The casting pool was covered in Taoist talismans. Yuan Jiujian performed his incantation, but instead of the imagined inferno, icy, bone-chilling water erupted from the pool's depths.
"True masterful sword forging isn't about burning with fire or striking with hammers; it's about administering the right remedy. The Zanpakuto was refined by the Glacial Lotus Seed, so fire wouldn't have worked," Yuan Jiujian explained. "These talismans contain the purest cold water I gathered during my travels when I was young. I never thought I'd have the chance to use it for sword forging, but fate has it so." Da Feng Novel Network.
Extreme heat and extreme cold could both alter the weapons being forged. At Yuan Jiujian's level, his perception of the world differed greatly from that of ordinary people.
The cold water in the casting pool exuded a biting chill, somewhat similar to the glacial water Yan Shouyi had encountered on Mount Emei, yet there was a fundamental difference.
Glacial water was inherently ordinary, its piercing cold stemming solely from the influence of the Glacial Snow Lotus. The water before them, however, possessed its own intrinsic peculiarity. If they were to be compared, Yan Shouyi believed the water before him was more formidable.
"Sword, come!"
Yuan Jiujian beckoned, and the Zanpakuto flew into his grasp. This scene startled Yan Shouyi somewhat.
Yuan Jiujian was clearly not the Zanpakuto's master, yet he could control it at will, showcasing the old man's profound mastery.
However, once Long Feicheng became the Zanpakuto's sword spirit, this situation would cease to occur. No matter how strong Yuan Jiujian's control over the sword was, if Long Feicheng ignored him, it would be useless.
Yuan Jiujian then took out the prepared forging materials and applied them to the Zanpakuto's blade.
The incredibly hard Zanpakuto, capable of slicing through iron like mud, surprisingly became somewhat soft.
Yuan Jiujian then dug a small pit near the hilt and instructed Yan Shouyi, "Give me a drop of your vital blood."
"Alright!"
Yan Shouyi didn't even ask why; he had complete faith in Yuan Jiujian.
Forcing out a drop of vital blood, Yuan Jiujian used a blank talisman to collect it. The vital blood instantly dissolved on the talisman, tracing its own divine patterns and rendering the talisman extraordinary.
Yet, Yan Shouyi felt that this talisman was incomplete, as if something were missing.
Next, Yuan Jiujian cupped the talisman and said to Long Feicheng, "Give me a wisp of your soul!"
"No problem!"
Long Feicheng, without any hesitation, snapped off his little finger and handed it to Yuan Jiujian.
Since he was in a spiritual form, his severed little finger would regenerate in the blink of an eye.
As the little finger left Long Feicheng's body, it dissolved into wisps of light. Yuan Jiujian also infused these soul fragments into the talisman.
Long Feicheng's soul then traced a pale blue pattern over the original crimson markings, completing the talisman.
"This is the 'Harmonious Connection Talisman'," Yuan Jiujian chuckled. "It will help you two brothers achieve telepathic connection."
Folding the talisman neatly, Yuan Jiujian placed it into the hilt.
At that instant, a faint, imperceptible link formed between Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng.
The two seemed to be able to communicate mentally through this connection, though the sensation was currently weak, like a poor signal.
If the signal were strong enough, Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng could bypass verbal communication entirely and achieve "spiritual transmission" like immortals.
"Now, for the forging of the sword spirit!"
Yuan Jiujian wiped the Zanpakuto clean and then tossed it into the casting pool.
As the Zanpakuto entered the pool, it immediately stirred up a thick layer of white mist, akin to the black smoke produced by intense fire.
Yuan Jiujian lifted the hem of his robe and sat down directly in front of the casting pool. "Long Feicheng, prepare yourself. When I give the command, leap into the casting pool!"
As he spoke, he began chanting, and the talismans at the bottom of the pool started to take effect. The water in the pool seemed to boil.
As the moment of truth arrived, Long Feicheng felt a twinge of apprehension.
Yan Shouyi was even more nervous.
Standing beside the casting pool, the two felt that they should say something, but there seemed to be insufficient time for them to exchange many words.
Suddenly, Yuan Jiujian shouted without warning, "Jump!"
"Jump!"
Long Feicheng took a few steps, but at the last moment, he abruptly stopped.
He turned back and gave Yan Shouyi a slight smile.
"Brother Yan, I'll see you later."
With that, he fearlessly toppled backward.
Long Feicheng's soul fell into the casting pool, causing no disturbance whatsoever, instantly engulfed by the white mist and chilling water.
Concurrently, a faint blue light emanated from within the casting pool.
Yan Shouyi let out a long sigh of relief.
With things having reached this point, there was no turning back.
Long Feicheng had offered himself for the sword's forging. If he could not defeat the Imperial Preceptor afterward, even if his soul were scattered, it would not be enough to absolve the guilt in his heart.
He quietly found a corner, sat down, and waited patiently for Yuan Jiujian to finish forging the sword.
Perhaps due to sheer exhaustion, Yan Shouyi actually dozed off against the wall while waiting.
Two hours passed unnoticed. Yan Shouyi was suddenly awakened by Yuan Jiujian.
"Yan Shouyi, the sword is done."
Yan Shouyi's eyes snapped open, and his first instinct was to look at the casting pool.
The pool remained obscured by the chilling water and white mist, making the Zanpakuto directly invisible.
He then looked at Yuan Jiujian, who appeared utterly exhausted, needing to lean against the wall just to stand.
However, Yuan Jiujian's eyes were filled with exhilaration. "The Zanpakuto is complete! This peerless divine weapon will surely go down in history, and my name, Yuan Jiujian, will be remembered forever!"
Yuan Jiujian's evident excitement indicated that not only had the recasting of the Zanpakuto been successful, but its power had also been significantly enhanced.
However, Yan Shouyi's primary concern was Long Feicheng's current condition.
"How is Little Long? Why did I fall asleep just now..." Yan Shouyi felt a pang of self-reproach, believing he shouldn't have slept at such a critical moment.
Yuan Jiujian smiled. "That was a side effect of the Harmonious Connection Talisman; it's not your fault. Now, you and Long Feicheng can communicate with your thoughts!"
Is it like how I communicate with San Yuan?
Yan Shouyi pondered this. However, his connection with San Yuan was still somewhat lacking; their communication was vague, not direct conversation.
He tried calling out to Long Feicheng in his mind.
"Little Long? Can you hear me?"
But the casting pool remained silent, with no response.
"Little Long?"
Yan Shouyi called out a few more times, suddenly sensing that something was amiss. He quickly turned to Yuan Jiujian. "Senior, Little Long isn't responding!"
Yuan Jiujian frowned, a look of confusion crossing his face. "Hmm... that shouldn't be the case! My forging technique is flawless..."
The two of them quickly leaned over the edge of the casting pool, shouting Long Feicheng's name into it. They even began to contemplate ways to retrieve the Zanpakuto.
Just as they were consumed by anxiety, Long Feicheng's voice suddenly echoed from within the casting pool:
"Hahahaha! You guys are scared, aren't you!!"