118: Chapter 118 Heart Blade

In the stone house on Green Bamboo Island, Jiang Hanzhou had been in meditation for seven days.

During these seven days, he was completely unaware of the passage of time in the outside world, his entire mind immersed in the profound and obscure Legacy of the Heart Furnace Artifact Forging Art.

Deep within his consciousness, in that vast and clear mental world, the Tidal True Intent transformed into a deep blue ocean surging below, while the Pure Yang True Intent hung high like a sun, shedding endless light and heat.

"What shall serve as the furnace?"

The answer to this question finally became clear after Jiang Hanzhou spent three days in dedicated comprehension.

Pure Yang as the fire, Tide as the furnace.

The Pure Yang True Intent was supremely firm and yang, blazing and domineering, containing the great power to incinerate all things; it was the perfect "flame" for tempering and forging.

Meanwhile, the Tidal True Intent, while appearing soft and long-lasting, actually contained the profound Dao Rhyme of "bearing," "circulation," and "tolerance."

The rise and fall of the tides can bear the grandeur of the sun and moon's gravity; the seawater is immeasurable, capable of containing all things without overflowing.

These were precisely the qualities an "artifact-forging furnace" should possess.

It could withstand the extreme burning of the Pure Yang true fire while also harmonizing the fire's nature with the power of circulation, making the forging process smooth and harmonious.

Having realized this truth, Jiang Hanzhou no longer hesitated.

With a slight movement of his mind, the crimson-gold sun in his Sea of Consciousness shook violently!

Endless Pure Yang True Intent was drawn out and condensed, turning into torrents of flame flowing with a gold-red hue, cascading down from high above.

This flame was not physical but was "heart fire" transformed from pure True Intent!

Its temperature was high enough to incinerate illusions and temper the spirit.

Almost simultaneously, the deep blue Tide Sea below began to churn.

The seawater did not passively endure the flames but actively constructed a structure; layers of Tidal True Intent intertwined and stacked according to a mysterious rhythm, slowly building a massive and ancient "furnace body" in the void of his consciousness.

This furnace was thirty feet tall, its entire body a deep azure blue, with natural Tide patterns flowing endlessly across its surface, breathing as if it were a living thing.

The furnace walls were not solid but woven from countless hair-thin threads of Tidal True Intent; though appearing fragile, they contained the resilient Dao Rhyme of "all rivers flowing into the sea" and "overcoming hardness with softness."

Inside the furnace chamber, it was even more of another world.

The space was far vaster than it appeared from the outside, as if it were a world of its own, with miniature Tide phantoms circulating within, forming a natural field.

The Heart Furnace was initially formed!

When the final thread of Tidal True Intent was woven, the entire Heart Furnace emitted a low, distant hum, resonating with Jiang Hanzhou's Divine Soul.

"Next is to draw the fire into the furnace and forge the 'heart artifact'."

Jiang Hanzhou's mind was firm, and the subsequent hand seals of the Heart Furnace Artifact Forging Art flowed naturally.

The Pure Yang heart fire cascading from above, as if guided by an invisible hand, split into nine lines of fire, precisely pouring into the nine "fire vents" at the top of the Heart Furnace.

"Boom—!"

Inside the Heart Furnace, the deep blue Tide field and the crimson-gold Pure Yang heart fire collided with a bang!

The anticipated violent conflict did not occur.

The furnace body transformed from Tidal True Intent displayed incredible capacity for tolerance and harmonization.

After the Pure Yang heart fire entered the furnace, it did not burn wildly but was guided by the endlessly circulating Tide field within; the flames shifted from violent to stable, yet the temperature became more concentrated.

The crimson-gold flames burned quietly in the Heart Furnace, illuminating the interior like molten glass, magnificent and beautiful.

"The heat is ready; it's time to shape the 'artifact embryo'."

Jiang Hanzhou took a deep breath; all the thoughts, memories, and insights related to the "saber" that he had learned, realized, and experienced throughout his life converged from all parts of his consciousness like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

The aloof Saber Intent from the "Heavenly Saber" fragments that split clouds and mountains...

The myriad states of The Mortal World and karmic entanglements glimpsed in the "The Mortal World" technique...

The blood-soaked memories of life-and-death combat in the Prisoner's Pit, wielding the tiger soul saber against half-Demon Martial Artists...

The bits and pieces of practicing and tempering his saber skills amidst storms and tides while drifting at sea...

Even including the simplicity and focus of practicing basic saber techniques with ordinary iron back in Blackstone City...

All thoughts regarding the "saber," whether grand or subtle, sharp or heavy, were now gathered and purified by Jiang Hanzhou with his powerful Divine Sense, transforming into the most fundamental "artifact intent."

"What should my saber be like?"

The moment this thought arose, the gathered artifact intent began to shape itself within the Heart Furnace's flames.

There were no fixed blueprints, no preset forms.

Everything followed his true heart, following Jiang Hanzhou's most essential understanding and pursuit of the "saber."

Tempered by the Pure Yang heart fire and harmonized by the Tide furnace rhythm.

The artifact intent tumbled, fused, and purified within the flames, gradually revealing a blurry outline.

That seemed to be the prototype of a saber.

The blade was slender with a smooth curve, possessing a sharpness that could cut through everything while maintaining a steady and heavy foundation. Tide-like patterns faintly appeared on the spine of the blade, while the edge flowed with a crimson-gold Pure Yang luster.

The prototype of the saber embryo had appeared!

At the very moment this saber embryo prototype condensed and formed in the void of his mind—

"Zheng!!!"

An incredibly clear saber ring, sounding as if from the deepest part of his Soul, echoed throughout Jiang Hanzhou's entire Sea of Consciousness!

As the saber ring sounded, Jiang Hanzhou's understanding of the "saber" suddenly sublimated!

In his Sea of Consciousness, the "Divine Intent Heavenly Saber" Legacy, which was originally only at the "Entry" level, was as if injected with infinite vitality; countless previously obscure and half-understood key points suddenly became clear!

The first form, "Slaying Clouds and Splitting Peaks," and its mystery of "forgetting oneself to borrow momentum," now seemed crude and unrefined.

Jiang Hanzhou could clearly perceive that this form had even deeper evolutions.

If he could integrate the "circulating momentum accumulation" of the Tidal True Intent and the "instant explosion" of the Pure Yang True Intent, wouldn't its power more than double?

The second form, "The Mortal World," originally stemmed from his insights into mortal Karma.

Now, as the saber embryo prototype condensed, his understanding of the "Mortal World" became more three-dimensional and profound. This form was no longer limited to "dissolving" the opponent's obsessions but could derive many variations such as "reflection," "guiding," and "judgment."

What surprised Jiang Hanzhou even more was that during the mysterious resonance of the saber embryo's Formation, a wisp of a brand-new, even sharper and more ethereal "Saber Intent" spontaneously formed, circling uncertainly in his consciousness.

This wisp of Saber Intent seemed to transcend the heaviness of clouds and mountains and the turmoil of The Mortal World, pointing toward a higher and more ethereal place.

"Is this... the prototype of the third form?"

Jiang Hanzhou's mind was shaken as he tried hard to capture the true essence of that wisp of Saber Intent.

Vaguely, he seemed to "see":

Once the saber was struck, it did not slash at tangible objects but at the unseen "karmic lines," "fate trajectories," and "flow of Luck"...

Wherever the saber light passed, it severed causes and extinguished effects, changing fate and altering Luck—mysterious upon mysterious!

But this wisp of Saber Intent was too ethereal and distant; with Jiang Hanzhou's current Realm and accumulation, he could only catch a fleeting glimpse and found it difficult to truly grasp and form it.

Even so, the Divine Intent Heavenly Saber's Realm suddenly leaped forward due to the birth of this prototype Saber Intent and his profound understanding of the first two forms!

From "Entry," it leaped to "Minor Achievement"!

The power and mysterious variations of his saber technique were enhanced more than several times over!

An uncontrollable joy welled up in Jiang Hanzhou's heart.

The Heart Furnace Artifact Forging Art was indeed extraordinarily mysterious!

Just by condensing the saber embryo prototype, before even truly forging it into a "heart artifact," it had already provided such a massive boost to his saber Cultivation!

He suppressed his excitement and continued to immerse himself in Cultivate.

Now that the saber embryo prototype was formed, the rest was a matter of slow, painstaking effort.

Repeatedly tempering it with the Pure Yang heart fire and constantly nourishing and hammering it with the Tide furnace rhythm, he would make it gradually solid and pure, eventually transforming it into a true "heart artifact."

This was a long process that could not be rushed.

Jiang Hanzhou focused his mind, maintained the operation of the Heart Furnace, placed the saber embryo prototype in the center of the furnace fire, and began a slow and continuous "nourishing and hammering."

His aura became increasingly calm and long, faintly harmonizing with the rhythm of the sea tides around Green Bamboo Island beneath him, as if he had become a part of the island itself.

...

Meanwhile, at Red Fire Peak of Dragon Abyss Palace.

In the main hall at the peak, the walls built of crimson rock were embedded with countless fire-attribute Spirit Stones, illuminating the entire hall warmly and brightly.

The earth fire spiritual vein converged here, and the air was filled with pure fire-element Spiritual Qi.

Master Xue Mu, dressed in a green robe, was currently standing before a man-sized ancient bronze mirror.

The surface of the ancient mirror did not reflect a human image but instead flowed with countless fine runic points of light, each representing the real-time status monitoring of an Outer Sect Disciple's token.

Of course, these were basic statuses, such as life aura intensity and cultivation fluctuations; specific data involving privacy would not be displayed.

Master Xue Mu's gaze was firmly locked on a point of light in the upper left corner of the mirror surface, which flickered with a gold-red bicolored shimmer.

Beside the light point was a small text annotation: [East Sea · Jiang Hanzhou · Stationed at Fishing Ground No. 4, Star Continent Anchorage]

"Primal Form Realm... stable fluctuations, Fusion of True Intents... how much time has passed?" Master Xue Mu muttered to himself while stroking his beard, his eyes filled with shock and an irrepressible joy. "When he entered the Outer Sect over a month ago, he was only at the Burning Viscera Perfection. Now, not only has he broken through to Dragon Elephant in one go, but looking at these True Intent fluctuations... two types of True Intent are actually coexisting?!"

As an Elder of Red Fire Peak, Master Xue Mu had seen too many geniuses.

But someone like Jiang Hanzhou, who came from a humble background without the foundation of a great clan, yet could break through to Dragon Elephant in just over a month while on an Outer Sect stationing mission and even comprehend two types of True Intent, was simply as rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn!

"Tidal True Intent... and Pure Yang True Intent? This Pure Yang intent is blazing and pure, faintly showing signs of breaking evil and suppressing demons; it actually fits quite well with the style of my Red Fire Peak's Cultivation Techniques!" The light in Master Xue Mu's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

According to the rules of Dragon Abyss Palace, even if an Outer Sect Disciple advances to the Dragon Elephant Realm, they must pass the "Dragon Gate Trial" assessment before they can enter the Inner Sect to apprentice and learn skills.

But rules are dead, while people are alive.

Especially when encountering a true Genius prospect, which peak Elder wouldn't want to strike first and take them under their wing?

After all, once the Master-Disciple status is settled early, the higher the Disciple's future achievements, the more prestige the Master gains, and the more benefits they receive.

Not to mention some true Prodigies who might carry great Luck themselves.

"Two types of True Intent..." Master Xue Mu paced in the hall, his thoughts racing. "Ordinary Disciples are lucky to comprehend one type of True Intent in the Dragon Elephant Realm. Those who can comprehend two and have them coexist are undoubtedly individuals with both excellent willpower and talent, and their hope of condensing a 'Divine Embryo' in the future is greatly increased! Such a Disciple..."

He suddenly stopped and looked at another smaller jade plaque beside the ancient bronze mirror.

The jade plaque displayed some recent records of important status changes for Outer Sect Disciples. Information about Jiang Hanzhou's Breakthrough to the Primal Form Realm had been automatically recorded here according to regulations, and Elders of all peaks had the authority to view it.

Without hesitation, Master Xue Mu extended a finger and tapped lightly beside Jiang Hanzhou's record on the jade plaque, casting a crimson Restriction rune.

"Such a fine talent deserves to come under my Red Fire Peak. Not to mention, it was I who gave him the summoning token and led him into the palace. This destiny was sown long ago."

A smile appeared at the corners of Master Xue Mu's mouth, but a flash of decisiveness crossed his eyes.

"According to the palace's principles of destiny, having summoned him into the sect makes me half a guide. If I claim the Master-Disciple status first, no one can say otherwise. It's just..."

His brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the sea of clouds outside the hall.

"Although I have temporarily blocked the news, there's no guarantee that other peaks don't have similar monitoring methods or will find out through other channels. Although Star Continent Anchorage is remote, the heavenly phenomena triggered by Jiang Hanzhou's Breakthrough have likely attracted the attention of some interested parties. If those fellows from Bibo Pool or Heavenly Sword Peak catch wind of this and rush there to intercept him..."

The more Master Xue Mu thought about it, the more he felt he couldn't just wait.

Within Dragon Abyss Palace, the competition between the various peaks, both overt and covert, never ceased. A good prospect was enough to make a group of Elders cast aside their dignity to fight for him.

"I can't wait for the Dragon Gate Trial! I must take the initiative and settle the status first!"

Master Xue Mu made a prompt decision; with a flick of his sleeve, the light on the ancient bronze mirror and the jade plaque faded.

He turned and walked toward the back of the hall, where there was a secluded cultivation chamber directly connected to the earth fire spiritual vein. But he wasn't going to Cultivate now; instead, he went to a side hall next to the chamber.

The side hall was simply furnished, with a small teleportation Formation in the center; its runes were ancient, clearly of great age.

This was an emergency teleportation Formation exclusive to the Elders of Red Fire Peak; its consumption was quite high, and it was not to be used lightly except for important matters.

But at this moment, in Master Xue Mu's view, taking in a Genius Disciple who possessed two types of True Intent was the most important "important matter"!

"The coordinates for the Star Continent Anchorage sub-branch..." Master Xue Mu took out a red jade token from his robes, embedded it into the core groove of the teleportation Formation, and simultaneously poured in his Divine Sense to adjust the coordinates.

The patterns of the Formation lit up one by one, crimson light flowing as space fluctuated slightly.

"Jiang Hanzhou, oh Jiang Hanzhou, this old man is really putting in a lot of capital this time. You better not disappoint me, and definitely don't be coaxed away by the sweet talk of those other old fogies."

Master Xue Mu whispered to himself and stepped into the teleportation Formation.

The crimson light surged, instantly swallowing his figure.

Peace returned to the hall, with only the faint roar of the earth fire spiritual vein and a lingering trace of impatient, scorching aura in the air.