CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 456 EVIL BLADE UNVEILED

"Master, isn’t this all because of you?"

Beside him, the eldest disciple, already capable of managing things on his own, exclaimed anxiously, "The moment you saw this blade, you were enthralled. You took us with you to forge day and night, and it just so happened that we finished it three days early, coinciding with the Lantern Festival, when the town’s blessing energy is at its peak..."

The second disciple beside him also cried out urgently, "Master, I think we should stop the fire for a bit and go to the altar to bow our heads and get a bit of that blessing..."

They had followed the old master the longest and understood best the intricacies of sword forging. They knew that their master was meticulous and would not allow his disciples to interrupt during the forging. But this was a reminder they could no longer avoid.

The Sun Family’s Seventh Son had brought the commission from somewhere, promising a handsome reward to properly reforge this blade. However, their workshop specifically catered to martial artists. They had forged countless excellent weapons and handled various mystical items.

Yet this time, the more they worked, the more ominous it felt.

Initially, their master, when Sun Family’s Seventh Son entered, was still lounging on the Taishi Chair drinking tea, without lifting an eyelid.

But when that Seventh Son revealed the blade wrapped in red cloth, he jumped up, cradled it with both hands, and inspected it carefully. He even placed the blade reverently on the table and bowed to it several times.

After the Sun Family’s Seventh Son explained the forging requirements and presented a bone sealed in a black jar, the master immediately knelt down.

He respectfully placed this black bone on the altar, sealed the windows on all sides, and, using fine charcoal, iron, and a good stove, began to forge the blade embryo tirelessly day and night.

They ate, drank, and relieved themselves in the shop, and he had told the disciples in advance that no one could take leave until this grand blade was finished. Even death shouldn’t take them away; they would die in the shop, but enough money would be provided for their burial by the Sun Family.

And so, they worked tirelessly day and night, taking turns, catching brief naps when tired, and sharing Blood Food Pills, worth their weight in gold, just to pull through these exhausting two weeks.

But in the end, things turned out completely wrong. They worked too fast, and when the blade was finally finished, it coincided with the Lantern Festival.

The blade was a cursed object, yet it emerged when the blessing was at its thickest. What a joke!

As he watched the disciples plead, and the state of the blade reached a point of no return, the master hesitated only slightly before biting his lip resolutely, "We can’t stop."

"The worst taboo in forging a blade is stopping the fire. Blades are creations of destiny, especially since we are forging an Evil Blade. This particular blade’s ferocity outweighs our lifespans, and its emergence and forging times are all predestined, leaving us only to estimate roughly."

"Whether it’s too early or too late, it’s all destined."

"Now that it finished three days early, already forged, we must follow the will of heaven and simply serve it well!"

"Then..."

The disciples understood the master’s words but, as they looked at the intensely glowing blade embryo in the furnace, their faces grew even more tense, exclaiming, "What should we do then?"

"This blade emerged during the peak of blessing, it will have absorbed mercy. This blade... this blade might be different from what we initially intended to forge..."

"How can a cursed object absorb mercy?"

The master thought that was the biggest joke under the heavens, and a sinister gleam flashed through his eyes as he suddenly looked sharply at his disciples’ robust chests and the vibrant energy within them. His gaze then shifted toward the stove fire.

None knew if the master was captivated by the blade’s allure, forging day and night, already dominated by it, sparking malicious thoughts of evil in his mind.

The disciples sensed something amiss, instantly silencing with hairs standing on end.

But at that moment, a sudden cold wind blew in from outside, turning the flames in the stove from white to blue, echoing eerie ghostly wails, chilling the disciples and instilling them with an inexplicable fear.

"Ah?"

The master too was startled, snapping his head to look outside. Seeing the encroaching ghostly mist and sinister aura, a blend of fear and sudden delight filled his heart as he exclaimed, "Quick!"

"I said this blade had its destiny in the unknown. We didn’t forge it ahead of time but at the perfect time instead!"

"This is the ideal moment, a rare opportunity, perfect for forging this blade..."

With that said, he hurriedly picked up the heavy hammer, his arm muscles rippling like snakes, entrusting all his strength into every swing striking the blade.

The disciples were unaware of what was happening in the town, sensing only a ghastly presence akin to an underworld haunted by evil spirits, knowing something dreadful had befallen the town.

Though clueless of its nature, as those who forge blades, they acutely felt that the ongoing events precisely suited blade forging, even appearing aided by heavenly fortune, arriving at the optimal moment...

Without time for deeper thought, they quickly joined in.

Hammer after hammer, one strike after another.

A cold wind swept in from outside the shop, turning even the furnace flames into ghostly fires, rising with eerie ghost qi, mixing disease, injury, pain, sorrow, shock, despair, grief, and bitterness within the flames, greedily licking and attaching to the blade, forming strange patterns.

The heavy hammer descended on the blade, clanging repeatedly, seemingly as soothing as some contented sigh.

...

"Has it started early?"

Likewise, as the Grass Head Eight Declining Gods bowed towards the town, and the rolling yin qi blew inside, Hu Ma standing amidst the bustling crowd suddenly halted his steps.

He furrowed his brows, feeling increasingly uneasy. He had long known this night wouldn’t be peaceful, yet he hadn’t expected the people outside to lack the patience to wait for the proper time. They spoke of rules and appeared to follow them, yet they always conveyed a reckless impression.

He took a deep breath, setting down Little Hongtang, who was perched on his shoulder, watching the lanterns. He turned, entered a nearby empty house, and took a brazier from a wall on a side street, with Little Hongtang holding it as they went inside together.

He gestured for Little Hongtang to keep watch. Concentrating with closed eyes, he entered the Lifebound Spirit Temple until a wisp of Life Incense connected with Monkey Wine, immediately asking, "How much longer until they arrive?"

"I don’t know."

The voice of Monkey Wine resonated, "It’s been two days and a night since I sent them the message. Considering the distance from Mingzhou to here, even if they rode fast horses tirelessly, they’d need three days to arrive."

"Last night, I asked you once more; the other two couldn’t be reached. That young girl codenamed Gua Shao could be contacted, she said she set off the moment she got the message and is on her way, riding at full speed."

"No sound from the reliable ones, and Gua Shao is taking the lead?"

Hu Ma let out a deep breath and said, "I fear waiting is no option. Something has happened in this town, and I need to help, though taking action might endanger even myself."

"I can see that."

Monkey Wine spoke calmly, "At present, some strange things are bowing towards that town, even my gu insects instinctively avoid them."

"By my calculations, you’re likely not their match. Do you need me to help withdraw you?"

"No."

Hu Ma exhaled softly, pondering as he said to Monkey Wine, "However, I need two other things from you. First, if they arrive, tell them three things:"

"First, there’s a disconnect in the Reincarnator’s information."

"Second, I’ve already met Lao Junmei."

"Third, this world is becoming increasingly insubstantial."

Monkey Wine listened quietly and spoke after he finished, "Who can make sense of these cryptic statements? Why not explain fully?"

"Because it’s not meant to convey information but to ensure they realize the importance of what I have..."

Hu Ma had no noble intention of leaving crucial information before engaging in danger. He merely wanted these fellows to grasp the significance of his information upon arriving, allowing for better cooperation. Otherwise, with their cautious demeanor, the moment they heard they were to confront the Shousui Great Hall Officer and members of the Tongyin Meng Family, they’d likely sneak away quietly.

Hearing this, Monkey Wine refrained from further questioning, saying indifferently, "I’ve noted it down. What’s the second thing?"

"The second thing..."

Hu Ma took another heavy breath before slowly speaking, "Pay attention to the commotion in this town. If you receive my signal, I hope you’ll spare no effort in helping me deal with someone."

Monkey Wine responded, "Alright."

Hu Ma was momentarily stunned, "Aren’t you going to ask who it is?"

Monkey Wine pondered briefly, "No matter who it is, since I’ve promised you, I’ll give it my all. If I can’t handle it, I’ll reasonably evade, so what’s the point of asking who it is?"

Hu Ma, listening, found himself mildly dazed and let out a low sigh, "Such logical reasoning, surprisingly..."

...

Having someone like Monkey Wine on our side truly feels like a stroke of luck for us Reincarnators...

After explaining everything clearly to Monkey Wine, as Hu Ma withdrew from the Lifebound Spirit Temple, he let out a long sigh of relief. Opening his eyes, he saw Little Hongtang leaning on the window, observing intently outside. Even through the window, Hu Ma could sense the chilling atmosphere.

"Let’s go, Little Hongtang!"

He slowly rose, squinting, an unexpectedly fierce glint flashing through his eyes, "Just when we’re staying peacefully in Mingzhou, others eagerly construct a Ghost General Platform, craftily plotting against us. Since distancing them is impossible..."

"We might as well go and greet them properly!"