"Come in..." he stored the materials into his Wooden Universal Plate until they're full before starting with another plate. He keeps most of them away before he decided to went inside one of the buildings to rob them further until he cleaned their coffers.
"Since they're so well funded, I should do good for the public and clear all of them for my own good karma." Zhang Wu Ji praised them for having so many treasures stored in the open area. What kind of good stuff can he expect inside their workshop?
With the mindset in his head, Zhang Wu Ji started to rummage the room. From the way it looks, he assumes this building is used as the medicinal storage room. With a swipe of his Wooden Universal Plate on the hundred boxes shelf, Zhang Wu Ji stored it without worrying about the capacity it can holds.
After cleaning the medicinal storage room, he took another exit from a different side and entered a building supposed to be their Pill-Making Workshop. Here, he was greeted with the existence of three Pill-Master in their peak Tier 1 Qualification. Each of them has their back facing each another, busy concocting medicinal pills with the ingredient they collected from the previous building.
On the side of their worktable is a few Spatial Stones for them to collect and store their raw and end results products. With the strength of only 11th Stage Inner Qi Warriors, they're not a threat to Zhang Wu Ji at all. After he felt that cautious against them is not necessary, Zhang Wu Ji steps closer to one of them and steals some of his belongings.
Felt something is missing from his table, the Pill Master stand up and bellowed. His exploding temper caused him to blame the other two Pill Masters for taking his required item for Pill Making. Of course, the two puzzled Pill Masters retaliates. Being blamed for something they did not do, the three of them fight through their harsh words.
Taking the advantages when they're fighting against each another, Zhang Wu Ji cleaned their tables including the cauldron they're using. Minutes after he left, their argument finally ends. When they turned around and found out that all their belongings and items vanished from where it was, their first reaction is not solving the problem but argues again.
Since nobody is looking for the culprit, Zhang Wu Ji left the building as soon as possible and entered another building. From the earlier Medicine Storage Room and Pill Making Room, he went inside the Blacksmithing Room next. Once again, he swiped everything clean before moving to another room.
Unknown how long did the Golden Wolf Syndicate use to accumulate such wealth, Zhang Wu Ji only took half an hour to clear most of them. Left with the main building is unexplored, Zhang Wu Ji decided to make an ending with his actions.
Through the New Firestone Upgrade Technique, Zhang Wu Ji created multiple Flame Rocks that can be ignited and throw them to the most brittle point to bring the building on fire. In a short period of time, Zhang Wu Ji brings the whole inner courtyard into burning flames.
The flames forced the members of the Golden Wolf Syndicate to come out from their resting spot to get rid of the fire, but as it was an accident caused by something of a higher-quality like Flame Rock, the attempt to eliminate the flames is very challenging.
"What happened here! Get away, let me use my Ice Elemental Crystal to remove the flames!" amongst the people running around, one of them speaks loudly to get the others away from him. With a bluish transparent crystal on his palm, the member tried to deliver the Inner Qi infused with the cold aura to get rid of the flames.
But as he sends his palm forth, Zhang Wu Ji sneakily touches the crystal on his hand before it vanished from the member's palm. Without that crystal, his Inner Qi becomes the catalyst like adding oil into flames and forces it to burn hotter.
"Get the f*ck off! Are you helping to get rid the flames or helping it to burn stronger? If you repeat all these acts, don't blame me to dispose of you!" another member of the syndicate yelled on the fellow before turning his attention to help controls the flame.
Using his Inner Qi to form a vacuum space, the member tried to eliminate the flames by getting rid of the oxygen surrounding the burning hot buildings. Through his method, a portion of the fire burning through the first building is put out. This successful attempt builds his confidence, but the next moment, Zhang Wu Ji sneakily place a Flame Rock inside his clothing the moment he ignited the flame.
"Aargh! Help me! I'm on fire!" the member rolled on the ground and cried for help. With the few other members putting their attention on him, Zhang Wu Ji took the opportunity to escape from the Inner Courtyard when the door is opened from the outside.
He escaped. With the fire is burning inside the Inner Courtyard, nobody has time to spend idle on guard. The well is gathered by many members struggling to fill their bucket with water, and some of them forced their Inner Qi to stop the fire from spreading. Without a single person standing on guard, Zhang Wu Ji went outside of their neighborhood and summoned the Iron Kong-Que.
This time, it was a great haul. The number of riches he has stolen from this stealth mission might reach 600,000 Qi Sensing Pills, about half of the reserve funds of his Apprentice Hall. With a sudden increase in his wealth, how can Zhang Wu Ji feel hesitates when spending them? He went through each village and towns and purchased all of their raw materials before leaving.
Returning to the Wen Wu City, Zhang Wu Ji was only greeted with six of his eight attendants, because Li Jing and Li Yin are outside handling his task. It was a rare occasion for them to enjoy dinner together, especially this time, there were two additional guests during their meal.
Miss Meng Ran, the neighbor.
Headmaster Liang Tian, the master of their masters.
After the dinner, the others bring Zhang Wu Ji to inspect their temporary changes on the building itself. From the initial two room small courtyard, they modified it to be able to hold twenty rooms in this courtyard three times bigger than before.
The new building plan also includes a Blacksmithing Room, Pill Making Room, Formation Room, Study Room, Meeting Hall, Treasure Vault, Weapon Vault, and four different gardens for the owner to receive a different guest in different circumstances. Furthermore, the building plan comes with a hot water bath and a private kitchen for the sake of not abusing the founder of this Apprentice Hall.
Satisfied with the design, Zhang Wu Ji handed between ten thousand Qi Sensing Pills to be distributed to the construction members. With Headmaster Liang Tian requesting for a speech with their master, everyone left the master and disciple duo for their own agenda.
"Xiao Wu Ji, do you think your master is useless?" Liang Tian asked when the two of them is seated at the side of an incomplete building wall. Under the assistance from the moonlight, Zhang Wu Ji noticed that his master's face seems older than how he looks.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
"Master... In Wu Ji's mind, Master is a father to the nine of us. The lesson you taught, the attention you give, the example you have seen each time we handle something on our own strength, and secretly helping us from behind is enough to make you worth becoming our master." Zhang Wu Ji replied. He took Liang Tian's hand and gave his palm a massage.
Earlier, when everyone is enjoying their meal, Zhang Wu Ji noticed his master's shivering palm as he tried to grab the food through his pair of chopsticks. Discerning that his master has something hidden from all of them, Zhang Wu Ji stands up during their meal and personally serve the food to his master throughout the meal.
From the view of Meng Ran and the attendants, this action equals the loyalty and dutiful towards his master. But between the master and disciple, this means much more than that. It may look normal for a master to cover his disciple's weaknesses, but when on another way around, it was something rarely happen.
"Do you know why instead of giving the nine of you with cultivation manuals and martial arts, I choose to give everyone something different?" Liang Tian asked his second question.
"Because my master knows when is the correct time each of us qualified to learn about all of those. If master thinks we're not ready, it will be pointless to deliver the martial arts that may ruin our body, and cultivation art that may attract life-threatening danger to us." Zhang Wu Ji answered his master once again with the correct answer.
It was like a breeze of comforting wind went through the depth of his heart, calming the regretful and worried heart of an elder towards his beloved disciples. Now, instead of worries, he questioned himself.
"Does this means, all of them is ready to accept the inheritance I prepared to them?" he considered his answer about this once more. The last time he asked himself this question is before Zhang Wu Ji is accepted as one of his disciples. During that time, the question he asked received a harsh rejection from the deep inside his heart. But this time, it was different.
"Xiao Wu Ji, go summon all your senior brother and sisters here. Tell them, from this moment, I will teach the nine of you my entire life's cultivation and martial technique." Liang Tian seems enlightened. The puzzled mind haunts his mind previously is cleared, leaving the Lord of Seven Swords with a brand new mindset filled with expectation and not fear!
"Wu Ji understood!" Zhang Wu Ji clasped his together and left the courtyard immediately. Using his Qiyue Flying Sword, Zhang Wu Ji collected his first senior brother Han Geng and second senior brother Han Yan. With both of them already possessed a Qiyue Flying Sword earlier, they separate and look for the others before returning to the courtyard.
The nine of them kneeled before their master and kowtowed to him as a sign of respect. With his activation of Lord's Qi, Liang Tian covered the ten of them in a space only Inner Qi Lord possess the might to eavesdrop their conversation.
"Do you blame your master for not providing all of you with heaven-defying martial arts, earth-shaking cultivation skills, and rightful wealth?" he questioned everyone presents.
"We don't! All of us know what master had done behind us in secret for the sake of our personal growth! Not even once in our mind, we suspect master for not cultivating us properly!" all of them answered his question in a decisive demeanor. It seems that all of them were prepared for what will come today.
"Good... I, Liang Tian, may not be a sample Sect Leader, nor a well known Inner Qi Lord. But I am not ashamed to tell the world that, this Liang Tian, managed to bring up nine disciples that represents everything I've got!" he stares at the sky as he speaks...
"I've hesitated long enough... In fact, your master prepared everyone with a copy of three Manuals I've kept in my hand for so long. Each time I wanted distributes to the nine of you, somethings keep holding me from doing so. From the moment I took Xiao Gen and Xiao Yan as my first two disciples, my worries start."
"First of all, is because of my archenemies. The nine of you must remember what I'm telling you now. Forty years ago, the Seven Star County chose me as their representative to participates in the annual States Tournament. Because each state contained ten counties in their control, the competition is always held in a 10 members team tournament."
"During that time, I know your master mother, Beiping Ruolan. For the sake of me winning the tournament, she did something that made the two of us regrets until today. She... stolen the sword art manual from the Roaring Thunder Sect and Northern Frost Sect."
"The Roaring Thunder Sect sword art excels in control, and the Northern Frost Sect sword art focused in the attack. Added with the sword art from Beiping Family, Seven Star Sect, and my own profound sword arts, I created the first manual I'm going to let each of you inherits it." Liang Tian completed the first part of his speech. With a wave of his hand, he sent the first book to each of them.
= = = = = = = = = =
The Formation of Seven Swords Manual (Phase-less)
-Ability Acquired (1): By studying the method and formation arrangement recorded inside the manual, it allows the user to obtain the ability to control the flight trajectory, attacking strength, and protection circle of swords related weaponry.
-Ability Acquired (2): The manual allowed storage of Sword Qi in the desired weapons for it to obtain the ability of flight. The quantity of Sword Qi depends on the weaponry's quality and user's cultivation depth. Current Sword Qi conversion rate (200 Warrior Qi = 1 Sword Qi)
Limitation: The Manual's content is [incomplete/Unrefined]. Due to this restriction, only 17% of the overall strength can be used when this manual is utilized by (ZWJ).
-Durability: 29/29 (Material is made from paper infused with Lord's Qi)
-Special (+0): The UPGRADE system is unable to decipher the special ability.
-Special (+0): The UPGRADE system is unable to decipher the special ability.
= = = = = = = = = =
"By mastering the Formation of Seven Swords, you will be able to execute ability like mine. Although they aren't suitable to be cultivated by those below Inner Qi Warrior, according to how it goes, I can expect all of you to be an Inner Qi Warrior before the end of the year."
"Still, I will need all of you to promise me. Do not fight against anyone from the Roaring Thunder Sect and Northern Frost Sect. Although the Formation of Seven Swords able to bring me fame as the Lord of Seven Swords, it won't work the same to the nine of you."
"In term of Profound Sword Art, the Roaring Thunder Sect and Northern Frost Sect are the best in the Northern Imperial Kingdom. Unless there's no choice, do not fight against them..." Liang Tian finishes his warning before he moved into the second manual.
"As for the second manual, it is something I obtained from killing one of the fugitives wanted by the Southern Imperial Kingdom. When I beheaded him, I found out a piece of animal skin with a profound martial art written on it. After I copied the content into a book, I practiced them for thirty years." Liang Tian waved his hand to deliver them the second manual.
= = = = = = = = = =
Southern Mountain Palm Art (Tai Yin Phase)
-Ability Acquired: The content within this manual allows the user to executes three styles of Southern Mountain Palm by paying Warrior Qi before execution.
-First Style: Southern River Corroding Mountain (210)
-Second Style: Southern Pressure Suppressing Mountain (460)
-Third Style: Southern Palm Flattening Mountain (790)
-Durability: 30/30 (Material is made from paper infused with Lord's Qi)
-Special (+0): As long any attack from the three styles are able to kill one target, return the initial cost of execution back to the user.
= = = = = = = = = =
"The second manual, Southern Mountain Palm Art is something I've refined for a period of time for it to reach the current profound stage. In my own suspicion, this martial art supposed to come from one of the top three sects in the Lower Southern State."
"Because this martial art comes from the fugitive, I assume that it might be his signature move, which is why I hesitated to let the nine of you inherit this martial art. Do not use this skill too frequently, especially if you're in the Lower Southern State's vicinity." Liang Tian completed the description of his second manual and moved to the third.
"As for the third manual, it was initially a Warrior Tier Cultivation Technique. Due to this Manual's flexibility to compliment and absorb different stage cultivation manuals into its own usage, this manual has accompanied me from when I am an Inner Qi Warrior until now." he finished his first row of speech and sent the last and remaining Manual to all of them.
= = = = = = = = = =
Seven-Tiered Star Pagoda Art (Unique)
-Ability Acquired (1): Through the complimenting ability of the Seven-Tiered Star Pagoda's Sutra, allows seven different tiered manuals to combines into one single manual for Qi Branching Tier Cultivation.
-Ability Acquired (2): Combined Manuals allowed simultaneous tier cultivation to be executed at the same time. Allows the user to infuse and delete manual as he wished.
-Limitation: Cultivation Method is restricted to Seven Manuals only. Cultivation Tier is limited to Tier 8 and below. Cultivation Technique is restricted to one of a kind for each tier, no copy or enhanced version is allowed.
-Durability: 31/31 (Material is made from paper infused with Lord's Qi)
-Content Available in this Edition:
Warrior-Tier Star Pulse Technique (1 Warrior Qi / 120 hours)
Soldier-Tier Heavenly Soldier Cultivating Art (1 Soldier Qi / 480 hours)
Master-Tier Rampaging Star Manual (1 Master Qi / 720 hours)
Elder-Tier Ascending Heaven Manual (1 Elder Qi / 2880 hours)
Lord-Tier Stardust Radiance Art (1 Lord Qi / 8640 hours)
King-Tier (Empty)
Emperor-Tier (Empty)
= = = = = = = = = =
Looking at the final book in their hand, the nine of them awaits the master to continue with his story...
"What? I got this book on my own and not related to others. Are you guys thinking that your master is a troublemaker during his youth?" Liang Tian bellowed at the nine of them for looking and waiting for him to share another troublesome matter caused during his youth.
"Pff!" even Beiping Ruolan unable to contain her laughter for far away.
-
-
-
-
-
[Author's Note]
I guess, this chapter is what gives all of you the answer, why Liang Tian did not hand down his inheritance to all of them even after the story progressed for almost 280 days from the moment Zhang Wu Ji enrolled as a student for the sect.
I understand that most of my readers questioned, why the master is so useless, but please let me remind everyone once more. Many stories start with an OP headmaster, without worries, bothers, and fear. But that is not the same to mine.
Liang Tian portrays the typical always filled with headache headmaster due to many reasons. This took the example from our real-life situation where even though you're the head of an establishment, it doesn't mean you're in control.
I made him struggle with the imbalance of power by adding the Knowledge Pagoda's seven elders. Through this, I made him unable to exploit his right as a headmaster, which limits his reach in many areas. And to strengthen his background, Beiping Ruolan comes in as the protector behind Liang Tian's faction.
Of course, you may treat the departments as board of directors that freely change their sides based on the benefits they could get. The Wen Qing City's cooperation with the Lanshan Clan is like business competitors, with the Upper South Merchant Corporation and Jie's Clan as the oriole that stalks them from behind.