Bobby’s Proposal

  Huang Di looked directly at Bobby, curious to know what would be required to obtain the much-desired armor.

  “So, Bobby, what do I need to do for you to get me that armor?” he asked, eager to hear the details.

  Bobby, scrutinizing Huang Di more closely, replied:

  “First, we need to take a few measurements and run some simple tests.”

  With that, he opened a small door at the counter and invited Huang Di to step through. The two descended through several doors until they reached a vast space resembling an underground cavern. Huang Di was surprised by the change in environment but understood the need for such a place both for privacy and for the resources that might be mined there.

  As he walked, Huang Di began to suspect that his task would be to mine those resources for the forge. While he wasn’t entirely wrong, he would soon discover that there was more to it. Bobby glanced at him meaningfully and said:

  “As I said, the armor will be an investment, but that only covers my craftsmanship. We still need the materials to forge it. As for the tests, they’ll help define the armor’s design and purpose.”

  Bobby pointed to a special iron bar with a visor mounted on top.

  “I want you to punch this bar with all your strength first without using any energy or skills and then using your techniques. Should be simple enough, right, young warrior?”

  Huang Di noticed a pattern among all the elders he had visited they always wanted to test him in some way, to measure his strength from different angles. It made him wonder why, but confident in his abilities, he positioned himself before the strange device designed to assess his power.

  In the past, he might have held back his strength, but after earning the trust of the ghostly elders, he felt more comfortable giving it his all and showing his best.

  Bracing himself, Huang Di assumed a proper stance and delivered a full-force punch to the dark metal bar. To his surprise, the metal didn’t even flinch, but the visor showed a result: 94 tons.

  Huang Di was thrilled, but Bobby stood stunned. He had expected the youth to be strong, maybe comparable to someone at the early stages of the Earth Rank, but this level of strength was shocking. Physically, it rivaled specialists of the Lower Sky Rank. No one of the younger generation could compare to Huang Di in raw physical power.

  After recovering from his initial shock, Bobby calmed himself and signaled Huang Di to continue. The young cultivator noticed Bobby’s brief look of astonishment, and though pleased, did not boast. He had learned from Elder Emerald during their sparring sessions never to underestimate his opponents, for each time he had, he ended up wounded. Therefore, he maintained a mindset where every enemy was treated as if they were at the highest possible level.

  Preparing for the next strike, Huang Di activated King’s Supra, which boosted his physical strength by 25% at the Minor Success stage, and delivered another punch to the bar. The structure vibrated for a few seconds, yet held firm, as the visor displayed: 118 tons, a result that left Huang Di deeply satisfied.

  Bobby, on the other hand, nearly had a heart attack upon recalling that his own physical strength, when he was at the same cultivation rank as Huang Di, barely reached 8 tons. Even using an ancient technique from his blacksmith lineage, which at its peak increased his strength by 50%, he had only managed to reach 12 tons. The comparison left him visibly shaken. He began to imagine what kind of monstrous strength Huang Di possessed once he reached the Emperor Rank.

  Convinced that investing in this boy would yield great returns soon, Bobby finally said:

  “So, Huang Di, right? Hehehe. Now let’s move on to the measurement test. It’s quick and easy. Stand right there on that square, and we’ll have your specs in just a few seconds.”

  Thus, Huang Di and Bobby completed the necessary measurements. Once finished, they sat on a couch, ready to discuss the next steps.

  At that moment, an elderly dwarven woman arrived with a tray of pastries, juices, and a few strong drinks typical of dwarven culture, used to seal commercial agreements. She placed the tray on the table, winked at the young warrior, and left them alone to discuss the armor model and accessories which, to Huang Di, seemed to carry great importance.

  And so, two more hours passed since his time in the square. It was now four o’clock in the afternoon.

  Preparations and Trials

  After completing the initial tests, Huang Di and Bobby took a break for the afternoon snack. Huang Di couldn’t help but find it amusing that a ghost still needed to eat, though he kept such thoughts to himself. He initiated the conversation:

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  “Bobby, the materials required to craft the high-rank equipment you mentioned must be extremely expensive. Besides, there doesn’t seem to be anything in this common cavern that could yield materials of such caliber.

  Bobby laughed at the question, amused by the youth’s simplicity and apparent naivety. However, he refrained from making any sarcastic remarks, as he wished to build a good relationship with him.

  “Indeed, in this cavern, and even in this realm that you can access right now, there are no such materials,” Bobby explained. “However, in this current world, there exist raw materials of Rank 6, which are equivalent to the Sky Rank in traditional cultivation. Now, here’s the catch: I possess a special technique that can enhance a material’s rank by one. So, with these, I’ll be able to craft armor and accessories of Rank 7, which would match a cultivator at the King Rank. That would represent a considerable boost in your strength.”

  Hearing this, Huang Di understood Bobby’s intentions more clearly, but he also glimpsed the significant danger involved in collecting such high-level resources. He hesitated, realizing that he would be the one to gather those materials, and that such a task would inevitably place him in harm’s way.

  Bobby, noticing the apprehension in Huang Di’s eyes, said:

  “Don’t worry, lad. I’m not sending you on a suicide mission. Of course, there’s some danger involved just as you’ve already managed to reach this point. Nothing comes for free, hehehe.”

  He continued:

  “What I need are two essential materials: first, Black Iron Ore. I believe you noticed how resilient that testing bar was well, what I need is its Black Iron Core, a Rank 6 mineral. The second is the core of a Rank 6 beast. On this small floating island, you’ll find four such beasts each ruling one of the cardinal regions. You can choose whichever one suits you best. A small hint: wherever you find the Black Iron Core, you’ll also find one of those Rank 6 beasts. So, prepare accordingly.”

  Huang Di absorbed the information and initially felt calm. However, when he realized that he would have to face a beast with strength comparable to Elder Emerald, a knot tightened in his chest, leaving him uneasy.

  If he emerged victorious, it would mean he had overcome a monumental wall in his path. But if he failed, that would be the end there would be no “continue” button, no second chances. This would be a real battle, with real consequences, not a mere training session, but a confrontation that would demand everything from him.

  Taking a deep breath, Huang Di asked:

  “Do I have a deadline for retrieving these materials?”

  Hearing this, Bobby understood that the youth still had little grasp of his own strength compared to the world of cultivators. He chose to remain silent on the matter, believing Huang Di needed to discover it on his own. Only through personal experience could he forge genuine confidence and continue his cultivation path with excellence.

  “I’ll need six months to craft the equipment, considering the time allowance granted here,” Bobby replied. “You’ve got nearly three years to bring me the materials. So don’t overthink it. Use your mind and willpower, and bring me what I need, lad, hehehe.”

  With that, the scene froze for a moment, and Huang Di felt slightly more at ease. He focused on what needed to be done next: to enhance his skills, explore the small world around him, and seek guidance from the other elders he had yet to meet.

  The Challenge and the Race

  After taking his first steps toward his preliminary objective, Huang Di now needed to focus on stabilizing his power. The sudden surge in strength had left him in an unsteady state, and he knew he couldn’t delay any imbalance could harm his cultivation foundation and hinder future breakthroughs. With that in mind, he prepared to take his leave from Bobby, the blacksmith.

  Bobby, sensing the unease and urgency in the young warrior’s eyes and body, smiled inwardly. From among the many suits of armor, he picked up a metal mesh that had been cast aside and said:

  “Young warrior Huang Di, this is a welcome gift for you. You first asked for a Rank 5 armor, so here it is: a Rank 5 mesh that you may use while I work on crafting your new set. Consider this a token of goodwill and sincerity in our agreement. It’ll boost your defenses against beasts and other fighters. And best of all, it’s discrete. Quite the popular feature among youngsters who enjoy wearing ‘salvation gear,’ hehehe.”

  Huang Di took the dark iron mesh and stepped into a fitting room to try it on. He was surprised to find that he could barely feel the equipment as if he weren’t wearing anything at all. After expressing his gratitude to Bobby, he left the forge.

  Resolved to explore the land, both to stabilize his cultivation and better understand the terrain, Huang Di set out northward, heading toward the forest. He believed he could reach the edge of the region before nightfall, though he advanced with caution, fully aware of the dangers hidden among the tree beasts of all kinds could be lying in wait.

  Roughly five kilometers from the city, Huang Di found a suitable area to test his strength. He had someone in mind for that test. Opening his grimoire, he summoned the Wolf-Panther. The beast appeared before him, clearly disoriented by the sudden change in scenery, and glared at Huang Di with a look of fury and suspicion.

  Huang Di, observing his companion’s clear lack of gratitude, began to question whether choosing this beast as his first summons had been a wise decision. Yet he knew the path had already been set and if he wanted to command the creature properly, he would need to earn its respect. With a stern gaze, he said:

  “So... are you willing to follow me? Or would you rather remain locked in that cramped little space forever?”

  His words enraged the beast further. It certainly had no desire to return to that uncomfortable place, but neither was it ready to be submitted so easily, not without a fight. Sensing the beast’s rising battle spirit, Huang Di proposed:

  “Let’s do this, then: we’ll have a friendly contest. If I win, you accept the pact. If I lose, I’ll release the seal of domination, and you’ll be free to go. What do you say?”

  The Wolf-Panther, understanding the meaning behind Huang Di’s words, grew visibly excited and nodded in agreement. Sealing the terms with his spiritual intent, Huang Di added:

  “Let’s race to the end of this forest. Whoever arrives first... wins.”

  Upon hearing this, the Wolf-Panther felt insulted. A race? Against him? It was laughable. There was no way he could lose in such a contest. With a sneer on his lips, he accepted the challenge.

  Both man and beast took their positions, and a small piece of wood was tossed into the air. As soon as it hit the ground, they both shot forward, dashing through the forest recklessly, paying no mind to what lay in their path. They charged through unfamiliar terrain at full speed, with no regard for the dangers that might be lurking nearby.

  By now, it was almost five o’clock in the evening.