Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 5: Meridian Opening

Master Jiang, with a commanding gesture, beckoned Jiang Feng to approach the pond of crystal-clear water. This pond, the culmination of several years' worth of preparation, was a condensation of spiritual energy. As they stood before the pond, Master Jiang waved his hand, summoning the beast's blood essence, core, and 500 medium-grade spiritual crystals.

Similar to humans, beasts also had a classification system that humans used to assess the strength of a demonic beast. This system had been slowly developed over millions of years after the discovery of the beast world as a means to gauge each other's cultivation levels and to create a standard system of understanding.

Master Jiang proceeded to throw the level 6 beast core into the pond, followed by the essence blood and spiritual crystals. The pond began to boil as he placed his hand into it, igniting his Green Dust Flame. Subsequently, the pond turned blood-red, exuding a wild and bloodthirsty aura. Jiang Feng, standing to the side, observed in silence, not fully comprehending the events unfolding before him but having a vague anticipation of what was to come next.

"In the world of cultivation, the higher a cultivator's cultivation base, the longer their lifespan becomes. Upon completing the Foundation Stage, a cultivator can potentially extend their life to 200-250 years at best. Cultivation is essentially defying the natural order, challenging fate to transcend our mortal bodies. As one embarks on the path of cultivation, the karma of heaven descends upon them."

As Master Jiang gazed intently at the bubbling pond, wisps of steam rose into the air. With deliberate movements, he reached into a small ring worn on his finger and carefully withdrew a selection of vibrant herbs. This particular ring was no ordinary accessory; it was a remarkable spatial ring that possessed the unique ability to preserve the freshness of herbs and meat. Crafted by Master Jiang himself, this high-level ring was a testament to his exceptional skill and knowledge.

These herbs that were being placed in the pond were called spiritual herbs, plants that have absord spiritual energy of heaven and earth for serval years. Some plants had absord so much energy for so long that they again have intelligence over hundreds of thousands of years. These types of herbs classified themselves as the spirit race due to their plant-based nature and their longer-than-usual lifespan.

"You go and fresh up for the night, I'll take care of things here. Dinner is on the table, and meet me back here in the morning, come mentally prepared"

Upon hearing his father's words, Jiang Feng took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with the weight of the moment. He nodded solemnly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, and silently took his leave. As he walked away, his mind raced with thoughts, and he knew he needed to find a sense of calm amidst the storm of emotions. Tomorrow held the power to shape his destiny, and he understood that the stakes couldn't be higher.

It was a gamble on his Dad's part, and he was willing to take this gamble with his father. Thus he did as he was told and ate as much as he possibly could because his body still needed the nourishment from food. The night quickly came and went with the twinkling of the stars and the vibrant glow of the moon.
***
When the first ray of the morning sun broke through the clouds, and the citizens of the valley were getting ready to start their morning duties, Jiang Feng headed toward the blacksmith workshop and went straight for the back where his father was waiting for him in his cultivation room. He was filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation as he embarked on a new day of growth and opportunity.

Master Jiang was standing in the same spot where Jiang Feng left him, he wore a serious face this morning because today would be the start of the first three days in which he had to leave. If his son proved to be a cultivation genius then he would use these three days to guide him in his cultivation but if he became a cripple, he would use the three days to nurse his son and comfort him before leaving. He would ensure that his son would be able to lead a comfortable life as a mortal if things develop in that direction.

"Are you mentally prepared for what's to come" Master Jiang Feng turned to look at his son, one had to know that reverse cultivation was a taboo in the world of practitioners because it had a high fatality rate.

"I am ready" Jiang Feng took a step forth with determination in his eyes. The pond before him was now clear again, with the smell of medicinal fragrance wafting about. Not only that but the pond had a high temperature that seemed as if it would burn his flesh to ash if he was careless.

"Very good, the small pond you see before you, is the concentration of serval years of gathering spiritual energy from the best sources the land around this mountain valley had to offer. It was then further tempered with the blood essence from a Sun Burning Lion, level six, and its beast core. Not only that but its potency was further increased with 500 medium-grade spiritual crystals and purified by my Green Dust Flame"

Master Jiang gestured for Jiang Feng to remove his top shirt, which the young man did. He had an average build with long black hair and brown eyes that shone like stars. It could be said that this was the light of intelligence after the awakening of his Flame Seed.

"Even though I have explained all these concepts, I understand that they may not hold much meaning for you at the moment due to your lack of full comprehension of the significance and possibilities of this pond. However, as time passes and you reflect on this, the true significance will become clear to you."

Master Jiang took a deep breath to settle his mind, once he was calm enough he turned to Jiang Feng to explain the last few pieces of information and what to take note of.