Don't Cause Trouble Chapter 10: Top Hundred Youth List

Quan Jiaying was the personal disciple of the sect master of Poyuan Sect. At just eighteen years old, he had already reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Last year, he skyrocketed seventy-two spots on the Top Hundred Youth List after refining a weapon called the Withered Bone Whip, and now held the 185th position.

That may not sound particularly impressive, but the Top Hundred Youth List was highly prestigious. It was designed to evaluate young genius artifact forgers, and had a total of 300 positions—each hundred corresponding to the highest-level artifact forgers within the Nascent Soul, Core Formation, and Foundation Establishment stages, respectively.

The fact that Quan Jiaying’s Withered Bone Whip had propelled him into the top 200 meant that his Foundation-stage artifact had outperformed the finest works of fifteen Core Formation-stage artifact forgers. There were currently only three people on the Top Hundred Youth List who had managed to cross realms in this way with an artifact crafted at a lower cultivation level.

Aside from Quan Jiaying, the other two belonged to another powerful artifact sect—Zhàn Jīn Zōng.

"Almost identical," Quan Jiaying said, running his fingers carefully along the blade’s rune carvings. "The wind-pattern runes on this blade are even more complete than the ones I carved on my own blade three years ago."

"More complete than yours?" Fang Xiu couldn’t believe it. After all, that blade had been what earned Quan Jiaying his spot on the Top Hundred Youth List at position 257. Back then, Quan Jiaying had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and his performance already hinted at the potential to cross realms.

"Those two rare variant wind-pattern runes were considered incomplete due to missing critical segments, so few dared to use them. I spent half a year piecing them together before I was able to barely integrate them onto a blade." Quan Jiaying traced the lines of the carvings with his fingertips, then fell silent for a moment. "The way these runes are completed—far exceeds my own work."

Fang Xiu blurted out reflexively, "That’s impossible."

The main reason Quan Jiaying had managed to reach 257 on the Top Hundred Youth List with that blade was precisely because he had filled in the missing elements of the two wind-pattern runes. Otherwise, that artifact wouldn’t have broken past 280.

"There’s no such thing as impossible. The cultivation world is full of hidden experts. That’s exactly why Poyuan Sect holds these evaluations—to learn from other artifact forgers and extract the best of their techniques," said the elder holding the blade.

"Not just that," Rong Chuqiu added, handing the sheet of paper she had pulled from the box to Quan Jiaying. "There are three types of runes carved on this blade."

"Three?" the elder looked surprised as he examined the weapon again. "Wasn’t it just two?"

Rong Chuqiu pointed to where the elder was gripping the weapon. "Check the hilt."

The elder quickly adjusted his grip, switching to hold the blade itself. "Ah, you’re right—it’s a weight-reduction rune."

Quan Jiaying finally snapped out of his analysis of the wind-pattern runes and asked in confusion, "Elder, why add a weight-reduction rune?"

To him, it seemed unnecessary. Was there some deeper reasoning he had overlooked?

Rong Chuqiu observed the blade for a moment, then smiled. "Naturally—to reduce weight."

Quan Jiaying and Fang Xiu both frowned, still not understanding.

"This blade was forged using the lowest-grade mystic iron—the kind with the most impurities and the heaviest weight. The weight-reduction rune compensates for that," the elder explained patiently.

Fang Xiu still didn’t get it. "Why not just use better mystic iron in the first place? Why bother adding a rune like that—it’s redundant."

"Not everyone can afford to buy the highest quality materials," Rong Chuqiu replied, a bit helplessly. As an inner sect disciple, Fang Xiu was still too naïve.

Quan Jiaying lowered his head, staring at his hands. Someone who couldn’t even afford slightly better-grade mystic iron had still managed to complete and perfect those two runes…

"Elder Zhang, please continue evaluating the other artifacts," Rong Chuqiu said. The four boxes had been placed side by side—she was curious to see what kind of artifacts the other three had submitted.

Elder Zhang carefully placed the blade back into its box and glanced at the name written on the paper. He turned to the disciple responsible for recording and said, "Write this one down—Xiyu is qualified to enter the preliminary trial."

All the artifacts in this batch were being handled by Elder Zhang. The others, seeing him about to open another box, prepared to return to their own assignments.

However, just as they were about to turn away, they suddenly heard Elder Zhang shout again:

"Excellent sword!"

The others: "?"

A Certain Elder Turned Back: "Don’t tell me you’ve come across another high-quality artifact?"

Such good luck?

"Take a look." Elder Zhang lifted the sword from the box and stood up. "Tell me—does this count as a fine sword?"

The sword was perfectly straight and sharp. Its blade gleamed like a mirror, and when tilted slightly, it reflected light brilliantly. Just from the forging quality alone, it could easily qualify for the top thousand in the preliminary round.

"The fundamentals are definitely solid." Another elder walked back over for a closer look. Among all the mediocre, even terrible artifacts they’d seen, this sword’s craftsmanship was easily among the top three.

The other artifact-evaluating elders called out to Elder Zhang, "Test it already! What, did all the good artifacts today end up in your batch?"

Elder Zhang chuckled, "Step aside. I’ll test it."

He swung the sword toward the trial stone off to the side, gauging the resistance as it cut through the air. He released a stream of spiritual power. The moment he withdrew the blade, a crack slowly split down the middle of the trial stone—and with a boom, it collapsed entirely.

Elder Zhang excitedly looked over the sword, waving it side to side.

"This sword’s refinement is on par with what our Poyuan Sect inner disciples can produce."

The other elders crowded around.

"Let me see that!"

Rong Chuqiu swept her gaze across the gathered inner disciples.

"There’s always a higher sky. There’s always someone stronger. Now you all understand."

But it didn’t stop there.

Next, Elder Zhang pulled out a lotus hairpin. Its craftsmanship was so exquisite that even Poyuan Sect’s inner disciples would have trouble matching it. Upon testing, it proved even more powerful—each lotus petal shot out and pierced clean through the trial stone.

"These three artifacts… all of them could earn a spot on the Top Hundred Youth List," Elder Zhang sighed in awe. "Have artifact forgers outside our sect grown this formidable already?"

"Record the name," Rong Chuqiu instructed the disciple in charge of documentation.

"Yes, Elder."

Fang Xiu, who had gone from unconvinced to speechless, watched Elder Zhang pick up yet another box. A delayed realization hit him—it was the box from that talisman seller.

Back then, it was Elder Rong who stepped up and retrieved the box. Fang Xiu had only vaguely remembered the number carved onto it. Thinking back, the boxes from those four people had been two large and two small.

Impossible.

Fang Xiu shook his head. He refused to believe it. He must’ve remembered wrong.

"An hidden weapon?" Elder Zhang pulled a bracelet shaped like a black serpent from the box.

To be honest, there were plenty of hidden weapons disguised as bracelets in the submission batch. The elders’ eyes were nearly glazed over from evaluating so many. At most, this one looked particularly lifelike.

Even so, Elder Zhang couldn’t help but let out a soft "Hmm?" once it was in his hand. For a moment, he couldn’t even identify what materials the bracelet had been made from.

Several elders paced back and forth, finally one couldn’t resist: "Don’t tell me this is another high-grade artifact? I haven’t seen a single decent one in days!"

The group, which had been starting to disperse, quickly gathered again, all eyes on the artifact in Elder Zhang’s hands.

The bracelet, shaped like a lifelike black serpent, had a faint golden shimmer beneath the surface. When the light hit it just right, it sparkled even more intensely. At a glance, it seemed like the head and tail were joined—but upon closer inspection, it became clear that the serpent's tail tip rested delicately atop one of its own eyes.

"Elder Zhang, let me see." Rong Chuqiu had been waiting specifically for this box. She was curious about the forging skills of that young talisman vendor. Given that the other three artifacts had all been impressive, her interest had only deepened.

"You’re best with small-type artifacts anyway." Elder Zhang handed the bracelet to Rong Chuqiu and picked up the note inside the box, reading aloud: "Mistflower Fang... Why name a serpent-shaped bracelet that?"

"Chisha... and Golden Essence Liquid," Rong Chuqiu observed the bracelet carefully and named the two primary materials used.

From the forging technique alone, the serpent was exquisitely lifelike—there was even a faint sense of movement in the design. But the mix of those two materials… what kind of hidden weapon could they possibly produce?

"It also says there’s Ice Spider Silk." Elder Zhang looked down at the paper. "Chuqiu, try turning the serpent’s head and infuse some spiritual energy."

Rong Chuqiu nodded slightly. She raised her hand, gently twisted the serpent’s head, and aimed the bracelet at the trial stone.

The moment she injected spiritual power, everyone’s vision was consumed by a fine mist—beautiful, ethereal, and natural.

But that illusion of a tranquil forest mist lasted only a heartbeat. The next second, the artifact revealed its true nature. The fog twisted, forming serpent shadows that lunged toward the trial stone.

"Watch out!"

The mist spread far too wide—some even began drifting toward distant inner disciples.

By the time Rong Chuqiu realized something was wrong, it was too late.

All trial stones touched by the serpent shadows were instantly pulverized and exploded. One disciple standing outside the field watched, wide-eyed, as a shadow rushed toward him. Reflexively, he raised his arm—and a flash of light clashed with the shadow. Both the shadow and the light vanished instantly.

"Are you alright?" Elder Zhang stepped forward, frowning, and pulled the disciple over.

Still a little shaken, the disciple shook his head.

"I’m fine… but my Golden Turtle Talisman broke."

The elders exchanged glances. Every disciple had some form of protective treasure on them. The Golden Turtle Talisman, crafted by the Wuxing Sect, was one of the most common defensive charms. It could withstand a blow from a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator. And yet, just the residue from that bracelet’s attack had shattered it?

Even Rong Chuqiu’s expression turned grim. If she’d previously been admiring the bracelet out of appreciation, now that appreciation had turned into something more cautious.

This artifact forger's skill might…

Rong Chuqiu stared at the bracelet for a long moment, then turned to Quan Jiaying and said: "This time… you may have met your match."

……

These four artifacts—especially Mistflower Fang—caused a huge stir within Poyuan Sect.

Although the official competition was still more than two months away, the disciples of Poyuan Sect trained as if facing a formidable enemy, pushing themselves hard every day.

However, the people responsible for the commotion had no idea—because by then, they were no longer in Dinghai City.

After submitting their artifacts that day, Ye Su and her companions continued to practice artifact forging. While out buying materials, they heard from the shopkeeper at Wendong Materials Hall that a nearby secret realm outside of Dinghai City was about to open.

"It’s not a major secret realm," the shopkeeper said casually. "It doesn’t even rank on the Fushi Continent’s charts. But there’s no entry restriction—even cultivators in the Qi Refining stage can go in."

He added, "Once the secret realm closes, our Wendong Materials Hall will send people in to collect a batch of resources before others get to them."

Most secret realms were filled with danger and could only be entered by cultivators with considerable strength. A realm with no threshold likely wouldn’t contain any top-tier spiritual herbs or heavenly treasures, but since even Qi Refining cultivators could enter, Ye Su thought it was a good chance to bring her junior disciples along for some experience.

"Shopkeeper," Ye Su asked suddenly, "I’ve heard that secret realms are usually filled with spiritual energy. Is there spiritual energy in the one outside the city?"

The shopkeeper paused, then smiled and replied, "Any place called a secret realm will definitely have abundant spiritual energy—without question."

So, that very night, Ye Su and her group set out for the area near the secret realm outside Dinghai City.