"If we assume the myriad things in the world are like books, entering the library and storing them, 'name' is a direction, a special label. A method that allows you to find the desired phenomena in the fastest way."

Tong Shan said: "If approached from this perspective—how is an absolutely pure and blank phenomenon different from something that doesn't exist?

It's even more illusory, more indescribable than so-called fate.

Then, how can it be summarized and described? Since it cannot be summarized and described, how can it point? How can it be observed, recorded as a record in the eye?

The ether sees all things as information and messages, but how can something that has no information appear in this existence?"

Ji Jue was silent, his eyes widened.

As if in shock, he was dumbstruck, as if he finally realized his own mistake.

"Name? Directionality..."

In a flash of inspiration, the opening sentence about Chun Jun in the Xiang Sword Ninth Form suddenly appeared in his mind, seemingly quoted from more ancient texts and fragments, without any annotation.

"...The name that can be named is not the eternal name?"

The important thing is not the blank and the existence, but the 'name' written by the Swordsmith, the direction given... from the beginning, I went into a wrong track!

Direction!

Directionality is what's most important!

"I see, I understand now!"

As if enlightened in an instant, Ji Jue's mind was suddenly clear, and in a moment, numerous conflicting records seemed to be completely connected.

Why is every sword's description completely different, why is the ultimate manifestation of each Chun Jun totally distinct apart from the basics...

In other words, it's not the ether's direction, but the Swordsmith's direction, the 'name' given by the Swordsmith!

But ironically, Ji Jue was still stuck in the mindset of Fluid Alchemy, persisting on purification, so that there was no result at all, but he didn't expect...

At this moment, it wasn't about doing subtraction, it was about adding materials!

He suddenly stood up.

"I'm sorry to disturb you." Ji Jue couldn't bother with formalities: "I have an urgent matter!"

"Go, go."

Tong Ting, as if not surprised by the strangeness, smiled and waved his hand.

Ji Jue was seen darting away, and then... three minutes later, he darted back again.

Faster than before!

Tong Ting's movement paused again, puzzled.

But Ji Jue's smile became more eager and humble, "I just remembered, the notebook at home is finished, can you give me some?"

Therefore, Tong Ting could no longer hold it in.

Helplessly, he looked up and sighed.

"These chickens, you truly didn't give them in vain..."

Two chickens solved many problems, yet they could still be consumed and taken away?!

Who on earth invented such a troublemaker like a craftsman?

He helplessly waved his hand.

Ten minutes later, loaded with large bags, carrying several boxes filled with freely acquired materials, stuffing Little Ox's trunk to the brim, Ji Jue finally, reluctantly, took three steps back to wave goodbye to Tong Ting at the door.

And like that, finally went far.

For a long time, Tong Ting still stood at the door, vigilantly watching, worried this troublemaker would make a comeback.

After confirming he truly left this time, he couldn't help but look up and let out a long sigh. Now, Tong Ting finally understood why the old man suddenly decided to go out for a walk today... fortunately, he left early, otherwise his blood pressure wouldn't hold!

Good news, Ji Jue truly didn't treat the Tong family as outsiders.

Bad news, he truly didn't plan to be a person...

.

.

"Kokekokoko, Isis, I am no longer human!"

In the workshop of the Doomsday Special Train, in front of a vast Melting Furnace, Ji Jue, feeling the ascending changes within the flames, couldn't help but dance with joy.

To this, Isis remained calm.

She never regarded Ji Jue as human... What normal person behaves like this?

Stir trouble on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; go mad on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; assassinate Xu Chaoxian on Sunday.

Wherever he goes, a place explodes, a casual thought births stunning wisdom, slightly neglect it and it spawns secret weapons and surprising miracles... If Isis had a body, she would have suffered a cerebral hemorrhage long ago with such a master.

"Yes, yes, I see, I fully understand now!"

Ji Jue laughed wildly, as the Fierce Flame extended, manipulating the rising light within the furnace, changing, catalyzing it further...

It was simply like a chain disaster.

After the first domino was pushed over, Ji Jue's long-baffled thoughts suddenly opened up, and then all the sparks flew and lightning flashed, solving one problem, then two, then three, and subsequently all sorts of pitfalls and unknowns were interconnected.

The Chun Jun, labeled as number one in spirituality within the Xiang Sword Ninth Form, endlessly useful, was fundamentally without a fixed form.

It's like a similar seed, planted by different craftsmen, grows into different appearances... ultimately the effects wildly vary, depending on the person.

Of course, there are differences in mastery and methods, but more importantly, it's about the craftsmen's fusion of ether and Ascension, ultimately giving Chun Jun its changing quality.

No wonder the teacher suggested he try Chun Jun first, once Chun Jun is completed, Spiritual refinement can be initiated as well.

The fetal form of Chun Jun exists between being and non-being, can change freely, and the fully formed Chun Jun, through gradual honing and nurturing, can even completely transcend the shackles of materiality, existing in a purely spiritual state!

Its wonderful uses vary with the individual, capable of avoiding disaster and protecting its master, crossing seas, climbing mountains, or acting as a guardian and Death Soldier, ever-vigilant day and night...

Its spirituality is, in essence, created by humans. This is fundamentally a self-directed, self-spirited sword born from the craftsman's spiritual essence, record, and guidance!

Unlike Isis, who exists as the spirit of the workshop from the moment of birth, taking over many cumbersome controls for the craftsman.

It is more like an extension and tool of the swordsmith's limbs, a shadow that follows at every step, a self-regulating sword spirit.

An ever-loyal hound.

Beside the Melting Furnace, in a giant nest, Little Ox suddenly felt a chill all over, curiously looking up and surveying the surroundings—everything seemed normal, so why did he feel like he was about to be optimized away?

Boom!

In that instant, the door of the Melting Furnace abruptly opened.

A shrill scream rose from within the Fierce Flame, howls and cries spread out, blood coloring everything in sight, cascading like a fountain, submerging the feet.

Soon, when the hallucination faded, a grotesque remnant sword, flesh writhing, countless eyes opening and closing, curling and twisting, appeared in Ji Jue's hand.

Failure.

Without a change in expression, Ji Jue flicked his hand and used the Dissociation Technique, instantly destroying it.

Once the old problem was solved, a new one arose… Although Chunjun is a self-directed, self-spirited sword, changes all originate from the swordsmith, resulting in a high similarity to the swordsmith.

So much so… when paired with a creator like Ji Jue, the chances of Mutation are explosively high!

"Fourteen failures."

Isis seemed to gloat, sighing: "This time it was Erosion from the Museum causing Mutation, something that hasn't happened before—Sir, if I were you, I would consider if Zhi Fu is coming for you."

"Take a break and start again."

Ji Jue rubbed his face, invigorated, even if frustrated repeatedly, it didn't matter, he finally found that slight feeling.

Failures before were because of dead ends and blind stumbling, but now, it's merely some trouble and grind on the right path, the direction is correct, so all investment is worthwhile.

Even if countless materials were poured into the furnace like water, consuming assets worth tens of millions in just two days…

Yet, it's too expensive.

Even Ji Jue now felt a bit overwhelmed, heart aching, fortunately, there was a solution.

"The recruitment frequency needs to be increased." Ji Jue remarked, "I'll raise the employees' KPI this month, make everyone suffer a bit, I'll take care of the sales."

"Received, Mr. Lu Feng has been notified."

Isis, aiding and abetting, calmly devised a new baiting plan, while raising the original production targets substantially, and ordered another batch of stimulants from Xinxiang Sanatorium, enough for the upcoming months, so the free labor could work themselves to the bone till sparks fly...

And after a brief rest, Ji Jue once again stood in front of the Melting Furnace.

Radiant.

Self-directed, self-spirited, self-composed… With theories and techniques of the Nine Types swirling in his mind, watching numerous materials thrown again into the darkness.

Then, he once again drew the Bone Knife, adding another bloody cut to his scarred wrist.

Thick blood glowed a vivid red, snaking out like a serpent, and plunged into the furnace.

Then it was Ji Jue's own spiritual essence.

A dim light rose from between his fingers, gradually enlarging, originating from Ji Jue's spiritual essence untouched by any Purification, yet uniformly carrying numerous imprints and auras belonging to him.

Cast into the blood and fire, merging instantly.

Immediately, Ji Jue fished out a record book produced by the Tong family, a blank page with wisps of gold trimming emerging with Ji Jue's name. As the Matrix opened, numerous complex records were imprinted within, using it as origin and direction.

Awaiting the moment when blood, fire, spirit, and iron complete their extraction, it was thrown into the furnace again.

What followed was a seamless operation, control over the fire, the Ascension of spiritual and material essence, Purification amidst transformation, all integrated without hindrance.

Thus, within the silent Fierce Flame, a familiar glimmer rose once again.

Having unknowingly repeated the process countless times, something subtle seemed different, though all perceptions were exactly the same as before, all changes indistinct.

Yet Ji Jue inexplicably felt a strange sense of calm inside.

Like an intuition, an unfounded realization emerged—this time it might succeed, this time it could work, this time there might be no problem.

Until… the sound of shattering emerged from the furnace once again!

The originally seamless transformation was abruptly severed.

All returned to silence.

"Seems like it's another failure, sir." Isis sighed softly.

Ji Jue said nothing, waving his hand to open the furnace, what he saw were several fragments that shattered before they could take form, some as small as sand particles, others no larger than a finger.

Those crystal-clear fragments reflected a mercury-like glow.

As if a mirror had shattered on the ground.

"No."

Ji Jue couldn't help but smile: "Isis, I succeeded."

In that moment, countless mirror-like fragments reflected Ji Jue's face, emerging with an identical appearance, lips moving, echoing his voice.

With him, they smiled.

From the smile, Invisible Flames rose from the mirror, enveloping that gentle face, tearing away the disguise, burning away the veil, in countless fragments, countless bizarre shadows burning in the flames raised their heads like demons from Hell, silently grinning.

Finally, bowed submissively.

In just an instant.

Soon, the countless mirrors quietly faded away, the miraculous replaced by nothingness, rapidly disintegrating into ashes.

That transforming and ascending Divine Essence of Chunjun ultimately dissipated completely.

And Ji Jue could no longer contain himself, bursting into laughter.

——Xiang Sword Ninth Type·Chunjun, trial succeeded!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.