Metal Fire
"Clang... clang... clang..."
Fang Yu swung his golden hammer, striking the crimson Metal Fire Blank again and again. Sparks flew in every direction, mingling with the thick, fiery heat inside the cave.
As he breathed, scorching Flowing Flame Fire entered through his mouth and nose, traveled through his meridians, and was filtered into a trace of Spiritual Qi,
which then flowed into the golden hammer in his hand and was infused into the Metal Fire Blank with each blow.
Under the repeated blows of the golden hammer and the infusion of Spiritual Qi, the Metal Fire Blank was gradually hammered into a square Metal Fire Stone an inch across.
About six days later, a faint golden light appeared on the scorching Metal Fire Stone, making it look like a golden sugar cube.
Fang Yu put down the hammer, picked up a seal engraved with his name from beside him, and pressed it onto the Metal Fire Stone.
He deftly picked up a pair of golden tongs, opened the bucket of spirit water beside him, and placed the Metal Fire Stone inside.
As it sizzled in the quenching water, he silently counted the time. After the span of a finger snap, he lifted it out with the tongs.
A flash of golden light appeared before his eyes, and the two characters for "Fang Yu" stood out clearly on the Metal Fire Stone.
He casually tossed the Metal Fire Stone into the stone box beside him, where it joined the forty-eight already inside.
"I've finished this year's quota. The rest are mine!"
Fang Yu murmured to himself and looked at the immortal calendar hanging on the cave wall:
[Year 2049 of the Near Ancient era, Hairy Head Sun presiding, tenth month, twenty-first day. Fortune lies in the southeast. Auspicious for long journeys, moving into a home, breakthroughs...]
It had been twenty-nine years since he transmigrated into this world of immortal cultivation. At six, he had encountered an immortal opportunity and become an outer disciple of the Metal Stone Immortal Sect.
After breaking through the "mystery of the womb" at eighteen and recalling the events of his previous life, he had fantasized about soaring into the heavens in a single bound, becoming a Buddha or a patriarch, and joining the ranks of immortals who lived forever.
Alas, entering an immortal sect was like plunging into a sea of unfathomable depth. More than twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye, and now, at twenty-nine, he had only just reached the Peak of the First Layer of Qi Ingestion.
Worse, after being "bewitched by a ghost" ten years ago, he had burdened himself with a thirty-year cave abode loan, leaving him owing forty-nine Metal Fire Stones every year.
After resting for a while, he picked up a Metal Fire Blank with his tongs, placed it on the anvil, and began hammering the first Metal Fire Stone that would be his that year.
The pages of the immortal calendar turned one after another. In the blink of an eye, more than two months passed, and a new year arrived.
[Year 2050 of the Near Ancient era, Bond Metal presiding, first month, first day. Fortune lies due north. Auspicious for marriage, opening a business, praying for blessings...]
"Before I knew it, I've reached thirty, the age to stand on my own..."
Fang Yu put the Metal Fire Stone he had just finished forging into the stone box. His gaze swept over the twelve Metal Fire Stones that belonged to him, and a bitter smile touched his lips.
After a whole year of backbreaking work, his income amounted to just twelve stones.
Putting away the stone box, he went outside his cave abode. A scorching wind swept against his face, bringing him immediate comfort.
He walked through the little courtyard planted with sunflowers, murmuring an incantation. A white cloud appeared beneath his feet, forming a small cloud platform that carried him toward the Fire Cloud Cave.
The cloud beneath his feet was one of the few minor Law Techniques he knew, called Cloud Soaring. Only when he rode clouds and mists did he feel like an immortal cultivator.
"Fellow cultivator Fang, long time no see!"
"Fellow cultivator Jiang, have you eaten?"
"How about going to the Divine Maiden Pavilion together later? I heard a new batch of skinny horses arrived this year!"
"Really? Then I have to go take a look!"
"Ah! After paying this year's annual tribute, I won't have anything left. How could I afford to visit the Divine Maiden Pavilion?"
"Come on, Old Liu, you're crying poverty again."
"..."
The closer Fang Yu got to the Fire Cloud Cave, the more familiar cultivators he encountered. The cloud platforms beneath their feet joined into a broad expanse of clouds as they chatted on their way.
As Fang Yu chatted, he looked down at the Flaming Mountain, which stretched for a thousand li below.
This was the Metal Stone Immortal Sect's spiritual land, with an almost inexhaustible supply of Flowing Flame Fire,
and the main task of outer disciples like them was to use their Cultivation Methods to transform this Flowing Flame Fire into Spiritual Qi and infuse it into Metal Fire Stones, turning them into Spirit Stones that others could ingest.
Thus, the first day of every new year was the day they submitted their annual tribute.
Upon reaching the plaza outside the Fire Cloud Cave, everyone lowered their cloud platforms and formed a long queue, entering the cave one by one to pay their annual tribute.
Soon, it was Fang Yu's turn. He walked into the cave and saw more than ten deacons seated behind desks. He went to an empty spot, placed his stone box on the desk, and handed over his outer disciple token.
Without even raising his head, the deacon took the token and inspected the Metal Fire Stones in the box one by one. Once he had confirmed that there was no problem with their Spiritual Qi concentration, he stamped his deacon's seal on a blank side of each one.
"Sixty-one Spirit Stones in total, all sixty-one qualified. After deducting forty-nine for the cave abode payment, twelve remain!"
As he spoke, the deacon took all sixty-one Spirit Stones from the box, then set down twelve Metal Fire Stones fit for circulation along with Fang Yu's disciple token.
"Sorry for the trouble!"
Fang Yu put away the stone box and his disciple token, then rose and headed out of the cave, turning a Metal Fire Stone over in his hand.
This Spirit Stone bore numerous seals: besides the seal of the disciple who had forged it, there were those of the deacon disciple who had collected it, the storehouse seal for its admission, the inspection seal, the storehouse seal for its release, and the Metal Stone Immortal Sect seal authorizing its circulation.
It had exactly six faces, each bearing a seal, ensuring that all Spirit Stones able to circulate within the Metal Stone Immortal Sect's sphere of influence met the standard.
If any problem arose while a Spirit Stone was being used, it could be traced directly back through every stage.
This made counterfeiting and passing off inferior goods as quality ones nearly impossible.
"I've worked hard all year. It's time to reward myself!"
Fang Yu left the Fire Cloud Cave and headed straight for the market town where the Divine Maiden Pavilion was located.
The market town within the Metal Stone Immortal Sect lay at the foot of the Flaming Mountain and covered a vast area. It was home to many outer disciples who did not qualify for loans to purchase cave abodes, as well as a large number of mortal servants.
At this time of year, the liveliest part of the market town was always the area around the Divine Maiden Pavilion.
"Oh my, Master Fang, you're here! Come on in!"
As soon as he stepped inside, Madam Liu, with whom he was acquainted, came over to greet him warmly. She took his arm and led him upstairs, as though afraid he might run away.
Fang Yu had been a regular here since turning eighteen and knew most of the madams in the pavilion.
But after he had been "bewitched by a ghost" and taken out a loan to buy a cave abode, he could no longer come often.
Only after paying his annual tribute on the first day of each year did he have the leisure and Spirit Stones to come and relax.
"The usual!"
Fang Yu casually slipped a Metal Fire Stone into Madam Liu's hand and followed her into a room.
Before long, a whole table of fine wine and delicious food was served, and seven young women of every shape and size attended him.
"Master Fang, let me offer you a toast!"
"Oh, Master Fang, where are you touching?"
"Hee hee hee... that tickles..."
"Master Fang, let me keep you company tonight!"
"..."
Fang Yu held a woman in each arm, thoroughly enjoying himself. Under their attentions, his body and nerves, worn out from a year's labor, gradually relaxed.
"Jinlian, you stay. The rest of you may go!"
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he scooped the girl named Jinlian up in his arms and carried her toward the bed.
The next day.
At the first hint of dawn, Fang Yu opened his eyes and drew Jinlian into his arms, slowly stroking her smooth back. Just as he was preparing for their fourth round, his hand suddenly froze...
In his sea of consciousness, the bead that had remained dormant ever since he transmigrated began spinning. A piece of information appeared:
[Void Penetration: Can travel through the heavens and myriad worlds, and grotto-heavens great and small...]
This is...
Thirty years. My golden finger has finally activated.
A bright light shone in Fang Yu's eyes. He pushed Jinlian aside, put on his clothes, and headed for his cave abode.