"Yvonne, must have had a reason to suggest you come to me about a weapon?" Davis asked getting us back on topic. "She knows I only forge those weapons under the direst circumstances. And since I passed into Journeyman Rank, there is nothing dire enough that could force me to work on such pedestrian weapons.

"There are dozens of Blacksmiths on this floor that are well versed with those designs and can create and design matchless weapons. So, you must be using something other than a sword or spear?" He explained.

A quick flick of Qi to my spatial ring had my Tessen in hand. I was still loath to replace them, by this time, they had become almost an extension of my body. I could control them as easily as I could open and close my hand, there was no real thought or effort needed any longer. They reacted almost instinctively by this point, flicks and flutters incorporated and directing the martial techniques I had practiced.

My ability to bridge the gap between weapon and Qi were built over the same months. My [Tessenjutsu] was powered and backed with the same metaphysical reflexes as my muscles had been. Qi channels, nodes, and nexus had created groves within my meridian system, pairings of elements that would make full use of my Platinum Spirit root.

"I recently succeeded in attaining the perfected stage of Body Refinement Realm," I explained as I handed the well-maintained Tessen and Bow to him for his perusal. "These were a gift from a Sect Elder and have served me well. But they are only suitable for the Body Refinement Realm, so I will need to replace them soon. I need something more powerful, something that might grow in power as I do.

"You are looking for a Spirit Weapon or a Growth Weapon?" He asked as he examined the Tessen that has served me well.

"I am," I agreed. "I have formed an attachment to these weapons. I hate to replace them, but my cultivation has forced the issue. I'm not sure that there is an advantage of Spirit type weapons over that of Growth, but I do know I want something that will last. I do not want to have to replace my weapons again, it already feels like I am being forced to cut off a hand.

"Could you explain the difference between the two types, and perhaps you might have a suggestion?" I asked.

"Most Cultivators lean toward Spirit Weapons," he said as he engaged the mechanism that controlled my Tessen, examining each part, even going so far as to dismantle the parts of the fans, "but those weapons are of one piece.

"Spirit Weapons that have moving parts require a Masterclass Blacksmith to create, and the cost would be prohibitive," he explained. "For the Tessen, you have the spines, the cloth, and the garrote that is threaded along the edge of the cloth. You would need to create three unique Spirit parts, parts so finely aligned that they would work well together. And then find a way to merge each part so that it grows into one sentient weapon instead of three.

"If you fail to merge each part, there will be issues of dominance, and if you make a mistake in feeding even one part of each spirit, those dominance issues will lead to the death of the weapon as they fight for control and siphon spirit from each other.

"A Growth Weapon, on the other hand, would work well for the Tessen, depending on the materials you use in forging and enchanting. The type of beast cores that you feed the weapon as it grows, can influence the personality that will form and be just as powerful as a Spirit Weapon. A well-fed and maintained Growth type weapon has the same potential to awaken into sentience as a Spirit Weapon does.

"The difference is potential," he continued to explain. "The Spirit Weapon will awaken, no matter what. The Growth Weapon needs to be nurtured carefully to reach that plateau.

"For the Tessen, I would suggest you go with a Growth Weapon. As long as you can find enough beast cores that resonate with each other the Tessen could become a true Legendary weapon in the future."

"How many Beast Cores would I need?" I asked.

"For the weapon, I have in mind, you would need sixteen. Five for each spine, one for the garrote, one for the cloth, and one for the mechanism that allows you to control how the spines, cloth, and garrote are detached. Eight cores for each Tessen," he informed me.

"What power rating do the cores need to be?" I asked.

"It would be a waste if you use anything other than level one beast cores. You want to create a new weapon that will grow, not jam high-level cores into a weapon that you will not be able to use. Level one beast cores will produce a weapon that you can use now. And when you survive your tribulation and advance to the Qi Gathering Realm, you can hunt for matched beast cores to feed the Tessen and allow it to become more powerful."

"You will be able to create something I can use now?" I asked in surprise. I hadn't thought growth or spirit weapons existed that anyone at the Body Refinement Realm could use.

"Of course," he assured me. "I would bet that your Master purchased these weapons for you early before you had begun to master your Qi or any martial techniques. They are serviceable weapons, but they are limited. They are classified as beginning weapons. What I will create would be a tier-one weapon, and it would be a waste of my talent and your time if I were to create something that you would have to wait to use."

"How long would it take to make a matching set? And do you make Bows, or is that too pedestrian for your talents?" I asked a bit of humor targeting his assertions.

"I do have a design for a Bow that might work. Something that would be well suited as a Spirit weapon," he explained. "That would allow you to use both types and give you the chance to see if you respond better to one type over the other.

"The Tessen would not be easy to replace, not as a Spirit Weapon, but if you find growth type weapons resonate with you, that you work better with that type than your willingness to invest in Spirit. Your needs give you a chance to make a real comparison of which type would suit you best."

"And If I find I don't have a preference, will I be able to level both types?" I wondered.

"You will. One requires beast cores, the other spirit stones. There will be no competition for the resource type. Funding to attain those cores and stones may become problematic, but that isn't an issue with the weapons, that has to deal with your abilities as a cultivator," he chided.

"How much for both?" I inquired.

"Five thousand contribution points," he said brooking no argument, "two thousand for each Tessen, and a thousand for the Bow."

That was a staggering sum of money, I was able to console myself with the knowledge that if nurtured correctly, I would never have to purchase another weapon. They would grow with me, and unless destroyed, they would last just short of forever. But that was little consolation when weighed against my funds.

Yvonne had accepted spirit stones for her commission, so I had the contribution points he demanded. I was just my frugal nature was screaming at me in despair. I had already spent an obscene amount preparing for this tournament. Robes, enchantments, arrays. We still didn't know what the Emperor was planning to announce in the morning, but whatever it was, I hoped it was something that was worth the points I had spent.

For most of the poorer members of the Sect that had been forced to attend, they had focused on secondary professions. Without the funds to purchase upgrade armor or weapons, they were astute enough to understand their chances in the dueling ring was slim. It would be the height of folly to make the attempt.

"Deal," I said teeth clenched as I tried to maintain my equilibrium and not broadcast exactly how painful it was for me to spend that much. I really wish I had waited until we'd arrived at Dragon Spire Sect before attempting to upgrade my gear. This was the second set of armor I had purchased to upgrade. I could comfort myself somewhat that I hadn't wasted funds on weapons that I wouldn't be using.

"How long?" I asked, hoping like Yvonne he would have the new weapons ready for me sometime tomorrow.

"For the Bow, early tomorrow morning," he promised me. "For the Tessen, perhaps a month, maybe as long as six."

"Six months!" I exclaimed. "Why?"

"I don't have sixteen beast cores that resonate closely enough to craft the Tessen," he explained. "I will offer a quest to acquire them, but there is no way to know how long it will take for that quest to be filled."

"How much will you pay for the sixteen beast cores?" I asked.

"It would vary, but depending on how well the cores match, ten contribution points for each core."

"And how long will it take to create the Tessen once you have the cores?" I wondered.

"Not long. If I had the cores, I could have it done at the same time as the Bow," he explained.

"I wonder if this would work?" I asked injecting my Qi into my spirit ring to withdraw one of the cores I'd gotten from the Troodon, the dinosaurs that had attacked Nero.

He didn't react as I made the core available for inspection; I didn't think he would. It was only one core after all. Still, I was impressed with how detailed his inspection was. It was more than just a matter of making sure the core was the correct level, there were variables that he was looking for, other than resonance. He examined each core for conformity, cracking, and clarity. He even grabbed a jeweler's loupe to be more thorough in his examination.

"It would, as long as you had sixteen of them," he finally proclaimed.

Withdrawing another nineteen beast cores, all taken from that same pack of Troodon, I was thankful I had spent the time harvesting. I did wonder if Nero would appreciate that he had lost more than a leg from that encounter. His single-minded focus while chasing me had been a real windfall for me.

I placed the pile of cores on the counter for him to examine, watching as he gave the same exhaustive attention to each one. He slowly divided the cores into one of three piles. A pile of the best, a pile for those that would work, and a pile for those that were not usable. There was only one that was badly damaged, the rest were all acceptable.

Once he was finished, he spent a few moments picking through the first two piles, re-dividing them into two groupings that he thought might work. He continued to add or move a core until he was satisfied that he had selected the best sixteen.

"I'll take an even two hundred off the price," he said once his selection was complete, "but I want the entire stock. I have an idea, a way to merge the Tessen together that will not only be innovative but will surprise any of your opponents."

"How is that?" I wondered.

"Come back tomorrow," he said dismissing me and my question. He ushered me out of his stall, shutting down for the day in order to head off and begin my commission.