Breaking Through the Realm

【Congratulations, Host. You have successfully invested in Jiang Chulong, aiding her in defeating the Black Dragon's projection.】

【Investment Reward】: "Black Dragon's Essence Blood."

"With five dragon essence bloods, a divine weapon can be forged. Now, only one last type remains before the set is complete."

Inside the carriage, Li Mo examined the translucent jade vial in his hand.

He could sense the profound and immense power contained within, much like the other vials of essence blood.

At present, he dared not take out all the dragon blood at once.

For some reason, despite all being of draconic origin, the different essence bloods seemed to regard each other as enemies. The moment their auras came into contact, they would inexplicably boil, their energies clashing violently in the void.

"If these were forged into a divine weapon, what rank could it achieve on the Divine Arms Ranking?"

Young Li often prided himself on being a righteous gentleman and a dashing swordsman.

But truth be told, he had to admit that he was born to be a blacksmith. The thought of forging divine weapons stirred an innate excitement within him.

So, what should he forge?

He already had Hammer Bao for a hammer, and the Celestial Sword would soon be returned to Celestial City after crossing the Dragon Gate in a few days.

A sword?

He couldn’t very well wield two hammers—he wasn’t Li Yuanba. Otherwise, he’d truly earn the title of "Divine Hammer Overlord."

"Overthinking is pointless. Right now, I’m not even skilled enough to forge a Mystical Weapon, let alone a divine one..."

Li Mo shook off his scattered thoughts.

Becoming a Divine Artisan wasn’t just about technique and hammer skills.

His physical body alone was far from ready.

Now, he was on his way to the Sword Forge, where he would receive guidance from his icy mentor to further hone his strengths...

The air was frigid, and the sunlight barely pierced through the Tian Mountain Sword Manor.

Before the blazing forge, which burned defiantly amid the snowstorm, Du Wufeng crouched, slurping from a large bowl of hand-pulled noodles.

Beside him stood two elders—one with a single arm, clad in a blue robe. Though he appeared younger than Du Wufeng, his aura carried a heavier weight of time.

If Elder Hanhe or Elder Zeng were here, they would recognize him instantly—a Divine Artisan renowned across the land.

Both had once been his apprentices.

The last figure was none other than the Manor Lord, Xie Xuan.

"That kid mastered your forging techniques in just a day?"

The blue-robed, one-armed Divine Artisan’s empty sleeve fluttered in the wind as he pondered.

Du Wufeng took another loud slurp of noodles. "To be precise, less than half an hour."

"I must still be dreaming..."

The one-armed Divine Artisan scratched his messy hair.

Though he often mocked Du Wufeng’s skills, he knew full well that among the Divine Artisans of the Sword Forge, Du Wufeng had walked the hardest path.

"Then again, compared to the undisputed top-ranked prodigy under eighteen, this hardly seems surprising."

"True. What’s more unbelievable than him cuddling with Bingbing?"

"Let’s be real—what’s the Yantian Sect thinking? How could the Empress possibly rank above Bingbing?"

"Shut up! Have you lost your mind, Old Tian?"

"Huh? You disagree?"

"Must you say it out loud?"

As the two Divine Artisans bickered, the sound of an approaching carriage interrupted them. A hand stretched out from the window, occasionally grasping at the air as if testing something.

When the carriage stopped, Du Wufeng asked,

"Why were you sticking your hand out the window?"

"I was measuring the wind’s force and shape."

Li Mo stepped out, his expression solemn.

Oh?

The group—comprising experts at the Sixth and even Seventh Realms—exchanged glances.

The wind was formless. For an ordinary person, attempting to grasp its shape and force was absurd.

It seemed Li Mo was comprehending some profound martial art.

Xie Xuan smiled. "To already understand the art of sensing the heavens and earth—this is the path of External Manifestation. Geniuses truly walk several steps ahead."

"You flatter me, Senior. By the way, where’s Xie Xuan today?"

Li Mo casually asked while paying his respects to the blue-robed Divine Artisan and Du Wufeng. Then, he pulled out his anvil and forging tools.

"Xie Xuan..."

Xie Yiding’s forehead twitched.

"He went out with a master from the Suspended Temple. Lately, he’s been leaving every day. I suspect he’s slacking in his training, but since he’s with a Buddhist, I can’t imagine what mischief he’s up to."

"Which master?"

"Master Zangai. You know him too—any idea what they’re doing?"

"......"

Li Mo leaned back slightly, thinking to himself, The Tian Mountain Sword Manor’s intuition is terrifyingly sharp.

The former "Moonlit Pavilion" had been rebranded as a foot spa, with Xie Xuan and Zhong Zhenyue as new co-owners.

According to Zhong Zhenyue, Xie Xuan had been abusing his position, summoning Hua Nongying to give him foot baths three times a day—so often that her hands were nearly worn out.

Likely fearing Xie Yiding’s scrutiny, he’d dragged Murong Xiao along.

The two must have hit it off splendidly...

"Probably busy with work. How’s his martial progress?"

"Work?"

Xie Yiding pondered. "He has improved quite a bit—his sword heart has grown clearer and more carefree. But what kind of work could have such an effect?"

Who knew that daily foot baths could elevate one’s cultivation?

Even Li Mo, a master of foot therapy, was baffled.

But then again, that’s why he was a genius:

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

"It’s good for him to venture beyond the Sword Manor and see more of the world."

Xie Yiding sighed appreciatively.

Little did he know, he was thanking the wrong person...

"Enough chatter."

Du Wufeng set his bowl aside.

"Kid, today’s going to be rough. Tian the Divine Artisan and I will teach you weapon-forging together. I know your body is like a treasured artifact, and your foundation is solid, but you’re still far from being a Divine Artisan."

"I wouldn’t have it any other way!"

His purpose for going to Celestial City with Ying Bing differed from others.

Most prodigies sought the strongest Internal Manifestation methods there. Those who emerged after observing the divine would far surpass their peers upon entering the Internal Realm.

But Li Mo’s goal was to help the "ice block" claim Celestial City for herself...

So even as the top-ranked prodigy, slacking off wasn’t an option.

Before the Sword Forge, Li Mo gripped the upgraded Star Hammer and swung down under Du Wufeng’s guidance.

A hundred strikes in a single breath!

Boom—

"Not enough! Put your back into it!"

Du Wufeng was stern during forging, a far cry from his usual carefree demeanor.

"Kid, the method you’re using forges both the weapon and yourself. Every strike must drain you completely!" Tian the Divine Artisan barked.

"A hundred strikes per breath isn’t enough for me now."

As he raised the hammer, he channeled his martial insights into Divine Refinement and silently activated the Seventy-Two Transformations.

Boom—

The reverberating thunderclap of the strike lingered, layer upon layer, unceasing.

He was burning up!

For a moment, he glimpsed the hammer’s arc—a trajectory so profound it altered the weapon blank at the most microscopic level.

Whoosh—

The forge’s flames blazed blindingly.

Li Mo’s vision shifted—no longer did he see metal, but a Great Sage’s projection, radiant with golden light.

He was no longer at the Sword Forge, but within a miniature world.

The same hammer strikes echoed over the Yin-Yang Training Grounds.

Tenth move...

Fifteenth move...