"Alright, I am going to get busy with my own matter. Tang Yuan, send the Village Chief and little lady back to the Tian Village and let her pack her belongings before coming over. If you need, throw a few Qi Sensing Pill to that stupid Iron Scale Bull so you can ride it comfortably. As for the three of you, follow me into the Blacksmithing Room." Zhang Wu Ji instructed before he pointed at the three disciples to follow him back to his working room.
As for Zhao Xiao Hua, she immediately get closer to the new member of their team, and being a youth filled with many butterflies in their heart, Zhang Ya Pin and Bai Hei Tie immediately introduced themselves as the third brother and fourth brother, and the pointed at the three that barge into their conversation as the fifth, sixth, and seventh brother. With her addition into the courtyard, she will be the youngest of all, as their eighth sister now.
"Eldest brother, Second Sister, Third and Fourth brother, this sister's name is Liu Yanni. I come from the Tian Village about one day distance from the Seven Star Sect. I am the only child of the family, and all of us are the part of the farmers in the village. I hope brother and sister can take good care of Yanni while she's serving in this house." she timidly introduced herself.
"Hahaha! Sister Yanni, don't worry. Although none of them seem like a proper guy, in fact, they're very nice. If any of them dare to bully you, just let this Elder Sister Xiao Hua knows, I will teach them a lesson for you!" Zhao Xiao Hua went closer to hold Yanni in her grasp and warn the others.
Everyone is quiet as they look at the two girls. Soon, their conversation gets even friendlier as their exchange of words is getting much more comfortable. It was until an hour later Tang Yuan drive the Iron Scale Bull out from the farm, and carried the two back to their village. As for the others, they returned to their own post, with Bai Hei Tie is temporary taking over Tang Yuan's position in taking care of the plants.
Meanwhile...
"The three of you! Do you understand what did you do wrong earlier?" Zhang Wu Ji started to reprimand them because of their unmannered act in coming into people's conversation earlier. It may seem not something serious in the eyes of the public, but for Zhang Wu Ji, especially, this manner is something that one should follow. Especially when the three of them will maintain their seniority as the fifth, sixth, and seventh in this courtyard.
What will happen if the next time they barge into the conversation when Zhang Wu Ji is discussing something with somebody bearing the same outer appearance, but in fact, he was a city lord of the county or vice sect headmaster of a sect from somewhere else? The three of them will be dead without a space to beg for their forgiveness!
"Forgive us, master!" the three immediately kneeled before their master. When they finally noticed how their master treated the lady from before and also that elder, they suddenly realized that the fact their master said is true! They were lucky that the two person is just a simple Village Chief and a Village Girl, but what will happen if they're a Cultivator and also the cultivator's grandchild? Won't they dig their own grave with such a small mistake?
"This will be the first warning to the three of you. No matter what, everyone that came to my courtyard or looking for me is a guest. If he wasn't one, I will not restricts any of you seven... Wait... It's eight. I will not restrict any of you to behave wildly. But before that, everyone here is a guest, do you understand?" Zhang Wu Ji sternly lectures them, and for the sake of them remembering what happened today, Zhang Wu Ji had them put up their bottom.
"Master, you're not thinking about..."
"PIAK!"
"PIAK! PIAK!"
Three slaps from the Jade Ruler gave them a lesson that they will remember. No matter where, when, or how, the lecture of a teacher shall always come in a form of "beating painfully but still filled with love!" But for the three, it was lucky there's only four of them in the room. What will the brother and sisters think when they found out that their teacher gave them a hit on their bottom.
Wait!
"Master, that's a... Jade... Ruler... Oh my heavens, it was so beautifully crafted!" the youngest, Li Tong, noticed the tool in their master's hand. When he noticed the beautifully intertwined spiraling of intense green and violet from one tip to another, and also a part of a Coral Jade on the middle, it stunned him completely.
"Is this master's new weapon? Did master create this using the Jade Blocks? But that should be impossible, the two kinds of jade is mixed thoroughly and even the separating works will take at least over a week to complete it. But Master just get it done after he returned from the Yun Village!" Li Jing is the first one to notice the amazing building texture laid on the Jade Ruler.
"Yes. This is the reason I had everyone to come and help me. In fact, I am going to give each of you a reward. Tell me, what do the three of you want? I will ask others later for their wishes too." Zhang Wu Ji placed the Jade Ruler on the table for the three to appreciates and asking for their wishes at the same time. Indeed, the Jade Ruler is personally crafted by Zhang Wu Ji personally, without any assistance from his four Blacksmithing helpers. But this doesn't mean that their prior help is smelting and form the metal and crystals into blocks did not contributes to the end results.
He was a person that always make sure to reward people that helps him in achieving his aim. And for this reason alone, he will make sure that he will use the remaining fourteen pieces of jade to craft something for each of them. But as for now, he has no idea what item is the most suitable for them, and to get a better idea, he decided to ask the three.
"Master, Jing believes that any gift that came from the master will be appreciated by the seven... No... Eight of us. I believe master's hesitation is because you worried that the treasure will not match each of us based on quality, but please rest assured. The three of us are old enough to understand that the value of something master gift is based on the meaning it held, and not the quality."
"Master, please go ahead with what is inside your mind. Do not worry about our differences in cultivation and status." Li Yin completed their sentences and bowed at their master once more. This answer gave him a very good impression on the gift he will craft for the eight of them. Although the eighth, Liu Yanni is yet to properly become a part of their eight brother and sisters, her joining into this family is expected.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Alright, the three of you can leave now. Come back in the four days later. As for the time being, do not disturb me or look for me. Make sure you inform the others as well. Let me know when the fourth morning came." Zhang Wu Ji sat on the chair between the Anvil and the furnace once more and entered his deep thought.
He took a deep breath, and rest his mind before everything else. Under the arrangement from the three disciples, the firestones and meal are prepared and left right outside of the Blacksmithing Room, and the remaining brother and sisters were informed that they should not disturb their master for this few days, until the fourth day morning.
While inside of his room, Zhang Wu Ji is busy considering his option to craft something meaningful for the eight followers. The eight of them will be the only disciples that following him, and each of them carries a very meaningful position right inside of his heart.
Tang Yuan was the holder of the Qian Diagram because it represents his ability to think and considers. Zhao Xiao Hua is Li Diagram because of her ability to love her members. As for Bai Hei Tie, he represents Dui Diagram due to his perception ability and also represents the action of [See/ Monitor]. For Zhang Ya Pin, he represents the Kun Diagram for his existence.
As for the remaining three, Li Jing represents Kan Diagram for his Power and Strength, Li Yin represents Zhen Diagram for the bravery to speaks, and Li Tong represents the Gen Diagram for his ability to become/ depending. Lastly, is the new addition to their numbers, Liu Yanni, who is the perfect candidates for her to represents the Xun Diagrams, which represents the feeling.
After a few deep thoughts, Zhang Wu Ji decided. The gift that he will give to the eight of them will come in the form of a Coin, mixed with the solution of eight different materials. This will be the only markings that represent each of them as one of the followers of Zhang Wu Ji.
Using the Mixture of Jadeite and Nephrite Di's Jade as their main core, Zhang Wu Ji prepares a casting mold to initiates the beginning of the process. Two different type of Jade is poured into the cast to creates a piece of Solid Jade that was flat on both sides, with the width slightly bigger than a person's average palm. The thickness of each piece of the Jade is between 10mm, which was durable and strong enough for him to carve them.
Using the same chisel, he soon carved open a deeper ring-shape section that will allow him to pour the first and second layer of the ingredient. The mixture of Kaolin Clay and Mined Bone soon taken out for him to mess with them. As the two most durable material with the highest melting point, Zhang Wu Ji took only a small part of the separated ingredient to be applied to the Jade.
The First two rings were opened 1mm depth into the Jade, this it was easy for him to fill the first gap with one side of Kaolin Clay, which have a Chalk White appearance, and on another side, it was the Mined Bone, which carries a slightly yellowish color. The eight Jade piece is then fired for four hours, to make sure that the clay that filled the ring solidify properly.
After a little of Cooling Process, Zhang Wu JI started with the second and third ingredient, the Silica. This time, he carves away the remaining of the jade touching the Kaolin Clay and Mined Bone layer, before forming the third and the fourth ring that was slightly smaller, but deeper, entering about 2mm into the jade.
For the third and the fourth rings, Zhang Wu Ji melted the two different material, the Pearl Silica and Translucent Silica Blocks. Similar to the Jade, the method to divides the two different material is by heating them past their melting point, before letting them cool. The Transparent Silica is very particular in their molecular activities, making them only mixing together with the similar molecule and not others.
By overheating the mixed blocks, again and again, Zhang Wu Ji dug the hardened Translucent Silica from the Pearl Silica each time before reheating. Only after he noticed that there is no longer a hint of the Translucent Silica can he concludes that the process is completed. By heating them once more, Zhang Wu Ji took the small crucible and poured the molten Silica accurately until they were just enough to sit nicely without bumps on the jade.
He repeated the other molten Silica on another side, and let all eight of the rest, while he concludes the final two ingredients.
Zhang Wu Ji did not split the copper into their own, but instead, he decided that he will the copper in their crystal form instead. Because of the consistency from the produced Copper Ingots is not pure enough, after placing them in open air for too long, the Malachite Crystal regrows on the Ingot again due to the existence of the Malachite Crystals contact with the oxygen.
He remembers. During the time he was still in his previous world reading the book of Spiritual Healing, a part of them did mention that the Malachite Crystals works as an amplifier for human's soul, and also carries a very fine healing attribute. Taking this few advantages in mind, he decides that for the final two touches, one of them will be this Malachite Crystal that was made from the Copper Ingots, and further enhanced by him through Strands of Inner Qi.
Different from how he produced the metal and crystals, the Malachite Crystal is to be polished, and not melted. This made each Malachite Button he polished carries a different marbling against each another. With an accurate shape and length of 4mm, Zhang Wu Ji completed the eight Malachite Buttons before he slots them into each of the piece of Jade he crafted.
As for the final ingredients to become a part of the eight pieces of jade, Zhang Wu Ji selected none other than the Siderite, or also known as the Crystal Iron. similarly to the metals, Zhang Wu Ji melted them and splits them respectively in a different single-sided crucible for them to cool before he polished them.
Due to the concentration of Iron is denser than the previous ingredients, Zhang Wu Ji faces difficulties to polish the Crystal Iron into the desired size. The overall preparation took most of the time in hand until three days and two night passed. The piece of jade finally got its eight different materials made and inserted into the Core of the jade, but his work is far from over.
Next, Zhang Wu Ji proceeds with the process of sanding and polishing the side of the pieces of the Jade, and forms them into a hexagonal shape. This step equals to craft a piece of Eight Diagrams Formation, but instead of the traditional eight diagrams is carved on the flat surface, Zhang Wu Ji replaced the diagrams with eight different material is used to craft this piece of jade.
Finally, the eight pieces of handcrafted treasure were completed. The only step left is to engrave the name on this jade and gave them a completed name. During their creation period, the Jade has already been categorized as unnamed.
[Eldest of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Qian Diagram's Tang Yuan]
Second of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Li Diagram's Zhao Xiao Hua]
[Third of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Dui Diagram's Bai Hei Tie]
[Fourth of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Kun Diagram's Zhang Ya Pin]
[Fifth of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Kan Diagram's Li Jing]
[Sixth of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Zhen Diagram's Li Yin]
[Seventh of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Gen Diagram's Li Tong]
[Eighth of Zhang Wu Ji's Eight Loyal Attendants, Xun Diagram's Liu Yanni]
With the completed name an engraving carved into the eight pieces of handcrafted treasures, each of them released a beautiful shine, comparable when it was placed against the Jade Ruler belonged to Zhang Wu Ji himself. What's more, he just remembered that he did not take the chances to read the description on the Jade Ruler itself!
Afraid that he forget that again, where it's already the fourth day from the time he completed the Jade Ruler. He took the Jade Ruler with both hands and awaits the description to come out.
Longfeng Jade Ruler
-Attack: 20 (Shatter-Strike ability is now passive)
-Defense: 32
-Durability: 102/102
-Special 1: Activated by user's will, by paying (20) Fighter Qi, Increase the damage dealt by the Jade ruler by fivefold.
-Special 2: Passively regenerates user's Strand of Fighter Qi by (1) every 60minutes.
-Special 3: Under the Sunlight or Moonlight, the Longfeng Jade Ruler will repair their Durability by (1) points every ten minutes.
-Special 4: Able to generates pure Sapphire Water through the conversion rate of 1 Fighter Qi : 100 ml of Pure Sapphire Water.
"What! Is this my new Jade Ruler? This is a joke, right?" Zhang Wu Ji cannot believe what is all the status says. An attack of 20 points with Shatter-Strike is activated all the time. If he paid 20 Strands of Fighter Qi, he can increase his damage to 100 points.
What's more, his Fighter Qi will recovers by themselves even if he did not rest. This was a great improvement compared to the previous Iron Ruler. As for the two ability to self-repair and generates pure sapphire water, it wasn't that surprising anymore after he sees what's the Iron Thrusting Dirk can get.
And while he was still absorbed into the reading and deep thoughts, a notification sound similar to his handphone suddenly bring him back to his consciousness. The sound came once more as a notification box appeared before him. Instead of just inside of his eyes, it was a panel of selection right in front of him.
[Information Corner!]
[-Do you know that your maximum upgrade is +5 without cultivation, and with each stage of cultivation raised, you can increase them by +1? You're stupid!]
"I KILL YOU!!!" Zhang Wu Ji stands up after he reads the information box, and felt like finding the person that let him read this text.
"Aargh! I wasted so many days and materials just for the sake to try to upgrade the dirk to +7! My money is gone because this information box came out late by so many days!!!" Zhang Wu Ji heart is aching because of the losses of the great amount of time and money.
He almost lost his temper, but then, a knock came from the outside of the door.
"Master Senior, everyone is waiting for you in the Dining Hall." Zhao Xiao Hua came to call her master to make himself present in the Dining Hall because the fourth day, which he instructed all of them to be present, is here.
"I'm Coming!" Zhang Wu Ji hurried to change his clothing, and before that, he grabbed the box containing the eight pieces of jade he crafted for them.