The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 18: Chapter 17: Heavenly Character Number Seven Refinery_1

Ye Hanjun was summarizing his current gains seriously.

However, his feet had not been idle, it took him 10 minutes to reach the nearest post station.

The most important task today was to meet Tu Long.

He was the mentor he was supposed to follow officially, regardless of how volatile his temper was as described by Jia Pengpeng.

Avoiding meeting was the least decent method, not worth advocating, and even unnecessary.

"Whoosh- hurrah-hurrah..."

He's lucky this time he didn't ride Big Foot Horse, but a faster Sprinting Snail to travel.

As its name implies, once such Fond Spirit starts its charge mode, it can maintain an extremely rapid speed.

Its shell is rather peculiar, having nothing to do with firmness or durability, but is elastic from inside to outside.

If it accidentally hits a wall or other obstacles, it can play a buffering role.

Most importantly, Sprinting Snail master race skills 'brake slime', hence it can brake at any time.

Such problems as running around like a Pink Ostrich threatening pedestrian safety, were barely possible for Sprinting Snail.

"The passing station 'Heavenly Character Seventh Smelter' has arrived, passengers getting off please remove the protective device and leave the vehicle in an orderly manner from the left exit..."

"Click-" Ye Hanjun unbuckles his seat belt in no time and leaves the compartment as instructed.

Once his feet landed on the ground, the fresh air blew over his face, and a palace built by blue bricks and jade tiles came into view.

"Here we are, this is it."

Ye Hanjun observed with interest.

According to Jia Pengpeng's introduction, Tu Long's title was "Weapon Master".

This title, as well as Jiang Yongnian's "Examiner", was D-level, the true mid-level title.

And all his abilities were closely related to forging weapons, such as feeling the temperature of the flame and identifying the quality of the metal...

"I wonder whether the refining technology here can be compared to the family's Refining Weapon Grandmasters,"

With a little bit of curiosity, Ye Hanjun showed his personal badge and passed the first gate smoothly.

Soon, following the winding path, a secluded courtyard appeared instantly.

"Clang!"

In front of the palace, a soldier in armor suddenly raised his long spear, and his booming voice reached Ye Hanjun's ears instantly.

"Smelting workshop, an important place, no outsiders allowed!"

"You are not supposed to be here, get out of here quickly! Do not blame me if you don't."

"Hiss!"

As the voice dropped, a big-mouthed centipede emerged from the ground.

Its fierce jaws faced Ye Hanjun, more than a dozen legs flailing menacingly, & a brutal breath exuded from it.

"There's only one visible guard but there are three other human auras in the dark. Four guards and four Fond Spirits in total..."

Ye Hanjun raised his personal badge and said indifferently:

"I am the new assistant."

"Director Jiang Yongnian assigned me to work under Master Tu. Today is my first visit, could you please send my message?"

"What?" The clanging armored soldier, wearing a helmet so his facial expression was invisible.

However, he paused, as he was shocked by the announcement, and half of his consolidated murderous intent disappeared suddenly.

"This is my badge, no need to fake it."

Ye Hanjun once again waved the badge in his hand and reminded him earnestly:

"If you can't be the decision-maker, please find someone who can, I will be grateful."

"Uh..." The soldiers stared at the silver white triangle badge, double-checking to make sure that he was not seeing things.

Only after what felt like a long pause, he withdrew his spear and replied in haste:

"Wait, I will call two other assistants."

"Please do as you see fit." Ye Hanjun shrugged and stayed put.

"Whoosh~~~~"

The gatekeeper soldier was not a real combat official but a "Messenger", the only active ability he possessed was "message delivery".

As a paper crane floated into the window, after about a minute, steady and powerful footsteps gradually sounded, and the door of the palace officially opened.

"Are you Lord Han?"

The visitor was a man, about forty years old, just entering middle age according to the measurement of 2nd-rank lifespan.

He was not tall, his whole body was thin but tough, only his eyes were sharp as a blade, carrying a strong scrutiny.

"It is I."

Ye Hanjun clasped his hands and saluted slightly.

The man snorted coldly, unable to stop himself from mocking:

"I don't know what kind of love potion you bewitched Jiang with, to gain his approval"

"But I have to remind you, without enough ranks, no matter who you are or what your status is, you have no right to stand in the Canghai Pavilion!"

Ye Hanjun responded with an 'Oh,' and asked curiously:

"So, you are?"

"Sikong Wei." With a flick of his sleeve, the man turned to walk back, speaking as cold as ice:

"Don't say I didn't warn you. The forge inside the Refining Weapon Workshop is extremely hot. If your petite body can't stand it, you can only pray for good luck."

"Isn't there any special protective clothing?"

Ye Hanjun bypassed the guard and followed Sikong Wei inside.

"Your fluffy suit seems pretty good, where can I rent one?"

"This is mine and I only have this one."

Sikong Wei didn't stop, and his voice became colder:

"Can't you see, my profession is a 'tailor'? This is a heat-resistant suit I've knitted."

Ye Hanjun smiled faintly, as if it was nothing:

"The lord has a total of six rows of pins on your chest, gold, silver, copper, and iron, thick and thin, short and long, blunt and sharp, round and square ... a total of 72, I still have the eyesight to see this."

"I just didn't expect that you would make a contract with the 'Mane Rat'. This kind of spirit is not easy to tame. You must have spent a lot of effort."

"You investigated me?" Sikong Wei halted his steps, turned around abruptly, his eyes dark and oppressive.

"I have just arrived and I do not have any contacts and magic yet."

Ye Hanjun didn't seem fearful while pointing in one direction and saying:

"This little fellow is only about five or six meters away from me, always hiding in the shadows. It would have been impossible for me to overlook him if I was even a bit alert, right?"

"..."

Sikong Wei didn't say a word, he took a deep look at Ye Hanjun, and continued walking forward.

After about twenty steps, he finally couldn't resist and he abruptly asked:

"What is your profession? What spirits have you contracted?"

"I see you're so young. Why is your body so weak? You seem to get easily blown away by the wind."

Ye Hanjun shrugged, seemingly indifferent:

"Instructor, a very minor profession."

"It is more or less similar to a tutor or coach."

"As for spirits," Ye Hanjun walked unhurriedly, his tone unchanging, "I'm sorry to say, I have yet to make a formal contract."

"So, does that mean you're a one man army, without even the most basic Contracted Spirit Fond Spirit?"

Sikong Wei's nasal voice suddenly roughened, he sounded incredulous:

"Based on this, you can become an assistant, and also dare to teach students without hesitation?"

"You really have no idea. How many students in the academy, professions, positions, spirits, backgrounds... Even some of the official mentors would feel ashamed of themselves let alone an assistant."

"This would bring laughter upon Canghai Pavilion. Is Director Jiang mad that he would agree to make you an assistant..."

"I don't need to worry about that." Ye Hanjun disregarded, "Hearing about things sooner or later, specializing in a specific skill, a disciple does not necessarily have to be inferior to the master, the master does not necessarily have to be more talented than the disciple, that's all."

"You..." Sikong Wei's pupils shook in shock, seemingly off-struck by these words. He wanted to retort but didn't find any loopholes.

At this time, the two of them had already crossed the long hallway, and came to a spiral underground staircase.

Deep down in the darkness, hot flames gradually rose, the flames twist and warp in the light, and the indescribable scalding sensation ignited the body at an incredibly fast speed.

"Lord Han, Master Tu is performing an important smithing experiment."

"I'm giving you the opportunity to observe and gain some insight, and by the way, let you face the reality."

"Remember, don't touch anything you shouldn't after you enter."

"Some unremarkable little things, the actual value is beyond your knowledge. If you anger Master Tu because of this, nobody will protect you, no one can protect you!"

Sikong Wei glanced at Ye Hanjun, regardless of whether he heard or not, he proceeded forward with large strides and disappeared into the darkness.

The Mane Rat closely followed him, making a squeaky eerie noise. It first snarled at Ye Hanjun, issued a threat, and then disappeared too.

"Would a Mane Rat dare to enter?"

Ye Hanjun had anticipated the display of might.

As long as his life safety was not threatened, he wouldn't bother about such trivial matters.

He was speculating, Sikong Wei's Mane Rat, although it had reached Rainbow Light Fetus. Small Achievement in rank.

But this kind of spirit favors coolness and dislikes stuffiness by nature, dislikes fire, and it's even less likely to stay in a high temperature environment for a long time.

There's a problem inside...

Is there an additional formation inside, with a safe zone set aside, or are there other people with spirits or abilities for bestowing blessings?

Ye Hanjun listed at least thirteen possibilities, looking at the gloomy staircase in front of him like a monster opening its mouth to bite him, his steps continued downwards calmly.

"Whoosh~~~"

At the bottom of the staircase, there really was a formation, vague and dreamy.

Ye Hanjun walked through it, like stepping into a cool basement after sunbathing under the sun, the heat sensation rapidly subsided, and the body temperature quickly returned to normal.

"Are you the new assistant? Yo, your skin is so white, just like a woman."

"With such tender skin you dare to come to the Refining Weapon Workshop. Are you thinking we are too comfortable, deliberately coming here to stir things up?"

"Surely... you're not expecting us to assign people to specifically ensure your personal safety right? Which family's young master are you, why don't you tell us your name, let me assess whether you are worthy?"

The voice was weird and wopped, instantly refilling the room.

Ye Hanjun stopped, looking straight ahead. The first thing he saw was the emotionless face of Sikong Wei.

Next to him stood a bare-chested man with his arms folded. The man was burly with developed muscles, his face was covered with folds transforming his eyes into a frightening message that read, "Stay away" and "Anyone blocking my way, dies".

"Roar!"

A giant monkey appeared, holding an oversized torch in its right hand and pounding its chest with its left hand. Horrific high temperature surrounded it, as if it would explode on the spot in the next second.