The group gathered around a map of a forest made by the young master. Niko explained, "in this area, are the ruins of a Forge Master. Scattered on the outskirts are earth level weapons of medium quality in large numbers. While that is enough to pass your bar, I think you will benefit from deeper exploration of the ruins. Some of your seniors are doing just that. I am sure that Bran is heading there. I think there may be sky level or maybe even star level weapons deeper in the ruins. The six of us ought to be able make some way in. Pure Yin and Yang essence along with Mateo's War Body should suffice. Whatever secrets you found in this hall is entirely your own."
The trio did not take too much time to deliberate, agreeing almost instantly. Mateo did ask however, "were you all watching us that entire time?" That is when Jodi explained, "we were. We got word of all three of your performances during the entranced exams and wanted to see it for ourselves. We are the same age, so it made us even more curious. When we finally found you, you chased down here by that beast and then you disappeared until those Tavin clan members arrived. Niko was preparing to step at the critical moment when you woke up." However, even Mateo could not explain his timely response.
The June Empire to which the trio belongs, is the single largest Imperial Order in the world in this era. While other empires share continents and islands, June has a continent all to itself. The Imperial Clan consists of 21 families and 8 Sects. As such, many great cultivators and clans fall under its umbrella and command. Among them, are 16 Forge Masters throughout its history. That is more than the other 11 empires combined. While there are many who can forge weapons and tools, the title of Forge Master is only given to those who can forge spiritual artifacts. Even in the Great Era, Forge Masters were rare and highly sort after.
The last Forge Master in the world, died in 990 and he lived and died on the June Continent. In the Filius Realm, 10 planets have been populated, giving the realm a total of 71 Forge Masters throughout its history. Of them, only 5 ever made it to Immortality. The Forge Master's ruin that resides in the Autumn Domain, is last known disciple of the Divine Forge Sect. It is said Sage Yang met her during the early days of the domain's creation and permitted her to move her works there. However, that Forge Master wildly scattered her magnificent forge in the Dark Wood Forest on purpose, with the intention of making it difficult to acquire a good weapon.
Over the years, many have tried to brave the ruins to find some high-level artifacts, to no avail. The Divine Forge Sect was the most respected and powerful Forge Master organization to ever exist. It is said that during the second calamity, their Immortal Sect Leader alone, stood at the pinnacle of the 9th realm and single handedly reduced the realm destroying chaos energy by 50%. Before founding the sect, he crafted a spear he called 'Arc'. The spear was so great, a few pieces actually survived the calamity and fell to the Filius Realm, into the cores of the 10 populated planets. Arc was classified as the first and only Deity Level Artifact of the second era.
In such a short time in the cultivation world, Mateo has experienced what would take many over a ten-year timeline to experience ordinarily. They spent a week going over the map and explored new area around the site before venturing towards the core of the ruins. However, it was as they expected. The closer they got to the core, the higher the quality of artifacts, but so was the danger. Through their exploration, they updated the map to reveal that the artifacts are laid out from the lowest tier, to the highest in a layout similar to the rings of an onion. While they have no intention or chance of reaching the core of the ruins, they intend to get as close as possible.
They could only speculate that at the core of the ruins could be a divine artifact, but no one below the Immortal Stage would have a chance at acquiring it anyway. A month goes by, and they manage to make it to the 9th ring of the ruins, which is the last ring before the core. Between the six of them, they collected a total of seven sky level artifacts and five earth level forging manuscripts. At the 9th ring, they found neither artifact nor manuscript. Instead, they found forging materials and blank cultivating parchment. While gathering materials, the daytime sky turns to night, but the sun and moon shared the sky, circling the ruins unnaturally fast.
From the border of the ring, came other students who entered the ruins. Bran, Winan and their clansmen among them. The sudden astronomical shift stunned all the beasts within the rings of the ruins and barred others from entering. Each ring elevated from the ground, with each growing higher the further out they were. This movement revealed the forge was actually built like a perfectly circular coliseum, with each ring looking down into the core. This may have been a way for the Forge Master to teach her students all at once, separating them by their understanding of artifacts. What they called the ninth ring was actually first, reserved for the advanced students.
In the air, at the center of the coliseum, appeared a spiritual projection of the Divine Sect's emblem, Divine Spear Arc. Soon after, the spiritual projection changed form, turning into a stunning woman dressed in silver and gold garments, crowned with an emerald headpiece. Niko remarked, "it is her. The Last Filius Forge Master." She then performed various forging techniques, teaching all who is present, the true art of artifact creation. When she stopped and meditated, so did all present. By doing so, she was able to enter the minds of those truly willing to learn. She imparted many techniques according to each person's level of understanding and cultivation.
One by one, many fell unconscious under the pressure of the divine wisdom. In the end, the six comrades, Bran, Winan and six other seniors, remained alert enough to receive a blessing from the Forge Master. During this blessing acceptance, Mateo feels a strange movement in his Core World. The Word is where everything about your life and cultivation is stored. The higher the cultivation, the bigger the world. Despite his cultivation being stolen, Mateo still possessed the Core World of a Celestial Body Master. As such, his capacity for power and innate space is much greater than even a Golden Core Master. Damaging his core this time around, would be nearly impossible.
As soon as he felt the anomaly, he immediately entered his Core World to investigate. It was the grey crystal the mysterious master had left in his Cultivation Sea before he left home. To Mateo, the Forge Master gave a scroll of Willful Forging. It was written on Tier 3 parchment and written using dragon's blood. In his Core World, the crystal emerged from his Cultivation Sea to connect to the scroll. Not only did this help Mateo instantly comprehend the technique, but it also formed an island in his sea. Though barren, it is still something that only Celestial Body Masters should be able to do. But this barren land is perfect for a forge master.
At the blessing's end, the sky returned to normal and ruin back to the way it was. While only 14 people received blessings from the Forge Master, all 116 students in the ruin at the time, were gifted enlightenment in the art of forging. Everyone immediately scattered, not wanting to stick around for envious predators. They would soon learn that it is not those who were present that needed to be feared.