Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 27: The Codex Begins To Teach

As the villagers of Lin Village pressed onward, the oppressive aura of the Obsidian Woodlands grew ever more suffocating. The dense trees around them seemed to pulse with a dark energy, shrouding everything in a haze of dread. This vast forest, infamous for the demonic beasts lurking within, was so immense that it would take an ordinary Foundation cultivator years to traverse on foot. Only the powerful could access the woodland's mysterious travel formations—a hidden network controlled by the great sects and influential clans.

Lin Moyi moved to the front of the group and called out, "In eight hours, we'll reach Poor Man's Corner. It's the only safe route for us, but it's also where things will get difficult. The Shadow Church is aware of this path, and they'll likely ambush us when we reach Hill Pass. Be prepared."

The villagers—two thousand strong—were a mixed crowd of the young, the elderly, and the infirm. They had able-bodied men and women skilled in martial cultivation, but few possessed the strength to face the ruthless Shadow Church. Lin Moyi's warning weighed heavily on them, each person steeling themselves for the approaching danger. Among them, Lin Rou had quietly focused on his own recovery, managing to heal his injuries to nearly ninety percent of his peak condition. His regained strength was a much-needed asset.

In the relative quiet of a wagon, Jiang Feng sat with his eyes closed, absorbed in the wisdom of the Codex, a revered ancient text. Its words echoed in his mind like thunder, each one laden with meaning and weight.

"The Skyforge Flame," the Codex intoned, "is born of hellish fires, carrying both creation and destruction within it. It is a paradox—a flame forged to build a world, yet tempered to destroy. Its power lies in its ability to consume other flames, drawing strength from what it devours. But remember, its nature depends entirely on how it is wielded."

The Codex was patient, revealing its secrets gradually. "Know the force you possess, master it—lest it consume you."

The world around Jiang Feng was charged with countless types of spiritual energy, each distinct, each with its own essence. The Codex guided him to focus his mind, to sense the elusive fire spirit energy in the atmosphere.

"Your body is the forge, spiritual energy the fire, and your will the hammer."

With deliberate focus, Jiang Feng willed the Skyforge Flame to stir within him, envisioning it as a spark ready to bloom. The heat crept into his bones, muscles, and blood, burning away impurities, each ember strengthening his body, making it tougher, resilient—like tempered steel.

"Draw the fire inward through your meridians," the Codex instructed, "and use the infernal forge breathing technique to absorb spiritual energy through the mouth, doubling its effect. Each breath will burn away at your soul, refining it for the later stages of cultivation, the pain of it all will challenge your resolve."

The Codex warned that the process would be agonizing. A firm will was essential to endure the pain, for what he practiced was reverse cultivation, a path that demanded intense mental focus, testing the limits of his mind and body.

Suddenly, the Codex manifested before him, taking on a physical form, a small, ancient book with a dragon emblazoned on its cover. The image was vivid, as if alive, each detail so lifelike it sent chills down Jiang Feng's spine. The dragon appeared ready to soar into the heavens or plunge into the sea's depths.

The Codex floated in front of him, its pages turning until it stopped on a depiction of the Skyforge Furnace: an immense furnace towering into the clouds, surrounded by endless infernal flames.

"This is the Skyforge Furnace," the Codex explained, its voice taking on a reverent tone. "This ancient construct is what holds the Skyforge Flame within your body, drawing spiritual energy from heaven and earth to nourish it. The furnace tempers the flame continually, making it stronger. When the flame grows too powerful, it protects your body from being consumed. The lines etched into the furnace were crafted by the First Ancestor after understanding the nature of infernal flames near the very gates of Hell. Due to your limited strength and the lack of a divine will, you can only feel and see the Skyforge Flame but unable to notice the Skyforge Furnace that's around it."

The Codex imparted its teachings with solemnity, diving deep into the history and purpose of the Skyforge Flame, its origins, and its breathing technique. Although it had once vowed not to interfere too much in Jiang Feng's life, recent events had left it no choice. The arrival of the Celestial Shadow Church, even in a minor form, was a dangerous omen. Jiang Feng's capture by Jin Wu, his unexpected journey with the Lin villagers, all of it was unforeseen.

Moreover, the emergence of the Dragon Vein Blood Bone Fruit had gifted Jiang Feng with storm dragons draconic bloodline, an inheritance nurtured over centuries by heaven and earth itself and should have never appeared in the mortal world due to the chaos that follows it. The Codex had withheld this knowledge from Jiang Feng, aware he was too young to bear the burdens that such a revelation would entail. Knowing too much could hasten the karmic tides, inviting troubles beyond his current strength.

And then there was the matter of the Draconic Tempest, the latent power of the storm dragons, now entwined with the Skyforge Flame. The Codex had initially intended to train Jiang Feng after he reached the Core Formation stage, but circumstances had forced its hand, pushing it to begin the arduous training from the Foundation stage.

"The journey of mortal cultivation begins here, Jiang Feng," the Codex reminded him. "There are three initial stages of the cultivation system that one must complete perfectly to build a firm foundation. The Foundation Stage is the first and it strengthens the body to endure and harness spiritual power. Next comes the Essence Condensation Stage, where you refine spiritual energy into a potent force to sustain martial techniques. Finally, there is Core Formation, where you form the Golden Core, a reservoir of power that transforms you into a true cultivator."

The Codex knew this path would be relentless, filled with trials. Jiang Feng would have to face threats, not only from the forces arrayed against him but from within as well, as he learned to balance the Skyforge Flame and the emerging draconic powers.