In the Tiangong Hall, eighteen bronze lamps with animal heads lit up one after another, casting a bloody glow on the cold iron weapons on the wall.
In just half an hour, all the leaders from the six departments of the nine peaks of Tiangong Cave gathered together. Even the leader of Tiangong Cave, Hong Baichuan, rarely showed up, which showed how much importance they attached to the Weapon Casting Hall.
Hong Baichuan sat upright on the main seat, with blood and energy rising from his body like wolf smoke, and his breathing was like muffled thunder. This was because the master of the Marrow Cleansing Realm had just practiced and had not had time to calm his blood and energy, so it was revealed. It was obvious that he rushed over immediately after hearing the bell.
He is the only master in the Marrow Cleansing Realm at Tiangong Cave. He is a well-known and top-ranked master in the Sixteen States of Yanbei Road. It is because of him that Tiangong Cave is undoubtedly the best among the eight sects in Cangzhou.
"The third time the bell has rung in twenty-five years."
The sound from Hong Baichuan's throat was like muffled thunder, causing the bronze beams on the top of the hall to hum slightly.
"Tang Master Zhan surprised me a bit."
He looked at Zhan Yan, who was standing with his head held high, with great interest, feeling somewhat surprised. This old man used to be hunched over and silent most of the time, but now he had become full of energy and his spirit and appearance were completely different.
"I want to open the true teachings and give a great gift."
Zhan Yan bowed to Hong Baichuan, glanced around, and saw that the heads of the six departments of the nine peaks of Tiangong Cave had gathered together, so he spoke these words loudly.
Upon hearing this, the head of the Medicine Hall frowned and said, "Hall Master Zhan, are you mistaken? The Weapon Casting Hall has only been established for twenty-five years. How can they be qualified to inherit the true teachings?"
"Eighteen years ago, the Golden Wing Tower was surrounded by mountains." Zhan Yan stared at the person in charge of the medicine hall. He casually grabbed the cold wine on the black iron table and poured it down his throat. The wine flowed down his muscular chest muscles and into the fire-resistant cloth belt.
"Who led the team to guard the thirty-six underground furnaces in the medicine hall?"
Upon hearing this, the head of the pharmacy turned pale and blue in the face and kept silent. It was Zhan Yan who saved him at the risk of being seriously injured, otherwise there would be no head of the pharmacy now.
The head of Cangfeng Pavilion slammed the table and snorted coldly.
"How dare you bring up such an old score! According to the ancestral rules of Tiangong Cave, a newly established hall must be established for at least thirty years before it can be considered a true successor! Hall Master Zhan should be aware of this, right?"
As he spoke, the bones all over his body cracked like steel ingots colliding. The sound of metal and iron from his mastery of bone training, one of the true and unique skills of Tiangong Cave, made his voice sound a little clanging, and he was clearly very dissatisfied.
Cangfeng Pavilion was naturally very frustrated with the Weapon Casting Hall. Many buyers directly asked to trade with the Weapon Casting Hall, while they originally only needed to go through Cangfeng Pavilion.
"That's why the Hongmen leader specially approved three places."
Zhan Yan pulled out the red copper token from his waist and held it in his hand.
"I haven't used them yet, and I have three left today."
He walked around, gestured to everyone, and suddenly faced Hong Baichuan and bowed deeply.
"Master, please make the decision!"
The hall suddenly became dead silent.
The veins on the neck of the head of Cangfeng Pavilion bulged like iron chains. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard the sound of metal colliding from the main seat. Hong Baichuan tapped the black iron armrest with his fingers, and the fine steel and copper beams of the entire hall trembled.
"Go on."
Zhan Yan said, "The Weapon Casting Hall only accepts three true disciples, and now we are only accepting one person. At the furnace opening ceremony in three months, the one who can survive the nine-level quenching test will be the winner!"
"fart!"
The Foreign Affairs Hall suddenly stood up and pointed at Zhan Yan's nose, saying, "Which sect's true disciples didn't fight their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood? You, a blacksmith, are trying to fool the ancestral rules with the quenching test?"
Zhan Yan lowered his eyes and said calmly, "This hall master has also shed blood and tears for Tiangong Cave. Of the dozen or so disciples who came from Divine Weapon Ridge back then, only two or three remain now... If it weren't for my disciples who risked their lives to protect your External Affairs Hall, would you still be able to speak so arrogantly here?"
"you..."
The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall was furious upon hearing this and was about to explode.
"That's enough!"
The moment Hong Baichuan stood up, eighteen copper lamps exploded.
When the marrow cleansing master took his first step, the floor tiles of the entire hall began to crack; when he took his second step, everyone's eardrums swelled as if they were hit by a heavy hammer.
"Back then, I promised the Weapon Casting Hall three True Inheritance positions, and I will not break my promise. Three months from now, the True Inheritance Ceremony will be held for the Weapon Casting Hall to witness!"
Hong Baichuan's voice was filled with blood and energy. "But the Weapon Casting Hall has to add a rule. During the True Transmission Ceremony, disciples from other halls can compete for the remaining two spots. If they defeat your True Transmission disciples, you must accept them as your True Transmission disciples."
The head of Cangfeng Pavilion grinned grimly upon hearing this.
"Master, you are wise! We, the Cangfeng Pavilion, have accepted this grand ceremony of true inheritance! I want to see if the Thousand-pound Hammer of the Casting Weapon Hall can catch the sword of our Cangfeng Pavilion!"
The head of the Machinery Hall, who had been silent all this time, raised his eyelids, glanced at the head of the Cangfeng Pavilion next to him, sneered, shook his head and said nothing.
The scorching heat of the fire outside the hall suddenly rose.
Zhan Yan put the red copper plate into his arms, bowed to Hong Baichuan, and when he turned around, his face flickered.
Seems a little happy.
"Then, it all depends on your ability, but let me be frank."
He stopped at the temple gate and said, "The Weapon Casting Hall's underground furnace... no matter whether it's burning iron or human bones, if you can't control your strength, don't blame the Weapon Casting Hall for being cruel."
The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall stared at Zhan Yan's receding back.
"Master Bao, if you really want to send someone to try the quenching test, it seems that our Master Zhan has already made some preparations."
"deliver?"
Master Bao of Cangfeng Pavilion picked up the wine glass from the table and poured it into his mouth. The wine dripped onto the ground through his fingers, making a sizzling sound.
"Is the person I personally trained strong enough to tear off three pieces of flesh from the Weapon Casting Hall?"
The head of the Gold Melting Hall, playing with his golden abacus, suddenly interrupted, "The Weapon Casting Hall has overspent on the black iron they mined this year by 70%."
Amidst the clashing of golden beads, he slipped out an account book from his sleeve. "Does Master Hongmen know where these extra materials are?"
The matter was settled. Hong Baichuan, who was too lazy to pay attention to the dispute below, turned his head to observe the "Heavenly Jade Tripod Picture" on the wall. Upon hearing this, he flicked his fingers lightly, and the air suddenly surged. A stream of air made a muffled sound and actually rolled up the account book.
The account book flew in front of him, and the pages moved without wind. The master of the Marrow Cleansing Realm had reached the pinnacle of control over power.
"Seven hundred kilograms of cold iron and three hundred square meters of fire-patterned jade." Hong Baichuan's eyes flashed with a little surprise, but not too shocked.
He glanced at the head of Rongjin Hall and a smile appeared on his face, which was quite mischievous.
"Is it because you guys are mining too hard?"
Rong Jintang's face turned very unhappy when he heard this, and he bowed slightly to Hong Baichuan.
"Senshu Hideaki."
Hong Baichuan consoled him, "Your Melting Gold Hall is the cornerstone of our Tiangong Cave, and the treatment is the best except for the Casting Weapon Hall. When the time comes, Zhan Yan will have two remaining spots for true disciples, so just send someone to compete for them.
But let me be frank, if anyone breaks the rules, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Everyone was secretly shocked and kept silent. They all knew what this person was doing. If the sect leader wanted to do something bad in secret after he made his decision, he would have to consider whether he was strong enough.
After leaving the hall, Zhan Yan's gloomy face suddenly changed, and he almost laughed out loud three times. This result was exactly what he wanted.
Although Hong Baichuan seemed to be partial, he actually left too much room for the Casting Weapon Hall to operate.
"I'd like to see which three-trained martial artist is as strong as that kid."