Night of the Broken Gliph

However, this Flowing Flame Finger couldn’t be used as an attack. Back at the Cultivation Style Pavilion, Chuk Yim didn’t choose the Flowing Flame Finger for its power but this application instead. He mimicked the skill’s energy pathway and allowed energliph to congeal on his fingertip. 

Not just gliphers or gliphists, but metalsmiths needed energliph too. The higher the metalsmith’s grade was, the more energliph they required. 

It was impossible for gliphers or gliphists who have yet to reach the one-chambered or single-gliphicstate to successfully make gliph weapons by fire forging as gliph is needed to be carved manually. Thus, only a one-chambered or one-gliphic cultivator who could exert energliph could do so. But mimicking the route of Flowing Flame Finger helped Chui Yim do so despite not being a one-chambered glipher yet. 

He moved his finger slowly as if he was holding onto something unbearably heavy. His arms felt like he was carrying a huge iron ball with much difficulty. 

Finally, his finger stopped in front of the black rod that cooled down and started carving the gliph. 

He might be slow, but his actions were smooth and flowing, making it look simple when in fact, Chui Yim had already repeated the process in his mind a hundred times. This was known as conscious training, and it helped improve the success rate of carving gliphs. Moreover, this step of carving gliphs was the most important step in forging. 

Even a small mistake would destroy everything, so there was no room for error. 

Kiu Chi Gong held his breath and watched Chui Yim anxiously. Chui Yim looked extremely focused and serious, but not even slightly anxious. He looked just like a calligrapher writing in his best font. 

In the blink of an eye, fifteen minutes went by. Chui Yim’s body started to flush red. While it looked like he had only moved his arms, his method of exerting energliph before he reached the one-chambered state was a huge burden to his body. Added with the focus needed to carve a gliph, it consumed a huge amount of his energy, making it equivalent to strenuous activity. 

Despite the extreme pain in his heart, Chui Yim kept his focus. Finally, he reached the end of the rod. 

With a final tick and stroke, Chui Yim collapsed onto the ground, enduring the pain in his heart. 

Buzz…

The gliph on the rod lit up brightly, sweeping Kiu Chi Gong off his feet. It worked! It’s a success! 

Buzz...

A buzz rang out again and the light disappeared as if the previous scene was just an illusion. Kiu Chi Gong stared at the rod blankly. So it didn’t work? Is it a failure or success? 

After some time, Chui Yim stood up slowly. The redness on his body started to disperse. “We did it!” he said, wiping off the sweat on his head and smiling. 

Kiu Chi Gong stared at Chui Yim in admiration and with a plop, he kneeled down, finally acknowledging Chui Yim as his master. “Kiu Chi Gong greets his master!” 

Chui Yim had constantly been persuading Kiu Chi Gong to become his disciple during the past four years. Initially, he was only looking for a helper, but after learning Kiu Chi Gong’s character, Chui Yim felt he was suitable to become his disciple. However, due to Chui Yim’s age, Kiu Chi Gong still couldn’t bring himself to put his ego down to call a child his master despite his skills. 

Only now, when he witnessed the brilliance of a young child, who wasn’t even in the one-chambered state, carving a gliph on grade two gliph weapon, did Kiu Chi Gong realise that he wouldn’t forgive himself if he missed this chance due to his ego. 

“Hey, so you finally thought it through?” Chui Yim raised his eyebrows proudly. 

The next day, in the staffroom of Riding Clouds Academy.

Chor Shing Chit’s face twitched slightly. He realised that his scary aura that could even make a baby stop crying didn’t work on Chui Yim. Chui Yim had become increasingly casual to him, and it felt like he was interacting with a friend his age instead of a ten-year-old student. Moreover, with Chui Yim’s kiddish looks… Chor Shing Chit wasn’t able to get used to the contrast. “What idea do you have again?” 

“Nothing, it’s just that I’ve sent a letter to the Chan Clan.” Chui Yim giggled. He currently had a long box on his back, which he gave a pat. “The gliph weapon is here, and I want to put this matter to an end. But since I’m so weak, I need Mr Chor to protect me.” 

Hearing him, Chor Shing Chit looked at the box on Chui Yim back in surprise. He really managed to get a grade two gliph weapon? Where did he get it? 

“Okay, I’ll go with you.” 

At last, both parties agreed to meet at the Riding Cloud Academy’s guest room. The Chan Clan sent the same person as they did previously, and Chui Yim still came with Chor Shing Chit. But what was different from the previous time was that there was no tea served today, and there was a box on the table instead. 

Chan Ching sat in the middle, with the shopkeeper and an elder on both his sides. The elder had both his arms wrapped in black cloth just like Chor Shing Chit. It was apparent that he was just like Chor Shing Chit, a two-chambered glipher. 

Chan Ching sneered upon seeing the box. 

How can a ten-year-old child with no background get a grade two gliph weapon? 

In this world, it was survival of the fittest. Even so, one and two-chambered gliphers made up most of the population, making grade one and two gliph weapons those of the highest demand. As demand grew, the price increased. Let alone possess one, it would be almost impossible for an ordinary family to ever see a gliph weapon. 

Paying with a grade two gliph weapon? What a joke. 

“Okay, the gliph weapon is here. Please check it,” Chui Yim caressed his bald head and said. He sounded serious, but he couldn’t hide the kiddish tone in his voice. 

Chui Yim pushed the box forward, making the table creak. The shopkeeper standing behind had a weird look in his eyes but he remained silent. 

“I hope this isn’t a joke.” Chan Ching sneered. He reached out to pick up the box to check, but he stopped in his tracks because he was unable to lift it! 

“What the heck?” Chan Ching’s face fell. “Did you put a rock inside?”

Unable to watch anymore, the shopkeeper stepped forward to open the box.