Chapter Sixty-Five: Forging the Sword

This Taixuan Flowing Liquid truly deserves to be called a treasure of heaven and earth. Even from afar, one can see the vast spiritual energy coursing within it.

Tang Yuan marveled repeatedly as he gazed at the Taixuan Flowing Liquid in Li Feiyu’s hand.

Within that single drop, not only was there an abundance of the five elements’ spiritual energy, but also Pure Yang energy, Pure Yin energy, and the Taiching energy born of the fusion of Yin and Yang. All these were ethereal energies; even drawing a strand from afar could open every meridian throughout one's body.

Li Feiyu put away the Taixuan Flowing Liquid, a touch of self-mockery in his tone. “For this drop, I practically pawned everything I owned!”

“What kind of possessions could be worth six million Transforming Yuan Pills?” Tang Yuan glanced toward Li Feiyu’s waist.

“Get lost!” Li Feiyu laughed, landing a playful punch on Tang Yuan.

He had spent six million Transforming Yuan Pills on that drop, emptying the savings of his past fifty years.

“With this, I’ve added another life to myself,” he thought silently.

“We should leave quickly,” Fang Yuan interjected. “With so many treasures—Taibai True Iron, Tianheng Sand, Yellow Spring Pearl, Taixuan Flowing Liquid—delivered into this private room, we’ve surely attracted attention. I’ve already sensed several spiritual senses probing around outside.”

Though the barriers outside would block spiritual senses, and the entire Tianyun Pavilion was shrouded in illusions that could distort form and aura to ensure buyers’ safety, some could still discover the identities of purchasers.

Their private room had seen nearly ten million Transforming Yuan Pills pass through it—wealth rivaling that of a cultivator at the True Preservation Realm, not to mention the multiple treasures.

Fang Yuan’s concern was well-founded, and Li Feiyu and the others understood it.

“We should split up,” Li Feiyu suggested.

Though spoken thus, they ultimately divided into two groups, leaving in succession.

Xu Zhong and Yun Yong stayed behind.

After Li Feiyu and the others had left for half an hour, Xu Zhong and Yun Yong finally departed Tianyun Pavilion.

“I heard that a drop of Taixuan Flowing Liquid was auctioned at Shouyi’s event, fetching a price of six million.”

“Whose Taixuan Flowing Liquid is only worth six million? At least make the story believable if you’re going to lie!”

“They say that drop was tainted by the Yin Sha from Fengdu, so it’s useless for those above the True Preservation Realm!”

“So that’s it.”

...

News of the Taixuan Flowing Liquid auction spread like wildfire, stirring up all of Tianyuan City.

“No need to worry,” Yun Yong transmitted to Xu Zhong behind him. “In Tianyuan City, fighting is forbidden. Even if Li Feiyu paraded the Taixuan Flowing Liquid about, no one would be foolish enough to openly break the city’s laws.”

“Look at those ballistae!” Yun Yong pointed to the watchtowers scattered throughout the city. “Those can slay cultivators at the True Preservation Realm. Further out, there are Yuan Crystal Cannons that could obliterate cultivators at the External Scene Realm. And if all else fails, there’s the city lord of Tianyuan City, and the sovereign of Guyue Kingdom.”

“You mean, we should be cautious in private—in the shadows?” Xu Zhong asked.

“Where there are people, there are shadows. Greed can consume the bones,” Yun Yong replied. “As long as the price is right, those manning the ballistae could turn a blind eye, or a deaf ear.”

“I see.” Xu Zhong was curious. “So tonight, we can’t return to the Tiankui?”

On the ship, there was no need to worry about such things.

For those in the passenger business, nothing is worse than having a guest die during transit, especially aboard their ship.

“Tiankui’s captain, Xuan Jiuyuan, is a remarkable woman—a pirate who commands the sea. Among all cultivators across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, anyone involved in water transport knows her name,” Yun Yong said, a hint of admiration in his voice when speaking of Xuan Jiuyuan.

“I’ve heard her cultivation is meant to ensure, within her lifetime, she traverses every corner of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, so that her name might echo across every inch of the seas.”

Xu Zhong nodded. “That’s a grand ambition.”

“It is not merely a dream,” Yun Yong’s tone carried a trace of bitterness, “but something she is actively pursuing.”

“With so many fierce beasts crossing tribulation in the Endless Sea, she was eager to hunt them. Once we disembarked, she sped off into the depths to hunt sea monsters never seen before.”

Xu Zhong was momentarily speechless, but then found it odd. “How do you know all this? Is it just speculation?”

“Not at all!” Yun Yong shook his head. “My elder sister is a close friend of Xuan Jiuyuan. When she left the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, she asked Xuan Jiuyuan to look after me.”

He added, “I’ve heard that the route from the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands to Yu Kingdom was pioneered by Xuan Jiuyuan. Many of her sailors are future captains who will make their living on this shipping lane.”

To treat captains as mere sailors—Xuan Jiuyuan is indeed formidable.

And those acquainted with her cannot be ordinary individuals; like Li Feiyu, Yun Yong seemed to hail from a noble family in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. Xu Zhong smiled, “Brother Yun’s lineage is impressive, worthy of respect.”

“My family is nothing special,” Yun Yong shook his head. “I rely solely on my sister.”

...

“Paper cranes!” Xu Zhong broke the silence; two paper cranes drifted gently toward them.

Xu Zhong took the cranes. Their messages were lengthy, but the summary was simple: a mysterious sea beast had appeared, and Tiankui was hunting it. The ship might not return for a day or two, so passengers would have to wait in Tianyuan City. Compensation depended on whether they caught the beast.

“Let’s find an inn,” Yun Yong strode ahead.

“You go on,” Xu Zhong said.

Yun Yong turned back, “Something you need?”

“I acquired a piece of peachwood and, fortunately, a sword embryo. I want to look around here to see if I can exchange for some spiritual ore.”

Xu Zhong’s storage pouch was not empty.

He had picked up several blood jades from beasts like Taotie and Chaos in the Dragon Capital Cave.

Though Li Feiyu had made up the difference for him earlier, he could have managed some Transforming Yuan Pills himself.

“Spiritual ore?” Yun Yong considered. “I have some. What do you need?”

Xu Zhong thought for a moment.

“My sword embryo is mainly based on Geng Metal and Xin Metal energies, so…”

“Coincidentally, I have some Secret Star Stones and Luminous Ore.” Yun Yong produced several fragments.

Secret Star Stone contained Geng Metal energy.

Luminous Ore contained Xin Metal energy.

“These were for crafting magical treasures,” Yun Yong pointed to his own storage pouch. “But since I have that precious bead, I don’t need them. If you’re in a hurry, we can trade.”

“But this isn’t the place to do business,” Yun Yong put the ores away. “Let’s find an inn to discuss.”

Within the inn.

Xu Zhong offered a piece of Taotie blood jade.

It was the size of a washbasin—quite intimidating.

Yun Yong examined it closely. “This blood jade is pure, even holding strands of innate energy.”

“One piece is worth at least three thousand Transforming Yuan Pills. How many do you have?”

Xu Zhong hadn’t expected the blood jade to be so valuable.

He had at least six pieces, over a hundred fragments in his pouch.

All told, it could amount to tens of thousands of Transforming Yuan Pills.

He thought for a moment and held up two fingers.

“Two pieces?” Yun Yong mused, “I have only one piece’s worth of Secret Star Stone and Luminous Ore. Trading for two blood jades isn’t quite fair.”

“How about this: I’ll add ten thousand Transforming Yuan Pills and a piece of Wu Earth Essence. What do you say?”

“Wu Earth Essence?” Xu Zhong was puzzled.

“Geng Metal and Xin Metal energies complement and counter each other, so Wu Earth Essence is needed to harmonize them. You haven’t prepared any?”

Xu Zhong nodded.

“Then I’ve done a good deed,” Yun Yong produced a storage pouch containing Secret Star Stone, Luminous Ore, and Wu Earth Essence.

Xu Zhong handed over the blood jade.

Just then, Li Feiyu arrived, and upon seeing Xu Zhong and Yun Yong, he couldn’t help but complain, “I’ve always heard the captain does as she pleases, but I never thought I’d fall victim to it.”

He was half amused, half exasperated.

After Xu Zhong returned him twelve hundred Transforming Yuan Pills, he joked, “Thankfully, I made some money off Xu Zhong.”

...

Night fell, the bright moon hung high.

Xu Zhong took out the peachwood he had purchased earlier.

He used spiritual energy to carve the peachwood into the shape of a sword.

Then, he took out the sword embryo from his treasure gourd.

The sword embryo had been tempered with Geng Metal and Xin Metal energies, radiating a sharp, cold gleam.

No matter the age, peachwood is still just wood.

Wood cannot rival gold, silver, or iron.

Xu Zhong fused the sword embryo into the sword, bestowing a touch of spirit upon the wooden blade.

He then took out a pill cauldron, borrowed from Fang Yuan.

Several formation flags flew from his hands, drawing fire-element spiritual energy into the room—these belonged to Tang Yuan.

“I am truly poor!” Xu Zhong sighed.

Though he had some blood jade left, it wouldn’t be wise to trade it all at once.

The fire-element energy was compressed by the formation into a strand of spiritual fire. A wave of heat swept over him, drying every drop of moisture within.

Xu Zhong set up the pill cauldron and began forging the sword.

He tossed in the Secret Star Stone and Luminous Ore, using his magical power to fuel the formation, increasing the fire as needed based on the condition of the ores.

The spiritual ores gradually melted in the cauldron, leaving behind sediment.

The cauldron absorbed the residue, which settled at the bottom, lifting the molten iron.

Geng Metal and Xin Metal energies began to clash; Xu Zhong added Wu Earth Essence.

Like a sponge, Wu Earth Essence absorbed the liquid iron, melting in turn, releasing a surge of spiritual energy from the cauldron.

Xu Zhong manipulated the cauldron to pour the molten iron into the wooden sword.

The sword embryo absorbed the iron, which seeped into the wood, altering its internal fibers.

In a moment, a rough treasure sword was forged.

“If I get the chance, I should visit Heavenly Sword Cave and pay for them to refine this further,” Xu Zhong considered.

Within Heavenly Sword Cave, the Limitless Sword Sect excels at forging and nurturing swords. Their blades are wrought by the five elements, tempered by Yin and Yang, held through spring and summer, wielded in autumn and winter; they cut through clouds above and mark the earth below, possessing supreme power and endlessly drawing spiritual energy, transforming it into sword qi that hides within the sword’s guard.

Xu Zhong, however, lacked such skill. His sword could only be called a sword.

Even with an excellent sword embryo, it could not be considered a spiritual sword.

Just then, Xu Zhong saw a shadow appear at the window. Under the moonlight, the shadow stretched longer and thinner, finally becoming a streak of black light that pierced toward his brow.