As usual, Zhou Chen walked into the Rune Master Association.
Zhou Chen, a student of Haze Academy, had just broken through the human dipper stage and had quite a bit of fame within the academy.
Many of his teachers and classmates believed that he was strong enough to participate in the provincial examination that would commence in September.
Zhou Chen also wanted to give it a try, but he was worried about the fact that he lacked an aeth tool after breaking through to the Human Dipper Stage.
Human-grade aeth tools were divided into four tiers: lower, mid, upper and top.
Top human-grade aeth tools were incredibly rare and extremely valuable. They were considered precious treasures and so Zhou Chen didn’t dare to hope for one.
However, the power of lower human-grade aeth tools was limited and couldn’t bring out the full power of the human dipper stage.
Therefore, Zhou Chen’s eyes were set on two aeth tool tiers—mid-tier and upper-tier.
Generally speaking, the majority of human dipper cultivators would choose to use mid-human grade aeth tools. Firstly, they were relatively cheap and secondly, they could bring out a human dipper cultivator’s true power.
However, a well-known young cultivator like Zhou Chen, whose talent was considered top class, couldn’t help but look down on mid human-grade aeth tools.However, if he chose an upper human-grade aeth tool, although the power was great, the price was too high. Moreover, he couldn’t guarantee that an aeth tool of that tier would be suitable for him.
The reason was very simple. The most important aspect in choosing an aeth tool wasn’t its grade and tier but whether it suited a cultivator as that determined whether or not a cultivator could fully unleash their power.
A higher tier aeth tool might be powerful but it consumed a huge amount of aeth power and could be difficult to control. The disadvantages might outweigh the benefits.
The more that Zhou Chen analyzed the different tiers of aeth tools, the more troubled he looked. He couldn’t decide whether he should choose a mid human-grade aeth tool or an upper human-grade aeth tool.
Therefore, in recent days, he would often visit the Rune Master Association to carefully examine the various aeth tools.
Unfortunately, he still hadn’t found one he was satisfied with.
Although there was still six months until the provincial examination, he couldn't help but feel worried. Like him, many cultivators were doing everything they could to increase their strength before the provincial examination.
This was because the provincial examination was completely different from the district and prefectural examinations. It not only tested a cultivator’s aptitude and comprehension but also their combat strength!
Aptitude and comprehension were nothing compared to how a cultivator would cope on the battlefield.
Regardless of how great a cultivator’s aptitude and comprehension were, they wouldn’t be able to pass the provincial examination with poor combat strength.
And what would a battle test?
Essentially it was one’s cultivation. Additionally, a cultivator’s combat techniques and skills as well as experience, weapons and armaments were also important factors that could affect a battle.
Zhou Chen had an abundance of combat techniques and experience but he lacked a good weapon!
A powerful weapon could play a critical role in reversing a battle and turn a defeat into victory!
Therefore, Zhou Chen definitely would never overlook the importance of a good weapon.
After arriving at the Rune Master Association, Zhou Chen directly headed towards the commission zone without waiting for an attendant to welcome him. A few days ago, he had posted a weapon commission request, hoping that a rune master would help him create a tailor-made aeth tool.
“Young Master Zhou, you’re here.” A female attendant in charge of reception in the commission zone greeted Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen had come here almost every day so she was already very familiar with Zhou Chen.
“How’s it going?” Zhou Chen’s face was full of expectation.
The attendant shook her head. “Sorry Young Master Zhou, you had to come all the way here for nothing again. There are only nine rune masters in the association and for some reason, the number of weapon commission requests has increased several times so the rune masters are overwhelmed with work and can’t take on anymore.”
Although Zhou Chen already expected that to be the case, he still couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
He also knew the reason why the number of weapon commissions requested had increased tremendously—The provincial examination would commence in half a year and many participants wanted to prepare in advance.
After all, aeth tool refining wasn’t a simple task. It was time consuming and there was a high risk of failure. Even if successful, it would take a cultivator a while to adapt and grasp how to use the newly-refined aeth tool.
Based on those facts, it was understandable that cultivators started preparations half a year in advance.
“Then how long do you think before my commission will be accepted?” asked Zhou Chen.
“It’s hard to say.” The attendant didn’t dare to promise anything since the commissions in the commissions department had to involve rune masters, and rune masters had a superior status and identity in the world. An attendant like her couldn’t control whether or not the rune masters would accept a commission.
“Young master, why don’t you take a look at the treasure zone? Maybe you can find an aeth tool you’re happy with there,” suggested the female attendant.
“No need.”
Zhou Chen shook his head. He had already examined the various aeth tools in the treasure zone and found none suitable for him.
However, just as Zhou Chen was about to leave, he heard a commotion.
“You guys don’t need to fight over it. The Snowfury Blade is definitely going to be mine!”
“Hmph, you can’t say that. Since this treasure is a consignment sale, it should belong to whoever pays the highest.”
“Come on, keep bidding then! You think I would be afraid of you guys?”
Zhou Chen was startled. The commotion rang from the treasure zone and seemed to be caused by a treasure.
Curious, Zhou Chen couldn’t help but hurry over there.
A group of cultivators was gathered around a counter and not a stream of water could pass through them.
There were men and women, old and young, but all were staring at a blade behind the counter.
Zhou Chen moved forward and managed to squeeze through the crowd after much difficulty. Only then did he clearly see a Snowfury Blade, a mid human grade aeth tool on the market. Apart from that, there was nothing else special about it.
However, Zhou Chen’s heart fluttered when he read the blade’s description. Twenty percent more powerful than ordinary Snowfury Blades?
How is that possible?!
Zhou Chen was in disbelief but when he saw the name at the bottom of the description, he immediately believed it because the person who verified the aeth tool was Chu Feng, the President of the Rune Master Association!
Chu Feng was a top rune master known all over Haze City and also the President of the Haze City Rune Master Association. How would the aeth tool he verified be fake?
Zhou Chen finally understood why so many cultivators were fighting over the unique Snowfury Blade.
It was an unimaginable feat to create a mid human grade aeth tool with twenty percent more power than usual.
“That’s the weapon I need!” Zhou Chen’s eyes lit up.
“I offer 700 silver coins!”
“Hmph, I offer 800 silver coins!”
“What a joke! I don’t believe that I can’t win the blade. I offer 900 silver coins!”
As the bidding continued, Zhou Chen smacked his lips and seemed hesitant.
Generally speaking, the majority of mid human-grade aeth tools on the market cost between 200 to 400 silver coins and some top quality ones could be sold for around 500 silver coins.
It was extremely rare to see bids go up to 900 silver coins.
In the end, Zhou Chen gritted his teeth and made a bid, “1,000 silver coins!”
Many cultivators broke into an uproar.
The bidding had reached a climax and everyone thought that the bidding would end at just under 1,000 thousand silver coins, but who would have thought that it suddenly soared to 1,000 silver coins!
“It’s Zhou Chen from Haze Academy who recently made a name for himself.”
“It turns out to be him. I heard that he has been looking for an aeth tool recently, but I didn’t expect him to take a fancy to that blade.”
Many cultivators recognized Zhou Chen and were all surprised.
Zhou Chen’s offer shook the audience. Many bidders’ expressions dramatically changed.
One thousand silver coins was enough to purchase an upper human grade aeth tool!
In the end, the Snowfury Blade fell into Zhou Chen’s hands, and he had to pay 1,000 thousand silver coins for it. But in Zhou Chen’s opinion, it was absolutely worth it!
He particularly knew that he had made the right decision when he held the blade in his hand and examined it. He found it even more mysterious and was sure it was not an ordinary Snowfury Blade.
“With this blade, I can no doubt smoothly pass the provincial examination!”
Beaming, Zhou Chen strode out of the Rune Master Association.
Not long after Zhou Chen left, the cultivators unsuccessful in the bidding looked extremely disappointed and all started to ask questions.
“Can I ask which rune master made that blade?”
“Yes, I saw a Xun character engraved on the blade. Could there be a new powerful rune master?”
“Is there another Snowfury Blade?”
Faced with the many inquiries, Jia Zhen, who had just started to be in charge of the Treasure Department, had to personally come forward and explained, “To tell you the truth, the blade is indeed made by a new rune master in the association…”
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted. “Stop talking nonsense and tell me the name of the Rune Master. I’m going to make a commission request and offer the same price for a Snowfury Blade!”
Jia Zhen looked a little troubled as he explained, “Sorry, Great Master Xun just started today. I’m not sure if he will take commissions.”
Great Master Xun!
Many cultivators buzzed with excitement upon hearing the name. Great Master? Could it be a rune grandmaster?
Many cultivators couldn’t hold back any longer. They spun around and raced to the commission zone. Regardless of who Great Master Xun was, they had to make a commission request first!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How would the rune master who made the unique Snowfury Blade be an ordinary person?
Jia Zhen stared dumbfounded at the chaos, while Lin Xun’s figure emerged in his mind.
He sighed inwardly. No wonder President Chu Feng kept Great Master Xun’s identity a secret. If these cultivators learn that Great Master Xun is just a teenager, I wonder what they would think.
On this day, the popularity of the commission zone of the Rune Master Association soared. In just one hour, there were another one hundred commission requests and each one was for Great Master Xun.
Meanwhile, the news that Great Master Xun of the Rune Master Association created a unique Snowfury Blade spread like wildfire. It rapidly spread throughout Haze City and stirred up great waves.
Even Zhou Chen, who bought the blade, received a lot of attention from the incident.