Cultivation Is Money-Grabbing C32

Chapter 32: Floating Grade—Now That’s Fair

Xu Xianxing hesitated for a moment before finally noticing the greenish-blue sword in Lian Mu’s hand. He studied it from a distance and said, “No.”

He had never forged a sword for Lian Mu. He had always assumed she had her own.

It seemed she did—but this sword…

“I thought it might be yours,” the elder said. “The Artifact Refiner who forged it has decent skills. When she drew her sword, I could sense a fluctuation in its spiritual energy. It’s roughly between the sixth and fifth grade.”

In the sparring field, Lian Mu sheathed her sword and prepared to leave.

As she did, Xu Xianxing also sensed the spiritual fluctuation. “A floating grade?”

The elder nodded. “Correct. The Artifact Refiner likely used a Transmutation-Stage beast’s spiritual carapace as the base material. But they handled it well—almost no mistakes.”

A sixth-grade spiritual artifact wasn’t particularly impressive for a Heavenly Spiritual Root Artifact Refiner. Xu Xianxing could casually forge something of at least fourth grade. But creating a floating-grade artifact between two tiers was extremely difficult.

A floating-grade artifact, as the name suggested, had an unfixed rank. Its grade could fluctuate based on the wielder’s strength.

To forge such a weapon, one had to use materials from Transmutation-Stage beasts. However, every piece of material from such beasts varied greatly—even from the same body part. Due to this instability, the refining process required precise additions of other spiritual materials for balance.

With countless types of spiritual beasts in existence, no one could say exactly which materials were needed for balance. This made the refining process extremely challenging, which was why floating-grade artifacts were known but rarely used.

Xu Xianxing had only ever read about them in books. This was his first time seeing one in person. Though the grade wasn’t particularly high, it was still impressive. “Lian Mu once mentioned that she has a friend who’s an Artifact Refiner—a rogue cultivator. This sword was probably made by that friend.”

The elder nodded. “I see… Since you’re close with her, find an opportunity to ask what materials were used in the sword.”

Xu Xianxing agreed. “Understood.”

He turned to leave.

“Xianxing,” the elder added, “if you find Qianling Peak too stifling, you don’t have to force yourself to fit in with the other Artifact Refiners. Pretending to be reserved doesn’t suit you. I had no idea you were such a lively person.”

Xu Xianxing: “……”

The elder patted his shoulder. “Relax. You can treat Qianling Peak like your home—no need to be so restrained.”

…

Down below, Lian Mu walked into the crowd, her hands still stained with Shi Qingxiong’s blood.

No one around her dared to speak. Xu Xianxing and Bai Li Que squeezed their way over to her side.

“Lian Mu, you just defeated the strongest person in the front-line formation!” Xu Xianxing said. “Sword cultivators have ten special spots for master-disciple selections, right? My master said an elder has taken an interest in you.”

“I’m not taking a master.” Lian Mu, just back from the fight, sat down in an empty spot. “Lend me your handkerchief.”

Xu Xianxing pulled out a delicate pink handkerchief. “You don’t want a master? Do you already have one?”

Bai Li Que: “…” That color doesn’t seem like something Xu Xianxing would use.

Lian Mu started wiping her sword. “No, I just don’t want one.”

Xu Xianxing figured she had her own reasons and moved on to the real topic. “What’s your sword called? My master asked me to find out what materials it was made from.”

“It’s called Fortune,” Lian Mu replied with a grin. “I had someone forge it for me.”

She wasn’t keen on explaining where it came from. The truth was simple—sword cultivators were so broke they had to learn forging themselves. Saying it out loud was just embarrassing.

Sometimes, she needed to keep up appearances.

But she had no issue telling Xu Xianxing about the materials.

Recalling the forging process, she hadn’t paid much attention to the specific materials that were added later. Back then, she had relied purely on sensing with her spiritual energy. “The base material is the spiritual carapace of a Greenclaw Toad, mixed with Flame Gold. I don’t remember the rest—I’m not an Artifact Refiner, so I don’t keep track of these things.”

Xu Xianxing had expected that answer. Sword cultivators rarely cared about such details. “My master says the one who forged this sword is quite skilled. Is it the friend you mentioned before?”

Lian Mu, pleased by the professional praise, nodded. “Yeah. I think she’s amazing too.”

“Can I meet her?” Xu Xianxing leaned in and whispered.

Bai Li Que, seeing them suddenly lower their voices as if discussing something secret, instinctively leaned in as well.

When he found himself forming a small huddle with them, Bai Li Que realized what he was doing: “……”

Why was he even curious about their conversation? He couldn’t explain it himself. Maybe it was just to avoid feeling left out.

Lian Mu refused outright. “No. She doesn’t like befriending fellow Artifact Refiners.”

Bai Li Que: “?”

Bai Li Que: “Artifact Refiners who don’t befriend other Artifact Refiners—then who do they befriend?”

In his experience, Artifact Refiners were usually exclusive, only associating with their own kind. He had never heard of one who avoided fellow refiners.

Lian Mu shrugged. “She’s an odd one. Only hangs out with sword cultivators.”

Technically speaking, since Lian Mu had learned some refining herself, she was half an Artifact Refiner. A Refiner as broke as she was certainly counted as an oddity.

Xu Xianxing looked a little disappointed. “Alright then. But if she ever wants to make friends, put in a good word for me.”

Lian Mu gave a vague response—neither agreeing nor refusing—then turned to watch the sparring matches.

It was already the fourteenth round, and Guan Shize’s turn had come.

His opponent didn’t seem particularly strong—neither outstanding nor weak. Facing such an opponent was the easiest: as long as you had any advantage over them, it would lead to a crushing victory.

Guan Shize’s greatest strength was his stability. But after facing Murong Yi, his attacks had grown more ruthless. The moment he gained the upper hand, he pressed on relentlessly, giving his opponent no chance to counter.

This match wasn’t particularly exciting. Both sides were too reserved and polite, lacking the tension and thrill of aggressive trash talk.

Guan Shize won. After stepping off the field, he walked straight toward Lian Mu. Seeing Xu Xianxing and Bai Li Que with her, he paused.

“Lian Mu, I won too. Next round, I’ll try those moves you taught me.”

Lian Mu smirked. “You’d better hope we don’t end up fighting each other.”

Guan Shize: “…”

That actually made sense.

If they ran into each other in the next round, he would definitely be the one eliminated.

Surely, he wouldn’t be that unlucky…?

After Lian Mu pointed it out, Guan Shize really started to worry. He silently hoped his luck would be better in the next match.

The competition continued into the evening, with over ninety matches fought throughout the day.

The new disciples in this batch had similar aptitudes. Some who had been lax in their cultivation after joining were swiftly eliminated. Occasionally, there would be an evenly matched pair, making the fight last a bit longer. Otherwise, most fights were quick, with none exceeding a quarter of an hour.

By the ninety-ninth match, the atmosphere among the new disciples outside the arena was tense. Everyone watched the stage with solemn expressions.

Lian Mu and Xu Xianxing returned after dinner to continue watching. Xu Xianxing even skipped his classes to stay by her side. Bai li Que happened to be free and was interested in watching the sword cultivators’ duels, so he stayed as well.

Xu Xianxing made three small stools on the spot, one for each of them, and they sat in a row. Lian Mu shared the snacks she had taken from the dining hall.

She and Xu Xianxing sat in the front row like spectators at a street performance, chatting idly while watching the fights.

From a higher vantage point, the two of them were noticeably shorter than the surrounding crowd, looking like old men watching a street brawl. They stood out starkly among the others.

At first, Bai Li Que had no intention of joining in. It felt inappropriate to act so out of place in such a public setting.

As a noble clan disciple, he wanted to maintain some dignity. But with the other two already sitting, standing alone beside them felt even more awkward.

After an internal struggle, he finally gave in and pulled over a small stool to sit down.

“…”

He had to admit—sitting was indeed more comfortable than standing.

Although many people shot them strange looks for sitting in a crowd of standing spectators, with two others sharing the embarrassment, Bai li Que suddenly didn’t feel so self-conscious anymore.

The people around them: “…”

“This match—it’s Junior Brother Di Xing?”

“Yes, I wonder who his opponent will be.”

“Junior Brother Di Xing is diligent and hardworking. He often seeks guidance from senior disciples. He might even secure the first place among the top ten for the apprenticeship slots.”

Di Xing, whom everyone was talking about, stepped onto the stage. Dressed in white, he had a composed yet aloof expression, standing with his sword in hand. He had sharp, phoenix-like eyes, but he never looked at people directly, only casting them downward glances filled with condescension.

Upon seeing him, Xu Xianxing leaned toward Lian Mu and whispered, “I feel like he acts even more pretentious than us Artifact Refiners. Do all sword cultivators always look so arrogant?”

Lian Mu: “Not at all. If anyone walked into Hanlai Peak with that kind of ‘please punch me’ expression, the challenge notices would be plastered all over the sect gates the next day.”

Even someone as humble and gentle as herself had been challenged by her senior sister over a single remark—let alone someone this insufferable.

Bai li Que: “You sword cultivators are a bit too… combative.”

For some reason, Bai Li Que suddenly thought of someone. He turned to Xu Xianxing and asked, “Have they returned?”

Xu Xianxing was in the middle of enjoying the spectacle. Hearing the question, he impatiently stuffed a pastry into Bai Li Que’s mouth. “I don’t know. Don’t bring up mood-killing topics at a time like this.”

Lian Mu: “Who’s returning?”

Xu Xianxing grabbed another pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. “No one. Just eat more; this one’s delicious.”

Lian Mu: “…”

Bai Li Que: “…”

Before the ninety-ninth match began, both contestants cupped their fists in greeting. Di Xing still didn’t look his opponent in the eye.

His opponent was a shorter sword cultivator who seemed honest and unassuming, already losing in terms of presence alone.

Di Xing struck almost instantly, piercing his opponent’s chest with a single sword thrust. The protective armor shattered, and the opponent was immediately eliminated.

Xu Xianxing had just turned to grab a plate when the match was over. He looked up, bewildered. “What? It’s already finished?”

Lian Mu: “He won.”

The opponent had been too weak—like a dead fish facing a hungry tiger. One move was all it took.

Since he missed the fight, Xu Xianxing put the blame on Bai li Que. “It’s all your fault! You had to bring up irrelevant stuff and made me miss a match.”

Bai Li Que: “How is that my fault? You were the one reaching for the plate.”

“You distracted me and made me lose focus.”

Xu Xianxing and Bai Li Que bickered back and forth like children arguing. Even Lian Mu couldn’t stand it anymore. She grabbed two pastries and shoved them into their mouths.

“Shut up.”

Bai Li Que refused to back down. He had been force-fed twice now and was always the one getting bullied. So, he grabbed two pastries and stuffed them into Lian Mu and Xu Xianxing’s mouths in retaliation.

“…”

Lian Mu and Xu Xianxing both stared at him, their gazes clearly spelling out the words: “How childish.”

Bai Li Que, now thick-skinned, simply said, “Now it’s fair.”