Chapter 105: Wanting to Learn Artifact Refining Again (9th Update)

Xu Chen currently has several types of spirit materials on him that can be used for artifact refining, almost all of which were brought back from Jingshi.

However, only two of them are of any use right now.

One is a second-tier Jade Locust Stone snatched from Jiu Shixiong; it is an earth-attribute spirit material, exceptionally sturdy, and can serve as the main material for an array disk magic treasure.

Additionally, there is a second-tier piece of Wind Spirit Wood; Xu Chen cannot quite remember, but it should have been obtained from Liang Feng's storage bag back then. It is two feet long, just right to be used as the main material for a flying sword.

However, Xu Chen feels the best ones are the two third-tier Demon Wolf fangs obtained at Black Wind Ridge back then. That Demon Wolf possessed both wind and thunder attributes, and after being poisoned by feces, both the fangs and the inner core contained a type of soul toxin.

Jiu Shixiong had already exchanged the inner core at the Treasure Pavilion in Jingshi, along with a few other spirit materials, for a third-grade Spirit Talisman, which became their final trump card for survival; it was absolutely worth more than its price.

As for the two fangs, they were handed over to the sect upon returning, and they should still be with Third Elder now.

Xu Chen decided to go and ask for them to see; if he could get them back and refine them into a magic treasure, it would possess wind, thunder, and poison attributes, which would inevitably be extremely formidable.

Moreover, the toxicity of the two wolf fangs came from the Blue Jade Bead, which happens to match his current soul, so it is estimated that they will be even handier to use.

However, compared to pill refining, artifact refining is more complex and has higher requirements for soul strength, origin energy intensity, and divine sense control.

After all, artifact refining is more particular about patience and endurance, and it is a one-shot deal; no matter how good the spirit material is, once a mistake occurs during refining, it is basically completely scrapped.

Since artifact refining and pill refining are the foundations of every sect's establishment, second only to their cultivation techniques, there is always some knowledge reserve; the Taiyuan Sect's level of artifact refining is actually a tiny bit higher than its level of pill refining.

Great Elder Xuanchen Zhenjun is proficient in artifact refining, but ever since entering the Danyuan Late Stage, he has rarely spent time refining magic treasures, spending most of his time searching for methods of spirit transformation. Therefore, the group of senior brothers and sisters and juniors in the Taiyuan Sect mostly use old magic treasures passed down from ancestors—elders use them, then disciples use them, and then junior disciples continue to use them until they are broken.

Of course, refining a first-grade magic treasure is not particularly difficult, but just like learning pill refining, making these things requires great talent. In the secular world, it is not easy to learn a craft well, and becoming a master craftsman is even rarer. It is the same for immortals refining artifacts; learning a bit of the basics is fine, but if one truly wants to use it to make a living and become an artifact refining master in the Immortal World, one cannot be found among a hundred cultivators.

Aside from Great Elder Xuanchen Zhenjun being proficient in artifact refining, the rest is Eldest Senior Brother Qin Zhao, who has been following the Great Elder to learn artifact refining for over ten years. His aptitude and talent are quite good, and he is currently able to refine entry-level second-grade magic treasures.

Xu Chen decided to visit Eldest Senior Brother to first get some basic knowledge about artifact refining, and then find some low-tier spirit materials to practice with slowly.

But before that, he must first get his hands on the two third-tier Demon Wolf fangs.

This type of spirit material is not easy to get; even a large immortal sect with deep pockets like Yuqing Hall finds third-tier and fourth-tier items very rare.

He does not want to wait until he has finally learned artifact refining, only to find the materials have been snatched by some senior brother, or even taken by the sect to trade for things with other sects.

Therefore, while borrowing the excuse of pill refining, Xu Chen asked Third Elder for the two Demon Wolf fangs. Although Third Elder was a bit puzzled, he did not refuse and gave them to him directly.

"These two fangs are of very good quality. Since you were the one who obtained them back then, no one will have anything to say if you take them back. However, this item is rare; if you cannot use it, do not waste it," Third Elder exhorted.

"Third Elder, rest assured. Disciple wants to learn some artifact refining techniques. These third-tier fangs have a thick aura, and disciple just wants to take them to perceive the aura fluctuations more, so as to match them with arrays. If I cannot use them, I will return them to you, Elder," Xu Chen said hurriedly, receiving the two heavy, blood-red fangs with great joy.

Third Elder's face twitched a few times, and he asked even more puzzledly, "You also want to learn artifact refining?"

Xu Chen laughed dryly and said, "Yes, disciple's flying sword is still the first-grade flying sword bestowed by Master back then. After going down the mountain several times to fight fiercely with soul beasts, it is already unusable. Look, it's all chipped!"

Xu Chen took out his flying sword and looked at the chipped, scarred appearance. Third Elder could not help but sigh and said, "This flying sword was bestowed to your Master by your Grandmaster. Counting it up, it's been nearly two hundred years; it is indeed about to be scrapped. Very well, I will go check the warehouse and replace it with a better one for you!"

"Third Elder, please also help disciple find a few more spirit materials to practice with!"

Xu Chen pushed his luck and shouted from behind. Not long after, Third Elder came out from the inner chamber warehouse, and with a wave of his hand, a flying sword and seven or eight types of spirit materials with rolling spirit energy landed in front of Xu Chen.

"Your talent for pill refining is good. In a few days, I will start teaching you how to refine second-grade spirit pills. Although artifact refining is also a profound skill, it is more cumbersome and complex than pill refining, and it consumes more time and energy. You cannot master both; you can only choose one to study deeply, otherwise, you will be mediocre in everything, which would be a waste of your talent. This is a second-grade flying sword I used back then. Although you have not yet reached the Zhenyuan Realm, your soul is strong and your origin energy is abundant, so you can use it. Take these ordinary first-tier spirit materials as well. Remember, pill refining is your main direction of study; you must not be distracted."

"Yes, disciple will keep Third Elder's teachings in mind!"

Xu Chen put away the flying sword and the pile of things, walked out of Third Elder's Danyuan with excitement, and then went to find Eldest Senior Brother with a grin from ear to ear.

Eldest Senior Brother Qin Zhao lives on the northwest side of Zhaoyang Peak, near the back mountain, which is where Great Elder Xuanchen Zhenjun practiced when he was young.

The courtyard is relatively large, and inside there are not only quiet rooms and bedrooms but also a dedicated artifact refining room.

Artifact refining is similar to the secular world's tool making; processing various different spirit materials requires various professional equipment and also a larger space, so this artifact refining room is actually a huge structure composed of seven or eight rooms.

Therefore, the Dao Courtyard where Eldest Senior Brother lives is the largest building complex in the Taiyuan Sect besides the main sect hall, much larger than Third Elder's Danyuan and warehouse combined.

It is scattered and stacked high and low, covering an area of more than ten mu.

Every day, Eldest Senior Brother is like a lonely ghost, either meditating and practicing Qi or drifting around inside. Every time Xu Chen comes, he always has the illusion of entering a haunted house.

Eldest Senior Brother is nearly forty years old, which is a standard middle-aged uncle in the secular world.

Although his cultivation at the Zhenyuan Realm middle stage makes him look very young in appearance—if he were washed clean, he would probably look like a young man in his twenties—due to year-round artifact refining and hammering spirit materials, he does not care about his appearance. His hair is messy and his beard is stubbly, making him look very sloppy, truly like a middle-aged uncle, without a shred of the dashing, elegant aura of an immortal.

When Xu Chen entered, Eldest Senior Brother was staring blankly at a palm-sized, crimson crystal stone.

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

"Eh, Junior Brother, aren't you following Third Elder to refine pills? How do you have time to come here?"

Eldest Senior Brother was slightly surprised.

Xu Chen laughed dryly and said, "I suddenly wanted to learn artifact refining recently, so I came to find Eldest Senior Brother to learn some simple artifact refining methods."

Eldest Senior Brother's face twitched a few times and he said, "What's there to learn about artifact refining? I advise you not to fall into the pit. I heard from Third Elder that your talent for pill refining is very good; don't join in the fun blindly. Haven't you heard that cultivation ruins three generations, and artifact refining ruins a whole life?"

Xu Chen opened his mouth wide for a long time before saying with a tangled face, "Eldest Senior Brother, is artifact refining really that miserable?"

Eldest Senior Brother nodded and said, "Otherwise? Look at my current appearance and you'll know. If you get stuck in it, you will become like me in the future, and Junior Sister will definitely not want you!"

Xu Chen immediately had a flushed face, laughed sheepishly, and stammered, "Eldest Senior Brother, don't talk nonsense. Thirteenth Senior Sister and I are absolutely pure; we just talk to each other on weekdays."

Eldest Senior Brother rolled his eyes and curled his lips, saying, "Who would believe that!"

Xu Chen silently glanced at Eldest Senior Brother's waist and said faintly, "Eldest Senior Brother, if you want to continue chatting about this, I'm going to get energized!"

Eldest Senior Brother's expression changed, and he hurriedly covered his storage bag, laughing dryly, "Junior Brother has a unique bone structure and extraordinary talent; you are suitable for pill refining, and of course, you are even more suitable for artifact refining. What do you want to learn today? Senior Brother will teach you until you learn it, and I will never hide anything."

Xu Chen immediately smiled all over his face and bowed in thanks, "Then Junior Brother will thank you first. Eldest Senior Brother, if you have any insights, experiences, or methods and techniques for artifact refining, I hope you will share them. In the future, if Eldest Senior Brother has any pill refining needs, Junior Brother will definitely help with all my might."

"Haha, that's good!" Eldest Senior Brother raised his hand and waved, and a pile of colorful Jade Slips floated in front of Xu Chen, saying happily:

"Junior Brother, these are all the insights and experiences Senior Brother has gained over the years in artifact refining, as well as some basic knowledge. Take them back and study them carefully; I believe you will be able to get started soon. However, I also happen to need Junior Brother's help with something right now."

Xu Chen smiled and tucked all the Jade Slips into his pocket, then bowed and said, "As long as it is within Junior Brother's power, I will definitely not refuse."

Eldest Senior Brother put away his smile and lowered his voice, "I heard that Seventh Senior Sister gave you the pill furnace that used to belong to Fourth Junior Brother?"

"Yes!" Xu Chen nodded.

"Hmm, then did Seventh Senior Sister tell you anything?"

"No, Seventh Senior Sister just told me to help her refine a batch of the spirit pills I used soul power to infuse into the pills last time."

"I see!" Eldest Senior Brother stroked his full beard and pondered.

"Eldest Senior Brother, why did you suddenly ask this?" Xu Chen asked curiously.

Eldest Senior Brother sighed and said, "Junior Brother, you do not know, but when Fourth Junior Brother went missing, it was because an accident occurred while he was out on an adventure with Seventh Junior Sister; the two of them fell into a strange Array, and Fourth Junior Brother sent Seventh Junior Sister out, but he himself was swept away by the Array and his whereabouts remain unknown."

Seventh Junior Sister has always believed that Fourth Junior Brother is not yet dead, and she wants to find him after she reaches Foundation Establishment, but Seventh Junior Sister's aptitude is slightly inferior, and Master said her Soul strength is insufficient to attempt Foundation Establishment, which is why she begged you like this, even giving Fourth Junior Brother's Pill Furnace to you.

However, Fourth Junior Brother has already been missing for eight years, and at the time, both of them were only in the middle to late stages of the Kaiyuan Realm; judging by the situation back then, Fourth Junior Brother should have perished long ago, and I am somewhat worried about her blindly begging for pills to improve her cultivation!"

Xu Chen hesitated for a moment and said, "Then what does Eldest Senior Brother mean..."

(End of this chapter)