The essence of imbuing metal with spirituality was to give it a spark of vitality.
It was like creating something out of nothing, an extraordinary experience that was almost impossible to achieve.
But Li Ang had found another way.
He couldn't give metal spirituality, but he could give the elements spirituality.
Although he mainly commanded the Rock Element, he also had a strong command of the Metal Element.
After all, if one were to describe it in terms of immortal cultivation, then the Geo Archon Rex Lapis would be born with top-grade dual earth-and-metal spiritual roots.
Though his power mainly manifested as the Rock Element—or, one could say, the Earth Element—
the Geo Archon Rex Lapis also commanded the Metal Element with great skill.
The problem was that making metal come alive required a highly complex theory.
First, the metal molecules had to be separated. Then the molecules and ions had to be brought together.
At the same time, Rock Element ions had to be mixed in, using an element that could be controlled absolutely to replace the metal element within the metal.
Then, after all manner of splitting and fusion, the result would finally solidify into a piece of so-called Spirit-Forged Metal.
Or perhaps it shouldn't be called Spirit-Forged Metal at all, but Alloy Metal.
It was a special kind of alloy.
Li Ang wasn't the only one who could use this metal, but he was the only one who could forge it.
And what made this metal most special wasn't how much stronger it was than ordinary Spirit-Forged Metal, but how quickly it could be forged.
If Li Ang could master this method, rapidly separating the metal elements and building some Rock Element into the metal,
then he could produce a piece of so-called Spirit-Forged Metal every ten to fifteen minutes or so.
And since this metal had also developed vitality—and every bit of that vitality obeyed Li Ang completely—
using it for Soul Refinement and Heavenly Refinement afterward would be much easier.
Removing impurities from metal was like getting the metal itself to acknowledge you, to acknowledge that it was a piece of metal, making it easier for the metal to develop spirituality.
That also meant it was easier to complete Soul Refinement.
But if even the metal's own consciousness was completely under Li Ang's control, then he could make it recognize, beyond a doubt, that it was this very piece of metal.
That made Soul Refinement far easier still.
This was something Li Ang hadn't expected at first.
But after three years of research and the plans he'd made afterward, the method had finally succeeded.
As Li Ang's Forging Hammer struck the metal's surface, the dusky glow in his hand continually affected it. Mu Chen stared fixedly at the piece of metal.
Li Ang's forging method was clearly nothing like conventional Spirit Refinement.
It wasn't merely different. The two had absolutely nothing in common.
But as Li Ang separated the elements within the metal, then carefully began building it back up with the Rock Element, a spark of vitality appeared on its surface.
With every blow of Li Ang's hammer, that vitality grew stronger and stronger, until the Spirit Refinement was finally complete.
Mu Chen stood there silently, looking at this genuine piece of Spirit-Forged Metal, forged through a series of methods that made no sense and seemed completely unrelated.
"Hmm, this does seem to be Spirit-Forged Metal."
"Give it to me. I'll see if I can perform Soul Refinement on it."
Mu Chen sounded unusually hesitant.
Looking at this genuine Spirit-Forged Metal that was completely unlike conventional Spirit-Forged Metal, he wore a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
Li Ang, however, didn't seem to mind. He silently stepped aside and pushed the metal over to Mu Chen.
As Mu Chen stepped forward, Li Ang watched his forging technique as well.
The moment Mu Chen's first hammer blow landed, the metal began to tremble faintly.
Then came one blow after another.
Soul Refinement took a long time. It could take an hour or two at the shortest, and several hours at the longest.
Feeling the spirituality within the metal continuously gather, Mu Chen stood there in silence.
The minutes ticked by. It wasn't until seven that evening that Mu Chen's hammer finally came to a gradual stop.
The metal, which had been brimming with vitality, began to change. A trace of spirituality emerged from within it.
Soul Refinement had completely imbued it with a spirit. The metal seemed to have gained a soul, growing ever stronger.
That was one of the reasons why Three-Word Battle Armor could repair itself.
Looking at the Soul-Forged Metal he had forged in his hands, Mu Chen fell silent for a moment.
"Your Spirit Refinement is really unusual, but it's no different from ordinary Spirit Refinement in the end."
"It's even more vibrant than ordinary Spirit-Forged Metal, and more likely to become Soul-Forged Metal."
Mu Chen fell silent again as he said this.
He couldn't quite understand Li Ang's wild ideas and outlandish designs.
It was like the collision of old and new ideas.
But seeing that Li Ang had truly completed Spirit Refinement, Mu Chen was still very happy.
"You've done pretty well, kid. You managed to complete Spirit Refinement in such a short time."
"You've got talent, but it feels like you're not putting it to the right use."
"Take this piece of metal. See if you want to make it into a weapon or something else."
As Mu Chen spoke, he raised his hand and tossed the Spirit-Forged Metal—the piece that was now Soul-Forged Metal—over to Li Ang.
Soul-Forged Metal was incredibly precious. It could sell for tens of millions of Federal Credits.
Yet Mu Chen had just casually tossed it to him.
Catching the metal, Li Ang examined it closely and gave it a quick analysis.
Then he looked at Mu Chen.
"Teacher, I still need to learn Soul Refinement techniques. I want to study Soul Refinement—or, more specifically, Fusion Refinement within Spirit Refinement."
"Also, Teacher, I might not be able to come here for a while, because I may be away from Eastsea City."
Li Ang paused after speaking.
Mu Chen's previously unconcerned gaze suddenly hardened, and he stared fixedly at Li Ang.
With Li Ang's monstrous talent and his astonishing abilities in every area, Mu Chen cared deeply about him.
Hearing that Li Ang would be leaving Eastsea City for a long time, Mu Chen immediately grew tense.
Meeting his teacher's anxious gaze, Li Ang remained calm.
"Teacher, I'm about to go away for a while. A senior brother from another department of mine has arrived."
"Before this, my teacher sent me a message saying he'd take me out for some training."
"I might not be in Eastsea City for a while. I hope you'll understand."
Li Ang spoke calmly, but Mu Chen's brow furrowed slightly.
He knew Li Ang belonged to the Spirit Pagoda, but he hadn't known that Li Ang had another teacher as well.
But thinking of the Spirit Pagoda's old monsters and top experts, he fell silent for a moment and decided not to ask further.
"All right, your teacher understands."
"Take these two notebooks with you, and keep yourself safe out there."
"If you run into an accident, a problem, or any trouble, just press that little dot on your Forging Bracelet, or channel your spiritual power into it. I'll come to you right away."
Mu Chen fell silent for a moment.
He raised a hand to pat Li Ang on the shoulder, then handed him the two small booklets.
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