novelraw Chapter 467 - 466 - Edge of the Knife
Chapter 467 - 466 - Edge of the Knife
"Solon was lucky." Lind was reviewing the fallout of Severis Island. A massive complex had been revealed but even he could not figure out how they overcame the Fiend arrays after their discovery.
He had relayed the information via the vast network the Matron had set up. Anything related to Fiends he was allowed carte blanche. Even the previous resistance had practically vanished in the Voracious Jungle Island.
He did not push his luck but frowned at the strange lack of battles.
Aside from the demonic Fiends found once more inside the complex entrance, there was nothing. Not a single sign of any forces and it made him nervous.
Fey had also begun to grow increasingly worried as while retreat would be the best outcome, the methodical removal of all leads left them both suspicious.
"You need to take a break." Lysanna came into his office with only a sleeping robe on but it was quite decent. Lind nodded but he was frozen as he read the last words of the report.
"My sword…" His words made Lysanna tilt her head but he seemed in a trance before he snapped out of it. "Lost it but closer, I am much closer."
He put everything down and smiled at Lysanna as they headed back to their rooms. He knew pushing himself would only result in reduced returns but as they moved back, the felt an aura fluctuate before settling down.
"Cyntilla finally reached tier 8 too. You all are racing away from me again." Lind smiled but Lysanna looked unhappily at him. While 6 elementals did pick up speed, Lind, himself, was restricted by his professions.
He was not the only one.
It seemed 6 elementals formed subcores far more easily than other cultivators. He was the only one with 3!
"We have discussed this before. We are ready to start if you want to." Lind did not pause but he frowned. He also had thought perhaps to start their family in the Floating Isles but events had shifted.
More specifically were the leads that seemed to indicate the Fiends were focusing on him. Lysanna could read his mind and leaned against his shoulder as he walked.
"Is this how it felt for you? As a Princess?" Lysanna nodded.
There was no good time to accept the possibility your children could be a target. Fey and Tal were already his daughters but they could take care of themselves. He worried but did not hold back.
A baby was an entirely more terrifying concept.
A defenseless child made Lind wake up in a cold sweat as he understood the enemy at the gates more. He felt like a knife would be at his throat every moment his eyes were off his children.
A gentle squeeze brought him out of his dark thoughts.
"There will never be a truly safe time even without the Fiends. Peace is only on the surface while the edge of a knife lies beneath. It will stay there so long as the benefits of peace outweigh it." Her words made him a little depressed but he could not deny it.
His experience with the Sword Breakers Sect was a prime example of vindictive actions. Baihu may have been muzzled due to recent events but Lind could well imagine his children being targeted in the future for revenge that way too.
They also would make choices that made them a target as well. He would have no idea they were endangered until it was over or too late to act.
"Let us at least settle the current threat. It is too dangerous with how ambitious it seems to be." Lysanna nodded but pulled him along to bed. She would not give up the spirit of the night despite their heavy words.
Lind was about to lay down when he froze.
His mind had exploded on the word 'spirit.'
Lysanna paused but saw a vital glow in his eyes that warmed her heart. He was not worrying but seeing the way forward once more.
"OF COURSE! Lysanna, you are a genius!" He kissed her deeply but she would not let her prey slip away no matter what idea he had. Lind was surprised but then giggled as he gave in.
All the worries fell away for a time in the warmth of their embrace.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
The sound of clanging metal filled the air as fires burned the air to such a degree it was difficult to breathe without fire or air Qi to manipulate it.
Usually, the Forging Hall would be full of disciples and elders creating various weapons or artifacts for requests or use in the sect. It was a place of profound creation but all of the members were staring raptly as their Sect Master was at work.
Ores were like clay in his hands. The hardest metal in the Floating Isles came from Starforged Island. It was the heaven of refining as it was essentially a massive lump of metals.
It was said it fell from the skies when a Heavenly tribulation had been unleashed unlike any before it. The void had been ripped open and one of the masses lost inside had fallen out.
It was raw ore and gems but it floated above nearly all other islands until it was claimed by the merchants. Even the sects were terrified of how swiftly they moved back then and it was christened Starforged by the first power that took the center of it.
Starfire House was based there but they were only a medium power there. Still, a merchant medium power was not as weak as a sect or kingdom with such a rating when based on Starforged Island.
Azure tungsten was used in armors and artifacts of defense but it was incredibly difficult to work with. Heaven grade 5 was not for nothing as they saw the hardest metal it took days to warm enough to melt was simply manipulated by Lind.
His brow was covered in sweat but his bare upper chest was covered in scales!
The sparks of the hammer continued as he purified with his actions and his Qi all at once.
"The trick to azure tungsten is the mix of water and metal Qi. Demonic Qi is rare to mix with our own but the result is clear. It is possible to use traditional refining to eventually use the metal but we can go farther." Lind used his Qi and spoke about his technique.
The water Qi for humans and aether children was the key for them while the metal Qi was for demons. A rare hybrid metal that both could use was already in high demand but its difficult threshold made it easier to find than others.
Lind had collected a lot of it while traveling with the Babylon Guild caravan.
The slug of ore was now liquid and Lind began his Forging process. He had informed all of the disciples to see that he had broken through his bottleneck.
It had come to him after talking with Lysanna. How could Solon break the intent of the Fiends without having the same kind used to make the concealing formation?
Solon was a warrior but he used the blade Lind had made for him in the lower world long ago. It was the last use from what the report said but it acted oddly in some way that could not be confirmed.
Lind realized at the last moment what happened. His will and Solon's had made a proto-weapon spirit.
The Skinwalker Inheritance had covered that possibility but it was only from the refining point of view. Forging was different.
His will was heavily involved with Forging. Spirit for elixirs, will for Forging, and soul for weaving. Lind had been dancing around the issue but finally grasped his issue.
He could not advance in Forging because he was holding back. Heaven grade 5 Forging was where tool and weapon spirits were born.
He needed appropriate materials so he went for the best.
As the azure tungsten metal was ready in liquid form, Lind brought out several crystal catalysts from peak Sky Realm element crystals.
He also summoned several more ores.
They were all hybrids. The brittle obsidian mercury and others brought all 12 elements between demons and soul cultivators. They were rare but difficult to work with in refining. Aside from azure tungsten, the others were fairly cheap.
Forging could use them all so long as Qi was infused into it.
Lind felt Lysanna's metaphor was perfect for that moment. He was currently on a razor thin edge between success and failure. For his first creation, he went with the subject he knew best, himself.
A diffuser allowed Lind to create demonic Qi and all the disciples were left in awe as rather than conflict, the 2 sets of elements danced in joy under their sect master's control! Ideas were sparked in demons, humans, and aether children alike.
"CONDENSE!" Lind was not sweating profusely, even over his scales, as the 6 hybrid metals smelted together began to float under his control.
The molten slag flowed like it was string under his control. Impurities were hammered out carefully once it stabilized. The shape slowly came together but then a pressure slowly built above the Forging Hall.
All looked above but it was not a tribulation. It felt joyful. It felt like the Heavens were celebrating something. Lind closed his eyes as he fell into the moment and let his will and heart flow with his wish.
The weapon shone like the sun in that moment but few looked away. They felt compelled even as their eyes watered.
Water suddenly quenched the weapon but it was clearly controlled by Lind himself as he carefully grasped the new staff he had made. It danced with Qi at first but settled slowly while the Heavens continued to rumble in joy.
"Protean Staff is your name." A few jumped at Lind's words but then felt shocked as pressure came from the staff! It had a spirit! It was a weapon spirit!
"The bottleneck at Heaven grade 5 is the need to create a spirit. Behold!" All examined the staff and saw it was peak Heaven grade 5! The badge on Lind's robes changed instantly to deep jade! It was enough to make 1 spirit to be acknowledged by the badge!
Lind was exhausted but happy. He looked forward to carrying his new staff and trying it out. His cultivation rose suddenly and he reached the peak of tier 5 of the Sky Realm! His stagnation had finally fallen away but weaving came back to contain him.
He had a ways to go but now had a way forward. He doubted he could repeat his recent success easily but it was the first step. Weapons and armors with spirits were far more powerful but more rare. Moebius Sect would become a supreme power on that alone!
The Fiends, however, came first. Remove the threat and everything else could follow. Lind let the elders examine Protean and began to recover. There was much to do and little time to do it in.