Chapter 33
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Chapter 33: Heavenly and Earthly Marks
After more than a month, Lou Yun finally trained Xiao Huo into an obedient demon beast. It could not only understand Lou Yun’s words but, most crucially, resisted its appetite upon seeing him wield the Fusang Fire, no longer wanting to consume it.
Lou Yun also discovered that Fire Spirit Mice, as demon beasts, didn’t require food at all. Unfed for over a month, Xiao Huo hadn’t starved; instead, it had grown slightly larger. Lou Yun couldn’t fathom how it sustained itself, but beyond this, he observed no other remarkable abilities in the Fire Spirit Mouse.
Now, only one month remained before Lou Yun’s departure for the Ancient Weapon Academy. His father’s reminder suddenly made him aware of a serious problem: although he’d obtained family permission, a recommendation, and even Liu Chi’s guarantee from the Spirit Weapon Sect for exam-free entry, the academy’s longstanding rule demanded that entrants possess at least a beginner two-star magical weapon by age sixteen.
Lou Yun’s actual strength surpassed beginner two-star, but his magical weapon stubbornly remained at beginner one-star. Determined to make a favorable impression, he resolved to upgrade his magical weapon to beginner two-star within this final month.
Fortunately, Xiao Huo’s craving for Fusang Fire had diminished. Seizing the quiet of deep night, Lou Yun returned to the mountain cave to continue his weapon forging journey.
Drawing from past experience, he now focused on controlling multiple flame points simultaneously with his spiritual sense.
Xiao Huo perched obediently on Lou Yun’s shoulder, watching the Fusang Fire dance in his palm—flames leaping high and low. Hunger still flickered in its eyes, but it resisted, clearly puzzled by its master’s actions.
To better wield his spiritual sense and regulate flame temperature, Lou Yun closed his eyes, relying entirely on spiritual perception.
His spiritual sense unfurled like a stretchable net, ensnaring the flames at its center. Then, it transformed into an octopus, countless tendrils extending to each flicker, dividing the Fusang Fire into innumerable segments. Each segment’s temperature was meticulously adjusted.
The process sounded excruciatingly tedious, let alone executing it, all while depleting vast amounts of spiritual energy.
Yet, after ten arduous days, Lou Yun succeeded. He could now independently control each flame’s temperature—raising or lowering it at will.
Despite this achievement, Lou Yun pressed onward without pause; time was scarce.
Just like his first attempt, the initial step in forging a common weapon was purification. Within minutes, Lou Yun liquefied the Taoli Stone.
Next came impurity removal. Though adept at regulating flame temperature, impurities dissolved within the main material’s liquid demanded even finer control. Still inexperienced, Lou Yun flicked spiritual energy from his fingertips to purge them.
This time proved smoother. More main material liquid remained post-purification, signaling Lou Yun’s improved precision over spiritual energy.
Then came shaping—the moment to test his progress. Emulating the Stone Sword’s form, Lou Yun carefully guided the Taoli Stone liquid with his spiritual sense, molding it bit by bit. When satisfied, he lowered the flame’s temperature, allowing the liquid to cool and solidify.
Progress was slow, but Lou Yun persevered. The forged common weapon now bore a striking resemblance to the Stone Sword, filling him with pride.
By then, his spiritual energy was nearly exhausted. He rested for a day.
The following night, Chang Xiang announced only two steps remained: fusion first.
Fusion meant integrating auxiliary materials into the formed common weapon. The process mirrored earlier steps: liquefy the spiritual crystals and beast soul, purify impurities, then merge them into the weapon as desired.
Theoretically difficult in two ways, but for Lou Yun, only one mattered. Auxiliary materials must integrate as liquid, yet the weapon was solid—requiring partial softening with flame to absorb them without reverting to liquid. Full liquefaction would nullify the crystals’ or beast soul’s effects.
For other skilled weapon makers, the challenge lay in melting the heat-resistant spiritual crystals and beast soul, a spiritually taxing endeavor with ordinary flames. But Lou Yun possessed Heavenly Fire Fusang—exceptionally hotter—making this trivial.
Once liquefied, the spiritual crystals, per their nature, had almost no impurities. Strangely, swirling gas pockets—pure spiritual energy from the world—floated at their core. These could incinerate if flame temperatures misfired, demanding careful control.
The liquefied beast soul, however, teemed with impurities. Only scattered pockets showed flowing gas—the beast’s authentic energy. This explained why magical weapons masters couldn’t directly absorb beast soul energy.
Absorbing such filth into one’s body was unthinkably terrifying!
After purification, both liquids had to merge into the common weapon, ensuring none of the vital spiritual energy dissipated—or all effort was wasted.
Summoning immense effort and hyper-vigilance, Lou Yun successfully fused both auxiliary materials into his weapon.
"Fine work thus far. Now, keep the flames burning—don’t withdraw them yet. The final step approaches. Remember, this is the most critical; it determines your weapon’s quality."
Lou Yun swallowed nervously, his tension escalating at Chang Xiang’s words.
Noticing this, Chang Xiang chuckled. "Relax. Others may struggle here, but with my guidance, you’ve nothing to fear."
Lou Yun’s anxiety eased. "Then why frighten me earlier?"
"Not to scare you. To remind you, since I won’t always be here. Someday, you’ll undertake this final step alone."
Too preoccupied to grasp Chang Xiang’s implication, Lou Yun urged, "Understood. Hurry—what’s the last step? My spiritual energy’s almost gone!"
Aware of Lou Yun’s dwindling reserves, Chang Xiang cut to the chase: "It’s called awakening the spirit."
"Though your common weapon looks complete, quenching the flames now would doom it. Receiving it demands ceremony too."
"To receive it, shape hand signs with your spiritual energy. Conjure heavenly and earthly marks to awaken the weapon’s spirit!"
"Watch my hands!"
Chang Xiang’s voice boomed, startling Lou Yun. Xiao Huo, asleep on Lou Yun’s shoulder, nearly tumbled off in fright.
Chang Xiang’s ten fingers rapidly intertwined, separated, and molded distinct signs.
"You’ve no time left—don’t ask questions. Memorize these signs exactly. Reproduce them toward your weapon, imbuing each with your spiritual energy. No pauses! As the last sign nears completion, shout what I just told you!"
Lou Yun rapidly studied Chang Xiang’s fluid gestures while simultaneously regulating the Fusang Fire’s heat—a taxing mental dual-task.
Luckily, Chang Xiang’s sequence wasn’t long—nine distinct signs.
After two demonstrations, Lou Yun memorized them. Chang Xiang repeated it once more for reassurance, stopping only at Lou Yun’s firm nod.
Lou Yun’s turn. First, he used spiritual sense to suspend the common weapon in mid-air, cradled by Fusang Fire. Taking a deep breath, his hands flew through signs: overlapping, parting, reforming.
As the ninth sign commenced, Lou Yun’s heightened senses detected an abrupt atmospheric shift within the cave. Before he could ponder it, an inexplicable energy surged through him. His mouth opened reflexively: "Conjure heavenly and earthly marks, awaken the common weapon’s spirit!"
Whoosh!
A wisp of faint mist seemed to plummet from the sky, striking the weapon within the flames. A flash of light followed.
"Extinguish the fire!"
Lou Yun yanked back the Fusang Fire. The common weapon hung motionless in the air.
Wearing approval, Chang Xiang inspected the weapon. "Well done. Go, examine your creation."
Lou Yun leapt up, seizing the weapon’s hilt. A faint vibration pulsed through his hand, then ceased.
He held it to his eyes, scrutinizing. Externally, it mirrored the Stone Sword by ninety percent—only differing in color and craftsmanship. Incorporated spiritual crystals and beast soul manifested as a lychee-sized, luminous orb at the hilt’s center where gas swirled inside, and a subtle yellow gleam shimmered along the blade—manifestations of the spiritual crystals and beast soul respectively.
As his first forged weapon, Lou Yun found it exquisitely beautiful, rivaling the Stone Sword. He turned it over, enthralled, unwilling to part with it.
Observing Lou Yun’s rapture, Chang Xiang laughed lightly. "Is it though? Such awe over this rudimentary piece? Later weapons will outshine it effortlessly."
Lou Yun remained absorbed. "Firsts are precious. This is my first forged weapon—its significance far outweighs its grade. By the way, what grade is it?"
