Chapter 23: The Blood Sword's Birth
The inn room where Lin Xuan resided was a cocoon of quiet intensity, its wooden walls lined with weathered scrolls and faintly glowing talismans, the air thick with the earthy scent of ink and the lingering aroma of medicinal herbs from his recent pill crafting. The moonlight filtered through a small, cracked window, casting silver streaks across the floor where Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, the silver-blue flame flickering before him, its warmth a stark contrast to the cool night. His crimson eyes glowed with focus as he prepared to guide Liu Yang, the young boy's potential a spark he couldn't ignore. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a rhythmic hum that resonated with the golden coin Liu Yue carried, binding their fates.
Lin Xuan summoned Liu Yang, the boy entering with a hesitant bow, his dark hair tousled, his eyes alight with a mix of fear and determination. "Senior Brother, I'm ready to learn," he said, his voice steady despite the tremble in his hands. Lin Xuan nodded, handing him a simplified version of the Scriptures of Severed Unity and the Crimson Blood Crystallization Art, their pages crackling with ancient power. "This path is painful," he warned, his tone firm yet compassionate. "But it will forge your strength." Liu Yang sat cross-legged, his small frame tensing as he began the art, the qi coursing through him like a wildfire. His blood crystallized, a searing pain etching lines on his face, a groan escaping as he gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his brow.
Minutes stretched into an hour, the room silent save for Liu Yang's labored breaths. Lin Xuan watched, his crimson eyes narrowing as the boy cut his finger with a small knife, a deliberate act that drew a thin line of crimson. To Lin Xuan's shock, the blood coalesced into a liquid sword, its surface shimmering with a deep red hue, the blade rippling like liquid metal under the moonlight. "Incredible," Lin Xuan muttered, his voice laced with awe. "Form a dagger," he tested, and Liu Yang complied, the blood reshaping into a sharp, solid blade that gleamed with qi. "Now armor," he added, and the boy's body was encased in crystalline blood, a shimmering red shield covering his torso and arms, the surface glinting like polished ruby.
Lin Xuan's mind raced, realizing Liu Yang's blood tied to a powerful lineage—perhaps a forgotten branch of the Liu Clan or a hidden bloodline from the Human Emperor's era. Liu Yang practiced the Scriptures further, his aura surging as he broke from the 3rd to the 6th Layer of the Body Refining Realm, the room trembling with his newfound power. The door creaked open, and Liu Yue entered, her raven hair cascading like a midnight waterfall, her sapphire robes shimmering, her moonlight eyes wide with curiosity. Her Icy Skin aura clashed with Liu Yang's blood qi, a frosty mist swirling between them, the air chilling as ice crystals formed on the walls.
"Senior Brother, what's happening?" Liu Yue asked, her voice tinged with concern. Lin Xuan rose, mediating between them, his hands weaving qi to stabilize the clash. "Your arts can harmonize," he explained, teaching them to blend Icy Skin's chill with the Crimson Blood Crystallization Art's heat. Liu Yue's qi flowed like a frozen river, merging with Liu Yang's blood qi, the mist clearing into a balanced haze. "Focus on the rhythm," he instructed, guiding their breathing in unison, the Celestial Unity Crest pulsing in approval. The synergy deepened their bond, a silent understanding forming.
That night, as the inn settled into silence, Lin Xuan returned to his room, the silver-blue flame casting dancing shadows as he refined a pill. The Celestial Unity Crest guided his hands, unlocking the Vein Fortress Body technique—hardening blood beneath his skin into a resilient layer. The process was meticulous, his blood thickening under his touch, a faint red glow seeping through his pores. His crimson eyes glowed with determination, preparing for the Hei Clan's inevitable retaliation, the weight of his disciples' growth and the looming threat fueling his resolve. The courtyard outside remained quiet, the night air carrying the promise of battles yet to come.