Artifact Refining

"What is the Artifact Refining Dao?"

Before Guang Chengzi began his lesson, he first posed a question.

Bai Ze's eyes were somewhat puzzled. "Artifact refining? Isn't it just forging powerful magic treasures, then beating the hell out of the enemy with them?!"

The corner of Guang Chengzi's eye twitched slightly. Speechless, he looked at Bai Ze, then at the sleeping Duobao.

"Junior Brother Bai Ze, I finally understand why you and Junior Brother Duobao get along so well."

Bai Ze gave an embarrassed laugh. To him, magic treasures were merely things outside the body; only one's own strength was true strength.

Thus, his attitude toward magic treasures was simple: he could choose not to value them, but he could not afford to lack them!

After all, those legendary powerful magic treasures could allow their owners to fight across realms!

Guang Chengzi glanced at Bai Ze and said slowly, "Keep that question in your heart. Next, I will explain and demonstrate the Artifact Refining Dao for you!"

The next moment, Guang Chengzi stomped his foot. The ground beneath the round cauldron immediately caved in, followed by streams of golden flames surging forth.

"This Golden Flame is the natal fire of the ferocious beast Golden-Haired Roar. I obtained it by chance while traveling through the west.

"I have now integrated it into the spirit vein within the courtyard. If you need to refine artifacts in the future, you may draw upon it at any time."

A faint ripple stirred in Bai Ze's heart upon hearing this, but trapped as he was, he could only use his hair in place of hands and offer his thanks with a cupped-hand salute.

Looking at those two strands of hair that seemed almost provocative, Guang Chengzi smiled. He naturally understood what Bai Ze meant and did not take offense.

"No matter. You and I will surely become fellow disciples in the future. Why thank me over such a trifling matter?"

After saying that, Guang Chengzi continued, "The Artifact Refining Dao places great importance on heat control, so the art of controlling fire must be mastered with proficiency.

"And if one wishes to forge all manner of heavenly treasures and earthly materials into artifacts, one must know their properties and the timing for adding them like the back of one's hand.

"Only then can they complement one another."

As he spoke, Guang Chengzi controlled the heat and tossed the heavenly treasures and earthly materials around the furnace in batch after batch.

Until every last one had melted into blobs of liquid in varying colors.

Guang Chengzi increased the flames, causing those blobs of liquid to merge together in an orderly pattern.

"This step is called liquid fusion.

"It may appear simple, but its difficulty exceeds all imagination. During refinement, you must use your entire mind to sense every change within.

"Once even the slightest error occurs, all previous efforts will go down the drain!

"After completing this step comes the engraving of restrictions!"

As he spoke, Guang Chengzi fixed his full attention on the liquid mass. Using his fingers as a brush, he inscribed restrictions in the air, then formed hand seals and engraved different restrictions at different times.

At the same time, he did not forget to instruct Bai Ze.

"Although restrictions differ somewhat from formations, different paths lead to the same destination. With your talent in the Formation Dao, learning them will not be difficult.

"The true difficulty lies in how to engrave them within the liquid.

"This is unlike engraving upon mountain rock. You must remain cautious at every moment of the compatibility between each restriction.

"The more restrictions engraved, the greater the power and the higher the grade.

"But once conflicts arise between the restrictions, everything done before will turn into bubbles.

"Therefore, do not blindly covet greater power and forcefully engrave them!"

Guang Chengzi spoke as he worked. Before long, several restrictions had been driven into the liquid, while its surface gradually solidified into an outer shell.

Looking closely, one could see restrictions flowing within it, like fish swimming in a lake.

"At present, I can engrave at most thirty-six restrictions and refine a High-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasure.

"Once forty-nine restrictions can be implanted, one can successfully refine an Extreme-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasure.

"At that point, the Extreme-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasure may have a chance to advance into a Low-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

"Yet such an opportunity can only be encountered, never sought, and the materials required are especially difficult to obtain."

After finishing everything, Guang Chengzi let out a light breath and looked up at Bai Ze.

"Do you now understand what the Artifact Refining Dao is?"

After Guang Chengzi's personal instruction and demonstration, Bai Ze had gained some insight as well. He nodded and pondered aloud.

"The essence of the Artifact Refining Dao is to use a tangible vessel to carry an intangible Dao!

"Brother Dao, am I correct?"

Guang Chengzi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. He had not expected Bai Ze to be so intelligent, able to grasp the point at a touch.

Compared with Duobao, who was still sleeping soundly nearby, Bai Ze was better by far more than a little.

Guang Chengzi nodded and smiled. "Well said!"

"Next comes the final step: shaping!

"Its essence is to use all sorts of methods to condense the artifact into a form suited to oneself, thereby raising the magic treasure's power to its utmost limit!"

At this point, Guang Chengzi looked at Bai Ze and asked gently.

"Junior Brother Bai Ze, what form of magic treasure do you like?"

"Brother Dao, what do you mean by that?" Bai Ze was somewhat startled. Could this thing be for me?

Guang Chengzi nodded slightly and smiled warmly.

"You have only just arrived and have no weapon that suits your hand. Taking this opportunity, I can refine a suitable weapon for you. Consider it a meeting gift."

Bai Ze was immediately flattered beyond measure. This was an Acquired Spirit Treasure!

We were neither kin nor acquaintances, yet he was giving such a valuable gift right away. Wasn't that far too generous?

Suddenly, Bai Ze's gaze sharpened, and he instantly became vigilant!

Something was wrong. There had to be a trick behind this!

Guang Chengzi must have wanted to use this gift to draw closer to him, and then...

Then my ass! I have nothing worth taking from me. What could he possibly be after by giving me a gift?

But though he thought so, he still cast a divination. Only when the hexagram showed no danger did he relax slightly.

"Brother Dao, this... there is no need, is there? As the saying goes, one should not accept rewards without merit. It truly would be improper for me to accept your favor for nothing."

"What is improper about it? It is merely a weapon. Do not overthink it."

Watching Bai Ze act as though every bush and tree were an enemy, so guarded and suspicious, Guang Chengzi found it secretly amusing.

This Bai Ze was far too timid!

Still, it was understandable. Only those who had wandered the Primordial World alone knew that the generously bestowed things were often the most expensive!

When he had first arrived at the little courtyard, he had been as wary as Bai Ze. Only many years later had he learned that not everyone in this world sought something in return.

At the very least, Eldest Martial Uncle, his master, Little Martial Uncle, Duobao, Huanglong, and the others had never thought of gaining anything from him.

"If you have not decided, then I will decide for you."

Guang Chengzi glanced at Bai Ze and spoke blandly.

Hearing Guang Chengzi's unyielding words, Bai Ze knew that refusing again would be useless.

Since he could not refuse, he could only return the gift.

The Primordial Concealment Formation was of no lower quality than a High-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasure.

Using it as a return gift should settle this karmic debt.

Having made up his mind, he said,

"Thank you, Brother Dao. But as for what kind of weapon, please allow me to think it over first."

Guang Chengzi did not refuse. He nodded in agreement.

Bai Ze sank into thought. There was a saying from his previous life:

"The sword is for gentlemen; the saber rules by dominance."

Whether it was a domineering greatsaber or an elegant longsword, he liked them both.

He even thought a staff would be nice. When he had watched the Great Sage Equal to Heaven as a child, he had wanted one more than anything.

But whenever he imagined drawing a weapon in battle, the moment others saw it, they would immediately be on guard.

Besides, those weapons were far too ostentatious!

They did not suit his cautious personality in the slightest!

After pondering for a long while, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him!