The morning sun bathed the Heavenly Blade Sect's grand forge hall in streams of molten gold. Rows of intricate furnaces hummed with restrained power, and the air trembled faintly with spiritual energy. Thousands of runes floated in slow orbits above, glowing with faint celestial light that pulsed in rhythm with the twin stars overhead. It was the day of the Second Round of the Celestial Resonance Ceremony — the Crafting Trial.
Every disciple in the chamber stood silent as Instructor Liang Yuren stepped forward. His sharp eyes swept through the crowd, his robe embroidered with the sigil of the sect's founding star. "The Second Trial," he began, his voice steady as steel, "is not one of battle, but of creation. What you craft will reflect your spirit. A cultivator's weapon or artifact is their soul given shape. Remember this truth — those who forge without intent will create emptiness."
At his gesture, the massive Divine Urn of Selections floated forward, glowing with rotating glyphs. Inside, faint jade slips swirled like leaves caught in a storm of light. "Step forth and draw your fate," Liang commanded.
One by one, the disciples moved forward.
Lin Yuexin drew first — her jade slip bloomed with rose-colored light: Spirit Veil Orb. A soft smile touched her lips, relief flickering in her eyes. "An orb… manageable," she murmured to herself.
Beside her, Chen Ruo drew his lot. His slip burned red, forming the characters for Windflame Dagger. His grin widened instantly. "Something sharp," he said. "Finally, something that suits me."
Then came Darius, his expression dripping arrogance even before the urn responded. His jade glowed golden, shimmering brighter than anyone else's: Starforged Halberd. A few disciples gasped, and Darius smirked with satisfaction. "Seems even the heavens acknowledge my talent," he said aloud, letting his words hang in the air like smoke.
Last came Zeref Ying.
The urn, strangely, stilled as he approached. The jade slips within slowed their dance, almost as if recognizing the energy that walked toward them. When his hand extended, one slip rose quietly — deep indigo in color, etched with silver veins. The light it gave off was cold, celestial.
The words upon it appeared only after a moment: Celestial Relic Weapon — Eclipsera, the Blade of Starlit Echoes.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"A relic weapon?" one disciple muttered. "That's not even supposed to appear in these trials."
"Impossible," another whispered. "Only the sect's highest artificers are allowed to attempt those."
Liang Yuren's expression darkened with intrigue. His gaze lingered on the indigo jade. "So, fate chooses the bold," he said quietly, half to himself. "Or perhaps… something else chooses."
He raised his hand, and with a resonant chime, the furnaces flared to life. Blue and gold flames rose high, filling the hall with heat and tension. "Begin."
The disciples scattered to their stations. Soon, the hall was alive with the rhythm of hammering, the sizzle of molten ore, and the murmurs of focused breaths. Each forge had its own flame, but Zeref's was different — faintly tinted violet, glowing with a calm light that didn't flicker or roar. It pulsed softly, like a heartbeat.
Lin Yuexin began by melting her materials into a transparent crystal orb, weaving threads of her Qi to stabilize it. Chen Ruo was already striking sparks as he shaped his dagger, each blow ringing sharp and steady.
Darius, as always, was loud. His halberd's core shone with gold essence, every strike of his hammer producing arcs of fiery brilliance. "Watch and learn, Ying," he called across the noise, his tone mocking. "This is how a true craftsman works!"
Zeref didn't reply. He stood over his forge, studying the materials set before him — a shard of starmetal, a fragment of moon crystal, and a vial containing distilled aether essence. As his hand hovered over them, the energies hummed faintly, almost recognizing him.
He whispered to himself, "The blade of echoes… a weapon that remembers the stars."
As his Qi flowed, the forge flame turned brighter, washing over the materials. The starmetal melted reluctantly — most metals screamed when forced into shape, but this one… this one sang. A deep hum resonated through the air, causing nearby disciples to glance his way.
Lin Yuexin caught a glimpse and frowned softly. "That's not ordinary crafting…"
Chen Ruo leaned closer. "That sound—like the stars themselves are responding."
Zeref guided his flame with deliberate patience. His movements were neither rushed nor hesitant; each one carried the weight of instinct rather than technique. The molten metal swirled, infused with threads of violet and silver energy, forming the outline of a blade. He etched ancient sigils along its length, ones that seemed older than the sect itself.
As he worked, the twin stars above the sect's dome shimmered faintly, aligning for a heartbeat. A strand of light fell through the skylight, brushing across Zeref's forge. The blue flame turned white for a moment, and every sound in the hall ceased — even the furnaces seemed to hold their breath.
Instructor Liang Yuren froze mid-step, his eyes widening slightly. That kind of energy resonance was not possible from a mere disciple.
When the light faded, Zeref lifted his creation from the forge.
The sword was slender yet commanding — its edge shimmered like moonlight upon water, while faint veins of indigo light pulsed along its surface. Runes glowed and faded across the blade's body, as if alive, whispering forgotten names. The hilt was simple, wrapped in black silk, yet the aura it emitted was ancient — as though it had been waiting for millennia to be reborn.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The hum of the celestial array seemed to deepen, reacting to the blade's presence.
Zeref exhaled slowly, his eyes fixed on the sword. "Eclipsera," he murmured. "You belong to no one… yet you recognize me."
Liang Yuren finally approached, his expression unreadable. "What essence did you use to bind the core?"
Zeref looked at him calmly. "None," he said quietly. "It formed its own."
The instructor studied him for a long, silent moment, then gave a faint nod. "Then let it remain so."
Across the hall, Darius gritted his teeth. His halberd gleamed gold and heavy, a weapon of power and prestige — yet beside Zeref's creation, it looked crude. The disciples' gazes, once admiring him, now shifted toward the quiet youth holding the starlit blade.
Chen Ruo let out a low whistle. "By the heavens, Zeref… that's not crafting. That's art."
Lin Yuexin smiled softly. "Shapes of the soul," she said, repeating Liang's words. "Now I understand."
Zeref sheathed the blade quietly, though a faint glow still emanated from its edge, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Liang Yuren raised his voice. "The results will be declared tomorrow. For now, reflect on what you've created. Whether it stands strong or fades to dust depends on the spirit you've poured into it."
The disciples began dispersing, murmuring in awe and curiosity. Yet the air still vibrated faintly with the echo of Zeref's creation.
At the back, Darius lingered, his hand clenching tightly around his halberd. The golden aura around him flickered, unstable. His jaw tightened, eyes burning with envy. "You think this changes anything?" he muttered under his breath. "Next round, I'll crush that quiet act of yours."
Zeref didn't look back. He simply lifted his gaze toward the twin stars beyond the forge dome. Their light seemed to pulse faintly — as if answering him.
For a brief moment, he felt it again — that same quiet hum deep within, the whisper of something eternal stirring.
The forge hall dimmed as the fires burned low, and silence settled like dust over starlight.
The second trial had ended, but the true war of souls had only just begun.
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To be continued...