Chapter 470: Undercover Encounter.
Hao Ren gained praise from Old Man Hephi and he continued refining one sword after the other, his usage of the heart of the mountain was getting better with each try. Old man Hephi left him alone and Hao Ren finished refining the last sword for the day, and looking at the ten blades that were laying on the table, he sighed and said, "I thought the old man won't leave me alone but thankfully he did, now let me see what I have actually gained."
He began to inspect the blades with a thoughtful expression on his face. He took a few minutes and then he sighed, as he mumbled, "God damn, I never realized I had such a cool card up my sleeves."
He stored all his weapons inside his space ring, and just when he was about to walk out, he found Old Hephi coming back with a young girl behind him. The old man said, "Ren, this is Xiao Yu, she will be your attendant from now on, and she will be guiding you to the Refiner Council. There you should forge your best artifact and gain a ranking. That will elevate your status in the sect."
Hao Ren nodded and then bowed to the old man to express his gratitude. Xiao Yu gestured and said, "Young Master, this way please."
Hao Ren thought of something and followed calmly. If the status of this woman was really that of an attendant, why did Old Hephi act himself? He could have been assigned for a normal apprentice disciple and that would have solved the trouble. Better yet, if he wanted to keep a good rapport with Hao Ren, then he could have assigned Den to be the personal attendant.
After a few minutes, they came out of the Elder Courtyard, and many people saw this sight. They were shocked, Den had yet to give up, and was trying to catch Hao Ren unguarded but when he saw Xiao Yu leading him, he was surprised.
Xiao Yu also saw him blocking the way and asked, "Junior Den, what is the meaning of this?"
Den was stunned, and Hao Ren smiled faintly, as the former gathered his wit and asked, "Senior Sister, I was looking for you to guide me about the refining technique."
Hao Ren mused over the fact that this guy was simply too patient to swallow this, and Xiao Yu frowned as she said, "You may come to find me tomorrow, right now I am taking Master Ren to the council office so that he can get a ranking."
Den heard him and he staggered to the side. Xiao Yu nodded, indifferent to his shock and she led the way forward. Hao Ren passed by Den and almost had the urge to smack the shocked and doubtful face of this bastard, but he held back.
The two of them walked silently and after they came to the Western Quadrant market area, Hao Ren pretended to look around and after a few minutes, he said, "Miss Yu, can I check a few things over there?"
Xiao Yu turned around sharply, and then she looked at Hao Ren who looked right in her eyes and snapped his fingers. Xiao Yu sensed the world slow down and freeze around her. Her eyes opened wide, and Hao Ren raised his brow as he remarked, "Interesting. Who cast this spiritual seal on you?"
Xiao Yu was dazed when she heard this question and said, "Lady Samaira."
Hao Ren thought and asked, "Who is Lady Samaira?"
Xiao Yu replied, "Western Head of the Refiner Council. She is the one who is leading the operation here."
Hao Ren nodded and just when he was about to ask another question a calm voice sounded beside him, "I thought you were watching the house."
This time Hao Ren sensed the world slow down and freeze as he turned around and shivered. Han Lingshi was standing there with Ye Yin behind her, and the young man replied quickly, "Someone tried to conspire against us, and so I came here to investigate. The fox squad cannot handle this task. The enemy is holding three researchers behind by mind controlling means. I swear this woman is an enemy mole. I am using my own skills to counter them."
Han Lingshi looked at him unimpressed and Hao Ren realized the more he talked the more it would put him in a pinch. However, after a few minutes, Han Lingshi chuckled and said, "I am aware of it, Maya told me, that's why I decided to swing by and check on you."
Hao Ren sighed and said, "You scared the shit out of me."
Han Lingshi smirked and extended her hand to him. Hao Ren smiled and reached out to hold her hand but the lady rolled eyes and smacked his hand away and said, "I am short on expense, empty your pockets."
The young man sighed, and he obediently handed over his space ring to her. Han Lingshi checked the content and took a few million superior spirit stones and said, "I left you enough to buy materials and things you might need to continue the operation."
Hao Ren sighed and nodded as he took back the space ring and said, "This is enemy territory, leave before things get messy, and I am not joking Lingshi."
Han Lingshi nodded with a smile and said, "I will leave after the auction."
Hao Ren nodded and watched her vanish in the crowd before he turned around and looked at Xiao Yu as he said, "Take me to the council."
Xiao Yu nodded, she was now his slave because the spirit imprint on her soul would only control her when the other person specifically took an initiative, however, his hypnotism was different. It was an endless trance until he undid it, the subject would be constantly following the prime mandate, to serve him with utmost loyalty.
They came to the center of the place, and Hao Ren found that the refiner's council was at the center of the city, four roads led from the four entrances, dividing the place in the east, west, north and south city quadrants.
They climbed the stairs of the western wing and the first thing that caught Hao Ren's interest was the heavy hammer levitating in the void inside the reception hall. Xiao Yu said, "That is the Divine Hammer, it was said that it was the tool used by the Saint Refiner, Lord Tang Sen."
Hao Ren nodded and looked at the hammer with great interest. He could sense that the hammer emitted Dao Resonance but it didn't look very glorious. He asked, "Is this hammer damaged?"
Xiao Yu nodded and said, "It was a spirit tool and after the Saint fell, the spirit regressed and went into deep sleep. Many saint refiners have come over since then, trying to have this hammer acknowledge them, but none could succeed."
As they were talking they reached a counter, where a burly middle-aged man was sitting. Xiao Yu said, "Elder Brother Tei, Grandmaster Hephi has sent a candidate for the Master's assessment."
The middle-aged man raised his head and looked at Xiao Yu before he nodded and gave out a form while saying,"One examination is going through, you can fill the form and pay the fee for the examination."
Hao Ren was surprised to hear that the examination would need to be paid for. He asked, "Sir, how much do I need to pay?"
The buffed up man looked at him and said, "Ten Thousand High Spirit Stones, if you pass, they would be used to recharge your council card. You can use that card to buy metals and other things."
Hao Ren sighed and gave out ten Superior Spirit Stones. Tei looked at the shining stones on his table and he smirked as he replied, "You sure are rich."
Hao Ren shook his head like a rattle, "This is all the generosity of my wife. She is the one who takes care of me."
Tei was surprised and so was Xiao Yu, but they didn't say anything. Xiao Yu filled the form with basic information before Hao Ren checked it and then signed his name.
After the submission, Tei said, "You can go inside, Xiao Yu. The exam will begin in a few minutes, don't waste time here."
Xiao Yu nodded and said, "Senior Brother, this way please."
Hao Ren noticed that Tei was acting normal but the way he addressed Xiao Yu was special, he asked with spiritual communication, "Tei is in the fold with you lot?"
Xiao Yu nodded and replied, "Indeed, Master, you can see everything. He has been wanting to take me down for a long time, but his level in the hierarchy is not high and that's why he has not succeeded. Humph, a block of iron wants to entangle with me. Forgive me, Master. I don't like him."
Hao Ren shook his head and said, "Get me a list of all the people that are your associates, from the grass root to the crown of the tree."
Xiao Yu nodded and replied, "After the exam, I will get it done, Master."
They reached a place which had a big wooden plaque hanging from the top, saying, Examination Hall.