Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 3: Flame Seed

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the vibrant town of Xianyang came alive with the glow of its bustling lights. Night vendors and workers hurried to conclude their day's sales amid the energetic atmosphere. Nestled between two majestic mountains, the town was divided by a river, which served as a natural boundary between residential areas and public spaces.

Master Jiang chose to connect his blacksmith shop to his home for the convenience of both himself and his customers, although this was uncommon in the town. Despite not having many daily customers, he didn't mind as he had no use for the low-level spiritual crystals. For the past 15 years, he had been leading a daily life that served as a facade to integrate with the local community.

Spiritual crystals were used as a form of currency in Axina thus from empire to towns would use this currency. Spiritual crystals were formed in mineral deposit sites throughout the world, some were leveled, while the high-to-rear level spiritual crystal sites were controlled by major powers who oversaw their territories.

Jiang Feng had just finished the last of his cleaning in the shop, his tender face was sweaty but he had a pleased look on his face with his eyes shining brightly. Today had been a wholesome day for him, he was able to assist his father in the forging of a mighty weapon "Storm Bringer". As the son of a master blacksmith, his sense of achievement was very fulfilling, to say the least.

"Hmm, strange, what's happening?" Jiang Feng was reminiscing about today's proceedings when he started to feel his body heating up. He could feel his body shaking and his muscles tightening all of a sudden.

Amid his bewilderment over the sudden turn of events, a brilliant blue flame ignited in the palm of Jiang Feng's hand. A smile spread across his face as his heart raced with exhilaration. His father's words echoed in his mind, reminding him that not all blacksmiths were created equal—some relied on natural fire for forging, while others were destined to wield supernatural flames. Thus the heavens blessed them with an internal flame which is known as the Flame seed.

But that wasn't what caused his overwhelming excitement, his father had told him that only when he reached the Core Formation stage of cultivation would his internal flame be born but he hadn't even started cultivating as yes he was able to awaken his internal flame after assisting his father in forging a mighty weapon.

In the Realm land of Axina, the process of cultivation began with the Foundation Stage. This initial phase involved harnessing spiritual energy to fortify the body's foundation, ensuring it could support higher levels of cultivation in the future. It was a pivotal stage that demanded meticulous attention, as a flawed foundation could lead to significant bodily weaknesses later on.

"How is this possible?" Master Jiang's voice echoed with shock as he stood by the door looking at his son's hand in amazement. He didn't know what to make of this situation because it had never been corded in the history of his family.

The only thing his son knew was that they weren't originally from Xianyang town but that was all. He had never mentioned anything about his clan or the outside world to his son for fear that it would cause unwanted attention from some of the subordinate powers of the outside world that were present in this realm.

"Father look, is this the internal flame seed that you told me about?" Jiang Feng waves his hand around with the blue flames following closely with a trail of blue light. The flame didn't have a high temperature but he did make the room feel warm as he played around with it.

Master Jiang seemed as if he couldn't hear his son's question, he was lost in thought and deeply shocked. This was all too sudden not to mention that he had to leave in three days, and the fact that he wouldn't be able to return after leaving.

"Sigh, Feng come with me" Master Jiang balled his hands into fists as he made up his mind and headed to the back of the workshop.

As his father's expression turned grave, Jiang Feng trailed closely behind him, the flickering blue flames casting an eerie glow. The flames seemed to burn endlessly as they made their way to the back of the workshop. Master Jiang pressed his hand against a seemingly ordinary wall on the left, and to Jiang Feng's astonishment, it suddenly emitted a bright light. After a few moments, the wall began to shift and move, leaving Jiang Feng in a state of utter surprise.

"Father, what is this place?" seeing his father walking through the door that appeared from the wall, Jiang Feng couldn't help asking before stepping through.

"This is my cultivation room, it is time we begin your cultivation journey. Sigh there are a lot of things we need to talk about, some, you may not like to hear but still have to be said"

As Jiang Feng crossed the threshold into the room, his eyes widened in awe as the space opened up before him. Contrary to its unassuming exterior, the room was surprisingly spacious. In the center, a serene pond glistened, its surface reflecting the soft glow. A meticulously arranged mat lay invitingly in front of the tranquil water feature. To one side, a flourishing fruit tree added a touch of natural beauty to the room, while to the other, a table stood adorned with two delicate tea cups and a gracefully crafted pot, hinting at the possibility of a peaceful tea ceremony.

Master Jiang gestured to extinguish the burning blue flames on his son's hand and then invited him to sit at the table. He poured tea for both of them, his expression grave. Jiang Feng, sensing the weight of the situation, sat down with a frown, unsure of what his father was about to decide. He had expected his father to support him, but it seemed that was not the case. 'Could these flames possess a different meaning than what I thought?'