Early Grasp of the Blade's Intent

The blade-nurturing room seemed deliberately kept dark. Completely enclosed on all four sides, it was lit only by a series of flower-shaped oil lamps that cast a soft glow across the walls. The walls were lined with a thick layer of wrinkled rubber, grayish-white in color, which could be seen slowly undulating—a sensation felt even more distinctly when stepping upon the floor. The entire chamber looked remarkably like the interior wall of some colossal creature's viscera. In the center lay a blade-shaped groove over ten feet long, filled with a pool of crystal-clear liquid whose exact purpose remained unknown. The moment Chen Chuan stepped inside, he felt a subtle tremor run through the Xuejun Saber. Whispers of luminous mist seeped outward, and the mutated tissue within the weapon grew noticeably active, as though the environment offered it immense benefits. Fenghe Shou spoke up then: "A blade is like a man. If it is to adapt to our strength, it too must undergo a metamorphosis. "Barring a very few exceptions, the master of the blade breaks through the limit first. That way, the master can use his own strength to aid and guide the weapon in his hands, allowing this process to proceed relatively smoothly." Chen Chuan asked, "Can the blade break through first as well?" "It happens, though rarely," Fenghe Shou replied. "Such blades are forged under peculiar circumstances and are extraordinarily difficult to replicate. There was a time in the past when people chased after them avidly, seeking what they called 'law-transmitting blades.' "That was because such a blade could in turn influence the mutated tissue inside the wielder, smoothing their path forward and making breaking the limit relatively easier. "Yet there was a prerequisite: one had to satisfy a certain desire of the blade." He lifted the Wenlei Saber in his hand slightly. "Mr. Chen, you must have sensed by now that a blade possesses an intent of its own. But this intent is born of me, compliant to my desires, an extension of my will. It aligns itself solely with me and resists being wielded by anyone else. Even between a father and son bound by the deepest affection, one would find it nearly impossible to control the other's blade. "However, the kind of blade I mentioned makes its own will dominant, reducing the wielder to an appendage. The blade uses the man to cultivate, and the man becomes nothing more than a puppet. "In the past, certain eccentric sects venerated the blade above all else. In the Outer Ocean, there was once a sect called the Jiexing Hall whose legacy relied on sacrificing men to feed their blades. It is said their supreme transmission was to gain the blade and then discard the blade, thereby truly mastering it. Yet almost no one could ever achieve this. In a mere fifty years, the lineage withered away within three generations. Still, for those who seek nothing more than a fleeting burst of brilliance, such a blade is indeed the finest choice." Having said this, he walked forward two paces, coming before the trough. "This is the blade-nurturing pool. What fills it is a reservoir of nourishment beneficial entirely to a blade. With the cooperation of the master, it can stimulate the rapid growth of the mutated tissue within, thereby achieving the purpose of accelerating its metamorphosis. "Every blade requires an independent blade-nurturing pool; none can ever be shared. Constructing such a pool is exceedingly difficult, requiring at least eight to ten years—and the longer, the better. "In my generation, three such pools were built in total. I used one, I intend to leave another for the successor of the next generation, and the last has fallen idle, so I offer it for your use, Mr. Chen." Chen Chuan glanced at it and asked, "Pavilion Master Fenghe, are there any particular rules or techniques to observe here?" "A few," Fenghe Shou said. "Before submerging it in the blade-nurturing pool, it is best for the blade's intent to surge forth of its own accord rather than being urged or compelled by the master. Otherwise, you will achieve only half the result with twice the effort. "This requires subtle, gradual influence. You must let your own spirit and resolve be known to the blade's will until the blade's intent seeks a breakthrough on its own. Only when it is placed into the pool at that moment will the results be optimal. "Therefore, during ordinary combat, even if you do not use the weapon, you can keep it by your side. If the master's presence flares constantly and the awareness within the blade is steeped in that influence over time, it will very easily undergo a self-metamorphosis. And if the blade's master consistently emerges victorious, that will foster the blade's intent all the more." Chen Chuan understood at once. No wonder Fenghe Shou had been so approving earlier when he carried his saber into battle, even if he simply kept it at his side without drawing it; that was itself a form of blade-nurturing. It operated on the same principle as when his mutated tissue felt an external threat during his limit break and was forced to seek an elevation in its plane of life. Yet as far as self-driven growth was concerned, Chen Chuan felt the Xuejun Saber possessed an inherent advantage. There was no need for him to urge it on; it had always been exceptionally proactive. He said, "Thank you for explaining, Pavilion Master Fenghe. But I don't believe my blade needs to go through that." "It seems Mr. Chen's blade is remarkably in harmony with you." Fenghe Shou was somewhat surprised. Normally, when a martial artist had just made a breakthrough, tempering their weapon to reach this level required a prolonged period of nurturing—several years would hardly be out of the ordinary. Judging from the information he had received earlier, Chen Chuan had broken through not long ago. That could only mean this mutated weapon possessed a naturally profound bond with its owner. He continued, "Originally, I intended to prepare a communion ritual for Mr. Chen to stir up the blade's intent—a practice unique to our Waves Hall. But since your blade has no need of that, we can skip this step and proceed directly to the specific methods of blade-nurturing. "Nurturing a blade is also an art. It involves certain unique breathing techniques to deepen the communion between the weapon and its master. It is best practiced once daily. Before entering the pool, you must first employ this technique to fully awaken all the mutated tissue within the blade. "However, the method of Waves Hall is tailored specifically to the Waves fighting style, so I cannot transmit that to you. Fortunately, I possess a few universal techniques recognized across the world. Whether in Great Shun or the Linakes Federation, any adept wielder of the blade can make use of them. Should you acquire superior techniques in the future, they will not present the slightest hindrance." Chen Chuan had no need for specialized methods; universal techniques suited him fine. As for other methods, he could search for them on his own later—Wuyi would almost certainly have them as well. Fenghe Shou proceeded to recite the technique aloud. Chen Chuan committed it to memory after a single hearing. It was not fundamentally complex; the only difficulty lay in using oneself to guide the mutated tissue inside the blade into the same breathing cadence as one's own mutated tissue. He attempted it immediately. After just two tries, he felt a smooth connection form with the mutated tissue in the Xuejun Saber, allowing him to perceive every nuance of change within it. He looked up and said, "Pavilion Master Fenghe, I am ready." Fenghe Shou observed him, verified there were no issues, and stepped aside. "Good. Now, place the blade into the pool and let it sit for two hours. If any adjustments are needed along the way, I will speak up." Chen Chuan took a few steps forward, drew Xuejun from its scabbard, cradled it horizontally with both hands, and slowly lowered the blade into the pool. As soon as the Xuejun Saber touched the liquid, it sank into the depths. After a moment, the blade began to emit a gentle glow, and the liquid visibly receded. Watching from the side, Fenghe Shou looked on in astonishment. This volume of nutrient fluid was normally sufficient to last several hours, yet at this rate, it would barely last a few minutes. This blade was clearly extraordinary. He walked over to the side and turned a valve, immediately directing more nutrient fluid into the pool. Yet the Xuejun Saber absorbed nearly every drop as fast as it flowed in. Fortunately, unlike the fresh ingredients consumed by martial artists, this nutrient fluid could be preserved for prolonged periods. With centuries of accumulation behind Waves Hall, very few people had ever reached the stage of using such a blade, leaving their reserves more than ample. Only after three continuous hours did the Xuejun Saber's relentless absorption finally subside, settling into stillness. Fenghe Shou inspected it once more and murmured in admiration, "If Mr. Chen's blade succeeds in its metamorphosis, it will undoubtedly become a magnificent weapon. Now that it is fully replenished, the blade has entered a dormant state. We can return tomorrow to check on it. Given its condition, we may well need to repeat today's process then." Chen Chuan agreed, and the two walked out of the blade-nurturing room together. Over the next two days, Chen Chuan remained on the island. Aside from tending to the Xuejun Saber, he took the opportunity to discuss various martial arts questions with Fenghe Shou. Since Fenghe Shou followed the path of the human form, he had a wealth of practical experience and insights to share. At the same time, Chen Chuan learned that once Waves Hall formally affiliated itself with Great Shun, the state would naturally shoulder the resources required for Fenghe Shou's cultivation; this was standard procedure. As for the fissure, Great Shun currently had no intention of confiscating it, leaving it under Fenghe Shou's oversight for now. However, when the next generation of disciples took over, it would have to be handed over to the state. This served as a buffer. The next generation had not yet tasted the benefits or relied on the fissure, so there would be little resentment. Moreover, once the state assumed responsibility for supplying cultivation resources, they would likely never consider risking their lives delving into its depths anyway. In essence, Waves Hall had hitched itself to the Great Shun government and would need to respond to the state's summons whenever called upon. Yet this was an inevitable step; with the shifting tides of the world, the old methods of transmission could no longer be sustained. Such a choice was, in truth, advantageous to both parties. On the morning of the third day, Chen Chuan entered the blade-nurturing room and drew the Xuejun Saber from the pool, finding it encased in a thick layer of white crust. He tapped the crust away, revealing the blade beneath. As he held it, it felt slightly heavier in his grasp. Although the Xuejun Saber had grown vastly heavier than when he had first acquired it due to the proliferation of dense mutated tissue, it now felt even heavier than it had three days ago. This proved that meaningful changes had indeed occurred over the past few days. After wiping it down with a soft cloth, he attempted to channel his Spiritual Fire into it. The blade shivered faintly, and then a soft light flickered along the cutting edge as wisps of white vapor drifted upward. He nodded to himself. This was vastly better than before. After becoming a martial artist, merely holding the Xuejun Saber had made him realize it could not withstand the infusion of his True Force of Embracing Oneness—it had felt like holding something dangerously fragile. Now, however, his power could flow smoothly into the weapon. Even though it could still accommodate only an infinitesimal fraction, it marked a promising start. All that remained was to nurture and expand that capacity. Fenghe Shou remarked with admiration, "Mr. Chen, this blade has not yet undergone its true metamorphosis, yet it can already bear a portion of your true force. It is truly an exceptional weapon. With daily tempering from here on, provided there is no shortage of nurturing materials, it should handle comfortably in about three months. I have a surplus of materials here, and before you depart, I can present you with a batch."