Using Flesh and Blood to Refine a City

Using Flesh and Blood to Refine a City . . .

In the vicinity of the Nine Immortality Bells, an oppressive heat bore down upon the intrepid souls who had assembled, eager to undertake the monumental challenge before them. Weaponsmithing furnaces, each unique and radiant in its own right, materialized in mid-air, casting their incandescent glow upon the expectant experts as they prepared to embark on their sacred craft.

Among the chosen few, a select cadre had eschewed the path of forging divine weapons, their mastery of divine inscriptions having already facilitated a spiritual connection with the ancient bells. These contemplative souls now sat in solemn communion with the relics, endeavoring to bridge the gap between themselves and the enigmatic artifacts.

Prominent figures from the Cloud Prefecture's major powers lent their presence to this electrifying spectacle. In the midst of this fiery display, the eyes of immortal experts occasionally flared with discerning interest as they scrutinized the geniuses and their forging endeavors.

The trio of Pei Tianyuan, Ji Kong, and the City Lord of Driftsnow City stood united, their combined authority a testament to the gravity of the occasion. By their side, delegates from various Cloud Prefecture powers had congregated, forming an assembly of witnesses to this historic event.

"Notice how the Jiang Clan has taken this event with utmost seriousness, surpassing even the Wondergate Immortal Manor in their commitment," Pei Tianyuan remarked, his gaze drawn to the formidable formation of Jiang Clan experts. Their collective focus rested on Jiang Yan and their younger generation's chosen, who were poised to seize this opportunity. The flame that Jiang Yan wielded exuded an otherworldly chill, intermingled with an icy qi, rendering it a rare and formidable entity. Known as the Icy Underworld Flames, this ethereal fire possessed devastating potential, capable of inflicting grievous harm at the slightest touch.

"The Wondergate Immortal Manor is represented by a handful of disciples and a few elders, a far cry from the Jiang Clan's fervor," Pei Tianyuan observed, his attention shifting to Cheron. The flames under Cheron's control gleamed with a resplendent golden hue, mirroring the specks of gold that danced within his eyes. With each rhythmic strike of the forging process, a golden fire lotus unfurled, a testament to his remarkable precision and artistry.

The sage Ji Kong marveled at the scene, remarking, "Their control and forging techniques are nothing short of extraordinary. Apart from the Jiang Clan and the Wondergate Immortal Manor, which are renowned for their dedication to the art of weapon forging, there are numerous other exceptional talents among the younger generation."

Amidst the scorching crucible of competition, these prodigious talents had gathered, each fueled by their unique talents and unwavering determination, poised on the cusp of history, with the age-old riddle of the Nine Immortality Bells awaiting a champion to unveil its secrets.

Amidst the hushed intensity surrounding the eighth Immortality Bell, Qin Wentian remained ensconced in his silent meditation. His eyes remained closed, yet within the depths of his consciousness, a cosmic ballet of runic lights swirled, weaving the threads of heaven and earth into an enigmatic tapestry of formless energy. This ethereal force, concealed from mundane sight, pulsed with an intrinsic rhythm, surging forth to converge upon the Nine Immortality Bell. Here, it metamorphosed into pure law energy, an ephemeral bridge between Qin Wentian's spirit and the ancient relic. In that very moment, Qin Wentian descended further into his own psyche, where an evocative vision awaited.

This time, the mysterious tapestry of his mind unveiled the Driftsnow Inn in all its former glory. The inn of yesteryears, resplendent and enchanting, stood in stark contrast to its contemporary visage. The familiar surroundings, though unaltered, exuded an aura of serene melancholy, resembling a paradise shrouded in an ineffable silence. And there, atop the inn's pinnacle, lay an ethereal figure, exquisite and alluring. Dressed in flowing elegance, she was akin to a freshly blossomed flower, radiant amidst the falling snowflakes.

Delicate snowflakes alighted upon her form, their transient touch akin to the fleeting caress of memory. A bittersweet smile graced her countenance, her eyes a reflection of the poignant depths within. With grace and longing, she etched words upon the man-made mountains beside her.

"Crafting a city that would outlive time, my beloved hesitated. Though I strove with unwavering determination, the heavens remained indifferent to my fervent wish. Here, where our love was sown, atop the Driftsnow Inn, I await my beloved to witness the beauty born from the crucible of our passion."

Her words carried a profound weight of emotion, resonating through the mountains and the very fabric of space itself. Time itself seemed to yield to the poignancy of the moment, as the snowflakes suspended their descent, and the world held its breath.

Then, on the staircase ascending toward the summit of the inn, a young man of exquisite appearance made his trembling ascent. Each step, a torturous journey, brought him closer to the enigmatic figure reclining in the snow. His limbs quivered with a raw intensity, his handsome features awash with terror and dread, as if grappling with an unbearable agony.

At last, he reached her side, his descent onto his knees marked by a resounding thud. His trembling hands hovered, poised to reach out yet reluctant to unveil what lay before him. Seconds stretched into eternity, his eyes clouded with tears of anguish, each moment an excruciating eternity.

"Immortal Jade," his voice wavered, a haunting lament, "why must you inflict such cruelty upon us?" As his words faded into the ether, the snow beneath them began to melt, the mountains trembled, and the very fabric of existence quaked under the weight of his torment.

"You had spoken of crafting a divine weapon like no other—a city of unparalleled grandeur. I, your devoted companion, journeyed alongside you through perilous trails, collecting priceless materials and treasures to fulfill your cherished dream. All I yearned for was to bask in the eternal beauty of the world, hand in hand with you. Yet, your relentless obsession with the forge eclipsed your love for me, rejecting my entreaties," the young man's voice trembled, anguish dripping from his every word. Blood flowed from his eyes, staining his ashen cheeks. His body convulsed uncontrollably as he continued, "For the sake of one single quarrel, why must you exact this cruel punishment upon me?"

The Driftsnow Master, his heart heavy with sorrow, at last extended trembling hands to touch his beloved's face. But the moment his fingers made contact, her body shimmered into an ethereal radiance—an illusion. The Driftsnow Master's tremors intensified as he watched, helpless, as her illusory form smiled with tender sweetness, a testament to her unwavering determination, even in the face of time's remorseless march. Moments later, wisps of her form dissipated into the void, like ephemeral smoke carried away by the wind.

In vain, the young man reached out, his grasp finding only empty air. His pallor deepened, all color drained from his visage.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He threw his head back, a heartrending cry that seemed to rend the very fabric of reality. The world quaked, teetering on the brink of chaos, as the landscape itself threatened to shatter.

"Why must you be so merciless?" The anguished cry of the young man, the Driftsnow Master, echoed through the desolate expanse. He bore the weight of unfathomable torment, his gaze fixed upon the city, a testament to the love that had driven Immortal Jade to sacrifice herself.

The frigid wind howled, snowflakes danced once more. The Driftsnow Master's once-black hair turned ghostly white as he stood alone, gazing upon the empty city—an eternal monument to the woman he cherished.

The scene gradually blurred and faded, returning Qin Wentian to the present as he sighed softly. "Reality, it seems, diverges slightly from the recorded legends." He mused aloud, contemplating Immortal Jade's profound sacrifice. Her desire wasn't driven by an obsession with weaponsmithing, but by the depth of her love for the Driftsnow Master, a love etched in her very bones and eternally engraved upon her heart. She yearned for a shared lifetime spent crafting something unparalleled, a masterpiece that would stand the test of time—a testament to their everlasting love.

Their divergent dreams had sparked an irreconcilable rift, culminating in a fateful argument. In a desperate bid to prove her dedication, Immortal Jade had given her life essence to forge the city. In the end, the Driftsnow Master glimpsed her one final time before she dissolved into ephemeral mist, vanishing into the ether.

Within the Nine Immortality Bells, these intimate moments between the Driftsnow Master and Immortal Jade were meticulously recorded, revealing the true narrative beneath the veil of legend.

"One bell remains," Qin Wentian whispered to himself, his resolve unwavering. Rising to his feet, he embarked toward the final ancient bell.

Meanwhile, numerous prodigious talents had become absorbed in their craft, losing themselves in the art of weapon forging. In their fervor, embryonic divine weapons gradually took form, the ambient heat steadily intensifying as they inched closer to their elusive goal.

"Behold, the art of forging divine weapons, a dance of runes that imbue one's creation with a thread of immortality," an expert in the aerial assembly proclaimed, offering a sage reminder to the budding talents below. However, beneath this veneer of instruction lay the true motivation—to glean the hidden secrets concealed within these mystical bells, whether ancient forging techniques or other enigmatic treasures. After all, why else would they journey here to craft divine weapons when their own bases offered far greater convenience?

As a dazzling array of flames ignited, their fervent radiance painted the space in a breathtaking tapestry of colors, evoking gasps of awe from the onlookers.

"Jiang Yan and Cheron are truly extraordinary. The weapons they craft are nearing the immortal grade," murmured spectators, their admiration evident.

"Indeed, the members of their sects and clans, as well as the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor, Myriad Sage Academy, and Ninepeak Immortal Court, all exhibit incredible prowess in the art of weapon forging," the crowd marveled as their gazes shifted to the other prodigies, each displaying remarkable skill in the craft.

Amidst the spectacle, Qin Wentian found himself with little time to spare for these magnificent sights. He reached the final Immortality Bell and settled into a contemplative posture, forging a connection with the runic inscriptions emanating from this last bell. The intricate lines of the runic pathways seemed to writhe and merge, activating the latent law energy. Qin Wentian's perception sank into the depths of the last of the Nine Immortality Bells.

At the pinnacle of the Driftsnow Inn, the Driftsnow Master remained seated, his gaze locked upon a city before him, drowning in a sea of self-recrimination and sorrow.

"Now that you've shown me the extent of your unwavering devotion, I, too, am willing to sacrifice my very flesh and blood to refine this city, so that I may forever be with you," the Driftsnow City intoned, its voice soft as it watched the snowflakes fall. "Originally, I had harbored dreams of traversing the world, seeking ever greater heights. But for you, I relinquish those aspirations and choose to remain here, relinquishing my life. Will there still be those who remember me, the Driftsnow Master, thousands of years hence?"

With those words, the Driftsnow Master's form suddenly expanded, transforming into a colossal primordial giant, towering over 30,000 meters tall—far surpassing the very city he and Immortal Jade had forged.

"Immortal Jade, as this place now serves as your final resting place, I shall join you and offer my flesh to refine this city," the Driftsnow Master lamented in melancholy. He extended his palms, allowing countless snowflakes to settle within, a poignant testament to his profound solitude.

"ROAR!!!!!" The Driftsnow Master's body expanded once more, growing so immense that it appeared to stretch toward the heavens themselves.

"Immortal Jade, why must you inflict such torment upon yourself and upon me?" The Driftsnow Master's continued cries reverberated, his body swelling ever larger, his tears cascading like a torrent. His tears evaporated into the air, transmuting into snowflakes that danced on the wind.

"I shall use my very flesh and blood to join you in refining our creation." His entire body radiated a dazzling runic light, transforming him into a divine weapon of unparalleled might. Divine radiance suffused every fiber of his being as he expanded yet again. After a time, a thunderous explosion echoed as his body fragmented into clouds of blood and pieces of flesh, falling from the heavens to meld with the core of the ancient city, fused by the intricate runic inscriptions that shone with resplendent brilliance.

"GO!" The Driftsnow Master summoned nine towering ancient bells with his waning strength, casting them into the city, each positioned at a different location. "The tolling of these bells shall safeguard this place. Whenever I yearn for you, their chimes shall resound, bearing witness to my eternal longing."

As his voice faded, the Driftsnow Master's soul merged with the nine towering bells, causing the entire city to tremble. Yet, from the nine positions where the bells were situated, an effulgent light erupted, illuminating the entire expanse in a radiant embrace!