Tendon Refining

"Indeed, no matter the world, there are people who shine brightly."

Wu Tao felt ashamed of his inferiority. He turned around and closed the door. He sat back in his chair, picked up the two artifact refinement books on the table, and began to read.

Spirit Wandering Boots.

A First-Rank Level 5 speed-type magic tool.

It is refined from a First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction as the base, plus five First-Rank Intermediate spirit materials, into a magic tool boot. Its speed is three levels higher than the Wind-Speed Magic Robe, and the improvement in speed is naturally incomparable.

He is currently at the Third Level of Qi Refining. For an Artifact Refiner to refine magic tools, it is also supported by their cultivation. Theoretically, the upper limit is Level Three.

This means that with a cultivation of the Third Level of Qi Refining, one can refine a First-Rank Level 6 magic tool at most.

One level higher, and the cultivation support is insufficient. Forcing the refinement will inevitably result in backlash.

As for immortal sects and great schools, they have inherited Artifact Refinement Techniques. However, these techniques only improve the success rate of refinement and do not significantly help with the upper limit of the magic tool's grade.

Among Loose Cultivators, being able to refine a magic tool one level higher is already considered remarkable.

But even if you can refine a First-Rank Level 4 magic tool with the Third Level of Qi Refining, the success rate will not be too high. Generally speaking, it is common for skilled individuals to have a 30% success rate, average individuals 20%, and poor ones 10%.

Of course, there are many factors that influence this, such as Cultivation Techniques, Secret Manuals for refinement, proficiency, the mindset at the time, the physical condition at the time, the type of magic tool... specific problems need to be analyzed specifically and cannot be generalized.

"In terms of speed, it can't compare to the Godly Travel Talisman, but in terms of value, it's more valuable than the Godly Travel Talisman. With my profession as an Artifact Refiner, I should be able to break through the Level Three limit. I will start practicing this Spirit Wandering Restriction on the Spirit Board tomorrow."

Wu Tao made up his mind instantly.

After that, he continued to read the Secret Manual for refining the Light-Splitting Sword magic tool.

Upon seeing it, he was greatly surprised.

"This is actually a Combination Restriction..."

The more powerful the magic tool, the more restrictions it has. These restrictions are called Combination Restrictions, which are the names of two or more restrictions.

One restriction can be seen as a complete "one," but two restrictions are "two," not "one."

Only by becoming "one" can the spirit energy entering the restriction and being stimulated form a continuous Spirit Energy Circuit. With two restrictions, there will inevitably be lag. At this point, this problem needs to be solved.

Combination Restrictions perfectly solve this problem by combining two restrictions with specific Restriction Runes, transforming them into a complete "one," thereby forming a Spirit Energy Circuit.

In Wu Tao's previous life's knowledge, this is equivalent to a series circuit.

Combining restrictions of the same attribute or mutually beneficial attributes is simpler, while combining restrictions of opposing attributes requires solving more issues.

Wu Tao had not yet learned about this aspect of artifact refinement knowledge.

He only vaguely knew, for example, that restrictions of the same Fire Attribute are of the same type.

Gold generates water; gold and water attributes are mutually generating attributes.

This Light-Splitting Sword uses a combination restriction consisting of a First-Rank Level 6 Metal Sharpness Restriction of the gold attribute and a First-Rank Level 6 Light-Splitting Restriction of the water attribute.

The Light-Splitting Restriction can manifest a water sword. Because it shone brilliantly under the sun, the Artifact Refiner who created this Magic Tool also named it the Light-Splitting Sword.

"A combination restriction, this is a challenge for me."

After reading the refining method, Wu Tao put down the two books on refining Magic Tools and said, "One must walk step by step, and eat one bite at a time. First, I will engrave a First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction and refine the Spirit Wandering Boots, then I will consider the Light-Splitting Sword."

"Now, I will brew the medicine, temper my body, and cultivate the Dragon Spear Technique."

In the cultivation room.

Wu Tao held the Three-Pointed Great Spear and thrust it forward. The spearhead immediately produced the sound of thunder and lightning, accompanied by dazzling lightning and a whistling wind as it shot forward.

BOOM--

It sounded like thunder, then quickly vanished.

Wu Tao retracted his spear, feeling that this strike was extremely powerful, as if space had distorted.

"The Wind and Thunder Spear Technique at the Proficiency level can already be heard as wind and thunder, and its power is immense. Similarly, the consumption is also great. This strike felt like it depleted over ten percent of my Spiritual Power and physical strength."

It has been one month and twelve days since Wu Zhongxing last visited.

In the past month, Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect had not gone to war. The tension between the two sides seemed to be brewing for a long time. With no war for so long, rumors began to spread in the outer city that Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect might not fight after all.

It felt like a lot of thunder but little rain.

Of course, this was the thought of some Loose Cultivators. Other Loose Cultivators still felt it was wise to be prepared for danger in times of peace and to have more means of self-preservation, just in case a war did break out.

The prices in the market began to fall, but only slightly.

For example, the First-Rank Level 4 Magic Tools in Shopkeeper Yu's material shop, which he could have sold for two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, now cost twenty less Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Shopkeeper Yu's sales had little to do with Wu Tao; he continued to supply as usual.

Putting away his spear, he prepared to temper his body.

Dragon Spear Body Tempering Art: Temper Body (99%)

In one month and twelve days, he had undergone medicinal baths every day, increasing the progress by one percent each day. Now, only one percent was left to complete the Temper Body stage and move on to the Tendon Refining stage.

"The medicinal bath is ready. Today, we enter the second stage—Tendon Refining."

Wu Tao was quite excited.

He poured the medicinal liquid into the bathtub, stripped off his clothes, and got in, beginning to absorb the liquid to strengthen his physique.

After absorbing all the medicinal liquid in the bathtub, Wu Tao felt his body had reached a critical point, his muscles completely tempered.

He took a deep breath, his body trembled, and with a sudden exertion, he leaped out of the bathtub. Then, he grabbed the Three-Pointed Great Spear and thrust it forward. With this thrust, his entire musculature moved as one, incredibly coordinated. All his muscles were fully mobilized, and not a shred of strength was wasted.

This spear technique had improved another level.

He stopped and carefully felt the changes in himself. He discovered his Five Senses and Six Perceptions had also significantly strengthened. His earlobes twitched, and he suddenly turned. A fly was caught between his fingers, and with a bang, it burst into flames, burning into ashes.

Wiggling his fingers, Wu Tao's face showed joy as he said, "The Flesh Refining stage is finally complete."

His body was now well-proportioned, muscle density increased, and his weight had also increased significantly. However, he could control it at will. His blood and qi had also improved. Internally, he could sense his blood and qi were like thick liquid, and his heart beat powerfully.

He seemed to have become more confident.

His aura also radiated outwards.

He admired himself for a moment.

Afterward, he opened his Personal Status to review his progress over the past month.

[Cultivation Technique: Three Yang Technique: Qi Refining Chapter (Third Level): 22%]

[Secondary Profession - Body Cultivator: Dragon Spear Body Tempering Art: Tendon Refining (0%), Dragon Spear - Fire Sweep Proficiency (5%), Dragon Spear - Wind and Thunder Move Proficiency (9%)]

[First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction (16%)]

As his body tempering technique improved, the gain in Spiritual Power absorption increased in the later stages. Now, he could increase his progress by eleven points per month.

Both the Dragon Spear Technique's Fire Sweep and Wind and Thunder Move had reached Proficiency. His offensive and defensive maneuvers were at his will, and their power had increased terrifyingly.

As for the First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction, normally, he could only increase one progress point every three days. If he triggered a Lucky Bonus, there would be further amplification. This wasn't because his practice had slowed down, but because his Qi Refining Third Level cultivation had broken through the upper limit of two levels. Achieving this progress wasn't bad.

"This feeling of being able to feel my strength improve every day is truly exhilarating!"

Wu Tao closed his Personal Status and prepared to go out.

Today was also the day he was scheduled to deliver goods to Shopkeeper Yu's Spirit Material Shop.