Chapter 424 - Zhuling Grotto

If someone said that they could help a first-rank martial artist break through to a higher realm, not many first-rank martial artists in the world could withstand this temptation.

But Zhou Shu was not among these people.

“I think I’m twenty. Yup, twenty.” Zhou Shu rubbed his chin. “Let me calculate. I was stuck at the first rank of the Martial Dao for a few days…”

Shi Changsheng: “…”

Twenty?

A twenty-year-old first-rank martial artist?

He had seen first-rank martial artists at the age of twenty. There was no lack of geniuses in any era. He, Shi Changsheng, was also a genius when he was young.

When he broke through to the first rank of the Martial Dao back then, he was only in his twenties.

But he was just a twenty-year-old first-rank martial artist who had just broken through to the first rank a few days ago. How could he erupt with strength comparable to an Earth Immortal at their peak?

Shi Changsheng shivered at the thought of Zhou Shu beating up the Longevity Sword.

“I don’t lack Martial Dao cultivation techniques or forging formulas,” Zhou Shu continued. “As for breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm, I’m not in a hurry.

“How about this, Old Shi? You work for me, and I’ll give you whatever you want.

“I have plenty of Martial Dao cultivation techniques and forging formulas.” Zhou Shu waved his hand generously. “I also have plenty of forging materials.”

He pointed to the mountain of forging materials in the warehouse.

It’s mine. All mine! Shi Changsheng roared in his heart.

Shi Changsheng stared at Zhou Shu and said solemnly, “Is there really no room for discussion?”

“Aren’t we discussing now?” Zhou Shu asked. “Old Shi, you will gain a lot from serving me.

“Although I don’t know what happened to you, Old Shi, your main body is the Longevity Sword, right?

“Previously, I saw that the sword qi you slashed out was extremely sharp. It should be easy for you to split mountains and rocks. Thos way, all you have to do is split mountains, and someone else will do the digging.”

Zhou Shu continued, “I’ll give you ten percent of the ore dug out. How about that?

“This is on account that you’re a senior, Old Shi. Otherwise, there would definitely not be such an amount.”

Shi Changsheng: “…”

After all this talk, you want me to go mining?

You want my Longevity Sword to split open mountains?

Do you know how powerful the Longevity Sword is?

There’s probably no weapon stronger than my Longevity Sword in the world. You want the number one weapon in the world to split open mountains?

Even if you said that you wanted the Longevity Sword to be your personal sword, that would do.

“Are you serious?” Shi Changsheng glared at him.

“Of course.” Zhou Shu shrugged. “Old Shi, ten percent isn’t a small amount.”

“Do you know the power of the Longevity Sword?” Shi Changsheng said. “The Longevity Sword is the number one weapon in the world. If you hold the Longevity Sword, with your previous strength, killing an Earth Immortal is nothing.”

“And?” Zhou Shu asked. “Even without the Longevity Sword, I can kill Great Demons very easily.

“I’m not used to swords forged by others.”

Zhou Shu patted the earth-grade Great Destroyer Sword on his body.

If he used the Longevity Sword to kill enemies, the Legendary Armament Canon wouldn’t give him any rewards. So what if it was powerful?

Shi Changsheng felt a little confused. Who exactly did I meet?

Does he really not understand, or is he pretending not to?

How can an earth-grade weapon compare to the Longevity Sword?

“I can work with you!” Shi Changsheng said in a deep voice after hesitating for a moment. “But I have a condition!”

“Tell me,” Zhou Shu said noncommittally.

Shi Changsheng was extremely mysterious. It was as if he was an ancient mighty figure.

Zhou Shu didn’t care about Martial Dao techniques and forging formulas, but the secrets in Shi Changsheng’s mind were very valuable.

Therefore, Zhou Shu didn’t mind giving him some benefits. Who knew how many secrets this old monster had hidden?

This was the greatest value of Shi Changsheng.

“It’s not just the mines in the Zhuling Grotto-Heaven,” Shi Changsheng said. “After you leave the Zhuling Grotto-Heaven, I want ten percent of all the ores you obtain.”

“Not the ores I obtain.” Zhou Shu shook his head. “It’s only because you helped me dig out the mines that you get ten percent.”

“Okay! Deal!” Shi Changsheng said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the old Daoist’s image disappeared from Zhou Shu’s consciousness.

Zhou Shu opened his eyes and saw the gray Longevity Sword clang and suddenly soar into the sky.

Zhou Shu frowned. Is the Longevity Sword running away?

Boom!

He’d just had the thought when he heard a distant crash.

Then came a continuous rumbling like a landslide.

Shi Songtao ran in, shouting in a panic, “Pavilion Master, bad news! A sword flew out of nowhere and split the back mountain. Our demonic beast miners were almost buried alive.”

“There’s no need to make a fuss.” Zhou Shu rubbed his eyebrows. “I sent someone to help split open the mountain.

“Have Yao Buqi and his men follow that sword. The sword will split open the mountains with mines. Get them to mine faster.”

This Longevity Sword is really impatient!

“Pavilion Master, that’s your sword?” Shi Songtao was stunned and looked impressed. “Pavilion Master, you can already control a sword from so far away? As expected of the number one person in the world.”

“Alright, stop sucking up and go. Inform all the miners to speed up!” Zhou Shu waved his hand angrily.

After sending Shi Songtao away, Zhou Shu fell into deep thought.

He didn’t know Shi Changsheng’s origin, so what he said was vague.

But he was probably not lying about the fact that the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament space was collapsing.

Earth Immortal, Awakening, Thearch, and then the Great Thearch realms?

The Awakening realm can be the master of a grotto-heaven. If Shi Changsheng didn’t lie, there were once thirty-six grotto-heaven masters in their era. Does that mean that there are thirty-six spaces like this?

If there are really thirty-six such spaces, won’t I be rich if he can find all of them?

I’ll have to ask Shi Changsheng later.

Shi Changsheng is the master of the Zhuling Grotto-Heaven, but it has become the space of the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament. What secrets are there?

Zhou Shu pondered. And how did he become a sword?

He didn’t ask Shi Changsheng about these things.

Even if he asked, Shi Changsheng might not tell the truth.

In the end, neither of them trusted the other now.

Now that they had plans for each other, they had reached a temporary agreement.

Zhou Shu didn’t think that his previous intimidation could really scare Shi Changsheng, who had lived for countless years.

Shi Changsheng’s reaction was most likely an act.

The Longevity Sword can devour forging materials. It’s not too safe to leave these forging materials here. Zhou Shu sized up the storeroom and pondered.

Shi Songtao can’t defend against the Longevity Sword.

I have to find a way to forge more Cosmic Bangles and put away these materials.

There are still too few forgers.

Zhou Shu had a headache. It was definitely impossible for him to do it alone.

No matter how fast he could forge, there was still a limit.

If the forgers in the camp split their manpower to forge Cosmic Bangles, the progress of forging other weapons would slow down.

They were not only facing the imminent collapse of the Zhuling Grotto-Heaven but also the threat of the Demon Realm army outside.

He definitely couldn’t stop the forging.

Shi Changsheng seems to be a forger. Zhou Shu thought of a solution. I have to think of a way to use him. He’s a treasure. I have to squeeze out all the value from him.

The forging process can also be optimized. If it’s an assembly line, it should increase the efficiency of the forging.

Time, of course. What we’re most lacking now is time!

Zhou Shu sighed. There were only two years left until the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament space reopened, and he still had too many preparations to make.