"I have my reasons." That was the only response the voice gave. Its tone banished any thought of a discussion.
Long Jiao said nothing more and departed shortly after, knowing that tomorrow would only be more of the same.
****
Clang! Clank! Clang!
In a room alternating between bright and dark came the metallic clangour of hammer upon steel.
Sparks exploded upon each impact, momentarily bathing the room in a blinding light, only for darkness to take hold after. The only constant was the dim red glow of a monstrous forge.
The fire that roared within was like a beast struggling to escape.
Vwish!
Raising the hammer in a mesmerising arc that fused power and grace was a figure undaunted by the intense heat his actions generated.
"Hngh!"
His grunts along with each smash came hand in hand. His strikes were precise and skilled in nature. The only other movement was the profound shaking of the tooth that fascinated Long Di more times than it should.
It was none other than Uncle Tian Lu, but far gone from him was the demeanour of a drunkard. Even now he was executing a technique filled with such profundity that not even the madly shaking tooth took away from its beauty.
Sweat beaded down his now shirtless body. His skin had a metallic glint to it now that synchronised along with the ore for each strike that shaped the blade he was forging.
In addition, his skin was now pitch black and runes ran the length of it. In addition, it was incomparably defined, betraying the monstrous power lying just below the surface.
"Do you know why Mortal Ore is so highly sought after?"
Uncle Tian Lu spoke after a while. His actions never slowed, nor was there any hesitation.
"It's a miraculous ore that can increase the foundation of any weapon whilst also improving its durability, right?" A voice came from behind to answer the question.
There was another figure in the room, which turned out to be the second elder. He burned the scene taking place before him into his mind, not allowing even the slightest movement to escape his eyes.
"You don't understand the miraculous nature of it by saying that?" Uncle Tian Lu asked.
"Well, it's just an increase in durability and heaviness, right?" The second elder stated. The excitement and shock he had displayed of this being Mortal Ore were long gone.
Though he knew it was incomparably precious, he didn't know why. There were many ores out there that could do the same, but something about Mortal Ore would cause there to be massive bloodshed every time the tiniest piece was discovered.
"You're still naïve Tan Shui," Uncle Tian Lu advised.
This was the actual name of the second elder, Tan Shui. No one apart from Uncle Tian Lu knew this, though.
"Disciple is unlearned, master," Tan Shui bowed his head dejectedly.
"I am not your master. I am not worthy of this title since I ruined your future with my worthlessness," Uncle Tian Lu said offhandedly. Most of his attention was focused on the task at hand. "Now take this as a lesson to rid you of your unlearnedness in this regard."
He made a few more strikes before he continued. "There is an ancient saying that goes, 'The travelling immortal lives a mortal life to reminisce.' Do you know what this means?" Uncle Tian Lu asked.
He didn't wait for Tan Shui to answer, he simply went on. "The immortal reminisces because he was once mortal. He travels to remember what and who he was that led him to who he is."
Uncle Tian Lu's voice and words took on a unique quality that allowed it to be clearly heard despite the hammer strikes that came down like thunder.
As a result, Tan Shui made sure to listen to each word Uncle Tian Lu spoke. He knew the latter was only saying this because of what he was doing and the importance of the ore before him.
With such rare conditions in place, there was a good chance that Uncle Tian Lu might never speak in this way again.
"Mortal Ore embodies this saying perfectly. It is given the name Mortal because, at its core, it is something unremarkable, dirty and unimpressive. It is the only ore in the world that, no matter the material it is used with, they will all experience an increase in their foundation."
Tan Shui's eyes widened in shock when he heard this! Though there were no shortages of ores that could do the same as far as increasing the foundation, they could only go so far before their usefulness came to an end.
It was the first time he learnt that there was something so magical that could do this indefinitely. That there was an ore that could increase the quality of any weapon/tool regardless of the material it accompanied.
"The reason why it can increase the quality of ANY weapon is because, like a mortal, its potential cannot be measured and will only go as far as it is pushed. Even the most powerful material will only become stronger when it is used and by quite a wide margin as well."
He paused up to here, orchestrating his thoughts before he proceeded. "However, this ore is so huge that instead of me using it with any other material to increase their set and established upper limit. I will be using it alone. I will bring to life a weapon that knows no limit, a weapon that will grow infinitely stronger with its wielder."
Tan Shui sucked in a cold breath of air when he heard this
'No wonder this thing is able to cause endless bloodshed! This is something that enjoys unending use even at the very top of this world, and we found such a huge piece!' Tan Shui now understood why Uncle Tian Lu was worried that the brat from the Paohui family saw it.
If he brought word back that he saw such an unusual ore, it could spell destruction for them if anyone realised what it was.
"Relax." Uncle Tian Lu advised. "I doubt that pampered fool knows what it was he saw. This is something that caused innumerable clan exterminations. Its limitless potential and details for it lie with those with the power to keep it, and there were none here. Not even the Iron Body Forge Sect, one of the ten great sects, are able to keep such a huge piece for themselves. Only the royal family would be able to do so, and that is only if they are able to unite the entire Demon Region under their banner."
Tan Shui nodded in agreement when he heard this. Even though he was a learned demon himself, he only knew the bare minimum about Mortal Ore and even downplayed its value in his head because of that.
"Are you planning to give it to that disciple of yours?" Tan Shui finally asked.
Uncle Tian Lu's actions never stopped, even now it continued undaunted. "I will only bequeath it to someone with a limitless future and someone who will help us return. Whether that existence is my disciple or not will be determined within due time. It'll probably be him though."
"What about the matter of him bringing the disciples to the volcano? I needn't remind you what almost happened to them simply by getting close to that thing!?" Tan Shui asked in a slightly anxious tone.
The elders were actually carrying out duties outside when the disciples came back.
It was then that he learned that Long Di had taken it upon himself to bring the disciples the volcano to cultivate. Obviously, Long Di left out the part about them planning to destroy their cultivation.
He didn't even tell anyone about the riches he and the disciples got from the Bronze Seat of the Iron Body Forge Sect, nor the treasures from the Peach Blossom Sage Relic.
He planned to do all of this when he came back. The only reason they came back at all was to drop off the Violet Dew Tulip that the first elder needed before setting off once again.
As a matter of fact, the only reason why he didn't stop Long Di from leaving with the disciples was because he received a spiritual transmission from Uncle Tian Lu to let them go.
"That disciple of mine may be an existence able to turn monks to devils and turn devils to monks with only a few words, but I will not take from him the status of a genius. Or rather, it may be more apt to call him a freak of nature… what was I getting at again? Oh yeah," Uncle Tian Lu realised he was getting off course when he started cursing Long Di and quickly caught himself.
"The point is this, the boy is a genius and is able to bring himself to heights that I myself have ne'er seen. If he is able to rub off even a fraction of that talent upon our disciples, then I say let him, as long as he doesn't do something extreme like destroying their cultivation, then all is fair play as far as I'm concerned."
When Tan Shui heard Uncle Tian Lu's reasoning, he couldn't find anything wrong to criticise Long Di about.
"Still, master… the third elder… he's—"
"Leave him be." Uncle Tian Lu knew what Tan Shui was getting at. "He will reap the fruit of his actions quite soon."
"How is Di Yi Lingdao?" Uncle Tian Lu asked after some time.
"The disciples were able to find a decent batch of Violet Dew Tulips this time around. It shouldn't be long before he recovers." Tan Shui advised.
"Good…" Uncle Tian Lu replied.
"Do you have any idea when you'll be finished with the forging, master?" Tan Shui brought the matter of the weapon being forged to light.
"A few months if I'm lucky, a few years if I'm not." Uncle Tian Lu's expression was as severe as when he started.
"Isn't that too vague a time frame?" Tan Shui smiled wryly at Uncle Tian Lu's estimate.
"A weapon composed solely of Mortal Ore, do you think the world has ever seen such a thing? If I had access to the original forge, then maybe, just maybe I could give you a definite time, but we don't. This is the only remnant that remains of the olden days. So we have to make do with what we have, and that's all there is to it."
Tan Shui stared at Uncle Tian Lu's back. Though it remained straight and capable of shouldering the heavens, there was a lonely weariness that perfused it.
He turned and left the room shortly after. There were many things he had to prepare for since many such things were now in motion.
As he climbed up the stairs to exit the room, his thoughts drifted to the four little hopes this group of theirs pinned everything on. "I hope that child can bring about a miracle. I know I have no right to for such a shameless request, but bring their cultivation to new heights… this is all I ask of you. If not for us, then for them."
…
"Okay, are we ready to bring our cultivations to rock bottom?"
"No!" A collective no's from three individuals assaulted Long Di.
"This is one of those classic situations where your mouth is saying no, but your body is clearly saying yes."
"I don't know where that phrase came from, but I fiercely believe that this is NOT its classic use in any way!"
"You'll thank me later. Just know that it will most likely be painful, and as the old adage goes, it must suck to be you guys."
"Long Di, I don't know how, but I will definitely get you back for this."
Long Di looked to the sky, his expressionless eyes now taking in the ash-grey colour that now pervaded it.
"Here I am, busting my butt to force a couple of 14-16-year-olds to jump into a volcano and all I get in return is complaints. This must be how it feels to be a parent."