Chapter 28: The Gift of the Tempering Fruit

“All right, brothers, don’t be upset. I was just teasing you. Guidance will certainly come, but not yet. You haven’t even reached the Qi Induction stage, nor have you cultivated any advanced martial arts or blade techniques—how could you possibly leap straight to mastery?”

“If you wish to attain a realm of intent, you must first reach the Qi Induction stage and then practice martial arts. Only through deep understanding of these techniques can you finally approach that realm.”

Seeing the surge in negative emotions backstage and sensing the grievance from Xia Shuihan and the others, Lin Fan smiled at them, but his expression grew serious as he spoke.

“It was greed on our part,” Xia Shuihan said, calming down. “We haven’t even started formally cultivating martial arts, yet we’re already dreaming of mastery.”

Lin Fan’s words brought them back to reality. None of them had reached the Qi Induction stage, nor had they practiced any formal martial arts, yet they were impatiently hoping to cross into the realm of mastery—a blind ambition. Lin Fan’s achievement had shocked them, and his promise to guide them made them so excited they lost their sense.

Xia Shuihan looked at Lin Fan. “Brother Fan, wait for us. We’ll break through to Qi Induction as soon as possible. When we do, don’t go back on your word!”

Lin Fan nodded. “I always keep my word. A gentleman’s promise is as unyielding as four galloping horses. When the time comes, I guarantee you’ll touch the realm of intent.”

“Good!” Xia Shuihan and the others responded, a bright determination shining in their eyes. They silently vowed to reach the Qi Induction stage quickly so Brother Fan could teach them.

Actually, they were already at the tenth stage of Body Tempering, nearing completion. They could break through at any time, but they wanted to perfect the tenth stage first, believing it would solidify their foundations.

Xia Shuihan once had a stalk of Purple Gold Ginseng. If he consumed it, he would instantly perfect the tenth stage and break through to Qi Induction. But he hadn’t taken it because its main effect wasn’t enhancing the body, but boosting vital energy. If he consumed it now, it would only just help him break through to Qi Induction. However, if taken after reaching Qi Induction, it would add ten strands of vital energy, saving nearly two months of cultivation.

He figured it would take less than a month to perfect the tenth stage, then rely on his own cultivation before taking the ginseng after breaking through, saving much time. If he took it early, he’d waste over a month achieving his expected level.

At his age, cultivation was a race against time—he couldn’t afford any carelessness, lest he fall behind others. Taking it early was a loss, which is why he hadn’t used the Purple Gold Ginseng yet.

Now, however, he suddenly wanted to take it, because once he reached Qi Induction, Brother Fan would guide his cultivation. Even if he couldn’t reach mastery immediately, his martial skills would improve rapidly and his combat power would rise. Such gains would far outweigh the month lost to the ginseng.

“Ah, the Purple Gold Ginseng has already been sold!” Xia Shuihan froze, remembering he’d sold it to help Brother Fan buy a blade. He could only shake his head and smile bitterly—fate truly works in mysterious ways.

“Right, Brother Fan, here’s your blade!” Suddenly, Li Ji seemed to remember something. He took a long wooden box, about one and a half meters, from his storage ring and handed it to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan accepted it and casually asked, “How much did the blade cost? I’ll pay you.”

“There’s no need for payment. This is from all of us, Brother Fan. Didn’t you teach us the Wind and Thunder Force? Besides, you just promised to guide us to mastery. No amount of money could buy that!” Xia Shuihan and his friends all shook their heads.

Originally, they had pooled their money for the blade as a token of gratitude for the Wind and Thunder Force Lin Fan had taught them. Now, how could they accept his money? Moreover, he had just promised to guide their cultivation. If they took payment, it would be shameless.

“All right, I won’t insist. I’ll keep the money to treat you all to drinks!” Seeing their resolve, Lin Fan didn’t press the matter. Teaching them the Wind and Thunder Force had benefited them greatly. If he insisted on paying, it would only embarrass them.

Click!

Lin Fan pressed the lock on the long box, producing a crisp sound. He opened it.

“Hmm—?!” As the box opened, Lin Fan’s pupils contracted. He sensed something unusual about the blade.

The blade, lying steadily in the box, was pure white—not cold and hard, but rather crystalline and smooth. Its shape resembled the Tang blade from his previous world, with a simple handle and a slightly narrow blade, only four centimeters wide and four feet long, glimmering with a faint chill.

However, this wasn’t what unsettled Lin Fan; after all, its shape and color matched the blade he’d used in his previous life.

The real surprise was the blade’s spiritual essence—so strong he couldn’t even gauge it. He had never seen spiritual weapons in this world, but he had seen treasures, as his father possessed a mid-tier treasure sword. This blade’s spiritual power far surpassed his father’s sword.

This gift from Xia Shuihan and the others was extraordinary. Ordinary treasures cost anywhere from twenty thousand to over two hundred thousand silver, but that only applied to below mid-tier. Mid-tier and above ranged from two hundred thousand to two million silver!

His father’s sword had cost three hundred thousand silver, and this blade, which surpassed it, could easily be worth four or five hundred thousand silver—possibly even a million or two.

Moreover, he’d heard Xia Shuihan and the others mention that the craftsman had charged much more than others, so the price could only be higher.

Before the Lin family’s downfall, not counting their mines, their dozen or so shops brought in only ten thousand silver in pure profit per month; including the mines, just thirty thousand. After defeating the three great families and absorbing all their shops and mines, total monthly profit reached only two hundred fifty thousand.

The families behind Xia Shuihan and the others were far more powerful than the unified Lin family, but their monthly income was just seven or eight million silver. But that was the family’s income—how much could go to the younger generation?

Take the Lin family for example: their monthly profits were thirty thousand, but Lin Fan’s own allowance was only twenty silver. The family had to pay guards, cover daily expenses, and so on.

Similarly, Xia Shuihan and his friends had stronger family backgrounds, but also more staff and greater expenses. Their families cultivated them with full support, but wouldn’t give them much spending money—if they got seven or eight thousand silver per month, they’d be fortunate.

This allowance increased as their talent was discovered and their cultivation advanced. At age ten, two or three hundred silver a month was already quite good. Over the years, as children of great families, their spending was lavish, and they had little savings.

Many lesser families, guards, or wandering cultivators hoping to curry favor would give them gifts, so they’d have some reserves. Yet, with cultivation costs and expenditures, spending hundreds of thousands—perhaps a million or two—would have exhausted their savings.

Lin Fan looked up at Xia Shuihan and the others, who smiled and asked, “Well, Brother Fan, do you like the blade?”

“I like it very much. Thank you!” Lin Fan smiled, closed the box, lifted his cup, and said, “This blade must be very valuable. You’ve put your hearts into this. I have nothing more to say—let’s drink!”

To Lin Fan, meeting Xia Shuihan and the others was partly because of their character, partly their talent, so he taught them the Wind and Thunder Force. To him, it was just an ordinary skill, and teaching it depended on his mood—he expected nothing in return.

Now he saw their sincerity: because he taught them, they spent all their savings to buy him this blade. Such loyalty must be remembered!

It warmed the coldness he’d felt toward brotherhood in this world.

“No need to thank us, Brother Fan. As long as you like it, that’s all that matters. Come, let’s drink!” Xia Shuihan and the others happily raised their cups and clinked them with Lin Fan’s.

“You want to reach Qi Induction quickly and have me guide you? I happen to have some fruits that might help you get there faster!” After finishing his drink, Lin Fan entered his room and returned with a smile, holding six Body Tempering Fruits.

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