Chapter 266: The First Time Refining Tools
Master Zhuhuo was known for her straightforward personality, spouting whatever popped into her head without a second thought. If she liked something, she made it known—no hiding or subtlety here!
Faced with Master Zhuhuo’s unabashed affection, Yun Zhonghe couldn’t help but blush. He humbly replied, “Thank you for your kind words, Master, but our cultivation levels are still quite shallow. We can’t dare to have any lofty aspirations… However, if you don’t mind, we would love to frequent your Forge Peak in the future and learn more about the art of refining tools from you.”
Joining Forge Peak might be a good choice for Su Xiaoxiao, but Yun Zhonghe felt it was a bit premature.
Su Xiaoxiao needed to focus on raising her cultivation level and battle prowess to close the gap with Huang Aotian. Otherwise, they might never get to team up in the future!
If she joined Forge Peak, she’d probably be roped into refining tools every day, leaving no time for actual cultivation.
This didn’t align with Yun Zhonghe’s vision for Su Xiaoxiao’s growth; refining was just a minor side gig!
Seeing Yun Zhonghe’s hesitance, Master Zhuhuo didn’t push, saying, “Alright then, if you’re interested, feel free to come find me at Forge Peak anytime.”
Yun Zhonghe cautiously asked, “So, about our refining cauldron…”
“Come pick it up three days later.”
“Thank you, Master!” both Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed in unison.
…
Three days sped by in the blink of an eye.
Yun Zhonghe led Su Xiaoxiao back to Forge Peak.
Master Zhuhuo had been waiting for them and handed over a heavy refining cauldron.
The cauldron had a unique design, combining the traditional steady and grand style of refining tools with the rounded and harmonious essence of a pill furnace. The two styles blended perfectly, creating an indescribable artistic beauty, and the surface was adorned with intricate, mysterious patterns.
The cauldron stood over two meters tall and was incredibly heavy. Yun Zhonghe had to put in considerable effort just to move it, which spoke volumes about its weight! Honestly, it could double as a weapon in battle!
If it were used to bash someone during a fight, even a Golden Core Cultivator might not survive the impact intact.
One good whack, and it would leave a trail of bleeding and bruised victims.
Su Xiaoxiao was ecstatic, her eyes sparkling with delight. She cautiously reached out to touch the warm surface of the cauldron, and a wave of warm and vibrant energy surged into her, making her bl**d boil with excitement.
This was her very first magical item!
While she admired her new cauldron, Master Zhuhuo chimed in: “This cauldron is called ‘Xuanwu.’ It’s made from a piece of Xuangui rock I’ve meticulously chosen over ten thousand years, refined countless times to achieve this treasure. It might just be a low-tier magic item for now, but with a little innovation, I’ve equipped it with dual functions. One cauldron, two uses!”
As Master Zhuhuo pointed out, Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao noticed two material inlets on either side of the cauldron—one resembling the mouth of a dignified Xuan Turtle and the other like the cunning kiss of a martial snake.
“Put your materials in the Xuan Turtle mouth for refining tools, and in the martial snake mouth for alchemy! I see you both have Wood and Fire spiritual roots, with your Wood root being particularly strong. This gives you a wonderful edge for alchemy, so I made these small innovations to fulfill your dual needs!” Master Zhuhuo’s smile radiated pride as she spoke of her design.
She had always followed ancient methods for tools, and after Yun Zhonghe opened her eyes to the endless possibilities of refining, she felt a spark reignite her passion.
These three days spent refining were the happiest she’d had in nearly thirty years, reminiscent of her youth—back when she learned from her master and delighted in acquiring new knowledge.
When Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao gratefully accepted the incredible cauldron, the appreciation in their hearts was palpable: “Thank you, Master!”
Master Zhuhuo waved her hand dismissively, beaming, “It’s a small matter, nothing to worry about. If you ever discover something new, be sure to bring it to me; I’d love to see it!”
With that, she pulled out an old and tattered refining manual and gifted it to Su Xiaoxiao.
“This is a refining manual I obtained in my youth. Study hard, and if one day you want to leave the Outer Gate, you can always come find me.”
Master Zhuhuo’s words made Su Xiaoxiao feel an unexpected warmth and closeness.
“Thank you, Master!”
“Mm!”
Master Zhuhuo smiled as she saw Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao off from the peak.
Truth be told, Master Zhuhuo was quite adorable, modest in her approach, a stark contrast to the lofty demeanor of Master Youyue.
Master Youyue felt like an unapproachable celestial fairy from the moon palace, cool and distant, instilling respect and awe.
Back at the Outer Gate, Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao didn’t rush back to their respective homes.
They headed straight for the Outer Gate’s hall to rent a workspace.
The space was vast and offered excellent privacy, ideal for disciples to practice hidden techniques and conduct secret training. Its structure was exceptionally sturdy; even a full-force strike from a Golden Core Cultivator wouldn’t shake it, ensuring safety during the refining process.
Upon renting the space, Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao got ready to start refining!
Both had undergone the most basic and traditional refining training available at the Outer Gate.
Refining theory was quite simple, but experience and skill were key! Even a Transformation God couldn’t craft a basic magic item without hands-on experience.
“Speaking of which, what did Master Zhuhuo give you?”
Su Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered and hurriedly pulled out the yellowing manual to show Yun Zhonghe.
After all, with someone as prominent as Master Zhuhuo, it felt a bit disrespectful to flip through her gift in front of her. So, she had completely forgotten to check the manual after they left!
They sat together in the center of the space and began to flip through it.
“This is… ‘bl**d Essence Refining Method’!” Yun Zhonghe exclaimed, surprise lacing his voice.
He had heard of this method—a technique of refining tools using bl**d essence. By injecting this bl**d power into materials, it awakened their potential to reach the pinnacle of refining. It sounded rather gruesome!
Using bl**d essence to refine tools could lead to severe consequences—if someone wasn’t careful, they might injure their own fundamental roots. If the bl**d essence ran dry, the lighter consequence would be damage to their cultivation, while heavier ones could mean sudden d*ath.
The cost was enormous, but the resulting enhancement was tremendous!
Using the same materials for refining, bl**d essence techniques worked faster and produced final magical items exceeding the original tier, elevating to an entirely new height.
However, given its somewhat demonic aura, the bl**d essence refining method sparked controversy in the cultivation realm. Refiners could not only use their own bl**d but could also forcibly extract others’ bl**d for refining.
It was rumored that a master refiner once drained a Yuan Ying demon cultivator of all their bl**d to create a powerful high-tier magical item.
Of course, the circumstances were that the demon cultivator had launched a surprise attack, leading to the refiner’s counterattack. So, no one had really spoken out against it in the cultivation world.
On an ordinary basis, this refining method wasn’t particularly well-received.
To curb the practice, the Immortal Alliance introduced strict laws stating that bl**d essence refining could only utilize the refiner’s own bl**d, banning all forms of extraction or use of another’s bl**d.
This legislation allowed bl**d essence refining to exist and develop within legal constraints.
Yet, despite the laws, most refiners still approached bl**d essence techniques cautiously due to the high risk, which could lead to irreversible harm.
“Perhaps Master Zhuhuo saw your vibrant life force and decided to pass this method down to you,” Yun Zhonghe deduced, gazing thoughtfully.
With her strong life force, Su Xiaoxiao was unlikely to be in immediate danger unless she completely drained her bl**d—but still, she was a kind-hearted person who feared trouble. Receiving such an unconventional manual left her feeling a bit lost.
“Yun, should I really learn this?” Su Xiaoxiao hesitantly asked, looking apprehensive.
“Keep it! It won’t hurt to read it; since it’s legal, there’s no need to worry—as long as you don’t misuse it,” Yun Zhonghe reassured her.
His words served as a calming balm for Su Xiaoxiao’s anxiety, gradually easing her worries.
Nodding, she resolved to keep the manual safe and wait for the right time to decide.
“Let’s not overthink it! Let’s start practicing refining the traditional way—anything will do!” Yun Zhonghe suggested, pulling out some shiny black Xuan Iron from his storage ring and laying it in the center of the space. “Just try making something; it’s all about finding your rhythm.”
He wasn’t stingy with the Xuan Iron; he generously offered it for Su Xiaoxiao’s practice.
Yun Zhonghe wasn’t worried about waste. Even if their final product was less than stellar, his Xue Yunjian could absorb it, serving as nourishment for its growth.
It seemed the sword sensed Yun Zhonghe’s thoughts and quivered indignantly: 【I am NOT a trash compactor!】
Yun Zhonghe ignored it.
This time, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t hesitate. She cheerfully accepted the Xuan Iron from him.
She owed Yun Zhonghe too much already; the debt was far from repaid, so what did it matter if she incurred a little more?
Besides, she was practically part of the Yun family now.
Exactly!
No more second-guessing.
Taking a deep breath, Su Xiaoxiao activated her almost never-used Fire spiritual root, trying to conjure her spiritual fire.
Although her Fire root wasn’t particularly strong, with the aid of her Wood root, she barely managed to create a wisp of weak spiritual fire.
That flicker, while small, was hot enough with the cauldron’s enhancements to meet the initial refining needs. The cauldron’s primary purpose was to raise the spiritual fire temperature, enabling the refiner to control the heat precisely.
If the refiner could master their spiritual fire’s intensity, they could forge various magical items simply through sheer willpower, even without a cauldron.
This time, Yun Zhonghe and Su Xiaoxiao decided to start with the simplest weapon to craft.
They planned to create a straightforward iron sword—nothing too fancy, not even a magic item; the only requirements were sturdiness and sharpness without needing to consider complex properties or the flow of spiritual energy.
In the mundane world, such a weapon was in high demand.
Using minimal materials and with low cost meant that any mistakes during forging wouldn’t result in significant waste.
Plus, considering Su Xiaoxiao’s unfortunate luck, they might face a series of crafting failures, but Yun Zhonghe was prepared for that. He could shoulder any resulting costs.
Under Yun Zhonghe’s watchful eyes, Su Xiaoxiao picked up a piece of Xuan Iron and embarked on her forging journey.
The hammer in her hand was a fine gift from Master Zhuhuo—heavy and solid.
Bam! Bam! Bong!
The sounds of hammering echoed through the space.
Su Xiaoxiao immersed herself in the forge.
Though she seemed delicate, her physical strength was impressive. Coupled with all the courses she’d attended with Yun Zhonghe, she had filled in many foundational gaps, giving her a decent base for forging now.
Typically, crafting a simple weapon like this shouldn’t be too taxing for her…
But if luck had a say, things would go awry.
Sure enough, while she had intended to forge a perfectly normal iron sword, the result inexplicably morphed into a bizarre shape.
What started as a basic sword twisted and turned into the form of a ‘O棒’ after quenching!
While Yun Zhonghe had mentally prepared for Su Xiaoxiao’s probable failure, the absurdity of this outcome exceeded his expectations. He hadn’t imagined she’d mess up this badly.
The weapon had turned into… a what now!?
Su Xiaoxiao’s expression turned awkward, her cheeks flushed a bright red, as if caught in a fiery cloud at her blunder. She had never thought she’d create such an embarrassing object—it left her utterly humiliated.
Just as Yun Zhonghe anticipated she might get downcast, he was surprised to see her quickly steel herself and dive back into refining.
“Yun, I want to try again!”
A determination flashed across her face, leaving Yun Zhonghe profoundly moved and filled with respect.
Su Xiaoxiao had really changed so much!
Reflecting on their first meeting, she had been insecure and shy, always looking to avoid confrontation.
Now, she was becoming stronger, able to interact with others normally, and when facing failure, she was quick to bounce back instead of giving up.
Even without considering her status as the main character, this growth was praiseworthy in itself.
Yun Zhonghe couldn’t shake off the feeling of being a proud ‘father’ figure.
【Huh? What’s this fun thing? Feels great! Let me have a little playtime~~~ Oh~~~ this feels awesome!】
As Yun Zhonghe basked in a wave of self-satisfaction, the dreadful sound of Xue Yunjian echoed in his mind, dousing his enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water.
This little brat—what a lost cause.
It felt like a bucket of ice water was thrown on his fire of excitement.
Xue Yunjian sneakily absorbed the bizarre-shaped weapon that had just been forged.
Xue Yunjian: 【Master, this thing… is surprisingly nice! I can feel my growth speeding up from it—so much better than just absorbing Xuan Iron! Bring me more!】
Her voice brimmed with glee and eagerness, as if she had discovered a treasure trove of ultimate joy.
Wasn’t this the same sword that had claimed it wasn’t a garbage disposal?!
