She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 54

◎ "A Hundred Ways to Cook Snake: The Complete Culinary Guide to Serpentine Dishes" ◎

After successfully "abducting" the snake spirit Wu Manshuang, their little expedition team for the Hundred Refinements Assembly was officially formed!

In front of Ling Shuanghun and Wu Manshuang, Yan Luoyue took out her flying artifact from her storage pouch and invited the two aboard.

Wu Manshuang had always lived in isolation and knew little of the world.

Upon hearing that this flying vessel was crafted by Yan Luoyue, he instinctively assumed it must be excellent—perhaps even the finest flying artifact in existence.

Ling Shuanghun, however, was a man of the world.

Instead of boarding immediately, he circled Yan Luoyue’s flying artifact first, inspecting its structure with the composed demeanor of a seasoned driver who aced all his driving tests.

"Yan Luoyue, is this your flying vessel? Its design is quite novel and amusing… It almost looks like two saucers pressed together."

Yan Luoyue grinned in response. "That’s because it is a flying saucer."

In the cultivation world, mainstream flying artifacts typically came in a few standard shapes: pavilions, great ships, phoenixes, carriages…

A few years prior, a trendy "upside-down ship" design had taken the market by storm—its hull inverted, sails pointing downward.

When soaring through the skies, these "inverted vessels" resembled reflections of the sea cast upon the heavens.

They embodied a poetic notion—"the Milky Way is but another river"—and thus enjoyed immense popularity in the cultivation world for a time.

Beyond these classic and seasonal designs, some cultivators commissioned custom-made artifacts from refiners.

For example, Meng Zhun, the lord of Chiyu City, had crafted his own flying artifact—a massive iron sphere.

Not only was its appearance ruggedly simple, but it also proved unstoppable when smashing through rooftops.

Ling Shuanghun had also once encountered a demonic cultivator who truly cared neither for superstition nor auspicious symbolism—he had forged an iron coffin as his flying artifact, drifting among the clouds every day.

The next time news of this demonic cultivator surfaced, it was at his funeral.

Rumor had it that due to the unique shape of his artifact, his enemies had spotted him from miles away…

In short, this brave soul, who had fearlessly challenged taboos, met an unfortunate and untimely end.

With such pioneers as inspiration, Yan Luoyue’s little flying saucer hardly stood out as eccentric.

If anything was peculiar, it was the name she had given her flying artifact—a rather tongue-twisting one: "UFO."

…………

As the small flying saucer ascended into the sky, the journey of a turtle, a snake, and a crane officially began.

Among the trio, the one who drew the most attention from the other two was the newest addition to their group—Wu Manshuang.

Yan Luoyue eagerly rolled up her sleeves, determined to teach him how to read. Upon hearing of this plan, Ling Shuanghun also enthusiastically volunteered to contribute.

This was hardly surprising—despite his poised and refined exterior, Ling Shuanghun was, at heart, a kind and warmhearted crane.

Back when he and Yan Luoyue were barely acquainted, he had even taken the initiative to invite her on this journey.

On their first day aboard the flying saucer, Yan Luoyue taught Wu Manshuang the multiplication table.

Ling Shuanghun, meanwhile, instructed him on the proper way to hold a brush.

On the second day, Yan Luoyue borrowed one of Wu Manshuang’s vests—worn beneath his cloak—to begin researching a customized isolation solution for the little snake.

All this time, Wu Manshuang’s ability to coexist safely with his surroundings had not been due to the layers of cloth wrapped around him—those strips provided more psychological comfort than actual protection.

The true functional artifact was the hide of the Yimu Demon he had taken.

That Yimu Demon had grown up consuming all manner of poisons, granting its body an extraordinary resistance to toxins.

This trait was directly reflected in its flesh, making its skin naturally anti-toxic and poison-resistant.

When Wu Manshuang fled the Lu family’s secret chamber, he had taken half of the Yimu Demon’s hide with him.

He had tanned the hide and sewn it into gloves, close-fitting undergarments, and even a pair of layered-soled shoes—wasting not a single scrap of material.

It was only now that Yan Luoyue realized Wu Manshuang was quite the craftsman.

…Then again, it made sense. Living in isolation was no easy feat. To be entirely self-sufficient, one had to learn a little of everything.

Due to various constraints, the interior of the flying saucer wasn’t particularly spacious.

So when Yan Luoyue sat on the left side, she could easily overhear the conversation between Wu Manshuang and Ling Shuanghun on the right.

At the moment, Yan Luoyue was bent over, meticulously studying the Yimu Demon’s hide and sketching out refining blueprints.

Meanwhile, Ling Shuanghun was earnestly teaching Wu Manshuang how to read.

As a member of the crane clan—a lineage known for producing historians—Ling Shuanghun had been immersed in literary education from a young age. His teaching methods were thus quite refined.

He began by explaining to Wu Manshuang, "When teaching literacy, we usually start with illustrated books. The combination of images and text allows learners to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words through the pictures."

This made perfect sense, and Yan Luoyue nodded along in silent agreement.

Then, Ling Shuanghun pulled out a picture book… Well, no—calling it a picture book wasn’t quite accurate.

Because what he had produced was, in fact, a cookbook.

Yan Luoyue: "…"

Wu Manshuang: "…"

Adjusting his sleeves, Ling Shuanghun also seemed slightly apologetic.

He explained, "I left all the children’s illustrated primers at home when packing for this trip. The only book with pictures in my bag right now is this one… Wu Manshuang, I hope you don’t mind."

Wu Manshuang shook his head to indicate he didn’t.

Regardless of the medium, the words he needed to learn remained the same.

In the past, he had barely known how to speak, picking up language only by secretly mimicking others’ conversations.

Now that Ling Shuanghun was willing to teach him openly, Wu Manshuang was deeply grateful.

And so, the lesson proceeded—one pointing at the words, the other dutifully repeating them.

Ling Shuanghun pointed at the first illustrated recipe: "Dragon-Tiger Battle."

Wu Manshuang repeated: "Dragon-Tiger Battle."

Ling Shuanghun moved to the second image: "Pepper-Salt Snake Steak."

Wu Manshuang’s voice grew hesitant: "…Pepper-Salt Snake Steak."

Ling Shuanghun’s finger landed on the third picture: "Three-Chicken Liver and Sliced Snake Platter."

Wu Manshuang’s recitation slowed further: "Three-Chicken Liver… um, and Sliced Snake Platter."

At this point, Yan Luoyue could no longer stay silent—something about this lesson felt increasingly wrong.

She sprang to her feet and hurried over, only to find Wu Manshuang sitting stiff as a board.

A glance at the book confirmed her suspicions: Good heavens, it really is a cookbook!

The pages were filled with vivid descriptions—braised, stir-fried, oil-braised, salt-grilled—and even featured full-color illustrations that made one’s mouth water.

…But no matter how appetizing the pictures were, they couldn’t mask the fact that the book Ling Shuanghun had chosen for Wu Manshuang’s literacy lesson was titled:

A Hundred Ways to Cook Snake: The Complete Culinary Guide to Serpentine Dishes.

Yan Luoyue: "…"

Wu Manshuang: "…"

Yan Luoyue was utterly aghast. How could anyone think this was an appropriate textbook for a little snake?!

Ling Shuanghun was also extremely shocked. "So, is Wu Manshuang's clan the snake clan?"

He saw Wu Manshuang coiling around himself layer upon layer and thought he might be distantly related to the turtle clan, like a snail or something.

Or perhaps he was some kind of special demon clan that preferred to stay out of sight, like an earthworm demon or a pill bug demon.

"No," Yan Luoyue said, looking very puzzled. "You don't even carry a literacy textbook, but why do you always carry a snake cooking recipe with you?"

Ling Shuanghun stood up, straightened his already neat clothes, and gently reminded, "I'm from the crane clan."

Snakes are among the prey of the crane clan.

So, obviously, this was another misunderstanding caused by the food chain.

It was just like the situation between Sang Ji and the Yan siblings. Don't forget, crocodiles are also the natural enemies of turtles.

Yes, the daily life of their demon clan was so colorful, full of the thrill of discovering natural enemies and being discovered by them!

However, Ling Shuanghun's teaching method gave Yan Luoyue a new inspiration.

That night, Yan Luoyue set the oral test item for the little snake as reciting the entire section of "The List of Dishes" from a cross - talk.

Ling Shuanghun: "..."

Ling Shuanghun watched helplessly as the simple - minded little green snake nodded seriously and actually took a cross - talk script to memorize. He couldn't help but feel heart - stricken.

When Wu Manshuang wasn't paying attention, Ling Shuanghun whispered to Yan Luoyue,

"I've tested him. Wu Manshuang's tone is a bit stiff, but he can speak normally in daily life. Admit it, Yan, you're just bullying Wu."

Yan Luoyue whispered back, "Hehe."

...

On the third day after boarding the flying saucer, during the break from literacy teaching, Ling Shuanghun popularized some extracurricular knowledge to Wu Manshuang.

"You said the character 'Wu' has two forks... Well, this view is very interesting. It has a bit of the flavor of ancient Chinese characters," Ling Shuanghun said.

Facing Wu Manshuang's confused look, the crane demon smiled modestly and drew a pattern on the paper.

"This is the ancient form of the character 'Wu'."

"Some people say that this is the appearance of the first group of cultivators in the past holding staffs and swords to communicate with the Heavenly Way. Another theory is that the character 'Wu' represents thunder descending from the sky, penetrating the heaven and the earth, and the mystery of the Great Way begins from here."

Once he mentioned the wild history and miscellaneous knowledge he was good at, Ling Shuanghun straightened his sleeves, sat upright, and talked eloquently.

Wu Manshuang grabbed the paper and examined it for a while, his eyes showing deep thought.

After a while, he suddenly asked, "What do ancient Chinese characters look like?"

Ling Shuanghun replied subconsciously, "They are oracle bone inscriptions."

Wu Manshuang asked further, "What are oracle bone inscriptions?"

Ling Shuanghun smiled and said, "As the name implies, oracle bone inscriptions are, of course, characters engraved on the ventral shells of turtles..."

Before he finished his explanation, Wu Manshuang suddenly interrupted the conversation.

This was a very rare thing in the past because Wu Manshuang respected knowledge and his teacher.

But at this moment, Wu Manshuang hesitated to speak.

"Xiao Ling... Stop talking for now."

"Why?"

Reminded by Wu Manshuang, Ling Shuanghun suddenly felt that some creature was approaching from behind.

With the natural sharpness and lightness of a white crane, he turned his head, but it was still a bit late.

Then, Ling Shuanghun saw Yan Luoyue looming over him like an indelible shadow in the night.

On her finger, there was a very familiar small golden leather loop.

Ling Shuanghun: "..."

The days on the journey passed like this, with the crane flying and hopping.

During this period, the first stop where the flying saucer landed was Chiyu City, where City Lord Meng Zhun came from.

According to the written regulations in the cultivation world, flying is prohibited over cities and some special areas. Not only flying magic tools but also sword cultivators are not allowed to fly into these areas with their swords.

Yan Luoyue put away the flying saucer, and the three of them honestly walked through the city gate.

Actually, their supplies were still abundant, and it didn't matter if they bypassed Chiyu City.

But firstly, Yan Luoyue was concerned about what Chiyu City looked like now. Secondly, Ling Shuanghun wanted to record the follow - up matters of the Thousand - faced Demon Incident. And thirdly...

Except for the time when they fled in a hurry from the Lu family's secret chamber, Wu Manshuang had never really strolled around a city's market.

If all the Thousand - faced Demons in Chiyu City had been eradicated, Yan Luoyue wanted to take the little snake to have fun in the city.

As soon as they approached the city gate, Yan Luoyue nodded secretly in her heart.

Two large tracking nets were right above the city gate, and anyone entering the city had to pass under them.

If ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‍a cultivator from other places asked about the origin of these silver nets, the guards would simply tell them that these nets were specially used to identify Thousand - faced Demons.

"What? Can Thousand - faced Demons be identified now?"

The cultivator in front of Yan Luoyue marveled and kept looking up at the silver nets when entering the city.

Yan Luoyue even heard two weapon refiners discussing. They thought that the weapon refiner who invented these nets would surely stand out in the Hundred Refinements Assembly. If they could meet the inventor at this assembly, they would be willing to pay for one.

Yan Luoyue shook her head and smiled. She really didn't expect that the hundred nets she gave to Chiyu City would actually have an indirect advertising effect.

By this time, more than a month had passed since Meng Zhun came to ask for help.

As the three of them walked on the street, they felt that Chiyu City was in good order. The shops on the main streets were doing brisk business, and cultivators from other places were pouring into the city like drops of water, converging into a river on the streets.

This city had once been attacked by a deadly poison due to a momentary carelessness.

But with the concerted efforts of the whole city, it had rallied again.

The Thousand - faced Demon Incident hadn't left many scars on Chiyu City.

Many cultivators from outside didn't even know that Chiyu City had been under lockdown for a month not long ago.

They didn't know that this city had almost fallen apart.

Yan Luoyue smiled as she looked at the city.

Beside her, the white - crane scribe also had a gratified smile on his lips. His ink brush was flying up and down, recording non - stop on the bamboo slips.

As for Wu Manshuang, it was the first time in his life that he stood on such a bustling street.

Cultivators were coming and going in an endless stream. Standing in the middle of the crowd on the street, Wu Manshuang instinctively wanted to take a step back, but Yan Luoyue grabbed his sleeve.

Little Moon shook his sleeve, smiled at him, and said briskly, "Let's go. Let's see how well the new equipment I made for you works."

So, out of pure instinct, Wu Manshuang nodded several times.

The turtle clan must have a spell called "Obedience Spell", otherwise, it would be impossible to explain this strange thing.

Thinking that the cloak on him was made by Yan Luoyue, Wu Manshuang couldn't help but straighten his chest, trying to make his still slender and tough young figure look more imposing, striving to be a qualified, good - looking, tall and long - legged clothes hanger.

...

Since they used Yan Luoyue's own identity to enter the city, she didn't go to visit City Lord Meng Zhun immediately. Instead, she first found out where Yin Wangyou lived.

This young alchemist was quite famous in the city.

Thanks to the supply of the Thousand - faced Demon corpses, Yin Wangyou had developed a skill in dissecting Thousand - faced Demons.

The meridians of the Thousand-Faced Demons dissected by her could be used to make the Tracking Net, which could then be used to find the traces of more Thousand-Faced Demons.

This virtuous cycle, similar to "a chicken lays an egg, and the egg hatches into a chicken," continued until no more Thousand-Faced Demons could be found in the city, and Chiyu City returned to its former order.

As soon as they heard that Yan Luoyue and the other two were looking for that medical cultivator girl, the cultivator they asked for directions immediately praised her without reservation.

He even bent down to pick up a branch and drew a simple map on the ground for them.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Yan Luoyue knocked on Yin Wangyou's door.

Seeing old friends coming to visit, the usually serious girl couldn't help but show a warm smile in her eyes.

"Luoyue, you're here."

As soon as Yan Luoyue stepped into the yard, she was attracted by the corpses of Thousand-Faced Demons all over the yard.

Most of these Thousand-Faced Demon corpses had been dissected.

The appearance of the Thousand-Faced Demons was a light-gray, slime-like elastic fluid.

Some of them were lying flat on the ground, some were hanging on the clotheslines in the yard, and some were lying on the dissection table in the center of the yard, which was made up of two long tables.

Yan Luoyue joked, "Wangyou, if the landlord saw you using his house like this, he'd probably faint."

Yin Wangyou obligingly twitched the corner of her mouth: "No, he won't. Because this small courtyard was lent to me by Lord Meng, the city lord."

While talking to Yan Luoyue, Yin Wangyou secretly sized up Wu Manshuang behind her.

She had sold medicine in the Silver Light Arena, a place full of all kinds of people, and had seen countless dangerous people, either savage or arrogant.

But even though Yin Wangyou had seen so much of the world, this boy in a cloak seemed particularly special.

The young boy was wearing a cloak similar to Yan Bixin's, with his face hidden in the shadow of the hood.

But when Yan Bixin wore the cloak, everyone knew that the black robe was just a tool for the weapon refiner to hide his identity.

This young boy was different. He was like a natural hidden assassin, perfectly blending in with this cloak.

Moreover, it wasn't just Yin Wangyou's imagination. This cloak seemed more exquisite than Yan Bixin's. It not only outlined the young boy's lean and fit figure, but even every fold of the hem exuded a simple and sharp air.

Yan Luoyue: Of course! This cloak of Wu Manshuang's is the special upgraded version she made!

After all, Yan Bixin's black robe was just a work uniform. But Wu Manshuang's black robe was his regular clothing.

Yin Wangyou stole another furtive glance at the black-robed boy.

When he stood silently beside Yan Luoyue, his aura was as quiet as an extension of Yan Luoyue's shadow.

But when he stretched out his hand, revealing those pitch-black, faintly glowing leather gloves, he was like a shadow snake tensing its muscles, ready to strike at any moment.

As if at any time, he could spring up, and before the opponent could react, his venomous fangs would pierce the enemy's throat.

The young boy under the cloak politely greeted her. His tone had a very special flavor.

"Greetings, Daoist Yin. My surname is Wu, Wu Manshuang."

"Greetings, Daoist Wu. A pleasure to meet you."

Yin Wangyou thought to herself secretly: ...It's really great to be rich. I also want to be rich. I wonder how much it would cost to hire such a powerful cultivator to protect me personally?

It wasn't until Yin Wangyou turned around and led the three of them into the room to talk that Wu Manshuang, who had been "silent and mysterious" all this time, immediately looked at Yan Luoyue.

Yan Luoyue didn't hesitate to give him a thumbs up.

"Manshuang, you're super cool!"

Ling Shuanghun also chimed in, "Good. Keep it up, Little Wu."

He and Yan Luoyue agreed that in order to prevent Wu Manshuang from being taken advantage of outside because of his honesty, they might as well put a mysterious mask on Little Wu first.

With a little transformation, shyness could turn into aloofness, earnestness could turn into sharpness. As for being dangerous...

Ling Shuanghun frowned slightly, smoothing out a wrinkle on his clothes, and gave a self - deprecating smile in his mind.

—For other qualities, it might be okay to say it was a transformation, but in terms of being dangerous, Little Wu was completely being himself.

Taking advantage of no one noticing, Wu Manshuang privately asked Yan Luoyue, "What does... the thumb mean?"

Yan Luoyue smiled and said, "It means to praise you as extremely excellent and wonderful."

Wu Manshuang thought for a moment. The next second, he gave Yan Luoyue three thumbs up in a row.

Yan Luoyue was both amused and exasperated, "Are you giving me a triple like?"

Shaking his head gently, Wu Manshuang whispered, "My two thumbs, and the one you just gave me, are all for you. It's your... the cloak you refined is extremely excellent and wonderful."

His soft voice let out a few words, which were heard by Yin Wangyou in the front.

Yin Wangyou: "..."

As a medical cultivator, she naturally knew the importance of the thumb to the human body.

If a person lost their thumb, more than two - thirds of the function of that hand would be lost.

In broad daylight, they were actually openly discussing such a dangerous topic, and with such a calm and natural attitude... This Daoist Wu was really professional!

Yan Luoyue and Yin Wangyou chatted in the inner room for a while.

As soon as the topic turned to her duties, Yin Wangyou immediately became energetic.

She excitedly showed her new discoveries and introduced them all to Yan Luoyue at once.

Yin Wangyou took out more than a dozen sandalwood boxes and arranged them on the table one by one.

"Look, these are all the meridians I've stripped from different Thousand-Faced Demons."

Yan Luoyue looked at them one by one and said uncertainly, "It seems... they're getting thicker?"

"They're getting tougher. The meridian you're pointing at is almost as tough as the spiral thread of the Left - Spiral Snail Demon. It really surprised me too."

Correcting Yan Luoyue's statement, Yin Wangyou smiled and said, "Luoyue, guess which of these meridian owners is the most powerful?"

Without hesitation, Yan Luoyue pointed at the last box, the one containing the thickest meridian.

"This one?"

Didn't Yin Wangyou say before that it was as hard as the spiral thread of the Left - Spiral Snail Demon?

Among many demons, the Left - Spiral Snail Demon was well - known for its hard shell.

If the meridian of a Thousand-Faced Demon could be this hard, it should be the most powerful one.

"No, it's not this one."

Yin Wangyou gently pushed the middle box: "It's this one."

When talking about this topic, Yin Wangyou's usually solemn expression became even more serious.

She said, "Among all the Thousand-Faced Demons in the city, this one was the best at hiding. After devouring a cultivator, it absorbed the most memories. Even the cultivator's relatives, neighbors, and teachers couldn't believe that he was actually a Thousand-Faced Demon in disguise. If it weren't for the Tracking Net..."

If it weren't for the Tracking Net, and only based on the testimonies of relatives and friends, this Thousand-Faced Demon might have escaped, leaving endless troubles in Chiyu City.

Yin Wangyou fiddled with several boxes in her hands.

"I initially thought that the thicker and more numerous the meridians of the Thousand - faced Demons were, the more powerful they would be. But later I found that's not the case," Yin Wangyou said.

"The thicker the meridians of the Thousand - faced Demons are, the higher their tenacity will be, but their ability to absorb memories will decline. The same goes for those with thin and weak meridians. There must be a balance point between thick and thin... Only the Thousand - faced Demons that reach that balance point are the strongest."

Yan Luoyue casually replied, "Oh, is it an inverted U - shaped curve?"

Yin Wangyou was talking to herself, concentrating very intently and getting more and more absorbed.

"Besides, there is one thing that puzzles me greatly. The thickness of the meridians of the Thousand - faced Demons is not fixed at birth. It is related to their post - natal diet."

"Some Thousand - faced Demons will have thicker meridians after consuming more spiritual energy, while others will only have more flexible meridians. What exactly is the difference between the two? Why does such a difference occur?"

Seeing that Yin Wangyou was getting more and more confused and even going into a dead - end, Yan Luoyue immediately interrupted.

"Wangyou, will you go to the Hundred Refinements Assembly with us?"

"I probably won't go to this year's Hundred Refinements Assembly," Yin Wangyou said.

When announcing this decision, Yin Wangyou didn't show much regret.

As an alchemist, she was not really involved in the Hundred Refinements Assembly.

Her original intention to participate in the assembly was to look for clues about the different fires.

And now...

"Mayor Meng thanked me for my help to Chiyu City and promised to find one to three clues related to the different fires for me. If he really can't find any clues about the different fires, he is willing to give me a flame from his 'Azure Heart Flame'," Yin Wangyou said, nodding, apparently satisfied with the result.

Now, rather than going to the Hundred Refinements Assembly to have fun and broaden her horizons, she preferred to stay in Chiyu City and continue researching the structure of these Thousand - faced Demons, hoping to solve the mystery of the Thousand - faced Demons that had troubled her for a long time.

However, when Yan Luoyue mentioned the Hundred Refinements Assembly, Yin Wangyou remembered something.

"I heard from Mayor Meng before that this year's Hundred Refinements Assembly seems to be changed to the Thousand Refinements Assembly. Do you know this news?"

"—Huh?"

Suddenly, Yan Luoyue looked up in surprise.

Both "Hundred Refinements" and "Thousand Refinements" are descriptions of the level of the assembly.

To hold a Hundred Refinements Assembly, at least one master weapon - refiner must be invited, and at least twenty weapon - refiners with different fires must participate in the assembly.

The prerequisite for holding a Thousand Refinements Assembly is to invite at least five master weapon - refiners and ensure that at least one hundred weapon - refiners with different fires participate in the assembly.

Why has the level of this year's assembly suddenly been upgraded? Is there any other reason?

Yin Wangyou shook her head regretfully. "I'm afraid you have to ask Mayor Meng for more detailed information. All I know now is what I heard from Mayor Meng."

And since she was not a weapon - refiner, Yin Wangyou just listened to the news about the Hundred Refinements Assembly and didn't dig deeper.

Does Mayor Meng know more about the specific situation?

Yes, he is a weapon - refiner himself.

Yan Luoyue nodded. "Thank you, Wangyou. I see."

……

Since she was going to visit Meng Zhun, Yan Luoyue had to change her disguise.

That night, she took an age - increasing pill, put on the exclusive black robe of Yan Bixin, adjusted her cloak neatly, and quietly appeared at the entrance of the mayor's mansion.

It had not been long since the disaster of the Thousand - faced Demons, and the guards at the mayor's mansion had been replaced.

These newly appointed guards were extremely sensitive to such a concealed appearance, almost as if it were a conditioned reflex.

If it weren't for the silver net hanging under the plaque on the roof of the mansion remaining motionless, the guards would probably have drawn their swords instantly.

"Who is it?!"

The mysterious black - robed weapon - refiner let out a hoarse laugh. Two knuckles of his gloved fingers carefully protruded from the sleeve.

"My surname is Yan. Here is my visiting card. Please pass it on to your mayor."

The guard took the card and looked at the concealed black - robed man warily.

He even stared closely at the card, afraid that once he opened it, a puff of black smoke would suddenly come out.

Yan Luoyue took in the guard's performance and began to happily collect materials: Good. Next time she encountered a similar scene, she would use this guard's performance as a reference.

Not long after the visiting card was sent in, there came a rush of footsteps from inside the mansion.

Upon learning the news that Yan Bixin was visiting, Mayor Meng Zhun of Chiyu City rushed out to greet him, not even bothering to put on his shoes properly.

From ten steps away, he couldn't wait to shout out in surprise and joy, "Master Yan! You've really come!"

The black - robed weapon - refiner smiled. "Mayor Meng, it's good to see you well after a long time."

Hearing this conversation, the guard who had been full of vigilance just now suddenly changed his expression.

The guard looked at the black - robed man with respect.

At this moment, the guard no longer thought that the black clothes were a sign of concealment. Instead, he thought the black robe was good and the cloak was wonderful. No matter how he looked at it, he could see the peerless demeanor of a mysterious master.

"So you are Master Yan?"

Yan Bixin nodded slightly.

"Has Mayor Meng ever mentioned me?"

"Of course," Meng Zhun laughed heartily.

After the trouble of the Thousand - faced Demons was resolved, his mental state immediately perked up a lot. It seemed that even one of his forehead wrinkles had disappeared.

"Our Chiyu City was saved mostly thanks to the tracking net made by the master. I wouldn't dare to take credit for it. Naturally, I have to tell the cultivators in the city about the master's kindness."

Hearing this answer, the black - robed weapon - refiner smiled again.

Although he hadn't thought about getting a reward when he made the net back then, it really made him feel good to see that the people he had helped still remembered him.

Meng Zhun repeatedly invited Master Yan to enter and take a seat. He called the servants to prepare a feast and personally served fragrant tea to Master Yan.

After they exchanged some polite remarks, Meng Zhun asked, "Master, why have you come to our small Chiyu City?"

The black - robed weapon - refiner sat upright like a bell, with his hands tucked into his loose sleeves. "I passed by on my way and came in to have a look."

Seeing that Chiyu City was now living in peace and unity, Yan Luoyue felt at ease, as if she had completed an important task.

After they chatted about the weather for a while, the topic naturally shifted to the Thousand Refinements Assembly.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Meng Zhun said, "It's a pity that this year's Hundred Refinements Assembly has been changed to the Thousand Refinements Assembly. Although the previous invitations are still valid, they can't bring anyone in."

Originally, for the Hundred Refinements Assembly, in addition to the weapon - refiner himself, one invitation could bring an extra person.

Ling Shuanghun had an invitation himself.

Originally, Yan Luoyue planned to use the quota of her invitation to take Wu Manshuang into the assembly.

Now it seemed that she had to think of an extra way.

Rubbing the edge of the teacup, Yan Bixin didn't pick up the cup to drink.

The weapon - refiner asked in a hoarse voice, "I'll be going to the Thousand Refinements Assembly soon. I wonder when Mayor Meng plans to set off?"

"Well..."

Meng Zhun let out a bitter laugh, with a look of embarrassment on his face.

"To be frank, Master Yan, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend this Thousand Refinements Assembly." The black-robed figure slightly raised his head. "Why is that?"

The Hundred Refinements Assembly was held once every ten years, and the Thousand Refinements Assembly was even rarer. Unlike Yin Wangyou, Meng Zhun was a master craftsman, yet he couldn't participate in this grand gathering of smiths—how could he not feel regret?

Meng Zhun sighed. "Though the matter of the Thousand-Faced Demon has been resolved, its aftermath still lingers in the hearts of the people."

Physical wounds could be healed with miraculous elixirs, but the scars left in memory required time to fade.

"At this critical moment, it's best for me to stand united with the people of the city, avoiding unnecessary departures if possible."

With the precedent of a prominent clan fleeing Chiyu City, Meng Zhun, the city lord who had turned the tide, shone even brighter in contrast.

For now, his prestige in the city was unmatched, and his mere presence served as a stabilizing force.

He didn’t necessarily need to take action—just staying in the city was a silent reassurance to everyone.

If Meng Zhun were to leave Chiyu City for a month or two during this sensitive period, it would inevitably spark unnecessary speculation.

A faint smile touched Meng Zhun’s lips, tinged with melancholy but mostly relief.

"I may be a craftsman, but before that, I’ve been a city lord for thirty years."

Though he couldn’t attend the Thousand Refinements Assembly himself, he urged Master Yan not to miss such an event.

"Rumor has it that the reason this assembly has been elevated to the 'Thousand Refinements' level is due to a clue about a legendary treasure soon to be revealed."

Beneath his hood, Yan Luoyue raised an eyebrow.

If even a mere clue was this significant, the treasure itself must be extraordinary.

For craftsmen, something that could command such attention must surely be...

Meng Zhun straightened, speaking deliberately. "As you’ve guessed, the treasure hinted at by the clue is none other than the Crying Crow Flame."

"..."

Yan Luoyue blinked.

Half-jokingly, she thought to herself: "The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky." The last time she heard this phrase, it had inspired the little snake’s name. Now, hearing it again, both "Luoyue" and "Manshuang" were present.

It seemed fate had tied her to this treasure.

Though inwardly amused, the black-robed craftsman remained composed.

"City Lord Meng, have you heard any specifics about the clue?"

As soon as the words left her lips, Yan Luoyue noticed a peculiar look in Meng Zhun’s eyes.

Meng Zhun answered softly, "They say the clue is a fragment of a map."

...A map? A map?

Instinctively, Yan Luoyue recalled the box Meng Zhun had given her.

Come to think of it, the first map fragment she received from Zhen Zhuo'er had been found among Lu Jindu’s belongings after his death.

And Lu Jindu, the young master of the Lu family, had also been a craftsman.

Under the hooded gaze, Meng Zhun merely smiled without speaking.

Her thoughts racing, the black-robed craftsman sighed in a low voice, "Yet you gave that gift to me."

The words carried both lament and testing.

Meng Zhun shook his head.

This time, his tone held even more resolution than when he had decided to forgo the assembly.

"Master Yan, I know my limits. Treasures should belong to those with both virtue and skill—and I know I am not a great craftsman."

At this, Yan Luoyue’s doubts about the map fragment vanished.

Clearly, Meng Zhun had known exactly what he was giving away when he presented it as a gift.

Yet the city lord felt no regret—instead, he seemed content, like a man entrusting a fine steed to a worthy rider.

The black-robed craftsman said earnestly, "No, you are a great craftsman. But before that, you are an even greater city lord."

This echoed Meng Zhun’s earlier self-definition.

Yet coming from Yan Luoyue, it carried a deeper resonance.

Sharing a knowing smile, Meng Zhun bowed slightly.

"Though we’ve met only a few times, Master Yan, you understand me better than most."

The moon hung high, and the branches of the phoenix tree swayed gently in the night breeze.

Inside the study, their discussion on crafting flying artifacts came to a pause. Glancing at the sky outside, Yan Luoyue rose to take her leave.

Meng Zhun personally escorted her to the city lord’s manor gates, urging her warmly to visit again after the assembly.

The black-robed craftsman gave a slight nod.

Meng Zhun watched as her figure melted into the night, disappearing down the long street.

Just as he turned away with a trace of wistfulness, his attendant came hurrying over.

"The night is deep—mind your steps and don’t disturb the neighbors."

After this gentle reminder, Meng Zhun asked, "What is it?"

The attendant replied, "I was tidying the study as you instructed... and I found this left behind by Master Yan."

In his hands was a neatly wrapped oil-paper package. Meng Zhun took it with a start, unwrapping it swiftly.

Inside was a silk-bound notebook filled with smithing insights, along with summaries of over a dozen rare yet practical techniques.

The ink was still fresh—clearly, it had been transcribed recently from older notes.

Evidently, even before learning the significance of the map fragment, Master Yan had prepared this gift.

Running his fingers over the cover, Meng Zhun murmured, "Truly, this is Master Yan."

The flying disc, powered by spirit stones, followed its pre-set course.

Inside the cabin, the three of them sat with brushes in hand, each absorbed in their tasks.

Yan Luoyue sketched designs for her next project; Wu Manshuang reviewed his studies, marking unfamiliar characters; Ling Shuanghun, meanwhile, organized his treasured collection of unofficial histories.

Each occupied their own corner, the occasional soft sound only adding to the quiet warmth of the scene.

Then, abruptly, the peace was shattered.

The disc lurched violently—then began to plummet.