Chapter 239

That was his eternal pain.

He could no longer bear the tragedy of burying his own children.

The way of Taiji was the essence of his lifelong martial cultivation.

But in his heart, the lives of his disciples like Song Yuanqiao mattered more.

If the way of Taiji could be traded for their safety, it would be worth it.

……

Due to Ning Chuan's appearance and the earth-shattering events atop Bright Summit,

all factions in the martial world stirred like a calm lake thrown into by a massive boulder—waves surged, winds rose, clouds churned, and hidden currents roiled.

And atop Bright Summit at this moment,

Ning Chuan appeared utterly indifferent to the chaos beyond.

He remained within his luxurious palace, deeply contemplating the new martial arts and Secret Techniques he had acquired.

He rested upon the thousand-year frozen jade bed, the massive dragon head slightly bowed, its pale golden dragon eyes shimmering with wisdom.

Before him floated scrolls radiating ancient aura—Daoist true scriptures, along with fragments and rare originals on ancient arrays and metallurgy.

These were carefully selected from the Daoist canon of Congquanzhen Sect and the collections of Taohuadao.

"The art of arrays is vast and profound—it can not only trap and kill enemies, but also harness the power of heaven and earth, gather the essence of sun and moon, and aid cultivation."

Ning Chuan mused inwardly.

The 【Qiankun Gathering Spiritual Energy Great Array】 he had previously set up, though remarkably effective in drawing spiritual energy from a thousand li around,

was still merely an auxiliary array for attracting and concentrating energy, lacking strong offensive or defensive capabilities.

Moreover, its material requirements were extremely high, making replication nearly impossible.

"If the art of arrays could be perfectly fused with the art of metallurgy,"

"using my own demonic power as the catalyst, spiritual energy as the foundation, and inscribing the arcane array runes directly onto magic treasures and weapons,"

"they would not only possess formidable physical attack power, but also harness the forces of heaven and earth to unleash astonishing abilities…"

"Such as summoning the Nine Heavens' Divine Thunder or calling forth the Three Pure Fires?"

In Ning Chuan's mind, flashes of inspiration surged like a spring—bold, novel ideas emerged one after another.

He recalled descriptions from Daoist classics about how ancient immortals forged magic treasures.

"The 【Supreme Mystery Lingbao Scripture on Long Journey】 states: 'Heaven has nine layers, earth has nine strata, each governed by divine authorities, all bound by Daoic power. To forge a magic treasure, one must resonate with heaven and earth, summon the stars, to bestow it with spirit and might.'"

"The 【Lingbao Infinite Degree of Human: Upper Grade Wonderful Scripture】 also records: 'An instrument is the vessel of Dao. To refine it with spirit, and use it to carry Dao, is to attain longevity equal to heaven and earth, radiance equal to sun and moon.'"

"…"

He faintly sensed he had grasped a crucial thread.

Forging true magic treasures was not merely piling materials and forging them.

It required profound understanding of the laws of heaven and earth, and exquisite control over energy!

"The key lies in… how to perfectly integrate those arcane array runes into the material of the treasure, so they can operate stably and harness heavenly power!"

"This demands… a stronger medium capable of bearing and transmitting such power!"

"Demonic power! Yes! That's it—demonic power!"

"With my current pure dragon demonic power, perhaps I can serve as the core to inscribe runes and draw spiritual energy!"

A flash of enlightenment exploded!

Ning Chuan's eyes blazed with brilliant radiance!

He had finally found the key node that had plagued him for so long!

【You deeply contemplated ancient array arts and metallurgy, combining your understanding of spiritual energy and demonic power…】

【You uncovered the profound method of using demonic power as a catalyst to inscribe array runes onto magic treasures and weapons, enabling them to harness heavenly forces and unleash miraculous abilities…】

【You successfully created your own unique technique for forging true magic treasures—True Dragon Forging Art!】

Ning Chuan slowly opened his pale golden dragon eyes, filled with uncontrollable joy and excitement!

True Dragon Forging Art!

Achieved!

He had finally mastered the method of forging true magic treasures!

Nearby, Zhou Zhiruo and Xiao Zhao sensed the intense wave of joy radiating from Ning Chuan…

They hurried forward, respectfully standing on either side, awaiting their master's orders.

Ning Chuan looked at them, his voice tinged with delight, and ordered:

"Xiao Zhao, immediately send word to Dai Dai Qisi to bring all the rare materials she collected, and that specially forged giant cauldron, to me at once!"

"I shall personally open the furnace and forge!"

"Yes, Master! Your servant will act at once!" Xiao Zhao's eyes sparkled with Excitement and Expectation as she bowed and hurried off.

She too was curious—what kind of earth-shattering divine weapon would her master forge?

Zhou Zhiruo remained kneeling humbly before Ning Chuan, head bowed, ready to receive any command.

She knew that witnessing her master forge a magic treasure—such a divine art—was a rare and immense fortune.

Soon,

under Dai Dai Qisi's personal supervision,

a giant cauldron three zhang tall, forged entirely from thousand-year dark iron, its surface engraved with countless fire-attracting runes,

and mountains of diverse, shimmering, colorful rare mineral materials,

were all delivered to the vast square outside Ning Chuan's palace.

"Hail, Master Ning!"

On Bright Summit, the senior leaders and core disciples of the Ming Cult who had rushed here upon hearing the news, upon seeing Brother Ning Chuan, all bowed deeply with utmost respect, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

Brother Ning Chuan merely nodded faintly, signaling everyone to spare themselves the formalities.

He did not immediately begin forging.

Instead, he settled beside the massive cauldron, closed his eyes, and cultivated his inner state.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the perfect moment.

Though the crowd was filled with confusion and doubt, they could only suppress their impatience and wait in silence.

Finally, night fell, and a bright, pure moon, like a giant silver plate, hung high above the dark sky.

Cold and sacred moonlight poured down like liquid mercury, shrouding the entire Bright Summit in a hazy, mysterious glow.

At that moment!

Brother Ning Chuan's tightly closed golden dragon eyes suddenly snapped open!

Two beams of solid golden divine light erupted from his eyes, shooting straight into the heavens!

All present felt a shudder of dread.

He no longer hesitated—he prepared to begin forging!

His massive dragon body surged with demonic energy!

The mountains of rare treasure ores and celestial treasures, as if pulled by an invisible force, transformed into streams of light and flew automatically into the massive cauldron!

Then he opened his dragon maw!

"Hu—!!!"

A jet of ink-black flame, brimming with destruction and purification, burst forth like a furious dragon rising from the sea!

It was the primordial true flame he had cultivated five point four days ago—Black Water Dragon Flame!

The black dragon flame instantly engulfed the entire massive cauldron!

The terrifying heat warped the surrounding air!

Inside the cauldron, the incredibly hard treasure ores melted at a visible rate, turning into pools of shimmering, boiling ore-liquids!

The Ming Cult members on Bright Summit, witnessing this miraculous scene, were stunned speechless, their spirits shattered!

"This… this… what kind of flame is this?! Why… why is it so terrifying?!"

"Is the island master… is he… going to forge a divine weapon?!"

How had they ever seen such an unimaginable forging method?!

Brother Ning Chuan's massive dragon body slowly floated into the air.

With a thought, the gleaming Heaven-Deposing Sword and the Domineering and heavy Dragon-Slaying Blade automatically flew out from his sides!

Before the stunned gazes of the crowd, they too sank into the massive cauldron, blazing with furious black dragon flame.