Decades ago, Chen Gong was a rebellious child of the Zhushenfeng family, with outstanding talent, but impetuous, tired of living in seclusion day after day, but full of yearning for the world of flowers and flowers outside.

He couldn't bear it, his life was confined to this small valley, burdened with hatred that didn't belong to him, and he couldn't bear it, and the weapons he had carefully built could only be shelved in the family's finished warehouse until it was dusty.

This emotion grew stronger as he grew older. In the end, he directly packed his bags and announced to his people that he was going to the outside world.

When the patriarch learned about it, he was furious and sternly declared that if he left, he would not come back. In the eyes of the people who were worried or disdainful, Chen Gong still resolutely threw off his burden and embarked on the journey alone.

For thousands of years, there have been many children who have chosen to travel far away. The moment they leave the clan, they are considered traitors to the clan. The family will not embarrass them. But they will never be recognized again. Even the genius swordsmith who was entrusted by the Xiling family four hundred years ago to create two heirloom divine weapons for them was also one of them.

The more genius he has always been, the more arrogant his heart is, and the more he will have his own opinions, so a large part of these far-distance travelers are "good seedlings" who have been cultivated by the family. Again and again, the losses are like a blunt knife, cutting at the hearts of the clansmen, and they are more and more questioning the meaning of the existence of this pedantic rule.

And the patriarch is still the same, with his proud majesty, he suppresses all the voices of rebellion, and completes the order of the clan, but also scatters the hearts of the clansmen.

No one knows how the previous Far Travelers mixed up in the outside world, anyway, there is no one who can really surpass the Sword Kiln Sect. But Chen Gong was the only one of them who came back again. has wandered in the world, and he has a vitality and vigor that the clan does not have, which naturally makes everyone envious. At this time, several elders had already whispered to the patriarch to persuade him.

"Patriarch, it is said that it is the Nine Shadows Hall that issued the mission this time, if it goes well, we can take this opportunity to make a comeback......

"Yes, patriarch, you clearly still like refining weapons, why do you want to give up for the sake of an outsider, and you have to miss the future of all the children of the family?"

The Patriarch of the Casting Divine Blade listened to everyone's gossip, and his sword eyebrows continued to frown, and finally flicked his sleeves fiercely: "Don't say it anymore! From the day I decided to live in seclusion, I vowed not to ask about the affairs of the rivers and lakes again. Aren't your hearts all in turmoil?"

Looking at the still unwilling elders, the Casting God Blade Patriarch lowered his voice: "If you have the heart to enter the world, you can leave the family immediately, and I will never stop you! Otherwise, whoever dares to mention this matter again will be punished by the clan rules!"

The elders looked at each other, and finally retreated with a sigh. But they didn't know what kind of turbulent waves the Casting God Blade Patriarch was going through in his heart at this time.

Looking at the figure of the people struggling to pull the bellows, the rudiments of weapons slowly solidified in the lively and beating flames, and the Chen Ruo who wielded the hammer and danced his teeth and claws...... These scenes are the most familiar to him. That was all he had to live for, and it was his life......!

Yes, in fact, he still likes refining weapons, but he is no longer the person he was back then.

Once, he was still young, and he had a lot of energy in everything, as if there were infinite possibilities in the future. And now, he is dying, and the refining tools that have accompanied him all the way through the eventful years have been pressed in the basement and covered with rust......

Hundreds of years of world changes, and he has lived in seclusion until now, not daring to step into a world that is completely alien to him. Having missed the best time, he has lost the courage and sharpness of the year......

The iron is not old, but he is old.

……

Sword kiln bulk.

In the luxurious hall, a group of elders in strong costumes gathered in front of the stove, adding various materials to the furnace from time to time. The spiritual power of different colors and lusters also continued to be injected into it along with the fluttering of the flames.

"Yes...... Can you do ......it!" The Sword Kiln Sect Master stared straight at the sky above the furnace, where a gradually forming Ding Vessel embryo was slowly rotating, and the flames below were scorching the Ding body, branding bronze patterns.

"Now, engrave the rune inscription!"

The handprints of the elders changed, and beams of spiritual power rose from all sides, pouring on the surface of the tripod, a layer that resembled decoration, but in fact, it was a pattern that contained the mystery of the law, and it was also extended one after another.

With the expansion of the runes, the originally smoothly rotating tripod began to produce bursts of unusual vibrations. It's as if there's some kind of creature sealed in it, struggling to get out. The sword kiln sect master's complexion changed slightly, and he took the initiative to make a move, and a ball of spiritual power shot straight into the sky, emitting layers of misty halos, enveloping the entire altar of Ding.

Under the suppression of this array of spiritual power beams, the vibration of the tripod weapon was finally a little lighter, and the rest of the elders stepped up their efforts, the formation patterns were intertwined, and the luster in the runes was finally filled with another layer.

It's a pity that the good times didn't last long, and when the rune was halfway through, the tripod shook violently again, and this time even if the sect master suppressed it with all his might, the effect was scarce. Each layer of patterns flickered frequently, and brilliant white light was revealed from it, piercing the eyes of the surrounding disciples.

At the same time, the surface of the self-tripod ware has gradually spread out pieces of cracks, the cracks are becoming more and more dense, and the white light that comes out of it is more dazzling. Finally, with a "bang", it exploded into fragments in the sky. Pieces of clay embryos were scattered on the ground, mercilessly announcing another defeat to everyone.

Looking at the embryo fragments scattered all over the ground, all the elders were in a heavy mood. Ever since they received the mission of the Nine Shadows Palace, they have been trying to refine without stopping. But as many times they tried, they also failed. Although I can't remember the exact number of times now, the pain and despair caused by repeated failures are deeply left in their hearts.

The Sword Kiln Sect Master's gaze was only in a trance for a moment, and then as if nothing had happened, he stepped forward again and pulled the bellows, and at the same time ordered with an expressionless face: "Add materials and try again!"

The elders looked at each other several times, and finally "plopped", knelt down by the fire, and pleaded with a wailing voice: "Sect Master, refining weapons is not an overnight effort, even if we try hundreds of times, it will be useless!"

"Yes, Sect Master, you better calm down, let's make plans again......" The elders said, grabbing the hem of the sect master's robes and pleading bitterly.

From the day the sect master decided to practice his skills hard, he stayed by the fire without sleep, guiding the progress of the refining process. The elders involved had all changed batch after batch, but the Dan Sect Master had never rested once.

He seemed to have entered a special state, but this was not the "selfless" realm pursued by the refiner, but a state of complete isolation of the soul from the outside world, a state of chaos and trance.

Such a state is often self-enclosed when it is hit hard. At that time, the patient will not feel any fatigue and will devote himself wholeheartedly to a work that has special meaning to him. But despite the individual's ignorance, the damage caused by a high degree of fatigue to the body is still real. If it goes on like this, the iron-beaten people will not be able to hold on. The elders were helpless, so they were willing to take the punishment and try to wake up the sect master.

The figure of the Sword Kiln Sect Master swayed passively from side to side, and his hands were still stiffly pulling the bellows. The pleas of the crowd were like pervasive magic sounds, constantly drilling into his head. The furnace in front of him was shaking, the imaginary world was falling apart, and the Sword Kiln Sect Master finally let out a cry of grief and smashed the iron hook in his hand hard.

"So what do you want me to do...... What do you want me to do, do you want me to do nothing and just wait to die?"

For the first time in months, the Sect Master finally spoke his true words. For the task of the Nine Shadows Palace, he has nothing to do, and the only one he can count on is the Casting Shenfeng Family, and he has become a feud. In such a situation, he can only devote all his energy to the refining weapon, so as to hypnotize himself, as if a miracle will really happen, his skill can be improved by leaps and bounds before the time limit expires, and all disasters can be solved...... In the end, this is nothing more than self-deception.

A young man in white who also knelt on the ground moved his knees at this time, knelt at the forefront, and said loudly: "Sect Master, the disciple is willing to take a trip to the Casting Shenfeng Family. In any case, please ask them to come out of the mountain to help!"

This young man's name is Nan Jingbai, and he is the most outstanding son of the descendants of the Sword Kiln Sect. Dressed in a pure white robe, gentle and neat, his long hair was tied up by a white hair band at the back of his head. On the outside, he is just like an elegant son who "has poetry and books in his belly", but whenever he picks up the refining tools, he will have a special focus. Even with his whole temperament, it will be transformed into a knife-edge sharpness.

For a long time, the Sword Kiln Sect Master was the most optimistic about him, but now that the sect is in trouble, he naturally can't stand idly by. As he spoke, the elders also looked nervously at the sect master, if he was willing to make peace with the Casting Shenfeng family, maybe the situation would still turn around-

But under everyone's gaze, the Sword Kiln Sect Master shook his head heavily: "Impossible...... They won't say yes. It's me who is sorry for him...... But I can't afford to pay it back. I can't afford his fame and glory, and I can't afford to pay him back for so many years, and he hates me...... It should be. ”

Nan Jing Bai hurriedly said: "Sect Master, no matter what you did back then, but now is a critical moment of survival, and they should not see death without saving ......

The Sword Kiln Sect Master snorted coldly: "That's enough!" turned his back and shook his hand again, "Don't say it again." ”

The two old friends looked at the same sky and sighed deeply. When dusty memories are set off in their hearts at the same time, will the regrets and resentments of the past be rekindled? Do the two who hesitate to move forward have the same concerns and desires?

***

In a tavern next to the port, Xilingchen sat in a corner of the hall, with a few simple dishes in front of him.

Now that he has officially entered the Tongtian Realm. And soon, he should be able to follow the instructions of Forget Dongliu and find Forget Haichao's mother and son. During this time, Xilingchen's mood has always been very happy, and even when ordering food in the tavern now, he made an exception and gave Xiao Er a lot of tips.

After the dishes were ready, Xilingchen ate silently, and a few plates quickly bottomed out. And in front of the tavern, a crying voice sounded at some point.

"Kind-hearted people, please enjoy your meal, my old man hasn't eaten a full meal for a few days......"

Following the reputation, it turned out to be an old beggar in rags, carrying a broken bowl, begging for alms next to the table.

And most of the responses he got were in an unkind tone: "Where did you come from, it's called Hanako, get out!" Many female customers covered their mouths and noses with their clothes in disgust.

"Let's enjoy the food, let's enjoy the food......" The old beggar didn't dwell too much, but he still walked slowly through the store, tapping the broken bowl in his hand all the way.

"Shopkeeper get over here!" At this moment, a loud shout suddenly sounded. In the most luxurious seats in the store, there sat a group of cold-faced black-clothed people, all of whom exuded a fierce murderous aura, which was the endless ferocity formed by too much blood on their hands.

"Why hasn't the food we wanted come up yet?

The shopkeeper nodded and greeted him, and smiled again and again: "Don't be angry, Lord Holy Envoy, you see that it is a meal now, there are more guests, and the small one will help you urge to ......"

"I care about you for so many reasons!" one of them raised his hand and slapped it on the table, "Since I can't keep busy, I'll stop the others first." We are still in a hurry to carry out the task after eating, if we really delay the hour, the hall master will blame it, will you pay for your head?"

The shopkeeper repeatedly apologized, and a group of Nine Shadows Holy Envoys scolded and let him go. And the shopkeeper, who had just escaped from the death line, hurried to the back kitchen, and happened to collide with the old beggar who happened to pass by.

The shopkeeper was about to apologize habitually, but after seeing the other party's dress clearly, he immediately straightened his face, put on a more fierce look than the previous Nine Shadows Holy Envoy, and scolded: "The old name is Huazi, you are blind? Who let you in? We are a high-end restaurant here, hurry up and get out of here! Otherwise, if you collide with the distinguished guests over there, you will not be able to pay for a few lives!"

The old beggar buried his head deeply, let out a vague apology, tears flashed faintly in his cloudy old eyes, and he walked towards the door in a hurry, and there was still a laughing and pointing sound beside him.

Xi Lingchen frowned, he really couldn't get used to the shop's junior second's bullying and fear of hardness. At the beginning, his family was backward, he had also been a beggar, and he had suffered the same white eyes, at this time, he had a sympathy, and took the initiative to greet the old beggar: "Come to my table." ”

The old beggar was stunned, and then walked over ecstatically, and was about to sit down next to Xilingchen, thought about it, and sat down on the side with a dry smile. I was worried that I would be dirty and smelly, and I would be rejected by my benefactor.

Seeing that Xilingchen took the initiative to stand up, dressed in gorgeous clothes, he wanted to be rich or expensive, so he didn't pursue it anymore. I was silently thinking about how to get more money from this big customer later.

The Nine Shadows Holy Envoy at the other table was attracted by the movement here, and also cast a few curious glances at Xiling Chen. However, they soon discovered that the realm of the person in front of them was something that even they couldn't see through. Although the Nine Shadows Holy Envoy walked outside and was never afraid of things, they didn't do anything to them anyway, and more things were better than less, so they drank and ate food by themselves and ignored them.

(End of chapter)