It's Useless Anyway, Might as Well Use it to Chop Wood

Dragon Arrogance stared dumbfounded at the scene before him.

He wondered if the celestial weapon's aura had impacted his mind too severely, causing him to hallucinate.

But no matter how many times he rubbed his eyes or pinched his sagging face, the sight remained unchanged.

He saw the young man wielding the golden long sword, chopping at the wood on the ground. 

Cutting it into pieces, then piling the pieces onto a mat secured with rough ropes.

In his eyes, Chen Pingan had zero cultivation. 

This was the key reason he doubted if he was seeing things correctly.

After all, for an uncultivated person to use a celestial weapon for chopping firewood - if he told others, they would think him a fool.

However, just as he was doubting his own senses, a gaze suddenly fell upon him.

It was a familiar gaze that instantly made his body turn cold.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

This was the feeling of being watched by that celestial weapon!

There was no mistake about it!

The moment that gaze locked onto him, he even stumbled back a step.

But he stepped on a small rock and lost his balance completely.

Normally such a minor thing would never happen to a peerless expert like himself.

Yet his wits were so dulled that he landed firmly on his butt with a thud.

A thin branch underneath him snapped with a crisp crack.

The sound immediately drew Chen Pingan's attention from not too far away.

Chen Pingan looked up, and upon seeing Dragon Arrogance's red hair, he froze briefly.

With his acute eyesight, he could see Dragon Arrogance's elderly face and knew he was quite old. 

Chen Pingan hurried over in that direction.

This was serious - for an old man to fall in such a remote area. If he passed out with no one around, by the time he was discovered he might already be a lifeless corpse. 

Or perhaps not even a corpse, dragged off by some prowling beast of the night.

Chen Pingan swiftly arrived before Dragon Arrogance. 

He tossed the golden long sword aside and squatted down to help Dragon Arrogance up.

"Old Sir, are you alright?" Chen Pingan asked with concern as he pulled him to his feet.

Dragon Arrogance stared blankly at Chen Pingan, then turned his gaze to the celestial weapon carelessly tossed on the ground.

Gulp. 

He swallowed hard.

Just what kind of mystical being was this?!

At this close distance, he could clearly see the details of the golden long sword on the ground.

This sword's appearance was identical to the celestial weapon he saw earlier, down to the tiny notch in the razor-sharp edge.

There was no doubt - this golden long sword was undoubtedly that celestial weapon from before.

But what Dragon Arrogance couldn't figure out was how it had flown towards the center of the continent earlier, yet now appeared here in the hands of this young man who showed no signs of cultivation?

Dragon Arrogance stared intently at Chen Pingan.

Chen Pingan still showed utterly zero aura of cultivation, like an ordinary mortal.

Yet Dragon Arrogance sensed something different about him.

An elegant, carefree, and refined aura like jade.

Though uncultivated in appearance, he gave off an extraordinary air.

Snapping out of his daze at Chen Pingan's question, Dragon Arrogance replied, "No...no problem."

Chen Pingan finally exhaled in relief. 

Truth be told, he was quite worried the old man might be injured.

"That's good. By the way Old Sir, you don't seem to be from Qingxuan Town. I don't recall seeing you before."

That distinctively red hair would be hard to miss - Chen Pingan was certain this man wasn't local. 

Dragon Arrogance still felt rather awkward as he nodded, "I'm from elsewhere."

Chen Pingan gave an understanding "oh", then continued, "In that case Old Sir, whether you're injured or not, you should sit for a bit. Let me bundle up this firewood, then we'll head into town together."

Chen Pingan felt that even though the old man seemed fine now, that could change quickly.

He should stay nearby in case any assistance was needed.

He could perform this small good deed. 

After all, saving a life was more meritorious than building a seven-level monastery.

With that, Chen Pingan picked up the golden sword, intending to finish bundling the firewood. 

However, at this moment Dragon Arrogance couldn't help but ask, "Young man, why are you using such a fine weapon to chop firewood?"

As he spoke, he held his breath.

Up close, he finally sensed the celestial weapon's aura.

Though intentionally subdued, he could still feel it.

There was no doubt, this was the celestial weapon from before!

Chen Pingan glanced at the golden sword in his hand and said, "This? It's useless, so I just use it for chopping wood."

Crack!

Upon hearing those words, Dragon Arrogance's mind went completely blank.

Useless?

Using it for firewood?!

Good heavens!

Just how ignorant could one be?!

This was a celestial weapon!

In that instant, Dragon Arrogance was utterly convinced that Chen Pingan was a completely ignorant fool.

But he couldn't fathom why the celestial weapon would allow this. 

Could it be that the weapon had already accepted this young man as its master?

But even if he was the master, for a celestial weapon to accept being used for menial chopping - how could it possibly stay calm?

In fact, the celestial weapon was feeling quite vexed at the moment.

It wasn't being calm out of acceptance. 

It simply didn't dare act up!

The moment it sensed Dragon Arrogance's presence, the weapon was stunned.

At first glance it thought it was mistaken.

It was just as confused about why Dragon Arrogance had come here. 

Now, having been seen chopping firewood like a common tool, its aura of might from earlier had collapsed entirely.

It was so aggrieved, it had no tears to cry.

After responding to Dragon Arrogance, Chen Pingan went back to bundling the chopped wood.

He then prepared to shoulder the heavy bundle.

But it was so hefty he needed both hands to hold it in place, which meant he couldn't carry the sword. 

After some thought, he called out to Dragon Arrogance, "Old Sir, come help me for a moment."

Not knowing what Chen Pingan wanted, Dragon Arrogance could only approach.

Chen Pingan said, "Old Sir, help me carry this sword."

Dragon Arrogance's lips twitched upon hearing this.

This...wasn't a good idea!

I feel like if I touch it, the sword will obliterate me!

Yet despite his trepidation, he still felt a slight urge to hold the celestial weapon, if only briefly. 

After all, who wouldn't want to hold such a treasure in their hands?

Alright then!

Here goes nothing!

Dragon Arrogance squatted down gingerly and lifted the golden sword, moving excruciatingly slowly. 

Seeing his sluggish movements, Chen Pingan assumed the earlier fall must have injured the old man quite severely.

He silently affirmed that not letting Dragon Arrogance leave alone was the right call - another stumble and there might be consequences.

The moment Dragon Arrogance grasped the sword, an overwhelming aura washed over him, nearly making him jump in fright. 

But at that very moment, Chen Pingan suddenly cleared his throat with a light cough.

After that one cough...

The golden sword in Dragon Arrogance's hand instantly vanished!

The terrifying aura completely disappeared!

Sensing this, Dragon Arrogance stared dumbly at Chen Pingan once more.

A single cough had made the celestial weapon so obedient?!

What was going on here?!

Chen Pingan was oblivious to what had occurred.

After coughing, he mused to himself,

"Throat's a bit phlegmy, must be dampness setting in. Yes, with the increasing humidity I should brew some coolingherb tea."

After his private musings, Chen Pingan smiled at Dragon Arrogance, hoisted the bundle of firewood onto his back, and began leading the way.

Dragon Arrogance followed behind in a daze.

He was starting to doubt Chen Pingan's mortal status.

Could this person really be an ordinary human?!

He looked down at the golden sword in his hand again.

At the moment, this celestial weapon was unnaturally, alarmingly still!

They walked for a stretch before Chen Pingan finally arrived back at his courtyard. 

He deposited the bundle of wood in one corner. 

Then turning back to Dragon Arrogance, he smiled, "Old Sir, please come in and rest a moment. Have some water while you're at it."

However, Dragon Arrogance stood unmoving, as if he hadn't heard Chen Pingan's words at all.

In truth, he had become utterly dumbfounded. 

Like he had been struck by a thunderbolt, he stood motionless at the entrance.

In this moment, seeing the scene laid out before him, his entire paradigm of the world shattered into pieces.