In Nine Heavens and Ten Earths artifact refinement, there were three steps. They could be done in sequence or simultaneously.
The first step was this: the more intricate and profound the "artifact" forged from the original "Divine Runes," the greater its power. Things like "cauldrons," "bells," or "towers" were relatively more likely to have the "traces of the Dao" woven within them.
This was like cultivators comprehending scriptures. Some could only derive a trace of divine power from them, while others could grasp their true essence, activate their Sea of Bitterness, and unearth supernatural visions.
The second step was to use the artifact to carry the Dao. Here, the artifact referred to actual material, used to bear the artifact form outlined and woven by the Divine Runes. If the two could align, they would produce even greater wonders.
The Emperor Weapons of ancient Dao-Attainers had mostly been forged from the nine divine metals, revered as Ultimate Dao Materials.
They were: Phoenix Blood Red Gold, Dao Calamity Gold, Immortal Tears Green Gold, Eternal Blue Gold, Divine Marked Purple Gold, Dragon Pattern Black Gold, Feathered Azure Gold, Heaven's Mandate Orange Gold, and Bright White Gold.
In addition, materials such as Chaos Stone, Xuanhuang Qi, and Immortal Treasure Iron could also be used to forge Emperor Weapons.
The third step was tempering with Divine Flame. To successfully refine an "artifact," one needed extraordinary spiritual energy. Without question, the power of various Divine Flames was the most effective. Just as weapons were forged in reality, they needed a source of fire to melt them before divine weapons and precious blades could be tempered.
"For the first step, I've already tempered my Divine Runes into a Universe Diagram. Next, I only need to imitate higher-level Dao Runes. For the third step, Big Dipper has the Ninefold Fire Domain and Immortal Fire, so there's no need to worry too much. The truly difficult part is the second step. Whenever Ultimate Dao Materials appeared throughout history, they sparked bloody storms. Where am I supposed to find them...?"
After pondering for a long time and considering possibility after possibility, Lin Xian made a difficult yet great decision.
He would just mooch off Ye Fan's Xuanhuang Mother Qi!
Anyway, Ye Fan had the Mother Qi Root, which could continuously produce Xuanhuang Mother Qi at a slow pace. Any amount he could mooch was worth mooching.
"Host, you're about to pluck Ye Fan bald," System 10086 said. "Isn't this a bit excessive?"
Lin Xian snapped, "Shut up. If I don't take it, how can you take it? If you don't take it, how can we improve together?"
What? There was a share for me too? Then it was fine.
System 10086 was overjoyed. At last, it could eat something good—not Divine Bridge Origin, but genuine divine treasures.
Another day of missing Little Yezi.
Lin Xian slipped back to Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven and devoted himself to cultivation. During that time, Elder Ma Yun came to inquire about the whereabouts of the old woman from Divine Bridge. Lin Xian looked utterly surprised and said that he had been cultivating in the Scripture Pavilion the whole time and had never seen her.
Elder Ma Yun left half-convinced, but he also reminded Lin Xian of something. Any items connected to the old woman from Divine Bridge, such as Hundred Herbs Liquid, had to be used if possible or destroyed if necessary. Not the slightest trace could be left behind.
As for that indestructible, spiritual-energy-filled sentient weapon, Lin Xian found himself in a difficult spot.
After thinking for several hours, inspiration suddenly struck Lin Xian. Staring at the sentient weapon, he muttered, "Six Vaults Immortal Thief can devour all things. Can it eat this weapon?"
"Host! What are you trying to do?" System 10086 cried in horror. This was not the normal use of Six Vaults Immortal Thief.
"Back then, the Dark Supreme could shatter Emperor Weapons to replenish life energy. Since we're both cultivators of the Shrouding Method, I think it's worth trying."
Lin Xian stroked the small bowl and muttered, "There's no reason Emperor Weapons can be eaten while sentient weapons can't."
He acted as soon as he decided. Lin Xian began his experiment, though he did not start by eating the sentient weapon.
Instead, he began with ordinary plants, soil, stones, and metal.
"Cultivating by eating dirt starts with me!" Lin Xian dug up a handful of medicinal soil and several baskets of spirit-tainted wild grass from a medicinal field in Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven, then returned to his cave residence to cultivate in earnest.
It had to be said that although the medicinal soil tasted terrible, it could still be refined into a little vital essence. This discovery thrilled Lin Xian, and he promptly chewed down several stalks of wild grass.
After several days of seclusion, Lin Xian's great achievements swept through Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven like a storm. Even the Taishang Elder heard that their sect had produced a ruthless man who ate dirt. That very night, he summoned the sect master and logistics elder for a meeting to thoroughly investigate corruption within Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven.
On the day Lin Xian emerged from seclusion, Elder Ma Yun personally came to visit. His gaze was incomparably complicated as he patted Lin Xian on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Daoist friend, if you're in trouble, you can tell me. I, Ma Yun, have a fair amount of wealth myself."
As he spoke, he handed Lin Xian a spirit herb several decades old, then departed with an air of ease.
"Ah."
Lin Xian stared blankly at the spirit herb in his hand. After asking around, he finally learned of his reputation and could not decide whether to laugh or cry.
But precisely because of that mad reputation, no one paid attention to Lin Xian's strange actions.
From simply digging up soil and medicinal herbs to later mining jade and stone, the cultivators of Jade Cauldron Cave Heaven had grown used to it.
Lin Xian's Six Vaults Immortal Thief also became increasingly proficient through practice, and his understanding of consumption deepened while his cultivation steadily advanced. Outwardly, he consumed the fortune of heaven and earth, the essence of sun and moon; inwardly, he ate all sorts of random things—soil, medicinal herbs, jade, stone, and metal—all of it went into his stomach.
On a dark and windy night, he finally turned his hand toward the sentient weapon. He first shattered it with divine power, picked out several pieces, finely chopped them into mince, then brought out a clay jar and ground them into golden powder.
"Let's do it!"
He wrapped a handful of spiritually rich golden powder in herbs. Even the creator of Six Vaults Immortal Thief had probably never eaten like this.
Lin Xian gritted his teeth and opened his mouth. Half of the sentient weapon went straight into his stomach.
Buzz!
Divine light burst from his Sea of Bitterness. His Life Spring surged, and the Heavenly Vein condensing within him grew ever longer, transforming into a Divine Bridge that charged toward the Other Shore—only for thick layers of mist to block the path.
The calamity of getting lost had come again!
His consciousness sank into the Sea of Bitterness, where he could see only a stretch of Heavenly Vein. He did not know where to cross.
Lin Xian's eyes turned bloodshot as he recklessly forced his breakthrough. Why did eating a meal come with so many trials? What the hell is this calamity of getting lost? I'm just going to eat, eat, eat! I'll leap onto the Divine Bridge, do a 360-degree Thomas spin, sweep around once, and eat all the inner demons!
Then he roared and pounced toward the Dark Supreme. Ancient Emperors, Heavenly Venerables—I'll chew them all up! I'm eating them!
What? The Other Shore!
I'll eat everything! Once I eat the Other Shore, I'll be the Other Shore!
Self-as-Seed, Only I Am Supreme!
Rumble!
His Dao Heart was resolute and aligned with his nature. The mist gradually dispersed, as though a heavenly voice echoed through the air, declaring, "You have cleared the trial!"
When Lin Xian opened his eyes again, his divine power was abundant and his spirit invigorated. He no longer had the slightest doubt or attachment. He had already reached the peak of the Divine Bridge realm!
A feeling of complete freedom surged into his heart. He felt that he could easily suppress his former self.
"I can now calmly contend against the Other Shore. Even if I can't win, I can still escape."
Lin Xian murmured softly and slowly stepped out of his cave residence. At the same time, a flying sword message landed in his palm.
There was news of Ye Fan, whom Lin Xian had asked Elder Ma Yun to investigate. Qing Emperor's Tomb had opened in the Primordial Ruins, and all the major holy lands had gathered there. As subordinate forces, several Cave Heavens had also gone along, hoping to gain some benefits.
Ye Fan was a disciple of Lingxu Cave Heaven and had been among the earliest groups to head there. But the current situation was chaotic, and no one cared about the whereabouts of a minor Sea of Bitterness cultivator. If he was not dead, he would be near Qing Emperor's Tomb.
"This counts as news? Truly, listening to your words was like listening to your words."
It was nine o'clock today, a little late. Please forgive me.