As Yan Xiaobao entered the blacksmith shop, a smile appeared on his lips. He quickly noticed the diligent woman swinging her hamr. Rhythmic strikes resonated elegantly from the hard tal.
"Sorry to trouble you, Miss," Yan Xiaobao said in a playful voice, causing Cou Ling to look up.
Initially, she was a bit annoyed by being interrupted, but upon noticing it was Yan Xiaobao, her face broke into a smile. She laughed as she placed the tal into a bucket of water.
"Yan!" she exclaid, wiping her forehead with a cloth laid at the side of the anvil. "What brings you here?" she asked curiously. Though they were friends, Yan Xiaobao and Cou Ling typically only t when one needed sothing from the other.
Yan Xiaobao's smile grew slightly lancholic as he watched the woman before him and sighed deeply. "Sadly, I will soon leave Muchuan City," he stated directly. "I don't know how long I'll be gone, whether for weeks or years, before I return. Many will have the chance to harm in my endeavors, and they might follow my friends to do so." He continued speaking, without letting Cou Ling say anything, but her face grew a bit pale and listless.
"I've spoken with the Princess, and she'll help ensure your safety. No one should trouble you, even if I'm gone."
Hearing his words, Cou Ling felt grateful, yet she couldn't help but let out a chuckle—a laugh mixed with sadness.
"Silly child," she said, shaking her head. "Though I'm your friend, I'm also the best spiritual blacksmith in the world. Even the Saints need weapons, so even if they find your friends, they might not co for ," she reassured confidently.
Yan Xiaobao knew she was right, yet he also understood that despite her high esteem, so in the city might not care about such matters. There were people who were irrational and indifferent to others. He couldn't let his friend be in danger, hence he had asked the Princess to watch over Cou Ling.
"Will you be okay on your journey?" Cou Ling asked worriedly, and Yan Xiaobao could only smile at her gently. His dazzling smile was full of excitent.
"The progress of a cultivator is always a hazardous path. I have walked it all my life, and I will continue to do so. The journey I'm about to undertake is likely the most dangerous I've ever embarked on, even unknown graves might be easier than the regions I'm headed to. However, with great risks co great rewards. If I can truly obtain what I seek, the benefits will be imnse." Yan Xiaobao did not specify his destination, but he didn't hide the difficulty of his journey either.
"That's why I'm unsure how long I'll be away," he continued, shaking his head. "Though it won't be easy, it's definitely worth it. This ti I have companions; I won't be alone. With friends, I think I won't go wrong."
Hearing this, Cou Ling relaxed slightly, but deep down she felt anxious. She valued Yan Xiaobao dearly as a friend. He had given her many benefits: the extraordinary forging skills she displayed were a gift from Yan Xiaobao. Even when they t, he allowed her to create a weapon from the Nine Heavens Blood Devouring tal, which was highly beneficial to her. He provided her with flying swords and enough wealth for a lifeti. She felt she owed him a great debt, one she hadn't yet started to repay.
"I have sothing for you," she finally said, suppressing her emotions as she slowly entered the depths of the blacksmith shop.
In the distance was an unremarkable wooden coffin, and when Cou Ling opened it, Yan Xiaobao saw a small black lamp shining. As she arrived, she picked up a bundle of weapons. They all had an aura, not inferior to that of Yan Xiaobao's Ice Cold Storm Sword. However, their auras were entirely different. While the Ice Cold Storm Sword's aura was icy and extrely sharp, making an enemy feel like thousands of needles were piercing their skin when released, these had a heavy aura filled with threatening energy. Even Yan Xiaobao gasped as he looked at them.
"When I first started using the forging technique you gave , the energy was so powerful. I can't control it now; the weapons I've made have been too terrifying to sell. I need to feed them blood regularly, or their energy will increase, attracting the crazed."
"I can't sell these weapons, and they've indeed brought so problems. Buying blood is a rather tricky issue, and every ti I have to feed them, I feel disgusted. On the other hand, your friends, always quarreling, if I could make them share blood with these weapons, I believe they'd gain sothing useful from them."
Yan Xiaobao nodded. He had just created so weapons and armor for his friends, but compared to the aura of these weapons, he truly lacked sothing.
With interest, Yan Xiaobao approached the weapons and randomly picked one up. The mont the weapon was in his hand, he felt a chill seep into his body, as a bloodthirstiness spread over him. Suddenly, he felt a connection with the sword.
"I think it's ti to give them so blood," Cou Ling hesitated beside him, rustling as she searched for so blood in her coffin; however, before she found it, she saw Yan Xiaobao cut his arm, allowing his blood to drip onto the sword. It was sothing he often did with the Ice Cold Storm Sword, as it was forged from the Nine Heavens Blood Devouring tal, further improved by absorbing blood. Feeding weapons blood was no difficult task.
As the blood was absorbed, the sword's intent to kill and bloodlust significantly decreased, replaced by the feeling of being part of him. This sword was no better than the Ice Cold Storm Sword, but it was not inferior either. Watching Cou Ling pour blood on the other weapons, Yan Xiaobao felt profoundly grateful.
"These swords are sentient treasures!" Lan Feng said in amazent. "Unlike the weapons you create, these have souls! Although they are only at the most primitive level, and the inherent soul is nothing more than instinct, if they receive good treatnt and absorb enough blood, these weapons could potentially beco sacred treasures!"
Lan Feng was thrilled, and Yan Xiaobao was also excited. If he inscribed runes on them, they would beco even stronger than they are now, bringing sentient treasures to his friends would greatly increase their chances of survival.
"Please take them off my hands. Though they are wonderful treasures and may not be recreatable, I'm not skilled enough," Cou Ling said, making Yan Xiaobao nod. Extending his palm, he drew each sword into his Cosmic Box.
"Since you wish to give them to , I will accept your gift. Thank you," he said, and as he accepted them, Cou Ling felt a bit better. "You've given so much, giving so back is the least I can do." She smiled, feeling that she had at least repaid a tiny part of her debt. Though she might never fully repay what she owed, even a little was better than nothing.
"Thank you. I need to get started," Yan Xiaobao said regretfully as he patted the woman's hair. "I will co to see you when I return, though it might be a few years from now," he sighed.
Yan Xiaobao was not foolish. While the creation of life could make him as a god, it required ti. Cultivation could not be rushed; therefore, he didn't expect to co back soon. Smiling sadly at his dear friend, Yan Xiaobao found his Flying Sword and went to the yard. With one last look at his good friend, he soared into the sky and headed for the next person on his farewell list.
Leaving Cou Ling's blacksmith shop, Yan Xiaobao felt at peace. He had co to say goodbye and inform her of the asures taken to ensure her safety, but not only had he bid farewell, he had also managed to acquire so incredible weapons.
"Where to next..." he considered before deciding to visit Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning was the Clan Leader of the Xiao Family. While he was a renowned figure in Muchuan City, his family was one of the leading families in the city. The primary reason for this was their family's direct descendants focusing on defensive combat techniques, which they utilized for both attack and defense.
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