Starlit Path of the Mystic Forge

Xu Chu rode his black-mane horse through the blizzard.

From Yuan Chi back to the capital—snow delayed him.

Face grave; first tasted Tantai Xuan’s terror.

Bend or stretch; endure beyond normal—how not fear?

Even immortal fate in hand—calmly offered…

Beyond mortal; fate one step heaven.

Ordinary joy mad; treasure guard; die before yield—many bled, bones cold for fate.

Thus Tantai Xuan bold—Xu Chu heart shook.

Xu Chu spurred; eyed majestic Purple Gold Palace; slow exhale.

Rode capital official road—royal city.

Purple Gold front.

Overlord knife-horse sat threshold; calm eyed distant snow vast; goose snow light; thoughts unknown.

Since royal city master—always Purple Gold.

No seek Luo Mingsang; pretended busy; avoided.

Luo Mingsang no see him.

Overlord shook head; rubbed temples.

Xu Chu returned.

Rapid royal city—Purple Gold.

Saw threshold Overlord—Xu Chu stunned; no banquet prep?

Guessed Tantai Xuan no return.

“Back?”

Overlord eyed Xu Chu; smiled.

Xu Chu slight bow; pocket Tantai Xuan half gold dragon seal.

“King, North Xuan refuse banquet; subordinate said King love seal; thus North Xuan let bring for Majesty admire.”

Xu Chu said.

Overlord face no great surprise.

Mo Beike there—Tantai Xuan no attend.

But Xu Chu brought seal—some surprise; Tantai Xuan truly yield?

Took Xu Chu seal; held warm; carved gold dragon—half.

Overlord took his half.

Joined.

Seams tight—once one; split two.

Overlord body dragon qi surged; wrapped complete seal.

Gold dragon seem alive.

But… calm again.

“No?”

Overlord separated; frowned.

Other seal… not his?

Overlord thoughtful.

“King…”

Xu Chu aside bowed; face tangled; words unsure.

“North Xuan… bend stretch; no ordinary; King beware.”

Xu Chu said.

“Minister thinks—before Daxuan strong… annihilate.”

Xu Chu serious.

Truly; grave.

Feared Tantai Xuan.

Own lord—joy; enemy—nightmare; unrest.

Overlord held seal; eyes flickered; Xu Chu words tempted.

But eyed seal—shook head.

Seal appear strange; behind manipulator?

If annihilate Daxuan army—seal maker act?

Seemed easy kill Tantai Xuan; crush Daxuan.

Actually no.

Plus…

Tang Xiansheng.

South County Tang support Daxuan; South plus Daxuan—Overlord wary.

South no nation; but near.

Battle strong—Tang Yimo.

Thought occupy capital; families attach…

But counties families watch Daxuan Xiliang.

Snow blew; goose vast.

Overlord held two seals; distant sky.

Zhou fallen; world contest darker tides.

...

Capital anti-Zhou end news rapid South County.

Of course.

Also notable—Baiyujing; trial tower… break shackles chance?

Jianghu cultivators stunned.

Vs court; jianghu care cultivation.

Baiyujing authority; trial tower extraordinary.

Tang Yimo hall sat.

Sima Qingshan book box back; behind cheap disciple An Miaoyu.

“Qingshan brother? Leaving?”

Tang Yimo saw box—stunned; rose.

Sima Qingshan smiled: “No endless banquet; continue wander; as Young Master Lu said—paint path insight; roam world; view all draw all.”

“Plus Baiyujing trial tower interest; bottleneck; seek break.”

Sima Qingshan said.

Tang Yimo no persuade.

Sima path different bitter; insight; one paint epiphany soar.

Trial tower interest Tang Yimo.

Break shackles—his?

“Farewell.”

“Brother Tang, later.”

Sima Qingshan cupped.

Behind red cloak An Miaoyu slight curtsey.

Then shoulder left Tang manor; An Miaoyu umbrella; drizzle; figures rain curtain vanish.

Tang Yimo hands back; door stood; pondered long.

Sima Qingshan An Miaoyu left manor—South Jiang city; south.

South Jin city.

South Jin serene; rain hazy; wars washed—still.

Aged story city.

An Miaoyu oil umbrella; eyed mottled old—like scarred strong; stood.

“Master hometown?”

An Miaoyu red lips; curious expect.

Sima Qingshan nostalgic smile; led An Miaoyu in; gate South army saw—smiled; knew.

Once fought side.

In; many greet; rain South Jin desolate.

Blue stone water puddles.

Sima Qingshan led; familiar faces greet.

Some remain; some gone.

War cruel; post-war lingered.

An Miaoyu quiet follow; unhurried.

Sima visited every corner; memories.

Then back mountain; mid height; cliff view South Jin.

Distant—vast battlefield.

“Miaoyu, regret paint sect?”

Sima cliff; qingshan rain wind swayed.

Soft asked.

Behind umbrella; red cloak; rain breeze.

An Miaoyu fair cheeks flushed.

“No regret.”

“Paint sect good.”

Sima smiled.

Box scroll; sudden unfold; float air; took brush; An Miaoyu ground ink.

Sima penned; like rain; ink bloom scroll.

Eyed rain South Jin.

Continued.

Not city—simple small building; rain quiet; below plantain.

Finished.

Sima before building penned.

Plaque four words: Paint Sect · Ink Tower.

An Miaoyu eyes bright; Sima light laugh.

Hand shake.

Scroll brocade shook; rustle.

An Miaoyu saw—mountain flat; ink small tower stood.

“Today—paint sect gate.”

Sima eyed An Miaoyu.

“No despise poor… master poor.”

An Miaoyu lips smile.

“This scroll keep; future you guard.”

Sima said.

Hand call.

Ink tower scroll again; rolled; gave An Miaoyu.

An Miaoyu took; cloth case; inserted; back; lips smile.

Two wordless; down mountain.

Figures drizzle blue stone road drip.

“Master, next where?”

“Miaoyu, world first cultivator force heard?”

“Baiyujing?”

“Yes, next Baiyujing… trial tower.”

“Good.”

...

Beiluo out.

Vast snow plain; two figures trudged.

Jiang Li conical hat; blocked snow; eyed immortal qi Beiluo; deep inhale.

First Beiluo.

Chi Lian familiar; once came.

Snow plain long trails; soon city base.

Gate Luo Cheng saw Chi Lian Jiang Li—stunned; opened.

Jiang Li in; first saw Beiluo prosper.

Beiluo streets carts horses; vendors cries; food scents lanes.

Jiang Li marveled; Baiyujing pure land.

Eyed sky white jade tower; oppressive; mind crack.

Horrified tower.

Jiang Li Chi Lian enter instant—Lu sensed.

Lu no Luo Cheng bring lake isle; self drink; place pieces.

Jiang Li arrive no ripple.

Outside storm military god; Beiluo no special.

Lu chin hand; piece chessboard.

Body momentum.

Chess momentum.

Human Realm harder previous; like hundred human states.

Board end.

Lu leaned Thousand Blade.

Held bronze cup; drank.

Trial tower all effort cultivate.

Kong Nanfei wrote Song; entered; fifth insight remain.

But path special; likely skip attribute qi; righteous attribute.

Saved attribute process.

Thus Lu expect; Kong use insight impact Heaven Lock.

Who first Heaven Lock?

Lu anticipated.

Leaned wheelchair. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Eyed snow sky; squinted.

Mind stirred.

System panel jumped.

Sight shift; odd [Heavenly Dao Thunder Punishment Experience Reward].

Then up; long unused dusty [Preaching Platform].

Refine qi layer four.

Preaching Platform… pull new.