Chapter 276: Wielding, The Sea-Splitting Black Whale (Part 2)

Chu Shan Xuan Kong invited me to a banquet?

Watching Wang Shan Xuan Ying leave after leaving the time and address, Li Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

His perception was sharp; even though Wang Shan Xuan Ying tried his best to hide it, Li Yuan vaguely sensed his unease and anxiety.

"Inviting me to a banquet..."

Closing the courtyard gate, Li Yuan paced in the snow, flipping through the Lingyin Lu to the red-marked section, feeling a chill in his heart.

The Dragon Chant Hall commands the Great Dragon Gate's intelligence network, assisting the sect internally and externally, as well as gathering and organizing intelligence for Mount Hengshan Dao City and its subordinate prefectures and provinces.

If the group contacting him truly belongs to the Xieshen Sect, or if they are seeking the Sea-Splitting Black Whale Hammer, then it is indeed somewhat dangerous...

"Regardless of whether it is or not, I must make the trip."

Li Yuan's heart remained cold.

The wind and snow in the courtyard grew heavier; Li Yuan swallowed a Jade Body Pill. The moist, water-like medicinal power nourished his tendons and bones, which had been savagely ravaged by the Jin Shendan, causing his entire body to relax.

"Hoo!"

"Haa!"

Relax, tense, relax, tense.

In the snow, Li Yuan circulated internal qi again and again, practicing various stance exercises. His control over his own physique had become extremely subtle; at the mere thought, his entire body's tendons and bones stretched and released like powerful bows.

His movements were not large, but the sounds emanating from within his body were like muffled thunder, and the wind and snow in the courtyard seemed to be stirred by an invisible giant hand.

During the ten-plus days waiting to forge the third Thunder Dragon Jun Tian Hammer, he had successively consumed two Jin Shendan and two Jade Body Pills.

Supported by the medicinal power of the spiritual pills, he practiced diligently; the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt reached perfection yesterday, and while the Dragon Zen Vajra Sutra had not yet reached great mastery, it was not far off.

With the support of the two Thunder Dragon Jun Tian Hammers, the progress of the Dragon-Tiger Hun Tian Hammer caught up with the Dragon Zen Vajra Sutra, crossing into great mastery first, allowing all kinds of killing moves and techniques to be executed with utmost fluency.

But the greatest progress was naturally in the Ten Thousand Blades Spiritual Dragon Body.

The Jin Shendan and Jade Body Pills were originally great pills for accelerating hard-body cultivation; combined, over the preceding ten-plus days, it had reached the fourth level, equivalent to the complete mastery of a superior secret hard-body technique.

"The fourth-level Ten Thousand Blades Spiritual Dragon Body can withstand the brief support of two Thunder Dragon Jun Tian Hammers; with three, it would be even briefer. As for the Sea-Splitting Black Whale Hammer..."

Li Yuan felt some anticipation, yet also some worry.

Wielding high-grade weapons carries the risk of backlash; however, he was well-prepared for this. Besides various spiritual incenses, he had also stocked healing spiritual pills. What he worried about was the support itself.

That was an eleventh-grade hammer.

"Hoo!"

Several hours later, Li Yuan finally slowly settled his stance. Outside the door, Liu Zheng, though late, had arrived.

"Brother Li."

Li Yuan pushed the door open; Liu Zheng pushed a cart, carried a hammer, and was covered in snow:

"I have not failed in my mission; the hammers are all gathered!"

"Good, thank you, Brother Liu!"

Li Yuan stepped forward to take the hammers, invited him inside, where a large pot of spiritual rice had already been simmering in the kitchen, along with several types of spiritual beast meat he had bought yesterday.

Over the preceding half-year, the expansion of the weapon forge, purchasing, recruitment of personnel, and forging of ironware were all handled by Liu Zheng and Wang Wang Peiyao.

Without the assistance of these two, how could he have safely gathered all six thousand standard hexagonal hammers while focusing on smithing and practicing martial arts?

"Then I shall trouble you."

Liu Zheng could not refuse such courtesy; he could only rub his hands, enter the kitchen, roll up his sleeves, and start stir-frying.

While Liu Zheng was cooking, Li Yuan moved the remaining dozens of hammers into the room, set up a table inside, took out the Hundred Herbs Brew, to reward Liu Zheng and also to reward himself.

Self-discipline is self-discipline; relaxation is relaxation.

A small banquet where both host and guest were thoroughly delighted.

The two chatted about recent events in Hengshan City and the Jianghu.

After eating and drinking their fill, Liu Zheng took his leave. Li Yuan watched him depart, closed the courtyard gate, and his heart began to beat rapidly uncontrollably.

"If I cannot wield the support of three divine hammers, then these hammers are truly impolite."

Gazing at the Black Whale Hammer glowing with a faint light on the gray stone platform, Daoist Li felt his temper had been tempered, or perhaps it was simply because he had been jumping around in frustration too many times before.

"Get to work, get to work!"

With the doors and windows locked tight, Li Yuan rubbed his hands together, made a slight preparation, entered the Weapon Wielding Space, and began the frantic weapon forging.

After the Lingyin Lu promoted to the third tier, he had not dared to attempt Lingyin again; he had saved all the incense, waiting for this very moment.

Voom~

Voom~

Voom~~

The gray stone platform was dim and shadowy; the Divine Fire Weapon Fusion Furnace flickered incessantly as the gold and silver Li Yuan had prepared, along with the pile of hexagonal hammers like a small mountain, vanished rapidly.

This weapon forging attempt, Li Yuan was even more cautious than the previous two; for this reason, he had even prepared some extra heavy hammers to increase the success rate.

After all, he now had only one seventh-grade incense remaining, and only three sixth-grade incenses; he must succeed in one go until the end.

"If the final attempt fails..."

This thought flashed through Li Yuan's mind; if that happened, he felt he would be jumping around and vomiting blood.

Fortunately, accompanied by a long, resonant hum, a faint Jin Guang appeared within the Divine Fire Weapon Fusion Furnace:

"It succeeded!"

Even Li Yuan, with his usual steadiness, could not help but clench his fists and let out a low roar at this moment.

Afterwards, without the slightest delay, he cut his palm to draw blood and activated the Hundred Beasts Thunder Dragon...

【Thunder Dragon Jun Tian Hammer (Seventh Grade)】

Only three seventh-grade incenses, and all three attempts succeeded!

In the room, Li Yuan barely held back the urge to throw his head back and roar: "This Daoist's fortune is at its peak!"

"Satisfying!"

Squeezing his palm, Li Yuan felt his hands and feet trembling; after years of preparation, the harvest had finally arrived, and naturally, his heart was filled with great excitement.

Yet amidst the excitement, he remained calm, harboring a slight worry.

There was no other reason: the Inner Gate of Longhu was shrouded by the Longhu Vitality Furnace; what if those two Heavenly Fortune Profound Weapons sensed his mastery?

"Better safe than sorry."

Li Yuan calmed down.

The rumor that "Li Li Yuanba is within Longhu Temple" was already widespread; if there truly was some kind of resonance, it would likely cause a huge commotion again.

"Hmm, I can go to the Outer Gate."

Li Yuan found a compromise.

There might be a top-tier expert of the Xieshen Sect, at the level of a Guardian or higher, within Hengshan City; he did not wish to encounter one at this moment.

"Hah!"

With a plan settled in his heart, Li Yuan adjusted his Daoist robe before the mirror, washed his hands, and then pushed the door open, walking at a leisurely pace through the wind and snow.

The wind and snow were heavy, like goose feathers; the Longhu mountain range was a vast expanse of white, devoid of human presence.

Strolling through the snow, Daoist Li felt no chill whatsoever; his heart burned hot, and gazing at the wind and snow in the mountains, he even felt an impulse to compose a poem.

"Junior Uncle Li."

"Is Junior Uncle leaving the mountain?"

The Inner Gate disciples guarding the mountain, undeterred by wind or rain, were still on duty; seeing that Li Yuan seemed to be in a good mood, they clasped their hands in greeting.

"Hmm, with nothing to do, I am going out to admire the snow."

The mountain forest wind and snow, usually seen as a matter of course, now possessed a different kind of beauty in Li Yuan's eyes.

He strolled down the mountain path, not venturing far, but simply finding a pavilion with few people to sit in, closing his eyes slightly.

On the gray stone platform, 【Divine Fire Ten Thousand Forging Hammer (Sixth Tier)】, 【Sinking Mountain Heavy Hammer (Fifth Tier)】, 【Six-Pronged Dragon Hammer (Fifth Tier)】, 【Six-Pronged Mixed Steel Hammer (Fourth Tier)】, and three Thunder Dragon Jun Heaven Hammers had already flown into the Weapon Command Talisman, which resembled a starry sky.

Buzz!

The instant the seven heavy hammers were bestowed, Li Yuan's will descended upon the Profound Whale Hammer; in the next instant, a tremendous roaring sound echoed in his ears and heart.

Boom!

Boom-boom-boom!

Standing tall atop the Inverted Mountain, Li Yuan's body, formed from the essence of the Profound Whale, flickered uncertainly, like a candle about to extinguish itself in a gale.

With the seven heavy hammers bestowed upon his body, he felt as though an invisible barrier had been broken.

He slowly raised his head, seeing only the clouds and mist surging on the Inverted Mountain; a nameless, colossal Profound Whale appeared and disappeared within them, and an endless desolation surged into his heart.

In that instant, he perceived the Rending Sea Profound Whale Hammer with unparalleled clarity; whether the latter was willing to reveal itself or not, it had to manifest before his eyes.

"As expected!"

In the wind of the Inverted Mountain, a smile appeared on Li Yuan's face, followed by a great laugh.

His communication with the Rending Sea Profound Whale Hammer had been limited, but after several exchanges, he had already realized that the spirit of this Profound Weapon was by no means as mysterious as the legends claimed.

It had a spirit, yet it was rigid.

In other words, although the spirit of the Profound Whale Hammer could resist him, once he reached the threshold of mastery, then, regardless of whether the hammer spirit was willing or not...

... it must appear!

"Aaaah!"

The Inverted Mountain roared and trembled; Li Yuan seemed to hear the dissatisfied and stifled snort of the Profound Whale, as if this Profound Whale Mi Jing was about to collapse and shatter.

Before his eyes, the black light was blindingly brilliant.

【Rending Sea Profound Whale Hammer (Eleventh Tier)】

【... Forged with the Rending Sea Star Core and the Void Sea Profound Whale as the main components, mixed with the essence of ten thousand divine metals, subjected to the Nine Heavens Starfire and the baptism of Lei Hai... thus formed, it received the baptism of Divine Fire in the Eight Temples, giving birth to its spirit...】

... Thus, the Spirit of the Profound Whale...???...】

【Mastery Condition One: Perfection in a Supreme Hammer Art, Body of Hundred Forms, Form of Hundred Forms】

【The Hammer of the Profound Whale can now be mastered】

【Mastery Condition Two:???】

【Mastery Effect One: Eleventh Tier (Black): Hammer Art Talent, Physical Body Talent, Cultivation Talent, Power of Moving Stars】

【Mastery Effect Two:???】

"Finally!"

Feeling the information contained within the black light, Li Yuan felt extremely gratified; he did not bother to ponder these details carefully, but simply listened to the Profound Whale's snorts, each one louder than the last.

Before him, that stone tablet trembled violently; the characters upon it flowed incessantly like a waterfall; this was the anger of the Profound Whale Hammer Spirit:

【No... not him... do not choose... do not choose him!】

"Profound Weapons choose their masters."

The Profound Whale Hammer Spirit seemed very angry; Li Yuan suddenly understood the principle of a Profound Weapon accepting a master: one's talent and bone structure must be sufficient, but the hammer spirit's approval is equally important.

For this reason, there exists the saying in the Jianghu that Profound Weapons have spirits and cannot be seen by those without a connection.

But...

"You do not choose me?"

Li Yuan reached out; as his five fingers slowly closed, a crimson, jade-like hand hammer was clenched in his palm:

"This Daoist will do it himself!"

Crack!

Under the violent shaking, a fearsome crack split open in the Inverted Mountain.

Li Yuan looked up; the furious roar of the Profound Whale within the sea of clouds, as if responding to a call, let out a mournful cry before being dragged from the clouds and absorbed into the crimson, jade-like Profound Whale Hammer.

Buzz~

The Profound Whale Hammer struggled violently.

Li Yuan clenched it for a while, then simply let go; the hammer within the Profound Whale Mi Jing was merely a manifestation of the Hammer Spirit, and whether he held it or not did not affect his becoming the Lord of the Profound Whale.

He was currently examining the control effects of the Sea-Splitting Profound Whale Hammer.

【Control Effect One: Tier Eleven (Profound Color): Hammer Technique Talent, Physical Body Talent, Cultivation Talent, Star-Moving Power】

【Hammer Technique Talent (Tier Eleven): With talent reaching this level, there is no equal within the universe! Among all hammers in the world, none cannot be controlled, none cannot be used; any hammer technique, touched, is instantly mastered, and one can even surpass predecessors, bringing forth the new through the old】

【Physical Body Talent (Tier Eleven): For one who uses the Star Core as a hammer, the physique is peerless...】

【Cultivation Talent (Tier Eleven): Master one path, understand all others; any Wu Gong can be picked up extremely quickly, fierce as a god】

【Star-Moving Power (Tier Eleven): For one who uses the Star Core as a hammer, the talent grants peerless divine strength! The limit of strength can lightly move stars and the moon】

Four talents, all of Profound Color; any single one is the peak among peaks, one being equivalent to eighty-one Tier Seven Divine Weapon-level control effects!

"I've struck it rich!"

Li Yuan's heart pounded wildly, but after only a cursory glance, the body formed from his Profound Whale Qi had already collapsed, this stemming from the struggle of the Profound Whale Hammer Spirit.

Wuu~

In the next instant, Li Yuan had already exited the Profound Whale Mi Jing.

On the gray stone platform, the exquisite hand hammer, resembling jade, blazed with intense light; under its illumination, the various weapons on the stone platform were pushed to the corners.

"Still struggling? So stubborn, are you a donkey?"

Li Yuan could feel the Profound Whale Hammer's struggle and felt somewhat speechless; this hammer was truly out of touch with the times.

Through the hammer body, he could see the stone tablet on the Inverted Mountain, where the characters were flashing wildly, chaotic and disordered.

Like a child whose tanghulu had been snatched away, jumping in anger, cursing, struggling, extremely resistant, and refusing to cooperate.

"No wonder the rumors in the Jianghu say that a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing chooses its master; if it does not choose, even if the talent is sufficient, forcing recognition as master might cause some hindrance when activating it?"

The Profound Whale Hammer Spirit's resistance was fierce, yet it did not affect Li Yuan's excellent mood.

He possessed the Weapon Control Talisman; whether this hammer hindered or struggled was meaningless to him; he could not possibly use this hammer to deceive others, so naturally, he intended to control it.

Li Yuan opened his eyes; no one was around the pavilion, but he naturally could not perform the control here, so he walked a few steps and went to Fang Fang Yunxiu's residence.

The outer disciple quarters were also quite large; Fang Fang Yunxiu was often absent. Li Yuan naturally pushed the door open, sensed the surroundings slightly, and after finding nothing unusual, he closed the doors and windows.

"A Tier Eleven hammer..."

Li Yuan's heart, beating like a drum, had not yet calmed; he was somewhat impatient, yet he still took out the prepared spiritual incense and spiritual pills; before the control, he had to make preparations.

"Hoo!"

. ttkΛn. c〇

Lighting the spiritual incense, holding the spiritual pill, a healing pill, Li Yuan stepped out of the Dragon Zen Stance, mobilized the qi and blood and internal force throughout his body, and only then began to sense the Sea-Splitting Profound Whale Hammer.

After merely sensing it slightly, he tossed the crimson hand hammer toward the Weapon Control Star Map,

replacing the 【Hexagonal Mixed-Steel Hammer (Tier Four)】:

"Control, Sea-Splitting Profound Whale!"

Boom!

Li Yuan, who felt as if facing a great enemy, heard a tremendous roar; with just that single sound, he felt he had seen the Ancestor!

How could it be merely fierce?

In the instant of control, Li Yuan felt he had 'burst apart', blown up by an overwhelming, unstoppable aura.

"Too fierce, too fierce!"

Even with prior preparation, Li Yuan was drenched in sweat; he swallowed a handful of pills in one go and frantically practiced various stances...

Over and over again...

After an unknown amount of time, Li Yuan, lying on the ground sprawled out, slowly came to his senses; he extended his palm, his eyes surging with indescribable brilliance.

At this moment, a thought arose in his heart.

If there were a ring in the sky, he could pull the heavens down!