Another World Trip: Journey with My Cat and an Otaku Loli Goddess Chapter 95 - Hellfire Forge Clan

“The Bone Chapter is different from the Marrow Chapter. It is with the Bone Chapter that you will officially start to cultivate somatic essence. I have no idea what this will do to your body, but if you can do what you say you can do, then you will embark on a path never before tread. You will become something that has never existed in this world.” Uncle Tian Lu’s expression was serious as he spoke.

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His hands never stopped moving as he forged the material before him. Long Di tried to make out its shape, but the heat caused it to shine so brightly that not even with his heavenly gaze was he able to make it out.

“The name of my clan is The Hellfire Forge Clan,” Uncle Tian Lu suddenly blurted out the name of his clan. “Long ago, we occupied a unique place within the demon race. Though we cultivated somatic essence, we did so by embarking on a path of forging. Our forging was second only to the Ren’duans.”

The Ren’duans were a race of living forges, and they were also one of the five major races. For anyone to claim that their forging arts only came second to the race that literally introduced forging to the world was a truly bold claim!

“Our Hellfire Forge Clan was a force that stood strong for several millennia. The respect we held was ineffable,” pride burned in Uncle Tian Lu’s eyes as he spoke. “Our power was so great that even the demon race’s king at the time personally visited our clan to craft a weapon.” he sounded proud as he recounted the golden age of his clan, but then his tone shifted.

“History says that our clan succumbed to the withering of time, but it was all a lie! During a calamity that befell the world, our clan was badly damaged, and we lost the last part of our Foundation Forge Body Tempering Art! Taking advantage of our weakened state at the time, several forces within the Demon Region attacked us!” His eyes spat fire as he roared, rage defined his features at the moment.

“We would have been wiped out entirely had it not been for the royal family who intervened. With their help, we survived the calamity, but by then… it was too late.”

Sadness infected his voice from this point. “One of our two defining treasures was incomplete, and a majority of our clansmen died. Over time, we declined into what you see now. I am the Legacy Disciple of the Hellfire Forging Clan. A title given to the last of us.”

Clang! Cling! Bang!

The sounds of hammer hitting metal were the only thing that could be heard as Long Di took in the information he just heard. “Did you ever try to revitalise the clan?” he finally asked.

“Many times,” Uncle Tian Lu confirmed. “The four elders are a result of my failed attempts. Due to the last chapter of the art being lost, I created a modified version of the Foundation Forge Body Tempering Art so that we could blaze a new trail and bring it to completion. Each elder cultivates a differently modified version, but none was successful. Eventually, they took on some disciples they believed were talented and had them cultivate the version the second elder used, since his version was the one with the highest efficiency. If they wished to change it in the future, they could since their foundation would be sturdy enough to handle the shift.”

Long Di nodded in understanding. No wonder the aura the four elders gave off was different, yet strangely similar. “Barring the question that I just asked, why are you telling me this?”

“You need this information if you wish to have any hope of retrieving the lost chapter of the Foundation Forge Body Art.”

“Come again?” Long Di asked.

“This is the responsibility you took on after you accepted the Marrow Chapter. Are you declining?” Uncle Tian Lu’s hand shuddered in mid-swing.

Long Di shook his head to indicate he wasn’t. “I won’t decline, but it just seems like I am looking for a needle in a haystack. How am I supposed to find it? How do you even know it still exists?”

“Because our karmic line hasn’t yet been severed,” Uncle Tian Lu replied.

“Karmi—”

“Don’t worry too much about it,” Uncle Tian Lu didn’t want him to worry about something he wasn’t sure the boy would understand. “As for where you can start, you can pay a visit to the Ren’duan race. They have a connection with our clan. Use our name and there should be some clues that you can dig up.”

“I seem to be paying a visit to a lot of places and races.”

“As a youngster, you should go out and experience the world.”

“I’m eleven.”

“Oh yeah. Well, you’ll be fine. You’re as strong as an elder of a small sect. Plus, there is nothing wrong with broadening your horizons.”

Long Di could tell there was no changing the old man’s decision, not that there was a need to.

“Fine, I accept.” Long Di conceded, knowing he had no choice.

“Good,” said Uncle Tian Lu. He then opened the forge’s main opening with his free hand. “Now get in, I’ll be bestowing you with the Bone Chapter.”

Shu! Shu! Shu!

Multiple runic chains flew out of the forge and bound Long Di from head to toe. “You say get in, but the chains take me without my consent. You’re having fun with this aren’t you?”

“A little, yes.” Uncle Tian Lu revealed a smirk at Long Di’s eventual misery. He felt a little embarrassed that he had to lower himself to the level of an eleven-year-old, but he experienced several verbal losses at Long Di’s hand, enough that he just didn’t care.

The runic chains pulled Long Di into the world of the forge to undergo his ‘refinement.’

When he left, Uncle Tian Lu’s smirk disappeared and his expression became serious once more. He turned his head to the right, where, at the end of a long hall, stood a massive door.

It was imposing in both grandeur and magnitude. The ancient air that it manifested revealed how unyielding it was to the hands of time.

Uncle Tian Lu’s expression turned complicated as he took it in. “I beg of you, please help me bring the Hellfire Forge Clan back out into the world.”