C13 Reforming of the Autumn Water

Without hesitation, Lin Yu selected the Star Moon Crystal, knowing it was the perfect match for his practice of the Seven-star Sword Spell, which drew heavily on the power of the stars. Their synergy promised to be flawless.

"Star Moon Crystal, huh? Hee hee... It's no surprise you're so captivated," Yao Xi giggled, her hand playfully covering her mouth. Her curiosity piqued, she inquired, "So, what's your plan? You'll need to inscribe an array, right?" Yao Xi was genuinely intrigued—after all, what sword crafting master wouldn't be fascinated by Inscription Arrays? She wondered what kind of array Lin Yu would etch onto her own sword, suspecting it would surpass the level of her blade's flame slash. The thought filled her with a subtle sense of anticipation.

"Yes, I've already figured out my approach," Lin Yu replied with a soft chuckle.

"Oh, that's wonderful! Lin Yu, can I be your assistant, please?" Yao Xi asked, her voice laced with a playful whine.

"Uh, sure, no problem..." Lin Yu's cheeks flushed a shade of pink as Yao Xi's ample chest brushed against his arm, the softness of the contact sending his thoughts adrift. Despite being only fourteen, she was quite developed.

Realizing her forwardness, Yao Xi quickly released him, a flustered "Ah!" escaping her lips as she turned away, her face aflame with embarrassment.

"Hehe..." Lin Yu, equally embarrassed, suggested with an awkward smile, "Let's step outside..."

"Alright..." Yao Xi agreed, dashing out of the material room ahead of Lin Yu. Once outside, her composure slowly returned. The memory of her earlier blush-inducing moment caused her cheeks to redden once more, yet a different emotion stirred within her. When Lin Yu emerged at a leisurely pace, she was taken aback to see him empty-handed. "Where's the Star Moon Crystal? Why didn't you bring it out?" she asked, puzzled.

"Why would I need to take it out now?" Lin Yu responded.

"Eh, what else would you do? You picked out the materials to forge the sword, didn't you?" Yao Xi asked, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"Oh, that's not urgent. I'm planning to wait a bit," Lin Yu said with a smile, revealing his strategy. At his current level—fourth level of the Yellow Rank—he found complex Inscription Arrays challenging to manage. His goal was to diligently cultivate and advance to Yellow Rank Level Seven as quickly as possible. Only then would he be fully confident in crafting his Star Sword.

"So that's the situation..." Yao Xi said, her voice tinged with disappointment. She had been looking forward to watching Lin Yu forge a sword and hoped to pick up some advanced techniques.

"Let's have a look then..." Lin Yu, noticing the disappointment in Yao Xi's eyes, gently took her hand.

"Where to?" Yao Xi asked, puzzled.

"Isn't your Myriad Mile Sword Crafting Pavilion in the business of forging swords for others? As a guest Sword Crafting Master, I'd like to lend a hand," Lin Yu said with a smile. Yao Wanli had been generous enough to part with the Star Moon Crystal, a rare and precious ore. Even though he claimed no recompense was necessary, Lin Yu wasn't comfortable accepting such a gift without giving something in return. He had resolved to dedicate his time to forging swords for them, considering it a way to repay their kindness and to set his own mind at ease.

"Really? Great... I'll take you there right now..." Yao Xi's spirits lifted, and she bounced out the door, pulling Lin Yu along. They quickly reached a Sword Crafting Room that was spotlessly clean.

"This is my personal Sword Crafting Room..." Yao Xi said with a smile. She asked Lin Yu to wait a moment and dashed out. Returning with two pieces of a broken sword cradled in her arms, she explained, "This is Ms. Xiangyue's Autumn Water Sword. It broke during her battle with Xiao Yang about half a month ago. She initially wanted Grandfather to reforge it, but I think you'd be a better fit... Hehe..."

"Chu Xiangyue's sword?" Lin Yu recalled the enchanting moment from the previous night. Chu Xiangyue certainly had an impressive figure.

What are you thinking? You beast!

Lin Yu vigorously shook his head to dispel the unsavory thought and then took the broken sword from Yao Xi's arms for a closer look. In the sunlight, the Autumn Water Sword glimmered with a pale blue hue, its edge as sharp as a star, while the break was remarkably smooth, clearly the work of a powerful and deliberate strike.

"How does it look? Can it be fixed?" Yao Xi asked eagerly.

"The damage isn't too severe, but the Inscription Array inside has been completely destroyed. There's no chance of repairing it," Lin Yu said, having quickly identified the key issue.

"So, what do we do now?" Yao Xi pressed for an answer.

"The original inscription array was designed to enhance the Sword Master's sensitivity to the Water Element in a short time. It's considered a rather basic array," Lin Yu explained.

"Basic? So, are you planning to engrave a more advanced array on the Autumn Water Sword, one that can unleash Sword Skills like mine?" Yao Xi's eyes sparkled with excitement, but Lin Yu shook his head, "No, being a Sword Crafting Master is quite complex. You have to take into account many factors: the ore's material and properties, the Sword Master's level of cultivation, their family background, and even the distinctiveness of their moves."

"Huh? I don't get it..." Yao Xi blinked in confusion, yet her expression was earnest; she understood Lin Yu was imparting knowledge.

"For instance, let's consider Miss Chu. First, as a Water Element cultivator, she can naturally attune to the Water Element without needing the sword's array. Therefore, the existing array is somewhat redundant for her, offering minimal enhancement to her combat abilities. Second, regarding Sword Skills, Miss Chu is a renowned master in the Outer Sect with access to the library; she hardly lacks knowledge in that area... Third, there's the matter of Miss Chu's fighting style."

Recalling how he nearly perished under Chu Xiangyue's palm the previous night, Lin Yu felt a surge of relief and elaborated, "As a Profound Rank Level Two practitioner, her spiritual energy is formidable, almost on par with someone at Level Four. But... she struggles to control it effectively. In combat, if seventy percent of her strength impacts the opponent, that's already an optimistic outcome. Does that make sense to you?"

"Yeah, but how come you're so familiar with Ms. Xiangyue? What's your relationship with her?" Yao Xi inquired abruptly.

"Is that really the point here?" Lin Yu couldn't help but feel exasperated.

"Oh, sorry..." Realizing her lapse, Yao Xi quickly reviewed Lin Yu's words and said, "I'm starting to understand. Sword crafting must be tailored to the individual, right? A skilled Sword Crafting Master must weigh all aspects to forge the perfect sword for the Sword Master, correct?"

Lin Yu gave a slight nod and said, "So, there's no need to answer your earlier question, right?"

"Ms. Xiangyue doesn't require sword skills. Given her condition, the essence of the Inscription Array should focus on enabling her to effectively control her spiritual energy output, ensuring that every bit of power is fully utilized," Yao Xi explained with a smile.

"Clever."

"Of course... Who do you think I am?" Yao Xi boasted, feeling light as a feather with Lin Yu's compliment, as if she could take flight. Curious, she inquired, "But an array that aids a Sword Master in controlling their spiritual energy seems quite complex. Are you familiar with it?"

"The complexity of such supportive Law Arrays isn't overwhelming... I do know a few..." Lin Yu replied with a casual air.

Yao Xi was so astonished she was at a loss for words. Not a high level of difficulty, and he knew a few?

How many exactly?

One or two?

It took Yao Xi a long moment before she managed to ask, "How many of these supportive Law Arrays are you familiar with?"

"Well, around five or six types..."

Thud.

Yao Xi collapsed to the floor. Law Arrays for Inscription Arrays were known to be exceedingly rare, and here was Lin Yu, casually mentioning five or six types without batting an eye. Having witnessed Lin Yu's formidable skills, Yao Xi had no reason to doubt his claim.

"Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Lin Yu quickly reached down to help Yao Xi to her feet.

"I'm fine... just a bit startled by you..." Yao Xi said with an embarrassed chuckle.

"Oh, I was actually going to say there were more than a dozen types, but I thought you might not believe me, so I held back..."

Thud.

Yao Xi had just gotten back on her feet when she toppled over once more. Lin Yu had to help her up again, but the little girl wouldn't stand, clinging tightly to his leg with tear-filled eyes. "Lin Yu... please take me as your apprentice. I have a decent talent for sword crafting, I'm diligent and eager to learn, and I'm pretty, too. If needed, I can even keep you warm at night..."

"…"