Marrow Cleansing

A few weeks have passed and I found out some applications for my black martial spirit. Testing around with the various heavy metals in the forge, it was able to refine my body, making it stronger. But this growth in strength was only a secondary benefit.

The true benefit of the martial spirit was that it was slowly increasing my talent by making my body more suitable to drawing in spirit energy. I only found out a few days into cultivation, where black dirt and grime rose to the surface of my skin. I asked Hu Feng what was happening, but he only stared at me in shock, unsure as well.

He did, however, make a guess, saying that I had somehow managed to clean my bone marrow, making my body more receptive to spirit energy. Whatever it was, he told me, it was ultimately a good thing for me and had increased my future prospects.

It was strange though. He seemed happy for me but also sad. I took it as him being unwilling to see my grow up after raising me like his own for so long.

I laughed at him, saying that I was not going off to war and could come back whenever. His look uncertain, he was especially strange today, even asking me to assist him with his blacksmithing. Ever since he became a famous blacksmith, he has always done his forging alone, not even allowing Meiqiu or I to watch despite our pleading. This is the first time in years that he has invited me to watch him.

Both confused and eager to watch a quasi-Divine blacksmith's process, I stayed back in the forge.

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(HU FENG POV)

A while back, Xiao Da came looking for me with this tar-like substance all over him. At first glance, I only thought it was from blacksmithing as, although he was only an apprentice, he often helped out around the forge. He's still so skinny, though, making all my friends laugh at me saying I don't feed him.

I sigh at my recollection. "Xiao Da, do you need something?"

He looks at me funnily before explaining. "I was cultivating in my room and when I stopped, I was covered by this black dirt."

My eyes widened at the implications of what he told me. But remembering my current identity, I could only try feigning ignorance. But when I saw his confused look, I made a 'guess' as to what could have occurred.

The child was bright and understood almost instantly, leaving me to lament about his future. The one I would be unable to see as I could already feel the swift undercurrents of Spirit Hall's investigation.

I knew things would soon change.

No longer hesitating, I turned to Xiao Da. "Today, the weather is good. Xiao Da, I would like for you to assist me with making a sword. Take it as a test. I want to see how far your skills have come since 3 years ago. Let's hope that I am not disappointed by what I see."

First showing a confused look and then a gentle nod, Xiao Da followed me into my special forge, where I planned to set everything straight.