Note: There are many hidden details mentioned in this chapter. For future connection please read the details carefully.
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As Eric ventured deeper into the ancient cave, a faint, ethereal voice echoed through the cavernous depths. It was a call, soft yet insistent, a plea for help. The voice, distinctly feminine, resonated with a haunting urgency that drew Eric closer.
Navigating through the maze of ancient rune marks, Eric's intuition flared. These were no ordinary symbols; they were the marks of a weapon spirit, a sentient entity bound to a weapon of great power. As he followed the voice, a sense of familiarity tugged at the edges of his consciousness, a connection that transcended time.
In a secluded chamber, Eric discovered the source of the voice. Before him lay the skeleton of a lady, dressed in what once must have been luxurious white robes, adorned with pearls that glowed faintly in the dim light. Beside the skeleton rested a broken sword, its bone-white blade split in half, its surface marred by the passage of time.
The weapon spirit, hovering near the remains, was a wisp of its former self, its energy diminished, flickering like the last embers of a dying fire.
"Who are you, brave cultivator, to answer my call?" the spirit asked, its voice a mere whisper.
"Hmmhh… what a pity to see the snow family heirloom in this condition." Eric muttered while observing the blade features. Snow family is one of the thirteen allied families who fought alongside Lionheart family against the Shaw family of north.
"You… you know me. Who are you?" the weapon spirit questioned in a varying tone.
Eric's gaze softened as he took in the weapon's shattered form. "Your legacy is noble, yet here you lie, broken and forgotten. This should not have been your fate. Don't worry, I'm not your enemy."
The spirit's glow flickered with sorrow. "The war took its toll on my physical form. My core was damaged beyond repair, and I fell from Rank 12 to Rank 5. I was once destined to become one of the legendary Rank 13 weapons, but now..."
Eric knelt beside the remains, his mind racing. "Your spirit still holds strength. Would you consent to be reforged? To once again serve this lowly prince who failed your snow clan?"
The spirit seemed to ponder, its light pulsing slowly. "To be reforged... Is such a thing possible? Wait… you… you are…" the spirit stuttered as she remembered the familiar touch of the Lionheart prince who commanded a million army in war of seventh realm.
"Yes, your guess is right. I'm Eric Lionheart." Eric affirmed. "I can craft a new weapon for you, one that holds the potential for growth. It would be an honor to have you serve alongside the Lionheart family again."
The weapon spirit seemed to brighten at the prospect. "To serve a noble family and to be given a chance at redemption... Yes, I would be honored to serve the Lionheart family. Thank you my Prince for remembering this servant." The weapon spirit said emotionally.
Eric nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "I will forge a new blade, one worthy of your spirit. It will be a gift for my wife, a guardian in her own side. As you grow with the weapon, perhaps one day you will reach the legendary 13th rank and will find the successor of the Snow Clan."
The spirit's glow intensified, a sign of agreement and gratitude. "To serve the wife of a Lionheart... it is more than I could have hoped for in these dark times. I am at your service, Master Eric Lionheart." It said in a respectful tone.
In the heart of the spirit forest, a ritual of ancient power and craftsmanship was about to unfold. Eric, standing within the cavernous depths of the cave, summoned forth a magnificent weapon furnace from his family's spirit pendant. The furnace, towering at twenty feet, filled the space, its presence commanding and awe-inspiring.
As Eric ignited the furnace with his Rank 10 Phoenix Fire, a surge of energy coursed through the air. The fire blazed with an intense heat, its flames dancing with hues of gold and crimson. The skies above the forest responded to this surge of power; clouds churned tumultuously, and the guardian sun's movement seemed to slow, casting an otherworldly shadow over the landscape.
With precise control, Eric activated the intricate runes etched on the furnace. They glowed with a pulsating light, stabilizing the temperature to the exact requirements of the forging process. Simultaneously, he erected a domain around the cave, a protective barrier to contain the environmental phenomena triggered by his actions. It was crucial to maintain secrecy, to prevent any unwanted attention from the other sects or curious creatures of the forest.
The materials Eric chose for the forging were as rare as they were powerful. He began with a chunk of Starfall Iron, a metal known for its ability to absorb and channel Qi. He then added a sprinkle of Frost Moon Dust, a material that bestowed a chilling, frost-like aura to the weapon.
Next, he carefully placed a sliver of Eternal Ice, an element capable of inducing a perpetual frost effect, ensuring that the blade would be as cold as it was deadly. To this mixture, he added a few drops of Phoenix Tear, a rare liquid that would grant the blade resilience and an inner fire, a contrast to its frosty exterior.
As he worked, Eric infused the materials with elemental energy, manipulating them with a precision that spoke of years of mastery in the art of weapon smithing. He channeled the essence of the Snow Clan's weapon spirit into the molten mixture, ensuring that its legacy would live on in this new form.
Beads of sweat began to form on his brow. It became a big task for him to reduce the weapon rank to grade 5 while using these legendary materials.
In these nine realms, the cultivator could only produce weapons of grade 10 only. After that it all depends on the weapon spirits will to achieve the higher grade weapon. That is why there are only 7 grade 13 weapons in these 9 realms.
The sword that began to take shape in the furnace was a marvel to behold. It was sleek and feminine, its design elegant yet deadly. The blade was pure Snow White, its surface shimmering with an ethereal light. Despite its appearance, it was light as a feather, a testament to Eric's skill in balancing the various elements and materials.
As the forging process neared completion, Eric called upon the elemental energy of frost, channelling it into the blade. The air around the furnace dropped in temperature, a delicate snowfall beginning to form within the domain.
Before finishing the quenching process, Eric picked up the Snow family heirloom spirit storage ring from the skeleton of Snow family patriarch and added that spirit ring to the hilt joint of the blade.
The sword, now complete, was a masterpiece of both beauty and power – a Frost Blade capable of summoning snowfall, as beautiful as it was lethal.
Eric lifted the newly forged blade, admiring its craftsmanship. The weapon spirit, now residing within this new vessel, pulsed with a renewed energy, its presence harmonizing with the frosty essence of the sword.
Outside the cave, the forest remained oblivious to the extraordinary event that had just taken place within its depths. The spirit forest, with its ancient magic and hidden secrets, had witnessed the creation of a weapon that bridged the past and the present, a blade forged with the elements of legend and the whispers of history.
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*Don't forget to Vote the Power Stones. More chapter are on the way.
PETERPAN