Starlit Path of the Mystic Forge

South County.

Zhongnan Mountain, Sword Pavilion.

Towering Zhongnan like a sharp sword piercing clouds; peak flat with large bluestone.

Snowflakes fell; entire mountain unsheathed white blade.

Ximen Xianzhi opened eyes.

Body thick snow.

Shook; qi from pill mobilized; meridians cycle; snow scattered.

Sword in snow; cold gleam.

Stood; circulated blood; stiffened body loosened.

Grabbed sword.

Mind sank.

“Immortal fate…”

Gripped; mind heat flow.

White light ball floated mind.

Poked; flood poured.

Long; aura calmed.

“Light…”

Ximen Xianzhi shocked.

“Cultivation system; sword path; but deviant; light sharpness present sword sharpness.”

Sat bluestone.

Ximen Xianzhi; once genius with Overlord Li Sansi; cultivator rise left behind.

Early; Sword Maniac title.

Sword obsessed; more than Sword Saint Hua Dongliu.

Lived name; sword arts divine.

Now light sword inheritance joy; thought sword end; found broad avenue.

Sat bluestone; snow fell.

Ximen entranced; organized mind concepts.

No copy; loved sword; light sword not pure sword…

Gripped; danced bluestone.

Slow; snow fall slowed.

Snow gentle.

Sword light dazzle; burst; sky curtain beam; blinding.

Pavilion.

Hua Dongliu room studied intent; sudden eyes open.

Eyes sharp.

Intent felt sharpness light.

“Xianzhi?”

Stood; qingshan wild; step door auto open.

Peak flat; see who derived sword stirred intent.

Ximen unaware surroundings.

Heart sword sank.

Mind light sword understanding fused own sword.

Qi mobilized; snow halved.

Crack… crack…

Sword cracks; exploded; iron pieces ground.

Ximen trembled.

Hands light condensed; light sword.

Shook; sword left hand; stabbed snow.

Thick snow exploded.

Snow flew.

Light sword cut bluestone; incision.

Ximen shook; sweat beads.

Eyes bright; night moon; hand up void grab.

Pinched light.

Gather light sword!

Snow tofu; fine sword marks.

Ximen mind clear; epiphany.

Head vortex; qi swept.

Broke.

Body Storage!

Commotion; pavilion disciples startled.

Hua Dongliu snow came; back two swords; Chaoju Bitao.

“Indeed Xianzhi… Body Storage!”

Hua old face joy.

Even he qi pill peak.

Ximen entered Body Storage.

Surpassed pavilion master.

Hua sighed; era changed; hundred sons lagged; youth surpassed.

Disciples gathered.

Saw breakthrough; joy. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel·fiɾe·net

“Senior Xianzhi broke?”

“Pavilion finally Body Storage!”

“Silent years; senior rise; rival Dao Pavilion Li Sansi Xiliang Overlord?!”

Disciples complex.

Joy envy.

Ximen vortex head; sword case back; gripped hilt dazed.

Hua flat stepped.

Ximen recovered; gripped; bowed Hua.

“Master.”

“Xianzhi Body Storage?”

Hua laughed.

Ximen nod; fate insight; but Body Storage.

“Pavilion hope on you.”

Hua sighed.

“New replace old.”

“Comprehend intent?” Hua asked.

Ximen shook head.

“Hurry; successful swordsman intent essential.”

Hua said.

“Master; light… sword?” Ximen snow stood; snow body; asked.

Hua stunned; stroked beard; saw eyes confusion.

“Sword; all things sword; pluck flower sword; rain drop sword… even this snow.”

Hua said.

Goose snow front.

Hand; pinched; sudden flung.

Snow fly sword; air tear whistle; cut bluestone; long melt.

Ximen eyes brighter.

“Heart sword; all things sword…”

Hua said.

Ximen nod; all sword; light sword.

Light everywhere; sword everywhere.

Ximen found broad; joy.

Hua knew insight; smiled: “Xianzhi; how long no descend?”

Ximen unexpected; cupped: “Near three years.”

“Thought longer; master intent decades; disciple decades.”

“Closed door no create; era different; intent easier; but closed obstruct derivation.”

“Descend.”

“Sword confusion? Seek strong; challenge; gain battle.”

Hua said.

“Jingyue Beiluo; sword inspire; seek spar.”

Jingyue growth beyond expect.

Inspire Ximen.

“Yes.”

Ximen no hesitate; felt closed difficulty.

Path start; no seclusion.

But dazed; Beiluo…

“Go; two swords gift.”

“Body Storage Heaven Lock; sword cultivate strongest; Golden Core no suit; Heaven Lock pavilion master.”

Hua said.

Back swords gave Ximen.

Ximen took; felt different.

Hua laughed.

New old; joy lost.

Turn; hands back; snow; peak vanish.

Ximen gripped Chaoju Bitao; case; bowed vanish direction.

Then flat disciples cupped.

Qingshan swayed; bold steps Zhongnan down.

Beiluo; bold idea.

Challenge… strong.

…

Capital.

Narrow alley.

Figure shaky; blood corner; stood.

Liu Yuanhao swollen head; eyes gleam.

Immortal fate…

Liu fate!

Cultivator era; chaotic capital; Xiliang army order…

Prosper dark jianghu gangs.

Best era.

Liu wiped blood.

Out alley; distant.

Royal city towering.

Sniffed; founded Black Dragon; young master; true helper brother Liu Hao.

Liu Hao?

Once glory; Zhou emperor Black Dragon thirteen first.

Pity; Xiliang Daxuan capital; Liu Hao died Overlord.

Liu escaped; founded.

But hard; no strength; suffered.

Hand open; palm; eyes light: “Fate…”

“Past no qualify seek hidden Black Dragon guards; now qualify; time; gather guards; grow gang…”

“Black Dragon capital first gang!”

Liu fist tight.

Nether white flame fist gaps.

Liu stunned.

Mind; bone nether fire hand surged; twisted face.

…

West Commandery; Liangzhou city.

Southwest West; border Peacock Kingdom.

Liangzhou war ready; Peacock nation; five barbarians.

Liangzhou fortress; alert.

Snow Liangzhou cold.

Yongcheng Pawnshop.

Liangzhou only; motto “no dare not take; only you dare not pawn.”

Boss wealth unknown; rich rival city.

But one clerk.

Threshold Ding Jiudeng opened; dazed long; recalled immortal ground.

Touched bald; earlier fear; dazed long no fear.

Mind chants; faint bald kind; texts flowed.

Ding patted bald; uncomfortable.

Sudden.

Back kick.

“Little Ding; work; monthly feed house; lazy?”

“No work pack roll!”

Behind cursed.

Ding stood; silent long; fearful muffled: “Go now.”

Body burly; bald lantern.

Behind boss; sharp monkey rich old.

Saw work Ding; stroked stubble; smiled.

Hired Ding cheap; feed sleep; wage deduct reasons.

No hit back curse; good.

Boss rubbed hands; eyes greed.

Monthly deal time.

Sharp monkey smiled; greed; success wealth double!

“Little Ding work; boss night check; bad next next wage deduct.”

Boss said.

Hum tune; left pawnshop.

Boss long gone; Ding aware muffled “Oh.”

Action pause; recalled; boss direction: “Boss; next next wage deducted.”

But gone.

Ding touched bald; continued.

Sudden.

Door conical hat veil; face unclear.

“Pawn.”

Voice hoarse.

Long; shop response.

“Coming.”

Ding window; shadow: “Pawn what?”

Figure pocket; silver scissors counter.

“Value?”

Hat said.

Ding reach; no touch; scissors spin float; hat grab; sudden neck; cut skin blood.

Ding no expression.

Hat stunned; clerk… bold.

“Boss where?”

Ding recovered; fear whole; missed fear phase; shiver; panic eyes hat.

“Bo… boss sell goods.”

Ding said.

“Lead.” Hat again.

Words.

Two silver scissors bald.

Ding dazed; recovered missed scare; tasteless; little fear; aware: “Good…”

Hat: “…”

Bold! Steady!

Ding knew boss source.

But no lead; boss bad hit curse deduct.

But…

Gave shelter.

Father died Liangzhou field; alone; no boss wander freeze starve.

Thus Ding hat maze alleys.

Entered; stop; dazed.

Sudden sprint; crisscross run.

Long; back; hat lost; fear pat chest.

Left alley; boss sell place.

Knew; once boss searched officials; followed.

Ding unknown.

Out alley; roof hat sat; black robe; calm watched depart.

…

Beiluo city; vast snow plain.

Goose snow; covered tracks.

Sudden.

Hooves cracked.

Snow raised.

Black mane horizon galloped; mane snow wild.

Back burly sat.

Beiluo wall.

Guards saw snow sprint black mane.

Xiliang breed!

Back figure; guards horrified!

“Ov… Overlord!”

Guards cried.

Wall commotion.

Luo Cheng eyed; face change.

Overlord came?

North Xuan; Xiliang kings…

Daxuan Xiliang lords Beiluo?

Tantai Xuan for Jiang Li; Overlord… for Tantai Xuan?

Luo speechless; self; qi; city gallop.

Beiluo lake isle.

Tantai Xuan just second floor Baiyujing.

Leaned wheelchair Lu; face odd.

Eyed sat Tantai Xuan; smiled: “Overlord Beiluo too.”

Words.

Sat Tantai Xuan pupils shrank; butt needles.

Sharp breath.

Overlord… bully too much.