WDMJST 11

Chapter 11

Little Junior Sister Gets New Equipment!

Even after leaving the Hundred Elixir Pavilion, the crazy images of those disciples still echoed in Su Ling’er’s mind.

Then Lin Qingfeng suddenly changed the subject.

“Pills are, in the end, external aids—meant to be consumed internally.”
“But when one walks this dangerous world, the true foundation of protection lies in two words: magical treasures.”

Su Ling’er followed behind him and nodded obediently.

“Senior brother is right.”

(So pills are external… but magic tools aren’t? What, do they grow out of your body or something?)

As the two approached the Artifact Refining Pavilion, a wave of scorching heat hit them.

The air shimmered and twisted, and everywhere she looked was bathed in blazing red light.

DANG! DANG! DANG—!

Sparks burst wildly through the great hall like fiery stars raining down.

This was the Refining Pavilion.

“Elder Qian.”

Lin Qingfeng led Su Ling’er confidently through the clang of the public forge area until they reached a quiet corner.

There sat a familiar figure.

That same Elder Qian again!

His eyes were still as vacant as ever.

He sat there, the only movement being his hand flipping over a wooden tag—again and again.

“New disciple entry,” Lin Qingfeng said in a low voice, “as per tradition, she’s entitled to one standard issue sword.”

Elder Qian’s gaze shifted mechanically toward Su Ling’er.

“Identification… token.”

Su Ling’er quickly handed it over.

Without even glancing at it, Elder Qian reached under the desk and slapped something on top.

A… wooden sword.

[Item Name]: Novice Wooden Sword Containing Mysterious Power
[Type]: Mortal Weapon
[Attributes]: Sever (Lv.1), Purify Evil (Lv.1)
[Sword Blessing · Origin]

The dawn-lit wood has yet to draw blood; carved by fair hands, it bears the Sect’s intent.
Do not call this thing mundane—for with a single pure heart, dragons rise.

Once upon a time, there had been an old carpenter.
He would carve a first sword for every new disciple who joined the sect.

No spiritual tools—just his calloused hands and a knife.

Each sword was simple and plain, yet carried his most sincere wish:

“May the bearer of this blade sever confusion along the cultivation path, and overcome their earliest inner demons.”

For countless years, tens of thousands of disciples received their first sword from him and set out on their immortal journey.

Some later replaced it and became famous across the world.
Some fell and returned to dust.

But the wooden sword—
was always their very first step.

[Trait]: Capable of Growth

The blade looked like it was made from the most ordinary lumber, still with rough splinters unpolished away.

Su Ling’er grasped the hilt.

It didn’t feel like a sword—it felt like she was holding a fire poker straight from the kitchen stove.

Actually… the fire poker used for three years back at Qingxu Temple probably had better craftsmanship than this thing.

This was Gui Xi Sect’s “standard-issue spiritual sword”?

“Junior sister has just entered the sect and owns little,”
Lin Qingfeng said, smiling warmly.
“Take this sword as a gift from your senior brother—a token of our first meeting. Don’t be shy.”

He gently pushed the “sword” toward her.

He’d actually spent quite a bit of money so that every new recruit’s starting weapon would get two extra attributes!

And look—it even rolled a “Growth Potential”!

Otherwise it really would’ve been just a blank wooden stick.

Sure, it didn’t look great—but if used long enough, maybe it’d evolve into something awesome, right?

After all, it was “growth type”!

Though honestly… most players didn’t like how ugly it was.

Still, the little junior sister could learn the Sword Refining Art to turn herself into a living sword.
Even if the weapon was dull, she wouldn’t be!

But Su Ling’er’s mouth twitched.

A gift? You’re sure this isn’t just the standard sect-issued equipment?
You’re literally gifting me what the sect handed you for free?!

Senior brother, your generosity truly humbles me… thanks, I guess.

Lin Qingfeng noticed her hesitation and clasped his hands behind his back.

Ah, it was time to act cool again.

“Junior sister,” he said loftily, “do you perhaps find this sword too… mundane?”

Su Ling’er stiffened and quickly shook her head.

“This junior sister dares not!”

“No need to hide your thoughts,” he continued smoothly.
“The Dao is simple; the greatest truths lie in simplicity.
A true weapon’s sharpness lies not in its form—but in the heart of its wielder.
Though this sword is wooden, it is pure and unblemished like a newborn.
If you nurture it with your Dao, temper it with your intent,
it shall become your most faithful companion and the very foundation of your path.
This is the beginning and end of our Gui Xi Sect’s Artifact Dao. Do you understand?”

(Understand my foot!)

What a load of flowery nonsense—it’s just a stick!

Foundation of the Dao? More like the stick you’re planning to bury me with!

Still, Su Ling’er’s face lit up with feigned enlightenment, eyes shining with awe.

“Thank you, senior brother, for your profound guidance!”
“If not for your teaching, I might have mistaken its plainness for mediocrity and missed this great fortune!”
“I will treasure this sword for life!”

Lin Qingfeng beamed with pride.

Sure, her spiritual roots were trash and she was kind of dim—but wow, so obedient!

This one will surely achieve greatness someday—
and by greatness, I mean she’ll make our sect greater, obviously!

He cleared his throat and gestured toward a nearby group of disciples.

“Of course, this sword is merely your foundation.
If you need some immediately usable defensive treasures, you can browse your senior brothers’ works.
They often sell their excess creations here.
All priced fairly—honest trade!”

Su Ling’er looked in the direction he pointed.

A bunch of disciples were casually throwing their “creations” on the ground—
crooked flying swords, smoke-spewing bronze bells, and bizarrely shaped armor pieces.

(So that’s it—better to keep the profit within the sect, huh? “Honest trade,” my foot!)

Sure, maybe it was cheaper than outside…
But that bell’s literally smoking, and that sword’s bent like a banana—how’s the quality “guaranteed”?

Were they just scamming their own people?

Of course they were! This was a demonic sect—everything fits!

Still, she kept her face calm, feigning admiration.

“Could it be that this, too, is a form of cultivation?”

“Indeed,” Lin Qingfeng nodded gravely.

Ah, here it comes again. Time for another nonsense lecture.

He’d studied all night for this kind of situation—no way he’d waste it!

“Trade is also a Dao.
The flow of spirit stones is the exchange of karma.
When a magical treasure passes from one hand to another, it forges a bond of fate.
What they appear to sell are mere items—but in truth, they seek kindred spirits,
completing the cycle of cause and effect.
Such mysteries can only be understood through experience.”

Su Ling’er felt numb.

No matter how absurd an act was, from her senior brother’s mouth it somehow transformed into a profound “cultivation philosophy.”

She began to suspect that this was the true reason he’d become the head senior brother—
this shameless ability to spout grand principles about absolute nonsense.

In a corner, one disciple was hammering at a long saber—
almost finished.

Just then, another disciple walked by and accidentally bumped into him,
causing his hammer to slip and miss its mark.

The refining disciple froze mid-swing.

Then, slowly, he turned toward the one who had bumped him.

“You… have chosen the path of death.”