"Grandmaster Xu, your... master?"

Ji Yuan was still somewhat surprised by this answer.

Xu Fugui's master should be some Foundation Establishment cultivator, right? Or, to be bold, is he a Golden Core Zhenren?

That seems a bit too bold... Xu Fugui had only mentioned visiting a senior before, never expected it to be his master.

"Yeah, my master—the Isle Master of Hammer Island."

Xu Fugui smiled, then summoned his flying boat right there in the courtyard. "If you're free, come with me."

"Alright!"

Ji Yuan followed suit and summoned the Scarlet Skies Skiff.

Xu Fugui's eyes widened at the sight.

"Where's the Thunder Falcon Boat?"

"Uh..." Ji Yuan scratched his head awkwardly. "I put it away—using the Scarlet Skies Skiff is more convenient inside the sect."

"Convenient?"

Xu Fugui couldn't help but laugh. How could he not catch Ji Yuan's implication?

"You rascal, so young and already so cautious. No clue where you picked that up."

"Alright, I told you to bring out the Thunder Falcon Boat because I want my master to give you a few more whacks. Such good materials and you only managed to refine it into a high-grade magical artifact—what a waste."

"After my master hits it a few times, it'll be a supreme-grade magical artifact."

Ji Yuan couldn't help but get excited at those words.

"Elder... Elder Tie Chui is also an artifact refiner?"

"Yup, now hurry and follow."

"Grandmaster Xu, it's my first time visiting—should I prepare a gift or something?"

Ji Yuan wasn't sure of this senior's temperament. Not bringing a gift might seem rude, but giving one might make things awkward, so he figured he'd just ask first.

"Heh, if you bring a gift, better not bother coming. I'm afraid you'd get beaten to death."

Xu Fugui naturally knew what kind of temper his master had.

"Alright then, no gifts, no gifts."

Xu Fugui laughed it off and headed off. Ji Yuan switched the flying boat back to the Thunder Falcon Boat and quickly followed.

Foundation Establishment cultivators usually choose to open an island on the outer edges of the many Water Dragon Sect islands. Some pick an existing one, while others even use the Sect Protection Array to fill in lakes and make a new island from nothing.

The Isle Master Tie Chui's island was on the western side of the Water Dragon Sect. Ji Yuan followed Xu Fugui, and after flying for more than half a day from Chulong Island, they finally arrived near the cluster of Foundation Establishment cultivators' islands.

Out of respect (and a little fear) for the Foundation Establishment seniors, the two didn't dare fly above the water, so their flying boats sped along the surface instead.

This went on for several more hours.

At the time when the moon was just over the willow tips, they finally arrived at the front of one of the islands.

Ji Yuan could see from afar that these Foundation Establishment cultivator islands weren't even as big as his own Mist Island...

"Master, your disciple Xu Fugui greets you."

Elder Xu led Ji Yuan to the edge of the Island Protection Array and saluted.

Soon, a gap opened in the array, and a rough voice came from inside: "How many times do I have to tell you? Next time you leave from Chulong Island, leave in the evening! That way, by the time you get here, it's still daytime."

"Always making me open the door in the middle of the night, I'm sick of it."

"Hehe, but Master, you don't sleep anyway! What's it matter?"

After saying that, Xu Fugui nodded to Ji Yuan, then said, "Master, this is the Ji Yuan I've been telling you about. I brought him here."

"Damn it, I'm not blind! Get in already."

This senior sure is straightforward... Compared to those who act all reserved, Ji Yuan actually preferred dealing with seniors like this.

At least it didn't feel so awkward being around them.

Ji Yuan passed through the array with Xu Fugui, and was immediately hit by a surge of heat.

Definitely an artifact refining place.

At the center of the island was a courtyard, and behind it was an open-air refining ground—Ji Yuan didn't dare look too closely.

When he and Xu Fugui entered the courtyard, they saw a towering old man with white hair sitting there. His beard and hair bristled wildly, his tiger eyes wide open, looking every bit the fierce villain.

As soon as they entered, the Isle Master Tie Chui looked up.

In a single glance, he grunted, "Hm?"

Before Ji Yuan could react, the old man took a single step and was instantly right in front of him.

"You're Ji Yuan?"

Isle Master Tie Chui looked Ji Yuan up and down, eyes flashing with excitement, as if he was eyeing a rare treasure.

"Y-yes, that's me."

Ji Yuan was so startled by that look he took several steps back.

"Good material, good material,"

Isle Master Tie Chui muttered to himself.

"Come on, Master, take it easy, you're going to scare him," Xu Fugui said helplessly, giving Ji Yuan a look that said, "Don't mind him, that's just his style, no harm meant."

"What the hell do you know!"

Isle Master Tie Chui barked at him. "This physique—born for forging!"

Xu Fugui's eyes lit up at those words.

"Master, you mean you're willing to take Ji Yuan as a disciple?"

Take him as a disciple?!

Ji Yuan was shocked. So that's what Elder Xu had in mind... That would explain all the special care he'd shown before.

To be fair, Ji Yuan didn't really mind apprenticing under a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And judging by how Xu Fugui and Tie Chui got along, this Foundation Establishment senior didn't seem like a bad person.

If he became a disciple, even without Li Changhe's help, he would have backing in the Water Dragon Sect, and wouldn't have to worry about getting pushed around.

Just as Ji Yuan was looking forward to this, Tie Chui shook his head.

The anticipation drained from Ji Yuan in an instant.

Of course, a Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't just take on any disciple... Ji Yuan couldn't help but sigh—if the senior didn't want a disciple, there was nothing he could do.

But unexpectedly, Tie Chui immediately said:

"Take him as a disciple? I'm not worthy."

"Huh?"

Xu Fugui blurted out, "M-master, what are you saying?"

"Heh,"

Tie Chui snorted. "You're just drawn to this kid's body refining talent and want me to take him as my last disciple, pass down my legacy."

"That's... exactly it."

Xu Fugui braced himself and nodded.

Tie Chui looked over at Ji Yuan again. "You've already reached minor completion in body refining, and now you're stuck right at the threshold of major completion, can't get past it, right?"

"What? He's already at the verge of major completion in body refining?"

This news shocked Xu Fugui even more.

In this moment, he finally understood why Tie Chui claimed he wasn't worthy to take Ji Yuan as a disciple.

Because on the path of body refining, Tie Chui himself had only reached major completion, and now Ji Yuan was knocking on that door too...

"Exactly."

Ji Yuan nodded repeatedly.

Several years ago, he'd already reached minor completion in body refining, and in the years since he'd never stopped eating Spirit Pig meat.

But his physique just wouldn't break through.

"I've always felt like there's something missing. Without the key to body refining, I just can't push through to major completion. Senior, I hope you can guide me!"

It wasn't easy to run into a senior on the path of body cultivation—Ji Yuan wasn't about to let the chance slip by.

"That's easy,"

Tie Chui put his hands behind his back and slowly paced through the courtyard.

"Compared to spirit cultivation, the path of body refinement really is inferior... though maybe that's because I wasn't taught well."

"With major completion body refinement you can fight toe-to-toe with a peak Qi Cultivator, and once you reach Vajra Physique, you can even challenge Foundation Establishment. But any further... not so much."

Tie Chui sighed.

"Spirit cultivators reach Golden Core Realm next—they can refine powerful Lifebound Magical Treasures, and their pill fire can burn through anything. I've heard that, at even higher realms, they can learn divine powers and manipulate the power of heaven and earth itself. Body refiners... well, maybe, but in Cangluo Continent, I've never heard of it."

Tie Chui shook his head as he spoke.

"Alright, enough of that."

"Let's talk about why you can't reach major completion in body refining."

At these words, both Ji Yuan and Xu Fugui perked up their ears.

He wanted to see just what was going on with Ji Yuan too.

"Please enlighten me, Senior."

Ji Yuan took a deep breath and bowed deeply.

"Easy. It's because you haven't used your strength at all."

"Haven't used his strength?" Xu Fugui exclaimed. "How's that possible? He's almost at major completion in body refining. How could he have never used his strength?"

Tie Chui glanced over blandly. "Ask him yourself."

Xu Fugui turned to Ji Yuan incredulously.

The latter gave a sheepish laugh.

"Well, I've used my strength before—just never my full strength."

To be honest.

Ji Yuan had never needed to exert himself fully; the only times he did use strength were probably when butchering pigs and hauling their carcasses around.

Other times... not really, to be honest.

"Heh, I really don't know how you managed to train your physique so far without ever using your strength."

Tie Chui's words were dismissive, but his eyes just got brighter and brighter.

To him, Ji Yuan's condition could be summed up in one word—talent!

To have trained your body this far without ever using your strength—if that isn't talent, what is?

"Just lucky, I guess,"

Ji Yuan laughed, a bit embarrassed.

"Alright, stay here for ten days—I'll help you break through to major completion."

Tie Chui pounded his chest with a loud bang, as though helping Ji Yuan break through was no big thing.

"Master..."

Xu Fugui looked a little dazed after hearing this.

Honestly, when Tie Chui said he wouldn't take Ji Yuan as a disciple, Xu Fugui had given up on the idea. Who'd have thought he'd agree to help anyway.

"Alright, don't get all emotional."

Tie Chui waved him off. "The only reason I'm doing this is that the kid's freakishly talented. Might as well make a good connection—think of it as making a friend."

"Making a friend?!"

Xu Fugui's eyes went wide.

"What!?"

Tie Chui's eyes got even wider. "Can't I make a damn friend without your permission!?"

Ji Yuan shrank his neck and took a step back.

"It's just... this kid calls me Grandmaster Xu..." Xu Fugui gave an awkward laugh or two.

"Oh? You want me to call you 'Grandmaster Xu' a few times too?"

"No, no, no, no!"

Xu Fugui shook his head desperately.

But Tie Chui wasn't listening anymore. He pointed at the room on the right.

"Go copy books for me. Damn, you kids have no respect for anything anymore!"

Once Tie Chui flashed his master's authority, Xu Fugui had no choice but to slink away, sighing, into the side room.

"You, come with me."

Tie Chui waved a giant hand and strode straight to the refining ground behind the house.

Ji Yuan looked back and forth—he wasn't worried about the old man doing him any harm.

No need—if he really wanted to, it'd never be this complicated.

Besides... if he didn't trust the old man, surely he'd trust Elder Xu, right?

When Ji Yuan reached the rear refining ground, he saw a colossal bronze cauldron over two men tall in the center. The ground looked like packed earth, but with a glossy shine that made it look harder than iron.

Tie Chui casually grabbed a hammer from the ground and tossed it backward.

"Here, take it."

Ji Yuan hurriedly caught it with both hands.

It was so heavy that he nearly got dragged to the ground.

"Useless! You're at the verge of major completion and you can't even lift a hammer properly. Use your strength! Are you weak or what!"

Tie Chui roared, and Ji Yuan slowly started to use his strength. Sure enough, he found he could lift the hammer—and it felt like he could do even more.

"In a bit, I'll teach you a set of hammer techniques. For the next few days, you're staying here and hammering for me."

"If the hammer doesn't kill you, just keep hammering yourself to death."

With that, Tie Chui pulled an iron ingot from his storage bag and tossed it at Ji Yuan's feet, landing with a huge "bang."

"Once you can hammer that ingot down to the size of your palm, you'll have achieved major completion in body refining."

Ji Yuan looked down and saw that the iron ingot was as large as a human head—looked like it was extra pure, too.

"Wait, senior, are you serious?"

"Heh, take a swing from me!"

Without another word, Tie Chui hefted a hammer and aimed a blow straight at Ji Yuan's forehead.

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