Chapter 27 I'll... I'll do it.

"Ding, found forging material 'refined iron', produced in the Great Yan Dynasty."

Lin Fan weighed it in his hand; it was not light. With this palm-sized piece of refined iron, an ordinary craftsman might not even have enough to forge a single weapon, but Lin Fan had the system—with just this one piece, he could forge a mid-grade weapon.

Normally, no matter how skilled the craftsman, it would be impossible to forge a mid-grade weapon from refined iron, but in Lin Fan's view, this Craftsman profession clearly had a buff that could raise the grade of forged weapons.

Lin Fan tossed a piece of refined iron into the furnace.

"Ding, congratulations on forging a low-grade longsword, Craftsman experience +100."

"Ding, congratulations on forging a low-grade dagger, Craftsman experience +100."

...

Now mid-grade weapons were useless to Lin Fan, while in the outer sect, low-grade weapons were the most popular. As long as he exchanged enough Nourishing Qi Pills, he could level up immediately and then hurry to the inner sect to cause trouble.

"Ding, congratulations on profession upgrade, Craftsman Level 2."

When Lin Fan had been repeating the same action, he suddenly heard this pleasant sound, and the refined iron material had been completely consumed.

At this moment, in his backpack, there were a total of forty low-grade weapons. As long as nothing unexpected happened, selling a few weapons would be enough for him to level up.

Dong, dong dong...

Just then, someone knocked on the door again.

"Senior Brother Yin, what's up?" Lin Fan asked with a smile.

Now, the only people he was familiar with in the sect were Senior Brother Yin and Senior Brother Ni.

"Junior Brother Lin, today the inner sect senior brothers are coming to the outer sect for a sparring match. Want to go watch?" Yin Mochen said excitedly.

"Sparring match?" Lin Fan was taken aback. "Senior Brother Yin, why would the inner sect come to the outer sect to spar instead of sparring in the inner sect?"

"This is a long-standing tradition of the sect. The inner sect senior brothers come to the outer sect to spar, first to motivate us junior brothers, and second, after the sparring, the outer sect senior brothers can consult the inner sect senior brothers about problems they encounter in cultivation," Yin Mochen said.

Lin Fan nodded. It seemed like when schools invited senior students who got into Tsinghua to return to their alma mater to give the junior students something to look forward to, encouraging them to work hard and get into Tsinghua or Peking University.

But Lin Fan wasn't really that interested in this. However, he did want to see just how strong these inner sect senior brothers were.

"Alright, Senior Brother, let's go then," Lin Fan said.

"Yeah, let's hurry, or there won't even be standing room," Yin Mochen urged.

Every year at this time, the outer sect senior brothers were most excited, because the problems that had troubled them for a long time could be solved by the inner sect senior brothers.

When Lin Fan and Senior Brother Yin arrived at the scene, it was already packed with people, heads bobbing. In front was a square sparring platform paved with blue bricks, sharp and clear, and around the platform stood four dragon-pillar supports, majestic and extraordinary.

"Junior Brother, let's go over there, there are fewer people there." Yin Mochen looked around and finally saw that on the other side the crowd was thinner. Standing here, they couldn't see the platform at all. Being able to witness the inner sect senior brothers' sparring in person happened only once a year; if they missed it, they'd have to wait until next year.

Just as Lin Fan and Yin Mochen found their spot, people finally appeared on the sparring platform.

A group of brightly dressed men and women descended from the air, like immortals descending. As these inner sect disciples landed, the cheers from the outer sect disciples on the ground grew even louder.

This group of inner sect disciples, now the center of attention, enjoyed the cheers like superstar celebrities.

Lin Fan looked at the group of inner sect disciples on the platform and carefully observed them.

Fifth level of Xiantian.

Fourth level of Xiantian.

Eighth level of Xiantian.

...

Ninth level of Xiantian.

Among this group of inner sect disciples, the highest cultivation was the second level of Rushen, far inferior to Meng Yangquan.

This inner sect disciple at the second level of Rushen was probably the person in charge this time. After saying a few words to those around him, he led the group to the high chairs in front.

Lin Fan focused on the disciple at the second level of Rushen. He could sense a powerful aura that the other was trying hard to suppress.

"The sparring begins..." At that moment, the person sitting on the stone chair above spoke.

Though the voice was not loud, it was like a thunderbolt from the nine heavens, shaking the minds of many outer sect disciples, turning their faces pale.

"So strong..." Lin Fan was startled. It seemed he couldn't underestimate anyone.

Houtian and Xiantian were an insurmountable gap, and the difference between Xiantian and Rushen was even greater.

At that moment, two inner sect disciples floated down onto the platform. They looked at each other and then cupped their fists in salute.

In Lin Fan's view, both were inner sect disciples at the seventh level of Xiantian. Although their auras were not as strong as that of the second-level Rushen disciple, they still gave Lin Fan a very dangerous feeling.

"Begin." The inner sect disciple sitting above spoke like an emperor ruling the world, every word and action filled with supreme authority, irresistible.

"Roar..."

At that moment, it was as if a dragon's roar resounded through heaven and earth.

The longswords carried on the backs of the two disciples shot into the air, shining with flowing light, a layer of radiance clinging to the blades.

"Amazing, truly amazing." Yin Mochen's eyes shone as he watched the two senior brothers on the platform.

"So this is the Xiantian realm."

...

Lin Fan watched the two inner sect disciples sparring on the platform, his heart pounding.

So awesome, so incredibly awesome.

This is what techniques are. I must go to the Scripture Library and borrow a few to study properly—so magnificent, so dazzling.

"Junior Brother, did you see that? Those are the inner sect senior brothers. So strong. I wonder when I'll be like them," Yin Mochen said enviously, not knowing what else to say.

"Soon, soon..." Lin Fan stared intently, feeling a bit excited himself.

"Alas, Junior Brother, I know myself. Entering the inner sect is probably hopeless for me in this life," Yin Mochen said regretfully.

Lin Fan rolled his eyes. He wanted to tell Senior Brother that he was talking about himself, but seeing Yin Mochen so lacking in confidence, Lin Fan felt he should offer some encouragement.

When the sparring between the two inner sect disciples ended, the outer sect disciples below cheered even more loudly than before.

"Next is the guidance session. Is there anyone who wants to spar with these two senior brothers? Of course, there will be no injuries," the inner sect disciple at the second level of Rushen said from his seat.

At this, the outer sect disciples below began whispering among themselves. This session was very interesting; many outer sect disciples wanted to go up but were too shy, afraid that their cultivation was too low to catch the senior brothers' eyes and would be dismissed as worthless.

There had been such a case before. A junior brother went up for guidance and was later dismissed as worthless by the guiding senior brother. Because his will was weak, he never recovered and was ruined.

At this moment, Lin Fan, standing below, suddenly perked up.

Going up to spar, and with no injuries—if he succeeded in stealing a peach, he'd hit the jackpot.

"I... I'll do it!" At that moment, Lin Fan raised his hand without a second thought.

"Junior Brother..." Yin Mochen was stunned, looking at Lin Fan in disbelief.