Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

At dawn, Lingxiao Valley seemed to be gently shrouded in a thin veil. The mist, like wisps of smoke, flowed slowly through the valley, dreamlike and ethereal. The white jade archway at the valley entrance radiated a warm glow, already tinged with a faint spiritual light, as if welcoming the arrival of a new day. The patterns on the archway, reflected in the spiritual light, appeared and disappeared, seemingly telling ancient stories.

The disciples of the Weapon Refining Pavilion, dressed in uniform grey-blue short-sleeved shirts, stood in neat rows before the bronze cauldron in the central square. The cauldron was tall and heavy, its surface engraved with ancient seal script, a tapestry of cinnabar and artifact patterns. These ancient scripts, like mysterious runes, contained endless secrets. Inside the cauldron burned a millennium-old, ever-burning flame, its flickering light casting long, solemn shadows of the disciples, as if recounting the glorious history of the Weapon Refining Pavilion.

Fu Shaoping stood with his hands behind his back beside the cauldron, his plain white robe fluttering gently in the mountain breeze. A corner of his robe was lifted, revealing a bronze ruler hanging at his waist. That ruler was a gift from an old instructor from the Cloud Mist Mountains. The words "Refining the Heart" were engraved on its surface, and despite the passage of time, it still exuded an ancient and mysterious aura. His gaze swept over the more than one hundred disciples below the platform, from children to young adults. Everyone held their breath, even their breathing was soft, as if afraid of disturbing this solemn moment.

"The way of weapon forging begins with 'three questions'," Fu Shaoping's deep, magnetic voice echoed across the plaza. He raised his hand, and the ruler tapped three times lightly on the bronze cauldron. The clear, resonant sound startled the birds in the valley, who flapped their wings and cried out as they flew into the distance. "First, question the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; second, question the inherent nature of the materials; third, question one's own Dao heart." His eyes revealed profound contemplation, as if he were recalling the true essence of the way of weapon forging.

Having said that, he gathered a wisp of azure spiritual energy at his fingertips and sketched three spiritual flowers in the air. The flowers were lifelike, their petals crystal clear and radiating a faint spiritual light. "If one only knows how to pile up materials without understanding the flow of spiritual energy, it's like the blind men and the elephant." As Fu Shaoping spoke, he gently waved his finger, and one of the three spiritual flowers instantly dimmed. "The blind men and the elephant only know one aspect, not the other, and ultimately can only gain a partial understanding, unable to truly grasp the essence of weapon crafting."

"If you only focus on technique and neglect cultivating your mind, you will never achieve great things." He waved his finger again, and another spiritual flower began to sway precariously. "Technique is merely the means of refining weapons, while mindset is the soul of refining weapons. Without a calm and steadfast mind, even if your technique is superb, you cannot refine a truly good magic weapon."

The disciples below the stage eagerly took notes, afraid of missing a single word. Their eyes were filled with longing and awe, eager to learn more about weapon crafting and revering the teachings of Master Fu Shaoping. Only one young man, dressed in an indigo short jacket, frowned in thought, his brows furrowed tightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Fu Shaoping caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye and lightly tapped Li Mubai's forehead with the ruler: "Li Mubai, do you have any doubts?"

Li Mubai clasped his hands in a fist salute and stepped forward respectfully, saying, "Instructor, this disciple is dull-witted. Since you have asked 'three questions,' why is it that when I observe my senior brothers in the workshop forging flying swords, they mostly rely on experience to select materials, yet they still manage to create magnificent works?"

Fu Shaoping's lips curled into a slight smile of satisfaction: "Good! Behold the flames within this cauldron." He pointed, channeling azure spiritual energy into the cauldron, and the flames instantly split into three colors—crimson like the morning glow, azure like mountain mist, and purple like a galaxy. "This is the 'Three Powers Fire,' corresponding to the power of Heaven, Earth, and Man." His eyes gleamed, as if demonstrating the wonders of the art of weapon crafting to his disciples.

“Experience in selecting materials is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ‘human fire’,” Fu Shaoping continued. “A true weapon refiner must use ‘heavenly fire’ to observe the flow of spiritual energy and ‘earthly fire’ to discern the origin of materials.” His fingers lightly traced the air, as if depicting the flow of spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

He suddenly flicked his finger, sending a wisp of crimson spark flying towards the spirit plant garden at the edge of the plaza. In an instant, the leaves of a thousand-year-old Vermilion Fruit tree rustled, and golden veins faintly appeared between the veins. "See that? Vermilion Fruit trees love fire and fear dryness. If the spiritual energy is too strong during the forging process, they will wither and die like these leaves." The spark, upon touching the leaf, transformed into a glistening dewdrop, merging into the tree trunk. "Forging weapons is like nurturing a tree; one must know the proper measure." Fu Shaoping's eyes revealed a hint of seriousness; he hoped his disciples would understand this principle.

Li Mubai listened to Fu Shaoping's words and nodded thoughtfully. Gazing at the thousand-year-old Vermilion Fruit Tree, he gained a new understanding of the art of weapon crafting. He knew that weapon crafting was not merely a skill, but an art that required deep contemplation and understanding.

As the sun climbed to its zenith, the disciples moved to the weapon-refining workshop. Inside, a hundred feet long, three hundred and sixty refining tables were neatly arranged, each with a spirit jade plaque inscribed with the disciple's name and preferred materials. The workshop was filled with the aromas of various materials: the hardness of metals, the freshness of spiritual herbs, and the fragrance of elixirs. These aromas blended together, creating a unique ambiance that made one feel as if they were in a mysterious world of weapon refining.

Nangong Wan, dressed in a moon-white long dress with pale blue spiritual energy swirling around her wide sleeves, stood before the central black iron forging platform. Her face was beautiful, and her eyes revealed both gentleness and determination. She gently raised her hand, and a small jade hammer from her sleeve flew out and landed steadily on the forging platform.

"Today I will teach you 'Forging Steel a Thousand Times'." Nangong Wan's soft and melodious voice echoed in the workshop. "Take three catties of black iron, and use the 'Midnight Forging' method, first the gentle and then the forceful, forging to the required number of ninety-nine." After saying that, another piece of black iron flew out from her sleeve, landing on the forging table with a crisp sound.

The disciples followed instructions, gathering the materials and beginning their forging. The workshop was soon filled with the sounds of hammers and sparks flying. Wang Tieshan, a disciple of the weapon-refining pavilion, was a burly man of immense strength. When he swung his forging hammer, it was powerful and efficient, and the black iron glowed faintly red amidst the flying sparks.

"Stop!" Nangong Wan pressed her hand down, and a small jade hammer pointed at Wang Tieshan's forging platform. "Look at this black iron." Her fingertips infused the iron with spiritual energy, and fine ice cracks appeared on the originally dark metal surface. "Black iron is brittle and needs to be tempered with gentle fire to improve its toughness. Your hammer blow, though powerful, is like a torrential rain hitting a lotus leaf; it will only shatter its foundation."

Wang Tieshan scratched his head and chuckled, "Instructor, I'm used to this 'bullish' spirit, I can't change it."

Nangong Wan shook his head and sighed softly. Suddenly, he flicked his fingers, and a ribbon of azure spiritual energy wrapped around the forging hammer. When Wang Tieshan swung the hammer again, he felt as if it were weightless. Each strike felt like a gentle spring breeze, and the surface of the black iron gradually shimmered with a pearly luster. "Remember, forging weapons is like playing a zither," Nangong Wan's voice was gentle yet undeniable. "The force must be like fingertips plucking strings, a perfect balance of strength and gentleness."

Wang Tieshan listened to Nangong Wan's words and nodded earnestly. He began to adjust his strength, and slowly, he found that his forging became more and more skillful. He was filled with gratitude for Nangong Wan, knowing that Nangong Wan's teachings would benefit him for the rest of his life.

As the setting sun bathed the glazed tiles of the Weapon Forging Pavilion in gold, Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan stood side by side on the observatory in front of the library. Over a hundred disciples sat on the ground, their respective weapon-forging creations floating before them—some were shimmering flying swords, others were ancient and sturdy shields, and still others were exquisitely crafted alchemy furnaces. These works were the fruits of the disciples' day's learning; though still somewhat immature, they embodied their hard work and dedication. "Have you gained any insights from today's learning?" Fu Shaoping's voice was exceptionally clear in the evening breeze. His eyes revealed anticipation; he hoped his disciples would gain something from their studies.

A young girl with her hair in two buns stood up, holding a small jade sword: "I used the Cold Heart Orchid as a guide and added three drops of morning dew during the forging process. The sword's blade even faintly exudes a cold aura."

"Excellent!" Fu Shaoping clapped his hands and laughed. "You have grasped the true meaning of 'nurturing a weapon with spirit'." His eyes were full of admiration. He knew that this girl had a high talent for weapon crafting. "But if you want the cold energy to condense and not dissipate, you still need to nurture it with the 'Heart Furnace' for seven days." He added, hoping that the girl could continue to work hard and make this jade sword even more perfect.

Nangong Wan then walked to another disciple: "The patterns on your alchemy furnace are chaotic, and the flow of spiritual energy is stagnant." She lightly touched the furnace with her slender hand, and pale blue spiritual energy flowed in like living water. "Refining artifacts is like cultivating the Dao, and the patterns are like the meridians. Look—" As she moved, the patterns on the furnace gradually connected to form a serpent with its head and tail intertwined. "Spiritual energy must flow like a serpent, circulating endlessly, in order to be everlasting."

The disciples nodded in agreement after listening to Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan's comments. They knew they still had a long way to go in their weapon-refining journey, but they believed that under Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan's guidance, they would definitely make continuous progress and become excellent weapon refiners.

At midnight, the weapon-refining pavilion was utterly silent, except for the bright lights on the top floor of the library. Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan sat facing each other, twelve spirit lamps floating before them, their wicks emitting a soft hum as they burned. These twelve spirit lamps symbolized the twelve key points of the weapon-refining path, swaying in the night breeze as if telling the secrets of the weapon-refining way.

"Today, Li Mubai asked, 'Which is more important, experience or state of mind?' Did you pay attention?" Fu Shaoping gently stroked the lamp wick, the firelight illuminating his deep-set eyes. His gaze revealed contemplation; he knew this was a crucial question in the art of weapon crafting.

Nangong Wan gathered a wisp of spiritual energy at her fingertips and drew a Tai Chi symbol in the air: "Experience is like Yin, and mind is like Yang. The way of weapon crafting is inherently about the balance of Yin and Yang." Her voice was soft yet firm, and she hoped that Fu Shaoping would agree with her point of view.

She suddenly turned to look out the window. "Tomorrow, let Wang Tieshan go to the Spirit Spring and guard it for three days. Perhaps he can understand the wonder of 'nurturing fire with water'." A hint of expectation appeared in her eyes. She believed that Wang Tieshan could gain some insight by the Spirit Spring.

Fu Shaoping nodded with a smile: "And Li Mubai should be taken to the alchemy room." A small bronze sword flew out from his sleeve, and when the red patterns on the blade lit up, a clear and melodious sword sound faintly emanated from it. "A true weapon refiner must eventually learn to use the heart as the furnace and the spirit as the fire." His eyes were full of determination. He hoped that Li Mubai could continue to explore the path of weapon refinement and eventually become a true weapon refiner master.

A night breeze rustled through the windowpanes of the library, stirring the bamboo slips on the desk. Page after page of yellowed paper were densely covered with the secrets of weapon crafting. Even more precious was the transmission of knowledge, quietly continuing through every question and answer, every demonstration between master and disciple. Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan knew they bore the heavy responsibility of passing on the art of weapon crafting. They would impart their knowledge and skills to their disciples without reservation, ensuring the art of weapon crafting flourished in Lingxiao Valley.

In the days to come, under the tutelage of Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan, the disciples of the Weapon Refining Pavilion will continue to grow and improve. They will use their wisdom and hard work to forge outstanding magical treasures, contributing to the development of the cultivation world. The Weapon Refining Pavilion will thus become a shining pearl in the cultivation world, radiating eternal light.

The following morning, Fu Shaoping stood on the makeshift platform and announced loudly, "Anyone aspiring to master the art of weapon crafting is welcome to join us in this grand undertaking!" His voice resonated throughout the valley via a sound transmission talisman. Nangong Wan prepared writing materials and registered the applicants.

The first visitor was an elderly man with white hair and beard, carrying a worn-out weapon-forging box on his back, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism. "My name is Zhang, and I've been forging weapons for fifty years," he began, but was interrupted by Fu Shaoping before he could finish: "Take a look at this." He took out a piece of black iron, casually kneaded it in front of the old man, and it became as soft as dough. "This is..."

"Join us, and you will witness the true art of weapon forging," Fu Shaoping said with a smile. The old man knelt down, trembling, "This old man is willing to serve you to the utmost!"

In the following days, cultivators continued to arrive, drawn by its reputation. A young girl could manipulate water to forge weapons, a burly man specialized in fire-based forging, and a mute craftsman could communicate design concepts through eye contact. When Nangong Wan arranged accommodations for them, he exclaimed, "All the extraordinary people and talents in the world have gathered here!"
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A month later, more than ten workshops had been built in Lingxiao Valley. On the chosen foundation-laying day, Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan, dressed in their finest attire, led the group in a ceremony. They buried a jade slip, symbolizing the spirit of the Weapon Refining Pavilion, into the foundation. The jade slip contained their weapon-refining philosophy.

"With this foundation laid today, it will surely grow into a towering tree in the future!" As soon as Fu Shaoping finished speaking, auspicious seven-colored clouds suddenly descended from the sky. Everyone looked up and saw what appeared to be cranes flying in the clouds, the auspicious aura symbolizing the bright future of the Weapon Refining Pavilion.

That night, the two drank together on the newly built observatory. Moonlight poured down like water, and Nangong Wan suddenly asked, "Have you ever regretted leaving the Cloud Mist Mountains?" Fu Shaoping smiled and pointed into the distance: "Look, isn't this the place we've always dreamed of?"

A mountain breeze carried the sounds of hammering metal from the distant workshops. The sounds were sometimes clear and melodious like a babbling brook, sometimes powerful and resonant like thunder, as if playing a magnificent symphony about the future. On this land full of hope, the story of the Weapon Forging Pavilion has only just begun. (End of Chapter)