Clang—
A sword's aura surged from the depths, pure and crystalline.
Du Wufeng's eyes gleamed with intense light as he watched the young man swinging his hammer. Beneath the strikes, a sword—bearing resemblance to the Celestial Divine Sword yet distinct in essence—trembled.
Why merely similar? Because it lacked the Celestial Divine Sword’s noble, rigid sense of order. Instead, it appeared utterly unremarkable.
"High-grade Profound Armament."
Li Mo remained seated, not immediately expelling the Fallen Starflame from his body. His skin flushed red, then reverted to its normal hue, cycling endlessly.
The Divine Treasure Refinement and the Eight-Nine Mystic Art operated simultaneously within him.
A gust of wind rose.
Each time the redness faded from Li Mo’s skin, its base tone grew closer to the luster of gold and jade.
Divine Treasure Refinement was a wondrous method that enhanced one’s physique during weapon forging, while the Eight-Nine Mystic Art demanded enduring tribulations. The Fallen Starflame happened to fulfill both conditions.Like stepping on one’s own foot to ascend the heavens, it propelled his physique through a transformation that would normally take others over a decade. The accumulation of this period now converged, hurling his body toward an entirely new realm.
Behind him, the divine intent of the Great Sage manifested, burning alongside the Fallen Starflame.
Li Mo heard the thunderous echoes from his bones and the roar of his blood surging like rivers.
Eight-Nine Mystic Art.
Effortlessly, he touched the threshold of a new realm.
The radiance of the Fallen Starflame gradually dimmed, shrinking from a raging inferno into a faint, flickering ember.
"Divine Artisan Du..."
After a moment of regulating his breath, Li Mo opened his eyes and realized—the Fallen Starflame, nurtured for so long within the sword furnace, had been largely depleted not during weapon forging, but when he used it to temper his body.
"No matter. The sword is fine, and so is the lad."
Divine Artisan Du examined the freshly forged sword, giving it a light flick that instantly birthed sword qi. Then, his aged eyes gleamed with even greater satisfaction as he looked at Li Mo.
"A Profound Armament-grade sword, and now a physique comparable to one as well."
Tian the Divine Artisan clicked his tongue in amazement.
Profound Armaments were nothing new to them.
But a physique rivaling one? That was rare.
Excluding sixth-realm experts who naturally formed their own dharma bodies, wielding the might of heaven and earth with every move, in terms of pure physicality, no one below that realm could surpass this young man.
"Thanks to Elder Du’s Fallen Starflame."
Li Mo felt somewhat uneasy under their gazes. "I have some rare treasures that might help replenish its flame energy."
"Keep them for yourself," Du Wufeng waved him off.
"Huh? What would I need those for..." Li Mo was puzzled.
Tian the Divine Artisan shot Du Wufeng a suspicious glance, as if catching his meaning.
"From now on, the Fallen Starflame is yours. You’ve got a flame inside you, but it’s suited for killing, not forging."
Du Wufeng spoke leisurely. "Coincidentally, the Fallen Starflame pairs perfectly with the Meteor-Shattering Hammer."
"You’re giving it to me? Then what will you use?"
Li Mo was momentarily stunned.
"Tch, I’ve got more than just this flame. Don’t worry about me."
Du Wufeng paused, then added, "Besides, I originally prepared this flame to reforge the Celestial Divine Sword. Won’t be needing it anymore."
With that, he severed his connection to the Fallen Starflame.
Li Mo immediately sensed the flame seed in his dantian becoming ownerless. He hadn’t expected Old Du to hand it over without hesitation.
"Elder Du, I have some rare ores..."
"Don’t need ’em. Plenty of folks line up to gift me such things."
"What about this mountain of gold..."
"What would an old man like me do with so much money? Tsk, you think I’ve been idling all these years? I’d rather you cook for me daily—that’s more practical."
Du Wufeng remained unmoved, rejecting all forms of repayment.
But the young genius Li Mo always found unconventional solutions:
"How about this? You’ve helped me immensely, and you’ve no heirs. If you don’t mind, let heaven and earth bear witness!"
"Let’s become sworn brothers!"
Tian the Divine Artisan: "?"
What kind of brain do you have? Only a decade of mental impairment could produce such an idea.
Du Wufeng’s seniority in the Sword Manor was among the highest—nominally, even above Manor Lord Xie and himself.
"Eh, now that’s interesting. You’re a fine lad, and I’m not losing out either. Sure, why not?"
Du Wufeng’s eyes sparkled as he clapped his hands, slinging an arm around Li Mo’s neck, ready to burn the oath paper and pledge brotherhood.
Tian the Divine Artisan: "？？？？"
You’re not losing out, but what about the rest of the Sword Manor? What would he and the Manor Lord call Li Mo—Uncle?!
Only fifty years of mental impairment could make someone agree to this!
But if it was Du Wufeng...
He absolutely would.
Moments later, Du Wufeng stood atop the mountain, waving at Li Mo:
"Brother Li, safe travels! Drop by the sword furnace whenever!"
As the carriage departed, Tian the Divine Artisan spoke slowly, "You really intend to let Li Mo reforge the Celestial Divine Sword?"
"Why not? I’m an old man. You expect me to march back into Celestial City?"
Du Wufeng chuckled.
"But he’s only just forged a Profound Armament. Isn’t this too..."
"Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Youngsters always pull off the unexpected. Don’t forget—he may seem humble, but he’s the top-ranked Hidden Dragon. And the one in the Sword Mound has already given his approval."
Tian the Divine Artisan fell silent.
After a long pause, Du Wufeng spoke again, sternly:
"Oh, and stop calling him ‘Little Li.’ No respect. From now on, it’s Uncle Li."
"Go jump off a cliff."
......
Elsewhere.
The lingering notes of a zither slowly restored the world to its original colors.
In her past life, Ying Bing had owed the Penglai Star Sect a favor while searching for the legendary Undersea Abyss, so she agreed to their request for a musical exchange.
"My true essence is circulating faster..."
"Was that Phoenix Seeks Phoenix? It sounds slightly different from our sect’s score. Did she modify it just now?"
"Master, how would you rate her skill?"
"Disciple, what level am I to judge her?"
"Her sword arts are already unfathomable. How is her music also transcendent..."
The Penglai disciples were dumbfounded, especially when they saw their elders step forward to seek guidance.
Their original intention had been to subtly showcase Penglai’s heritage, hoping Ying Bing might affiliate with them.
Now, their leading elder seemed tempted to defect to the Qingyuan Sect.
Was there truly no one in this world who could surpass her?
......
Late at night.
Atop the Step-Cloud Pavilion.
"Ice block, recharge me."
In the chamber, Li Mo spoke with utmost seriousness.