Chapter 175 Taking Preventive Measures
Ou Yangming expressed pretentiously, “Ah, Brother Ni, you didn’t say that the last time! You said you’ll be able to get it very soon!”
Ni Yunhong gritted his teeth but saw Old Craftsman’s eager face, so he could only smile bitterly. “Brother Ou, it’s such a valuable item, and my clan doesn’t have many of it too, so how could I get it so soon…”
Old Craftsman was stunned, and he turned to reprimand Ou Yangming, “B*stard, don’t force him. If it’s such a valuable item, how can he take it so easily?”.
Ni Yunhong pouted his lips and thought, ‘I can still think of a way if I know what it is, but what the hell is he talking about?’
Since he was also a blacksmith, he was familiar with materials’ qualities.
There was naturally a reason why featured steel was widely recognized as the best material for the smithing of Fine Grade equipment. Putting aside its cost, it was because its attributes were relatively balanced.
Many materials could overpower featured steel in terms of individual properties like the degree of solidity, smelting difficulty, or toughness, but if all those properties were considered as a whole, no material could be on par with it.
A material that was greater than featured steel in every aspect was unheard of. Therefore, Ni Yunhong could only keep quiet in front of Old Craftsman.
“Old Man, I shall not force Brother Ni.” Ou Yangming laughed, then he clapped his hands after a pause as if he recalled something. “I know, I need to be authorized by the Ni family’s great ancestors to use the material. I’ll go meet them now.”
Following that, he waved his hand and left swiftly.
Old Craftsman was startled for some time before he gasped.
“The Ni family’s great ancestors are legendary Supreme Great Ancestors.’ The old man quickly called out to Ou Yangming, but the young fellow could not hear him as he had gone far away.
“Ah, Young Master Ni, Young Lady Ni, stop that hothead quickly!” Old Craftsman was so anxious that beads of sweat were seen on his forehead. “If that b*stard bothers your great ancestors, he’ll probably be slapped to death!”
Ni Yunhong and his younger sister looked at each other and wondered.
‘Our great ancestors didn’t hesitate to confront the governor and another Supreme Great Ancestor for him, so why would they kill him over a trivial matter?’
Although they did not understand why, they had a feeling that the three great ancestors valued Ou Yangming more than they valued them.
At the very least, if the siblings were the ones who were involved in the matter that day, the great ancestors would not have allowed them to do the same.
“Old Man, don’t worry! Our great ancestors have met Brother Ou many times, and they’re even planning to take him as a disciple, so he’ll be fine.” Ni Yinghong smiled.
“Huh?” Old Craftsman was dumbfounded, but he was quickly delighted. “That b*stard didn’t tell me. He deserves a beating!”
“Old Man, perhaps Brother Ou wanted to give you a surprise!” Ni Yinghong quickly explained.
The old man finally nodded, but when he glanced at Ni Yinghong, he hesitated for a while before he expressed, “Ah, if he becomes your great ancestors’ disciple, it’s probably not a good thing…”
Ni Yinghong blushed a little because she immediately understood what Old Craftsman meant. As her eyes wandered about, they looked as tender as water.
On the other hand, Ni Yunhong shook his head and lamented.
* XXX
The Ni residence was an influential family’s top-notch residence. There were strict rules in the residence such that outsiders could only wait at the outer courtyard without being able to enter the inner courtyard at all.
Nonetheless, when Ou Yangming arrived outside the inner courtyard and requested to meet the three great ancestors, the steward flashed a flattering smile at him. “Young Master Ou, the great ancestors have informed us that you have full access to everywhere in the residence without needing to report yourself.”
Ou Yangming was shocked. As silly as he was, he knew that the treatment he was given was by no means insignificant.
He was not only treated as a part of the family. In fact, he was treated like one of the top elders in their clan.
Though Ou Yangming helped them find the Land of Inheritance, he felt that the treatment was too much.
Ou Yangming was puzzled, but he followed the steward to the courtyard.
Once they arrived, the steward behaved carefully as if he was making a pilgrimage, and the look of devotion on his face was chilling.
‘The three Supreme Great Ancestors are such fearsome beings to the ordinary people in the Ni family,’ Ou Yangming wondered.
“Hehe, Lil’ Friend, you’re here. Quickly come in.”
Ni Jingtong appeared in a flash and greeted Ou Yangming smilingly. Ou Yangming quickly bowed and thanked, “Thank you, senior.” As they entered the courtyard one after the other, the steward watched in shock as he was in disbelief. ‘Did Great Ancestor just address Young Master Ou as Lil’ Friend? Young Master Ou didn’t panic at all and accepted it calmly.’
The butler shrunk his neck and left soundlessly. Nevertheless, he remembered Ou Yangming well because he knew he must not offend the young master no matter what.
Once Ou Yangming entered the courtyard, he saw Ni Jingshen and Ni Xuetian smiling with narrowed eyes at him.
Ou Yangming quivered a little as he vaguely sensed a chill in the air.
‘These three bosses are suddenly so polite to me. What exactly are they scheming?
‘No love or hate in the world is without rhyme or reason.
‘If something’s unusual, there had to be something strange behind it.’ That said, Ou Yangming could not think of anything valuable he had that was worth being invested by the three great ancestors.
He cast aside his doubt and greeted, “Greetings, seniors.”
Ni Jingtong nodded and commented, “You’ve indeed grown after following Chen Dishou for a few days.”
They were able to see due to their outstanding vision that Ou Yangming already had the cultivation base of Yin Grade Class Three, but they thought he had broken through because of Chen Dishou’s pointers.
“Thank you for your praise, senior,” Ou Yangming responded with a bitter smile. He decided after some thought to cut to the chase. “Seniors, I’ve come to request something.”
“Oh, Lil’ Ou, you don’t have to be so polite. You found the Land of Inheritance for our clan, which was a huge contribution. If you have any requests, just let us know.”
Ou Yangming nodded and said, “When I previously entered the Chaos Cave and encountered the Black Magic Crawlers, I saw some ores that are similar to featured steel. I want to smith a magic tool, so I’d like to request for some ores.”
“What magic tool is it?”
The three Supreme Great Ancestors looked at each other and realized that they were equally surprised.
“Lil’ Ou, can you smith a magic tool?” Ou Yangming grinned. If they had asked him this question in the past, he could not have answered it. However, after Ou Yangming embedded the last gem in his waist sash, the gem overcame the natural moat between a magic tool and an ordinary tool, allowing the sash to become a magic tool. During the process, Ou Yangming sensed everything and gained a new apprehension with the support of his powerful mental power.
In other terms, Ou Yangming opened a huge door that led to greater achievements in smithing art.
Despite that, he only saw the path ahead and confirmed his goal. While he knew the theory and knowledge behind it, he had not managed to put it into practice.
Ou Yangming cleared his throat. “Great Ancestors, I only have a rough idea of it, so I still have to practice and explore to see if I’ll succeed in smithing it. If I have that ore, perhaps I’ll be able to try.”
“Nice! Lil’ Ou, you’re really multitalented, and I’m somewhat envious of you.” Ni Jingshen nodded.
The other people could not help but laugh, but the Ni family’s Three Great Ancestors began looking at Ou Yangming differently.
Ou Yangming smiled shyly but was secretly feeling relieved.
Ever since He Liangce brought up his request, Ou Yangming had been devising a plan.
Firstly, he would improve his degree of importance to the Ni family’s great ancestors. At the very least, he must display a stronger potential or a superb ability.
As such, Ou Yangming’s biggest chip at the moment was unquestionably the smithing of a magic tool.
He was certain that the three great ancestors would be moved.
With that, if He Liangce still wanted to suppress Ou Yangming by communicating with the Ni family’s great ancestors through his clan’s power, it would be wishful thinking.
Everything was part of Ou Yangming’s plan of taking preventive measures.
“Lil’ Ou, we can bring you to get the ores if you need them, but…” Ni Xuetian suddenly expressed, and he continued after a pause, “We’d like to trouble you with something too.”
“What is it?” Ou Yangming was slightly taken aback. He thought, ‘They’re finally talking about the main point. Perhaps this is why they treated me so kindly.’
“When your mind and Big Yellow’s mind drifted together that day, you helped it fathom the way of nature, which allowed it to achieve the integration of Heaven and man,” Ni Xuetian replied to him seriously, then asked with bright eyes, “Lil’ Ou, can you help them too?”
Ni Jingshen and Ni Jingtong looked at Ou Yangming calmly.
Since they were both Supreme Great Ancestors, they had experienced countless hardships in their lives to be able to cultivate to their current states.
The great ancestors were so good at cultivating Qi that they could keep a straight face even if there was a landslide.
Nonetheless, they subconsciously held their breaths at that moment, and they could not help but display their nervousness.
After all, the integration of Heaven and man was a supreme comprehension in the way of nature.
If they had the opportunity to perceive the state, it would not only be highly beneficial toward their cultivation, but it would somewhat help them turn over a new leaf.
Among the Ni family’s Three Great Ancestors, Ni Xuetian was the only one who comprehended the state.
Nevertheless, it was impossible for him to teach it to other people.
This was because the knowledge could not be taught verbally, and the exceptionally mysterious feeling was merely a lucky chance.
That being said, the great ancestors saw a silver lining in Ou Yangming.
They were willing to pay any price for the possibility.
Ou Yangming had conflicting thoughts for a brief moment before he answered, “I can’t guarantee it, but I can try.” Ni Jingshen and Ni Jingtong were elated, but they responded in a serious tone, “Thank you.”