I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

[At the foot of Kunlun Mountain - Entrance to the Path of Inquiry]

[Half an hour after the first group reached the summit]

Just as the figures of the first group of eighty-three people disappeared behind the archway in the clouds, before the onlookers at the foot of the mountain could react, a deep and orderly roar of engines broke the silence.

The official actions were faster and more resolute than anyone had imagined.

This is not just a selection process, but a strategic deployment where every second counts.

"Second team, enter the field!"

Following the instructions coming from the loudspeaker, the cordon was pulled up.

The three thousand "reserve" who had been waiting in the quarantine area for a long time did not make a fuss like ordinary people, but silently organized their equipment and quickly lined up.

Most of them wore uniform training clothes or research lab coats, and each had a number hanging on their chest. These were "highly compatible" individuals with spiritual roots, whom the government had prioritized and arranged for with the full support of the nation over the past period.

If we don't take advantage of the current open gates to send these seeds of fire up, it will be a huge loss to the country once the great formation closes. Of course, this is the only batch available.

There was no rest, no pause.

As soon as the previous batch went up, the next batch immediately followed.

On the long white jade staircase leading to the sky, the flow of people stretched like a black dragon, endless and continuous.

And at the hilltop plaza.

Chu Tian and his companions, who had just received their identity badges and hadn't even had a sip of water yet, were immediately given a new mission.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Chu Tian stood at the edge of the plaza, looking down at the scrambling crowd below, and shouted to the dozens of fellow disciples behind him who had just recovered:

"Stop resting! We're the first batch, the senior brothers!"

"From now on, except for Wang Lin who will report to the Hundred Herbs Garden, everyone else will remain in their positions as guides!"

"Support those who arrive later and maintain order! We absolutely cannot let this place descend into chaos!"

Qian Wansan dared not complain of being tired at this moment. Looking down at the fervent eyes of the newcomers below, he suddenly felt a strange sense of superiority—even though I climbed up in a sorry state, I was still in the first batch! I was the senior!

"Don't worry, Senior Brother! Anyone who dares to cut in line, I'll be the first to throw them off!"

……

【Sunset and Moonrise - Kunlun at Night】

As time went on, more and more people gathered in the square in front of the Taiqing Hall.

The second batch, the third batch...

The official transport convoy nearly collapsed the road at the foot of the mountain.

As night completely enveloped Kunlun Mountain, nearly two thousand people were already sitting cross-legged in the once empty square.

Despite the large number of people, the scene was surprisingly quiet, as most of them were disciplined officials. Apart from the occasional whisper, the only sound was the wind blowing through the sea of ​​clouds.

【Kunlun Back Mountain】

[Time: 23:00]

Although the front hill square was bustling with people, the back hill remained an absolute no-go zone.

A burly figure slipped out of everyone's sight and quietly approached the ancient pine tree at the edge of the cliff.

It's Zhao Feng.

He carried the long, narrow package on his back, looking somewhat uneasy.

Throughout the journey, he could clearly sense something restless behind him. It wasn't just fear, but more like... a longing?

Beneath the ancient pine tree, Gu Qing seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

He wasn't reading a book; instead, he was fiddling with a black stone of unknown material in front of him. The stone was suspended in the air, enveloped by a ball of blue flame, and was slowly melting.

"Report!" Zhao Feng said in a low voice.

"They're here."

Without turning his head, Gu Qing lightly tapped his finger and said, "Take out what's behind your back and untie it."

Zhao Feng did as instructed.

As the layers of black cloth were untied, the broken sword, "Tiger Warrior," filled with a fierce aura and with blood faintly visible at its broken edge, was exposed to the air.

woo-

A gust of cold wind suddenly rose from the ground.

The phantom of the red-clad female ghost within the broken sword did not fully materialize, but clung to the blade, trembling. She seemed extremely afraid of the blue flame before Gu Qing, yet deeply attracted by the aura emanating from the black stone.

"This sword is named Tiger Warrior. It has slain countless enemies and is a fine sword."

Gu Qing turned around and looked at the broken sword. "It's a pity. Once it's broken, it's broken. A broken body cannot contain a complete spirit. If you use it, not only will you not be able to unleash even a tenth of its power, but over time, the sword spirit will also dissipate due to the damage to its host body."

Zhao Feng panicked upon hearing this: "Dean, what should we do? This sword spirit saved me on the way..."

"Since I saved you, then it must be your destiny."

Gu Qing smiled faintly, "Besides, I find this sword spirit pleasing to the eye. It is both ferocious and knows how to protect its master."

After saying that, Gu Qing made a gesture with one hand.

Whoosh!

The broken sword in Zhao Feng's hand flew out uncontrollably and hovered directly above the ball of blue flame!

"Today, I will reforge this sword for you."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Qing clenched his fist suddenly.

The suspended black stone (system exchange material: extraterrestrial meteorite essence) instantly disintegrated, turning into countless black-gold droplets that fell like raindrops onto the broken edge of the sword.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!

A sickeningly loud sound rang out.

That wasn't the sound of metal melting; it sounded more like bones growing!

Zhao Feng's eyes widened as he witnessed a scene he would never forget:

Nourished by the black gold liquid, the broken section of the sword actually began to "grow"!

The broken edge continued to extend, the sword blade rejoined, and the spine of the sword straightened!

The red-clad phantom let out a shrill cry that was both mournful and liberating, and suddenly burrowed into the sword that was being reforged!

boom!

A crimson beam of light shot into the sky, but it was blocked by a barrier that Gu Qing casually set up, without alerting the people on the front mountain.

A moment later, the light faded.

A long sword, about three feet seven inches long, entirely black, with its blade gleaming with an eerie red light, floated silently in the air.

On the sword, a faint red blood groove can be seen, like a woman's rouge or a trace of blood that has not yet dried.

"The sword is complete."

With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Qing's longsword transformed into a streak of light, firmly embedding itself half a foot into the rock in front of Zhao Feng, as easily as cutting tofu.

"this……"

Zhao Feng reached out with trembling hands and grasped the sword hilt.

hum!

A feeling of blood connection surged through him instantly. This time, it wasn't a chilling coldness, but a surging fighting spirit! He felt that the sword was an extension of his arm, and the "she" within the sword was no longer a lone, wandering soul, but the true soul of the sword.

"It's no longer a defective product."

Gu Qing stood with his hands behind his back. "I added extraterrestrial meteorite iron and used a secret method to completely fuse the sword spirit with the sword body. Now, it is a true low-grade spiritual weapon."

"Bestowed the name—【Red Makeup】."

"Red makeup..."

Zhao Feng stroked the sword, and a joyful whisper echoed in his mind.

He suddenly knelt on one knee and bowed deeply to Gu Qing: "Thank you, Sect Master, for bestowing the sword! Zhao Feng's life now belongs to Kunlun!"

"Go."

Gu Qing waved his hand. "Whether it's a person or a sword, everything needs to be sharpened. Starting tomorrow, you will use it to establish your authority."

……

【Hundred Herbs Garden · Thatched Hut】

At the same time

On the other side of the hill, the Hundred Herbs Garden remains tranquil.

Wang Lin did not sleep.

Although no one was supervising him, and although his legs were trembling with exhaustion, he still got out of bed.

"The immortal has given me such a wonderful place to live; I can't slack off."

Wang Lin looked out the window at the medicinal herb field under the moonlight, where Gu Qing had casually sown spiritual seeds.

He picked up the small wooden bucket from the corner and walked towards the distant spring.

The wooden bucket looked ordinary, but the moment Wang Lin lifted it, his brows furrowed sharply.

"Why... have you gotten heavier?"

Wang Lin shook the wooden bucket in confusion. It was empty, but it felt as heavy as if it were half-filled with water.

But he didn't think much of it; maybe he was just too tired?

He gritted his teeth, carried the wooden bucket to the spring, and filled it with water.

creak-

Lifting that bucket of water bent Wang Lin's back. The weight was abnormal; it felt as if he were carrying a block of lead, not water!

If it were a pampered person, they would have thrown the bucket away long ago.

But Wang Lin did not.

From a young age, he had to carry a garbage bag bigger than himself everywhere. Was it heavy? He got used to it.

He walked back to the medicinal herb field, his steps unsteady, leaving deep footprints in the mud.

It was only a few hundred meters long, but it took him a quarter of an hour to walk it.

"Splash..."

The clear, cool spring water irrigates the parched land.

Wang Lin wiped the large beads of sweat from his forehead and grinned.

Seeing the tender green seedlings fully hydrated made him happier than if he had eaten his fill.

"Another bucket, please."

The boy turned around, dragging his heavy steps, and walked towards the spirit spring once more.

Above the clouds.

Gu Qing withdrew her gaze from Zhao Feng and turned it to the stubborn, thin figure.

"The first bucket of water weighed fifty pounds."

"The second bucket weighs sixty jin (30 kg)."

"This simple gravity restriction is both a punishment and a refinement."

Gu Qing looked at Wang Lin's spine, which was bent and straightened again and again, and a look of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

"The greatest truths are the simplest. Compared to Chu Tian's lightning tempering, this kind of daily water-carrying is the most solid foundation building."

……