223 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

“Senior Brother, that sword…” “You really don’t beat around the bush, do you? Right away you ask about your sword,” Jiang Yue shook his head with a sigh. “But I have two pieces of news, do you want the good or the bad first?” “Senior Brother, as you please,” Ran Fan Yin replied, her tone indifferent. “You’re really no fun at all. Very well, the good news is that the melting process is complete; all the impurities have settled, and we can proceed to the third stage—pouring.” "It's finally done," Ran Fan Yin felt a weight lift from her shoulders. “The remaining steps in sword forging aren’t as crucial, things like polishing and decoration are routine. However, we’ve encountered an issue with the pouring.” “What’s the problem?” “Look, I've already poured the molten metal into the mold you prepared earlier. Once it solidifies, it’s all done, but right now, it’s not solidifying.” Jiang Yue frowned and stared at the mold filled with molten liquid. Ran Fan Yin walked up to the mold, her brow furrowed as well. "Why?" “This sword isn’t like ordinary ones; its material is spiritual, not just ordinary dead iron.” Jiang Yue also approached, his left hand, missing a fingertip, gently caressing the clay mold surrounding the metal. “It needs a sacrifice.” “A sacrifice?” “…Ran Fan Yin, have you ever heard of the so-called ‘Sword Sacrifice’?” Ran Fan Yin was silent for a while before she slowly said, “I know. In this world, there are swords that need a blood sacrifice to be forged. Such swords, imbued with blood, gain immense spiritual power, far surpassing ordinary iron in strength. Ancient records say that in antiquity, master swordsmiths would capture boys and girls to cast into the sword pool, using the pure blood of children as offerings to forge extraordinary swords... Senior Brother, could it be…” Jiang Yue shook his head. “No, this sword is not as malevolent. It doesn’t need the live sacrifice of boys and girls. However, it does indeed require a blood sacrifice to truly solidify into a divine weapon.” Ran Fan Yin quietly observed the yet-to-solidify sword in the mold for a long moment. Then, as if making a decision, she looked up at Jiang Yue. “Would my blood work?” Jiang Yue’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “Ran Fan Yin… you… well, it would work, but if your blood is used, the sword will recognize your blood’s essence. Only someone with your bloodline would be able to wield it to its fullest potential. If you perform the sacrifice, what’s the point?” Ran Fan Yin smiled faintly. “It doesn’t matter. Ning Songmu wears a jade talisman infused with my blood around her neck.” “Be cautious, think carefully. During the blood sacrifice, the sword will not only absorb your blood, it will also drain your energy…” “If it drains my energy, does that mean it will become even stronger?” Ran Fan Yin rolled up the sleeve of her left arm to reveal a dark red scar left by molten metal splashes. “As long as this sword is forged to be good enough, then that’s enough for me.” Jiang Yue stared at Ran Fan Yin for a long while before letting out a sigh. Reluctantly, he handed her a dagger. “Be careful. I’ll let you know when it’s enough.” Ran Fan Yin took the dagger and, without hesitation, slashed deeply at the dark red scar. Crimson blood instantly welled up, flowing down her wrist like a small serpent, slowly dripping into the mold. Ran Fan Yin bit her lip hard. Seeing Ran Fan Yin cut into her wrist, Jiang Yue immediately regretted it. Seven years ago, Ran Fan Yin’s body suffered greatly, and it took a long and difficult recovery. She had barely managed to heal with much effort over the past years, yet now she was offering herself for a blood sacrifice. If this goes badly, not only would her energy be depleted, but her lifespan could also be… In ancient times, forging masters sacrificed so many children for a sword. Although this sword wasn’t as malevolent, it still required a substantial amount of blood. Jiang Yue watched anxiously as the molten liquid inside the mold gradually turned a strange shade of red with Ran Fan Yin’s blood. He feared any extra drop of blood would be too much. The wrist is a sensitive spot; it’s why people choose it for suicide. Now, she was no different than those who took their own lives. Ran Fan Yin had expected to lose a significant amount of blood and had cut deeply. The wound was deep and exuded a strong scent of blood, the pain piercing through, directly to her brain. Her arm trembled uncontrollably from blood loss, her face pale as death. “Ah…” Ran Fan Yin bent over slightly, unable to bear it, her right hand propping against the table while her left continued to hover above the mold. “Ran Fan Yin!” Jiang Yue’s expression was anxious, unsure whether to stop her or urge her on. If she quit now, the blood already lost would be in vain. But if she continued, her body… Ran Fan Yin started to feel her inner energy rushing towards her left wrist, seeping out through the wound into the mold, like a bottomless pit greedily devouring her pure energy. “Senior Brother…” Ran Fan Yin called out in a trembling voice. “Yes, just hold on a little longer, it’s almost done, just a little longer…” Jiang Yue quickly reassured her. “Senior Brother…” Ran Fan Yin closed her eyes, her forehead covered in sweat. “Hold me up.” Jiang Yue supported Ran Fan Yin’s arm, watching as her entire hand was stained with blood, feeling deep sorrow. “Ran Fan Yin, stop. Stop now, you can’t handle this!” “I can…” Jiang Yue started to pull Ran Fan Yin away, “No, if you continue, the injury will be severe. Stop now. It’s okay if we don’t have this sword. I’ll forge another for you.” Ran Fan Yin sensed Jiang Yue pulling her away from the mold. Gathering the remaining bit of her energy, she pushed him back several feet, raising a protective barrier of true energy around herself. Her face was ghostly pale from blood loss, her frail body so weak it seemed she could faint at any moment. Jiang Yue couldn't get close, his face filled with worry. “Ran Fan Yin, are you insane? Is a sword worth this? Stop now! Stop! You’ll lose your life! It’s enough, it's already solidified!”