The secret findings of the Grand Ancestral Forge did not remain confined to the deep vaults of Sacred Flame Peak for long.
Inside the Sect Master's secluded pavilion overlooking the grand caldera, Sect Master Xuan Yuan sat across from the Grand Elders of the Heavenly Forge Division, along with senior representatives from the Pill Dawn Sect and the Hundred Formation Tower. Upon the low jade table between them rested the detailed reports compiled by Elder Duan and the seven Master Smiths.
"If we lock this mace in our deepest treasury, what do we gain?" Sect Master Xuan Yuan asked, his voice calm yet carrying the unyielding resonance of a mountain peak. "We gain the lingering diplomatic hostility of the continent's major sects, endless covert surveillance at our gates, and a treasure that only seven aging Master Smiths can study in secret."
Grand Elder Duan nodded slowly, his silver beard swaying. "The weapon's craftsmanship is so profound that even our senior masters struggle to grasp its complete principles. Forcing our elders to decipher it in isolation is like trying to drain a spiritual spring with a single teacup."
"Then let the spring water flow," Sect Master Xuan Yuan declared, a faint, visionary gleam appearing in his eyes. "We did not pool twenty thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones merely to hoard a weapon. We did it to establish Black Tortoise Mountain as the undisputed center of the continent's crafting lineage. If the major sects want to understand the Laws of Destruction, we shall give them the opportunity—on our terms."
By midday the following morning, golden communication talismans were dispatched from the foreign affairs arrays of Black Tortoise Mountain, streaking across the skies toward every major sect, county capital, and merchant hub on the Demon Immortal Continent.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the cultivation world:
**The Annihilation Analysis Gathering.**
Black Tortoise Mountain would not hide the masterpiece. In one month's time, the sect would open the Grand Exhibition Plaza beneath the outer caldera, placing *Volcanic Annihilation* upon a public appraisal platform. All qualified Rank 2 Core Smiths—whether hailing from the ten major sects, regional trading alliances, or independent rogue lineages—were formally invited to observe and study the weapon firsthand.
The announcement was accompanied by five ironclad rules:
First: *Absolute Preservation.* No physical strike, acid, or invasive chemical may touch the mace.
Second: *Anti-Replication Seal.* No direct forging molds or material extractions may be taken.
Third: *Regulated Senses.* Divine sense probing must remain strictly within designated spiritual boundary thresholds to prevent Law backlash.
Fourth: *Timed Shifts.* Each participant will receive a strictly measured two-hour analysis window on the testing platform.
Fifth: *The Analytical Treatise.* Every participating Core Smith must submit a formal written treatise detailing their structural and energetic insights at the conclusion of the gathering.
And crowning the proclamation was the ultimate incentive:
*The Core Smith whose analytical treatise reveals the deepest and most profound comprehension of Ashen Anvil's craftsmanship will receive public continental recognition from Black Tortoise Mountain, a reward of three thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones, and the esteemed title of the continent's Premier Junior Crafting Scholar.*
Within twenty-four hours, the tense, suspicious atmosphere that had gripped Black Tortoise City dissolved into a frenzy of scholarly ambition.
In the diplomatic lodge of Scarlet Sun Palace, Chi Yao slammed her hand onto the table, her eyes ablaze with competitive fire. "Black Tortoise Mountain thinks they can patronize us with an 'analysis gathering'? Assemble our finest young Core Smiths! We lost the mace at the auction, but our disciples will prove that only the Scarlet Sun Palace truly understands the Laws of Fire and Destruction!"
In the lodge of Heavenly Sword Lake, Jian Wuchen's elder nodded calmly to his junior blacksmiths. "Study the weapon's internal balance. The rhythm that commands destruction holds secrets that can elevate our flying sword matrices. Prepare yourselves."
What had been an explosive diplomatic crisis had been masterfully transformed into a continental arena of crafting intellect.
***
Meanwhile, on Peak 74, the sulfurous mountain breeze rustled the coarse vines clinging to the rocky cliffs.
Inside the quiet courtyard of his cave mansion, Fang Lin had just completed a simple cup of spirit tea when a resonant, familiar voice echoed from the terrace outside.
"Mu Tie! Are you in there, boy?"
Fang Lin set down his cup, wiped his mouth with his grey sleeve, and opened the stone slab door. Standing on the outer pathway was Elder Huo, his broad chest puffed out like a bellows, his face glowing with exuberant vitality.
"Elder Huo," Fang Lin bowed politely, adopting the meek, respectful demeanor of an obedient junior. "You seem in exceptionally high spirits today."
"High spirits? Ha! That is an understatement!" Elder Huo boomed, striding into the courtyard and clapping Fang Lin on the shoulder with enough force to shatter ordinary stone. "Have you heard the news from the core peak? The sect is hosting the *Annihilation Analysis Gathering*!"
"I have heard the outer disciples whispering about it," Fang Lin replied with an innocent, curious nod. "A gathering for Core Smiths to study Grandmaster Ashen Anvil's weapon?"
"Exactly!" Elder Huo's eyes gleamed with passionate pride. "And you, Mu Tie, are going to enter!"
Fang Lin blinked. "Me, Elder?"
"Who else?!" Elder Huo scolded warmly, gesturing with two thick fingers. "The entire sect now knows that Ashen Anvil utilized our Ironblood heavy-forging rhythm as the foundation of that weapon! The elders of Sacred Flame Peak were speechless when they heard our seventy-two-strike resonance! As my most diligent disciple, you carry the Ironblood cadence in your bones. When you step onto that platform, you will write a treatise that puts those arrogant little whelps from Scarlet Sun Palace to shame!"
Inside Fang Lin's soul sea, the Dark Flame Spirit was rolling on the spiritual floor, howling with uncontrollable, hysterical laughter.
*Hahahahaha!* the spirit shrieked, clutching its sides as dark sparks spewed from its maw. *Oh, this is too much! This is absolute perfection! The old man wants you—the very monster who forged the damned mace in a cave—to enter a junior competition and write an essay analyzing your own work! Tell me, boy, are you going to give yourself a passing grade?!*
Fang Lin kept his external expression completely steady, though a deep, helpless twitch tugged at his inner brow.
*Quiet,* Fang Lin told the spirit silently.
He looked back up at Elder Huo's expectant, beaming face. To refuse would invite unnecessary suspicion and break the humble persona he had carefully cultivated as Mu Tie. Yet if he wrote an analysis that was too accurate, he risked revealing secrets that no Early Core Formation disciple should possibly comprehend.
"I will do my utmost not to disappoint the Ironblood Faction, Elder," Fang Lin said, bowing with practiced humility.
"Good! That is what I like to hear!" Elder Huo laughed heartily, tossing a golden registration jade token into Fang Lin's hands. "Rest well over the coming month. When the gathering begins, show the continent what our Ironblood hammers can see!"
With another boisterous laugh, Elder Huo turned and marched down the mountain trail, leaving Fang Lin standing on the terrace holding the registration token, a wry, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.
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