"Mm. It is indeed the Sword-Nurturing Gourd."

Elder Tianxu nodded and said, "However, the quality of this Sword-Nurturing Gourd is truly a little too low. Fine, I will personally refine it for you. Consider this the sect’s reward."

As soon as his voice fell, he suddenly grabbed with his large hand. The Sword-Nurturing Gourd immediately flew out of Li Yun’s grasp, transformed into a streak of yellow light, and landed in Elder Tianxu’s hand.

"Eight Trigrams open heaven. Li-Li Profound Fire. Fire refines all things. Yin and yang embrace and clash."

His figure suddenly stood up. With both hands, he grabbed toward the magma lake, and boundless flames were instantly seized by him. As his palms spread apart, the endless flames quickly flowed toward the Sword-Nurturing Gourd.

In an instant, the Sword-Nurturing Gourd was enveloped by flames.

Endless fire formed strange patterns around its surface. Gradually, its dull exterior became increasingly lustrous, radiating brilliant light. The entire gourd also transformed from earthy yellow to azure, becoming filled with spiritual qi and no longer appearing like an ordinary object.

After Elder Tianxu’s simple refinement, the Sword-Nurturing Gourd had been elevated by several levels and reached the equivalent of a high-grade Heaven Rank spirit treasure.

’Elder Tianxu’s artifact refining skill is truly powerful.’

Li Yun could not help nodding slightly, and admiration filled his heart.

To so easily elevate the Sword-Nurturing Gourd to this level, Elder Tianxu’s artifact refining skill was truly ingenious. He had likely already glimpsed the level of an eighth-grade artifact refiner, or perhaps he had even reached it outright.

One had to know that as long as someone reached the level of a seventh-grade artifact refiner, they would be valued throughout the entire Central Mainland. As for an eighth-grade artifact refiner, they would be treated as an honored guest by any force in the Central Mainland.

Even an existence like the Profound Origin Immortal Sect would never look down on an eighth-grade artifact refiner. On the contrary, it would use various methods to win over an artifact refiner of that level.

According to rumors, among the five hall masters, Elder Tianxu was said to be the weakest. However, judging from what Li Yun had seen now, that rumor was completely inconsistent with reality.

How could a suspected eighth-grade artifact refiner possibly be ranked last among the five hall masters?

That was simply impossible.

"Alright."

After refining the Sword-Nurturing Gourd, Elder Tianxu did not seem drained at all. His face was not flushed, and his breathing remained calm. With a casual wave of his hand, the Sword-Nurturing Gourd flew back and landed directly in Li Yun’s hand.

He waved his hand and said calmly, "According to the sect’s intelligence, besides the Sword-Nurturing Gourd, you should also have a sword formation. Since I have already done a good deed, I might as well see it through to the end. Take out the sword formation you have with you."

"This..."

Li Yun was stunned for a moment, then immediately felt overjoyed. Without putting on any polite formalities before Elder Tianxu, he directly took out all three hundred and fifty-six precious swords.

"These swords are not bad, but their refinement is too crude."

Elder Tianxu glanced at them casually. Then, with a grab of his large hand, all three hundred and fifty-six precious swords flew up at the same time. Their tips pointed downward as they plunged straight into the magma lake.

After that, he formed a series of hand seals with both hands, and endless flames surged upward, condensing into pillars of fire.

Those pillars of fire were arranged in a mysterious manner, containing the power of a grand formation. Under the pull of this formation, countless flames surged toward the precious swords.

One hour later, all three hundred and fifty-six precious swords had remarkably advanced to low-grade Heaven Rank.

"Thank you, Elder."

Retrieving the precious swords, Li Yun bowed sincerely to Elder Tianxu with gratitude in his heart.

Raising all three hundred and fifty-six precious swords to low-grade Heaven Rank might look like only a single level of improvement, but for Li Yun, who had mastered the Soul Sword Control Art, the increase in his strength was far more than a single level.

The same sword technique, when executed with the same number of top-grade Earth Rank precious swords and low-grade Heaven Rank precious swords, would naturally display completely different power.

"No need. It is only a small matter."

Elder Tianxu waved his hand and smiled faintly. "Li Yun, in truth, I helped you refine these precious swords because there is indeed something I need your help with."

"Please speak, Elder."

Li Yun replied without any hesitation.

"Not long ago, I accepted a personal disciple named Shen Cang."

Elder Tianxu began, "If I remember correctly, he is like you and also comes from Southern Martial Domain. Your relationship with him is quite good, correct?"

"Shen Cang?"

Li Yun was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Yes, that is correct."

Shen Cang, like Li Yun, also came from Southern Martial Domain. However, during the entrance assessment, he had caught Elder Tianxu’s eye and became his disciple. Since then, the two of them had not been in contact.

"This disciple of mine has truly astonishing talent in artifact refining. It can even be said to be the best I have ever seen in my life."

When speaking of Shen Cang, Elder Tianxu could not help revealing a smile. "Over the years, I have accepted several disciples, but in terms of talent, none of them can compare to even one-tenth of him. In less than a year, this kid Shen Cang has already become a top-tier sixth-grade artifact refiner."

"Not only that, he also cultivates a special cultivation technique that refines his own body as a treasure. Because of this, his cultivation progress has been extremely rapid, and he has already reached the peak of Earthly Core Realm. He is now ranked alongside you on the Earth Ranking, exactly one place below you, at one hundredth."

"The peak of Earthly Core Realm?"

Hearing Elder Tianxu’s account, Li Yun could not help feeling shocked.

Unexpectedly, among the five people from Southern Martial Domain, the one who had obtained the deepest opportunity and improved the fastest was actually Shen Cang. He had already reached the peak of Earthly Core Realm.

However, this cultivation method had both advantages and disadvantages. Refining one’s own body as a treasure would naturally lead to rapid progress in the early stages, but the further one cultivated, the slower the method would become.

Especially after the Spirit Manifestation Realm, every step of improvement would require far more effort than ordinary cultivators.

Regardless, Li Yun still felt happy for Shen Cang. After all, they came from the same place, so they naturally felt somewhat closer to each other.

"However, although this kid Shen Cang has advanced in realm, his combat ability is still lacking."

Elder Tianxu shook his head and continued, "Although he is now ranked one hundredth on the Earth Ranking, in reality, that ranking relies heavily on the various treasures he has refined. His true combat ability is quite ordinary. He can deal with ordinary people, but against opponents with real combat experience, he will likely be at a disadvantage."

Elder Tianxu added, "According to the sect’s arrangements, one month from now, all disciples who have reached the peak of Earthly Core Realm or above will go to the Floating Island for training. I hope that when the time comes, you will take good care of Shen Cang and make sure he does not run into any accidents."

"Floating Island?"

Li Yun was stunned again.

He had never heard of this place.

"Li Yun, the Floating Island is a good place."

Zi Donglai, who had been standing nearby, spoke up. "If not for the imminent emergence of the Ironblood Sect, our Seven Great Sects would not have decided to open the Floating Island. At that time, there will not only be cultivators from our Heavenly Sword Sect on the Floating Island, but also people from the other six great sects, as well as various medium and small forces and loose cultivators. Many cultivators at the peak of Earthly Core Realm or above will head there."

"Similarly, only cultivators below the Heavenly Core Realm can enter. Compared to the Lost Ancient City, the Floating Island will have higher-level experts, and the competition will be even fiercer. By then, almost all the top-ranked experts on the Earth Ranking will appear. Jian Wuhen from our Heavenly Sword Sect will go, and likewise, Feng Qingxiao, ranked first on the Earth Ranking, will also be there."

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