By the fifth month, the world around Tian Lei had begun to change.

The forge was no longer just a room—it was alive. Every flicker of flame, every hum from the runes, every pulse of molten ore beat in time with his heart. His spiritual core had expanded like a blazing sun, each rhythm echoing with the steady might of a true blacksmith.

But as his mastery grew, so did the danger.

Each attempt to fuse essence now pulled on powers beyond his control. Space around him shimmered and warped—sometimes a whole day vanished in a blink, other times, a single hammer strike seemed to last an eternity.

Still, Tian Lei endured.

He no longer ate or slept; his body was fueled purely by spiritual flame. His veins glowed faintly, as though liquid fire ran through them.

Heartflame, resting beside him, pulsed faintly—its glow in tune with his every breath, as if quietly acknowledging his growth.

He knew he was close.The line between Heaven-Rank and Divine-Rank was thin—fragile as glass. To cross it meant to risk everything.

And so, on the eve of the sixth month, he made his choice.

He sealed the forge.He cut off all outer qi.He silenced his own heartbeat.

Then, he began.

The final forging.

He placed a chunk of crimson-gold divine ore—beating faintly like a living heart—into the furnace. This time, he didn't summon external fire. He drew from within. His own flame surged out, brighter, hotter, and purer than ever before.

Flames of every hue—crimson, azure, white, and violet—spiraled together, merging into a radiant core. The entire mountain shuddered. The magma veins below reversed their flow, drawn toward the forge like worshippers to a sacred altar.

Every hammer strike carried power enough to shake the heavens.Each breath bent the very rules of nature.

The ore screamed—not in pain, but in awakening. Its spirit and his merged, intertwining at the boundary between life and creation. The forge's runes cracked under the strain, unable to hold back the storm of power building within.

Still, Tian Lei pressed on."If forging divinity demands everything I am," he roared, "then let me burn until nothing remains!"

The volcano erupted. Columns of golden fire tore through the clouds. Even from the upper sect grounds, Elders and Core Masters turned in awe, their expressions shifting from shock to grim respect.

It wasn't the first time the mountain had seen such light—far from it.Forging a Divine-Rank weapon was something many of the Inner Elders and even the Sect Master himself had achieved long ago.

But seeing someone this young—barely half a century into his path—achieve what even veterans took lifetimes to touch?That was different.

That was history.

Inside the forge, Tian Lei's body cracked under the heat, his blood turning to molten gold. His mind blurred, yet within the storm, he saw it—the true language of creation. Not spoken words, but the meaning that shaped them.

He didn't speak it. He willed it.

And the metal responded.

A weapon took form—not forged, but born. Its body shimmered with symbols beyond mortal comprehension, its presence calm yet overwhelming. Flames bent in reverence, the world itself holding its breath.

When the light faded, Tian Lei knelt, breathing hard, eyes blazing with victory.

Before him floated the blade—elegant, radiant, alive.An Ancient-tier masterpiece, its surface alive with slow-moving sigils, its core pulsing in rhythm with his heart.

He smiled faintly. "So you've awakened, have you…?"

The weapon thrummed in answer, a soft, celestial tone that seemed to echo through the mountain itself.

He raised it high, fire cascading down his body like rain."The youngest to forge a Divine-Rank weapon in sect history," he murmured.

Outside, the sky split open with golden light. The Sect Master watched in silence, then spoke softly—half in awe, half in pride.

"Forging a Divine weapon is not rare in our sect… but to do so at his age? That's something else entirely."

And within the heart of the volcano, surrounded by rivers of molten gold, Tian Lei stood tall—his body cracked and scorched, his soul still blazing.

"Now," he whispered, eyes reflecting the firestorm,"the real work begins."

The golden light slowly receded, and silence reclaimed the mountain. The eruption had ended, yet the air still vibrated with divine pressure. Even from miles away, disciples could feel the lingering warmth—gentle, yet heavy enough to bow their heads instinctively.

Inside the forge, Tian Lei stood motionless. The Divine-Rank weapon hovered before him, faint waves of spiritual flame rippling from its surface. Its radiance had dimmed to a deep, restrained glow, like a dragon resting after its ascension.

He lowered the weapon slowly, its hilt resting perfectly in his palm. The bond between them was immediate—complete, unshakable.

"…So this is divinity," he murmured. His voice was hoarse, but his eyes gleamed with unspent determination. "And yet… it still feels incomplete."

That single thought echoed through the silent forge.

To others, forging a Divine weapon marked the end of a lifetime's pursuit. To Tian Lei—it was just the threshold. The flames of creation whispered deeper truths now, hints of something far beyond Divinity.

He looked down at his scarred hands—skin blackened and glowing faintly from within, veins of fire still coursing beneath the surface. His mortal shell had already begun to reject his own flame.

He had gone too far.And yet, he wanted to go farther.

Outside, the Sect Master and Elder Huo Xian descended from the summit, the magma paths parting for their approach. The air warped around them, unable to withstand their combined spiritual pressure.

When they stepped into the forge chamber, the world seemed to still in reverence.

"Tian Lei," Huo Xian said, his tone half reprimand, half awe. "You've shattered records that stood for centuries. To think a Core Disciple could step into the realm of Divine Forging before even reaching Saint Core…"

The Sect Master said nothing for a moment. His gaze lingered on the weapon floating at Tian Lei's side. Finally, he spoke—his voice a deep rumble, calm yet carrying the force of molten earth.

"Divine-Rank… and yet your flame still burns restless. Tell me, boy—what do you see beyond this?"

Tian Lei raised his head. The exhaustion was there, but so was the fire—the kind that didn't fade with victory.

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