The Ethereal Domains

The Truth About The Demonic Edge . . .

Cha-Eun Xiao nodded, showing his agreement with Song Jue's words. Their discussions had revolved around a rather delicate topic—the invitation from the crown prince. He understood the underlying implications and dangers involved. With a sense of assurance, he reassured his uncle.

"I'm aware, Uncle Song," Cha-Eun Xiao replied calmly. "Rest assured, if the crown prince dares to make any move against me, I won't hesitate to handle the situation thoroughly. No one will be the wiser."

Song Jue, however, couldn't help but react with a mixture of despair and frustration. He had a sudden coughing fit, emphasizing his frustration. "Handle them thoroughly?" he choked out, his exasperation evident in his expression.

Quickly realizing his words might have been too strong, Cha-Eun Xiao laughed it off, trying to defuse the tension. "I'm just kidding, Uncle Song," he said with a wink.

Inwardly, though, he harbored his own reservations about the crown prince and his wife. Their constant opposition and interference were sources of irritation. He thought to himself, [Those two, always standing in my way. Even if I were to eliminate them, what good would it do?]

Song Jue, still taken aback, struggled to find words. "Just go to the dining room," he said finally, exasperated. "You'll have to decide what to say and do yourself. With your capabilities now, I assume you've reached at least the Grade of Diyuan. So, I can worry a little less, but please don't be reckless, alright? I feel like I'm playing beautiful music to an unappreciative audience." 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢

Cha-Eun Xiao grinned cheekily, expressing his understanding. "Don't worry, Uncle Song. I know what to do."

Song Jue couldn't help muttering under his breath, "You know nothing..."

Deciding it was best to part ways, Song Jue hurried off to check on the blood guards, leaving Cha-Eun Xiao with his thoughts. The awkwardness of the recent spar still weighed on his mind.

[That was quite embarrassing. Am I still the Vital Blade? To think I was beaten by a sixteen-year-old with a single attack...]

As he walked away, his face reddened in shame.

[Thankfully, he's my nephew, not a stranger. Otherwise, I'd have no choice but to end it all...]

Once he was certain Cha-Eun Xiao wasn't following him, he found a secluded spot and sat down, rubbing his chest in discomfort. "Ouch... That was painful. The boy really packs a punch. He hit my chest with 178 strikes... each one felt like a cannonball. I thought my ribs were going to crack."

As he massaged his chest, a blood guard unexpectedly appeared, catching him in a compromising position. Concerned for their chief, the guard rushed over to offer assistance. "Chief, what happened? Who attacked you?"

This exposed Song Jue's embarrassment, and he quickly leaped to his feet, his face reddening even more. "You idiot! What do you mean, 'attacked'? Do you think there's anyone in Chen-Xing City who can defeat me? I was merely catching my breath and rubbing my chest. Are you blind?"

The guard seemed perplexed, but he pointed out, "Chief, your clothes are all dirty, even your backside."

Song Jue, now openly annoyed at being caught, grabbed the guard's ear and gave it a painful twist. "You imbecile! Learn how to speak properly. You've been a blockhead your entire life, and it seems you're still as dumb as a rock."

With that, he dragged the guard away to give him a much-needed lesson in speaking more sensibly.

Meanwhile, Cha-Eun Xiao, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, couldn't help but smile. He felt a sense of relief and decided it was time to attend to his Divine Weapon with the Demonic Edge.

Cha-Eun Xiao examined the assortment of 108 needles and 12 knives laid out before him, each fashioned from the enigmatic Deep Sea Frigid Metal. An inscrutable smile tugged at his lips as he pondered their properties.

"If it's truly just Deep Sea Frigid Metal," he mused aloud, "how could it consume a master blacksmith's lifetime? And why do these weapons lack any tips?"

Deep Sea Frigid Metal, indeed a rare and precious material, couldn't possibly account for the extraordinary qualities attributed to these weapons. Above all, they couldn't be worthy of the title 'Divine Weapon with Demonic Edge' unless something more was concealed within them.

Curiosity guiding his actions, he selected one of the needles and grasped it firmly in his hand. He harnessed the blazing power of the East-rising Purple Qi, watching as his hand grew hotter while the frigid needle retained its icy chill.

This was a unique characteristic of the Deep Sea Frigid Metal, but Cha-Eun Xiao's suspicions refused to waver.

With determination, he amplified the heat, filling the room with an oppressive, sweltering atmosphere. Gradually, a crystalline radiance began to emanate from the needle. Its surface liquefied and peeled away, unveiling its true composition—a dark, ink-like crystal material, shimmering like the night sky's stars.

Accompanying the revelation of this hidden substance was an aura of death, one that felt foreign to the mortal realm. It was an indescribable coldness, far removed from the natural world.

Fixing his sharp gaze upon the exposed material, Cha-Eun Xiao concluded, "I was right... This isn't Deep Sea Frigid Metal. Something else lies beneath."

He continued to study the needle in his hand, murmuring, "The only substance in the universe that emits an aura of slaughter and destruction like this is..."

"It's Sky Demonic Steel."

While he spoke, the needle's surface melted completely, unveiling the dark, lustrous material beneath. The aura of destruction it exuded was akin to malevolent demons, poised to unleash maleficent deeds upon the world.

"This is Sky Demonic Steel!" Cha-Eun Xiao declared with a sense of understanding. "Only a material of this caliber could compel a master blacksmith to dedicate a lifetime to its tempering."

"However, the deathly aura inherent in Sky Demonic Steel causes it to reject all other metals, rendering them unsuitable for crafting the tips of these weapons. The Deep Sea Frigid Metal served as a protective shell. Had it remained uncovered, those who held it would be subjected to a mindless demonic influence."

"Only weapons crafted from Sky Demonic Steel can rightfully bear the title... Divine Weapons with Demonic Edge."

"Now that I've revealed its true form in my hand," he continued, "it means... I can wield these weapons to dominate the universe!"

Taking a deep breath, Cha-Eun Xiao held the Demonic Needle in his hand and entered the Spaces. The needle accompanied him, glowing as it entered this otherworldly realm. His gaze shifted to a small pile of Spiritual Essence of Gold, and without hesitation, he approached it.

The Demonic Needle, of its own accord, immersed itself into the Spiritual Essence of Gold and began to shimmer.

"They're not incomplete," Cha-Eun Xiao realized. "They're fully formed but require the essence of gold to refine them, transforming them into true Demonic Edges. Sky Demonic Steel isn't suitable for crafting needle and knife tips..."

As the radiant glow faded from the Demonic Needle, he waved his hand, summoning it back. This time, the needle possessed a slender, razor-sharp tip, emanating an indescribable cold radiance.

The throwing needle was now complete.

A satisfied glint danced in Cha-Eun Xiao's eyes as he beheld the revelation of Sky Demonic Steel concealed within the needles. It was a triumphant moment, one that affirmed his intuition and deepened his understanding of these legendary weapons.

With newfound clarity on the true nature of these weapons, he embarked on a journey to unlock their full potential. Cha-Eun Xiao meticulously repeated the process he had discovered, selecting one needle at a time. His skilled hands wielded the power of the East-rising Purple Qi to melt the surface of each needle before venturing into the enigmatic realm of the Spaces to craft the essential tips.

The limitation of his current level of cultivation restricted him to working on a single needle at a time, unable to address the twelve knives due to their larger size. Yet, his sense of contentment outweighed any lingering frustration. He was now in possession of the coveted legendary weapons, and with patience and dedication, he would eventually bring all the needles and knives to their full potential.

"The most important achievement is that it is attainable," Cha-Eun Xiao muttered to himself, wiping the sweat from his brow.

As he continued refining the weapons, the East-rising Purple Qi exhibited remarkable progress. It grew increasingly pure, its edges sharper, and its overall strength expanded. Before long, he was able to replicate the sharpened edges of the knives, marking another significant milestone in his journey.

Immersed in his work, Cha-Eun Xiao was oblivious to the passage of time. He failed to notice that his body's energy reserves were depleting as the qi in the Spaces surged into his meridians like an inexhaustible tide. Simultaneously, the purple qi from the universe flowed continuously, replenishing his energy.

His unwavering concentration on crafting the Divine Weapons with Demonic Edges had led him to a state of 'harmony between man and nature,' a rare and coveted achievement. This profound connection between his mental and spiritual faculties facilitated rapid growth in both domains.

In the midst of this intense process, Cha-Eun Xiao remained blissfully unaware that the temperature within the house of Cha had risen dramatically that night.