The Unparalleled Sword Emperor
Chapter 1563 - 1560: Sloppy Old Man!

Chapter 1563: Chapter 1560: Sloppy Old Man!

The next morning, Lin Bai made a simple wash before leaving the Silver Moon Commerce Association and arrived at the Tianbao Tower.

This time, Lin Bai came alone, with neither Lu Ao nor Fang Jin accompanying him.

Just as he reached the entrance of Tianbao Tower, Lin Bai saw Siyu already waiting at the door for quite some time.

Seeing Lin Bai approach, Siyu smiled lightly and said, "Junior Sword Venerate, I have been waiting here for you for some time."

"For such a small matter, I truly apologize for making Miss Siyu wait here," Lin Bai said with a slight smile.

"Having the opportunity to wait for the Junior Sword Venerate once more is Siyu’s good fortune. Please follow me, Master Chai Xu has been waiting in the private room." Siyu led Lin Bai gracefully into the Tianbao Tower.

Upon entering the private room and pushing the door open, Lin Bai saw a disheveled old man with unkempt hair and a dirt-smudged face inside the room, holding a jug of fine wine, laughing incessantly.

Lin Bai frowned; this old man’s appearance, with his black robe tattered and numerous holes scattered throughout, was downright disreputable. Even his shoes were so worn that his toes peeked out from the tips.

How could this be the Lingnan Continent’s number one Artifact Refiner? He looked nothing short of a beggar!

"Miss Siyu, this is...", Lin Bai was at a loss for words.

"Hehe, Junior Sword Venerate need not worry, this is indeed Master Chai Xu. Master Chai Xu is known for his free-spirited and eccentric nature. He acts differently than common folk and pays no mind to his appearance," explained Siyu with a gentle smile.

Such a slovenly old man, even if placed in Haizhen City, would be mistaken for a beggar—nobody would ever dream that he was the number one Artifact Refiner of the Lingnan Continent!

"Please."

Siyu gestured with her hand, and Lin Bai silently walked into the room.

As Lin Bai and Siyu entered, the Sloppy Old Man lifted his head, grinning mischievously, and said, "Young lady, what on Earth have you put in this old pot that makes it so delicious?"

The Sloppy Old Man, clutching the wine jug, continued to laugh without a pause.

Siyu responded with a sweet smile, "Master Chai Xu, what’s inside this wine jug is truly something special. It’s a new brew from the Wine Fairy of the Seven Luminaries Starfall Mountain, not yet available to the outside world."

"Ah, it’s something that little lass Ni Xiangen brewed, no wonder it packs a punch." The Sloppy Old Man’s eyes lit up, and he laughed with a sly expression, hugging the wine jug and immediately drank from it bottom up, as if he was afraid Lin Bai might snatch it away from him.

Siyu chuckled and said, "Master Chai Xu, let me introduce you. This is Dongfang Bai, one of the present Five Junior Sword Masters of the Heaven-reaching Sword Sect and also one of the nine Monstrous Geniuses of the Lingnan Continent!"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Chai Xu looked up with shrewd eyes, glancing at Lin Bai.

Lin Bai greeted with a light smile while clasping his fists, "Master Chai Xu, I’ve long heard of your great reputation."

Chai Xu smiled lightly and said, "So you are Dongfang Bai, very good, very good. The Heaven-reaching Sword Sect indeed has taken in another fine Disciple. So, is it you who wanted to meet me?"

"Indeed, it is I," Lin Bai replied with a light smile.

"Then speak your mind," Chai Xu said straightforwardly.

Lin Bai was momentarily startled and glanced at Siyu.

Knowing to take her leave, Siyu smiled, "The two of you can talk slowly. Tianbao Tower is rather busy today, so I shall not wait here any longer. If the two of you have any needs, feel free to call for me."

Lin Bai nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you, Miss Siyu!"

Siyu nodded with a smile, performing a courteous gesture, and then turned and left the room.

As Siyu left, the Sloppy Old Man Chai Xu looked at Lin Bai with a meaningful gaze and said, "Young lad, the favor you’re about to ask me for isn’t simple, is it? Is that why you sent the others away to speak?"

Lin Bai chuckled, "I’ve long heard of Master Chai Xu’s great name, resounding like thunder. Indeed, I seek an audience today because I have a request..."

"Hold on." Before Lin Bai could continue, he was interrupted by Chai Xu, whose eyes beneath his disheveled hair sharpened, and he uttered a cold chuckle, "Young lad, before you ask for whatever favor you want from me, I won’t inquire yet."

"But first, I must tell you my rules!"

"If you’ve come to seek my artifact refining skills, then you can turn back now," said Chai Xu directly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Bai frowned in puzzlement. As the premier artifact refiner on the Lingnan Continent, isn’t it normal to seek your craftsmanship in artifact refining? Then why should Lin Bai be turned away?

"Why is this so?" Lin Bai inquired, driven by curiosity.

Chai Xu tilted his head up slightly, a forlorn look cast upon his face, and he sighed lightly, "I no longer deign to craft trifling trinkets. If you seek my services, you must bring forth something truly worthy."

"At the very least, the weapon you want me to craft must rank within the top ten of the Top Martial Spirit Weapon Ranking, only then will I consider taking on your commission."

"Otherwise, for mere trifles, it simply wastes my time, and I would not stoop to refine them, no matter how many Spiritual Stones you offer!" Chai Xu stated indifferently.

Lin Bai responded with a smile, recalling that Siyu had previously mentioned Chai Xu’s eccentric nature. Now, witnessing it firsthand, he could certainly see a glimpse of it.

"Rest assured, Senior Chai Xu, the item I wish you to craft is undoubtedly one of the rarest weapons on the Lingnan Continent," Lin Bai said with a light smile.

Chai Xu’s eyes lit up as he looked toward Lin Bai, chuckling, "I knew it. A Heaven-reaching Sword Sect Junior Sword Master coming to me wouldn’t be for some minor crafting."

"However, I am quite curious. Since you already possess the Demonic Sword, why would you still seek to refine another weapon?"

"The forging techniques, methods, and even materials of the Demonic Sword are peak accomplishments on the Lingnan Continent. Even if I were to put forth my full effort now, I’m afraid it would be hard to surpass the Demonic Sword!"

"Having the Demonic Sword in hand, aren’t you satisfied? Why seek to craft another weapon?" Chai Xu asked, baffled.

"The Demonic Sword..." Lin Bai’s expression turned somewhat sorrowful as he took the Demonic Sword out from his Storage Bag and laid it on the table.

Chai Xu’s eyes gleamed, beholding the Demonic Sword as if a priceless treasure. "Ah, what a fine sword indeed! Is this the Demonic Sword? I’ve heard rumors, but never imagined I’d see it in the flesh today," Chai Xu said with delight.

"Eh?"

"Why are there cracks on the Demonic Sword?" Chai Xu asked Lin Bai in surprise.

Lin Bai’s expression grew taut. "That’s precisely the matter for which I’ve come to seek Senior Chai Xu. I wonder if, with your skills, you could restore the Demonic Sword to its original state?"

"That may be somewhat difficult..." After inspecting the cracks, Chai Xu narrowed his eyes, speaking frankly, "The Demonic Sword was crafted by Master Zhang Zhong, one of the rare few top artifact refiners on the Lingnan Continent."

"After forging the Demonic Sword, Master Zhang Zhong soon passed away from exhaustion of his mental strength," Chai Xu continued.

"At that time, Master Zhang Zhong was at the Seventh Level of the Yangshen Realm. Forging the Demonic Sword consumed the life of an artifact refiner of the Seventh Level of the Yangshen Realm, one can only imagine how profound the techniques and methods used to forge it were!"

Chai Xu gently grasped the Demonic Sword, surveying it inch by inch, scrutinizing it intently.

"Does it mean that even you are unable to mend it?" Lin Bai said, his tone laced with a tinge of despondency.

"Ha!" Chai Xu laughed upon catching the hint of desolation in Lin Bai’s remark, "I only said it is somewhat difficult, but I never said it was beyond my ability to repair!"

"Does this mean Senior Chai Xu might have a way?" Lin Bai asked, astonished.

Chai Xu set the Demonic Sword down, his expression chilling slightly, "Dongfang Bai, considering you are the master of the Demonic Sword and a Sword Cultivator yourself, you should know that a treasure sword not only requires the blood, sweat, and tears of the artifact refiner but also represents the second life of a Sword Cultivator. Why have you allowed the Demonic Sword to be damaged?"

Chai Xu’s tone grew cold as he questioned.

"What has caused these cracks to form on the Demonic Sword?" Chai Xu inquired.