Searching For A Sword

In the days that followed, Chen Qiang dedicated himself to intense cultivation and training. He pushed his limits, ignoring physical exhaustion and pain. Every drop of sweat, every ounce of effort was poured into honing his skills and enhancing his strength, and after a few months as the Youth Martial Tournament approached, being only a month away, Chen Qiang's obsession with defeating Fēi Lóng Tiān grew more profound.

He trained day and night, letting the rage and indignation fuel his every move. The thought of standing victorious over his rival became an obsession, one that consumed his every waking moment.

Finally a week later, three weeks before the Youth Martial Tournament, Chen Qiang's relentless training finally paid off. The bitterness and indignation that had consumed him after his humiliating encounter with Fēi Lóng Tiān drove him to push his limits like never before. And as the tournament approached, he achieved a breakthrough, ascending to the 4th level of Qi Condensation.

The power coursing through his veins fueled his determination to face Fēi Lóng Tiān once more. He knew that this time would be different. He vowed to rip Fēi Lóng Tiān limb from limb.

Meanwhile, in a small, broken-down stable, Fēi Lóng Tiān woke up from his diligent cultivation. He felt a strong urge to further refine his martial skills, particularly his proficiency with the Celestial Sword arts. His heart was set on finding a suitable sword, so he decided to explore Crimson Flame City in search of one. However, as he recalled that he had no money to buy a sword, he quickly felt discouraged.

Venturing through the bustling streets, he came across a blacksmith selling various weapons. Among the collection, he noticed many exquisite blades, and his heart yearned to own a sword like those someday. As he observed the blacksmith's shop, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. In the back of the forge, there was a slight commotion, so he crept closer to see what was going on.

He could see an older man, around the age of 40 or 50, yelling at a youth around the age of 7 or 8. The young boy was holding a roughly made blade, not at all as fancy as the blades that were hung up in the front of the shop. Fēi Lóng Tiān leaned closer so he could overhear. He heard the senior blacksmith reprimanding the young boy, who seemed to be his apprentice.

"How dare you ask me such a thing! Why would I ever sell a trash weapon such as this in my shop?!" The senior blacksmith yelled, and the youth replied with a frightened and subservient tone, "I'm sorry, master. I'll try harder to make them look better, but it really is a good sword."

"Master? Who wants a disciple such as you! Get out of here; you are no longer a disciple of mine," the senior blacksmith yelled angrily, and he kicked the youth out of the forge. "And take your trash weapons with you," he said, tossing a few swords and sabers onto the street.

As the youth picked up the discarded weapons from the ground, Fēi Lóng Tiān hurriedly followed him, keeping a careful distance and staying concealed in the shadows. The youth led him to a small, run-down house on the outskirts of town. To Fēi Lóng Tiān's surprise, the youth didn't enter the house but instead went around to a small shack at the back.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Fēi Lóng Tiān leaned closer to observe. Inside the shack, he saw a few weapon crafting materials scattered about, and a makeshift furnace caught his eye. The youth's soft murmur reached his ears, "I'm so useless, I can't even make a decent-looking sword no matter how hard I try."

Then, the youth tossed the weapons he was holding into the makeshift furnace, and an astonishing sight unfolded before Fēi Lóng Tiān's eyes. Flames erupted from the youth's hands, and he directed the fire towards the weapons in the furnace, causing them to melt down almost instantly. Fēi Lóng Tiān was dumbfounded as he realized what he was witnessing.

In his stupor, he remembered something that was mentioned in the jade token teachings, "Weapons refining flame!" he said quietly, unintentionally revealing his location to the youth. Startled, the youth whirled around and shouted in fear, demanding to know who was there.

Caught off guard, Fēi Lóng Tiān stepped out from the shadows, his expression cautious yet intrigued. "I didn't mean to startle you. I was just curious about the flames you produced. They're quite impressive," he said calmly, trying to ease the tension in the air.

The youth's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting anyone to witness his ability. "You saw that? Don't tell anyone!" he pleaded, his fear now mixed with desperation.

Fēi Lóng Tiān nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I won't say a word. In fact, I'm fascinated by your talent. That weapon refining flame is remarkable," he said with genuine admiration. As he spoke, Fēi Lóng Tiān couldn't help but be astonished by the significance of what he had just witnessed. This was a weapon refining flame, a talent only legendary weapons refining masters possessed. Even though the youth's flame was only grade 1, any weapon crafted with it would have a qualitative change compared to normal weapons. Fēi Lóng Tiān was certain that despite the unrefined appearance of the earlier swords, each one was likely on par or even better than the fancy weapons in the shop.

The youth looked confused when he heard this and said hesitantly, "Weapons refining flame? What's that?"

Fēi Lóng Tiān was shocked to realize that the youth had no knowledge of his own remarkable talent. He quickly composed himself and took a step closer, his eyes filled with both curiosity and excitement.

"You have a rare and incredible talent," Fēi Lóng Tiān began, his voice gentle yet fervent. "What you possess is called a 'Weapons Refining Flame.' It's an ability possessed by only a select few individuals with exceptional aptitude for refining weapons. With this flame, you can transform ordinary weapons into extraordinary ones, enhancing their power and quality to unimaginable levels."

The youth's eyes widened in astonishment, finally understanding the significance of his own ability. "So, this flame can really make the weapons stronger?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"Yes, absolutely," Fēi Lóng Tiān affirmed. "A skilled weapon refiner can imbue their creations with special properties and attributes, making them far superior to ordinary weapons. With your talent, you could become a legendary weapons refining master if you cultivate and refine your abilities further."

The youth looked both amazed and skeptical. "But I always thought I was useless and couldn't make decent weapons. My master never taught me anything about refining weapons," he admitted, his voice tinged with bitterness.

Fēi Lóng Tiān laughed and placed a reassuring hand on the youth's shoulder. "It's not your fault; your master most likely knows nothing of weapon refinement flames or he thinks they are just a myth. Don't worry, though; he probably couldn't teach you much anyway. But now, you have a chance to embrace your talent and hone your skills. With the right knowledge and training, you can become a formidable weapon refiner, one whose creations will be sought after by warriors and cultivators alike."

The youth looked at Fēi Lóng Tiān with a mixture of disbelief and newfound determination. "Do you really think I can do it?" he asked, searching for affirmation.

"I have no doubt," Fēi Lóng Tiān replied with a warm smile. Underneath his kind words, he had an ulterior motive, thinking, "If I can get this guy to craft me a weapon, it will surely be superior to any other." But he genuinely believed in Huang Yanlei's potential.

The youth nodded, his eyes filled with newfound hope and resolve. "Thank you, I don't even know your name, but I'm grateful that you told me all this," he said, gratitude evident in his voice.

"I'm Fēi Lóng Tiān," he introduced himself before asking the young weapon refiner his name. "My name is Huang Yanlei," the youth replied.

"Ahh, so it's junior brother Huang," Fēi Lóng Tiān said with a smile. "Don't hesitate to seek me out if you need help in the future. I may not know much about weapons refinement but I can help you find rare materials and the like."

"Thank you, senior brother Fēi," Huang Yanlei quickly replied with star-struck eyes. Seeing this, a hint of warmth flashed past Fēi Lóng Tiān's eyes. "Maybe it isn't so bad to have a junior brother," he thought.

As Fēi Lóng Tiān and Huang Yanlei continued their conversation, the excitement in Fēi Lóng Tiān's eyes was evident. "You know, Huang Yanlei, I've never seen a weapon refining flame in action before. Would you be willing to refine a weapon right now? I'm curious to see your talent in action," he suggested, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Huang Yanlei's eyes widened at the request, but he quickly nodded with enthusiasm. "Of course, senior brother! I'd be honored to show you," he replied, his determination shining through.

With a makeshift furnace and a few weapon crafting materials, Huang Yanlei began his rough weapon refinement technique. The flames flickered and danced around his hands as he carefully controlled the temperature and flow of the weapon refining flame. It was a rough process, lacking finesse and elegance, but the potential was evident.

After some time, the weapon took shape, and to Huang Yanlei's delight, it emerged as a sword. He handed the sword to Fēi Lóng Tiān with pride in his eyes. "Senior brother, take a look," he said, excitement evident in his voice.

Fēi Lóng Tiān swung the sword around lightly, testing its balance and weight. "It's a good sword, Huang Yanlei. You did well," he complimented, impressed by the potential he saw in Huang Yanlei's rough technique. As he extended the sword back toward Huang Yanlei, he was prepared to give it to its creator.

However, to Fēi Lóng Tiān's surprise, Huang Yanlei shook his head softly. "Senior brother, you keep it," he said, his voice surprisingly soft and resolute.

Fēi Lóng Tiān was taken aback by the gesture. "But this is your creation! You should keep it for yourself," he insisted, trying to hand the sword back to Huang Yanlei.

Huang Yanlei smiled warmly. "I appreciate your kindness, senior brother, but you helped me discover my true potential today. This sword is a symbol of that discovery, and I want you to have it. I know that in your hands, it will become something extraordinary," he explained, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Fēi Lóng Tiān was moved by Huang Yanlei's sincerity and determination. He accepted the sword with gratitude and respect. "Thank you, Huang Yanlei. I'll treasure this sword and remember this moment forever," he said, touched by the bond that had formed between them.

From that day on, a strong friendship blossomed between Fēi Lóng Tiān and Huang Yanlei.