Light travels like an arrow, and time like a shuttle.
A month went by in the blink of an eye.
...
Unyielding Sword Celestial Sect, Vast Ocean Peak.
The massive Sword Casting Room was constructed out of bluestone. Countless magical arrays were inscribed on it.
Spiritual Energy Amassment Array, Iron Walls Array, Scarlet Flames Golden Spikes Array…
This was the place where disciples' could cast their swords!
In the Cultivation World, Swordsmanship Cultivators were divided into two types.
The first type specialized in Sword Psychokinesis. Driving their swords, they would assault their enemies at a long range.
The second type was the Sword Wielders. By wielding their swords, they could take down anyone who was within three feet of them!
But no matter what kind of swordsmanship it was, it could not be done without a good sword!
A good sword could double the combat prowess of a Swordsmanship Cultivator!
Therefore, even Swordsmanship Cultivators with a profound cultivation base would cultivate concurrently in the art of Sword Casting.
Also, most Swordsmanship Cultivators would not cast their own swords.
It is the same reason doctors are afraid to visit their doctor classmates.
...
Originally, in the Unyielding Sword Celestial Sect, Sword Casting Rooms only existed above Raging Flames Peak.
Reason being that the Celestial Fire from Earth's Vein lay beneath Raging Flames Peak. One could easily use those flames to forge swords.
However, the disciples of Vast Ocean Peak have always been at odds with the disciples of the Raging Flames Peak. They would often gather a crowd to engage in an affray.
Over time, the Vast Ocean Swordsmaster had to uphold his reputation.
Hence, he forked out a hefty price to have his wife mobilize the financial resources of the Thousand Miles Trade Association to build a Sword Casting Room on Vast Ocean Peak.
Since then, the disciples of Vast Ocean Peak and the disciples of Raging Flames Peak have become even more disconnected from each other.
Otherwise, it would not be so difficult for Li Hanguang to bamboozle his little Fire Element fanboy.
...
Clang!
Clang clang clang!
Clang clang clang clang clang!
Within the Sword Casting Room, sounds of intensive hammering had been going on for a month.
In the beginning, the sound was jerky and messy, but now, it sounded natural and unforced like an unhindered stream of water that even contained some kind of special rhythm.
Even fools could tell that the people in the Sword Casting Room were rapidly improving.
Ssssss~
A long sword was burned red by churning flames and thrust into the prepared Spiritual Spring.
Immediately, a large cloud of water vapor rose into the air.
Chu Xiaolian fished the sword out of the water and the void abruptly cooled down.
A three-foot-long Cold-blooded Qingfeng Blade appeared in the Sword Casting Room. Delicate patterns were engraved over the body of the sword.
These patterns were not carved by hand.
They were brought into existence by rhythmic and skillful hammering and tempering was thus imbued with an inexplicable charm.
"The quality of this sword is almost on par with a mid-grade Magical Weapon."
Elder Yan's figure slowly appeared.
There was praise in his eyes. "You succeeded on your first attempt and have even cast a mid-grade Magical Weapon.
"You are born to become a swordsman. Your talent in sword casting is better than I expected!"
Chu Xiaolian gently wiped his newly casted sword and said with a smile, "It is all thanks to your careful guidance."
Elder Yan nodded. "No need to be humble. This is your talent."
"I thought that all you had was a top-grade Fire Spiritual Root and a high-grade Metal Spiritual Root. Little did I know, your talent in swordsmanship is this exceptional as well.
"As long as you practice hard, your future achievements may not be fewer than that of mine, your master!"
Chu Xiaolian's eyes glittered in a dissimilar glow. "And compared to Senior Brother?"
Elder Yan went silent for a while.
After quite some time, he said with a smile. "If you can train your 'Nine Transformations Soul Forging Technique' to the Apex level, surpassing him isn't entirely impossible."
Chu Xiaolian's eyes narrowed and he said firmly, "I can do it!"
...
Nine Transformations Soul Forging Technique!
This was a secret inheritance that Yan Chixiao obtained in the Ancient Ruins some time back.
It was an inheritance that harbored infinite mysteries.
While engaged in sword casting, the technique could allow a Swordsmanship Cultivator to combine their divine consciousness with the incipient sword.
It did not only allow the caster to feel the changes in the incipient tool more vividly and therefore cast items of greater quality, but it also allowed a cultivator's divine consciousness to be tempered during the casting process to become even stronger.
The benefits of a greatly enhanced divine consciousness were self-evident.
It could directly improve the cultivator's comprehension, which would then grant them twice the result with half the effort of any practice.
It could also assist the Swordsmanship Cultivator in comprehending the Will of their sword.
Aside from this, when one's divine consciousness fused with an incipient sword while unleashing the 'Nine Transformations Soul Forging Technique', they would tap into the 'One with the Sword' state.
In this state, the efficiency of Spiritual Energy refinement would be stronger—maybe even doubled.
Taking Chu Xiaolian as an example!
A month ago, he was only level 3 in Spiritual Qi Refinement.
After a month of closed-door training, his cultivation skyrocketed.
At present, he was already at level 7 of the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage!
These four consecutive level increases were enough to leave countless others in awe. It was even better than what Li Hanguang had accomplished back in the day.
This made Chu Xiaolian all heated up. He felt a powerful urge to head out and brag about what he had achieved.
Yes, especially in front of Li Hanguang.
After all, Li Hanguang had claimed that Chu Xiaolian was unqualified to even follow him at his current state.
This made the proud and haughty Chu Xiaolian extremely dissatisfied!
Even if the master was saying that his Senior Brother was a prodigy favored by the heavens who had the potential to become a Great Sage, why was he, Chu Xiaolian, unqualified to follow?
I must let you know that no one, absolutely no one in the Unyielding Sword Celestial Sect, is more qualified to follow you than I am!
...
"Master, I would like to head out and meet my Senior Brother."
Chu Xiaoliao matched the sword he cast with a hilt, scabbard, and sword tassel, then carried it on his back.
Although this Magical Weapon was only mid-grade, he had cast it himself.
And during the casting process, he fused his divine consciousness with his blade to the extent of being 'One with the Sword', thus achieving absolute compatibility.
In his hands, the might of this sword would be no inferior to that of high-grade Magical Weapons!
Being old and experienced, Yan Chixiao instantly saw through his intentions. With a smile, he said, "Go!
"Gaining four levels in succession within a month is a rare occurrence.
"I bet that kid will be impressed as well."
Grrrrrr~
The stone door opened slowly.
Chu Xiaolian walked out, streams of air sent his hair fluttering amidst the winds.
He could feel countless eyes focused on him.
There was curiosity, doubt, ridicule, disdain, and even jealousy and evil.
Chu Xiaolian sneered.
He took a deep breath and without reservation, unleashed his aura of a level 7 at the Spiritual Qi Refinement stage.
Boom~
Qi rippled and the Spiritual Energy around Chu Xiaolian raged.
In an instant, all the negative emotions disappeared, leaving only shock and horror.
Level 7 of Spiritual Qi Refinement! Outside the sect, he could only be considered as an upper class, not a top class.
But a prefix must be added to Chu Xiaolian's Level 7.
And that was, he had been at level 3 just a month ago. Everyone knew that.
Gaining 4 levels within a months' time???
Such a horrifying rise in power was enough to hit the people of the sect like a ton of bricks!
After a brief moment of silence, countless Inner and Outer Disciples came forward to greet him with a smile on their faces.
"Yo, Senior Brother Chu. Finally done with your closed-door training?"
"I've been waiting for you to come out and treat you to a drink!"
"I already told you guys. Senior Brother Li can't be wrong about him."
"To have gained Senior Brother Li's acknowledgment, Senior Brother Chu can definitely be considered a top talent. Your future is limitless, Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, do you need a maid?"
...
Seeing the enthusiasm of the disciples around him, Chu Xiaolian sneered.
They were not like this a month ago!
Sure enough, power governs!
This was the truth of the Cultivation World.
Chu Xiaolian ignored all the disciples around him and walked out of the Sword Casting Room with a blank face.
Suddenly, his eyes squinted.
He saw a lady in green clothes, standing barefoot gracefully in front of the Sword Casting Room.
The lady's face was concealed by a veil. However, it could not cover up her charm in the slightest.
This lady was Ye Chengying.
With a clear and cold voice, she said indifferently, "Ready yourself. Senior Brother Li wants to meet you."
Senior Brother Li wants to meet me?
Anticipation was revealed in Chu Xiaolian's eyes.
Excellent!
I was thinking about going to meet him as well!