Chapter 12

She was momentarily stunned, wondering if Zhuan Xuang might be deceiving her. Could an immortal, so lofty and detached from the mundane world, actually tell a lie?

Zhang Fanruo, eager to broaden the horizons of his inexperienced future junior sister, said, "Come, I'll take you to see!"

Along the way, Zhang Fanruo explained the origins of the Devouring God Mirror. "The mirror you hold has an extraordinary history. It was once retrieved from a river by a ruler of the State of Xu during the Spring and Autumn period. It later passed through the hands of cultivators, including powerful immortals like Master Su Youfa and Master Shen Liuzhi, both of whom ascended to higher realms. This mirror is said to have the power to traverse past and future, to purify hearts, and to see through heaven and earth."

Seeing Xie Chang’an’s astonished expression, he shrugged. "You probably find it incredible that such a powerful mirror could have ended up in your hands. Honestly, I’ve never witnessed those legendary abilities myself. Here on Crimson Frost Mountain, it’s just an ordinary mirror, perhaps with some spiritual energy at most. Senior Uncle Zhu said the mirror was used a few times during the Heavenly Tribulation, which drained its spiritual energy. It has since decayed and, even without your involvement, would likely shatter in a few decades."

He led Xie Chang’an into a small mountain courtyard, where suddenly many people appeared, coming and going briskly. Those who knew Zhang Fanruo paused to greet him respectfully, though they all seemed preoccupied, clutching various objects.

"Here is the Alchemy Pool," Zhang Fanruo announced.

Contrary to Xie Chang’an’s expectation of a small basin within a furnace, the so-called Alchemy Pool was an irregularly shaped pond several yards across, surrounded by stone and trees. If not for its blood-red water, one might mistake it for the garden of a noble house.

Groups of people gathered at the pool’s edge—some crouching to peer into the water, others muttering incantations over objects before tossing them into the pool.

Xie Chang’an frowned. "Senior Brother Zhang, this Alchemy Pool seems to be used for more than just refining pills. Why are people even throwing daggers into it?"

Zhang Fanruo smiled. "Though called an Alchemy Pool, it can refine all things. What makes it special is that it is said to have been formed from the blood jade carried by our ancestral founder. No other sect possesses such a wondrous artifact."

"In what way is it wondrous?" Xie Chang’an asked.

Zhang Fanruo explained, "This pool can transform old items into new, turning decay into marvels. Someone once threw in a useless, rusted sword, and out came the rare divine weapon ‘Zhao Huang’.”

“So everyone just tosses things in here, hoping for a miracle?” Xie Chang’an queried.

Zhang Fanruo nodded. “Don’t think they throw things in recklessly. To trigger a reaction, the objects must be infused with essence, blood, or incantations before being cast in. If nothing good emerges, the person not only loses their energy but also the item dissolves in the pool, never to be recovered.”

Just then, Xie Chang’an saw a person kneeling reverently at the pool’s edge, holding a pill. The individual muttered prayers, performed hand seals, and the pill shimmered with golden light before being carefully placed into the water.

Moments passed.

A long moment.

At least half an incense stick’s time went by.

The pool remained still.

The person’s hopeful face twisted into anguish, then grief, pounding their chest in despair. "This is my three-year effort’s worth of Bao Yuan Pills! Damn this Alchemy Pool, give me back my pills!"

Xie Chang’an was speechless.

Zhang Fanruo chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude. "You really think this pool produces treasures so easily? Even swords forged by renowned earthly craftsmen vanish without a trace. Master Fang’s ten-year pill refining efforts also ended in loss. And you, with your haphazard three-year pill concoction, dare to gamble here?"

Xie Chang’an understood then. "Senior Brother Zhang, have you thrown in a famous sword before?"

Zhang Fanruo replied, "Refine! Refining is different from just throwing! If a truly great sword or a helpful pill came out, it wouldn’t be a loss. When I first descended the mountain, I saw a fine sword called ‘Spring Birth’ and couldn’t resist buying it."

Xie Chang’an was surprised. "Could it be one of King Wen of Zhou’s famous swords?"

"Talking to someone knowledgeable always saves time!" Zhang Fanruo sighed. "But it was no use. The Spring Birth sword went in and never came out. I spent a lot of money and effort to bring it back. My master said it was a mundane object, but I refused to believe it. In the end, it was just a waste of effort, and I was furious!"

He eyed the broadsword strapped to Xie Chang’an’s back, feeling tempted. "You’re carrying a sword, right? I think you should refine it too. Our Crimson Frost Mountain is a sword-cultivation sect, so you’ll have to learn swordsmanship eventually. Keeping that sword won’t help you."

Xie Chang’an hesitated but removed the broadsword.

She had no personal attachment to it; it was taken from some ruffians. It was one of the countless treasured swords collected by the emperor, a symbol of the Tang Dynasty’s wealth and power.

Yet the emperor had long vanished, the city of Chang’an stained with the blood of countless commoners, ravaged repeatedly by savage rebels. Such treasures could not save the Tang, nor could any number of famed swords and blades restore the souls of those who died restless.

The broadsword named ‘Leaving Heaven’ was powerless to change fate.

Unaware of her thoughts, Zhang Fanruo, seeing her willingness, grew enthusiastic and gave detailed instructions. "Cut your finger with the blade, let your blood flow along the groove on the blade, and when placing it in the pool, meditate on the form you wish it to take. Here, I’ll recite the incantation for you—it’s simple!"

This broadsword had accompanied Xie Chang’an through countless battles, slaying many rebels. It deserved a worthy resting place, and perhaps this great Alchemy Pool was just that.

Xie Chang’an thought so as well. She followed instructions, letting her blood drip onto the blade and recited the incantation quietly, though she did not visualize any wish. Silently, she lowered the broadsword into the blood-red pool.

The sheathed blade sank without a sound—no golden light, not even a ripple. Thus ended its mission.

The two stared at the pool in heavy silence.

Zhang Fanruo, who initially just wanted to entertain himself by encouraging Xie Chang’an, now felt a twinge of guilt when the pool showed no reaction.

"How about you come with me to our master’s place? He has many fine swords. You can start with one of those. Once Senior Uncle Zhu officially accepts you, we’ll get you something better..."

"No need to go to Destiny Peak. I have one right here," came a familiar yet unfamiliar voice. The disciples present all bowed and made way.

A figure like a white cloud drifted in, ethereal and graceful like a crane or an immortal. Faces lit with surprise and reverence.

Only the three peak leaders were treated with such honor.

Zhang Fanruo and Xie Chang’an turned to greet.

Zhuan Xuang nodded slightly, glancing at Zhang Fanruo. "Your cultivation is the same as three years ago. Progress is minimal."

Zhang Fanruo smiled wryly, careful not to offend before Zhuan Xuang. "Master says I’m dull-witted, a block of useless wood. I can only await my fate."

As he spoke, the Alchemy Pool behind Xie Chang’an suddenly stirred!

The once placid pool slowly formed a whirlpool, as if invisible hands were churning the waters.

Water splashed like blood as a long sword broke the surface!

Its body was pitch black, refusing to reflect light.

Its very presence became the focus of all eyes, leaving everyone dumbstruck.

"Wasn’t it said the Alchemy Pool never produces anything?"

"Who threw this in? I only threw a pill. Can pills produce swords?!"

"The sword has inscriptions—‘Leaving Heaven’? The Leaving Heaven Sword?"

Even Zhang Fanruo was stunned.

He had just confidently told Xie Chang’an that the pool always took items without returning anything, only to be proven wrong.

He had never heard of a sword turning into another weapon after entering the pool. Could it have been a problem with the previous refining methods? His Spring Birth sword...

"Well, this is good," Zhuan Xuang said.

Good? Zhang Fanruo wondered.

In the next moment, Zhuan Xuang reached toward Xie Chang’an. "Give me the Devouring God Mirror."

Xie Chang’an quickly retrieved the mirror from her sleeve and handed it over.

Zhuan Xuang formed a hand seal with one hand and threw the mirror toward the sword just surfacing from the pool.

In a flash, the dull, rusted mirror’s surface shimmered faintly with a blue light.

His movements were so swift that Zhang Fanruo could barely discern the incantation used. The blue light from the mirror flared brilliantly, enveloping the sword floating above the water, obscuring what transpired within the glow.

As the light faded, Zhang Fanruo realized the Devouring God Mirror had vanished, leaving only the Leaving Heaven Sword behind—but it was different now. The sword’s body resembled fine black jade, shining with a subtle jade hue under the sunlight, translucent and exquisite.

Zhang Fanruo was speechless, almost petrified.

Having spent many years on Crimson Frost Mountain, often loitering by the Alchemy Pool to watch others test their luck, he had never witnessed such a miraculous transformation.

The Devouring God Mirror’s history was even more complex than what he had explained to Xie Chang’an, far beyond a simple tale. Yet this mirror, nearing its twilight years, willingly fused with an obscure mortal sword, elevating it from a mundane weapon to a unique treasure...

"This sword must be a unique treasure now, right?"

"Unique? No, that must be an immortal-grade weapon!"

Whispers from fellow disciples made Zhang Fanruo clutch his chest, feeling as if struck by a heart attack.

How could the difference between people be so vast? Why was Xie Chang’an’s luck so unbelievably good?

His envy burned red in his eyes; he wished he could rush back to Destiny Peak, cling to his master’s leg, and throw a tantrum until he got an immortal-grade sword for himself.

Xie Chang’an was equally astonished.

The transformation of Leaving Heaven from broadsword to sword meant it had been forged by the blood pool and had become a reliable weapon, even transcending the realm of mortal arms—an unexpected blessing.

Yet she did not know that two treasures could merge.

Staring at the Leaving Heaven Sword, which trembled slightly, radiating a restless seeking aura, she tentatively reached out. "Come."

The sword shuddered suddenly but did not move.

Slightly disappointed, Xie Chang’an was about to withdraw her hand.

In that instant, a clear, resonant clang sounded, and the Leaving Heaven Sword flew into her palm!