The sound reverberated through the air, the shockwave sending sparks flying.
Yun Lintian raised his fist and slammed down again.
With each strike, the fragments drew closer, the cracks between them sealing. But something was missing—the sword remained dull, lifeless.
Tie Muqiu gritted her teeth. "It's not enough. The faith—you need to call it!"
Yun Lintian understood.
He closed his eyes, reaching out with his divine sense. Beyond the workshop, beyond the courtyard—into the streets of Nine Firmament City.
To the whispers of merchants praising his name.
To the prayers of cultivators who revered him.
To the hopeful murmurs of mortals who saw him as their protector.
A golden light, faint but unwavering, streamed into the workshop. It swirled around the Human Emperor Sword, sinking into its metal.
A pulse of golden energy exploded outward, the shockwave nearly knocking Tie Muqiu off her feet. Yun Lintian steadied her as the light faded, revealing the sword—now whole, its blade gleaming with renewed brilliance.
Tie Muqiu exhaled shakily. "...It worked."
Linlin and Qingqing, who had been peeking in from the doorway, cheered.
Yun Lintian picked up the sword, feeling its weight. The metal hummed in his grip, as if grateful to be whole again.
But more than that—it felt alive.
Tie Muqiu wiped the sweat from her brow, her breathing slightly labored. But instead of putting down her tools, she tightened her grip on the hammer.
"Not done yet," she said sharply.
Yun Lintian blinked. "What?"
Before he could react, Tie Muqiu's entire aura shifted.
A deep, ancient pressure suddenly filled the forge—one that made even the divine flames bow in reverence. Her eyes glowed with a golden light, and intricate runes crawled up her arms, pulsing with each heartbeat.
This was the first time Yun Lintian had seen her in action.
And it was terrifying.
Yun Lintian quickly put the sword back to the anvil and stepped aside.
Tie Muqiu raised her hammer and slammed down as her aura flared up.
The sound wasn't just loud—it resonated through space itself, shaking the very foundations of the workshop. The Human Emperor Sword trembled violently, its golden glow intensifying.
Yun Lintian's eyes widened. Every strike carried a profound rhythm, as if she wasn't just forging metal—she was rewriting the sword's very existence.
Another strike. The blade's edge sharpened, its divine aura condensing.
Another. The sword's surface shimmered, ancient runes surfacing along its length—runes Yun Lintian had never seen before.
Linlin and Qingqing clutched each other, their tiny forms trembling. "Big Brother Yun... what is this?!"
Yun Lintian didn't answer. He couldn't.
Because what he was witnessing wasn't just forging.
Tie Muqiu's movements were fluid, precise—every strike carrying the weight of countless generations of blacksmiths. The flames obeyed her will, dancing around the blade, tempering it beyond its original limits.
Her hammer descended one last time, striking not just the sword, but the very air around it.
A shockwave of golden light exploded outward, forcing Yun Lintian to raise his arms in defense. When the light faded, the sword hovered in midair, humming with power.
No—it wasn't just humming.
The Human Emperor Sword had not just been repaired—it had been reborn. Its edge was sharper, its aura purer, and the divine energy within it surged like a living thing.
Tie Muqiu lowered her hammer, the glow in her eyes fading. She exhaled deeply, her body swaying slightly from exhaustion.
Yun Lintian stepped forward, catching her before she could collapse. "You—"
She waved him off, though her legs still shook. "Don't get sentimental. Just take the damn sword."
Yun Lintian hesitated, then reached out. The moment his fingers touched the hilt, the sword's energy surged into him—not as a wild force, but as a willing partner.
No—it recognized the faith he carried.
Linlin gasped. "So strong!"
Qingqing's eyes sparkled. "It's beautiful!"
Tie Muqiu chuckled, though her voice was weak. "Of course it is. I don't do half-assed work."
Yun Lintian studied the blade, marveling at its newfound brilliance. "This isn't just restoration. You improved it."
Tie Muqiu shrugged. "The sword was always meant to be . The inheritor of the God of Mortal just never understood its true potential."
Yun Lintian frowned. "What do you mean?"
She met his gaze, her expression serious for once. "The Human Emperor Sword doesn't just absorb faith—it reflects it. The stronger the wielder's conviction, the stronger the blade becomes. Fan Shen used faith as a tool, so the sword was never truly his."
She pointed at Yun Lintian. "But you? You carry the hopes of countless people without even realizing it. That's why the sword responds to you."
Yun Lintian fell silent. He hadn't considered that.
Tie Muqiu sighed, rubbing her sore arms. "Anyway, it's done. Now get out of my forge. I need to rest."
Yun Lintian nodded, sheathing the sword carefully. "Thank you."
She snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't break it again."
As Yun Lintian turned to leave, Linlin and Qingqing scampered after him, still buzzing with excitement.
But before he stepped out, Tie Muqiu called out one last time.
Her expression was softened. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Yun Lintian was surprised slightly and smiled. "You're welcome. I will come here often in the future. I want to learn about forging."
"Get lost." Tie Muqiu rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively.
Yun Lintian laughed and left with Qingqing and Linlin.
"Big Brother Yun, are you going to send the sword away?" Linlin asked as Yun Lintian left the courtyard.
Yun Lintian looked at the Human Emperor Sword in his hand and said. "Yes. Although it has somewhat recognized me, it doesn't belong to me. I'm not the one who carries the faith of humanity. What I am carrying is my wish to protect everyone around me."
He paused for a moment and said further. "Besides, I've promised Fan Shen to send it back to his home star. Even though Fan Shen is our enemy, I respect his last wish. I can see that it truly came from the bottom of his heart."
Linlin nodded slowly and said nothing more. But there was a trace of pity in her eyes.
Yun Lintian smiled and said. "Don't worry. The God Slaying Sword and the Heaven Sunderer are enough for me to deal with Nian Shi and Yin."