Starlit Path of the Mystic Forge

The Daxuan-Xiliang war ended; the world's situation temporarily calmed.

The aggressive Xiliang no longer pressed forward but retracted its claws instead.

Yet no one underestimated Xiliang; there was even a faint dread—the quieter it became, the more terrifying.

Perhaps brewing some great horror.

The bet between Xiliang and Daxuan was known to few, so the world enjoyed rare peace, with little uproar.

But the keen sensed a massive undercurrent surging.

...

Daxuan Nation.

Tianhan Pass.

Snowflakes fluttered over Tianhan Pass, sprinkling down, adding a killing chill to the ancient, mottled walls.

Before the pass lay thick white snow—but who knew how many bones were buried beneath?

When the Xirong tribes attacked under their king, countless Beijun soldiers were buried in yellow sand, corpses strewn everywhere.

Every inch of land under Tianhan held stories, blood, and tears.

Though Daxuan had conquered Zhou, defense at Tianhan never slacked.

Tantai Xuan knew well: even if Xirong was exiled to the world's end by Li Sansi and Nie Changqing, they might return.

Tianhan was the border's vital artery—crucial; no negligence.

Formerly Great Zhou's priority; now even more for Daxuan.

Atop the towering walls.

Armored soldiers stood unmoving despite the cold, eyes sharp as eagles.

Snow couldn't block their sight.

West of Tianhan: vast ice-snow plains, then endless yellow-sand desert.

Xirong exiled into that desert.

Desert winds whipped sand.

Suddenly.

An army in sheepskin, lips cracked, emerged leisurely from the sandstorm.

From far to near, their true forms materialized.

They led horses, finally stepping from desert to ice-snow.

The sheepskin-clad knelt, weeping joy, shouting incomprehensible tongues.

One rose, drew his blade, pointed to the sky.

They had crossed the "boundless desert"—the other side truly a vast, bountiful land, as the invading foreigners claimed.

A challenging discovery.

Their king’s iron cavalry had conquered the desert's far side; seven ancient kingdoms submitted; king invincible, cavalry too!

They gazed madly, greedily at the snow; some grabbed handfuls, stuffed mouths.

In boundless desert, every drop precious; now water aplenty!

Excitement over, they remounted.

Originally one horse per man.

But desert thirst killed many; remaining couldn't carry all.

Braving snow forward.

Compared to endless sand burying countless bones, this ice-snow seemed endearing.

Eastward.

Finally...

At dawn's glow, they saw a majestic city!

Snowbound, stunned.

The exiled tribes hadn't lied—cross boundless desert, a glorious nation and civilization.

King sent them to verify.

Now proven.

Towering walls; exquisite-armored soldiers atop.

Huge impact for desert-crossers.

In ice-snow, they chattered, even argued.

Long after, final decision.

Picked strongest horse; piled all supplies; selected one to cross back with provisions, tell king!

Rest: probe the world beyond walls.

One cavalry bolted in dawn light, rushed desert, vanished in yellow sand.

Remaining: blood boiling; drew blades and sheaths, crossed before them in pious glory, slow toward Tianhan.

Atop Tianhan.

A Xuanwu Guard leader patrolled.

Sudden sense; hands on icy parapet, stared out.

Tower high; plain all in view.

Saw crawling shadows...

The foreigners.

"Xirong?"

Xuanwu frowned.

Next, palm slammed parapet stone; roar spread walls.

"Enemy attack!"

Words fell.

Walls instantly heated.

Archers drew full, notched in parapet gaps.

Aimed crawling shadows.

Below shadows sensed; startled; unknown foes so keen.

But supplies to the hope-bearer.

No retreat.

Sneak over walls, enter nation; chance survive ice-snow.

Discovered; all or nothing.

Burst speed; dashed to Tianhan base.

They erupted strong qi-blood; surge scattered snow.

"Fire!"

Walls Xuanwu condensed; ordered.

Arrows rained.

Qi-blood dodge; most failed, pierced, fell snow.

Team leader red-eyed, hot breath, charged through arrow veil.

But walls Xuanwu personally drew longbow; qi-arrow.

Whistled.

Leader roared; snow underfoot melted by qi-blood.

Fist met arrow.

Puchi!

Leader overthought; Xuanwu cultivators; arrow even grandmasters wouldn't bare-hand.

Nailed dead below walls; blood dyed snow.

Xuanwu felt odd.

Sent out gate; dragged bodies back Tianhan.

Eyed faces totally different—even from Xirong; blond, blue-eyed.

Xuanwu pupils shrank; sensed unusual.

Hurried secret letter to North Xuan King.

...

Beiluo.

Lake Heart Isle.

Lu unaware of Beijun Tianhan incident.

Couldn't monitor every corner always.

Now pondering mission completion.

Study left dispirited; long-term; short impossible.

Cultivator Hundred Schools: not Lu decree.

Thought collisions; Lu alone no splash.

But sensed: Paint Sect, Haoran Sect, Dao Pavilion, Sword Pavilion... cultivator forces; contention prototype forming.

Second branch: carve hundred paths into plane origin; form Heavenly Dao.

Arduous far.

Lu felt: likely need Wuhuang mid-martial entry to start.

Fingers tapped armrest.

Mind shifted.

Baiyujing pavilion thunder rumbled.

Then Lu on Thousand Blade Chair appeared lake surface.

Bang!

Little Yinglong cannonball-like; wings tucked; shot from water; stream at sky-machine pigeons.

But sensed Lu's gaze; body stiff; wings fanned; stream sucked back.

Dashed; perched dragon gate; posed obedient.

Like drowsy owl.

Lu ignored antics.

Lake parted; Lu sank.

Hovered bottom.

Thunder pearl floated; rune chains bound; array suppressed.

Inside: thunder dragon madly roared.

"This dragon Heavenly tribulation incarnate; represents that mid-martial world's Heavenly Dao—but top-tier mid; far stronger than earliest."

Lu pondered.

Low-key.

Could link top mid origin via tribulation; but absorb to grow Wuhuang difficult.

Attract plane lord notice; Wuhuang at limit; couldn't absorb.

Burst easy.

But top mid origin might inspire: carve hundred paths; form Dao.

Origin: world root; Lu's build root.

Above low martial: every world origin; Lu marveled.

Grade gaps: origin gaps.

Lu curious: high martial, higher origin strength?

Thousand Blade slow.

Hand on pearl.

Dragon angry roar.

Lu calm gaze; eyes lines danced.

Roar weakened; curled ball.

Scene abrupt change.

...

Lu reopened eyes.

Vast pressure; slight pant.

Before: white light wall erect; head up no top; origin huge.

Like Earth round but stand flat all sides.

Lu marveled.

Hand on origin; sudden.

Scene shifted constant; felt veins pulsing.

Each vein: a path.

Thick or thin: walkers' strength!

Origin paths too many...

Dense crisscross.

Sudden sense.

Released hand.

Distant lights burst.

Lu stunned; brows raised; puzzled; familiar auras.

"Why no plane lord?"

Unexpected; his presence should draw lord.

Origin realm: lords only.

"You?"

Du Longyang saw Lu; eyes reddened!

Minds Heavenly-pulled to origin realm; unexpected familiar figure.

Though no Tianxu Prince body; aura, form, wheelchair...

Thief who stole tribulation!

Du Longyang: former Martial Emperor City tribulator.

Lu swept: others.

One-armed elder; short knife back; sharp curious gaze.

Bead-wearing ascetic monk.

Monk side: crowned; graceful stunning; red robe float; white legs faint; noble empress.

Besides: fire-eyed glaring pale thin: former consciousness-occupied Tianxu Prince.

Lu brows: world tops.

Extreme auras.

Lord hidden among?

Or...

Head to huge origin.

Eyes lines.

Origin transparent.

Lu narrowed: inside huge eyeball stared dead at him.

Distant.

Du sudden strike.

Origin vital; thief ill intent.

"Kill!"

Du spear; space shattered.

Side Tianxu mouth; tongue spat 6cm sword; flick; shot Lu.

One-armed grave; swung short; knife qi sky-cleaving blade.

Ascetic palms together; punch.

Gold light; supreme Buddha aura.

"Empress! Waiting for?! Strike!"

Du eyed noble woman like watching play; roared.

Empress smiled. The source of thɪs content is NoveI(F)ire.net

Odd glance Lu; hand; red robe; silver needles shot.

Five struck; leave Lu.

Origin realm; injury feedback body.

No mercy.

Lu smiled.

Fingers together; dialed Thousand Blade.

Myriad silver bloomed; Phoenix Feather led; round shield.

Boom boom boom!

Five attacks shield.

Shield unmoved; dust rippled.

Lu eyed origin.

Hand; slender pinch seal.

Runes emerged; carved array; flicked into origin.

Next.

Stored Thousand Phoenix; sat.

Smiled at five.

Form translucent water; faded evaporated.

Du grave.

"Who... exactly?"

Ascetic palms: "Come go shadowless... ghostly."

"Perhaps... not our world."

Empress red robe: "Immortal realm?"

"Du martial shattered void; blocked by immortal; ascension... scam?"

One-armed sneered.

"Immortal or man; next appear; leave him!"

...

Beiluo Lake Heart.

Lu opened; mind origin return.

Glance pearl dragon; curled tighter.

Dragon gate Little Yinglong saw cowardice; wings flapped mock.

But...

Lu gaze shifted to him.

Origin return; pressure lingered; Little laugh cut; wings instinctive tucked.