Chapter Two: Forging the Sword Bone

The Bai family resided in Liu City, which belonged to Yunhou Prefecture, one of the fourteen prefectures of the Wuhou Kingdom. Each prefecture contained four cities, and each city was nearly a thousand miles apart. The Star Feather Sect was a third-rate sect located in one of these four cities, while the Bai family was one of the four great clans of Liu City. Bai Jingyan’s current identity was that of the third son of the Bai family.

Leaning against the edge of his bed, Bai Jingyan was still deep in thought about how to pursue the path of the sword. "Regardless, the first priority is to repair this body and embark on the path of martial arts. Otherwise, training in either the way of the sword or the spear will remain a distant hope." Unable to sleep, he searched his memory for cultivation techniques. As dawn broke across the horizon, he opened his eyes. "The Primordial Sword Sutra seems to have a method that can help this body stand again!"

In his previous life, although Bai Jingyan often traversed battlefields, he had never neglected his studies. His father in that life had not wanted his son to become a mere brute who knew only how to fight. As a spear cultivator in his past life, he naturally could not practice these sword techniques; they had been gifts from others. "Who would have thought that things I had no use for in my past life would prove so vital in this one?" Bai Jingyan smiled.

After daybreak, he sent someone to purchase a few spirit swords. Their quality was not high, merely at the initial grade of the Yellow tier, but for the current Bai Jingyan, they were more than enough. Once the servant left, he began to attempt to circulate the spiritual energy within his body. After only a brief moment, he grimaced in pain, beads of sweat the size of peas rolling down his cheeks. "I didn't expect the hidden injuries in this body to be even more severe than I imagined." He clutched his chest, gasping for air.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man entered. He was dressed in a luxurious black robe, his strides carrying a sense of natural authority, and his sword-like brows added a touch of boldness to his expression. This was the current head of the Bai family, Bai Huaiwu.

"Yan’er, I heard you had the servants buy some spirit swords." Bai Huaiwu walked over, picked up one of the swords from the floor, and held it. His expression darkened with displeasure. "These peddlers, to think they would dare to swindle a member of the Bai family! The spiritual intent in these swords is almost entirely severed."

Spiritual intent was the essence contained within weapons in this world, similar to the spiritual energy found in human cultivators. Only weapons containing such intent could be classified into the twelve levels across the four tiers of Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow.

"It’s alright, Father. These are sufficient for me right now." Looking at Bai Huaiwu, a smile spread across Bai Jingyan’s face. He recalled how this man, though not his biological father, had cherished and protected him with all his heart. Seeing Bai Jingyan’s youthful yet delicate face, Bai Huaiwu let out a soft sigh. "Don't worry, Yan’er, even if I have to exhaust everything..."

"I will see you cured." Bai Huaiwu’s fist tightened in his sleeve, his nails digging into the calloused skin of his palm.

"Master of the house," a middle-aged man in a black robe entered the room.

"Mr. Chen, please." Seeing the man, Bai Huaiwu gestured for him to approach. The man bowed slightly and stepped directly in front of Bai Jingyan. "Young Master, please extend your hand." Bai Jingyan nodded and complied.

"Young Master, do you feel a swelling pain in your chest whenever you circulate your spiritual power?" Bai Jingyan nodded.

"The Young Master has stagnant toxins remaining in his body," the man explained. "These toxins are blocking the meridians; that is why you feel pain when you circulate your energy."

"Is there a way to solve this?" Bai Huaiwu asked urgently.

The middle-aged man placed his hand on Bai Jingyan’s chest, channeling his own spiritual energy into him. Bai Jingyan felt a sudden sense of refreshing clarity and comfort. "With a few more days of quiet rest, the Young Master will make a full recovery."

After speaking, the man rose to leave, and Bai Huaiwu walked him to the gates of the Bai estate. In a secluded corner, the man said, "In a few more days, he will be able to resume his cultivation as he did before."

"Mr. Chen, I am deeply honored that you have traveled such a great distance to be here." Bai Huaiwu bowed, showing the man’s unusual status. The man quickly helped him up. "If anything were to happen to him, it is not something 'we' could bear! After all, both you and he are..." Before he could finish, Bai Huaiwu placed a finger to his lips, signaling him to be silent. The man realized his mistake and changed the subject. "To think that an inner disciple of a mere third-rate sect would act with such ruthless cruelty. It seems it is time to erase them from the map of this kingdom." A look of cold malice flashed in his eyes.

Bai Huaiwu replied, "Given his current temperament, if there is a grudge, he will naturally seek to settle it himself. We need not intervene."

...

After the middle-aged man cleared the stagnant toxins from his body, Bai Jingyan began to circulate his spiritual energy again. It was indeed much smoother. After circulating his energy for several cycles, the sky had already begun to darken. He placed his hands on his legs. "If I want to forge a sword-bone, I must first shatter the bones already in my body."

With that, he focused his spiritual energy into his palms. *Snap! Crack!* Enduring the excruciating pain, Bai Jingyan shattered the spirit swords, channeling the meager spiritual intent within them into his legs. It was unclear how much time had passed; only the hilts remained on the floor, the blades having vanished. Bai Jingyan’s clothes were soaked with sweat, and he was breathing heavily. "This bone-shaping method is truly not something an ordinary person could endure."

He wore a sincere smile. Surviving this ordeal proved he had taken the first step. His eyelids grew heavy, and he slowly drifted off to sleep. He hadn't slept for a day and a night; after all, he was currently still just an ordinary person.

Outside the window, a silhouette stood watching, sighing. "It seems the worst has already happened." He looked toward the moon. "What is to be done from here on?" A star streaked across the sky, vanishing in an instant.

Dawn arrived. Bai Jingyan opened his eyes and couldn't wait to get out of bed. Although the meridians in his legs had not fully healed, he could at least walk a short distance without assistance. Previously, even reaching the door required someone to help or the use of other supports. "In three days at most, this body will be fully recovered. Then, I can begin my cultivation of the sword!"

Thinking of this, his smile widened. Bai Jingyan sat cross-legged on the floor, preparing to open his spiritual orifices. These orifices were graded from one to ten, with ten being the weakest and one being the best. Once he opened his spiritual orifices, he could officially step onto the path of cultivation.