so annoyed that you make me open the door for you in the middle of the night every day."

"Hehe, anyway, Master, you don't sleep, so what does it matter?"

After Xu Fugui finished speaking, he nodded to Ji Yuan and then said, "Master, I've brought the Ji Yuan I've been telling you about."

"Damn it, I'm not blind, so get in here, all of you."

This senior is quite straightforward... Compared to those who are more reserved in their speech, Ji Yuan prefers to deal with seniors like this.

At least we won't feel so uncomfortable around each other.

Ji Yuan followed through the formation and immediately felt a surge of heat coming towards him.

It really is a place for refining weapons.

In the very center of the island was a courtyard house, and behind it was what looked like an open-air weapon-forging workshop, but Ji Yuan didn't dare to look closely.

When he and Xu Fugui arrived in the courtyard, they saw an extremely tall, white-haired old man sitting there. His hair and beard were all sticking up, and his eyes were wide open, making him look like a villain.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the Iron Hammer Island Master looked up.

With just one glance, he uttered a soft "Hmm?"

Before Ji Yuan could react, he took a step and was right in front of him.

"You're Ji Yuan?"

The Iron Hammer Island Lord looked Ji Yuan up and down, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as if he were examining a rare treasure.

"Exactly...that's right."

Ji Yuan was so frightened by his gaze that she took a few steps back.

"Good material, good material."

"Iron Hammer Island Master said to himself."

"No, Master, please tone it down, don't scare him." Xu Fugui said helplessly, while giving Ji Yuan a wink, indicating that the Iron Hammer Island Master was just like that and meant no harm.

"You don't know anything!"

The Iron Hammer Island Master turned and roared at him, "With this physique, he's a natural-born blacksmith."

Xu Fugui's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"Master, do you mean you're willing to accept Ji Yuan as your disciple?"

Taking on apprentices?!

Ji Yuan was startled. So that was what Old Master Xu was planning... This explained why he had taken such good care of him back then.

Admittedly, Ji Yuan didn't have much objection to becoming a disciple of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Moreover, judging from the way Xu Fugui interacted with the Iron Hammer Island Master just now, this Foundation Establishment senior should be alright.

If I take a Foundation Establishment disciple as my master, even if I don't ask Li Changhe for help, I will still have a backer in the Water Dragon Sect, and at least I won't have to worry about being coerced.

Just as Ji Yuan was looking forward to it, he saw the Iron Hammer Island Master shake his head.

Ji Yuan, who had just been looking forward to it, suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator just casually accept someone as a disciple... Ji Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If the other party didn't want to accept disciples, there was nothing he could do.

Unexpectedly, the Iron Hammer Island Master then said:

"Take him as a disciple? I am not worthy to take him as a disciple."

"What?"

Xu Fugui blurted out instinctively, "Master... Master, what did you say?"

"Oh."

The Iron Hammer Island Master scoffed, "You just took a liking to this kid's talent for body tempering, so you want me to take him as my last disciple and pass on my mantle."

"That's...exactly."

Xu Fugui nodded reluctantly.

The Iron Hammer Island Master then turned to Ji Yuan, "You've already achieved minor success in body tempering, but now you're stuck at the threshold of major success, unable to cross that line, right?"

"What? He's about to complete his body tempering?"

This news surprised Xu Fugui even more.

In an instant, he suddenly understood why the Iron Hammer Island Master said he was not worthy to take Ji Yuan as his disciple.

Because even the Iron Hammer Island Master had only reached the Great Perfection stage in body tempering, and now Ji Yuan had actually reached the threshold of Great Perfection as well…

"Exactly."

Ji Yuan nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

Several years ago, Ji Yuan had already achieved minor success in body tempering, and in the years that followed, he never stopped eating spirit pig meat.

But his physical strength just wouldn't improve.

"I always feel that something is missing in my body; I haven't grasped the secrets of body tempering, which is why I haven't achieved great success. I humbly request your guidance, senior!"

Having finally encountered a senior in the art of body refinement, Ji Yuan naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

"That's easy."

The Iron Hammer Island Master paced slowly in the courtyard, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Compared to spiritual cultivation, I am indeed lacking in body refinement. Of course... it may also be because I am not skilled enough."

"If one achieves the Great Perfection of Body Refinement, one is comparable to the peak of Qi Refining. Once one's body becomes as solid as Vajra, one can even rival the Foundation Establishment cultivators. But beyond that, it becomes less effective."

The Iron Hammer Island Master sighed.

"After spiritual cultivation comes the Golden Core Realm, at which point one can refine extremely powerful natal magic weapons. Once the core fire is unleashed, nothing can withstand its flames. It is said that when one's cultivation reaches an even higher level, one can cultivate supernatural powers, at which point one can even draw upon the power of heaven and earth. As for body refinement... it seems possible, but we on the Canglu Continent have never heard of it."

The Iron Hammer Island Master shook his head as he spoke.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

"Tell me why you haven't achieved great success in body refinement."

Upon hearing this, not only Ji Yuan but also Xu Fugui perked up their ears.

He also wanted to see what was going on with Ji Yuan.

"Please give me your guidance, senior."

Ji Yuan took a deep breath and bowed deeply to the Iron Hammer Island Master.

"It's simple, because you didn't exert any effort at all."

"You didn't exert any force?" Xu Fugui asked in surprise, "How is that possible? You've almost reached the pinnacle of body refinement, how could you not have used any force?"

The Iron Hammer Island Master glanced at him indifferently, "Ask him yourself."

Xu Fugui turned his head and looked at Ji Yuan in disbelief.

The latter gave an awkward laugh.

"Actually, I did use some force, but I never used my full strength."

be honest.

Ji Yuan never used his full physical strength from beginning to end. The only time he exerted force was when he was slaughtering a pig and had to move the pig's carcass.

At other times... really not.

"Heh, I really don't know how you managed to train your physique to this level."

The Iron Hammer Island Lord scoffed, but his eyes grew even brighter.

In his view, what is Ji Yuan's situation?

That's pure talent!

To develop such a physique without even using any strength—if this isn't talent, then what is?

"Luck, luck."

Ji Yuan smiled sheepishly.

"Alright, stay with me for ten days, and I'll help you achieve mastery of body refinement."

The Iron Hammer Island Master pounded his chest loudly, as if helping Ji Yuan break through was nothing at all.

"Master..."

Xu Fugui listened to these words and was somewhat lost in thought.

Indeed, Xu Fugui had already given up on the idea when the Iron Hammer Island Master said he was unwilling to accept Ji Yuan as his disciple, but unexpectedly, he was now able to agree to it.

"Alright, stop being so self-satisfied."

The Iron Hammer Island Master waved his hand, "The reason I'm willing is because I've taken a liking to this kid's talent. Let's make a good connection and become friends."

"Make friends?!"

Xu Fugui glared.

"What's wrong!"

The Iron Hammer Island Lord's eyes widened even more. "Do I need your permission to make friends?!"

Ji Yuan silently shrank his neck and took a step back.

"No, this kid called me... Grandpa Xu." Xu Fugui chuckled awkwardly.

"Ha, so you mean you want me to call you 'Grandpa Xu' a few times too?"

"No, no, no, no."

Xu Fugui hurriedly denied it.

But the Iron Hammer Island Lord was no longer listening; he pointed to the house on his right.

"Get back to copying books, you son of a bitch! This is outrageous!"

When the Iron Hammer Island Master displayed his masterly authority, Xu Fugui had no choice but to back down and sighed as he went into the next room.

"You, come with me."

With a wave of his hand, the Iron Hammer Island Master walked directly towards the weapon-forging workshop in the back room.

Ji Yuan looked around and wasn't worried that the old man would harm him.

There's no need for that. If he really had that idea, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble.

Not to mention... if you don't believe in this senior, how can you not believe in Old Master Xu?

When Ji Yuan arrived at the back room, he saw a huge bronze cauldron, as tall as two people, standing in the center. Although the ground was also soil, the luster on its surface made it seem harder than iron.

The Iron Hammer Island Master casually picked up an iron hammer from the ground and tossed it behind him.

"Take it."

Ji Yuan quickly caught it with both hands.

First, there was a sudden sinking sensation; he was almost pulled to the ground by the heavy iron hammer.

"Useless! You've ruined your physique, which was just one step away from perfection. Use your strength; it's not like you can't lift it!"

The Iron Hammer Island Lord roared, and Ji Yuan slowly exerted his strength, only to find that he could actually lift the heavy iron hammer slowly, and it seemed that this was not even his limit.

"I'll teach you a set of hammer techniques in a bit. Don't go anywhere for the next few days, just stay here and hammer for me."

"If you can't kill him with a hammer, then hammer him to death."

After speaking, the Iron Hammer Island Master took out an iron ingot from his storage bag and threw it at Ji Yuan's feet, making a loud "bang".

"When you can hammer this iron hammer down to the size of your palm, you will have mastered the art of body tempering."

Ji Yuan looked down.

The iron ingot was as big as a human head and looked to be of extremely high quality.

"No, are you serious, senpai?"

"Ha, take this hammer!"

Without saying a word, the Iron Hammer Island Master immediately raised an iron hammer and smashed it down on Ji Yuan's forehead.

(End of this chapter)