Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

The Jianghu, like the surging Canglan River, never stops for anyone.

The cycles of sun and moon continue, the glint of blades and shadows of swords persist, the tea remains fragrant, and the wine strong.

Recently, the renowned master of the Forging Workshop, Su Mu, and the Silver Order Blade Catcher, Li Feiyu, gradually faded from the everyday sight of common folk, but some powerful forces continued to secretly search for the traces of these two individuals.

Unfortunately, they found nothing.

"Kill—!"

In a nameless valley north of Cyan Cloud, amidst jagged rocks and dense thorns, towering arrow towers and watchtowers are barely visible, upon which many soldiers in armor wielding swords and bows patrol.

Following the sounds of combat into the inner valley, a vast encampment is hidden in the deep mountains. Within a broad training ground carved out of the mountains, a large number of soldiers are in training, many of whom are already wearing battle armor and wielding sharp weapons.

The resounding cries of battle echo from the training ground.

"This Black Mountain Army is indeed formidable... they truly have a strong foundation!" Outside the training ground, Zhao Ju, Chen Yuntian, and Lin Ruoshui expressed their awe at the entrance of the forging room.

They had been kept captive in this valley for over two months, and even now, the sight of the Black Mountain Army soldiers training on the field left them deeply shocked. From the numbers alone, just in this one training ground, there were no less than several thousand soldiers of the Black Mountain Army, and this was only one of their camps, a hidden one unknown to the outside world.

That day, the Purple Robe Snake King had his men ’invite’ them back to the camp. During this time, as long as they didn’t attempt to escape, the rebel soldiers fulfilled their every need, causing them no distress.

The dedicated forging room also housed other abducted blacksmiths, over a hundred of whom were now under their management. Additionally, the Black Mountain Army had provided them with a private and spacious courtyard, which even included a martial arts practice field.

On regular days, servants catered to their needs. Whatever food or drink they desired, as long as the request was reasonable, it was brought to them. The treatment the three received since arriving was exceptionally good.

"Since we’re here now, we have to make the best of it. Currently trapped, we must slowly plan a way to escape this dragon’s den and tiger’s lair," Chen Yuntian whispered, to which the other two masters nodded in agreement.

All three knew the Black Mountain Army treated them so well not out of respect but because they saw value in them, hoping they’d forge Grade-Entering Blades and Armor for the army.

Given this, they could only comply and forge. Their initial plan was to assist in the forging of standard weapons, but when it came to the Grade-Entering Blades, especially Armor, they intended to delay as much as possible, citing difficulties in melting the Grade-Entering Iron Material if necessary.

However, after being ’invited’ to the camp, Zhao Ju and the others were taken aback by the fact that the Black Mountain Army had prepared a forging furnace specifically for crafting Grade-Entering Treasure Artifacts.

It was a damaged three-legged forging furnace, densely inscribed with runes capable of gathering Heaven and Earth Fire Spiritual Qi. Though broken, when imbued with power, it could still drastically reduce the melting time for Grade-Entering Iron Material.

Such a furnace they had only heard of before. When intact, it was undoubtedly a Grade-Entering Treasure Artifact or even a Dharma Artifact above that. The three were certain that no other power in the Three Counties could possess such a thing, and it was rare even in Canglan Nan County, to which the Three Counties belonged.

The person capable of acquiring such a miraculous forging furnace could not be a nobody. This Black Mountain Celestial King must have a significant background.

Thus, the most time-consuming step in forging Grade-Entering Weapons was easily resolved, and the imbuing of power didn’t need their personal involvement either, as a Seventh-Grade Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist from the Black Mountain Army managed it.

This was both to assist in forging Grade-Entering Weapons and to monitor proceedings, perhaps also to prevent the three from secretly damaging the forging furnace.

"Honored masters, thank you for your efforts today. If there’s anything you need, just let us know... but the forging progress must not lag behind."

Soon, several Black Mountain Army experts in black iron armor, responsible for fire control, arrived at the forging room. The gaunt leader, Zhou He, spoke politely, though with an implicit warning in his words.

"Fire up the furnace!"

With no other choice, Zhao Ju and the others nodded in greeting to Zhou He and his men, then loudly ordered the furnace to be lit.

"Clang, clang-----"

Several elite Black Mountain Army members pushed a cart laden with a peculiar dark red ore.

Even after much scrutiny, Zhao Ju and the others couldn’t determine the exact nature of this ore, speculating it might be the result of some powerful Fire Attribute Demon Beast’s blood soaking into the earth over years, surpassing even Red Iron Essence in quality, coming close to a Seventh-Grade Iron Mine.

For over two months now, every twenty days or so, the Black Mountain Army brought in a cart of this blood ore. Zhao Ju gazed toward the depths of the valley, recalling once seeing the heavy guard of Black Mountain soldiers there, occasionally hearing the sound of metalwork, suspecting the blood ore was mined from that area.

"A few carts of blood ore could forge five Grade-Entering Swords and Sabers, or two pieces of Grade-Entering Battle Armor... if this is just the beginning, even the Cyan Cloud Three Counties will be thrown into chaos. The ambitions of the Black Mountain Celestial King are no small matter!"

"The three of us can only delay as much as possible, dragging it out day by day."

...

Ancient Qingzhou, Demon Slayer Bureau.

"Jiang Yao, take a day’s rest, then head to the Three Canglan Counties."

Jiang Yao looked at the four pieces of Profound Iron Thin Plate handed by her superior, her eyes widening.

"Why are there three more? Weren’t there only one before... can’t they let people celebrate the New Year?"