A Northern Exile
Centuries before Feng Jian's ascent, during the height of the Great Monster War, the lands north of the western realm were a frozen expanse—barren, wind-swept, and seemingly devoid of hope. Refugees fleeing the relentless onslaught of beasts found little sustenance in this icy wilderness.
Among them was the Steel Family, then simple blacksmiths serving the central kingdoms. As they journeyed north, their caravan was ambushed by Frostwarden Behemoths—towering ice monstrosities that wove the blizzard itself into their savage onslaught.
Survival in the Ice Caves
With provisions dwindling and hope fading, the blacksmith clan took shelter in a cavern carved into the permafrost. Inside its frosty walls, they huddled together, forging crude tools from salvaged steel scraps to fend off the frost arachnids that crawled in the darkness. Yet food was scarce, and their strength waned day by day.
A Wind Dragon's Mercy
High above the frozen peaks, a patrol of the Wind Dragon Clan soared in their grand wyverns. Their leader—Lord Aurelius Draconis, the Wind Dragon himself—noticed an irregular heat signature emanating from the frost-blanketed canyon below.
Descending through shafts of pale sunlight, Lord Draconis ordered his riders to sweep aside the ice monsters and rescue the haggard survivors. As the wyverns' wings stirred the stagnant air, Frostwarden Behemoths recoiled from the gale, allowing the Steel Family to emerge.
The Forging of an Alliance
Grateful beyond words, the head of the Steel Family presented Lord Draconis with a masterwork blade, its guard inlaid with dragon-fawn motifs—an homage to the creatures that saved them. The gift sealed an unbreakable bond:
Henceforth, the Steel Family would serve the Wind Dragon Clan as master blacksmiths and guardians of their armories.
Founding Iron Fall
Under the Wind Dragon's patronage, the Steel Family led a band of settlers to the canyon's mouth, forging the first iron forges in the north. They named the settlement Iron Fall, in honor of the iron-rich falls that tumbled from the surrounding cliffs.
Against all odds, Iron Fall flourished. Blacksmiths smelted rare ore brought by the Wind Dragon's caravans; ice harvesters tapped hidden glaciers; and pioneering farmers coaxed crops from heated greenhouse caverns.
As the Great War waned and peace settled over the west, Iron Fall stood as a testament to resilience and alliance. Its forges blazed through the longest winters, supplying steel blades and skyship hulls to kingdoms far and wide.
Reunion in the Forge-lit Plaza
When Feng Jian and Master Mark arrived at Iron Fall City, the plaza buzzed with anticipation. As the skyship settled, a lithe figure rushed forward—Maria, Mark's elder sister, a rare ice-element sword user whose reputation for raw power preceded her.
Clad in fur-trimmed robes etched with frost runes, Maria bowed stiffly to Jian. "Brother," she greeted Mark, spotting his companion. Her gaze flickered to Jian's covered eyes and hearing seals. "I see you've trained in uncanny ways," she remarked coolly. "But if you intend to excel at the Academy, you must hone both perception and technique."
Though Maria and Jian had never spoken before, pride softened her tone. "Your Wind Qi blade is impressive—emerald-green as the northern lights. And this ebony sword?" She lifted Jian's second blade. "Natural Qi and Shadow core—ambitious. These weapons will grow with you, so long as you bind them to fresh cores and master their call."
Behind her, Mark raised an eyebrow. "A challenge, little sister?"
Maria smirked. "A wager: best me three times in combat, blind and deaf, and I'll teach you an ice-element form to complement your Wind God Dance."
Jian bowed. "I accept."
Their duel raged through the plaza's forges: sparks flew as Maria's frost blade met Jian's wind-etched steel. Despite her prowess, she found Jian's honed senses and fluid style unstoppable—three consecutive victories sealed her promise.
Panting, she offered her hand. "Well fought. Remember: speed without purpose is wind without direction. Temper it with form and power."
Jian nodded. "Thank you, Sister Maria."
New Faces of the Steel Family
As the echoes of steel faded, Maria beckoned Jian through the iron-wrought gatehouse into a courtyard lined with grand forges and ornate workshops. There, two figures emerged:
Master Huo Tian: A stout elder with coal-black hair and a soot-streaked apron. His broad shoulders and steady gaze spoke of decades forging the Steel Family's finest armaments. Once Mark's master instructor, Huo Tian now welcomed Jian with a knowing nod.
Li Mei'er: A teenage cousin of Maria, lithe and fierce, who wielded twin hammers infused with water-ice cores. Her laughter rang clear as frost, and she teased Jian about his sealed senses, yet admired his discipline and growth.
"Jian," Huo Tian rumbled, "we'll temper your new blades in the forge's heart. Follow me."
Li Mei'er added with a grin, "And don't worry—I'll go easy on you in our spar later."
Forging Feng Jian's New Blades
In the forge-lit hall, Jian watched as Huo Tian selected raw ingots of meteorite steel and pure core-forged iron. Sparks danced as the metals fused under the hammer's strike. Maria recited incantations in the old Steel Family dialect, weaving her ice Qi into the quenching waters.
Under Huo Tian's guidance, Jian poured his own Wind Qi into the blade's bloom, watching rivulets of emerald mist swirl around the glowing metal. Then, carefully, he layered a vein of Dark Qi from the Shadow Snake core, forging a second sword whose edge shimmered with midnight darkness.
When the blades cooled, the trio tested them on a row of iron targets:
The Emerald Gale Blade sang with rushing wind, slicing each target as if they were paper.
The Obsidian Nightfang cleaved through armor plating, its dark aura leeching residual warmth from the metal.
Li Mei'er clapped. "Truly, these weapons bear the soul of Wind, Shadow, and Ice. You're ready for the Academy's challenges."
With new blades at his waist and renewed confidence in his heart, Jian prepared to depart.
Departure for the Academy Exams
In the days that followed, Jian and Maria refined his technique—Maria taught him a complementary ice-element stance that grounded his Wind God Dance, deepening its impact.
Finally, with the Steel Family's blessings and improved gear, the two boarded a swift skyship bound for Academy City. Ahead lay the Seven-Star Academy's opening exams—a new crucible to test the harmony of Wind, Shadow, and Ice within Feng Jian's blade. In the days that followed, Jian and Maria refined his technique—Maria taught him a complementary ice-element stance that grounded his Wind God Dance, deepening its impact.
Finally, with the Steel Family's blessings and improved gear, the two boarded a swift skyship bound for Academy City. Ahead lay the Seven-Star Academy's opening exams—a new crucible to test the harmony of Wind, Shadow, and Ice within Feng Jian's blade.