The night was peaceful at the Qiushui Pavilion, where the gentle chill of spring played with the window curtains, making the woman’s shadow sway in the flickering candlelight.
Ying Bing sat bent over a desk, writing elegant strokes on a piece of paper. The first line she had written read:
“Unite Yin and Yang.”
This was the technique for dual-cultivation founded by the ancestor of the Heping School that had been passed on to her and Li Mo by the sect Patriarch. Dual cultivation required two conditions: synchronized breath and merging of spiritual awareness.
Would you believe it—what a coincidence!
The key points of the first and second levels of the Phoenix Chant of the Celestial Marsh just so happened to align perfectly!
In other words, she and Little Brother Li wouldn’t even need to practice since the prerequisites were already met. And even better…
They even had matching ‘training robes’!
With the complementing cultivation methods, her Taiyin spiritual awareness would undoubtedly improve dramatically.
Ying Bing gazed pensively at the desk before her, and without realizing it, glanced through the door crack at the room across from her where Li Mo stayed.
The two had already naturally harmonized energies in the past.
But ever since learning what was on Little Brother Li’s mind—and having that dream—
“I still haven’t perfected the Hundred Phoenix Form.”
“It’s not yet the right time…”
She lowered her head and tapped the head of a large doll, quickly pulling her finger back as though it had been burned. It seemed the doll now retained the warmth of having just been forged in the Fire Vein.
Moments later, the candlelight in her room dimmed, and the glow of the Jade Phoenix Divine illuminated her room.
—
Three days quickly passed.
Li Mo ascended the peak of the Shenbing Peak, glancing back at the snow-covered mountains of the Qingyuan Sect. Spring seemed to have arrived—but then again, perhaps it hadn’t.
“Even though early spring has come, why is the snow melting so slowly?”
He couldn’t help but mutter in slight exasperation.
“Frost doesn’t form in one day. But once the melting starts, it’ll only accelerate.”
Elder Han He smiled faintly.
Teenagers always had a penchant for feeling sorrowful over fleeting seasons. Li Mo was still a young lad, after all. But it was this very lad who continually astonished Elders Han He and Zeng—upending their previous notions.
“Let’s go. Head to the Fire Vein and take a look at your recent accomplishments.”
As Elder Zeng swallowed a Cold Spring Pill handed over by Li Mo, he stood up and started walking.
“Feels like I’m leading my own apprentice.”
Elder Han He grumbled under his breath as he took a step forward before hesitantly asking:
“Hey, Li Mo, you might want to consider eating a Cold Spring Pill yourself. The fire energy building inside you… it’s too intense.”
“Already ate some.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe not enough. Let me take a few more.”
“Huh?!!”
As he watched Little Brother Li casually pop several more Cold Spring Pills into his mouth like they were candy, Elder Han He froze deep in thought.
Having fiery youth could be understood, but…
This was insane!
It could only be described as a remarkable talent. Which was why the term “Fire Li” had started gaining traction among the disciples of Shenbing Peak.
By the time the three of them reached the depths of the earth vein, it was throbbing with fiery energy due to the arrival of spring. It felt like the veins of a giant’s heart, gradually waking from its winter slumber.
A silver-white iron essence sat glowing faintly in the depths, resembling a rippling pool of water.
Though it could only produce one weapon, that iron essence was the result of Blacksmith Little Li’s diligent refinement of iron ore every single day. Adding just a strand of it to an ordinary weapon would make it sharp enough to cut hair.
“Back in the day, I spent two years learning from the Tian Shan Sword Furnace as an apprentice and three more years practicing to gather this much iron essence. It took me seven years in total,” said Elder Zeng wistfully.
“I was about the same,” Elder Han He nodded.
It was a rite of passage similar to how a chef must start by peeling potatoes—apprentices had to practice repeatedly with regular iron ore until they could produce enough iron essence to qualify for crafting weapons.
This young Li Mo, however, had accomplished what it took them years to achieve in just three days.
“I owe it all to the guidance of our seniors,” Li Mo said solemnly.
“Who else gets personal guidance from skilled predecessors and even access to the patriarchs’ weapons?”
“You don’t have to be so modest, kid. These are not the reasons,” Elder Han He chuckled, though he remained stoic.
“Today, it’s your first attempt at forging a weapon.”
Elder Zeng’s eyes gleamed.
“Understood!”
Li Mo approached the iron anvil used by the sect’s patriarchs, taking out a forty-pound hammer. While he was not yet ready to wield the legendary Hammer Treasure, this was a replica of it, equally effective for forging.
Before him appeared a mighty cauldron etched with intricate patterns, exuding an air of grandeur and authority.
The iron essence was placed inside the cauldron and began glowing an intense red as the air around it twisted.
“I’ll start the forging.”
Li Mo carefully monitored the temperature of the iron essence in the cauldron.
“Take note, Xiao Mo. This essence cools extremely quickly, so it needs to be hammered repeatedly in a very short amount of time,” warned Elder Zeng.
Elder Han He watched closely, not uttering a word. This was fundamental knowledge for all craftsmen.
The two elders felt a bit tense. They’d never seen someone attempt to forge their very first weapon with such precious essence—they usually started with tools like farming implements or kitchenware.
With a deep intake of air that echoed like a bellow, Li Mo raised the star hammer in his hand.
Divine Precious Metal – One Hundred Forges.
The minimum requirement was a sharp blade.
He had entered the art.
DONG!
Sparks scattered as he struck with great force, yet his power was contained neatly and precise—exactly right.
“Not bad…”
The two old artisans could tell immediately how effortlessly controlled his swing was—powerful while still impressively accurate. He wielded that heavy hammer with the precision of an embroidery needle.
Before their praise had even settled, their eyebrows twitched.
His breathing technique… it seemed…
DONG DONG DONG—
Clanging sounds like a bell rang out in rapid-fire succession, the hammer forming overlapping shadows!
Ten strikes.
Within a single breath, Li Mo had executed ten hammer strikes, each one both heavy and precise!
Mastering Divine Precious Metal’s “One Hundred Forges Method,” he delivered ten layers of refinement in a single swing.
Sssss…
Smoke curled up as the iron essence quenched rapidly, then was placed back into the cauldron to reheat, followed by rapid forging. The process was repeated four times in quick succession.
The grand fire-filled cavern rang out continuously with steady echoes of his hammer.
“This should be the critical point for the iron essence.”
“Five times!”
Li Mo felt as though his entire body were burning; though he wouldn’t be scorched, he felt one with the flames. His eyes reflected the imminent burst of fire.
DONG!
With the final swing, the already formed sword was quickly submerged into a bucket of oil.
Li Mo closed his eyes, listening to the sounds within the oil-filled bucket, then breathed out slowly, his expression slightly dissatisfied as he shook his head.
He held up the sword made of the iron essence, scanning it thoughtfully.
“There’s still some room for improvement…”
“Let us take a look.” x2
Elders Han He and Zeng immediately appeared beside him, taking the sword to examine it closely, their expressions shifting slightly.
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