Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: The Mysterious Man

Hearing the word \"have,\" hope flared anew in Lou Yun\’s heart. He urgently inquired, \"What other method is there?\"

Lou Tianzhi didn\’t answer directly but instead asked, \"Yun\’er, have you heard of the Ancient Weapon Academy?\"

Lou Yun froze briefly, but quickly nodded. \"Yes. Could the Ancient Weapon Academy have a way to repair father\’s magical weapon?\"

On Spirit Weapon Star, one only truly embarked on the path of cultivation after condensing a magical weapon and becoming a magical weapons master. Cultivation involved two aspects: refining the magical weapon through methods called cultivation methods, and mastering corresponding moves using the magical weapon—known as weapon techniques—through guides called weapon manuals.

Both cultivation methods and weapon manuals on Spirit Weapon Star were divided into five grades and three tiers each in descending order of power: Heaven, Earth, Sun, Moon, and Star. Each grade further split into low, medium, and high tiers.

However, most methods circulating publicly were the lowest Star-level. Families like the Lou Family possessed only low-tier moon-grade cultivation methods and weapon techniques at best. Higher-tier methods existed only in large sects or magical weapon academies. To obtain them, people sought to join such organizations.

The Ancient Weapon Academy was Gu Feng Nation\’s largest magical weapon academy, renowned for its resources. It housed numerous advanced cultivation methods and weapon manuals, drawing countless cultivators.

Lou Tianzhi said, \"The dean of the Ancient Weapon Academy is an earth-level magical weapons master. At the academy, those who excel gain qualification for tasks. Completing them earns rewards, which grow more valuable with task difficulty. One can also reject offered rewards and request specific ones instead. I heard the academy possesses pills capable of repairing magical weapons.\"

At this, Lou Tianzhi fell silent. Lou Yun didn\’t need further explanation—he understood. By entering the Ancient Weapon Academy and excelling through a high-difficulty task, he could request a pill to repair his father\’s magical weapon as a reward.

Lou Yun\’s eyes brightened instantly. \"Second Uncle, how does one enter the Ancient Weapon Academy?\"

\"First, it requires family approval. The requirement is having at least a beginner two-star magical weapon by age sixteen. Then the family will recommend you. But the recommended must be under eighteen and strong enough to pass the academy\’s test. This year, I plan to recommend Lou Qian.\"

This instantly dimmed Lou Yun\’s hopeful expression. Without even a magical weapon, he lacked any claim to family endorsement. At over fifteen years old now, he had barely ten months left!

Upon turning sixteen, Lou Family members underwent a changing ceremony—a rite of passage marking adulthood and service to the family. Based on strength, some remained in the inner clan; others shifted to the outer clan. Outer members received no cultivation methods or weapon manuals, leaving them stagnant for life unless they stumbled upon a rare opportunity.

This family rule, unalterable as decreed by ancestors, was absolute.

The next changing ceremony was only ten months away!

Watching Lou Yun\’s expression shift, Lou Tianzhi guessed his turmoil. Personally, he felt helpless and baffled about his nephew\’s plight, yet refused to believe Lou Yun would always remain mediocre. Over the years, he\’d aided him overtly and covertly, hoping for change—though now it seemed utterly hopeless.

Lou Tianzhi sighed inwardly and patted Lou Yun\’s shoulder. \"Yun\’er, don\’t dwell on it too much. Second Uncle will find a way to repair your father\’s magical weapon.\"

Suddenly, Lou Yun looked up at him. \"Second Uncle, was I really a genius at six?\"

Lou Tianzhi was surprised by the timing but nodded firmly. \"Yes, Yun\’er! At six, you cultivated your weapon spirit power to the tenth tier without guidance—a feat never achieved by anyone on Spirit Weapon Star!\"

With that answer, Lou Yun gazed at his father—pale and eyes shut. After a long pause, he declared with iron resolve, \"Father, rest assured. From today, I\’ll reclaim my genius title!\"

He then bowed deeply to Lou Tianzhi. \"Second Uncle, please care for my father.\"

Lou Yun strode out then. As he watched the retreating figure, Lou Tianzhi caught a fleeting flash of nine-colored light from Lou Yun before it vanished.

Rubbing his eyes, Lou Tianzhi nodded with a soft smile. Lou Yun hadn\’t asked about his father\’s injuries or the foe, or blindly pursued revenge. Instead, he focused only on a cure. At this, his nephew had truly matured.

\"Yun\’er, I believe you\’ll become a genius again!\"

Lou Yun raced to the back mountain, scaling its steep peak without pause as if releasing pent-up emotions. At the summit, he looked down over the land and roared,

\"Ah!\"

After the cry faded, he dropped to the ground. Teeth clamped hard on his lip while his body trembled faintly, inner agitation still burning.

His clansmen\’s taunts, his second uncle\’s faith, his father\’s broken form—all flickered through his mind.

\"I want to grow stronger! I will show everyone Lou Yun isn\’t worthless! Father, I\’ll restore your magical weapon! Then I\’ll avenge you!\"

Yet once his emotions settled, helplessness filled Lou Yun\’s expression. \"How do I get stronger?\" he murmured, shaking his head. \"Strength only comes by condensing a magical weapon. In nine years, I\’ve tried over ten thousand times without success. Achieving it and gaining family recognition within ten months is…\"

\"Who says you only get strong by condensing a magical weapon?\"

A resonant voice abruptly cut him off mid-soliloquy.

Lou Yun stiffened instantly. He leaped to his feet as his eyes darted behind him, spotting a man about five or six meters away!

Lou Yun tensed in shock. His innate senses—once his sole pride since condensing a magical weapon failed—had even detected mid-level magical weapons masters. Yet now someone had crept behind him unnoticed!

The man appeared in his thirties, exceptionally handsome with stern features and long black hair flowing down his back. Rigid as an unsheathed sword, he exuded an aura of ice.

After mentally scanning for recognition and finding none among his family or acquaintances, Lou Yun demanded, \"Who are you?\"

Though a cliff of the Lou Family estate bounded by abyss, outsiders couldn\’t bypass guards unnoticed. Yet this man stood before him without causing commotion below, implying immense power had covertly delivered him here.

Wearing an inscrutable smirk, the man spoke. \"I\’m Chang Xiang. Obey me, and I\’ll make you strong!\"

After a pause, Lou Yun remained wary. \"I do want power. But tell me—your identity, your link to my Lou Family, why you came.\"

Chang Xiang spread his hands. \"I\’ve said it—I\’m Chang Xiang. I share a tie with your family, but you lack the strength to grasp it now. My purpose here is to make you strong!\"

\"Why?\"

\"Because of that bond with your Lou Family.\"

Such circular reasoning bewildered even Lou Yun. Yet he perceived the man\’s cunning beneath his sword-like exterior.

Chang Xiang added, \"Answer me: do you believe only condensing a magical weapon makes one a true warrior?\"

Lou Yun instinctively nodded. \"Yes!\"

\"Hmph!\" Chang Xiang sneered contemptuously. \"Well, I can mold you into a formidable figure—magical weapon or not!\"

The lure struck Lou Yun powerfully. He pressed, \"How, without a magical weapon?\"

Chang Xiang icily uttered two words: \"Common weapon!\"