The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

This time, he deliberately guided his inner energy through the lung meridian, and his fingertips gradually developed a metallic sheen.

When he picked up the Fire Spirit Stone a second time, he noticed that there were tiny fire patterns flowing inside the crystal, like sealed magma.

"I'm starting."

The fire spirit stone traced a crimson arc as it fell into the furnace.

Jiang Chuan immediately formed a sword shape with his fingers, and the golden, shimmering true energy probed into the furnace like threads.

He felt the Fire Spirit Stone decomposing, and the violent fire spirit energy surged left and right like a wild horse.

Sweat trickled down my brow bone and into my eyes, stinging painfully, but I dared not blink.

"Hold steady."

Tao Hongjing's voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Imagine you are taming a wild horse.

Jiang Chuan's fingertips began to tremble. The moment the fire elemental energy came into contact with the charcoal fire, he felt the two energies fiercely clashing.

Just when he thought he was about to fail again, a ray of golden light suddenly wrapped around the most volatile fire serpent and pulled it into the azure heart of flame.

laugh--

The fire in the furnace suddenly leaped up half a meter, and its color changed from blue to green.

Before Jiang Chuan could even feel joy, the wisp of blue suddenly twisted and expanded, followed by a deafening roar like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting.

The second fire spirit stone exploded with even greater power than the first.

Jiang Chuan was slammed against the courtyard wall by the blast wave, his back burning with pain.

He collapsed to the ground and discovered that his sleeves had been burned with several charred holes.

"better."

Tao Hongjing had appeared beside the sword furnace at some point, and was using iron tongs to poke at the furnace chamber.

"At least the charcoal fire wasn't completely extinguished."

Jiang Chuan looked at his hand, panting heavily—his tiger's mouth was split open, and blood mixed with charred ash covered his palm.

He smiled wryly as he circulated his internal energy, and pale gold patterns flowed across the wound, causing the flesh to heal at a visible speed.

"When Master first used the Fire Spirit Stone..."

"Half of the mountain was blasted flat."

Tao Hongjing said it casually.

"That's why we're forging weapons at the Hanging Sword Cliff now—even if it collapses, no one will be hit."

The sound of the big yellow dog whimpering in fear came from outside the courtyard wall, followed by the sound of its claws frantically pawing at the ground.

Jiang Chuan imagined the cowardly dog ​​running away with its tail between its legs, and suddenly felt that his own disheveled state wasn't so shameful after all.

Before his third attempt, Jiang Chuan laid out the remaining three fire spirit stones in a row.

The midday sun made the sword furnace scorching hot, and the remaining flames at the furnace mouth flickered weakly.

He suddenly noticed that Tao Hongjing's left hand was always pressed against the furnace wall, and there was a faint blue light flowing on the back of his withered hand.

"Is Master secretly controlling the fire?"

"nonsense."

The old man stared wide-eyed.

"If you really manage to blow up this Star Devouring Furnace, the sect leader will definitely throw this old bone of mine into the Human Refining Cauldron."

Jiang Chuan felt a warmth in his heart and solemnly picked up the third fire spirit stone.

This time, he didn't rush into it. Instead, he placed the crystal between his eyebrows and carefully sensed the surging fire elemental power within it.

In a daze, he seemed to see boiling magma deep in the earth's veins, and heavenly fire falling into the wasteland and igniting a vast expanse of crimson flames.

"All things have a spirit."

Jiang Chuan muttered to himself, when suddenly a thought struck him.

He no longer forcibly restrained the fire spirit with the metal elemental energy, but instead separated a wisp of earth and wood elemental energy as a guide, like opening a channel for a wild river, guiding the fire spirit's energy to flow slowly.

The moment the fire spirit stone fell into the furnace, Jiang Chuan formed a hand seal, and golden and blue true energy intertwined to form a net, gently enveloping the erupting fire spirit.

The azure flames and crimson aura intertwined and swirled, gradually merging into an indigo-colored flame core.

There was no explosion this time, only a wonderful change in the color of the furnace fire, layer by layer.

"it is good!"

Tao Hongjing suddenly withdrew his left hand.

"Hold!"

The pressure increased sharply. Without the master's secret assistance, the furnace fire began to become unstable, the indigo flames sometimes turning blue and sometimes green.

Jiang Chuan bit his tongue to stay awake, focusing all his attention on controlling his internal energy.

He felt as if he had become a bridge, one end connected to the earth's rich earth spirit, and the other end connected to the fire spirit stone's violent flame essence.

As the sun began to set, Jiang Chuan's robes had been soaked with sweat three times and dried three times.

His lips cracked and bled from dehydration, but the flames in the sword furnace finally stabilized at an indigo color, though the hue was not pure enough, like watered-down wine.

"Okay."

Tao Hongjing's voice carried a rare hint of approval.

"Much better than your senior brother was back then."

Jiang Chuan felt as if he had been granted a pardon, staggered back a few steps and collapsed to the ground.

He then noticed a food box that had appeared on the stone table in the courtyard, emanating a faint aroma of spirit rice.

"Let's continue after we finish eating."

The old man opened the food box, broke off half a roast chicken, and threw it over the courtyard wall.

"Big Yellow! Here you go!"

In the distance came the sound of a dog's paws frantically catching food, followed by a satisfied whimper.

Jiang Chuan wolfed down his rice, only to find his hands shaking so badly he could barely hold his chopsticks.

"Master, how much more is it going to be ready?"

"The transformation from indigo to pure blue may seem like a single step, but it actually represents a journey of a thousand miles."

Tao Hongjing took out his wine gourd and took a sip.

"but."

Jiang Chuan followed his master's gaze to the remaining two fire spirit stones. They lay quietly in the cloth bag, gleaming with an alluring red light in the twilight.

He suddenly realized something, and his eating slowed down.

"Disciple wants to try again."

Tao Hongjing raised his white eyebrows.

"Aren't you afraid of it being bombed twice more?"

"afraid."

Jiang Chuan honestly admitted it and put down the empty bowl.

"But I'm even more afraid of letting this excellent fire go to waste."

The old man suddenly burst into laughter, which startled the night birds that were perched on the cliff edge.

He slapped the stone table as he stood up, and a small iron hammer slid out of his sleeve and struck Jiang Chuan on the forehead.

"Good lad! You have the same madness I had back in the day!"

When the fourth fire spirit stone was thrown into the sword furnace, the clouds above the Hanging Sword Cliff strangely emitted a glow.

The big yellow dog was dozing in its newly dug burrow in the distance when it was suddenly startled by a loud, earth-shaking noise and rolled three zhang away.

It tucked its tail between its legs and was about to flee, but it couldn't bear to leave the warm, cozy ground near the courtyard wall, so in the end it could only bury its head in its front paws and tremble.

Jiang Chuan stood shirtless in front of the sword furnace, sweat dripping down his lean waistline, gleaming with a bronze luster in the firelight.

He formed hand seals, condensing a wisp of azure spiritual energy at his fingertips, and carefully sent it into the furnace.

"Steady your mind!"

Tao Hongjing shouted sternly from the side.

"Forging a sword is like cultivating oneself; a restless and impatient mind is a great taboo!"

Jiang Chuan gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.

This is the seventh attempt to light the sword furnace today; the previous six attempts all ended in explosions.

The bamboo forest behind Zuowang Peak was blown up and scattered, and even Dahuang learned to tuck its tail between its legs and run away when it heard him chanting incantations.

"Give me—fire!"

With a low roar, cyan spiritual energy surged into the bottom of the furnace like a dragon. In an instant, sparks flew everywhere in the furnace, and a cyan flame shot up three feet high with a "boom".

Jiang Chuan staggered back two steps, but was caught by Tao Hongjing.

"It's done!"

The old man's eyes gleamed, and he patted Jiang Chuan on the shoulder, laughing heartily.

"Good lad, you're much better than your good-for-nothing senior brothers! Back then, when they learned this Azure Lotus Burning Fire Technique, it took them half a month to blow up my furnace!"

Jiang Chuan, panting heavily, wiped the sweat from his face.

"Master, is the heat just right?"

"Still a long way to go."

Tao Hongjing magically produced a wine gourd, tilted his head back, and took a swig.

"See? A flame should be pure blue and clear to be considered qualified. Your flame is still mixed with other colors, which means that the circulation of spiritual energy is not smooth enough."

Just then, the clear sound of bells came from afar.

Xiao Man walked along the bamboo path carrying a food box, with Qing Lin following behind her like a little tail. The Nine-Colored Deer strolled leisurely, with a pheasant, chased in panic by Da Huang, hanging from its antlers.

"Young master, it's time for lunch."

Xiao Man stopped ten paces away and bowed respectfully. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled patterns on her face, making her dimples appear and disappear.

Jiang Chuan was about to speak when he suddenly started coughing violently.

Xiao Man's expression changed drastically. Forgetting all manners, she ran forward to help him up.

"Why are you coughing up blood again?"

Her fingertips touched the crimson blood from Jiang Chuan's lips, and her voice trembled.

"You promised me yesterday that I would adjust my breathing!"

"It's nothing, just a backlash of spiritual energy."

Jiang Chuan waved his hand, but couldn't help coughing twice more.

Xiao Man's eyes reddened with anxiety, and she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe them for him.

The handkerchief was embroidered with a crooked lotus flower, the stitches of which were charmingly rough.

Qinglin suddenly squeezed between the two of them and angrily tugged at Jiang Chuan's sleeve.

"Jiangchuan is mine! Sister Xiaoman, you're not allowed to get this close!"

"Oh dear, has the little jealousy jar been spilled?"

The nine-colored deer chewed on a spiritual herb it had somehow acquired, then lazily lay down.

"If you ask me, some little snake demons are..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qinglin flicked his hand and shot out a water arrow, which startled the Nine-Colored Deer so much that it jumped up and ran away.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Big Yellow pounced on the unfortunate pheasant, causing chaos and confusion.

Tao Hongjing burst into laughter.

"It's great to be young!"

He patted the sword furnace.

"Kid, eat first. There's no rush to reforge your sword."

Xiao Man quickly set out the meal. The rice was steamed until it was crystal clear, and it was served with several seasonal mountain delicacies.

The most eye-catching dish was the steaming medicinal soup, with a few slices of ginseng and goji berries floating in the thick white broth.

"I added longan pulp and poria cocos."

Xiao Man scooped a bowl of soup and handed it to Jiang Chuan, her voice as soft as a feather.

"It can calm the mind and replenish qi."

When Jiang Chuan took the bowl, his fingertips accidentally touched the back of her hand.

Xiao Man pulled her hand back as if she had been burned, and the food box fell to the ground with a "clatter".

She hurriedly squatted down to pick it up, her ear tips so red they looked like they could bleed.

"Why are you panicking?"

Jiangchuan laughed.

"I don't eat people."

Xiao Man lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

"This servant is clumsy."

"Don't refer to yourself as a servant girl anymore."

Jiang Chuan suddenly said.

"I told you long ago, you and Ye Qiu are the same."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiaoman exclaimed "Ah!" and hurriedly stood up.

"I...I'll go fetch water for you to wash your hands, young master!"

After saying that, he turned and ran, almost bumping into Big Yellow who was stealing a chicken leg.

Qinglin tilted her head to look at Jiang Chuan.

Why is she blushing?

"Don't ask so many questions, kid."

Jiang Chuan ruffled her hair, earning a disgruntled flick of his tail in return.

The nine-colored deer made a meaningful "yoyo" sound in the distance, which only stopped when Tao Hongjing smashed a wine gourd at it.

In the afternoon, the fire in the furnace gradually reached its optimal temperature.

Jiang Chuan sat cross-legged in front of the stove, adjusting his breathing according to the mental techniques taught by Tao Hongjing.

As the spiritual energy circulated, the flames in the furnace changed from orange-red to cyan, and finally condensed into a translucent glassy color.

"it is good!"

Tao Hongjing's eyes lit up.

"It's now!"

With a flick of his sleeve, the broken sword flew into the furnace.

The sword emitted a clear, resonant sound as it gradually softened in the flames.

Jiang Chuan was so engrossed in watching that he seemed to see light and shadow flowing within the sword.

"Don't be distracted!"

Tao Hongjing shouted.

"Use God as the hammer, and thought as the anvil!"

Jiang Chuan closed his eyes and concentrated, and a phantom iron hammer appeared in his mind.

As he directed his thoughts, the hammer began to rhythmically strike the sword blank in the furnace. With each strike, sparks flew, and the sword became a little more solid.

This process lasted for a full three hours.

As the sun set, a blinding blue light suddenly burst forth from the furnace.

Jiang Chuan suddenly opened his eyes and saw a long sword with a clear blue-green body floating in the air. The sword was as clear as autumn water, with lotus patterns flowing faintly.

"Catch the sword!"

As Jiang Chuan leaped into the air, the instant his right hand gripped the hilt of the sword, a cool spiritual energy surged into his meridians along his arm.

He subconsciously twirled his sword, and the sword energy swept across the bamboo ten feet away, severing it cleanly in two, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

Tao Hongjing clapped his hands in admiration.

"What a fine Qing Shuang sword! Although it has not yet reached the Earthly Grade, it already possesses the spirituality of the peak of the Human Grade."

He looked at Jiang Chuan meaningfully.

"The sword is like the heart; whatever you hold in your heart, that is the shape of the sword."

At the same time, the clear cry of a crane echoed from the horizon.

Two white cranes flew through the clouds and mist, one of them carrying a sandalwood box on its claw. They circled down and transformed into two white-clad boys at the foot of the mountain.

When Jiang Chuan descended the mountain along the bluestone path, the sun was already setting in the west.

"strangeness."

He muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping across the empty bamboo path.

At this time of day, Qinglin would usually be swarming around him begging for spirit fruits, and Luhao and Dahuang would always be chasing and playing in the bamboo forest, making the whole forest a chaotic mess.

But today, I can't even sense the aura of a spirit beast.

Jiang Chuan quickened his pace, his green robe flashing through the bamboo shadows, and soon arrived in front of the pavilion.

A boy dressed in a gray-white Taoist robe stood with his hands at his sides. Upon seeing him arrive, he immediately bowed and paid his respects.

"Senior Brother Jiang, the Supreme Elder has given an order."

The boy's voice was clear and crisp as he took out a jade slip from his sleeve.

"I command you to ride the crane to the back mountain at the hour of Yin tomorrow. The crane will take you to the location of the Supreme Elder."

Jiang Chuan took the jade slip, his fingertips touching the warm, smooth jade, and a cool sensation flowed into his meridians along his arm.

He nodded.

"I see."

The boy bowed again, then turned and walked toward the crane that was perched outside the pavilion.

The crane was entirely white except for its crimson head. As the boy approached, it gracefully lowered its long neck.

The boy flipped himself up, and the crane took flight, instantly transforming into a white shadow on the horizon.

Jiang Chuan watched the crane fly away, feeling both expectant and apprehensive.

Senior Tao Hongjing did indeed mention that at Tianzhu Peak, a crane would come to fetch him to a blessed land of immortals to cultivate secret techniques.

The Cloud Sea Immortal Sect has a profound foundation, and this opportunity is rare. If he can learn one or two secret techniques, it will greatly benefit him in his future travels in the martial world.

"only."

He sighed softly and turned to look into the depths of the bamboo forest.

"That girl, Qinglin"

Jiang Chuan still felt a chill run down his spine when he recalled his experience at Dushan Hot Spring Valley.

Those snake shadows, the perilous situations in the dragon's lair, and the dragon soul that almost devoured his soul—if it weren't for the Mountain Spirit's inheritance and the Nine-Colored Deer's help, he would have already perished.

And all of this was actually Xie Xuan's old fox scheme.

"Jiang Chuan!"

A clear, crisp call interrupted his thoughts. (End of Chapter)