Chapter 2

Life between heaven and earth; like a white colt passing through a crevice; it is sudden and fleeting.

People leave shadows as they pass, and geese leave traces as they fly, but ultimately, there are those who can leave behind their own unique mark in the world.

Some use books as their medium, and even after thousands of years, their words can still be seen as if they were written yesterday.

Others entrust their thoughts to future generations, and even as the world changes, their will is still passed down.

This knife is similar to such a medium.

All is silent!

The moment Yang Yu gripped the broken blade, he could no longer hear any sounds, and a flood of memories surged in.

Scattered and chaotic, they were hard to discern.

The chaotic memories flowed like a revolving lantern, and after a while, they gradually formed into words and shapes that he could understand, appearing before his eyes.

[Obtained Ingredient]

[Ingredient: Broken Blade]

[Level: Inferior (Low)]

[Quality: Average (Medium)]

[Evaluation: Ordinary and unremarkable, perhaps with a small surprise]

[Consuming it can grant some minor blade techniques]

[Current Refinement Progress (0/100)]

[Do you wish to begin refinement?]

Finally, it has opened?

Yang Yu's mind was somewhat dazed, more melancholy than surprised by the opening of the 'Gluttony Cauldron'.

Thinking of the old man he had only met once, who had pulled him back from the brink of death, and the old woman who had treated him like a son, warming him with her care.

His heart was a mix of emotions.

After a long while, having thoroughly digested the memories in his mind, Yang Yu barely calmed his spirit and focused his attention on the 'Gluttony Cauldron' that only he could see.

In the black cauldron, a broken blade was faintly visible.

"Refinement? Does it mean this broken blade? If I refine this blade, can I obtain some of the old man's blade techniques?"

Looking at the long sword in his hand, Yang Yu felt somewhat incredulous.

Knowledge and skills are always accumulated through hard study day and night. Could he really obtain them just by refining?

Try it?

Yang Yu took a deep breath, placed the broken blade, sat back down, and read for a while.

Only when his mind was completely calm did he gather his spirit to the 'Gluttony Cauldron' on his chest, which had turned from green to black.

"Refinement!"

...

Boom!

The scenery before his eyes changed, and in the blink of an eye, it seemed as if he had entered a different world.

Yang Yu shook his head, and all around him was pitch black, with the only light coming from the broken blade in his hand.

Wait...

Yang Yu came to his senses, looking at the space that resembled the walls of a cauldron and the broken blade in his hand.

A thought arose: "Is this so-called refinement supposed to make me practice with the blade here?"

"This isn't right..."

Yang Yu was stunned; this was completely different from what he had imagined.

If this broken blade contained the old man's blade techniques, how long would he have to practice?

But no matter how much Yang Yu called out, he received no response.

With no other choice, he could only raise the blade and begin practicing.

As he raised the blade, he noticed something strange. As he swung the broken blade, similar memories and techniques would appear in his mind, allowing him to compare and learn.

At the same time, a faint light appeared on the black walls of the cauldron.

[Refining Ingredient 'Broken Blade']

[Current Progress (0/100)]

"Is it really like this?!"

Yang Yu was at a loss, feeling like he wanted to cry but couldn't.

He had imagined countless possibilities for what would happen after the 'Gluttony Cauldron' opened, but he never thought it would be like this.

With no other choice, he could only grit his teeth and practice the blade techniques in the darkness, comparing them to the memories in his mind.

One swing,

Another swing.

He didn't know how long it had been, but when the progress on the cauldron wall jumped to 10, Yang Yu finally stopped practicing and regained awareness of the outside world.

Weak, hungry, dizzy...

This feeling was like a hangover combined with a nightmare. For a moment, Yang Yu could barely lift his hand, and his vision was blurred.

'Oh no! How long has it been?'

Yang Yu was extremely anxious.

At that moment, a low, tearful voice reached his ears:

"Mother Liensheng, please bless my poor Yu to wake up soon! If my son can be safe and sound, I am willing to reduce my lifespan by ten years..."

A warm cloth wiped his face, and the old woman, with a tearful voice, kept praying and trembling.

Grandma...

Yang Yu suddenly realized, a wave of sorrow rising in his heart.

His companion had passed away, and this old woman must be in great pain.

"The old man won't come back, you can't leave Grandma alone..."

The old woman sobbed softly, muttering.

Only then did Yang Yu realize that he had been 'unconscious' for three days and two nights...

"Yu, Yu, this is the talisman water I obtained from the elders of the Liensheng Sect. Drink it, and you will surely wake up..."

Yang Yu felt his head being lifted, and a bowl of foul-smelling talisman water was brought to his lips.

Talisman water?

Can this thing cure me?

Yang Yu's whole body resisted: "No... gulp, gulp..."

Before he could say a word, the entire bowl of strange-tasting talisman water was poured into his mouth.

It's over!

His stomach felt warm, but his heart turned cold.

The Liensheng Sect was a sect that existed among the poor in the outer city of Black Mountain, claiming that their talisman water could save lives and heal injuries.

But how could he believe it?

"Ugh~"

Yang Yu struggled to get up, leaned over the bed, and vomited, expelling all the talisman water.

"Little Yu, my little Yu."

The old woman, not caring about the expensive talisman water she had obtained, hugged Yang Yu, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandma, I'm fine..."

Seeing the old woman, who looked even more aged than before, Yang Yu felt a pang of sadness and was afraid she would cry herself sick, so he quickly said:

"Grandma, I'm hungry."

"Grandma will go get it."

The old woman quickly wiped away her tears and brought the prepared food: "You've been unconscious for three days, drink some chicken soup first, eat slowly, and if it's not enough, there's more..."

"Did you... stew the old hen?"

Yang Yu finally smelled the chicken soup, and his stomach began to rumble.

Black Mountain City was in a remote area with limited resources, or rather, the lives of the poor were extremely harsh.

Although Old Man Yang was a jailer, he was honest and had no extra income. The few old hens in the house were like the old woman's lifeblood.

"There are still three left, stewing one is not a big deal, not a big deal."

The old woman's eyes were dim: "The old man is gone, three hens are enough..."

Yang Yu was silent, not knowing how to comfort her, and could only silently drink the chicken soup.

When the old woman went to clear the dishes, Yang Yu lay down again. As soon as he closed his eyes, he 'saw' the familiar yet strange large cauldron again.

The cauldron was dark black, but a hint of green appeared at the edges.

"It's turning green..."

Yang Yu's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising.

The cauldron was originally green, and it took him a whole year of eating 'stones' to turn it black. After using it once, it was turning back?

Does that mean he has to eat dirt again?!