Chapter Twenty-Nine: Undercurrents

"I will keep your words in mind, Ancestor," Wu Shu said, bowing respectfully.

Wu Zhan nodded slightly and addressed the entrance of the Eternal Hall, "Lieyan, order someone to escort Wu Shu out of the Giant Elephant Mountain Range."

Following the War Ancestor's full awakening, both the World Tree and Lieyan, the spirit of the Flame Hammer, were overjoyed. Out of respect, they had refrained from disturbing him, choosing instead to stand guard outside the hall.

Upon hearing the command, Lieyan replied happily, "I shall obey your decree at once, Master. I will have the young master escorted back to Dongsu City immediately."

Though Lieyan’s voice was not loud, it carried clearly to the guardian beasts within a hundred-mile radius. The War Ancestor had awakened! Throughout the core of the Giant Elephant Mountain Range, the war beasts were stirred into a state of intense excitement. After so many years, the man who had slumbered within the Temple of the War God had finally returned.

With the assistance of Lieyan and the World Tree, Wu Shu returned to the Temple of the War God. As he prepared to bow and take his leave, Lieyan, the spirit of the Flame Hammer, spoke up: "Wu Shu, the Master asked me to give this to you."

Before Wu Shu could ask what it was, Lieyan flicked a cluster of spiritual energy toward him. Wu Shu did not hesitate, allowing the energy to sink directly into his brow.

Before he could even examine the contents of his consciousness, the girl Lieyan coldly added, "Farewell!"

The sudden shift in the weapon spirit’s attitude left Wu Shu bewildered. While he possessed ten thousand years of spiritual power and immense talent in its cultivation, he remained baffled by the complexities of the female temperament, even when manifested in a weapon spirit.

After Wu Shu, the Night-Walking Beast, and the Stele Spirit departed, the World Tree, in its childlike voice, asked, "Lieyan, you are so strange today. You actually slipped the Master’s years of forging experience to that young brat."

Lieyan rolled her eyes and replied with annoyance, "As a descendant of the Wu family, he has no semblance of a blacksmith. If he becomes famous one day and people discover he comes from a family of master smiths yet knows nothing of forging, it would be a disgrace—not just for him, but for me as well."

Hearing this, the World Tree realized its oversight. "How frustrating! I should have given the brat some of my root fibers. If he truly makes a name for himself, I could boast before the little apes and elephants: 'Look, that boy has a World Tree of the same origin as me in his spiritual world.'"

Lieyan let out a disdainful scoff. The World Tree immediately changed its tune: "Next time, the next time we meet, I will plant a seed of my avatar directly into his consciousness."

Unknown to them, Wu Zhan had appeared behind them. Hearing their conversation, he chuckled, "So, you both think highly of my descendant after all."

Upon seeing Wu Zhan, Lieyan bowed concernedly, "Master..."

Wu Zhan raised a hand, "It is of no consequence."

***

Now awake, Wu Zhan was eager to learn the state of the Wu family in Dongsu City. "What is the situation in Dongsu City?"

The World Tree answered in its childlike voice, "Master, based on what I have observed through the flora of the city, the situation is unclear and fraught with undercurrents."

"Undercurrents?" Wu Zhan frowned. "What is happening?"

Lieyan hurried to explain, "Master, according to the latest intelligence from the Fire Cat Beast King, a large number of demons are hiding in Dongsu City. The Crown Prince of the Kun Kingdom and his followers are also there. Furthermore, Zhao Fenxing, the beloved third daughter of Zhao Lin—the head of the Zhao family of the Eastern Earth Empire—has a close relationship with the young master, which has drawn many enemies to the Wu family. Additionally..."

Seeing Lieyan hesitate, Wu Zhan pressed, "Has something happened to the Wu family?"

Thinking of how Wu Zhen, fueled by pride, had been beaten into a critical state again for defending his brother’s honor, Lieyan replied somberly, "The young master's younger brother could not swallow his pride, and he is currently bedridden with severe injuries."

"Unable to swallow his pride, and now bedridden?" Wu Zhan sighed. The fact that such words came from Lieyan reminded him how cruel time was; even a weapon spirit had to adapt to reality.

Sensing Wu Zhan’s dissatisfaction with her report, Lieyan added, "Master, the Fire Cat Beast King has yet to recover from the wounds sustained during his battle with the mysterious expert."

Recalling the incident years ago when several mysterious masters had marched directly on the Wu family, Wu Zhan said calmly, "You have done your best."

Looking toward the direction in which Wu Shu had vanished, he continued, "Young one, I hope you grow quickly. May you use your own strength to lead the Wu family back to glory."

Three days after the great battle, the forces of both humans and demons had withdrawn from the Giant Elephant Mountain Range. Under the protection of the Great Tiger King, Wu Shu soon exited the mountain range. After bidding the beast farewell, the Night-Walking Beast carried Wu Shu toward Dongsu City with uncharacteristic excitement, as if it were finally escaping a sea of misery.

However, after traveling for only half an hour, the beast collapsed from exhaustion, forcing Wu Shu to stop and rest. It was then that he finally examined the spiritual energy cluster Lieyan had left in his mind.

To his shock, the energy contained the War Ancestor’s lifetime of forging experience, as well as several powerful secret techniques.

Meanwhile, the Stele Spirit, having entered Wu Shu’s consciousness, was stunned by the majesty of Saint Son Mountain. It was particularly amused to find the two "elders," Wu Zuo and Wu You, suppressed beneath the mountain. "Poor fellows," the Stele Spirit shook its head. "No resistance at all?"

With Wu Zuo and Wu You silenced, the Stele Spirit watched as Wu Shu studied the secret techniques.

***

The "Great Extinction Palm," which required a Heavenly Thunder bloodline, and the "Life-Extinguishing Curse," which required a Metal attribute bloodline... among the techniques, only the movement art "Wind Nine Forms" was free of bloodline restrictions and could be practiced by Wu Shu.

"Wind Nine Forms?" Wu Shu murmured, reading the instructions carefully.

The Stele Spirit chimed in, "Young Master, such movement arts depend entirely on the practitioner’s comprehension. As for how fast you can progress, it depends on the density of the Earth Force within your body."

Wu Shu did not disagree. After gaining an initial understanding, he attempted to practice the art. He felt his Profound Qi depleting rapidly. Even after managing to manifest three afterimages in a short time, he shook his head. "The consumption is too high. Even if I reach the True Origin Realm, I fear I could only travel a few miles."

He decided to put the technique aside. His priority was not just physical tempering, but condensing his Profound Qi into Profound Force to truly enter the True Origin Realm.

Having reached the peak of the ninth stage of physical tempering, his internal circulation was smoother than ever. Although the ambient spiritual energy was thinner here than in the core of the mountain range, the accelerated circulation allowed him to absorb the remnants of the Blood Soul Liquid.

Two hours passed. Wu Shu failed to condense the force several times, feeling utterly perplexed. According to the cultivation methods of the Thick Earth Continent, once one accumulated enough Earth Qi in the Dantian, it should condense into a strand of yellow Earth Force, signaling entry into the True Origin Realm.

"Why is this not working?" he wondered aloud.

The Stele Spirit, observing from within, mused, "Young Master, your cultivation seems to be outside the Five Elements. Perhaps the form your force takes is unique to your specific secret method." It recalled that practitioners on the True Fire Continent cultivated True Fire Force; when a fire-like form appeared in their Dantian, they had reached the True Origin Realm. "I suggest you verify the form of your Profound Qi before attempting to condense it."

The advice made sense. Wu Shu settled his mind, observing the misty, white fog of Profound Qi within him. He realized he needed to accelerate the rotation within his Dantian. After another hour, a soft "click" echoed in his mind, and a tiny, sesame-sized, pale yellow droplet of Profound Force hung suspended in his Dantian.

Looking at the tiny drop, Wu Shu knew he had entered the True Origin Realm. Yet, he couldn't help but be surprised: after so much effort, he had only managed to condense such a small amount.