Water-Fire Treasure Gourd

The Southern Chu cultivation world had long held the saying: a hundred arts, a thousand methods, ten thousand kinds of artifacts. The myriad magical artifacts were simply too numerous to count, each with its own focus.

There were killing artifacts such as sabers, spears, swords, and halberds, as well as defensive artifacts such as shields and armor.

There were also auxiliary artifacts with all manner of bizarre functions.

During this time, Chen Heng happened to discover an artifact in the Chen Family Record of Artifact Refining that leaned toward utility and suited him rather well.

This artifact was called the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd, and it was mostly inscribed with the Water-Infusing and Fire-Containing artifact patterns.

By absorbing and storing water and flames containing spiritual energy in advance, it could spray water or breathe fire, trap enemies or injure them, and could even be used for simple healing or artifact refining.

As everyone knew, water and fire could not abide each other.

Thus, the key to refining the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd lay in how to store water and fire, which were difficult to merge into one.

In truth, its concept was similar to Chen Heng's Blade-Hiding Staff. A single gourd concealed two chambers within, isolated from each other, one for infusing water and the other for containing fire, yet it had only one mouth. The design was exceedingly ingenious.

When used against enemies, it could just so happen to confuse them.

Moreover, it possessed a relatively broad range of effects, though compared to killing artifacts like sabers, spears, swords, and halberds, it lacked some killing power.

The moment Chen Heng saw the refining method for this artifact, he developed the desire to refine one himself.

He had long been thoroughly familiar with the refining method and corresponding artifact patterns of the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd.

After Uncle Fu exchanged the necessary spiritual materials from the Contribution Hall, Chen Heng did not delay. That very day, he went to the artifact refining room at Green Bamboo Lodge, ready to begin refining the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd.

He first took out the treasured materials needed for artifact refining. They were:

First-rank high-grade treasured material—Yellow Jade Gourd.

First-rank mid-grade treasured material—Water-Infusing Bead.

First-rank mid-grade treasured material—Fire-Containing Stone.

The Yellow Jade Gourd was not a water- or fire-attributed treasured material, but an earth-attributed spiritual object.

This object grew underground and was rather difficult to find. It contained a certain amount of space within, which served as the storage place where it absorbed earth-element spiritual energy and generated soil containing spirituality.

Yet this process was rather slow. It would likely take several hundred years before it produced a portion of spirit soil.

However, after being refined, it could hold water, contain fire, and store objects. It was a treasured material with fairly abundant functions.

After taking out the Yellow Jade Gourd, Water-Infusing Bead, and Fire-Containing Stone, Chen Heng calmed his mind and carefully examined this earth-attributed spiritual object first.

Though the Yellow Jade Gourd was not water- or fire-attributed, the space contained within made it perfectly suited for separating two chambers.

He circulated the spiritual power within his body and, following the familiar refining method in the Chen Family Record of Artifact Refining, first drew the Heart-Turning artifact pattern onto the gourd's surface, ensuring that its upper and lower chambers would remain independently isolated.

The instant the two were separated, a faint hum came from within the gourd—the sign that the dual chambers had been isolated from each other, cleverly resolving the hidden danger of water and fire intermingling.

Next, Chen Heng picked up the Water-Infusing Bead and began inscribing the Water-Infusing artifact pattern upon it.

This artifact pattern had to be completed in a single breath, or it would leak when storing spiritual water.

Once he finished, he immediately turned to the Fire-Containing Stone. With equally precise movements, he inscribed the Fire-Containing artifact pattern upon it and used fire-attributed mana to stabilize the power of the flames within the stone.

For the step of inscribing artifact patterns, different refining methods likewise required different orders.

After processing all three treasured materials, Chen Heng simply refined the Yellow Jade Gourd, placing the Water-Infusing Bead and Fire-Containing Stone into its two inner chambers respectively.

He then tossed it into the artifact cauldron.

Chen Heng formed hand seals with both hands, and the furnace flames began to rise in temperature.

What came next was to thoroughly fuse the three mutually independent treasured materials together.

Only then could a Water-Fire Treasure Gourd be refined.

Under his control, the Water-Infusing Bead and Fire-Containing Stone fused perfectly with the Yellow Jade Gourd.

The process lasted two days and two nights. Only when sweat had begun to bead upon Chen Heng's forehead was the treasure gourd finally refined.

Yet this was not the end. After adjusting his breathing briefly, Chen Heng began directing the artifact to absorb and store low-grade spiritual water and low-grade spiritual fire from the outside world.

He first directed the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd to absorb a pool of clear spiritual water that Uncle Fu had prepared long ago in the artifact refining room's water trough.

This spiritual water possessed no special properties. It was merely mountain spring water containing spiritual energy.

Its advantage, however, was its great quantity. It could assist him in casting spells and could also be used to trap enemies.

He then drew a stream of pure earth fire from the furnace beside him.

The effects of Earth Vein Essence Fire needed no questioning. It was one of the most common spiritual flames between heaven and earth.

Whether used against enemies or for artifact refining, it was extraordinarily effective.

During this process, he experimentally sprayed out a wisp of water vapor and a tiny flame. Both emerged from the same gourd mouth, yet neither disturbed the other.

The water vapor was gentle and moist like healing nectar, while the flame was scorching like a blazing inferno that wounded enemies, preliminarily achieving the dual effects of trapping foes and inflicting harm.

It could also spray water or breathe fire separately, without affecting either function. Everything followed Chen Heng's will.

At this point, the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd could finally be considered successfully refined.

Chen Heng had consumed a considerable amount of true essence, and fine sweat seeped from his forehead, yet the newly completed artifact made the corners of his lips lift slightly.

Though this Water-Fire Treasure Gourd lacked the sharp killing edge of sabers and swords, it excelled in endless transformations and could be used to handle all kinds of unforeseen changes. It would surely prove remarkably useful in the future.

Chen Heng satisfiedly put away the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd in his hand, sensing the spiritual water and earth fire within it, their powers already preliminarily separated.

Though it was only a first-rank mid-grade artifact, the cool nourishment of its water vapor and the blazing violence of its flames coexisted within one gourd. The sensation of controlling it as he pleased was truly wondrous.

He wiped the sweat from the corner of his forehead, his expression tired but his eyes shining.

Two days and two nights of uninterrupted refining, together with the prior preparations, had greatly depleted both his mind and mana.

"Phew... It's finally done."

Chen Heng let out a long breath. "But the treasure gourd's artifact patterns have only just been formed and will still need several days of nurturing before they can stabilize. Fortunately, it will take time to reach the market, enough to complete the initial stabilization before we arrive."

When he left the artifact refining room, the sky was already bright.

Seeing him emerge, Uncle Fu hurriedly served up spiritual porridge kept warm over the fire, along with several small dishes.

"You have worked hard, Young Master. Eat something first and rest."

Chen Heng nodded and walked to the stone table in the courtyard to sit down. As he drank his porridge, he considered the arrangements to come.

"Uncle Fu, have all our personal belongings been sorted?" Chen Heng asked.

"In reply to Young Master, as instructed, there is no need to bring many daily necessities from Green Bamboo Lodge on the mountain. I have only packed several essential changes of dharma robes, along with the artifact refining notes Young Master studies regularly."

"The remaining valuable items and exchanged spiritual materials have all been stored in your storage pouch," Uncle Fu replied respectfully.

Chen Heng nodded slightly. "Mm, very good. The market is not as tranquil as the mountains; fish and dragons are mixed together there. Valuable items truly must be carried with us and never leave our side."

He carefully placed the newly refined Water-Fire Treasure Gourd into the storage pouch at his waist—this storage pouch had been bestowed by the clan. Though its space was not large, it was enough for his current needs.

"There is one day left. I will devote myself fully to nurturing this new artifact. Unless it is urgent, do not allow anyone to disturb me."

"Yes, rest assured, Young Master," Uncle Fu answered.

With only the final day remaining before descending the mountain, Chen Heng did not step outside.

He sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, his palm supporting the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd, which flickered with a faint yellow glow.

The true essence within his body circulated slowly, while threads of gentle mana, like trickling streams, flowed continuously into the gourd itself.

As he nurtured it, the Heart-Turning artifact pattern on the Yellow Jade Gourd's surface seemed as though it had been wiped anew, growing clearer and brighter as it faintly gave off the steady spiritual radiance of the earth attribute.

Within the gourd, the force separating the two chambers also became more stable and resilient beneath the infusion of mana. The auras of the Water-Infusing Bead and Fire-Containing Stone merged with the gourd itself ever more smoothly, without the slightest gap.

Now that the artifact patterns had stabilized, their power was also a little stronger than when the artifact had just left the furnace.

During the intervals in which Chen Heng devoted himself to nurturing the artifact, he continuously pondered the journey to the market.

Time quietly slipped away amid the flow of true essence and the rise and fall of his thoughts.

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.