"Has that man been sitting there on the city wall for a year? Could he have fallen into demonic deviation?"
"The Heaven Refining Pavilion's task is simply too difficult. How could people like us possibly complete the refining method for a Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure?"
"This isn't something that can be achieved through mere contemplation. No matter how much time is spent, it will all be for nothing."
"Alas, we can only keep waiting until the Heaven Refining Pavilion issues its next task."
On the city wall, Li Qing sat cross-legged before the golden blueprint. He had maintained this posture for over a year, drawing quite a bit of criticism from the people in the city.
Many even believed that he was merely grandstanding to attract attention.
"Fellow Daoist, I advise you to give up. This task is clearly meant to make things difficult for people."
"Indeed. I think the Heaven Refining Pavilion has no plans to recruit new talent anytime soon, which is why its tasks have become harder with every passing year."
"Heh, I think this man is doing it on purpose, trying to display his patience and perseverance in this manner."
"It is useless. The Heaven Refining Pavilion is ultimately a place that values talent. Without aptitude in the Dao of artifact refinement, no amount of hard work will help."
Rumors and gossip continued to spread, yet they could not affect Li Qing. Having cultivated the Dao for so long, his temperament had long since become as hard as steel, utterly unmoved by outside things.
Moreover, he truly was studying this artifact-refining blueprint. Within his sea of consciousness, an incomplete broken bow appeared, and he tried countless methods in his mind. This was a form of rehearsal that only someone with profound attainments in artifact refinement could accomplish.