Chapter 434, Gongshu Zhiyi

Translator: Silavin

 

Only Qin Yichen, who had experienced the test himself, knew how difficult it was to pass the trials.

 

If not for his experience from his previous life, passing them would have been impossible.

 

Even these people of the Gongshu Clan would not be able to do it!

 

Strictly speaking, only two types of people could pass those trials… The first type was like Qin Yichen, who had once stood at the pinnacle and could therefore view everything with detachment. The second type was those who truly possessed a pure heart, without desires or demands.

 

But how could this second type of person possibly exist?

 

It was not that there were no pure-hearted people without desires left in this world, but such people, being without desires, would not cultivate and would simply be ordinary people.

 

An ordinary person would absolutely be unable to pass the first and second floors of the Twilight Tower.

 

Although the Gongshu Clan was isolated from the world, did these people truly lack any competitive spirit? When they became the Peerless Master of a whole generation in the trials’ illusions, could they really walk away from it?

 

For those who aspired to become Peerless Master of a whole generation, this was clearly an impossible task.

 

However, these people had obviously overlooked this point, overlooked this most critical element – that Qin Yichen had passed through those trials!

 

With the Elder’s support, Gongshu Tianhua clearly had more confidence to state. “If I, Gongshu Tianhua, am less skilled, I will have nothing to say. However, if you cannot even match me, then you must leave the Master Craftsman’s Hammer with our Gongshu Clan!”

 

His gaze toward the Master Craftsman’s Hammer obviously carried a hint of burning desire.

 

Qin Yichen felt troubled.

 

In his current state, he could barely carve out something, barely form a shape; how could he possibly compare to Gongshu Tianhua, a genius of the Gongshu Clan?

 

Most likely, even a random child playing with mud by the roadside would be better than him.

 

This challenge need not even be held as the results were already obvious.

 

“Enough!” Just as everyone was becoming restless, an authoritative voice projected from Gongshu Yushan’s mouth, resonating in everyone’s ears.

 

[Such high attainment in Spiritual Energy.] From this shout, Qin Yichen discerned many things, and could not help but look with surprise toward Gongshu Yushan.

 

Most likely, Gongshu Yushan’s mastery over Spiritual Energy had already broken through the Mastery Realm.

 

Suddenly, a flash of insight flashed through his mind; Qi Yichen seemed to understand something, but it was still vague and hazy, unable to pierce through the clouds to see daylight.

 

“What is this absurdity!?” Gongshu Yushan continued to reprimand, his face solemn, and everyone around lowered their heads.

 

At this moment, he displayed the authority of the Patriarch.

 

Although Gongshu Tianhua was unwilling, he lowered his proud head. Even though he was a genius within the Clan, he dared not be too presumptuous before the Patriarch.

 

However, his sidelong glance still swept toward Qin Yichen, his demeanour clearly carrying that of challenge.

 

Although Qin Yichen could tell, he pretended not to see it. [What a joke. To compete with you would be like striking a stone with an egg! I am not that stubborn or foolish. Why would I dig my own grave?]

 

“Sir, please follow me.” After scolding the Clan members, Gongshu Yushan was obviously more polite when facing Qin Yichen.

 

Perhaps because of this scolding, no one dared to obstruct them again, and Gongshu Tianhua could only watch helplessly as Qin Yichen followed Gongshu Yushan toward the rear hall.

 

…

 

In the rear hall, in a room, there were only Gongshu Yushan and Qin Yichen.

 

“We’ve made a mockery of ourselves in front of you…” After closing the door, Gongshu Yushan said to Qin Yichen, his lips carrying a faint, bitter smile.

 

“It’s just human nature.” Qin Yichen smiled at him.

 

Compared to the people of the outside world, the isolated Gongshu Clan members were already very kind. They were interested in the Master Craftsman’s Hammer, but no one had tried to seize it by force, and no one had entertained thoughts of killing Qin Yichen.

 

If this were outside, killing for treasure would be nothing unusual.

 

“Sir, you are so open-minded!” Gongshu Yushan’s eyes brightened, and the way he looked at Qin Yichen changed somewhat.

 

In fact, from the moment Qin Yichen appeared, he had been observing this so-called Successor of the Lu Ban Sect.

 

From beginning to end, he had not seen panic or fear on Qin Yichen’s face; faced with Gongshu Tianhua’s aggressive taunts and the Eighth Elder’s deliberate provocations, he had remained composed.

 

He was calm and wise.

 

Coming here alone was not something ordinary people could do. They simply did not possess the courage.

 

Gongshu Yushan seemed to understand why the young man before him had been able to pass the trials.

 

“This Junior is Qin Yichen. Patriarch, you can just call me Yichen.” Qin Yichen made a casual salute to him, also feeling very grateful.

 

Logically, the Master Craftsman’s Hammer was a Sacred Artifact of the Lu Ban Sect, and as Lu Ban’s descendants, he should have wanted to keep the Master Craftsman’s Hammer in his own hands. But from beginning to end, the Patriarch had not shown any desire to possess the Master Craftsman’s Hammer; on the contrary, he had repeatedly assisted Qin Yichen.

 

Such a person was definitely worthy of his respect.

 

Gongshu Yushan was only slightly startled before his face also gained a smile. “Then I’ll call you Yichen. You do not need to address me as Patriarch; just call me Uncle Yushan.”

 

With just this change in address, the relationship between the two obviously became much more harmonious.

 

“Yichen, how did you discover that our Gongshu Clan was secluded here?” On this point, Gongshu Yushan was very puzzled and confused.

 

The Lu Ban Sect had collapsed with Master Lu Ban’s disappearance. The Gongshu Clan had once searched for Master Lu Ban’s whereabouts, but in the end, it was to no avail. After they had given up searching, they had secluded themselves in this inconspicuous Jade Cloud Mountain.

 

“It led me here…” Qin Yichen took out the Master Craftsman’s Hammer.

 

Of course, he could not say that he had been here in his previous life.

 

Although he had come here before, he had never met the Patriarch of the Gongshu Clan, only healing an Elder at some other location.

 

“I see.” Gongshu Yushan did not doubt him.

 

The Master Craftsman’s Hammer was a Sacred Artifact of the Lu Ban Sect. Having some subtle sense of connection was a possibility.

 

“Dad!” Just as he was about to ask Qin Yichen some other questions, the door was kicked open, and a young girl walked in from the outside.

 

It was Zhiyi.

 

Qin Yichen had guessed that her status in the Gongshu Clan was unusual, but he had not guessed that she was the Daughter of the Patriarch.

 

“Hmph! Are you thinking of sneaking out again?” Upon seeing her, Gongshu Yushan could not help but snort and reprimand her.

 

Although it was a reprimand, it was clearly mixed with softness in his voice.

 

“Clan rule number one-”

 

“Yes, Clan members are not allowed to go outside!”

 

Just as Gongshu Yushan was invoking Clan Rules, Gongshu Zhiyi promptly finished the sentence and rolled her eyes.

 

Evidently, this was not the first or second time Gongshu Yushan had reprimanded her like this.