Morning mist roamed like swords through the forests of Thousand Blades Peak on Sky Dome Mountain. Carrying a length of iron cloud fir half as tall as a man, Qu Yong pushed open the weathered wooden gate of the Sword-Forging Courtyard, his coarse hemp tunic soaked dark brown with dew.
The rhythm of his axe carried the cadence of a sword formula. Each time its blade split the iron-brown hardwood, blue-gold sparks burst forth. This iron cloud fir grew only in the Vertical Sword Sect; its wood was harder than refined iron and could only be chopped by infusing the axe blade with divine sense.
"One hundred thirty-seven, one hundred thirty-eight..." Qu Yong silently counted his strokes. White vapor rose from his back, tinged pale gold by the morning sun. Iron cloud fir splinters clung to his scabbed knuckles, falling away with each movement.
Once the firewood was stacked as neatly as a sword formation, he dragged sacks of nine-colored ore from a side room and poured them into a stone furnace in the courtyard. The multicolored chunks struck the furnace with clear, ringing sword notes.
Deep blue flames danced, making the beads of sweat on his brow gleam like water used to quench a sword.
When Lin Shan pushed open the gate, Qu Yong was driving the bellows with the Knowledge and Practice Heart Method. Inside the furnace, crimson flame stone melted into the shape of a Vermilion Bird spreading her wings.
"Junior Brother Qu, this Metal-Forging Art of yours..." He snatched a browned flatbread from the low table nearby and bit into it with a crunch. "That bastard Dongfang Jian throws his weight around as the sect master's nephew, but the refined gold he makes isn't even thirty percent as good as yours!"
Qu Yong wiped the sweat