Re-refining Magic Tools

The most difficult step is engraving the spells onto the soul, which can only be done after reaching the Golden Core stage. Before that, it's only possible during the brief moment of Soul Departure. The subsequent steps are not as demanding; as long as the soul can bear it, one can cultivate and add talismanic characters.

Shi Xuan visualized the first seal character from the second stage of the Minor Clear Wind Escape. Slowly, this cloud-shaped talismanic character began to appear within his soul.

This talismanic character only possessed some characteristics of the Ancient Cloud Seal Script, yet it was still complex. If Shi Xuan lost control even slightly, the talismanic character would disappear.

Visualizing talismanic characters is not as simple as one might imagine. The order in which the characters form must follow certain rules. Deciding which part to visualize first and which part to visualize second is a crucial aspect of learning spells. Furthermore, the spacing between each stroke must be visualized identically. This is unlike visualizing true methods, where grasping the essence is sufficient.

Shi Xuan tried seven or eight times before finally visualizing this talismanic character in his soul. He then carefully let it slowly approach the engraved patterns of the Minor Clear Wind Escape, finally maintaining it at a subtle distance above the first-stage engraved patterns, as if touching but not quite.

After positioning it, Shi Xuan circulated the engraved pattern within his soul's essence. Suddenly, it grew warm, and the talismanic character and the engraved pattern formed a peculiar connection, though they did not yet become a true whole.

Shi Xuan pressed on, consecutively visualizing other seal characters. He visualized five or six seal characters until he felt the area of his soul growing hot, and then he stopped. This had exceeded the limit of that part of his soul for the day. However, a small portion of the Ancient Cloud Seal Script had formed above the first-stage engraved patterns.

Although a small portion of the Ancient Cloud Seal Script was added, it did not affect the use of the first-stage Minor Clear Wind Escape. The small portion of the Ancient Cloud Seal Script was not needed to function when activating the Spiritual Power. Only when the second stage was truly completed would it fully merge and become the second-stage engraved patterns.

Shi Xuan then slowly practiced the other six minor Spiritual Powers again. By the time he finished, he felt extremely exhausted. He quickly performed the True Method of Clear Wind and Bright Moon Illuminating the Spirit to recover some energy. Afterward, he began to nurture the seal characters, allowing them to fully merge with his soul's essence.

In the following days, Shi Xuan instructed Yan Jujian to search the mountains for high-quality timber. At the same time, he asked Ding Mingde to go into the city and purchase several excellent large cauldrons, preferably furnace cauldrons used in Daoist temples. He also needed to buy some materials Shi Xuan had listed to prepare for setting up formations to increase the flame temperature and stabilize the flame.

The second-stage spells were indeed relatively simple. Three nights later, Shi Xuan successfully visualized the last seal character and moved it to the engraved patterns on the upper layer of the Minor Clear Wind Escape. As soon as it was placed, the entire layer of talismanic characters formed a complete Ancient Cloud Seal Script mixed with several common seal characters. Simultaneously, a golden light flashed, and this layer of engraved patterns became a connected whole with the first-stage engraved patterns. Shi Xuan had finally cultivated a second-stage spell.

With the first success, the rest became much easier. That same night, Shi Xuan cultivated the Golden Blade Divine Wind Slash, Golden Dragon Armor Charm, Invisibility and Qi Concealment Technique, Yin Yang Eye, and Qi Gazing Technique to the second stage. Only the Shangqing Hand Pivot Thunder, being a second-stage spell itself, was far from needing a breakthrough.

Compared to the first stage, Shi Xuan confirmed that the second-stage minor Spiritual Powers had at least doubled in effectiveness.

Shi Xuan did not idle during the day either. By carefully studying the books on Artifact Refining and the refining methods for the Life and Death Disk magic tool from the Treasury Records, Shi Xuan initially devised three plans for re-refining the artifact. However, two of these were purely backup options and would cause significant damage to the materials of the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner. He hoped they wouldn't be needed.

The materials and refining techniques for the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner were excellent. Being able to refine it to the seventh level of perfection already indicated it was a high-grade magic tool capable of withstanding most restrictions. Therefore, Shi Xuan racked his brain over which restrictions to choose for refining after re-refining it.

The restrictions provided in the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner refining manual were undoubtedly the most suitable, but Shi Xuan did not like them. Firstly, the thousand-year-old skulls on both sides were completely pulverized, and a significant portion of the restrictions were related to them. Extracting unrelated restrictions from them to form a new set was beyond Shi Xuan's current ability. Secondly, it required a method of sacrificing living people, which Shi Xuan could not accept at this time.

However, one day, Shi Xuan had a flash of inspiration. He took out the restrictions for the magic tools in the Treasury Records for study and unexpectedly discovered that a large portion of the first-level restrictions for the Life and Death Disk magic tool were the same as the first two levels of restrictions for the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner. The differences in the restrictions for the later levels increased as they progressed.

Shi Xuan pondered whether he should use the restrictions of the Life and Death Disk to refine the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner. The similarity of the earlier restrictions and the explanation of the Life and Death Disk's efficacy indicated that the materials of the banner were roughly compatible with the attributes of these restrictions. Although the materials required for the Life and Death Disk appeared to be of a higher grade, the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner was also a high-grade magic tool, so its materials would not be inferior.

However, if he began refining without much understanding, would the materials be unable to withstand the later restrictions, potentially rendering the banner useless? It was hard to say, so Shi Xuan was very hesitant.

But the day after Shi Xuan cultivated his second-stage spells, he made up his mind. He would use the Life and Death Disk restrictions to refine the magic tool. After all, his Great Unity Sky Thunder talisman had been used up. Having another magic tool in hand would provide an additional layer of security. Who knew if he would encounter enemies stronger than the Twin-Headed Tiger in the future? Refining with the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner restrictions would mean an unknown completion time for gathering materials, which did not align with the principle of having it ready immediately, and he could not accept the method.

After making all necessary preparations, Shi Xuan directed Yan Jujian and Ding Mingde to arrange the purchased materials into a formation. Then, he placed the wood blocks, split from the high-quality timber, in the center of the formation. Finally, he placed the furnace cauldron, bought from a Daoist temple, on top of the wood blocks.

Shi Xuan used a spell to ignite the wood blocks, preheating the furnace cauldron, while instructing Yan Jujian and Ding Mingde to stand by. Artifact refining, for the current Shi Xuan, was not something he could handle alone. Having them help by adding wood or fanning the flames would be beneficial.

When the bottom of the furnace cauldron began to heat up, Shi Xuan placed the banner surface of the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner and its half-broken flagpole into the cauldron. He then added some materials to help melt the banner surface later, making it easier for Shi Xuan to cut.

Shi Xuan circled the furnace cauldron, using the fire-controlling techniques from the artifact refining manual. He focused the flame's temperature on the broken and damaged section of the banner surface. Although the restrictions were gone, and the stability of the materials broken by lightning was compromised, the temperature of the wood fire seemed far from enough to melt the unstable mixed materials at the broken end.

While controlling the fire, he levitated the materials he had just added, like a puppet on strings, to the damaged area of the banner surface. These less advanced materials were very effective at helping to melt when in contact with the original material.

Shi Xuan managed to spare a sliver of his attention to signal Ding Mingde and Yan Jujian to prepare the wood, ready to add it at any moment. Then, his eyes widened, and he chanted a hand seal, employing the most ferocious method from the fire-controlling techniques. Simultaneously, he maxed out the fire-controlling formation with the remaining third of his mental energy.

The originally orange flames surged violently, engulfing the furnace cauldron. The color shifted from yellow to white with hints of yellow. This was exactly what Shi Xuan was aiming for. He channeled the heat generated in this instant, through the formation and hand seals, to the broken section of the banner surface. As expected, the fractured area began to soften.

Shi Xuan opened his mouth, and a pale white Wind Slash flew directly towards the broken section. One after another, three slashes later, the fractured section finally tore horizontally. The half of the banner surface containing the break separated from the lower part.

However, at this moment, Shi Xuan discovered that the furnace cauldron had been burned out. This was an oversight from the beginning. How could an ordinary furnace cauldron withstand such high temperatures? Shi Xuan had no time for regret. His soul condensed, and a black seal character appeared before his eyes. He pointed, and the seal character struck the banner surface. The banner surface sank into the flames and finally stopped in mid-air.

"You two, quickly use the formation to control the flames!" Shi Xuan had no choice but to have them step in. Fortunately, they had practiced during the preparation phase. Shi Xuan was mainly worried about being unable to multitask during the crucial final stage, but he hadn't expected it to be needed so soon.

After months of cultivation, especially the recent transmission of immortal pháp secret manuals, Yan Jujian had gained a comprehensive understanding. Controlling the lower-level formation was not an issue. Ding Mingde, assisting by adding wood, was also reasonably competent.

Shi Xuan, following the refining techniques of the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner, wielded his hands in a specific manner. Black seal characters appeared one after another in the air and were driven into the broken section of the banner surface, subtly merging with the intact banner surface. Finally, the upper edge of the banner formed a border with peculiar patterns.

Shi Xuan's Daoist robe was soaked with sweat and then dried by the fire, but success had not yet arrived. Black seal characters were directed towards the end of the flagpole and the junction where it met the upper edge of the banner surface. The black seal characters drilled into the flagpole and the banner surface. Simultaneously, Shi Xuan controlled the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner, flipping it back and forth to facilitate the insertion of the seal characters.

With a loud shout, the last seal character was formed and directed by Shi Xuan towards the black banner. As it struck the black banner, the surrounding chaotic Yin Sha energy surged towards it, and a portion of it successfully seeped into the black banner.

Although Shi Xuan was extremely fatigued, seeing the magic tool successfully re-refined, the joy in his heart suppressed the physical and mental discomfort. He barely used a spell to protect his body and took the black banner from the fire. At the same time, he signaled Yan Jujian and Ding Mingde that the great task was accomplished and they no longer needed to control the flames.

The entire black banner was more than a third smaller than before, only about a person's height. The black banner surface had strange patterns, appearing demonic and dazzling, but the evil ghost head from before did not reappear, likely a result of the White Bone Soul-Driving Banner's restrictions. The texture felt like silk.

Shi Xuan did not mistreat Yan Jujian and Ding Mingde. Although he kept the small section of the banner surface, he divided the remaining banner fragments they had picked up earlier between the two. He also produced a section of the flagpole remnant and told them they would each use half for future artifact refining. As for now, he let Yan Jujian keep it, and he would teach them the introductory knowledge of artifact refining in a few days, excluding the parts that required blood sacrifice, of course.