Chapter 57: Just a Minor Mishap

Lin Hao felt an overwhelming urge to curse aloud.

He drew a deep breath to suppress the anger rising within him.

Carefully, he picked up the Swallowing Cloud Sword and approached the fiery lava. Just looking at the molten rock made it hard for him to breathe; sweat poured down his face in streams, scalding hot. Even the Swallowing Cloud Sword was growing searing to the touch.

Worried, Lin Hao glanced at the sword in his hand. “Can this really be tempered successfully?” A sense of foreboding grew within him—it seemed as if the sword would instantly melt the moment it touched the lava.

After a moment’s deliberation, Lin Hao finally inched his way to the edge of the lava.

Yet he still couldn’t summon the courage to place the sword into the blaze. Remembering the dagger he carried, he pulled it out and tossed it into the lava.

The molten rock seemed to come alive, as if delighted by a snack. A surge of lava, shaped like a gaping maw, surged up and swallowed the dagger whole.

Lin Hao watched in disbelief as the dagger was devoured and bubbles began to rise. Bit by bit, the dagger melted away until even the hilt was gone.

His jaw hung open in shock. Staring at the Swallowing Cloud Sword, he muttered, “Can you really withstand this?” He swallowed nervously.

Cautiously, he asked, “System, if I give up on the task now, what’s the penalty?”

“Swallowing Cloud Sword or the host—choose one. Either may be cast into the lava.” The system’s answer was swift and merciless, its voice echoing coldly in Lin Hao’s mind.

Now, Lin Hao was truly speechless. All he could manage was a muttered curse. He was utterly defeated by the system.

Resigned, he drew the Swallowing Cloud Sword and plunged it into the lava.

A fire dragon emerged, instantly engulfing the sword, leaving only the hilt protruding. The rest of the molten rock surged up, enveloping the sword completely.

The eruption was even more intense than when the dagger was cast in.

Lin Hao watched as all the flames leaped and danced, swirling around the Swallowing Cloud Sword. The heat surged again, nearly unbearable, sweat cascading down his face.

Yet he gritted his teeth and endured, staring unblinkingly at the sword. “You must endure this. My life and future all depend on you. If you make it through this, I promise I’ll treat you well from now on.”

Lin Hao stood vigil for two days and nights, never closing his eyes. When the heat became too much, he would retreat a little.

On the third day, as part of his daily routine, he began pestering the system again, murmuring, “System, system, when will this be over? Has the Swallowing Cloud Sword already melted?”

The system, once patient, had grown immune to Lin Hao’s persistence and no longer answered.

Lin Hao didn’t seem to mind, continuing to talk to himself.

Suddenly, with a loud bang, an explosion erupted!

A surge of fire swept toward him.

He had no time to dodge and was blasted out of the cave by a wave of scalding air, landing in the river below.

Scalded, Lin Hao leapt from the river and scrambled onto the grass.

Looking at the collapsed cave, he shouted, “Swallowing Cloud Sword!” Anxious, he rushed forward.

Just then, the ground rumbled. The cave spewed fire and rocks in violent explosions, making it impossible for Lin Hao to approach or check on the sword.

Meanwhile, the massive eruption triggered a quake throughout the entire Tianyu Mountain. Everyone within its bounds felt the tremor.

The strange beasts went wild, rampaging in all directions, causing injuries to both people and themselves.

Outside, the scouts from all the sects turned pale with alarm. “What’s happening?”

At the Qingfeng Sect, Qing Yun, who had been monitoring the situation, was equally shocked. “What on earth is going on? Go investigate immediately!”

The other sects reacted similarly.

Inside Tianyu Mountain, Lin Hao, closest to the epicenter, was the first to be affected. He dodged the spurts of flame and flying stones in utter chaos.

Yet he refused to leave. Without seeing the Swallowing Cloud Sword, he could not rest easy.

He kept vigil.

After about twenty minutes, the tremors finally subsided.

The cave had collapsed, rocks spilling into the river as the molten rock was exposed to the open air.

With a deafening roar, the lava surged skyward, forming a fire dragon.

Lin Hao stared, wide-eyed and stunned.

The fire dragon had the Swallowing Cloud Sword clamped in its jaws, the hilt protruding. Roars echoed through the air as the dragon twisted and soared above Tianyu Mountain, visible to all.

“Look, a fire dragon! Quick, look!” Everyone cried out in alarm.

Lin Hao, meanwhile, stared at the sword in the dragon’s mouth, a mix of awe and anxiety filling his heart.

After a few turns in the sky, the fire dragon seemed to fix its gaze on Lin Hao and dived straight down.

A blast of scorching wind nearly knocked him off his feet.

The dragon stopped about ten meters away. Lin Hao could feel the searing heat radiating from it, as if his very skin was burning; his hair was singed, and his face blackened.

With a snort, the fire dragon spat out the Swallowing Cloud Sword.

At that moment, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.

Thunder rolled, and darkness fell. All light vanished, save for the glow of the fire dragon and the Swallowing Cloud Sword, whose blade flashed white amid the flames.

Astonished, Lin Hao reached out instinctively to touch the sword.

Immediately, the sword seemed to come alive, flying into his grasp.

Unable to control himself, Lin Hao raised the Swallowing Cloud Sword toward the heavens.

A hiss—an arc of sword light shot out.

In the distance, the thunderclouds parted, the sky clearing instantly as sunlight broke through once more.

Turning, Lin Hao watched as the fire dragon slowly faded, finally vanishing without a trace.

He stood there for a long moment, staring at the sword in his hand.

Suddenly, the system’s voice sounded in his mind: “Congratulations, Host. Mission complete. The Swallowing Cloud Sword has been successfully tempered.”

Startled back to reality, Lin Hao looked at the sword. It seemed to have gained a soul—gleaming brilliantly, its reflected sunlight dazzling.

He could feel a powerful aura radiating from the sword. Lin Hao was certain that even a single hair placed upon its edge would be instantly severed.

Delighted, he caressed the sword, but the moment his hand touched it, the blade cut his skin, blood sliding down to the ground.

He quickly withdrew his hand, but rather than angry, he beamed with joy. “Wonderful! This is the life-bound artifact worthy of me. Excellent!”

He reveled in his success.

Suddenly, a roar sounded nearby.

Lin Hao instantly tensed, raising the Swallowing Cloud Sword and looking around.

A streak of red light raced toward him—it was Qilin.

Relieved, he sheathed the sword and hurried over to the beast.

Qilin examined Lin Hao from head to toe, then asked, “Are you hurt?”

Lin Hao quickly checked himself, smiled sheepishly, and waved his hand. “No, no, just a minor accident.”

“Then leave Tianyu Mountain with me at once,” Qilin said, wasting no words. With a meaningful glance, it bit his sleeve and tossed him onto its back.

In a flash, they had flown far away.

Before Lin Hao could react, they had reached the bottom of the cliff where he had previously fallen.

A few leaps, and within minutes, they were at the summit.

Qilin set Lin Hao down, its gaze complex.

With grave sincerity, Qilin said, “Leave Tianyu Mountain at once.”

Lin Hao was bewildered by Qilin’s urgency. “What’s happened? Why do you sound so serious?”

“Just go. I won’t explain further. If you trust me, leave now,” Qilin replied, offering no more answers.

Then, together, they returned to the cave.

Lin Hao thought it over and decided to trust Qilin. After all, he had saved Qilin before and been rescued in return—surely Qilin meant him no harm.

At the cave entrance, Qilin stopped and glanced inside. “Take your junior brother and leave quickly.”

“Alright,” Lin Hao replied seriously, nodding to Qilin. “If you ever need anything, you can ask me.”

“No need. Leaving now is the best help you can give,” Qilin replied curtly.

So, Lin Hao shouldered his unconscious junior brother, looked at Qilin, and said, “Take care.”

He turned and strode away.

Not long after leaving the cave, Lin Hao encountered the elders and brothers from the Qingfeng Sect. Fortunately, only he, his junior brother, and Zhou Yichen had been separated; the rest were together.

Seeing Lin Hao, the elder hurried over, his face alight with joy. “At last, we’ve found you!”

His gaze fell worriedly on the unconscious youth on Lin Hao’s back. “What happened?”

“This is not a place to linger. I’ll explain everything later. Elder, we must leave Tianyu Mountain at once,” Lin Hao said.