Sword Casting Peak was the Palace's dedicated facility for artifact forging. Here, Golden Core elders had established stone chambers harnessing Earth Vein Fire. Forging was a lengthy process; even Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't sustain their innate true fire for extended periods. Most relied on external sources. The cultivation world boasted various spiritual flames, some powerful enough to incinerate all things, possessing earth-shattering might.

  The young cultivator guarding the chambers glanced curiously at Leo. Regular forgers were familiar faces; Leo was a stranger. But his credentials were in order, so the guard waved him through.

  "Pool Orchid Sand, Blue Marrow Stone..." Leo laid out dozens of spiritual materials, all listed in the black-robed old man's manual for the sword-within-sword technique. He had gathered them in just two days back at the Palace, but he hadn't anticipated that the deadline for entering the Bloody Battlefield was drawing so near. He had reserved a chamber nearly ten days in advance, and now his turn finally came. Time was still sufficient.

  Leo had memorized the sword-within-sword forging art. The core black sword artifact was ready; he only needed to forge an outer sheath. Following the proper sequence, he fed the materials into a black cauldron above the Earth Vein Fire, melting them into liquid spiritual essence.

  The blazing heat left Leo drenched in sweat. Forging was as grueling as alchemy. Though the black artifact couldn't be ruined, the dozens of materials for the outer sheath were costly.

  The finished sheath would be at least high-grade, possibly top-grade. It had to completely conceal the artifact's powerful aura and, like the artifact itself, change size at will.

  Two days later, golden liquid spiritual essence flowed in the cauldron. Leo summoned the black flying sword and placed it in a sword mold, then poured the golden essence over it. A sigh of relief. The hard part was over. All that remained was to have the blade sharpened at the marketplace forge.

  Leaving the chamber, Leo headed straight for the marketplace. Here, Palace disciples ran numerous shops. Only here could he find a skilled forger to sharpen his new sword. With so many disciples, weapons often damaged in sparring and competitions. Replacing them was costly; repairs were a popular alternative. Many disciples skilled in forging rented spaces here, earning spirit stones.

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  But, like the stone chambers, every forge in the marketplace was booked solid.

  This was unexpected. Enter the Bloody Battlefield with an unsharpened sword? The whole point of the sword-within-sword was to disguise the black artifact with a golden spirit sword exterior, lulling opponents before unleashing the artifact's power. An unsharpened blade would raise suspicions and ruin the surprise.

  Leo smiled ruefully. He scoured the marketplace. On the last street, he spotted "Castwell Forge." Despite the crowds, he approached with a last shred of hope.

  "Senior Brother, need some forging done?" A burly late-stage cultivator, hammer in hand, stepped forward.

  "A sword needs sharpening before I enter the Bloody Battlefield. Can you take the job?" Leo asked.

  "Lucky day, Senior Brother! A disciple just canceled his order—badly injured, pulled out of the Bloody Battlefield. We're swamped otherwise. But given the circumstances, our rates are double. Sharpening your sword: one hundred twenty spirit stones. Half deposit. Deal?" The hammer-wielding man grinned, confident Leo wouldn't refuse.

  Leo frowned. Sharpening wasn't simple; poor workmanship could ruin the blade's edge. He hated wasting spirit stones, but had no choice. Glancing back, he saw a crowd approaching the forge, two figures at its center. He quickly paid the deposit and signed the contract.

  "Senior Brother Lowell, look at my Autumn Water Sword—it's got this huge nick! Every forge is booked solid. What am I supposed to do?" Quincy, the white-robed girl, whined softly.

  "Your Autumn Water Sword's materials are unique, hard to work. If my father were here, he could help, but he's away from the Palace."

  Lowell scratched his head. He knew Quincy had better magic artifacts, but the Autumn Water Sword was a rare top-grade spirit artifact. Like him, she couldn't use magic artifacts on the Combat Arena. But challenges came, and she needed her top-grade artifact repaired. As prominent disciples, losing due to a damaged weapon would be humiliating. Even he couldn't stomach that, let alone Quincy, the jewel of a Golden Core family.

  His father was a Foundation Establishment master, but Quincy's family was greater—a Golden Core grandfather. And she was one of the Palace's few beauties. Lowell had long coveted her. Having won her favor, he had to solve her problems himself. Letting her find a solution would make him look incompetent.

  Just as he was fretting, a follower pointed. "Senior Brother Lowell, look—that forge is signing contracts! They have room!"

  Lowell looked. Indeed. He smiled ingratiatingly. "After all the twists and turns, Junior Sister Quincy, your luck holds!"

  He strode forward. "My junior sister's Autumn Water Sword, a top-grade artifact, needs repairing. Have it done in ten days."

  "My apologies, Senior Brother Lowell. I just signed a contract with this Senior Brother Leo. Marketplace rules—a contract is binding unless the signatory withdraws. If your junior sister needs forging, you'll have to wait."