Sunlight peered through the windows warming Hiayang’s face. He awoke full of energy and walked with a bounce outside. He climbed his normal tree, starting his morning cultivation.

The yang qi filled the air with the morning sunlight. It was light and comfortable as he absorbed it cycling it around his qi pathways. Enjoying the feeling of sunlight on his fur and the slight breeze that passed by he continuously strengthened his sun imprints.

Haiyang awoke from his stupor when Shizi called his name. With it being a little past noon and his imprints on his muscles almost done another full completion Haiyang thought it was a good time for a break. So, he climbed down the tree resting in front of Shizi.

“Do you want to come to the market with me? I still have to pick up my sword from the Iron Pavillion,” Shizi asked, “When we’re done I can even show you some sword arts.”

Haiyang grew excited at the idea. He’s only seen Shizi use his fist so to see what he can do with a sword sounded exciting. He rapidly nodded his head in agreement.

“Great, let’s go…..WAIT...I forgot to get someone to make the medical bath for you. That my bad, by the end of the day I promise,” Shizi laughed in embarrassment, scratching the bridge of his nose.

Haiyang shook his head. He wanted to wait till after all of his sun imprints were made out. Then, he could just get the hardest part of strengthening them done faster.

With slight surprise, Shizi just said, “Ok.” The duo then made their way to Passing Moon Market.

They arrived at the market that was just as lively as ever. Haiyang actually started to enjoy all the market’s noise. The merchants yelling, the blacksmith’s hammer banging away, and the shuffling feet of the crowd.

The duo walked through the streets making their way through the crowds. Soon they stopped in front of the same Iron Pavillion doors and walked in.

There wasn’t much noise and actually was weirdly quiet compared to the rest of the market. The only noise was the few voices of customers and assistants.

Shizi walked up to one of the assistants and asked, “Do you know where Master Yun is?”

The assistant looked the duo up and down before saying, “Follow me and I’ll take you to Master Yun.”

The assistant took the duo down a hallway to a part of the building much other than the other parts. After walking to the end of the hallway they arrived in front of a door.

“Master Yun is inside just knock whenever you are ready,” The assistant said, bowed, and then walked away.

Shizi waited a minute before knocking on the door.

“Come in,” a burly voice calmly responded.

As soon as they opened the door they were assaulted by a wave of heat. Haiyang looked around with a burly middle-aged man sat crossed leg in the back of the room. To his left stood a cow-sized furnace. To his right many boxes were stacked, some were open and revealed ores and many metals.

“Young Master Lan have a seat. I have your sword ready,” Master Yun calmly said.

Shizi sat as Master Yun stood up and walked over to the boxes. He took one from the top and sat it down between himself and Shizi. Master Yun opened it revealing a silver short sword that was less than a meter long.

“How’s the quality,” Shizi excitedly asked.

Master Yun laughed exclaiming, “With the peak of my skill I produced a mortal 9th-star sword! With the materials, you gave me I could even imbue a slight lightning element to it.”

“Master Yun, you did it again! This is probably the strongest sword in the whole Passing Moon City,” Shizi excitedly yelled! Shizi pulled out a single gold coin and lightly handed it to Master Yun.

Haiyang was shocked! He couldn’t think of how one sword could cost a third of the whole Lan Clan’s yearly earnings.

Shizi took the sword staring at it with a big smile. He placed it into his spatial pouch and cupped his hands for a bow. He walked out with Haiyang in tow.

On the streets, Shizi looked down and asked Haiyang, “Have you ever seen a blade runner use a sword?”

Haiyang shook his head.

With a smile, Shizi happily exclaimed, “Good, allow me to show you how a blade runner uses a sword.”

They walked through the streets before arriving at the other end of the market. They exited the city walking to the edge of a forest. The same forest the walked out of when Haiyang first arrived.

Facing a tree Shizi said, “I practice the technique called Snake’s Bite. It’s nothing more than a simple sword technique of mortal 6th-star ranking. Now watch and enjoy.”

With that said Shizi took a deep breath. He focused only on the tree in front of him. Taking out his new sword he rotated his qi covering the sword in purple lightning.

He lunged forward delivering a stab which dug deep into the tree. He twisted his wrist slashing up in an upward diagonal direction. There was a large gash with slightly burned edges. He sent out more horizontal slash causing the tree to fall.

Haiyang stared slack-jawed. He couldn’t believe an iron looking sword could cut down a tree with only two slashes.

Shizi walked up to Haiyang slightly sweaty and slightly panting.

He smiled and said, “How was that? Impressed?”

Haiyang nodded vigorously.

Shizi just laughs.

The duo turned around and started making their way make to the clan. While walking Haiyang was just in his own head. He thought of having a sword of his own. How we could vanquish demon beast and magical beast like in the novels. He couldn’t help but grow excited.

When they arrived back at the courtyard Haiyang immediately bolted to the top of his tree. He used the last bit of time of the sun being up to cultivate.

Shizi walked to his study shaking his head but smiling.

When the last rays of sunlight faded away Haiyang opened his eyes and gazed at the rising moon. With a sigh, he climbed down and sat on the ground looking up. He gave the moon one more look before turning and walking into the house. He laid down and soon slept.