The Method of Artifact Refining!

Actually, by all logic, Zhang Chen was only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage. No matter how deep his spiritual energy ran, he could at most drive a Top-grade Magic Tool at his level.

Trying to activate a true Dharma Artifact would be like a child swinging a sledgehammer.

Not only would it fail to harm anyone, it would crush him first.

But this "Heaven Shaking Seal" was different.

It was a growth-type Dharma Artifact, currently in a "Tier 2 Top-Grade" embryonic state.

This meant its grade was right at the limit Zhang Chen could barely control.

It possessed both the indestructible material and unpredictable divine abilities of a Dharma Artifact.

Yet it didn't require the terrifying amount of spiritual energy needed at Golden Core Stage.

"Offense and defense in one, and it can advance as my cultivation rises—this is basically a cheat tailor-made for me."

Zhang Chen fondled the seal in his hands, letting a wisp of Purple Gold Spiritual Energy seep from his palm.

The seal immediately let out a deep hum, and a heavy, mountain-like pressure flickered through the study.

It shook several ancient texts off the bookshelves with a rustle.

Putting away the Heaven Shaking Seal, Zhang Chen took a deep breath, then turned his gaze back to the golden-glowing card—[Tier 2 Top-Grade Skill Inheritance Card: Art of Artifact Refining].

"A craftsman must first sharpen his tools to do his work."

"The Wang Family is still sharpening their blades over there. I need to prepare some surprises for our Zhang Family cultivators too."

With a thought, Zhang Chen lightly tapped the card.

"Use."

Hum—

The card transformed into a golden stream of light, instantly drilling into his brow.

At that moment, Zhang Chen felt as if a library had been forcibly stuffed into his mind.

Countless pieces of information—ore textures, flame temperatures, inscription patterns, material fusion ratios... a sea of data...

Violently crashed into his Sea of Consciousness.

"Hiss..."

Zhang Chen furrowed his brow tightly, pressing hard on his temples. The swelling pain, as if his head was about to split open, made him suck in a sharp breath.

But he gritted his teeth and persisted, relying on his far superior soul, forged through Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

Bit by bit, he sorted and absorbed this vast memory.

Fifteen minutes later.

Zhang Chen slowly opened his eyes, the fatigue in them fleeting.

He looked down at his own hands, as if they had already tempered divine weapons thousands of times.

The path of artifact refining, once obscure and difficult for him, now felt as simple and straightforward as eating or drinking.

He could even glance at the inkstone on the table.

And instantly, seven or eight plans for reforging it into a magic tool would pop into his mind.

"So this is the foundation of a Tier 2 Top-Grade Artifact Refiner? System products really are domineering."

A faint smile curled at the corner of Zhang Chen's mouth, but he didn't rush to start working immediately.

Artifact refining wasn't just about the knowledge in one's head; it demanded precise control over flames and a delicate touch with Spiritual Sense.

Especially when refining a Top-grade Magic Tool, one had to inscribe several arrays within a tiny space.

The slightest fluctuation in Spiritual Sense, and all would be lost—or even the furnace would explode.

"Sharpening the axe won't delay the woodcutting."

Zhang Chen pulled a jade slip from his bosom and pressed it to his forehead.

This was the secret technique for cultivating Spiritual Sense—the God Shaking Technique.

This technique was exceptionally domineering. Not only could it temper Spiritual Sense to be as tough as steel, but when practiced deeply, it could directly transform Spiritual Sense into a sharp sword, bypassing physical defenses to slay an enemy's soul directly.

In this Cultivation World, where most only cultivated spiritual energy and neglected Spiritual Sense.

This was essentially a game-changing killer move.

Of course, the process of cultivating this technique, as its name suggested, shook the mind and spirit, and was excruciatingly painful.

Zhang Chen sat cross-legged, following the method in the jade slip, and began to mobilize his Spiritual Sense.

In his Sea of Consciousness, he visualized an invisible hammer, slamming it fiercely against his own soul.

"Hmph!"

With the first hammer blow, Zhang Chen's body jolted violently, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

The feeling was like someone taking a red-hot steel needle and stabbing it deep into his brain.

And then twisting it around a couple of times.

This was the first time pain had struck directly at the soul—impossible to block, impossible to evade.

Yet he didn't let out a single sound, though the veins on his forehead bulged and sweat poured down like rain.

Each hammer blow was purging the impurities within his divine soul, making his Spiritual Sense more condensed and pure.

For the Zhang family, for his wife and child, this bit of pain was nothing at all.

Time passed, and half a month slipped by.

During these fifteen days, the courtyard door remained tightly shut, with only Lin Qingxue occasionally entering.

No one dared to disturb him.

One morning, the long-sealed door finally opened.

Zhang Chen stepped out. Though his face was slightly pale, his eyes blazed with a startling brightness.

If any Foundation Establishment cultivator dared to meet his gaze at this moment, they would likely feel their eyes sting sharply, as if falling into an abyss.

God Shaking Technique—Initiated!

Though it was only the initial stage, Zhang Chen's Spiritual Sense was now so condensed that it rivaled that of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Peak cultivator.

More than enough to control the Artifact Forging Furnace Fire.

"It's time to go squander a bit."

Zhang Chen smoothed his robes and headed straight for the family treasury.

At that moment, Zhang Yuntao, who was in charge of guarding the treasury, sat in an armchair, a ledger in hand, his brow furrowed into a deep crease.

The family's expenses had been too high lately; pills were being distributed like flowing water.