Jade Bone

Bing Ling knew who had forged Feng Wuhen's spirit sword. It had been personally crafted by Zhou Baixi, the foremost artifact refiner on the Qiankun Continent. From now on, Mount Grand Mystery would likely gain another spirit sword of illustrious renown.

Feng Wuhen and the others returned only after having dinner at Peaceful Residence. On the way back, Bing Ling mentioned the great artifact refiner who was forging his spirit sword.

"Momo must have asked Zhou Baixi to forge your spirit sword. He is the number one artifact refiner on the Qiankun Continent, and he is also Momo's good friend.

"Whether for public or private reasons, the spirit sword he forges for you will absolutely be a peerless treasure rarely seen in a thousand years. So, junior brother, you can look forward to it."

After learning that the person forging his sword was so formidable, Feng Wuhen looked forward to his natal spirit sword all the more. As he craned his neck in anticipation and grew more anxious with every passing day, a guest arrived at Nine Heavens Peak.

After sensing a familiar aura, Chu Moqing emerged from his cave abode and called to Feng Wuhen, who was practicing swordsmanship by the cliff, "Wuhen, your natal spirit sword has arrived!"

The moment he finished speaking, Feng Wuhen heard a hearty male voice from the sky. "Moqing, long time no see! I rarely come looking for you, and this is how you introduce me to your disciple? I am the grand number one artifact refiner, yet you make me sound like some errand-running clerk. Watch it, or I'll get angry and refuse to give you the sword."

Chu Moqing knew this fellow well enough to know he was capable of such a thing. "We've known each other for so many years. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. Hurry up and bring me the sword, or I'll split your artifact furnace in half with one strike!"

Zhou Baixi snorted softly and descended from the clouds. Only then did Feng Wuhen see what he looked like. He wore an ink-black brocade robe embroidered with golden runes, giving him an air of mystery.

His long black hair was half-bound beneath a silver crown, and a mask covered half his face. Yet even with only half his face visible, it was not hard to tell that he was a handsome man.

While Feng Wuhen sized Zhou Baixi up, Zhou Baixi was also examining him. He wore a green training outfit, his long hair tied into a high ponytail with a ribbon of the same color. His bearing was straight and tall, his features delicate and beautiful yet carrying several hints of sharpness that diluted any softness, making it obvious at a glance that he was male.

Seeing him stare fixedly at his disciple, Chu Moqing flashed in front of Feng Wuhen and blocked his gaze. He extended a hand. "Hurry up and take out the spirit sword you forged for my disciple!"

At that, Zhou Baixi reluctantly took a green longsword from his storage ring. He looked at it as though it were his beloved.

"To be honest, after all my years of refining artifacts, this sword is the work I am most satisfied with.

"The materials were sent by you, the finest artifact-refining materials on the Qiankun Continent. Then I used a secret art I obtained in a hidden realm years ago to forge it. I dare say this sword is even more powerful than your Azure Tide Sword.

"And most miraculous of all, the moment this sword came out of the furnace, it began to ring with sword cries—and it had already developed spiritual intelligence.

"In other words, if your disciple cannot satisfy this sword, he will be unable to wield it!"

Chu Moqing was the greatest sword cultivator. When it came to swords, he understood them even better than artifact refiners did.

With a single glance, he could see that the green longsword was indeed as Zhou Baixi had said—it had already produced a sword spirit. Though the sword spirit's consciousness was still weak, a newly forged spirit sword giving birth to a sword spirit was unprecedented throughout the ages.

Even his Azure Tide Sword had only developed a sword spirit after accompanying him for many years.

At that thought, he drew the Azure Tide Sword. The instant it appeared, the green longsword let out a buzzing sword cry.

Feng Wuhen looked curiously at the green longsword. He could feel a peculiar pull from it, and as its sword cry rang out, that pull grew stronger and stronger.

So strong that, without seeking Chu Moqing or Zhou Baixi's permission, he reached out to take the sword.

As a sword cultivator, Chu Moqing sensed something and did not move to stop him.

Seeing this, Zhou Baixi feared that Feng Wuhen would suffer backlash from the sword and shouted sharply, "Stop! Don't touch it!"

But he was too late. Feng Wuhen had already gripped the sword. Zhou Baixi shut his eyes, unable to bear witnessing the tragedy that would follow.

Yet after waiting several breaths without hearing a scream, he opened his eyes to look—and was instantly stunned by the sight before him.

The green sword was practically jubilant in Feng Wuhen's hand, its buzzing sword cries sounding thoroughly delighted.

The instant Feng Wuhen grasped the sword, he felt the emotions it fed back to him—joy, excitement, exhilaration!

Holding the sword, he performed the Heart-As-You-Will Form from the Carefree Sword Formula. Empowered by this sword, its might was even greater than before.

"Master, this sword truly suits me so well. I love it!"

Seeing him as happy as a young child, Chu Moqing could not help but let a smile curl across his lips. "As long as you like it. Hurry and give your sword a name!"

"Yes, yes, it needs a name."

Feng Wuhen looked at the green longsword in his hand. Its blade was so thin that light could pass through it, and its edge was exceedingly sharp. There were no patterns on the hilt; it was carved from warm, lustrous jade.

Feng Wuhen touched the blade and discovered in surprise that the entire sword was made of jade, yet it was sharp in a way jade should never have been.

Seeing that he had finally noticed, Zhou Baixi said proudly, "Moqing considered that you possess a Wind Spirit Root, so he found a piece of Wind Spirit Jade and wanted to incorporate it into the sword.

"Wind Spirit Jade is simply too precious. Artifact refining is a process with losses, and I did not want to waste even the slightest bit of it. That would have been far too regrettable.

"So I thought of a method. Years ago, while training in a hidden realm, I obtained a special artifact-refining technique.

"This technique allows a single material to fully exert its effects while merging all other materials into it. But this method requires immense effort and spiritual power.

"I could not have managed it alone, so I sought out my junior brother and bled myself dry to get him to help. We exhausted both our spiritual powers before we finally managed to forge this sword.

"So, whether for the sake of the hard work my junior brother and I put into it, the price I paid to make my junior brother act, or the heart of an artifact refiner, I ask you to treat it well!"

To artifact refiners, every one of their creations was no different from their own child. They had said these words to everyone who entrusted them with artifact refinement.

Hearing this, Feng Wuhen bowed in thanks. "Thank you for your guidance, Martial Uncle Zhou. Wuhen will keep it firmly in mind and will certainly treat it well!"

Feng Wuhen named the sword Jade Bone, feeling that the name suited it perfectly.

After naming it, he stared nervously at the longsword, unsure whether it approved of the name.

Fortunately, the sword soon gave him its answer. It circled three times above his head, then cut a wound into his hand. After absorbing the blood on its blade, it lay still in his palm.

Feng Wuhen did not bother tending to the wound on his hand. He picked up the sword and examined it closely, only to see two additional characters on the right side of its blade: Jade Bone.

Azure Tide Sword rarely encountered a brother that also possessed a sword spirit. Even though this little brother was as weak as a candle flame, it still made him very happy.

Unable to resist, it wanted to snuggle against him. Thus, another sword, snow-white from end to end, appeared in Feng Wuhen's hand. Azure Waves rubbed against Jade Bone, but received no response and drooped somewhat.

"Jade Bone is tired. Once it wakes up, you can play together."

Hearing this, Azure Waves reluctantly left his hand and returned to Chu Moqing's dantian.

Chu Moqing looked at Zhou Baixi, who was still standing there. "Why haven't you left yet?"

Zhou Baixi had been watching Azure Waves and Jade Bone with great interest. Just as he was enjoying himself, he heard Chu Moqing driving him away and glared at him indignantly. "I only just arrived, and you're already chasing me off. Is that any way to treat a friend? Why not at least let me stay here for a few days?"

"If you want to stay, then stay. But there is nowhere here for you to refine artifacts. If you refine anything here and damage something, I'll go take all your treasures."

At those words, Zhou Baixi fled in a wisp of smoke, leaving behind a storage pouch where he had stood.

"Martial Nephew, this is a meeting gift from your martial uncle. Your martial uncle has matters to attend to, so I'll be going first. Until we meet again."