She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 60

◎Kill You 1.0◎

—Portable Stick-On Tattoo Ring with a Single Red Dot.

This name was the result of Yan Luoyue’s careful deliberation.

After being criticized—either subtly or bluntly—by most people for her naming style, Yan Luoyue engaged in some self-reflection.

In the end, she decided to rein in her mischievous tendencies slightly.

So this time, she adopted a "Pinduoduo-style" naming approach, cramming all the trending keywords into one product listing.

As for what this crafted item actually was… well, let the users figure it out from the keywords themselves.

The examiner picked up the tiny red dot.

If anyone had been observing closely, they would have noticed his hand trembling ever so slightly.

He was a cultivator with some reputation in the artifact-refining world, someone who had seen great things.

Even the spatial compression threads refined by Niu Shujian hadn’t fazed him.

Yet, Yan Luoyue’s "ring" managed to do just that.

Because this red dot wasn’t just a display of technical mastery—

It also showcased a completely unprecedented, utterly deranged approach that had never been seen in the cultivation world before!

Refusing to believe it, the examiner channeled his spiritual energy into the dot and discovered, with mixed emotions, that its capacity was exactly one standard cubic unit.

The only problem was…

"How can this even be called a ring?"

If a tiny red dot dabbed on a finger joint could count as a ring, then a pancake roll might as well be another form of a meat sandwich!

Faced with the examiner’s skepticism, Yan Luoyue nodded calmly and offered a suggestion.

"Of course it counts. For example, if you stick a circle of these same-sized red dots around the base of your finger, wouldn’t it look more like a ring then?"

"……"

The examiner visualized the scene in his mind.

And thus, the cultivation world witnessed its first-ever case of trypophobia.

Seeing this, Yan Luoyue kindly elaborated.

"I refined it as a red dot because that’s the smallest possible form. But if a client requests it, I can also shape it into a ring, a floral ornament, a scar sticker, a nine-headed dragon tattoo… As long as the payment in spirit stones is sufficient, all aesthetic preferences can take a back seat."

After all, back in Worlds Unite, once the meme-loving players had developed this new storage technology, someone even refined a nose hair out of it.

In the end, that player achieved a feat never before accomplished—

He proved with his own body that light bulbs don’t just get stuck in mouths—they can also get lodged in nostrils.

Don’t ask how the bulb was stuffed into the nose without clipping through the model.

The answer is simple: the player had chosen the hippo demon race, whose nostrils were elastic and spacious.

In any case, with such pioneers setting the bar, Yan Luoyue’s approach seemed almost (self-proclaimed) conventional by comparison.

After hearing Yan Luoyue’s explanation, the examiner’s eyelid twitched.

He immediately declared her exam passed and personally handed her the commemorative badge.

Though her refining logic was baffling enough to make one suspect her brain had been squashed by a door in childhood,

The sheer skill and precision she demonstrated at such a young age left everyone deeply impressed.

The examiner solemnly said, "Little girl, you’re going to make a name for yourself."

Yan Luoyue thanked him, accepted the badge with both hands, but instead of pinning it to her chest, she casually tucked it into her sleeve.

She took a few steps to the side and smiled at Niu Shujian, who stood frozen in place.

Look at him—his slightly tanned complexion resembled the sturdy trunk of a money tree,

And the sound of his clenched fists cracking like popping joints was as melodious as the clinking of spirit stones!

"Hey, big bro," Yan Luoyue chirped. "I won. Pay up."

Niu Shujian gritted his teeth, his face twisting with humiliation.

Admitting defeat was far more unbearable than parting with the Soulflame Fire itself.

He took a deep breath and declared, "This doesn’t count."

As he spoke, his voice grew steadier, his tone rising with conviction—clearly, he’d convinced himself.

"If it’s just about compressing standard space to this size, I could do it too. You’re just a little girl exploiting a loophole in the definition of a ‘ring.’ How does that make you the winner?"

Yan Luoyue smirked. "Oh? You really think you can do it? How about I buy another set of materials from the exam hall, and you give it a try?"

"…You!"

Niu Shujian choked on his words.

Stubbornly, he jutted his chin and dug in his heels. "No matter what, I don’t accept this result."

After all, the Soulflame Fire was in his possession, and their bet hadn’t specified how many rounds they’d compete.

As long as he refused to concede, what could this little brat possibly do to him?

Yan Luoyue chuckled coldly, unsurprised by his behavior.

Virtue is hard to cultivate, but vice comes naturally.

A grown man—a fully developed adult—had stooped to picking on three children.

Could anyone really expect moral integrity from someone like that?

With a light laugh, Yan Luoyue broke the tense silence by offering an out.

"Fine, let’s call this round a draw. How about best of three?"

Niu Shujian snapped, "Deal!"

In his eyes, a five-year-old, no matter how prodigious, could only have solid fundamentals at best.

The upcoming tests wouldn’t be something a little girl could handle just by relying on her experience crafting storage pouches.

…

The second-tier artificer exam required participants to forge a sword.

As long as the sword reached the Mystic-grade, the artificer would earn their second-tier badge.

Thanks to the spectacle of the first exam—Yan Luoyue’s "ring" and Niu Shujian’s performance—they’d already drawn considerable attention.

Add to that Yan Luoyue’s extreme youth, Niu Shujian’s affiliation with the Hongtong Palace, and the rumors about their wager…

The combination of factors drew a crowd of artificers who came specifically to watch the second exam.

Niu Shujian glanced around smugly, making no effort to shoo them away.

Back at Hongtong Palace, every time he refined an artifact, a crowd of junior disciples would gather to admire and flatter him.

A mere twenty-something onlookers was nothing compared to that.

Besides, this little girl was only five or six years old. What kind of grand scenes could she have witnessed?

With so many eyes on her, she’d probably get nervous, her hands would shake, and her techniques would falter.

The thought eased Niu Shujian’s mood somewhat.

He even adopted a mentorly tone and "advised" Yan Luoyue, "For an artificer, mental fortitude is just as important as skill."

Yan Luoyue: "…Thanks for the tip. I’ll remember that—for you."

She hefted the material box provided by the exam hall and asked,

"The competition involves forging swords, and since everyone is here to witness it, how should we determine the winner?"

Niu Shujian tilted his head in thought, his eyes suddenly flashing with a sharp glint.

"First, we'll compare the grade. If the grades are the same, we'll cross the swords we've forged—the one that doesn't break wins."

"Agreed."

With the terms settled, Yan Luoyue examined the materials provided by Silver Phoenix Pavilion.

Noticing five pieces of Dark Essence Ore arranged side by side, she picked one up, weighed it in her palm, and gradually revealed a faint smile.

To prevent others from copying techniques, competitors could request a special veil for privacy during the test.

For the second round, Yan Luoyue and Niu Shujian worked behind the veils.

Occasional flashes of firelight illuminated the curtains, further piquing the curiosity of the onlookers.

The wait was long, and a few idle blacksmiths even pulled out a deck of "Monster Slayer" cards to pass the time.

Finally, during the third round of Monster Slayer, both competitors lifted their veils simultaneously.

Niu Shujian stood even prouder than before, his chest puffed out. Without waiting for prompting, he unveiled the cloth covering his sword on the tray.

A gleaming blade lay upon the dark wooden tray.

The long sword shimmered with a cold, restrained brilliance, its edge so sharp it seemed capable of piercing eyes with just a glance.

Three layers of silver frost patterns adorned the blade—a clear mark of a Spiritual-grade artifact.

Spiritual-grade! A full tier above Mystic-grade!

And this was forged using only the materials provided for the test.

Compared to crafting artifacts with personally gathered rare materials, this truly showcased real skill!

Amidst the chorus of admiration, Niu Shujian finally felt vindicated.

Still wary of Yan Luoyue, he didn’t wait for her to unveil her sword. Instead, he glanced sideways at her material box first.

Seeing all five pieces of Dark Essence Ore used up, Niu Shujian let out a loud "Ha!"

Someone obligingly asked, "Brother Niu, what’s so amusing?"

Niu Shujian smugly pointed at Yan Luoyue’s depleted materials.

"Everyone knows Dark Essence Ore is a quenching treasure for weapon forging."

"But few realize that while it’s excellent, its quantity is tricky to balance. Too little, and the weapon lacks sharpness; too much, and it becomes brittle."

The second-tier exam provided excess materials precisely to test the blacksmith’s familiarity with material properties.

Niu Shujian had heard this tale long ago—a benefit of information flow within major sects.

In contrast, how could a young, untrained demon from the wilderness know such intricacies?

Niu Shujian crossed his arms. "Seeing this girl used up all the Dark Essence Ore, I’m certain her sword will be sharp but fragile, easily broken—hence my laughter."

Many first-tier blacksmiths, unaware of these details, instinctively looked to the examiner.

The examiner gave a slight nod, tacitly confirming the explanation.

"...Ah, I see."

"That little girl… what a pity."

Ignoring Niu Shujian’s remarks, Yan Luoyue lifted the cloth covering her creation.

Heavy use of Dark Essence Ore had turned the sword pitch black.

Yet it, too, was a Spiritual-grade artifact.

At her age, such craftsmanship should have earned widespread praise.

But with Niu Shujian’s critique fresh in their minds, the crowd now scrutinized the blade with skepticism.

"She really did use too much Dark Essence Ore..."

"It’s a rare material. Only disciples from major sects get enough exposure to master its properties at a low level… Ordinary blacksmiths, alas."

It was like asking art students to paint an electric rice cooker in an era where the average income was 300 coins.

How would a candidate from a poor mountain village, still cooking over firewood, even know what one looked like?

For them, the test was lost from the start.

A "Monster Slayer" card accidentally triggered, playing the voice line of the Mud Burrower:

—"They say I was born in filth, destined for weakness. But I refuse! I refuse!"

The scene and the words resonated, evoking deep sympathy.

Under the weight of the crowd’s pitying gazes, Yan Luoyue remained unshaken.

She waved her sword playfully and challenged Niu Shujian. "Come on."

Niu Shujian scoffed. "Fine. Let’s make your loss clear today."

Witnessed by all, both adjusted their cultivation to the early Foundation Establishment stage.

In Niu Shujian’s hand, a silver crescent of sword light arced through the air, its fierce momentum clashing against the ancient black glow in Yan Luoyue’s grip.

The moment the two Spiritual-grade artifacts met midair, several onlookers winced and shut their eyes.

A crisp click echoed as the blades collided.

When the crowd looked again, Niu Shujian’s sword bore a clear crack.

Yan Luoyue’s blade, however, had snapped in half—only a thin, skin-like connection held it together.

"Ah, what a shame."

"Too much Dark Essence Ore after all."

"At her age, crafting such an artifact is impressive. With a master’s guidance, she could become a renowned blacksmith in a decade or two!"

Amid the murmurs, those who had closed their eyes finally reopened them.

Their first sight was the two swords—and then someone gasped.

"Wait… her sword isn’t broken!"

Huh? But they’d seen it snap—how could it be intact?

Heads swiveled back in unison.

There, Yan Luoyue still held her sword—except the blade had… reattached itself?

What?

Hold on, this defies not just common sense but physics too!

In the crowd, someone dropped a "Monster Slayer" card, accidentally activating the Twin-Headed Demon’s voice line:

—"Hahaha! Bet you never saw this coming!"

Everyone: "..."

Despite being seasoned blacksmiths, not a single person could fathom how Yan Luoyue’s sword had unbroken itself.

One person slapped their hands together in realization. "Could it… could it have birthed a sword spirit?"

After all, the mark of a Spiritual-grade artifact—and thus a master blacksmith—was its potential to nurture a weapon spirit.

But no one had ever heard of a freshly forged Spiritual-grade artifact manifesting one.

Wasn’t that reserved for Earth-grade or even Heaven-grade artifacts?

As the crowd buzzed in shock, Yan Luoyue calmly explained:

"No weapon spirit. I just didn’t forge a single sword—I forged a set of swords."

Five pieces of Mystic Essence Ore were used by Yan Luoyue to forge five short swords.

"Unless removed with a special technique, the five mechanisms on the blade are interconnected. If even one remains intact, the entire blade won’t break."

As she spoke, she demonstrated with a practical example.

Yan Luoyue extended her small hand and lightly brushed the blade. Instantly, a slender black short sword detached from the main edge.

Gripping this short sword, she tapped it against Niu Shujian’s still-unsheathed longsword—

With a crisp click, the tip of Niu Shujian’s sword was cleanly severed.

The voice of the Monster Slayer card game rang out again. The card’s owner fumbled to turn it off but accidentally maxed out the volume instead.

—"First Break: The Sleeping Dragon Awakens!"

Everyone: "…"

They felt as if they were caught in a chaotic whirlwind, their facial muscles frozen stiff.

Even their brains seemed to stop functioning at the sight.

Helplessly, they could only watch as Yan Luoyue set aside the first short sword, then detached the second, a stubbier blade.

Another clang—Niu Shujian’s sword lost another chunk.

The Monster Slayer card must have malfunctioned. Not only was the voice line still blaring, but it also automatically played the victory line for a second consecutive win.

—"Second Break: Sharp Enough to Cut Gold!"

The crowd: "…"

Well… that was… oddly fitting.

Unfazed, Yan Luoyue swiftly moved on to the third short sword.

This one had barbs along its edge, and the refined Mystic Iron Ore had honed its sharpness to perfection.

Monster Slayer continued its dutiful broadcast, its owner tossing the card aside with a resigned expression, as if ready to give up entirely.

—"Third Break: Transcending the Mundane!"

Next came the fourth short sword.

Its shape resembled undulating waves.

—"Fourth Break: Fame in a Single Stroke!"

By the time Yan Luoyue reached the fifth sword, not only had the onlookers fallen silent, but even Niu Shujian had been thoroughly dumbfounded.

He numbly held the nearly whittled-down remains of his sword, forgetting he could simply set it aside on the table.

Honestly, he didn’t need to be so dedicated—he looked like Yan Luoyue’s personal sword stand.

—"Fifth Break: Peerless Under Heaven!"

After using all five short swords, Yan Luoyue channeled her spiritual energy, threading them together like a needle through cloth, reassembling them into one.

When the five swords merged back into a single blade, someone finally caught on.

"Wait… it’s not just the combined sword. Each of these five swords is a spiritual-grade artifact on its own!"

Before the words fully settled, Yan Luoyue flicked the sword cloth, covering her masterpiece once more.

Though she had gone silent, the ever-diligent Monster Slayer persisted with its announcements.

—"Sixth Break. I’ve got nothing left to say—you’re invincible!"

Everyone present: "…"

Frankly, that summed up their thoughts perfectly.

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

They couldn’t think of a single word to describe it.

Little girl, you’re truly unstoppable!

Unnoticed, the crowd around the examination hall had grown thicker.

At the very edge stood two men in the robes of the Hongtong Palace disciples.

News traveled slowly. By the time Yan Luoyue and Niu Shujian faced off, the praise for the "thread-ring" had just reached their ears.

The man in the lighter disciple robes said admiringly,

"Senior Brother Niu, wasn’t compressing rings into threads your family’s specialty? Is that your brother inside?"

Niu Qidao chuckled modestly. "My younger brother’s talent is nothing extraordinary. The sect’s disciples overpraise him."

No sooner had he spoken than the two watched Yan Luoyue deliver the final strike, leaving Niu Shujian clutching nothing but a bottle-opener-like hilt!

Light-robed disciple: "…"

Niu Qidao: "…"

An awkward silence fell between them.

After a moment, the light-robed disciple forced a dry laugh.

"Ah… so that’s not your brother in there. My mistake, Senior Brother Niu."

With that, he slipped away, unwilling to witness the brothers’ humiliation firsthand.

Niu Qidao’s chest heaved once before he pushed through the crowd with a sweep of his arms.

Someone jostled by him turned to protest, but the gleaming sixth-rank blacksmith’s badge on Niu Qidao’s chest instantly deflated their anger.

Niu Qidao strode forward unimpeded, inserting himself between Yan Luoyue and Niu Shujian without a word.

When a shadow fell over him, Niu Shujian instinctively looked up. Recognizing his elder brother’s face, he stiffened in alarm.

"What happened?"

Not wanting to dwell on his embarrassment, Niu Shujian summarized the events in a few clipped sentences.

"A loss is a loss. Our family doesn’t shy from defeat." Niu Qidao turned, his gaze piercing Yan Luoyue.

Something about her seemed to trigger a realization, and his lips curled in disdain.

"But how could you lose to… this kind of lowly little demon?"

The elder brother’s arrogance far outstripped the younger’s. His glare was so venomous that Yan Luoyue couldn’t help but frown.

Then, Niu Qidao’s lips moved soundlessly—clearly transmitting a private message to his brother.

Niu Shujian’s expression shifted to sudden understanding, a smirk returning to his face.

As for Niu Qidao, he first swept a cold glare over the spectators.

"Non-examinees, clear out. This is an examination hall, not a marketplace for your noise."

Once the crowd had been forcibly dispersed, Niu Qidao loomed over Yan Luoyue.

"Do you still intend to proceed with the third-rank blacksmith examination?"

—Are you still going through with the third round of your bet?

Meeting Niu Qidao’s icy stare, Yan Luoyue held her ground without flinching.

Then, a figure behind the brothers caught her eye.

A relaxed smile bloomed on her face.

"Of course. Why wouldn’t I?"

"…Bold." Niu Qidao bit out the word.

Noticing her momentary distraction, he pressed, "What were you looking at just now?"

Niu Shujian hurriedly warned, "Big Brother, this girl’s full of tricks—don’t fall for it! If you ask, she’ll definitely say Demon Venerable Ji is standing behind you!"

Niu Qidao shoved his brother aside impatiently. "Enough."

He narrowed his eyes at Yan Luoyue. "Speak!"

"I can only say—Demon Venerable Ji was indeed behind you."

Yan Luoyue spread her hands innocently. "Really, he was there a second ago… Don’t look at me like that. The moment you turned around, he vanished."

"Clever words." Niu Qidao snorted, clearly unconvinced.

He gestured dismissively to the examiner as if summoning a servant.

"Weren't they supposed to take the third-rank artificer certification exam? Let them begin."

"..."

Even the examiner only wore a fifth-rank artificer badge on his chest.

Not to mention, none of the examiners had any background from the Hongtong Palace.

Despite being bossed around so imperiously by Niu Qidao, he could only swallow his frustration.

The third-rank artificer exam was semi-self-directed.

Candidates could freely choose materials from the provided range and then craft a defensive artifact.

The examiner stated the criteria as per regulations: "The passing standard is either creating a spirit-grade artifact or crafting one capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator..."

"Wait."

Niu Qidao interrupted the examiner: "We artificers craft artifacts for practicality, not just flashy grades. Let’s set the latter as the standard—the former isn’t necessary."

"..."

The examiner fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.

He could roughly guess Niu Qidao’s next move.

But looking at Yan Luoyue’s still-innocent, round face, the examiner couldn’t suppress his pity for her talent.

"In that case, the cultivator responsible for testing later—"

Niu Qidao shot him a sidelong glance: "Why the rush? I’ll make my own arrangements."

Judging by his expression, the "arrangement" likely meant either he himself or someone he handpicked would be the tester.

"..."

The examiner seemed to realize something, his face gradually paling.

He gave Yan Luoyue an apologetic glance before turning away, unable to bear the sight.

"...Very well, let’s begin then."

The materials available for third-rank artificers were laid out in a row on the long table.

Niu Shujian sauntered forward leisurely.

With a malicious grin, his eyes fixed on Yan Luoyue, he picked up an item from the pile.

—It was a turtle shell.

Niu Shujian chuckled gleefully, shaking his head as he counted: "One turtle shell, two turtle shells, three turtle shells..."

"..."

Yan Luoyue finally understood what Niu Qidao had noticed about her earlier and what he had whispered to his brother.

Niu Qidao’s cultivation was likely a full realm higher than hers, so he had discerned her turtle-kin heritage.

Admittedly, this move was like a toad squatting on one’s foot—it didn’t bite, but it was disgustingly annoying.

Scanning the table, she lamented that this was an artificer exam site—plenty of ores and minerals, but no ginseng roots.

...Honestly, even a cucumber would’ve sufficed, just so she could snap it in half.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, a figure materialized in the room as if painted in meticulous detail.

His presence was so concealed, his position so perfectly chosen, that apart from Yan Luoyue, who faced him directly, no one else noticed his arrival.

"..."

Yan Luoyue fell silent again.

She’d realized this back during the divorce at the haunted village—this esteemed figure really seemed to enjoy watching drama!

"What’s wrong?"

Noticing Yan Luoyue’s odd expression, Niu Shujian waved the material in his hand mockingly.

"Not picking materials yet? Thinking of backing down?"

Yan Luoyue paused briefly.

Assessing the intelligence of this spoiled young master, she concluded that subtlety would be lost on him.

So, she asked bluntly: "Have you ever heard this saying?"

"Huh?"

"When someone does too many wicked things, eventually—"

"A ghost appears behind them?" Niu Shujian sneered. "Then why isn’t one behind me yet?"

—At least he was self-aware enough to admit his deeds were mostly wicked.

Even Niu Qidao shot his dim-witted brother a glare upon hearing this.

Suppressing a laugh, Yan Luoyue lowered her eyes—his words, not hers.

The young girl clenched her fist and declared righteously: "—Divine justice will strike!"

Niu Shujian burst into laughter: "Hahaha—AHHHHH!"

Mid-laugh, his voice abruptly twisted into a scream as an icy hand rested amiably on his shoulder.

Along with the hand came a cascade of silken white hair.

A man with demonic crimson eyes and an air of wicked elegance smiled warmly.

He patted Niu Shujian’s shoulder encouragingly: "Don’t stop on my account."

"..."

Hearing his voice, Niu Qidao jolted violently.

Previously lounging in his seat, he now leaped up as if scalded, staring in disbelief at the white-haired figure.

That man’s hand still rested calmly on his brother’s shoulder.

His gaze was gentle, even faintly amused.

Yet Niu Qidao knew—this veneer of warmth meant nothing.

This man, Ji Qinghong, regarded everyone, every creature, even every blade of grass with the same appreciative eyes.

At the pinnacle of the Path of Ruthlessness, all were equal before heaven—human or plant, it made no difference.

Thus, one could never tell whether Ji Qinghong’s nod, smile, or greeting meant he planned to adorn your hair with plum blossoms—or fertilize the tree with your blood.

"Demon… Demon Sovereign Ji."

Niu Qidao forced out the honorific with difficulty. "What… brings you here?"

He never imagined an obscure turtle-kin girl could summon Ji Qinghong himself!

If she had his backing, why travel on a mundane artifact? Why extort his brother’s flying boat?

...Hell, why even bother with the Soulflame as a wager?

At this moment, Niu Qidao felt ice-cold from head to toe. Only one thought remained: They’d been scammed!

The brothers had fallen victim to the Guiyuan Sect’s entrapment!

Ji Qinghong smiled idly. "Just out for a stroll. Saw something interesting and dropped by."

Niu Qidao managed a strained smile. "Then… please enjoy the show..."

"Hmm..." Ji Qinghong tapped his chin thoughtfully before waving a hand. "This isn’t lively enough."

"..."

Ignoring the brothers’ corpse-pale faces, he cheerfully addressed both examinees.

"You’re both too talented for incremental exams."

"How about this—I’ll set the challenge. Craft an artifact to my standards, and I’ll award you the highest-rank badge the Silver Phoenix Tower can issue. Ah, what’s your highest rank again?"

The examiner, who had been acting as a wallflower until now, finally made a faint sound.

"Fifth rank."

"Good." Ji Qinghong nodded with a smile. "Then I shall award you fifth-rank badges."

Another deathly silence followed. Niu Shujian gulped audibly, his words trembling and incoherent: "Wh-what kind of... t-test is this...?"

If possible, he would have announced his withdrawal right then and there.

He didn’t want the third-rank badge anymore, nor did he care for the Soul-Extinguishing Flame!

And yet...

Recalling the countless rumors about Ji Qinghong’s deeds, Niu Shujian’s eyes filled with despair.

Once aboard the demonic ship of Ji Qinghong, could he simply jump off as he pleased?

Ji Qinghong comfortingly patted Niu Shujian’s shoulder.

His touch was lingering and gentle, like wiping morning dew from the first apricot blossom of spring, or like a lovesick maiden plucking the strings of a pipa.

Under his touch, Niu Shujian seemed to shrink further and further...

Finally, Ji Qinghong withdrew his hand with satisfaction and said warmly:

"Good child, I noticed you selected many tortoise shells as materials. In that case, you shall craft a defensive robe."

"...Y-yes."

Hearing Ji Qinghong’s assignment, a sliver of hope flickered in Niu Shujian’s heart.

The test was still confined to the realm of defensive artifacts.

Did that mean he was safe today?

The thought had barely sprouted when Ji Qinghong bent down slightly and smiled just as warmly at Yan Luoyue.

"As for you... I see you didn’t pick any materials, yet your eyes burned with such murderous intent—truly remarkable. In that case, you shall craft a weapon."

Straightening ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍up, Ji Qinghong announced the rules of the test.

"Once both of you have finished crafting, you will use your artifacts. If the weapon can breach the robe’s defense and break his leg, I shall deem you qualified. If it fails to penetrate, then he shall pass instead."

Yan Luoyue responded immediately: "Understood!"

Niu Qidao: "..."

Niu Shujian: "..."

With his defenses shattered again and again, Niu Shujian finally collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

Niu Qidao, though slightly more composed than his brother, wasn’t faring much better. Still, he managed to plead on his brother’s behalf.

"Demon Venerable Ji... I’ve heard that you’ve always been fond of guiding young talents..."

"Quite right." Ji Qinghong listened patiently to Niu Qidao’s flattery and nodded gently.

"Young ones are prone to straying, and at critical moments, they need someone to pull them back."

Niu Qidao forced a bitter smile. "My younger brother is still young—perhaps a bit unruly, but he can still be taught..."

"I am teaching him."

Ji Qinghong explained kindly: "You see, I am teaching your brother—if one acts too arrogantly, they are likely to have their legs broken."

"And as for that little girl over there, I am also happy to teach her—even the most patient tortoise will find its shells piled up as materials in the hands of its opponent."

"As for you..."

Ji Qinghong gave Niu Qidao a thorough once-over.

Wherever his gaze landed, Niu Qidao’s muscles twitched reflexively before tensing up.

Only after scrutinizing Niu Qidao until he was stiff as a board did Ji Qinghong sigh regretfully, his tone soft.

"Ah, it’s not that I don’t wish to teach you. It’s just that you are neither young nor talented anymore."

Niu Qidao: "..."

Ji Qinghong patted him and reminded him kindly: "You should respond to me."

"...Y-yes." Niu Qidao agreed in despair. "Your judgment is impeccable. I—I am old and useless."

"Don’t sell yourself short." Ji Qinghong said warmly. "Precision in word choice is one of your virtues."

Hearing all this, Yan Luoyue nearly burst out laughing.

The materials she had just picked slipped right through her fingers!

Ji Qinghong glanced at her briefly before turning back.

"Come, let’s not disturb the youngsters’ competition. We shall sit over there and reminisce."

Niu Qidao’s expression shattered completely.

What past did he share with this demon venerable?!

He’d have to trace back to his ancestors’ ancestors to be considered Ji Qinghong’s peer!

Dragging along the utterly broken Niu Qidao, Ji Qinghong forcibly seated him in a nearby chair.

The man’s lips curled slightly as he tucked a loose strand of white hair behind his ear, speaking in a gentle, conversational tone:

"Though the sight of you and your brother fills me with inexplicable displeasure, there’s no need to be so tense."

Niu Qidao: "..."

The words nearly sentenced him to death on the spot.

His body stiffened, his mind buzzing.

Then it struck him—wait, cultivators of the Emotionless Path regarded all under heaven as straw dogs. Since when did they care about liking or disliking anyone?

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"You’re right. I follow the Emotionless Path, so such emotional fluctuations should not exist."

Ji Qinghong nodded approvingly before chuckling.

"However, the way you guided your brother in selecting materials was truly masterful. Hmm... I suppose this is a skill passed down through your Hongtong Palace lineage."

"It reminds me of three thousand years ago, when another disciple of your sect devoured five hundred and thirty-one rabbit heads in front of me... A most unforgettable sight."

"..."

Niu Qidao stared at Ji Qinghong in horror, unable to believe such a foolhardy person existed.

—Who?! Who in Hongtong Palace would dare provoke this man?! What madness drove them?!

Ji Qinghong continued his leisurely tale:

"Of course, only one of those five hundred and thirty-one rabbit heads was cooked. The rest were raw."

"Ah, I never understood his preference for raw food. Your Hongtong Palace’s dietary habits are rather peculiar."

Niu Qidao nodded weakly. "Yes, that’s right. We—we are peculiar."

"Don’t be so reserved. In my presence, consider yourselves at home."

As he spoke, Ji Qinghong patted Niu Qidao’s shoulder and amiably pressed a twenty-pound tortoise shell into his hands.

"Here, child, snack on this while I continue..."

"..."

Amid Ji Qinghong’s many amusing anecdotes and the crisp crunching of tortoise shell, Yan Luoyue completed her artifact for the test.

When she presented a flying vessel-like contraption with a pointed front and weighted rear, Ji Qinghong’s smile remained unchanged.

"What is this?"

Yan Luoyue bowed slightly and answered frankly: "Originally, following my naming style, this artifact would have been called ‘Ascend-to-the-Moon Spiral Jet-Propelled Rocket or Possibly Cannon.’"

Ji Qinghong inquired patiently: "And now?"

Yan Luoyue replied succinctly: "Run You Over 1.0."