The Magical Blacksmith - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Where’s The Employee

Rakshasas were the guards of the Netherworld, they were also vengeful demons and could not be killed or eliminated. If either one of them crossed into the spirit realm or the mortal realm, lives would be lost as calamity would befall.

The Grand Elder’s heart skipped a bit when he saw signs of the opening widening. He quickly spat a drop of blood essence into the dull Soul-Gathering Banner.

With the boost of the Grand Elder’s blood essence, the Soul-Gathering Banner shone again and its sha energy surged.

The Grand Elder controlled the banner like a piece of cloth and wrapped the opening tightly.

The rakshasa’s struggled within the banner and its hands tried to tear its way out, but the Grand Elder’s vast and seemingly endless power was transferred into the banner, fueling it to suppress the agitated rakshasa.

As the suppression went on, the Grand Elder’s face started to turn red, he looked like he was going to exhaust himself but fortunately at the end, the rakshasa stopped trying to break out.

The Grand Elder spat blood at the end of the confrontation and almost collapsed on the ground.

Fortunately, Han Ling’er was quick enough to help the Grand Elder up, otherwise, the Nascent Soul Patriarch would have fallen on his backside.

However, the Grand Elder was not concerned about his injuries, he stared at the rakshasa’s hand that almost got out. He then quickly mustered his remaining energy to prepare himself for the final confrontation with the rakshasa.

It was at that critical moment, a figure in green descended like a bolt of lightning.

The person had a green mask on and resembled the physique of a 16, 17-year-old girl but her aura was unrivaled. It gave everyone the urge to worship her upon entrance.

“Sect Master!”

The Grand Elder squealed in shock and looked embarrassed after that.

“Mhmm.” The girl in green did not even look at him, all she did was grunt.

She then drew her from her waist and performed a swift and clear slash.

The slash felt as powerful as a dragon that could split the sky and divide the land. The fierce rakshasa’s hand was cut off immediately and black blood gushed out from the wound.

The rakshasa’s furious wail came from the opening between two worlds. After losing its hand, it dared not try to break through anymore as it was at a disadvantage. It was forced to retreat back to the Netherworld.

The crack in the void slowly healed and disappeared.

The girl in green waved her hand and the Soul-Gathering Banner flew to her.

She slightly furrowed her brows and said, “Nourish it for a hundred years and it shall not be used until then.”

The girl’s voice sounded pleasant but it gave Han Wushuang chills when he heard it. The Soul-Gathering Banner could not be used for a hundred years, meaning the dream of reviving his wife would have to be delayed indefinitely.

The Grand Elder then received the Soul-Gathering Banner from the girl. “Aye, Sect Master.”

The girl in green glanced at Han Wushuang and his daughter but did not say anything. She then transformed into a stream of green light, disappearing into the air.

The Grand Elder kept the Soul-Gathering Banner and looked at the grieving Han Wushuang.

He tried to console Han Wushuang by saying, “The Soul-Gathering Banner has been exhausted. If it is forcefully activated again, not only that it won’t work, but it will be completely destroyed. It’s not that the Sect Master did not want to give you the chance, she actually was trying to give you hope. I hope you can understand her intentions.”

Han Wushuang got up on his feet with the help of his daughter. He looked rather bleak. “I understand, I just feel that it’s a little unfair.”

Then, he led his daughter for a bow at the Grand Elder and said, “Thank you Grand Elder for helping.”

Even though the process failed to resummon Zhao Ya’s soul from the Netherland, the Grand Elder suffered severe damage because of it and it was worthy of Han Wushuang’s gratitude and respect.

Moreover, if Han Wushuang was the one controlling the Soul-Gathering Banner, it might turn out disastrous. The fearsome rakshasa struck fear in everyone’s heart.

Grand Elder felt bad for not being able to help either. He sighed and teleported away.

Han Ling’er consoled her father and to distract him from the outcome, she asked, “Father, why does the Sect Master look so young?”

Han Ling’er only knew the Sect Master was a female cultivator, it was her first time seeing the Sect Master in person and the youth intrigued her.

Han Wushuang regained his senses. He looked revered and serious when he said, “The Sect Master is extremely gifted, she realized the essence of the path of cultivation at a very young age, hence gaining immortal youth.”

Then, he suddenly thought of something and asked, “How did you ask the Grand Elder to help us?”

Han Ling’er did not know how to explain the strange mission given by the Grand Elder to her father, so after some hesitation, she said,” It’s nothing serious, I just had to run some errands for the sect.”

Han Wushuang was not overly concerned since every disciple would help the sect in different missions in any way they could. Since it was also necessary to keep the missions confidential, he simply nodded and said, “You must give it your best no matter how big the task is.”

“Mhmm!” Han Ling’er flushed and nodded.

…

Meanwhile, at Zhang Zhi’s blacksmith, he had been working the whole day.

After restoring the last flying sword of the day, he received a notification in his head.

“Experience point is full, forging level increased. The host’s new stats are as stated.”

“Name: Zhang Zhi

Cultivation: Early Foundation Building

Forging Level: 3

Forging Skill: Flying Sword Restoration (Low-tier Artifact), Flying Sword Refinement (Low-tier Artifact), Flying Sword forging (Epic-tier Artifact)

Experience: 0/1000”

Zhang Zhi wiped the sweat off his forehead. He had poured in the hard work and finally, he leveled up.

“Since the host’s forging level has reached Level 3, Material Shop access is granted.”

It was Zhang Zhi’s most anticipated function. From now on, he did not have to run around to buy materials to forge artifacts anymore, he could simply access the system shop conveniently.

Zhang Zhi projected his consciousness into the Material Shop as instructed.

There was a sea of materials available, irons, minerals, crystals of different types and even materials that had ceased to exist in the spirit realm were piled up into many tiny hills.

The system even told him that the materials would be automatically refilled when depleted, so Zhang Zhi never had to worry about the amount. Of course, given that Zhang Zhi had enough money to buy them all.

Zhang Zhi thought that ever since he opened the shop, the system had been exploiting him but he too gained a little out of the deals, so he planned to buy some iron from the Material Shop to test it out.

He saw a pile of refined iron and the price listed there was 5 low-tier spirit stones.

Zhang Zhi could not hold back his laughter. ‘The pile of refined iron weighed at least 10,000 catty but it’s selling only for 5 low-tier spirit stones?’

He was thinking about bringing the materials out of the system to sell to the cultivators and he would be able to a few hundred or even a few thousand times as profit.

‘I’m almost certain that it’s a loophole and I’m not that stupid to report it this time!’

‘Hehe. I’m smarter than the heavens, I’m smarter than the earth and I’m smarter than the system! Being smart is extremely fun!’ Zhang Zhi tried his best in holding back his laughter.

He then waved his hand. “Give me the one that cost 5 low-tier spirit stones.”

The system deducted 5 low-tier spirit stones from him.

While Zhang Zhi was looking forward to the appearance of 10,000 catty worth of refined iron, a refined iron, in the size of his fist, appeared in his hand.

“Not bad system, the sample is great, but where is the other refined iron?” Zhang Zhi asked with a smile.

“Refined iron cost 5 low-tier spirit stones per catty. You have already purchased it,” the system said lifelessly.

“Oh my God…” Zhang Zhi was in shock.

‘The price listed is per catty? Then it’s not cheap at all, it’s freaking expensive! This is literally a butcher shop! You are butchering me!’

Zhang Zhi complained, “You can buy 2 catty worth of refined iron outside with this price, this is slaughter! I object!”

“If the host doesn’t want it, I can remove the materials in the Material Shop.”

Zhang Zhi was rendered speechless by the system’s argument, he finally understood how his customers felt when he did this to them.

He stared at the refined iron in his hand that cost him 5 low-tier spirit stones per catty, he did not know whether to cry or to laugh anymore. He really had the urge to remove this expensive Material Shop from the system but after some thought, he realized something.

The Material Shop had a lot of rare materials that had ceased to exist in the world. Since nothing came for free, keeping the Material Shop around might be useful one day.

He said to the system, “Wait, just keep it.”

A while later, the system sent him another notification.

“The host forging level has reached Level 3, new level mission available:

As the future God Of Forging, you should not be dealing with trivial matters every day. Recruit an employee to work for you.

Reward: Big Flying Sword Forging Pack (Spirit Artifact Tier)”

The Big Flying Sword Forging Pack included all the forging skills for a flying sword but it was for spirit artifact instead of a normal artifact. No matter what the tier was, everything could be restored, refined, and forged.

It was what Zhang Zhi wanted at the moment because he dared not start accepting jobs for epic-tier artifacts. Only restoring and refining low-tier artifacts could not earn as quickly.

He always exclaimed that being too good could be a burden at times.

As for the mission of recruiting an employee, it was easy.

Given the current reputation of the blacksmith, even cultivators would want to come work for him, let alone mortals.

However, Zhang Zhi frowned after a while. Recruiting someone for the blacksmith was easy but it was difficult to recruit someone with a good personality.

The blacksmith’s services were currently high in demand. Zhang Zhi, as the owner, was able to reject the temptation (because he had the system watching him), but he could not guarantee the same for the employee.

If the employee fell to temptation and did something to ruin the blacksmith’s reputation, it would cause a lot of trouble.

After some serious thought, Zhang Zhi decided to delay the recruitment for another two days.

On the second day, Zhang Zhi opened the shop as usual. He spotted Han Ling’er from the crowd at first glance since she was practically the first friend he had in the spirit world.

It was rare but he greeted Han Ling’er first. “Immortal Han, you are here again? Is there anything urgent that I can help you with?”

“Nothing. I’m just here for restoration,” Han Ling’er said nervously. She dared not look into Zhang Zhi’s eyes.

“Oh, can I have a look at your flying sword?” Zhang Zhi asked.

Han Ling’er shook her head. “They were here first, you should take their requests first.”

“Okay.” Zhang Zhi did not argue with her since it would be her turn after a while.

However, Zhang Zhi entered a trance when he started smithing. He forgot about everything and concentrated on restoration and refining.

Since Han Ling’er brought a total of six damaged flying swords for restoration, she kept giving her spot away because she was embarrassed to make others wait for her.

In the evening, when Zhang Zhi restored the last flying sword for the day and wanted to close the shop, he suddenly noticed Han Ling’er.

Confused, he asked, “Immortal Han? Why are you still here? I’m closing already.”

Han Ling’er finally came back to her senses. She simply nodded and wanted to leave but Zhang Zhi finally remembered that he forgot about her from the start.

He tapped his forehead and said, “Oh wait, did I forget about restoring your flying swords?”

“It’s fine. This is a long term task anyway, it’s not urgent at all.” Han Ling’er did not want Zhang Zhi to work overtime because of her, so she wanted to leave and come back tomorrow.

“Wait.” Zhang Zhi thought for a while, it was his mistake for forgetting her.

He held her back and said, “It won’t take long, I’ll restore them for you.”

Before Han Ling’er could reject, Zhang Zhi took the magic pouch from her hand and took the flying swords out. He originally thought there was only one but he found six instead.

Embarrassed, Han Ling’er said, “These are all the damaged flying swords from the sect storage. I think I should come back tomorrow.”

A man must keep his promise once made. Zhang Zhi took the flying swords to the rear.

“Oh, can you help me close the door?”

He was afraid that other cultivators might come and make him work overtime, so he did not plan to give them the chance.

Han Ling’er could not reject him, so she did as told and closed the door.

The moment she closed the door, she suddenly realized that Zhang Zhi always closed on time and had never worked overtime.

Now, he was working overtime because of her, and more importantly, they were alone in the blacksmith.

The thought of being with Zhang Zhi alone in the blacksmith made Han Ling’er’s heart race and face red.