JSCMU-Chapter 149: Is My Talent No Good?

Yang Hui, at an extremely fast speed, practically picked up and examined every single piece of Hundred-Refined Iron. He could clearly feel that this was the progression of a beginner in refining tools. From just starting out to becoming an experienced hand.

Most of his disciples went through this same kind of process as well.

Refining tools is an art that demands hard work, every bit of progress comes with endless sweat.

So, Yang Hui originally thought that Yun Jin wanting to learn the art of refining in such a short period of time was completely delusional.

But looking at these pieces of Hundred-Refined Iron…

If the quality of these pieces was perfectly uniform, he would definitely believe that Yun Jin bought them from outside.

However.

Each piece of this Hundred-Refined Iron showed clear traces of progress!

After examining them, it was as if he saw a refining cultivator steadily improving day by day.

It really didn’t make sense to say these were store-bought. Who could manage to purchase Hundred-Refined Iron that just so happened to show incremental improvement?

The greater likelihood was that these pieces were personally forged by Yun Jin! Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such traces of progress.

Yang Hui, slightly trembling, picked up one piece.

This one. Both in terms of quality and technique, it was already extremely refined.

It was enough to prove that the person who refined it was already very close to, or perhaps had already become, a second-rank refiner!

Becoming a second-rank refiner in one month?

Is that even possible?

Yang Hui felt like he was going crazy.

How outrageous was this?

Outrageous to the point where even if he played the part of a traitor and immediately went to report this to Zhao Wuji, Zhao Wuji would just have someone beat him up and throw him out, saying he was talking nonsense.

Yang Hui frustratedly ran a hand through his hair.

He now had the urge to go find Yun Jin, grab her, and interrogate her for three days and three nights.

Otherwise!

He would feel like all his years of hard work were a joke!

Do ordinary people’s lifelong efforts really lose to a moment of brilliance from a genius?

Yang Hui began to pace back and forth irritably.

He is a Peak Master.

He has status and dignity.

He has to stay calm.

He has to be composed.

But!

How is he supposed to stay composed?!

Yang Hui glanced at the mountain of Hundred-Refined Iron again, and suddenly thought of something. His eyes lit up, and he immediately summoned a disciple.

“You, go to Heavenly Sword Peak and ask Yun Jin to come here,” Yang Hui said calmly, “She left behind a storage pouch with some things in it. I’m not in the habit of taking things for free. Have her come, I’ll pay her in spirit stones.”

The disciple accepted the task and left.

Only then did Yang Hui let out a long breath.

This time, Yun Jin should come in person.

He said before that once the black iron was refined into Hundred-Refined Iron, Artifact Forging Peak would be willing to buy it at a high price.

Hundred-Refined and Thousand-Refined Iron are the two most common materials. No matter how much they acquire, Artifact Forging Peak would never be at a loss.

Of course, Yang Hui didn’t care about this little bit of profit. He just wanted an excuse to see Yun Jin again.

This time.

He must get to the bottom of this!

As for what to do after?

Yang Hui hadn’t thought that far yet.

Very soon, the disciple returned.

Yang Hui resisted the urge to crane his neck and instead sat solemnly on the high platform.

Unexpectedly, the disciple came back alone.

“Why did you come back alone?” Yang Hui’s expression was starting to crack.

The disciple looked a bit innocent, “Junior Sister Yun said she didn’t have time to come. She asked me to bring the spirit stones to her instead.”

Yang Hui gritted his teeth, “And then? You just came back like that?”

The disciple looked blank.

What else could he have done?

Junior Sister Yun spoke reasonably and logically. There was nothing wrong with her explanation!

Yang Hui glared at him for a while, wanting to yell, but not knowing what to say!

He could only wave his hand to shoo him away.

“The spirit stones…” The disciple looked a bit aggrieved. He already promised Junior Sister Yun.

“Get out!” Yang Hui directly picked something up and threw it at him.

The disciple was startled and didn’t dare linger any longer, slipping away quickly.

Yang Hui sat there alone, puffing with anger for a while, before the corners of his lips curled into a helpless smile.

That Yun Jin!

It’s not that she couldn’t come.

She’s clearly forcing him to come find her!

And the worst part was that he’s honestly very curious!

Late at night.

A sneaky shadow crept into Heavenly Sword Peak.

He was alert at first.

But surprisingly, Heavenly Sword Peak had no defenses whatsoever, letting him stride right through into the inner peak.

When he arrived at Yun Jin’s residence, even the door to her little bamboo hut was left open.

Yang Hui immediately understood.

She was waiting for him all along.

Yang Hui felt as if that open door was the gate to hell, ready to drag him into the abyss.

But…

Yang Hui muttered to himself, “I’m already here…”

He lifted his foot and stepped inside.

Yun Jin was smiling at him, eyes crinkling, “Peak Master Yang, would you like some tea?”

Is there even room to refuse now?

Yang Hui sat down silently.

Gu Jinghong considerately poured him a cup of tea.

Yang Hui couldn’t resist glancing at Gu Jinghong.

Although he already heard about it, seeing Gu Jinghong in person being obedient and well-trained by Yun Jin, still shocked him just a little.

Yang Hui lightly coughed and said slowly, “I saw those Hundred-Refined Irons. Did you forge them yourself?”

Yun Jin nodded, looking quite helpless, “Peak Master Yang, you’re so right! Refining artifacts is really hard. I practiced day and night for a full twenty days! Only barely managed to break through to be a second-rank refiner! Isn’t that way too hard? At this rate, if I want to reach ninth-rank, won’t it take me ten years or more?”

Yang Hui: “…”

He didn’t want to drink the tea anymore.

He wanted to throw the teacup in Yun Jin’s face.

But he held it in.

He forced himself to remain calm and said, “You must’ve studied artifact refining before, which is why you were able to pick it up so quickly.”

Yun Jin thought for a moment, “I’ve watched a blacksmith forge iron before. Does that count?”

She looked completely sincere.

Yang Hui fell silent.

But Yun Jin knew what kind of turbulent waves were crashing in his heart.

Because just now, he triggered three bursts of 500 Emotional Points for her.

Yang Hui gritted his teeth, “That doesn’t count. So you’re telling me you really started from scratch?”

“If that doesn’t count, then I guess I did,” Yun Jin sighed. “Without anyone to guide me, progress was really slow. You’re right, Peak Master. I really should find a proper master to teach me. Oh, and it took me twenty days just to reach second-rank. Do you think I’m just not talented in refining? Would any great master refiner even be willing to take me?”

She looked utterly sincere.

Yang Hui stared at her, squeezing out each word with difficulty, “Oh. I think your talent is passable.”

Yun Jin nodded.

Must be passable, since he gave her another 500 Emotional Points.

Yun Jin still looked worried as she said, “Peak Master, you don’t need to comfort me. Not only did it take me twenty full days to advance to second-rank, it even took me seven days just to get Tai’a Sword to successfully upgrade its star.”

“Someone like me… am I just useless?”

She looked sincerely at Yang Hui, as if hoping for his reassurance.

Yang Hui: “…”

He gripped his teacup.

Hesitating between throwing it at Yun Jin or not.

In the end.

He asked in a low voice, “Tai’a Sword… got a star upgrade?”