Inside Lingxiao Treasure Hall, although the atmosphere had been extremely awkward a moment ago.
Now that they had decided to have their treasures refined, however, everyone quickly got down to business.
"Your Majesties, the rules are the same as before."
Zhao Gongming held out a hand and rubbed his fingers together, speaking with a shrewd, mercenary look.
"To refine a Conceptual Level Magic Treasure, you need to provide top-grade heavenly treasures and earthly materials containing special laws."
"Of course I know that."
Di Jun snorted. Determined to outdo Di Jiang,
he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a crystal stone that radiated endless starlight, as if it contained countless galaxies.
"This is Primordial Star Essence. I gathered it from the depths of the starry sky over countless years. It is indestructible and impervious to all magic."
[ Ding! High-grade crafting material detected: Primordial Star Essence. ] [ Rating: Excellent. ] [ Matching options: Can be used to craft a Conceptual Magic Treasure focused on absolute defense and damage feedback. ]
Zhao Gongming nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. This material can be used to craft a supreme defensive treasure."
Seeing Di Jun produce something so valuable, Di Jiang refused to be outdone.
He gave a chuckle and rummaged around in his robes for a long while.
At last, he pulled out a thick branch that radiated the rich aura of True Sun Fire and gleamed with golden light... a branch from the Fusang Tree.
"Here, this is my material!"
[ Ding! High-grade crafting material detected: Innate Fusang Tree Core. ] [ Rating: Excellent. ] [ Matching options: Can be used to craft a Conceptual Magic Treasure focused on hard control and compensation claims. ]
Zhao Gongming was just about to take it when Di Jun, standing nearby, instantly widened his eyes. He pointed at the branch, his finger trembling.
"This... Why does that look so familiar?"
"Isn't that the main trunk of the Fusang Tree in my Tang Valley?!"
"Di Jiang, you dogged thief! You clearly stole it from me during our last fight!"
Di Jun flushed red with rage, trembling all over.
He was using my things to craft a treasure meant to deal with me?
"You really are a dog! You're not even human!"
Faced with Di Jun's insults, Di Jiang wasn't angry in the slightest.
Instead, he looked utterly nonchalant. He even barked at Di Jun with brazen defiance.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
"What's yours is mine once it's in my hands. Go on, bite me if you can!"
The entire hall fell silent. Everyone was dumbstruck by Di Jiang's performance.
The leader of the Ancestral Witches was barking like a dog in public?
Was his face made of Chaos Divine Iron?
However, Pharmacist Daoist, standing nearby, looked as if he'd seen the light. His gaze brimmed with admiration and reverence as he looked at Di Jiang.
"Good grief... Is this the mindset of a true powerhouse?"
"Unmoved by praise or disgrace, utterly shameless... I mean, unconstrained by trivialities!"
"Senior Di Jiang's temperament is much like my master's. If he joined the Western Teachings, he would surely become a great figure!"
Zhao Gongming glanced at Pharmacist Daoist, who was getting all misty-eyed over his own thoughts, and couldn't help twitching his lips as he grumbled inwardly.
Damn... You really think having no shame is an advantage? What the hell, the Western Teachings are beyond saving.
After the farce ended, the crafting began.
"Young Friend Zhao, can you do it?" Di Jiang asked.
"Absolutely." Zhao Gongming thumped his chest confidently.
"But this is a major undertaking. It'll take some time."
To make sure no one disturbed him, Di Jun immediately brought out his companion treasure, the River Diagram and Luo Script.
The Primordial River Diagram and Luo Script Formation sprang into place, enclosing Zhao Gongming in a completely secure space for crafting.
Zhao Gongming didn't waste time. He summoned the Nine Dragon Cauldron, brought forth Samadhi True Fire and Six Ding True Fire, and began refining the materials at full throttle.
Time passed. At last, to everyone's eager anticipation, the Nine Dragon Cauldron let out a thunderous boom.
"It's done!"
Zhao Gongming emerged, drenched in sweat but brimming with excitement, holding two treasures that radiated an eerie aura.
At the same time, the system rewards arrived as promised.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have successfully crafted two Conceptual Level Magic Treasures! ] [ Double critical reward triggered! ] [ Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the divine ability: Six Ding Divine Fire (Advanced Version)! ] [ Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the divine ability: True Sun Fire (Origin Version)! ]
Zhao Gongming was overjoyed.
Six Ding Divine Fire was the divine flame Taishang Laojun used for alchemy.
Though it wasn't very destructive, its power of creation was boundless, and it could purge impurities from all things.
True Sun Fire had been formed from Pangu's left eye.
Unrivaled in its extreme yang and overwhelming power, it could burn the heavens and boil the seas with ease. It was the signature ability of Di Jun and Tai Yi!
"With these two great flames, along with Samadhi True Fire, my fire-based divine abilities are finally complete!"
Suppressing his excitement, Zhao Gongming handed one treasure to each of them.
The treasure he gave Di Jun was a magnificent Golden Armor, glittering with radiance and looking every bit as imposing as it was formidable.
The one he gave Di Jiang, however, was... a battered-looking stretcher, with what appeared to be bloodstains on it.
Di Jiang stared at the stretcher in his hands, completely dumbfounded.
"Wait... Zhao Gongming, what's the meaning of this?"
"That Mangy bird at least got an armor that looks like a proper magic treasure. It's even pretty flashy."
"What is this thing? Am I supposed to carry dead people around?"
Zhao Gongming put on a serious expression and waved a hand.
"Please, let me explain, Seniors."
"This armor is called the 'The More You Get Hit, the More Fired Up You Get' Armor."
"While wearing it, all attacks from opponents of the same cultivation level are nullified and converted into magic power that replenishes the wearer."
"This stretcher is called the 'You're Not Leaving Until You Pay' Stretcher."
"The moment you lie on it, the Heavenly Dao will determine that your opponent has gravely injured you."
"Your opponent must pay you compensation you find satisfactory, or else karma will lock you both in place."
"You'll be locked in a stalemate until the end of time. Neither of you will be able to leave!"
Hearing those outrageously powerful effects, Di Jun and Di Jiang's eyes lit up.
It negated attacks?
It forced compensation?
That was ridiculously powerful!
"But..." Zhao Gongming continued, changing tack.
"They do have side effects."
"The armor's side effect is that whenever the wearer is attacked, he has to shout in a taunting, slightly blissful voice."
'That feels great! Still not enough! Hit me, you idiot! Harder!' Something along those lines. Otherwise, the defense won't activate."
"The stretcher's side effect is that when it's used, the wearer has to lie on the ground and roll around like crazy."
"He has to throw away all dignity and yell, 'He hit me! He tried to kill me! You're not leaving until you pay!' Otherwise, the effect won't activate."
Di Jun and Di Jiang trembled as they held their treasures.
"This... This is what you call a side effect?!"
Di Jun cried out in despair.
"This is enough to make someone die of Social Death and embarrass his ancestors in their graves!"
"I'm the dignified Heavenly Emperor, and I have to shout things like 'Hit me harder'?"
Di Jiang's face darkened like charcoal.
"I have to roll around like some shrew and extort people?"
"What about the dignity of an Ancestral Witch?"
Zhao Gongming spread his hands, utterly unapologetic.
"Oh, come on, Seniors."
"These treasures are so powerful. What's a harmless little side effect?"
"That's the law of conservation of energy! That's the impartiality of the Heavenly Dao!"
"If you don't believe they work, just give them a try!"
Di Jun and Di Jiang exchanged a glance.
A trace of hesitation flickered in both their eyes, but their longing for invincibility was stronger.
Besides, I've got an old enemy to share the embarrassment with...
As long as I'm not embarrassed, everyone else is!
"Let's do it!"
Di Jun gritted his teeth and put on the Golden Armor.
"Zhu Rong! Gong Gong!"
Turning around, Di Jun beckoned to the two Ancestral Witches who were still watching the show. He wore an infuriatingly smug look.
"You two good-for-nothings! Didn't you want to tear down my Demon Court?"
"Come on! Hit me! Hit me as hard as you can!"
Zhu Rong and Gong Gong had short tempers to begin with. How could they put up with such provocation?
"Fine! You asked for it!"
"You Mangy bird, prepare to die!"
Boom! Boom!
Blazing divine fire and surging floods erupted at once, carrying the terrifying strength of the Ancestral Witches as they slammed into Di Jun.
Yet the instant the attacks struck,
an eerie pink light shone from the armor Di Jun wore.
Then, on Di Jun's dignified face,
a blissful, intoxicating blush appeared against his will.
He spread his arms, tilted his head back, and shouted in a coy voice that made everyone's scalps crawl and their toes curl.
"Ahh~ That actually feels pretty good!"
"Keep going! Not enough! Did you skip your meal?"
"Come on, hit me, you idiot!"
"Did you skip your meal or what?!"
Zhu Rong and Gong Gong's attacks struck the armor and vanished like mud flowing into the sea, leaving not the slightest ripple.
But the two Ancestral Witches reacted as if they'd seen a ghost, yanking their hands back.
They staggered backward, faces deathly pale, and nearly threw up on the spot.
"Holy crap!!"
"What a pervert!!"
The scene was utterly explosive. Everyone's worldview shattered into dust in that instant.
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