Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 54: Starting the Furnace (6k-word chapter, please vote!)
In early summer in Jingzhou, spring is fading.

The wind smelled ambiguous and hot, the sky turned a clear, deep blue, and even the sounds of the wilderness took on a strange charm.

The little beggar went to the woods to pick wild vegetables, but was chased by a wild beetle and barely escaped. Amidst her wailing cries, Tie Tou and Xiang Ling's wedding arrived in this bright summer.

These days, the entire Xiangjiazhuang village is filled with joy as everyone is busy preparing for the couple's wedding.

As a renowned forging family in Jiangnan, although they have declined somewhat in recent years, they still possess the "Hongwu Little Divine Furnace." Even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, so when good news spread, congratulatory gifts from martial arts figures poured in like a tide.

When the day arrived, everyone in Xiangjiazhuang changed into new clothes, and the hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, making it a riot of color.

In the center of the hall is a piece of calligraphy by Wang Duo, which was obtained with great effort. It reads "A Perfect Match" and is displayed as a large hanging scroll in the central hall.

At this moment, outside Xiangjiazhuang, friendly forces sent people to deliver gifts and congratulations in an endless stream.

Ding'an changed into a new robe to greet the guests.

Inside the courtyard, Hongxiu was surrounded by chattering children, vying with her for candy.

Amidst a joyous atmosphere, Ren Shaoyang and Xiang Qiezheng drank together indoors.

Seeing that Xiang Qie was hearing the lively sounds, he showed no joy on his face, but rather looked worried.

Ren Shaoyang asked, "Master Xiang, why are you sighing today, a day of celebration?"

Xiang Qiezheng sighed, took out an iron hammer from under the table, and placed it on the table.

Ren Shaoyang glanced at it and saw that the iron hammer was covered with bronze patina, looking old and broken, yet it faintly emitted a blue light, making it look like no ordinary object.

Xiang Qiezheng said, "This hammer is called 'Lei Ze Xing Tian'."

"Oh?" Ren Shaoyang said, "Is it the hammer used to forge the Dragon-Capturing Hammer back then?"

Xiang Qiezheng nodded: "Yes." After a moment of silence, he continued, "I don't think I can compare to the patriarch Ouyang back then. I only hope that today, with the joy of Ling'er and Tie Tou's wedding, the furnace will be opened smoothly and the Xiang family's prestige will be restored."

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "Master Xiang, I once said something to Ding'an."

"Oh?" Xiang Qiezheng asked, "What did you say?"

"I believe in yourself more than you believe in yourself!" Ren Shaoyang stood up, holding the iron rod, and laughed heartily. "Today is a big day for your apprentice and daughter, and also a big day for you. Cheer up, don't embarrass yourself!"

"Hahaha~!"

Xiang Qie was amused and stood up, saying, "Alright, thank you for your kind words! It's almost time, let's go together."

Meanwhile, in front of the Xiang family's gate.

A large-eyed young man carrying an ancient sword was staring blankly at the plaque.

A servant announced: "Mu Renqing, the eldest disciple of the Huashan Sect, the 'Divine Sword Immortal Ape,' has arrived!"

Mu Renqing blushed slightly and wanted to cover his face and leave quickly, but he tripped and fell forward, almost falling flat on his face.

Seeing that he was about to lose face, Mu Renqing felt miserable. Just then, a hand reached out and stopped him.

Mu Renqing looked up and saw a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes chuckling at him.

"Oh dear, Dingding, Ding'an!" He started stumbling again.

Ding An laughed and said, "Monkey, why are you being so polite? Why do you have to give me such a big bow?"

Mu Renqing angrily said, "Ding'an, you, you've gone astray!" Then he smiled and hugged Ding'an.

Ding'an asked, "Monkey, why did you come down from Mount Hua?"

Mu Renqing said, "Our ancestor said that the Xiang family and Mount Hua have been on good terms for a hundred years. Now that the Little Divine Furnace has been opened and the eldest daughter of the Xiang family is getting married, we must send gifts to celebrate. After I recovered from my injuries, I asked for this job and came down the mountain. I never expected to run into you."

As he spoke, he suddenly paused, then asked, "Hey, Ding'an, what are you doing here?"

Ding An laughed and said, "The head of the Xiang family is my master. Do you think I should be here?"

"Oh, really?" Mu Renqing scratched his head and laughed.

Then a blush appeared on his face, and he asked timidly, "Um, um..."

Ding An glared at him and said, "You're asking if the little beggar is here?"

"Hey!" Mu Renqing exclaimed with delight, "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Not here." Ding An replied expressionlessly.

Mu Renqing panicked: "Hey, friend! I heard her laughter!"

Ding'an's deadpan face: "Fantasy."

Mu Renqing angrily retorted, "She was right behind you, running so fast her legs were practically blurring out of thin air, and you still lied to me?" She reached out to pinch his face, "Are you some kind of scoundrel wearing a human skin mask?!"

With only one hand to protect his face, Ding'an could only cover one side while the other was being pulled. He yelled, "Hey, hey, hey! Are you being stupid?"

Mu Renqing said fiercely, "I will absolutely not hold back when dealing with this scoundrel Ren!"

"Oh dear, a monkey!"

Suddenly, Hongxiu's clear voice rang out.

Mu Renqing was taken aback, loosened his grip, and Ding An escaped from his grasp. He rubbed his right cheek with his other hand, looking indignant.

A series of hurried footsteps approached, and Hongxiu's petite figure appeared, taking his hands in hers: "Haha, it really is you!"

o(*￣▽￣*)o
Mu Renqing felt a surge of heat rush to the top of his head, and he couldn't say anything, only chuckling foolishly.

Hongxiu tilted her head: "Monkey, why is your face as red as a monkey's bottom?"

Ding'an said irritably, "He's having a good time! Alright, there's hardly anyone else coming now, let's go inside."

Hongxiu nodded and released her hands.

Mu Renqing looked at Ding An with a disappointed expression and a face full of resentment.

In that brief moment of holding hands, he had already decided what to name his and Hongxiu's child.

Now that Ding'an has ruined things, he has already equated him with the rogue Ren in his heart.

None of them are good people!
Just as the three were about to enter, the servant suddenly called out their names again, but this time his voice trembled.

"Commander Zhao Zheng of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Deputy Commander Zhang Zhen, and Lord Zhu Dadian have arrived!" As he spoke, two rows of greeters quickly welcomed them with applause.

The three turned around and saw three young men dressed in plain robes striding towards them.

The leader was extremely handsome, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a face like jade, and a height of nearly nine feet. He had an ancient sword hanging at his waist, and his gaze seemed to flash with sword light.

Mu Renqing's expression turned solemn, and the green sword on his back hummed and trembled in its sheath.

"Such powerful sword energy! This person is no less powerful than me."

Upon hearing this, Ding An gave him a strange look, feeling as if his luck had been stolen.

The young man stood facing the three of them, clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

"Could it be Mu Renqing, the 'Divine Sword Immortal Ape' of the Huashan Sect, the great hero Mu?"

Mu Renqing said, "It is indeed me!"

The young man smiled and said, "I've long admired your names." Then he looked at Ding An and the other man, his eyes filled with an inscrutable expression. "Are you 'Broken Blade' Li Ding An and 'One-Sword Immortal' Ren Hongxiu, two of the 'Three Heroes of the Northern Frontier'?"

Ding'an didn't rush to answer, but instinctively looked at the little beggar.

Hongxiu's eyes gleamed with a strange light. The more she looked at the young man, the more she smiled. She cupped her hands in a fist and said, "It is indeed my brother and sister!"

The young man, Zhao Zheng, smiled and said, "You two are renowned throughout the country. I have long admired you."

The little beggar smiled and said, "Commander Zhao is a pillar of the nation, and Hongxiu has long admired him."

Zhao Zheng laughed heartily: "It's all thanks to the kindness of my fellow Jianghu brothers."

The two flattered each other while sizing each other up, and surprisingly, they seemed to have a mutual appreciation for one another.

"You guys have a really interesting way of talking, you have such a set of theories."

Just then, Mu Renqing's monkey-like face with thin eyebrows and big eyes suddenly appeared in the middle.

Zhao Zheng frowned, and Zhang Zhen and Zhu Dadian behind him were about to shout at him.

But then Ding An said, "Gentlemen, the auspicious time is approaching. Let's go into the hall." With that, he grabbed Mu Renqing and walked towards the door.

Everyone nodded and entered the hall together.

Inside the hall, there were thirty or forty large tables, and many guests, all of whom were prominent figures, were already seated.

Despite the large number of guests, the hall was spacious and not crowded at all.

Zhao Zheng and the others were seated in the head seats. When they took their seats, they saw a young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, dressed in a white robe and a black cloak, looking at them with a grin.

"Ren, Ren the scoundrel!"

Mu Renqing pointed at the young man with trembling hands and shouted.

Ren Shaoyang's eyes darted around as he raised his hand to greet them: "Monkey, we meet again! Did you miss me?"

"I miss you my ass!" Mu Renqing snorted, crossing his arms and sitting down, fuming. "I absolutely will not miss you, never!"

Hongxiu frowned: "Monkey, how did you learn to swear?"

Hooray!
Mu Renqing felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded above his head, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

Oh no, Miss Hongxiu is disgusted with me!
Just as Mu Renqing was frantically explaining, Zhao Zheng laughed and said, "You are 'Butcher' Ren Shaoyang?"

Ren Shaoyang touched his nose: "My fellow martial arts practitioners are so rude to me, giving me such an awful name."

Zhao Zheng's expression was strange: "Don't you know that the江湖子 (jianghu zi, a term referring to江湖江湖子 ...

"What? They dare to insult me?"

Zhao Zheng looked at the fierce-looking young man and remained silent for a moment: "Indeed, only a pure and virtuous person like Brother Ren can accomplish so many great things!"

Zhao Zheng and Zhu Dadian behind him nodded in agreement; they had never seen such a shameless person.

Zhao Zheng raised his cup and said, "Brother Ren, do you know why I have come?"

Ren Shaoyang clinked glasses with him and took a sip of wine: "For what?"

Zhao Zheng toyed with the cup: "Guess?"

Ren Shaoyang said calmly, "Is it Cao Shaoqin?"

Zhao Zheng shook his head: "When Cao Cao mobilized his troops to the desert, he was already courting death."

Ren Shaoyang raised his eyebrows: "So, it's for the Blackwater City treasure?"

Zhao Zheng sighed, "It happens once every sixty years, His Majesty cannot wait." Ren Shaoyang said, "Then it must be the Liancheng Treasure."

"We have obtained the treasure!" Zhao Zheng raised his voice, "and there are other reasons as well."

Ren Shaoyang poured himself a glass of wine, raised it, and said with a smile, "I have no idea about that."

“Ling Tuisi!” Zhao Zheng said, enunciating each word clearly.

Ren Shaoyang shook his head: "How could a country bumpkin like him become a prefect? ​​Does he have such powerful backers?"

“It’s not about energy!” Zhao Zheng sneered, his voice weary. “We had solid evidence and were about to take him and his backers down when Ling Tuisi was killed by you.”

Ren Shaoyang sighed: "What a coincidence!"

"A coincidence?" Zhao Zheng said coldly, "I think you're completely lawless!"

"What can we do?" Ren Shaoyang's calm voice came from behind. "You know that Ling Tuisi is very ruthless."

"He's ruthless?" Zhao Zheng looked incredulous, a mocking expression on his face. "The people who died at your hands, like Cao Shaoqin, Blood Blade Ancestor, and the Four Wonders of the South, probably wouldn't agree with that, would they?"

Ren Shaoyang spoke sincerely and slowly, "Believe it or not, I was actually protecting myself."

Zhao Zheng paused for a moment, then said, "Do you think I'm a fool?" He then glanced at Mu Renqing, who was grinning foolishly at Hongxiu, and added, "Do you think I'm him?"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "Then what should we do? Do you want to fight me?" As he spoke, he looked at the column of smoke in the distance, "What if you break the stove?"

"You~!" Zhao Zheng's expression changed.

Ren Shaoyang said, "You came here for the Little Divine Furnace, didn't you?"

Zhao Zheng straightened his expression, his anger subsiding, and said, "You guessed it?"

“It’s very simple. Since this furnace is called ‘Hongwu,’ it must be closely related to the royal family. As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you have traveled all the way to Jingzhou. How could you possibly do this just for a nobody like Ling Tuisi?”

Ren Shaoyang chuckled and said, "Shen Lang, you don't want the stove to be damaged by our fight, do you?"

"Who is Shen Lang?" Zhao Zheng frowned and said seriously, "Are you threatening me?"

"Look, what's the rush?" Ren Shaoyang said leisurely. "Let's talk about it after the furnace is opened."

"Ren Shaoyang, are you feeling smug?"

"There's nothing to be proud of," Ren Shaoyang said with a grin. "We'll talk about it properly after this is all over."

Zhao Zheng suddenly laughed: "Ren Shaoyang, you really are a scoundrel!"

"Thank you!"
-
When the Shen hour arrives, the auspicious time has come.

Firecrackers crackled and popped, and many guests had gathered to offer their congratulations. The master of ceremonies loudly proclaimed the congratulations.

Just then, the sound of string and wind instruments rang out, and Xiang Qie and several elders of the clan accompanied Tie Tou, who was dressed in a bright red robe and grinning like a fool, to come out.

On the other side, several young women accompanied Xiang Ling into the hall.

The two newlyweds, the man on the left and the woman on the right, stood side by side.

The master of ceremonies announced in a loud voice: "First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

"Couple greetings!"

There were no surprises, no forced marriages, no revenge, and no one shouted "Wait!"

Everything went smoothly, and the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious.

Ding An looked at Ren Shaoyang with a surprised expression, then turned his gaze to the hand that was pressing down on his shoulder.

"Crippled man, what are you doing?"

Ren Shaoyang chuckled and let go of her hand. He was genuinely afraid that Ding An would be possessed by Junior Brother Feng and cause chaos.

With the ceremony complete, the wedding banquet began, and the guests picked up their chopsticks to eat.

Since ancient times, "eating" has been a major part of weddings and funerals, especially for those who travel the world. Eating a hot meal is always a luxury. Now, the Xiang family has invited a famous chef from Jingzhou City, and the dishes he has prepared are naturally extremely delicious.

Even Zhao Zheng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had tasted the imperial chefs' cooking in the palace, opened his appetite and ate a few more bites.

The others ate and drank to their hearts' content, as if they wanted to get their money's worth.

After eating the leftovers, everyone was full and slumped in their chairs to digest.

At this moment, Tie Tou stepped forward and said, "There are two happy events in Xiangjia Village today!"

He wasn't very well-educated and couldn't remember the words, so he could only be concise: "First, it's my grand wedding! Second, it's the opening of the 'Hongwu Little Divine Furnace'!"

After these words were spoken, all the guests beamed with joy.

"Excellent! The Xiang family's forging is renowned!"

"That is it, but what is that little divine furnace?"

"It must be a magical furnace!"

Everyone said their piece, and I said mine.

Tie Tou said, "Gentlemen, the opening of the furnace at Xiangjiazhuang is a reopening of our business, a rekindling of the divine furnace's fire." As he spoke, he bowed and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Zheng and the other two, saying, "Let Commander Zhao bear witness that Xiangjiazhuang only forges weapons, and will never manufacture armor or siege weapons!"

Zhao Zheng smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Upon hearing Tie Tou's words, everyone in the hall began to whisper among themselves.

Tie Tou said, “Everyone, please rest for a day. Tomorrow morning, come with me to witness the ‘Hongwu Little Divine Furnace’.”

Everyone had been eagerly anticipating this furnace, and upon hearing this, they erupted in cheers.

"Hurrah!"

Hongxiu grabbed a chicken leg, raised it high, and shouted, "Let's go together tomorrow!"
-
The next morning.

After the guests got up and had breakfast, they followed Tie Tou and headed east towards the village.

As you walk through the corridor and reach the entrance of a spacious house, you are immediately hit by waves of heat.

Compared to yesterday, Tie Tou's lips were a bit pale, and his eye sockets were sunken.

But he still said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, the Little Divine Furnace is extremely hot, and we blacksmiths are already used to it. However, if you do not have profound internal energy to protect you, please proceed according to your ability!"

After he finished speaking, he went inside first.

At this moment, someone scoffed, "It's just a broken stove, what's there to brag about?"

As they spoke, several people swaggered in.

But as soon as he entered, the heat felt like a fist, slamming into his face. Then, his whole body felt like it was being coiled by fire snakes, and his hair stood on end. In a panic, he cried out, "Oh no, it's too hot!" and fled in a disheveled state.

When everyone saw these people emerge, they were drenched in sweat, clearly indicating that the heat inside was extremely intense, which caused a great uproar.

Just as everyone was hesitating about whether to go in.

Zhao Zheng strode in with Zhang Zhen and Zhu Dadian, his expression as usual, his sword aura imposing.

Ding An smiled and strode in. His fiery energy flowed around him, and he benefited even more from the heat of the divine furnace.

Ren Shaoyang, holding Hongxiu's hand, entered leisurely, the two of them acting as if they were on a spring outing, without any unusual behavior.

Finally, there was Mu Renqing. He was surrounded by white mist, and as soon as he entered, it hissed and steamed out, like a divine ribbon.

Everyone stared in disbelief. Seeing that they had already gone far away, they all tried, but in the end, less than one in ten managed to enter.

Only then did they realize that those young people were all extremely skilled in martial arts. They couldn't help but sigh at the fact that the younger generation surpasses the older, and they all felt a pang of sadness.

Ren Shaoyang and the others entered the room and saw a large furnace about ten feet in size, which looked very imposing. It must be the "Hongwu Small Divine Furnace".

Everyone stared at the furnace, which was taller than a person, and was so shocked that they could hardly speak.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the divine furnace's reappearance in the world.

Xiang Qiezheng had already ordered people to fill the site with a type of black coal that was rare in the border regions. This coal was extremely hot, but burned very slowly, enough to burn for a whole day and night.

At this moment, flames were also shooting up from the mouth of the Hongwu Small Divine Furnace, with tongues of fire licking at it.

It truly resembles the mythical Eight Trigrams Furnace.

Suddenly, Xiang Qiezheng said in a deep voice, "Everyone, this small divine furnace is a reforged fragment of the 'Hongwu Heavenly Furnace' from back then. Although it has lost its spiritual essence, it is still extraordinary!"

Everyone was astonished, wondering, "What, spirituality?"

Xiang Qiezheng continued, "Underneath this furnace is a sand pit containing mineral veins. It contains eight treasures, including gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead, and is called 'Ruyi Eight Treasures Sand.' This treasure can mold itself according to the nature of the things being smelted. Unless a sand mold is made in advance, what is produced is entirely up to fate!"

Everyone was extremely surprised when they heard this.

Zhang Zhen then sneered, "Really? I don't believe it!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Qiezheng's eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed.

Perfect, I'll use you as my starting point!

“Deputy Commander Zhang, if you don’t believe me, how about I use the Little Divine Furnace to reforge your weapon?”

Zhang Zhen was taken aback. The sword in his hand was a rare treasure passed down from his sect, and he was unwilling to reforge it casually.

But as everyone's attention turned to him, the little girl with round eyes narrowed her eyes and smiled like a little fox.

Hey, what is she saying to that silly Huashan Sect kid next to her?
Are you talking badly about me?

Zhang Zhen, unaware of what was happening, just stared blankly into Hongxiu's eyes, looking bewildered, and shouted loudly.

"This sword in my hand has been with me for over ten years, and I have been invincible throughout the north and south. What's wrong with letting you try it out?" With that, he handed over the sword.

When the sword was handed to Xiang Qiezheng.

Zhang Zhen suddenly woke up, looked at his empty hands, and then at the dumbfounded Zhao Zheng and Zhu Dadian.

One last glance at Hongxiu, who was sticking out her tongue.

Zhang Zhen, with a mournful face, turned to Zhao Zheng and said, "Brother, I... I don't know what's wrong with me, I think I'm having a fit."

Zhao Zheng frowned and looked in the direction of the little beggar: "That little girl is not simple."

At this moment, Hongxiu whispered to Mu Renqing, "Monkey, do you know why we had that idiot try out the furnace first?"

Mu Renqing didn't answer, but just smiled so hard his face turned bright red, and his mouth stretched all the way to his ears.

The little beggar chuckled: "This cripple's method is called 'knife padding,' and it's said to help you get good stuff!"

(End of this chapter)