Time flies like an arrow, the sun and moon race like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Proud Sword Immortal Sect, Vast Sea Peak.

A massive sword-forging hall was built from stacked bluestone, its walls engraved with countless formations.

Spirit-Gathering Formation, Iron Wall Formation, Scarlet Flame Golden Edge Formation…

This was the place where disciples forged swords!

In the cultivation world, sword cultivators were broadly divided into two types.

One focused on sword-controlling techniques, commanding flying swords to strike enemies from afar.

The second focused on palm-and-sword techniques, gripping a longsword and killing gods within three feet before them!

But regardless of which sword art one cultivated, a good sword was indispensable!

A fine sword could multiply a sword cultivator’s combat power!

Thus, any powerful sword cultivator would basically cultivate sword forging as well.

Of course, most sword cultivators wouldn’t actually use swords they forged themselves.

It was like doctors not daring to let their classmates treat them—same logic.

Originally, the Proud Sword Immortal Sect only had a sword-forging hall on Blazing Flame Peak.

That was because beneath Blazing Flame Peak lay an earth-vein divine flame, which could be used for forging swords.

But the disciples of Vast Sea Peak had always been at odds with those of the Blazing Flame lineage, often gathering for group fights.

Over time, Vast Sea Sword Venerable cared about face as well.

So he paid a huge price and had his wife mobilize the financial power of the Ten-Thousand-Li Commerce Guild, forcibly building a sword-forging hall on Vast Sea Peak.

From then on, the disciples of Vast Sea Peak and Blazing Flame Peak became even more completely estranged.

Otherwise, Li Hanguang wouldn’t have had such a hard time trying to rope in a fire-attribute fanboy.

Clang!

Clang clang clang!

Clang clang clang clang clang!

Inside the forging chamber, dense hammering sounds had continued for an entire month.

From the initial clumsiness and disorder, to now flowing smoothly like clouds and water, even carrying a certain special rhythm.

Even a fool could tell that the person inside the forging chamber was improving at a terrifying pace.

Sizzle~

The longsword, heated until it glowed red by fierce flames, was plunged into prepared spiritual spring water.

In an instant, a huge amount of steam billowed upward.

Chu Xiaolian fished the sword out of the water, and the surrounding air instantly turned cold.

A three-foot-long, chilling azure blade appeared in the forging chamber, its entire body covered in exquisite patterns.

Those patterns were not engraved.

They were formed through rhythmic, skillful rounds of hammering and quenching, carrying an indescribable charm.

“The grade of this sword is roughly equivalent to a mid-grade magical artifact.”

Old Yan’s figure slowly appeared.

There was admiration in his eyes.

“For your first time forging a sword to succeed, and to directly forge a mid-grade magical artifact. You’re born with sword bones. Your sword-forging talent is even better than I expected!”

Chu Xiaolian gently wiped the newly forged sword and smiled.

“All thanks to Teacher’s careful guidance.”

Old Yan nodded.

“No need to be modest. This is your talent. I originally thought you only had a top-grade fire spiritual root and an upper-grade metal spiritual root. I didn’t expect your sword Dao talent to be this outstanding. As long as you cultivate diligently, your future achievements may not necessarily be inferior to mine!”

A strange light burst from Chu Xiaolian’s eyes.

“Then… compared to Senior Brother?”

Old Yan fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, he smiled.

“If you can cultivate the Nine Revolutions Tempering the Spirit Art to the Great Perfection stage, you may not be unable to surpass him in the future.”

Chu Xiaolian’s gaze sharpened.

“I definitely can!”

Nine Revolutions Tempering the Spirit Art!

This was a mysterious inheritance Yan Chixiao had obtained back then in an ancient relic.

This inheritance contained boundless profundities.

It allowed sword cultivators, while forging swords, to fuse their own divine sense with the sword embryo.

Not only did it allow the forger to more clearly sense changes in the weapon embryo and forge higher-quality weapons, it also tempered the cultivator’s divine sense during the forging process, making it stronger.

A massive increase in divine sense brought obvious benefits.

It directly enhanced a cultivator’s comprehension, making the cultivation of any technique twice as effective with half the effort.

It even helped sword cultivators comprehend sword intent.

Beyond that, when performing the Nine Revolutions Tempering the Spirit Art, the fusion of divine sense and sword embryo would form a certain “human-and-sword unity” state.

In this state, the efficiency of refining spiritual energy would be even higher, even increasing by multiples.

Just look at Chu Xiaolian!

A month ago, he was only at the third level of Qi Refining.

Now, after secluding himself to forge for a month, his cultivation soared like a rocket.

At present, he was already at the seventh level of Qi Refining!

Four consecutive level jumps—enough to make countless people’s jaws drop, even surpassing Li Hanguang back then.

This made Chu Xiaolian’s heart burn with excitement, unable to resist wanting to go out and show off.

Yes, especially wanting to show off in front of Li Hanguang.

After all, Li Hanguang had spouted flashy lines back then, saying Chu Xiaolian didn’t even have the qualifications to follow him.

That made the proud Chu Xiaolian extremely dissatisfied!

Although, according to his teacher, Senior Brother was heaven-defying, with the bearing of a Great Sage.

‘But why was I not qualified to follow him? I’ll make you know—within the Proud Sword Immortal Sect, there is absolutely no one more qualified to follow you than me!’

“Teacher, I want to leave seclusion and go see Senior Brother.”

Chu Xiaolian fitted a hilt, scabbard and tassel onto the forged longsword, then strapped it to his back.

Although this magical artifact was only mid-grade, it was personally forged by him.

Moreover, during the forging process his divine sense had fused with it, achieving human-and-sword unity, making it perfectly compatible with him.

In his hands, the power of this sword might not be inferior to that of an upper-grade magical artifact!

Yan Chixiao, old and shrewd, instantly saw through the boy’s thoughts and smiled.

“Go. To raise your cultivation by four levels within a month is already quite remarkable. That kid will probably be dumbfounded too.”

Rumble~

The stone door slowly opened.

Chu Xiaolian stepped out, air currents lifting his hair.

He could clearly feel countless gazes converging on him.

Curiosity, doubt, mockery, disdain, even jealousy and malice.

Chu Xiaolian sneered.

He took a deep breath, releasing without restraint the aura of a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Boom~

Surging energy rippled as spiritual energy raged around Chu Xiaolian.

In an instant, all negative emotions vanished, leaving only shock and fear.

Seventh level of Qi Refining—among outer disciples, that could only be considered above average, not even top-tier.

But Chu Xiaolian’s seventh level of Qi Refining came with a prefix.

That was the fact that just last month, he had only been at the third level—something everyone knew.

Four-level jump in a single month???

Such terrifying improvement was enough to shock the entire sect!

After several breaths of silence, countless smiling outer and inner disciples came forward.

“Oh, Senior Brother Chu, you’ve finally come out of seclusion?”

“I’ve been waiting for you to come out, hoping to invite you over for a drink!”

“I said it long ago—how could Senior Brother possibly have misjudged someone?”

“For Senior Brother Chu to gain Senior Brother’s recognition, you must also be a top-tier genius. Your future is limitless!”

“Senior Brother Chu, do you want a maid?”

Feeling the enthusiasm of the surrounding disciples, Chu Xiaolian revealed a cold smile.

A month ago, this wasn’t their attitude at all!

Sure enough—strength is king!

This was the truth of the cultivation world.

Chu Xiaolian ignored everyone and walked out of the sword-forging hall expressionlessly.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.

Because he saw a woman in green robes, barefoot, standing gracefully in front of the forging hall.

A veil covered her face, yet it could not conceal her countless charms.

This woman was none other than Ye Chengying.

Her voice was cool and indifferent.

“Prepare yourself. Senior Brother wants to see you.”

‘Senior Brother wants to see me?’

Anticipation appeared in Chu Xiaolian’s eyes.

‘Very good! I was just about to go see him as well!’