After running for some time, Long Xiwang stopped in front of the bustling Weapon District. Exhaustion evident on his face as he slowly made his way inside. The district was alive with activity—blacksmiths hammering at their forges, merchants haggling over prices, and cultivators checking out various weapons. As he walked, he noticed a few familiar faces from his examinee group. Among the crowd were other young cultivators, many of whom seemed to have arrived in the city for the upcoming exams as well. It was clear that examinees had come from various towns and villages scattered throughout the empire.
He glanced at a nearby shop and saw several examinees causing trouble. They were trying to forcefully snatch a sword from a blacksmith. The blacksmith knocked them away into the next stall causing a dispute between the two shop owners. Ignoring the disturbance, Long Xiwang continued forward, entering one of the nearby shops.
The shop's interior was a treasure trove of weaponry. The walls were adorned with swords, sabers, shields, spears, gauntlets, and all other weapons. Long Xiwang stared in awe, his gaze moving from one weapon to another, admiring the craftsmanship. The blacksmith behind the counter noticed his fascination and approached with a proud smile.
"Impressive, right? Every piece here is made from the finest iron ore and adorned with the best gems I could find," the blacksmith boasted. "Capable of slaying any beast below the Spirit Sea Realm."
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Long Xiwang, oblivious to the world around him, was completely captivated by the weapons. However, one in particular caught his attention—a spear that gleamed with a golden hue. Its shaft was crafted from polished, dark crimson metal, with intricate golden patterns spiraling up its length. It radiated a faint aura of slaughter, even though it had never been used in battle. The spear exuded an intimidating killing intent.
Mesmerized, Long Xiwang was about to ask for the price when a sudden realization struck him—he had no money. Smiling wryly, he asked anyway, "How much for this spear?"
"10,000 spirit stones," the blacksmith replied with a grin that quickly contrasted with the frown on Long Xiwang's face. He forced a weak smile and admitted, "I don't have that much."
The blacksmith's smile disappeared, replaced by a look of disdain. "Oh? Then how much do you have?"
"Not… nothing," Long Xiwang mumbled, embarrassed. He turned to leave, his face flushed. He expected to be chased out, so he wanted to maintain at least a little dignity. However, to his surprise, the blacksmith sighed and tossed a cheap-looking spear at him.
"Here. Take this. It's one of my failed products, but it's still capable of slaying a few Qi Gathering Realm beasts."
Shocked and grateful, Long Xiwang quickly thanked the man and accepted the spear. Just as he was about to leave, something else caught his eye—a ring that seemed to draw him in. It emanated a faint, overbearing pressure that pressed down on his mind.
"Take it," an unknown voice whispered in his head.
Noticing Long Xiwang's interest in the ring, the blacksmith spoke up. "That's a storage ring. I found it during one of my journeys, but I've never been able to open it. It's worthless, really. Do you want it?"
Long Xiwang nodded and accepted the ring, thanking the blacksmith once again. As he stared at it, he couldn't help but wonder if it had been the ring that had spoken to him. He quickly stuffed it into his pocket before leaving the shop.
As he made his way back to the inn, he noticed other examinees returning as well. It seemed that the time for the exams was drawing near.