I'm a major player in a parallel universe

As for Yang Haoxuan, he had no time to waste playing games of right and wrong with these people. His belief was simple: anyone who opposed him was an enemy, or a villain. Dealing with them—killing, deceiving, or humiliating—was just part of the routine.

He went straight to Elder Cai, who was in charge of Yang Family's finances, and took ten blocks of Xuan Iron. Elder Cai, being one of Yang Batian's most loyal subordinates, naturally wasn't happy to see Yang Haoxuan take so much at once, but he couldn't do anything about it.

After receiving the Xuan Iron, Yang Haoxuan went outside to purchase other materials like fine steel, while he bathed and relaxed. He opened the "Weapon Forging" interface in his mind, where all eighteen types of weapons were available.

Since Yang Haoxuan could only use blades with his warrior skills, he didn't hesitate to select the sword category. In the game Fantasy World, there was little difference in the blades forged, aside from their appearance and attack moves. The game focused more on attributes. However, now that he was in the real Tianhe continent, the size, length, and appearance of the blade had to meet the highest standards.

Moreover, Fantasy World was based on Chinese culture, and the finest blade was naturally the Tang Sword.

The warblade Yang Haoxuan had used before was similar to Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade—although less exaggerated, it was still large and imposing. It gave a sense of dominance when swung but lacked elegance and had limitations in future battles. As an anime fan, especially a fan of the swords used by ninjas in Naruto, he had always admired samurai swords. Interestingly, the samurai sword had roots in China, with many renowned Japanese cultural elements or martial arts traceable back to the Tang Dynasty, such as the Tang sword.

The Tang Dynasty was also a period of cultural exchange between China and Japan, with China bringing enlightenment to Japan. However, Japan today seems to ignore these historical ties.

Returning to the "Weapon Forging" interface, the Tang Sword was indeed listed as the top sword. Yang Haoxuan placed the materials down and clicked "Forge." Much like making pills, the blacksmith furnace in the interface slowly began to operate. Shortly after, a notification appeared, and a Tang Sword appeared in his inventory.

With a thought, the Tang Sword materialized in his hand.

The straight blade gleamed with a sharp edge, resembling both a sword and a saber. The point was razor-sharp, and the long hilt provided ample space for wielding. The Tang Sword was of perfect length—neither too long nor too short. As Yang Haoxuan swung it, it felt effortless, and he could hear a soft humming sound, indicating that it was a rare weapon.

Yang Haoxuan was so enamored with the Tang Sword's power and appearance that he reluctantly returned it to the inventory and selected the "Refine Weapon" interface. He placed the sword inside.

In Fantasy World, refining weapons was a new feature that allowed players to upgrade a weapon's quality by using rare materials. The success rate was higher in the early stages but gradually became more difficult as the levels increased. The first few attempts had a high chance of success.

The first refinement was, of course, a success. The Tang Sword became +1, with all the impurities in the blade cleansed, and it was now a top-tier sword. It wasn't yet a magical item, but it was still impressive. Yang Haoxuan still had six blocks of Xuan Iron remaining.

When refining the sword to +2, the required amount of Xuan Iron doubled to two blocks, but the process was still easy, and after all six blocks were used, the Tang Sword reached the status of a spiritual weapon.

Now, the Tang Sword radiated a unique aura, absorbing and refining the surrounding spiritual energy, making it stronger than even Yang Jian's spiritual sword.

"Ten blocks of Xuan Iron for a spiritual weapon... a weapon worth millions of Xuan Iron. Haha! With this, I could dominate any business empire!" Yang Haoxuan thought to himself, imagining a future where his sword could help him become unstoppable. With the Tang Sword in hand, defeating Yang Jian was no longer a challenge. He went to a wide open space, drew the sword, and began practicing his skills.

"Swift Slash!" "Thunder Strike!" "Overlord Slash!"

His warrior skills—usually carried out with brute force—were now more refined with the Tang Sword. The energy was sharper, faster, and more lethal. The Thunder Strike, in particular, was different from before. The lightning now covered the entire blade, shimmering with a glow that seemed capable of cutting through anything.

Yang Haoxuan spent the entire day coming to terms with the sword's power. After practicing, he felt a surge of dominance emanating from him, yet he appeared more grounded—like a sheathed blade.

"Young Master! Someone is here to see you!" Little Qing came out, frowning. "It's that Huang Peng!"

Yang Haoxuan murmured the name, then chuckled and shook his head. Without internet or phones, face-to-face meetings were the only way to stay in touch. He hadn't seen Huang Peng in a while, and with his cultivation now at its peak, it seemed like a good opportunity to celebrate and enjoy life. He told Little Qing to invite him in.

Huang Peng, still chubby as ever, greeted him with a big grin. "Young Master Yang! I've been looking for you for three months, and you finally show up! Let's go have a drink!"

...

At the restaurant, Yang Haoxuan noticed that Huang Peng wasn't interested in any performances, and instead, he drank copiously, which made Yang Haoxuan realize something was on his mind. He didn't stop him from drinking.

"Yang Shao, I thought I wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye to you," Huang Peng eventually slurred, three parts drunk. "You're my only friend! Damn it, those arrogant sons of rich families in Beijing look down on me!"

Yang Haoxuan paused, not knowing what to say. He patted Huang Peng on the shoulder and laughed. "What are you talking about? Who would dare look down on you? Your father is the financial minister of the dynasty!" He said this lightly, but he knew that in a world where martial arts ruled, financial ministers were not well-regarded. They were often seen as wealthy pigs, and while a good minister could make a country prosperous, the people linked martial strength to national strength, and a failure could cost one their life.

Huang Peng sighed bitterly, lifted his glass, and declared, "I've made up my mind! I'm going to the battlefield to fight and make a name for myself!"

"What?!" Yang Haoxuan was stunned. "You've got to be kidding! The battlefield is ruthless, life is as cheap as grass there. You're untrained and overweight—it's practically suicide!"

"I don't care!" Huang Peng was determined. "I don't want to live this way forever! Whether I live or die, whether I become a dragon or a worm, I'll find out!" Then, he slumped over on the table and fell asleep.

Yang Haoxuan shook his head, laughing despite his worry. He could understand the urge to rise above one's station. Everyone had the right to make their own choices—whether he succeeded or failed was up to him.

After a while, feeling the air heavy with the smell of alcohol, Yang Haoxuan decided to take a walk. He wandered around until suddenly, a figure blocked his way. Standing before him was Qing Xue, her long dress of blue and white blending together perfectly. It clung to her body in all the right places, neither too much nor too little. Her face was a mixture of allure and innocence, with eyes that gazed at him, full of subtle melancholy.

"Ah!" Noticing her gaze, Yang Haoxuan was momentarily lost. He awkwardly turned his head, feeling uneasy. It was impossible for any man to remain composed in front of someone like Qing Xue. He finally calmed himself, smiled, and walked over. "Ah, Miss Qing Xue! What a pleasant surprise!"

Qing Xue, unmoved, gave him a side glance and changed her posture, exuding a seductive charm. She lightly chuckled, "Oh, so you do remember me, Young Master Yang. You've certainly kept me waiting!"

"She's really something else," Yang Haoxuan thought, admiring her while trying not to appear flustered. Qing Xue's charm was enough to drive anyone wild.