Chapter 9

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Chapter 9: No Rank or Tier

Lou Yun\’s words had just faded when Xu Yangteng suddenly clapped his palms, looking extremely excited as he said, \"Good! What great skill in simplicity! Lad, you have sharp eyes! You\’re the destined one! This sword, I\’m giving it to you!\"

This startled everyone, including Lou Yun, since none had expected that merely answering a question could earn a common weapon for free.

At that point, a nosy onlooker cautiously asked, \"Master Xu, could you explain what \’great skill in simplicity\’ means? Why are you so happy he chose this sword? Tell us, so we can learn more!\"

Xu Yangteng was clearly in a great mood, nodding with a beaming smile as he agreed. But he turned to Lou Yun and said, \"Little brother, why don\’t you tell them?\"

Lou Yun pondered briefly before smiling and saying, \"Then I\’ll be blunt. If I make any mistakes, please correct me freely, Master Xu.\" Naturally, this came from Chang Xiang\’s guidance.

\"No worries, no worries!\" Xu Yangteng replied, nodding repeatedly with a grin.

\"\’Great skill in simplicity\’ refers to being plain and natural,\" Lou Yun said.

The crowd exchanged glances, still unconvinced, and someone else asked, \"Then why did you pick this sword?\"

Lou Yun, full of confidence, raised the sword in his hand and said, \"Look at this sword, then at the other five swords. Do you see a difference?\"

After examining for a long while, they all shook their heads, finding nothing noteworthy.

Lou Yun smiled faintly and spoke. \"Those other swords—some have hooks, some have blood grooves, some have tassels. Every one of them has fancy patterns and looks incredibly attractive. But this sword is plain and ordinary, with nothing special except its color. Right?\"

When compared, they agreed this was the case.

The shape of weapons is set by the skilled weapon maker, and each piece here, I\’m sure, was crafted carefully by Master Xu, so every one is stunningly beautiful. Yet for this sword, I think Master Xu didn\’t put much effort into it!

Earlier, Lou Yun\’s words flattered Xu Yangteng, but to the others, the latter part sounded like criticism.

However, to everyone\’s surprise, Xu Yangteng didn\’t get angry at all—in fact, he looked even happier, with a hint of admiration flickering in his expression, and he nodded emphatically.

Lou Yun continued. \"You could say this sword was just born this way—perfectly natural! And only a weapon like this deserves the term great skill in simplicity! That\’s why I chose it!\"

Xu Yangteng gave Lou Yun a thumbs-up. \"Great eyesight, great assessment!\"

Lou Yun smiled humbly—after all, Chang Xiang had taught him all this to say.

Xu Yangteng enthusiastically took the sword from Lou Yun and gently brushed it with his palm, explaining. \"I found this sword inside a rock. That stone had no cracks. I kept puzzling over who might have jammed it in and how. But later I realized—it must have formed naturally right in the stone itself. So I named it the Stone Sword.\"

A sword forming naturally inside a rock was unheard of, which clearly revealed how precious this blade was.

At this, the crowd couldn\’t help feeling jealous of Lou Yun for landing such a treasure. Then someone inquired, \"Master Xu, what tier is this common weapon?\"

Xu Yangteng handed the sword upside down, cradling it in both hands, presenting it to Lou Yun. Only after Lou Yun accepted it did Xu Yangteng say lightly, \"No rank or tier!\"

\"What!\"

\"No rank or tier!\"

This stunned everyone instantly, since even magical weapons or common weapons always had ranks or tiers. Yet this Stone Sword lacked any, which seemed bizarre.

Xu Yangteng snorted coldly. \"For something made naturally by heaven and earth, what\’s strange about having no rank or tier?\"

\"Since it\’s so valuable, Master Xu, why are you selling it?\"

This time, Xu Yangteng glared at the speaker and snapped, \"Who said I\’m selling it? I\’m giving it to this young brother!\"

Right then, Lou Yun heard Chang Xiang\’s voice again. \"\’No rank or tier?\’ Ha—he just doesn\’t know its real value. A mere second-tier skilled weapon maker like him can\’t tell its tier, of course.\"

Facing so many people, Lou Yun couldn\’t ask more questions. But regardless, Xu Yangteng giving him the sword was a kindness, so holding it, Lou Yun told Xu Yangteng, \"Then I thank you, Master Xu.\"

Xu Yangteng waved a hand dismissively. \"You picked it yourself. No need for thanks.\"

Although they hadn’t known each other long, Lou Yun could tell Xu Yangteng was a forthright man, so he stopped standing on ceremony. \"Great Teacher Xu, I’ll take my leave,\" he said, eager to return for his cultivation training.

Xu Yangteng smiled. \"No need to call me ‘Great Teacher’! If you do respect me, just call me Elder Brother Xu. Young brother, do come visit me anytime you’re free. My doors are always open!\"

At these words, the eight others nearby instantly wore expressions of envy. Being addressed as \"brother\" by Xu Yangteng meant Lou Yun had earned Xu Yangteng’s favor—an immense honor many could only dream of.

Lou Yun wasn’t one for rigid formalities. He promptly nodded, \"Very well, Elder Brother Xu. My name is Lou Yun, of the Lou Family. Feel welcome to visit my home when free! Farewell!\" Holding the Stone Sword, he strode confidently away.

Watching Lou Yun’s retreating figure, Xu Yangteng murmured, \"Lou Yun… Lou Yun… Why does that name ring such a bell?\"

Someone quickly whispered, \"He’s the Lou Family’s boy—that ’genius waste’ who reached ten levels of weapon spirit power at six years old but still hasn’t manifested a magical weapon!\"

\"Ah!\" Xu Yangteng’s eyes widened like a tiger’s. \"Waste? My Brother Lou is clearly a talent!\"

\"Yes, yes! A talent! A talent!\" the group hastily agreed.

After departing, they naturally embellished the day’s events at the common weapon shop. Thus, news of Xu Yangteng’s favor toward Lou Yun spread like the spring breeze through Lingjiang City. Lou Yun—once renowned as the \"genius waste\"—became famous once more.

Unaware of all this, Lou Yun excitedly carried the Stone Sword straight toward the back mountains. Chang Xiang materialized before him.

Lou Yun offered the sword for inspection, but Chang Xiang refused to take it. Lightly, he remarked, \"No need to look. While passable for someone at your current level, it only possesses a five-earth attribute—less resilient than metal, less fierce than fire. It barely meets my standards. As for its grade, consider it beginner one-star.\"

Whether magical weapons or common weapons, all carried natural five-element attributes. A magical weapon’s attribute aligned with its creator’s inherent elemental affinity during weapon manifestation. Common weapons acquired theirs from materials and forging processes.

Metal yielded the toughest durability, fire unleashed the fiercest force—these attributes boasted the highest offensive power. Earth favored stability, excelling at defense.

The five elements interacted dynamically through generation and restriction cycles, making elemental differences crucial in combat outcomes.

Lou Yun couldn’t help muttering inwardly. ‘Just consider it?’

\"With a common weapon acquired,\" Chang Xiang stated, \"your training begins now.\"

\"But the weapon manual? Brother Chang, where is it? How can I train without one?\"

Chang Xiang chuckled lightly. \"Manual? Ah, I’d forgotten. This Stone Sword contains one—use your spiritual sense to perceive it.\"

\"What?\" Lou Yun wondered if he’d misheard. \"A manual inside the sword?\"

\"Only low-tier moon-grade. Utterly crude, but adequate for now. Learn that first.\" Before Lou Yun could react, Chang Xiang vanished, leaving him gaping at the sword.

A manual embedded within a weapon was another strange marvel. Lou Yun had heard rare weapon makers imbued their creations with manuals. But Xu Yangteng himself admitted this sword formed naturally within stone, unaided. How could it possess one? And a low-tier moon-grade manual, no less!

To Chang Xiang, moon-grade manuals were scraps. To Lou Yun, they were treasures. Manuals ranked along five tiers: Chaos, Spirit, Sun, Moon, and Star. The Lou Family’s loftiest manual was merely low-tier moon-grade, accessible solely to the clan-head and senior elders.

After a stunned moment, a grin crept onto Lou Yun’s face. ‘Seems I’ve struck gold.’

Closing his eyes, he extended his spiritual sense into the Stone Sword.

Indeed, lines of text surfaced in his mind—succinct, yet forming a complete weapon manual titled Fierce Sword.

Fierce Sword comprised three techniques: Human Fierce Sword, Earth Fierce Sword, and Sky Fierce Sword.

\"Only three techniques for a moon-grade manual? Feels sparse… Could it be fake?\" he mumbled skeptically. Mastering one a month seemed easy enough; three techniques in eight months certainly wouldn’t prove his strength to the clan.

\"Too few?\" Chang Xiang’s voice answered perfectly. \"You spent two months refining your body. That leaves eight. Master even one technique completely within eight months, and I’ll impart a higher-tier manual.\"

Lou Yun’s brow arched. Despite Chang Xiang’s certainty, he couldn’t fathom failing to learn a single technique in eight months.

\"Agreed, Brother Chang! Your word is pledged!\"

\"Hmph! Rest assured—lying isn’t my nature.\"

\"Then prepare that manual! Remember—higher than low-tier moon-grade!\"

Lou Yun sprang up immediately, practicing Human Fierce Sword’s execution as described in Fierce Sword.

All weapon techniques, regardless of tier, required spiritual energy and weapon spirit power to unleash their might. Simply put: a high-level magical weapons master wielding a star-grade technique would overpower a primary-level one wielding a moon-grade technique, due to their vast energy disparity.

Naturally, among equally high-level masters, the one employing a higher-tier technique prevailed—superior tiers yielded superior force.

Though Lou Yun manifested no magical weapon, his weapon spirit power had already plateaued at tier-ten since age six. Coupled with two months mastering the First Body Refinement, his current spiritual energy reservoir likely surpassed a beginner one-star magical weapons master. He just didn’t know it.

Despite this, channeling his spiritual energy precisely through Fierce Sword’s specified meridian paths proved utterly insufficient.

Weapon techniques amplified force by cycling energy through designated internal paths before unleashing it via the weapon. Lacking power to complete a cycle rendered the technique a hollow pose—devoid of power.

Lou Yun hit exactly that wall. Human Fierce Sword demanded ten meridian sections; he sputtered out at eight.

Though merely three techniques, Fierce Sword was still a moon-grade manual—vastly energy-hungrier than star-grade ones.

Chang Xiang knew this well; that’s why he’d posed the challenge. He’d initially planned a high-tier star-grade manual, suited perfectly to Lou Yun’s energy reserves. Discovering the embedded manual, he seized it as a test instead.

After three days of futile attempts, Lou Yun collapsed onto the ground in frustration. \"My energy’s too low! Releasing the sword technique is impossible!\"

Stretched lazily against a boulder, seemingly unconcerned, Chang Xiang said, \"I’ve already prepared a mid-tier moon-grade manual… Just doubt you’ll earn it.\"

Silence lingered until Lou Yun suddenly rose, heading downhill.

\"Hey! Where are you going?\" Chang Xiang called.

Lou Yun tossed back four words without turning.

\"Buy spiritual crystals!\"