True Fire Weapon Workshop.

Elder Zhang sat in the back hall, frowning as he looked at the accounts book.

Ge Yong bowed his head and stood below with a fearful expression, not saying a word.

“Why are we getting more orders for middle-grade spirit weapons recently while the orders for superior-grade spirit weapons have dipped instead?” Elder Zhang asked in a deep voice.

Hesitating for a moment, Ge Yong replied, “It’s Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop…”

“Fufu.”

Before Ge Yong could finish, Elder Zhang scoffed lightly, “I told you, in less than half a year, Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop is bound to close down. Seems like I was right.”

To Elder Zhang, the reason why True Fire Weapon Workshop gained more orders for middle-grade spirit weapons must be because Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop had closed down.

“Err… ”

Ge Yong looked awkward.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Elder Zhang could not help but frown and ask when he saw the odd expression on Ge Yong’s face.

Ge Yong answered honestly, “Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop did not close down. They merely changed to customizing superior-grade spirit weapons instead of middle-grade spirit weapons.”

“Hmm?”

Elder Zhang’s expression changed slightly as he asked, “Wasn’t Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop unable to customize superior-grade spirit weapons? Why are they suddenly able to do it?”

“I have no idea as well,” Ge Yong shook his head.

Pondering for a moment, Elder Zhang asked again, “What’s their asking price?”

Ge Yong replied, “3,000 superior-grade spirit stones.”

Enlightened, Elder Zhang scoffed coldly, “No wonder all our business has been stolen! They pushed the price so low! Pass down orders that from today on, the price for customizing superior-grade spirit weapons at True Fire Weapon Workshop will be at 3,000 superior-grade spirit stones as well!”

“This…”

Ge Yong hesitated.

“Why are you stuttering?”

Elder Zhang berated, “Just say whatever you want to say!”

Ge Yong cupped his fists. “Elder Zhang, pardon me for being blunt. Even if we lower our price to 3,000 superior-grade spirit stones, we won’t be able to compete against Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop.”

“Why? You don’t believe in my weapon refinement skills?” Elder Zhang’s gaze turned fierce with a tinge of anger.

Ge Yong said softly, “Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop only requires a single set of materials to customize superior-grade spirit weapons as well.”

“What!”

Elder Zhang slammed the table and stood up. His expression changed drastically as disbelief filled his eyes.

“That’s impossible!” Elder Zhang kept shaking his head.

Even if he were to do it personally, he would need at least ten sets of materials to guarantee the refinement of a superior-grade spirit weapon.

However, Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop only required a single set of materials?

While the difference between middle-grade and superior-grade spirit weapons was a single spirit pattern, that one pattern stumped most Weapon Refinement Masters.

An additional spirit pattern meant that the chances of failure for spirit gathering would increase immensely. How could someone guarantee a 100% success rate of refining superior-grade spirit weapons with just a single set of materials?

Ge Yong said with a bitter smile, “Elder Zhang, we can’t continue like this. The impact on our weapon workshop is too great.”

“What’s the background of this person? Have you investigated him?” Elder Zhang suddenly asked.

Ge Yong replied, “I’ve been investigating, but there’s no accurate news.”

“Shadow, come out!”

Elder Zhang ordered suddenly.

“Squeak, squeak!”

In the shadows behind him, a rat that was the height of half a man ran out. It was pitch-black and had cunningly cold eyes. As it squeaked, it bared its sharp teeth that were like knives!

Ge Yong was shocked.

This was a Foundation Establishment spirit demon, an ancient remnant beast, Shadow Rat. Elusive and mysterious, it was best at sneaking and specialized in assassinations!

“Shadow, infiltrate Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop tonight and don’t expose your tracks! I want to find out who this Mo Ling is.”

A vicious glint shone in Elder Zhang’s eyes as he said slowly, “If you get a chance, kill that person to eliminate our future worries!”

The Shadow Rat answered and turned around before disappearing.

In the capital, ordinary cultivators were forbidden from Sword Kinesis Flight as well as fighting.

However, it wasn’t an absolute without loopholes.

As long as there was no massive fluctuation in spirit energy, one could naturally evade the detection of the capital’s guards.

…

Nighttime.

Su Zimo sat in his room silently as usual, refining the essence energy of the dragon egg.

Night Spirit was sprawled beside him.

At midnight, Su Zimo felt something and frowned, opening his eyes.

Almost at the same time, Night Spirit moved and listened intently.

After a while, a cold glint flashed in Night Spirit’s eyes. Walking out of the room silently, it headed to a corner at the edge of the wall and hid itself inside a shadow.

Su Zimo could see everything clearly. Even though Night Spirit’s eyes were opened, its eyes, body and surroundings were integrated with the darkness of the night completely without a single flaw.

If Su Zimo had not seen Night Spirit heading over personally, he would not have believed it.

Before long, a small head popped out of the top of the wall, surveying the surroundings and the courtyard with a pair of shifty eyes.

The Shadow Rat felt a sense of uneasiness but it could not discover anything unusual.

After a moment of hesitation, it retreated from the wall.

Night Spirit was still hidden in the shadow of the night at the corner of the wall motionlessly with a cold gaze, seemingly waiting for something.

True enough!

After a long time, the Shadow Rat appeared at the top of the wall again!

It had not left and was merely being cautious by probing the situation within the wall.

When it discovered that there were no dangers, the Shadow Rat relaxed and slid down the wall slowly.

The moment it landed on the ground, Night Spirit darted out and appeared in front of the Shadow Rat in the blink of an eye.

A cold, sharp claw appeared silently, piercing the Shadow Rat’s flesh.

The Shadow Rat panicked and wanted to shout.

A black light flashed through the skies.

Poof!

There was a crisp sound.

The head of the Shadow Rot was pierced by a sharp spike and its eyes dimmed!

That spike was Night Spirit’s tail.

It was still a flawless hunt!

The Shadow Rat could not resist at all!

Throughout the entire process, Night Spirit was filled with a strong killing aura that was pure and cold.

Picking up the Shadow Rat with its mouth, Night Spirit passed through the courtyard to Jishui River. It swayed its head gently and tossed the corpse of the Shadow Rat into the river, causing a ripple to spring up before disappearing.

The flesh of an ancient remnant beast was not attractive to Night Spirit at all!

Su Zimo narrowed his eyes, seemingly in thought as he smirked.

That Shadow Rat was clearly sent by someone.

“Can’t take it anymore huh?”

…

True Fire Weapon Workshop.

Elder Zhang and Ge Yong did not sleep for the entire night.

Until daybreak, the Shadow Rat did not appear.

There was a hint of fatigue on Elder Yu’s face, as if he had aged ten years overnight.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and waved. “Go back and rest. Shadow is dead.”

“This…”

Ge Yong also realized that if Shadow had not returned by now, it was most likely dead.

Elder Zhang walked out of the room and looked in the direction of Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop. The coldness in his eyes intensified as he muttered, “Mo Ling, a tall tree attracts the wind. Let’s see how long more you can survive!”