182: Washing Sword

Above Fentian City, the sky was already dyed dark red by the earth's crimson flames. At this moment, a towering azure treasure light shot up from the depths of the Tiangong Workshop, instantly tearing through layers of fiery clouds.

That was the unusual phenomenon accompanying the birth of the divine weapon forged by Lin Chen and Iron Heart Orchid. With Dragon Blood infused into metal and tempered by Chaos Fire, this longsword, named "dragons roar scarlet edge," immediately caused a Spiritual Qi resonance within a hundred-mile radius upon its appearance. Its mournful Sword Cry, like the roar of a true Dragon, caused the Qi and blood of the weaker female Cultivators to surge.

However, even before this magnificent phenomenon dissipated, a sharp Sword Intent, carrying an air of decaying superiority, swept across from the distant clouds.

"What a sword! For such a divine artifact to be left in this marketplace full of the stench of money is truly a waste of heavenly treasures."

Following a magnetic chuckle, several streaks of sword light whistled across the sky. The leader, dressed in white like snow with flowing dark hair, stood atop a crystalline Azure Protective Aura Flying Sword. His Aura was as deep as the sea, having actually crossed the threshold of a Heavenly Immortal and reached the terrifying Realm of a True Immortal at the Early Stage.

This person was none other than Jun Bufan, the Senior Brother of the renowned Sword Cultivator Holy Land in the Second Heaven—the Sword Washing Pool.

Behind him followed more than a dozen female Sword Cultivators, carrying longswords and wearing arrogant expressions. When they looked at the Artifact Refiners of the Tiangong Workshop, who spent their days amidst smoke and fire, their eyes held undisguised contempt, as if their mere presence, as "Cultivators," was a great favor.

"Where is Great Master Tie of the Tiangong Workshop?" Jun Bufan landed steadily in front of the forging platform, his hawk-like eyes fixed on the still-warm longsword in Lin Chen's hand. "This sword resonates subtly with the ancient Sword Intent in my Sword Washing Pool's Sword Tomb. Great Master Tie, name your price. My Sword Washing Pool wants this sword."

Iron Heart Orchid's hair was still disheveled, and she was only clad in a slightly messy thin robe. Seeing someone openly trying to forcefully buy it, her fiery temper immediately flared. Just as she was about to raise her heavy hammer and curse, Lin Chen silently stepped forward, completely shielding her with his broad back.

"Fated?" Lin Chen toyed with the constantly vibrating crimson longsword in his hand, a playful smile on his lips. "I see a dark omen between your brows and that you are weak in Qi. I'm afraid you can't wield this sword. In comparison, you seem more fated with death."

"Presumptuous!"

Several female Sword Cultivators behind Jun Bufan simultaneously drew their swords, pointing their blades directly at Lin Chen, and shouted angrily, "How dare a mere pretty boy who just Ascended be disrespectful to our Senior Brother! Do you know the consequences of offending the Sword Washing Pool in this Crimson Bright and Yang Heaven?"

Jun Bufan waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. He looked at Lin Chen, a hint of pity born from extreme arrogance flashing in his eyes: "Young man, the rules of the Second Heaven are crueler than you imagine. Some things, even if you have the life to forge them, you don't have the life to keep them. I'll give you one more chance: put down the sword, sever two of your fingers, and get out of Fentian City."

"Rules?" Lin Chen sneered, a murderous glint appearing in his dark golden pupils. "My rule is my word. Not only will I keep this sword, but I'll also use it to send you on your way."

"Stubborn! Vulgar brute, you don't know what's good for you!"

Jun Bufan stopped talking nonsense. His True Immortal Rank Immortal Essence surged out, and his Azure Protective Aura Flying Sword instantly transformed into thousands of streaks of light, weaving into an impenetrable sword net in the hall.

"Sword Washing of the World, Slash!"

Sword Qi crisscrossed, each strand powerful enough to cut through a Heavenly Immortal's Protective Aura.

If it were Lin Chen from half a day ago, he might have had some trouble, but just last night, he and Iron Heart Orchid became one in spirit and flesh. Not only did his physical strength soar again, but with the enhancement of the All-Seeing Eye and Iron Heart Orchid's Artifact Refining Structuralism, he also comprehended the essence of how all artifacts in the world operate.

In Lin Chen's vision, Jun Bufan's seemingly magnificent and awe-inspiring Flying Sword was actually full of fatal flaws. This Sword Cultivator of the Second Heaven relied too much on the rank of the Magic Treasure itself, but ignored the connecting nodes of the Laws within the sword body.

"Swords aren't played with like that."

Lin Chen showed no intention of drawing dragons roar scarlet edge. He strode forward, each step causing a dull Dragon's Roar from the ground. Facing the whistling sword rain, he merely extended two fingers, their tips faintly glowing with a faint, indestructible pattern like Vajra.

"Is he crazy! He actually wants to use his bare fingers to block a True Immortal's Flying Sword?" The female Sword Cultivators behind him scoffed.

However, the mocking laughter ceased the next second.

"Clang—!"

An extremely crisp impact sound echoed throughout the hall.

The boundless sword rain instantly vanished. Jun Bufan's Lifebound Azure Protective Aura Flying Sword was actually clamped firmly by Lin Chen's two fingers at its tip! No matter how frantically Jun Bufan urged his Immortal Essence, the Flying Sword was as if fixed by an iron clamp, unable to advance even an inch.

"How is this possible... you..." Jun Bufan's face changed drastically. His Sea of Consciousness was throbbing with pain from his Lifebound Flying Sword being seized.

"To refine an artifact, one must first understand its skeleton." Lin Chen stared at an extremely hidden spiritual energy node on the Flying Sword—the most fragile 'joint' of the entire sword.

"Break!"

Lin Chen twisted his two fingers sharply, and a violent hidden force erupted from his fingertips.

"Crack!"

Accompanied by a heartbreaking crack, the True Immortal Rank Flying Sword that had accompanied Jun Bufan for hundreds of years snapped into two pieces in Lin Chen's hands, like fragile glazed glass!

"Pfft—!"

With his Lifebound Treasure destroyed, Jun Bufan was struck by lightning. He flew backward, crashing heavily against a stone pillar outside the door, spewing large mouthfuls of blood that stained his originally spotless white robe.

Lin Chen casually tossed the broken fragment onto Jun Bufan's already twisted face, his eyes full of disdain.

"If you can't even cultivate a sword properly, what makes you talk about cultivating Immortality? Take your scrap metal and get out of my sight."

The entire hall was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The female Sword Cultivators, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, now felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their hands clutching their swords trembling violently. Their "mythical" Senior Brother had actually been crippled by a man who had only recently Ascended, using just two fingers?

At this moment, Iron Heart Orchid stood behind Lin Chen, gazing blankly at his back, which resembled a War God descended upon the world. Her heart, which had always only beaten for her hammer, was now pounding wildly against her chest. This absolute dominance, this arrogance of treating a True Immortal as mere grass, was precisely the ultimate destination her Soul, a woman who spent her days with raging fires, yearned for... That night, the Sword Washing Pool's contingent had long since fled in disarray. The crisis at Tiangong Workshop was resolved, but the internal pressure became unusually scorching.

In the secret chamber, Lin Chen caressed the crimson longsword in his hand, as a fragrant breeze wafted from behind him.

Iron Heart Orchid tightly embraced Lin Chen's waist from behind. She was almost naked, with only a thin, cicada-wing-like red veil barely hanging from her shoulders. Her breasts, rising and falling violently with excitement, pressed tightly against Lin Chen's broad back. Sweat trickled down her bronze skin, bringing with it a maddening heat.

"My Lord... when you broke that sword just now... Qinglan's heart almost burst out..."

Her voice was hoarse, filled with extreme longing. Last night's favor had not satisfied her; instead, after Lin Chen displayed that miraculous finger technique, she completely succumbed to her worship of the strong.

Lin Chen turned, grabbed her firm and powerful waist, and lifted her onto the massive forging platform.

"What, have you seen enough?"

"Not enough... never enough in a lifetime." Iron Heart Orchid's heroic face was now flushed with lust. She actively spread her long and athletic thighs, which had been perfectly sculpted by years of wielding a heavy hammer, every inch of muscle containing astonishing elasticity.

"Then I'll let you see clearly."

"Ah—!"

She was no longer the workshop master who wielded a great hammer, but the humblest and happiest whetstone beneath this peerless divine weapon.

"Master... just like you broke that Flying Sword... break me... too!"

Deep within this Crimson Bright and Yang Heaven, Lin Chen, with his iron will and virile prowess, not only broke the sword of a hypocrite but also completely melted the Soul of a strong woman.

[Congratulations, host! Successfully defeated the 'Sword Washing Pool' elite, shaking Fentian City with your prestige!] [Iron Heart Orchid's loyalty has reached MAX! Unlocked exclusive Dual Cultivation skill: [Fire Within the Universe] (Forging efficiency +500%, Dual Cultivation efficiency +200%)!] [Next plan: Jun Bufan fled back to his Sect, enraging the Sword Washing Pool Old Ancestor. But at the same time, the owner of Fentian Palace—that red-haired older sister Crimson Phoenix—seems to have developed a strong interest in the man who 'broke a True Immortal's Flying Sword'...]