Legend of the Divine Archer

After that intense confrontation, Yan Jin seemed to have vanished from the border town entirely. Rumors spread about his disappearance, with no one able to pinpoint his exact location or what he was up to. However, one person knew the truth—Zhang Li. She kept his whereabouts a secret, benefiting immensely from the mystery surrounding him.

Yan Jin's public revelation as a Soul Master had elevated Zhang Li's status within the Treasure Pavilion. Her connection to such a powerful figure brought many seeking to curry favor with her. Gifts and offers of alliances poured in, but she had to turn them all away.

Yan Jin was unavailable, secluded deep underground in a forge, crafting arrows with relentless focus.

At first, Zhang Li couldn't understand his obsession with archery. In her view, the path of the bow could never reach the apex of martial prowess.

But when they sparred, she quickly realized how wrong she was. Despite winning their matches due to her higher cultivation level, she was certain that at equal levels, Yan Jin's skill could easily surpass hers. His archery was otherworldly, almost like witchcraft, and she began to believe that he was blessed by the gods.

Yan Jin didn't even attend Wei Xi's coronation, where Wei Xi was officially inducted as a member of the Treasure Pavilion and promoted to a Captain under General Zhang Li. Wei Xi was then sent to train in the Babel Tower, with the mandate not to return until he reached the 60th floor—a daunting task that would test him to his limits so he was busy making his own preparation.

While Yan Jin continued to perfect his archery, another responsibility fell into his lap. Zhang Li, seeing the potential for her younger brother Zhang San, made a deal with Yan Jin. She didn't expect Zhang San to become a prodigy like Xiao Xi, but if he could at least be half as disciplined and well-behaved, it would be a significant improvement.

In exchange for Yan Jin's mentorship of Zhang San, Zhang Li provided him with rare ores and materials for his forging—a fair trade, considering Yan Jin's spendthrift tendencies when it came to his craft.

Zhang San's so-called "training" under Yan Jin quickly became a source of torment for him. Despite being older and more advanced in cultivation, Zhang San found himself outmatched by Yan Jin's cunning and skill. Every time they fought, Zhang San could barely land a blow, and when he did, Yan Jin's physical strength met him equally.

It didn't take long for Zhang San to resign himself to his fate, often reduced to menial tasks like carrying boxes and sweeping floors, all under the guise of rigorous training.

The real challenge, however, came when Yan Jin decided to upgrade Zhang San's hammer, a powerful blood tool at the Purification level. Yan Jin intended to elevate it to the Resonance level by inscribing blood runes. Seated calmly, he controlled the hammer with his soul energy, which was a sight that left Zhang San sweating with anxiety.

The hammer itself was a masterpiece, crafted with precision and care by a skilled bloodsmith. Yan Jin had identified four runes necessary for the upgrade: two conductivity runes to facilitate the flow of blood energy and two amplification runes to enhance its power.

Yan Jin's soul energy thinned out until only a silver thread remained, which he used like a needle to inscribe the runes onto the hammer. His hands moved fluidly, each gesture precise as the runes began to take shape. The process took three hours, with Yan Jin fully focused, his movements a blend of art and mastery.

Once the runes were complete, Yan Jin called Zhang San over. Despite his fear of an explosion or some other mishap, Zhang San approached timidly. "Drip your blood on it," Yan Jin ordered. Without hesitation, Zhang San let a drop of blood fall onto the hammer.

Instantly, the runes activated, and an emerald glow spread across the hammer, from the handle to the head, like a living thing. The hammer released a light shock wave, and the runes began to pulse, indicating they were stable.

"Test it," Yan Jin commanded.

Zhang San eagerly grabbed the hammer, which immediately expanded in size and weight, emitting a deep, resonant roar—a clear sign of bloodline resonance. Elated but overwhelmed, Zhang San found he couldn't sustain the hammer's energy expenditure in its enhanced state and had to let go.

"You actually made a blood resonance tool! I can't believe this..." Zhang San exclaimed, running off to show his sister, thrilled by the new power in his hands.

It didn't take long for Zhang Li to show up, her entrance as brash as ever. She kicked the door open and walked in without any regard for formality. "You are full of surprises, aren't you?" she said, her tone a mix of awe and irritation.

Yan Jin, clearly exasperated by her usual unruly behavior, sighed, "You're a general. Why do you keep behaving like a ruffian?"

Ignoring his comment, Zhang Li cut straight to the point. "You've forged a resonance-grade blood tool. Do you even know how rare that is?"

"Is it very rare?" Yan Jin asked, genuinely puzzled by her reaction.

"There are probably five bloodsmiths on the entire continent who can do this. Maybe less, because only one lives in the public eye. The rest are reclusive hermits," she explained.

"Oh well, it was a fluke anyway. I don't think I can replicate it anytime soon," Yan Jin said, trying to downplay his achievement.

Zhang Li wasn't having it. "It's not going to work with me! I know about your tricks; you can't tell the truth to save your life. I want a promise—when you're ready to forge for others, you let me handle the business side. We split fifty-fifty," she proposed with a sly smile.

Yan Jin smirked, countering, "I see, if your military career doesn't work out, you could always take up swindling. How about 70-30, and that's my final offer."

"Deal," she agreed quickly, her grin widening. "By the way, the tower will arrive tomorrow."

"Tell me more about the tower," Yan Jin asked, his curiosity piqued.

Zhang Li leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as she explained. "I don't know its origins, but it's said to come from ancient times. It's basically a floating city, and it takes about a year to circle the entire continent. It makes four stops—one in each region—to stock up on resources.

The tower itself can only accommodate a finite number of people, so there are strict rules about who gets to stay."

"So tomorrow, the four organizations will be sending their candidates," she continued. "Although you have a spot, you'll still need to prove your worth."

"That's fine," Yan Jin said confidently. "You can leave now. I need to prepare."

Before she left, Zhang Li tossed him something. "Here, take this. It's a gift for the hammer," she said.

Catching it, Yan Jin examined the item—a wooden mask with no eye socket, painted white with runes etched into it. Curious, he tried it on, and immediately felt a shift in his aura. It became more elusive, harder for others to sense or comprehend.

"It's a jammer," Zhang Li explained as she turned to leave. "People will have a harder time peering through your cultivation."

As she exited the room, Yan Jin stood there, the mask in hand, already considering how to integrate it into his preparations for the coming trials.