Those that share the same fate

The Royal Capital experienced a biting chill as winter's icy grip drew near. Snowflakes danced through the air, and pedestrians on the streets were bundled in thick fur clothing, seeking warmth against the frigid weather. However, among them were a few daring cultivators who braved the cold in lighter attire, seemingly impervious to winter's bite.

Qin Wentian, wearing a humble ensemble of beast-skin garments, strolled through the snowy streets. Along his way, he passed by several inns where he observed spirited individuals sipping wine to fend off the cold while engaging in fervent discussions about the recent events in the Chu Country.

"Ah, what a breathtaking sight, with snow gently falling and this delightful wine in hand. It's truly one of life's greatest pleasures," a cheerful voice chimed in, catching Qin Wentian's attention. He turned his gaze to discover a wine shop nestled outside a modest and timeworn residence.

Seated around a table were two men.

"Haha, let's raise a toast to the arrival of a dear friend!" exclaimed the second man, laughing heartily. Aged around 27 or 28, he possessed handsome, distinguished features that exuded an air of refinement. His eyes sparkled with vitality, and his warm and inviting smile created an instant sense of camaraderie.

"Brother Qin, care to join us?" The first speaker, who turned out to be Immortal Drunken Wine, extended an invitation, sharing a drink with a companion.

"Why not?" Qin Wentian chuckled as he entered the wine shop, his curiosity piqued. He glanced at the 27-year-old man and inquired, "May I ask who you are?"

"Those who share a love for wine are friends without the need for formal introductions," the man replied, toasting Qin Wentian and laughing heartily. He was as relaxed and carefree as Immortal Drunken Wine beside him.

"Well said. Let's drink to that," Qin Wentian agreed with a grin.

"Are you sure?" the young man inquired, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he watched Qin Wentian.

"Absolutely." Qin Wentian nodded with determination. In response, the young man generously filled a bowl with wine and presented it to him. Qin Wentian raised the bowl, attempting to down the large quantity of alcohol in a single gulp, but as the fiery liquid surged into his system, his eyes widened in surprise. Drinking it all at once proved to be a formidable challenge.

"Cough, cough." Qin Wentian let out a series of raspy coughs as he gingerly set the bowl down, his face flushed crimson. His predicament sent Immortal Drunken Wine and his companion into fits of uproarious laughter.

"This guy... don't you know how potent this wine is?" Immortal Drunken Wine guffawed as he observed Qin Wentian's mortified expression.

Qin Wentian could only shake his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He shot a playful, albeit exasperated, glance at Immortal Drunken Wine. "Did you forget to warn me?"

"Well, you did say you wanted to get drunk," the young man chimed in, chuckling. His laughter was infectious, causing Qin Wentian to be caught up in it. With a resigned sigh, he clenched his teeth and raised the wine bowl once more, determined to finish what he'd started, even as his complexion deepened to a ripe tomato hue.

"Your turn," Qin Wentian declared, turning to face the young man.

"Alright, it's my turn now." With a warm smile, the young man poured himself a brimming bowl of wine and downed it in one swift motion. He placed the empty bowl on the table without any sign of discomfort, leaving Qin Wentian in awe. Could this person's alcohol tolerance rival that of Immortal Drunken Wine?

"How about two more bowls?" the young man suggested, grinning at Qin Wentian, who promptly rolled his eyes in response. "Stop tormenting me."

"Hehe, I'll give you time to build up your tolerance. We should have another drink in the future," the young man proposed, rising from his seat. He then turned to Immortal Drunken Wine. "And if you ever wish to bring this young friend here to share a drink at my place, you're most welcome."

With that, the young man retrieved his coat and a distinctive conical bamboo hat, proceeding to step out into the snow. His strides were unhurried and hardly resembled those of a cultivator, yet Qin Wentian sensed there was more to him than met the eye.

"This guy can't be as weak as he looks, right?" Qin Wentian mused, glancing at Immortal Drunken Wine.

Immortal Drunken Wine shook his head. His gaze remained fixed on the departing figure of the young man, his expression tinged with sympathy.

"This man is remarkably intelligent, values relationships and camaraderie, and possesses a strong moral compass. His only flaw is that he can't cultivate," Immortal Drunken Wine sighed, leaving Qin Wentian stunned. The revelation was unexpected, and he found himself sympathizing with the young man.

Immortal Drunken Wine was known for his candor, so there was a good chance this was true. It was indeed regrettable that someone with such virtues couldn't cultivate.

Unbidden, Qin Wentian's own past flashed before his eyes. He recalled the days when he was unable to cultivate, enduring cold glares and harsh words from others. The young man's situation resonated with him deeply. If the young man hailed from an ordinary background, it would be one thing, but if he belonged to an aristocratic clan, the oppression he faced would be insurmountable. Given the young man's character, the latter seemed more likely, making his predicament all the more poignant.

"Current rumors have you dead. It's a relief to see you here today," Immortal Drunken Wine remarked, his gaze fixed on Han Li.

"My luck held, and you could say I narrowly escaped death," Qin Wentian replied with a chuckle. He knew that this time, he had come perilously close to meeting his end. If not for a series of fortuitous circumstances – the Blackwind Condor, the enigmatic green-robed man's dreams, and ultimately, the man's dream-will – he would undoubtedly be buried in the Dark Forest by now.

"You know what they say, surviving a great disaster brings great fortune," Immortal Drunken Wine quipped, not pressing for details. "What are your plans now? Are you heading back to the academy?"

"Before I return to the academy, I want to pay a visit to the Divine Weapon Pavilion. I recall you wanted me to craft a fine sword for you. Care to join me?" Qin Wentian asked, waiting for Immortal Drunken Wine's response.

Immortal Drunken Wine's eyes sparkled as he grinned. "Seems like you've made strides in comprehending Divine Imprints. Count me in, I'll accompany you to the Divine Weapon Pavilion."

With that settled, Immortal Drunken Wine rose, and the two of them left together, leisurely making their way toward the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

Qin Wentian's return filled Francis with immense joy. He had been vigilantly awaiting any news regarding Qin Wentian. When he had heard the rumors of Qin Wentian's demise, it had been a heavy blow, keeping him in a state of constant distress.

Upon learning of Qin Wentian's purpose today, Francis swiftly informed Yang Chen. Yang Chen promptly dispatched three other skilled weaponsmiths to collaborate with Francis on forging the base of the Sword-type Divine Weapon. Meanwhile, Qin Wentian assumed the crucial role of inscribing the Divine Imprint.

The end result left Yang Chen brimming with excitement. The finished product was a high-grade, 2nd level Divine Origin Sword.

The price of such a sword was exorbitant, and its augmentation effect was particularly potent for those in the later stages of the Arterial Circulation Realm. It proved even more effective for individuals in the lower and middle stages of the same realm.

Furthermore, with the Origin Sword's capacity to store Astral Energy, its potential was boundless. Once paired with a suitable innate technique, its unleashed power would be nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Qin Wentian gifted Immortal Drunken Wine this high-grade, 2nd level Origin Sword. Currently, his crafting abilities only allowed him to create high-grade, 2nd level Divine Weapons. However, if he were to break through and reach the level where he could craft 3rd level Divine Weapons, he vowed to gift Immortal Drunken Wine one of those as well.

Now that he had enhanced his understanding of Divine Inscriptions and had the capability to craft high-grade, 2nd level Divine Weapons, Qin Wentian would never be short on Yuan Meteor Stones for cultivation.

However, before returning to the Emperor Star Academy, Qin Wentian asked Yang Cheng to gather information about Qin Yao. Upon confirming that Qin Yao was indeed at the academy, he felt a surge of gratitude toward the institution. Yang Chen informed him that the decision had been made by one of the academy's nine grand elders, an individual known as "Old Man Gu" – the esteemed teacher of Mustang.

Following that incident, Qin Wentian found himself sleeping almost every day. Even Francis, the master weaponsmith, had no inkling of what Qin Wentian was up to.

In his dream realm, Qin Wentian stood alone, surrounded by a world entirely of his own making.

Before him lay two monumental pictographs. One, intricate and teeming with fluctuations, displayed a complex array of symbols that seemed to dance and evolve incessantly. These symbols constantly shifted and transformed, birthing countless Divine Imprints.

This was none other than the Spirit Refinement Method that Qin Wentian was diligently practicing: the art of harnessing Divine Imprints to condense and convert Astral Energy into Divine Yuan Energy.

The second pictograph, in contrast, was simpler. Each stroke radiated vitality, projecting an aura of boldness and grandeur. With a single stroke, mountains and seas took shape; with a drop of ink, spring and autumn unfolded. This second pictograph depicted a scenic landscape of mountains and rivers.

Known as the Landscape Portrait, this was a gift from the enigmatic green-robed figure he had encountered in the heart of the Dark Forest, amidst the nine towering mountain peaks.

The Landscape Pictograph possessed an enigmatic quality. It was as though the green-robed man had employed his dreams as ink to sketch the outlines of this wondrous landscape. Through the green-robed man's power of actualization, the inner workings of the human body, along with all forms of energy and innate techniques, were etched within the portrait, evident in the brushstrokes and outlines.

"What an awe-inspiring power of actualization, using dreams as ink to craft the Landscape Portrait. Moreover, it seems to complement the Spirit Refinement Method from the first pictograph," Qin Wentian mused. The Spirit Refinement Method was a technique that harnessed Divine Imprints to condense and convert Astral Energy into Divine Yuan Energy, which could then be explosively released through innate techniques. It was a staggeringly potent art.

While the Landscape Portrait wasn't an innate technique or a cultivation method, it was undoubtedly an invaluable treasure. It had the capacity to enable its user to visualize and comprehend all phenomena in Heaven and Earth. Qin Wentian could only gradually attempt to unravel its mysteries.

Qin Wentian immersed himself in the study of these two pictographs. In a matter of days, he experienced a significant breakthrough in his understanding of 2nd level Divine Imprints. He could now inscribe them with ease, and the speed at which he converted Astral Energy into Divine Energy grew steadily faster. When he reached the point where he could instantly convert Astral Energy into a granule of Divine Energy, he would have mastered the 1st level of the Spirit Refinement Method, using 2nd-level Divine Imprints to facilitate the condensation and conversion of Astral Energy.

In the heart of the Chu Country's Royal Capital, snowflakes continued to cascade from the heavens, blanketing the earth in a thicker layer with each passing moment. The academy's younger students gleefully scurried about, crafting snowmen and snow fortresses, while their elder counterparts were deeply engrossed in their cultivation, striving to push their limits.

Amidst this winter wonderland, the Emperor Star Academy's prodigy, Luo Qianqiu, sat cross-legged atop a pavilion's rooftop. Despite the falling snow, it seemed to part around him, leaving him untouched. Brilliant bolts of lightning illuminated the sky, and the air quivered with the deafening roar of thunder as he unleashed a terrifying aura.

Inside his body, the formidable lightning Astral Energy from the Lightning Revenant Constellation surged through his energy channels and meridians with fervor, endeavoring to forge his 8th circular arterial pathway. Yet, an unseen obstacle stood in the way.

With a snap, Luo Qianqiu's eyes flew open, arcs of lightning dancing within them. His gaze fixed on the distant Heavenly Star Pavilion. The task his father had failed would become his crowning achievement in the future.

Reaching for a spiritual pill, Luo Qianqiu swallowed it and shut his eyes once more, plunging back into his quest to break through.

Meanwhile, the city bustled with activity, oblivious to his efforts.

But today, a thunderclap of news shook the Royal Capital to its core. Within the hallowed halls of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, a prodigious young grandmaster weaponsmith had emerged. This extraordinary talent possessed the rare skill of inscribing 3rd level Divine Imprints, causing a sensation unlike any other!