At the back of the Thunder Emporium, Bralok Thunderpeak, a seasoned blacksmith of legendary repute amongst the mortals and wandering Qi Transformation cultivators of Edge city, toiled tirelessly at the heart of a roaring forge.
Beads of sweat glistened upon his brow as he meticulously prepared for the undertaking of a lifetime.
His workshop was currently a realm of fiery intensity, where his giant furnace was being heated, aided by various formations and numerous fire affinity specialty coals and woods.
He was preparing to forge a prize worthy of the upcoming Outer Sect battle rankings.
The rhythmic clang of hammers striking anvils resonated through the air as Bralok meticulously manipulated the sacred materials at his disposal.
Having made various requests at the Outer Sect for materials, he had everything he needed to attempt crafting his first Rank 3 treasure.
His hands moved with a grace born of years of dedication and mastery, infusing each stroke with intent and purpose. The crucible glowed with an otherworldly radiance as the magical properties of the Thunderheart iron danced in response to his skilled manipulation of Qi.
The workshop was a symphony of craftsmanship and magical energy, where Bralok was actively cultivating with every hammer swing and every infusion of Qi into the blade. He was tempering the weapon as much as he was currently tempering himself.
The forge's flames surged and settled under Bralok's expert guidance, maintaining a temperature that would burn most mortals alive.
Hours drifted by as his heavy hammer morphed the metal underneath. Eventually, the Thunderheart iron he had requested was perfectly shaped into a single sword.
The blade features a single, elegantly curved edge that tapers to a point. The curvature of the edge was subtle, allowing for versatile use in both slashing and thrusting motions. The blade gleamed with an otherworldly shimmer.
Now that the blade had a shape, it was time for the pièce de résistance.
Using the Rank 2 Thunderheart Iron, he needed a catalyst, something to enshrine the power of the metal's name and bring it to new heights. For that, he had paid a heavy price, almost losing his life in the process. But he had acquired it.
Aetherium.
Pulling out the treasured rank 3 ore, he melted it into his hellish furnace and it simply melded in, becoming a hyper-malleable paste rather than a hard metal.
Using specialized tools, he carved runic patterns across the still blazing hot blade, a rune-edict known as Thunder-Spark.
The Treasure Sword he was crafting was more than just a weapon; it was a testament to his legacy and a prize of immeasurable worth.
***
In the dark of night, Tyler was sitting on the edge of the cliff of Three Heritage Heaven, looking far into the city and appreciating the calmness of the nightscape.
At some point, through his divine sense, he detected a drastic change in the temperature of the winds, wafting up from the city. The air was always slightly tainted with a heavy undertone of smoky aroma.
From his perch, he could almost see the entirety of Edge city and he had recently made it a habit of looking into the city, so he quickly noticed the source of these winds.
The air in the distance reflected a slight red hue, indicating some form of fire as the smoke emanating above it was also present. Using the map he had been given, he did some deducing and quickly found that the shop he had been to a couple days ago was in that area.
The gears in his head started turning and he put two and two together. That giant is currently crafting his sword!
Suddenly, thunder echoed across the city as lightning struck directly from the heavens and into the smithy in the far distance.
Tyler didn't want to bother the man, but the phenomenon happening in the surrounding air following that wasn't normal and he couldn't help but stare.
Gregory, Tyler's resident bodyguard, had been bored lately as Tyler, using the teleportation device between here and the sect, was comparatively safer in the sect than with just him around so whenever Tyler had been going out, he had stayed home and accompanied Annie on her errands.
Disturbed by the sudden thunder, Greg joined Tyler outside, admiring the magical phenomenon that was unfolding in the distance.
Tyler nodded at the man, asking directly. "Have you ever seen this phenomenon before?"
"Yes. These are the clear signs of a master refiner breaking into the Sea Formation stage. From what I can see, he also has deep connections with the laws of lightning and thunder."
"Should we go see? I think it's the shop I visited a few days ago to deliver tons of Lake water."
"It would be bad manners to intrude on someone else's breakthrough in the city."
"Fine. Then, I'm going to bed. Have a good night Greg."
"Likewise."
With that, Tyler disappeared into his room. Greg however, like all the sea formation martial artists witness to this breakthrough, stepped directly into the air and headed to the Thunder Emporium.
***
The air around him seemed to crackle with anticipation as his Qi was being tempered by the lightning strikes, using him as a conduit to punish both the apparition of a rank 3 treasure and a sea formation cultivator.
Metal, Earth, Fire, Wood and Water were dancing in a harmonious show of lights.
With each precise strike of the hammer, he could feel the harmonious alignment of his body's Qi, as if every motion was guided by the universe itself. The metal sang beneath his touch, resonating with the heightened spiritual energy that coursed through his being.
As the sword's form approached perfection, a profound realization overcame him the instant he quenched the blade in the water barrel and was enveloped by its steam. It felt as if a door to enlightenment had swung wide open, unveiling the hidden secrets of the universe.
His perception expanded, and he could see the intricate web of Qi that connected every single part of this blade, a tapestry of energy that flowed through the very fabric of existence.
With newfound clarity, he realized that the Treasure Sword he was crafting was not just a physical weapon; it was a manifestation of his own cultivation journey. The blade represented the culmination of his skills, his mastery over the forge, and the harmonious union of his inner Qi with the material world.
In that moment of revelation, another strike of the hammer resonated and lightning struck simultaneously.
Crackle!
With a thunderous explosion, the giant of a man was momentarily stunned as the lightning coursed through his entire body. But he was ready for it. He could feel the breakthrough the moment he had finally understood the essence of the Thunderheart iron.
His body became the metal, the universe the blacksmith. With every hit, his Qi was slowly being refined into true essence by heavenly lightning as he grasped at the very nature of those energies, at the properties of both his body, cultivation method, and his treasure sword.
Deep into the night, a new Sea Formation cultivator had forged itself.
Accompanying that was the future reward of the year-end outer sect ranking battles. The accomplishment of a lifetime, a Rank 3 Celestial Grade weapon.
Its name; Caelum's Edge
It was more than a weapon; it was a testament to his cultivation breakthrough, a tangible reflection of his spiritual growth and enlightenment.
The sword gleamed with an otherworldly radiance, its blade infused with the very essence of lightning and his newfound wisdom and power.
***
The next morning at sunrise, Tyler was climbing up and down the mountainside right below Three Heritage Haven when he saw Gregory fly back over from the city.
He never really cared about where the man went at any given time and seeing as he wasn't the one footing the bill for anything around here, he didn't feel right to order the man around.
Over the last couple days, he had been slowly replacing all of the water within his inner world with water from the lake and slowly refining it through his acupoints but that process was extremely slow as he still had loads to strike open.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Today would be the day where he'd do just that. But before, he had been summoned to the sect and had to swing by the outer sect taskmaster offices. Hung Jeok wanted a word with him.
After cultivating for an hour and eating a breakfast of oats and fruits that Annie had served him, he teleported right up to the sect.
Side note about the teleportation formation, Tyler had been informed by Bob that unless he changed the Spirit Crystal powering it every 100 teleports, it would stop working.
In the end, Tyler would eventually have to really start to earn a living for himself as this was starting to get embarrassing. Sure, he had made around 35 spirit coins total so far from the One Finger, One Sword technique but that wouldn't be enough to support his cultivation or his daily expenses either.
As Tyler headed toward Hung Jeok's office, he noticed a bustling scene filled with numerous young outer sect disciples and a few individuals of his own age and older, all donning the distinctive attire of the outer sect.
Of course one's appearance in this world generally betrayed their actual age seeing how much slower everyone aged, but after looking at a few of his peers, he saw that their cultivation was all stuck at the 19th level. They had reached the end of their potential.
Living in the mortal world with a cultivation of a peak Qi Transformation would most likely net one the position of elder of a small city or head of a rural business empire. While Qi transformation cultivators on Sword King Mountain were as common as cabbage, in the whole wide world, they weren't.
Only a select few places that housed the capitals of each surrounding territory would you see such an amalgamation of so many powerhouses.
For example, there were around eight soul shattering cultivators on this mountain alone, but elsewhere in Veridian Peaks, perhaps only 1 other could be found if you discarded the wandering Fang Mo.
From there, the numbers obviously almost grew exponentially with around thirty Aperture Strengthening experts and a few hundred Sea Formation cultivators and countless Qi Transformation cultivators. All of those were distributed within the Mountain, amongst the various cities.
Everyone in this small area of the outer sect were busily coming and going from the building where taskmasters handled their business.
In reality, this mission hall was much more important than just outer sect business.
Not only would the Sword Sect issue tasks to fill their own pockets and provide resources to its disciples every month, but the whole nation could issue requests to the various sects through that system in exchange for a hefty sum.
But most importantly, this served as a way for young disciples to establish connections and find something they were good at. By completing various tasks and helping various people, they'd be able to deploy their wings and fly on their own once they were part of society proper.
When Tyler arrived for his business in the edifice, he stepped inside only to be met with a surprise. Hung Jeok was already waiting for him.
"Tyler Reed! What have you gotten yourself into? Actually, I'd rather not know. Just follow me. Who in their right mind would anger a cultivator of the Sea Formation like you did..."
"Well, hello to you too."
Hung Jeok didn't bother responding, nor did he spare Tyler a glance as he hurried towards the headmaster's office.
It took a few minutes before they reached a pair of grand, ten-foot-tall ornate double-doors. It was only then that Hung Jeok turned to Tyler.
"Wait here."
Without further ado, Hung Jeok knocked on the door three times.
Knock, Knock, Knock
"Headmaster, it's Disciple Hung. I've brought the newcomer."
Almost instantly, the doors swung open, knocking Hung Jeok to the ground.
Thud
Tyler, who had his divine sense constantly extending fifty meters around him these days, instantly recognized the person behind the door—it was Bralok.
"Ah! It's really him! Hahahah! Excellent!" the towering man exclaimed with hearty laughter as he stepped forth, crossing the large distance between them in a couple steps at most.
Inside the room, an elder from the sword sect was seated in a chair next to a tea table. Fresh tea had just been poured, and he sipped it calmly.
Unknown to the elder, Hung Jeok harbored an intense dislike for Tyler, the reasons behind which remained a mystery to him.
All he knew was that Hung Jeok had told him that this new arrival had probably offended this esteemed cultivator when he completed his task a few days ago.
On the other hand, Bralok, a gentle giant with a heart of gold, was blissfully oblivious to the tension between them and had, contrary to both men's expectation, come here to rejoice with Tyler, not to chastise him for anything.
"We meet again. Congratulations are in order, I see," Tyler remarked.
"Congratulations? I don't need such things from you! If anything, I should be thanking you!" replied the giant, his smile so wide that his back teeth were visible.
"Thanking me? What exactly did I do? I got the impression from Hung Jeok's tone that I must have messed up somehow... It wouldn't surprise me, honestly. I can be a bit tactless at times, but that's just who I am."
Bralok stood there, his face displaying a hint of awkwardness as he glanced back at the elder.
"I have to ask, Elder Yopp, did I say something that would indicate I was displeased?"
From the back room, the elder stood up and offered an apology. "I'm sorry, Master Thunder-Spark. My young apprentice here assumed that your request for an audience, just a few days after completing your tasks, meant that this new sect member might have offended you in some way."
"Well, I guess I wasn't super clear, Hahahaha! But no, I came to thank him. So, please, Tyler, come in and let's talk for a bit. I'll need the Elder's approval for what comes next," said Bralok, now going by the name Master Thunder-Spark, his newly chosen Daoist name.
Uncertain about the turn of events, Hung Jeok awkwardly got back on his feet and cast his gaze downward in shame. It was evident that he had misunderstood the situation and had inadvertently placed his master in an uncomfortable position.
Tyler entered the room with enthusiasm, and as he stepped inside, Bralok swung the doors closed with a simple gesture of his hand.
The room's interior was rather sparse, containing only a couple of chairs and a table as well as a desk with numerous papers and books at the back, most likely the elder's office.
Recognizing that one of the chairs was likely meant for Bralok, Tyler summoned his own exceptionally comfortable chair, a gift from Lin Jian, and sank into its embrace.
Taking the initiative, Tyler raised his question directly. "Bralok, you mentioned you're here to thank me? All I did was deliver water. I doubt that's worth a personal visit from you... unless I'm wrong?"
His smile widened once more as he settled into his chair. "Do you truly have no idea why I've come to thank you?"
Tyler pondered for a moment, but he couldn't come up with anything significant. Unless... the water? Was there something different about it? Hesitantly, he inquired, "Wait, was there something unusual about the water?"
Unable to contain his excitement any longer, Bralok burst into hearty laughter. "Unusual? Well yes, but not in a bad way at all! In fact, it was quite the opposite! While I had ordered regular lake water for my latest creation, what I received was... far from ordinary!"
The giant man paused, his eyes gleaming like precious gems. "You see, ordinary lake water is a common, low-grade material used for various purposes. But what you gave me wasn't that. What you provided couldn't have been worth just a few copper coins."
The elder, intrigued, chimed in from the side. "Oh? If you don't mind me asking, what grade was it then? I find it hard to believe that just anyone could possess such a vast quantity of precious liquid."
"Well, that's the very reason I'm here, as I'm fairly certain it was some sort of mistake... There's no way Tyler would intentionally give me 10 million liters of Rank 2 Heaven Grade Serene Dew!" Bralok exclaimed.
Taken aback the elder asked immediately, "Serene Dew?! Are you certain? Is there any water left?!"
Bralok waved the elder's question off, addressing Tyler directly. "So, did you give me Serene Dew by accident?"
Uncertain about how to respond, Tyler felt a twinge of awkwardness. All he had done was provide water from within his inner world. However, as he contemplated the situation, it began to make more sense. To confirm his suspicion, he conjured some of the water for Bralok to examine. "Is this what you're talking about?"
A few drops of water emerged from Tyler's ring finger, and Bralok caught them with great care. This action even prompted the elder to step forward, leaving his precious tea untouched for the first time since Tyler had entered the room.
"This... This is truly Serene Dew!" exclaimed the elder.
Bralok, unable to contain himself, also jumped up from his seat. "How did you... you have more of it...?" Bralok asked carefully.
Smiling, Tyler nodded. "Yes, I do. But I'm unsure how long the supply will last. I thought it was just regular water until you said something. Please, enlighten me... How is this water any better than regular water? I can't feel anything from it."
Observing that the man before him had little appreciation for the extraordinary fortune of encountering Serene Dew, Bralok launched into a comprehensive discourse on the substance and its scarcity.
Serene Dew typically originated under exceptionally specific conditions, such as serving as the focal point of a cultivator's meditation for centuries, causing it to adopt the unique essence of its cultivator, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from ordinary water.
Its pristine appearance hides its extraordinary nature, and only those with a keen eye or specific knowledge can identify it as its lack of resonance could easily be overlooked even by those with divine sense.
This unique water is renowned for its spiritual purity. It is free from impurities, both physical and metaphysical, and resonates with an innate tranquility that calms those who come into contact with it.
Serene Dew is also considered a precious catalyst in alchemy. It can assist cultivators in calming their minds and help them keep a steady breath and heartbeat, increasing the efficiency of their craft 10 fold.
When successfully crafted into a pill, Serene Dew is said to enhance one's connection with their inner self, facilitating meditation and mental clarity. It can be a valuable resource for those seeking spiritual advancement.
The distinctive signature of Serene Dew can only be detected by those with specialized knowledge. Even accomplished cultivators may mistake it for regular water unless they are actively seeking its particular lack of resonance.
At the end of his speech, Bralok looked at Tyler and asked. "So, do you understand now how precious this water is?"
Tyler nodded and added. "Yeah, I get it. So, did the water have some extraordinary effect when you were using it?"
Expressing his disappointment at the man's lack of knowledge, Bralok went on, explaining everything that had happened during the crafting process, how he discovered it was serene dew, and what effects it had brought forward.
In brief, the Serene Dew had established a profound spiritual connection between Bralok and the blade, allowing them both to glimpse the hidden truths of existence, connecting the blade to its essence and the blacksmith to the blade's very nature.
For a cultivator like Bralok, who dedicated himself exclusively to the arts of treasure refining, particularly blacksmithing, achieving such unity with his craft and gaining insight into the nature of a blade represented a momentous breakthrough akin to peeking behind the curtains of the heavens.
When the blade was finally completed, having undergone tempering with Serene Dew, Thunderheart Iron, and Aetherium, the heavens retaliated at the birth of such a treasure and a bolt of lightning had struck, condensing the powers of both the blade and Bralok into their true essence, propelling its quality far beyond the initial rank 3 stage into the celestial grade.
"Describing it as extraordinary would be an understatement. As far as I know, no one has ever utilized this precious elixir to cool a blade before and for good reason... It's price. If it hadn't been for the breakthrough into the Sea Formation stage it catalyzed, I might have shed tears of blood..."
Tyler didn't really care that he had "wasted" so much precious water as he had plenty left inside of his inner world... What bothered him was that... he hadn't known about this a few days ago! He had finally replaced over 95% of the water in his inner world!
Earlier, when he produced a few droplets to show Bralok, he had carefully looked into his inner world for the distinct qi-less waters only to find a few million liters left. Sure this was still a lot of water, but it was a far cry from the billions he had before...
From the sounds of it, he had just released billions of liters of Serene Dew into Serenity Lake. Perhaps, this was only fitting... But he couldn't help but think of the missed opportunity to make a fortune and finally be self-sufficient in this world!