Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 461: Chapter 461: Refining Treasures

’Leave the pass...’

His Divine Sense swept over the mountains beyond the pass. Although he couldn’t be certain if that old baldy was still lying in wait, given the stubborn nature of Buddhist Sect cultivators, a decade was merely the blink of an eye for a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

’Leaving the pass rashly would be no different from walking right into a trap.’

A cold glint flashed in Xu Yunfan’s eyes.

He was all too familiar with the ways of these baldies. They appeared compassionate, but in reality, they were relentlessly persistent.

If he were to take even half a step out of Cold Crow Pass now, he would likely be ambushed instantly.

’The moment I set foot outside the pass...’

He could almost picture the scene: a sky shrouded in Buddha Light as Buddhist Magical Artifacts like the Vajra Pestle and the Demon-Slaying Pestle tore through the air toward him.

Those baldies had probably already laid a Heaven and Earth Net, just waiting for him to walk right into it.

’I can’t risk it...’

Xu Yunfan withdrew his Divine Sense. His knuckles tapped lightly against the table as he made up his mind.

The path of Cultivation was long; there was no need to place himself in peril out of momentary impatience.

After all, he still had plenty of life left and could afford to bide his time.

The Dragon-Subduing Arhat, in contrast, had been famous for nearly three hundred years according to the information he’d gathered. His life must be nearing its end. Rather than risk leaving the pass, it would be better to use this opportunity to focus on Artifact Refining.

Either way, the old baldy would be the first to run out of time.

Now that his Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture had reached Minor Achievement, he could refine a few Magical Treasures using the resources within Cold Crow Pass.

After all, according to Daoist Master Hundred Peaks, Cold Crow Pass was one of the few vents from which Innate Pure and Muddy Qi gushed forth. A great change was bound to occur within sixty years. When that time came, if he gathered it all and presented it to True Monarch Qing Yuan, he would surely receive a handsome reward. He might even be able to obtain the Qi of Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends from the True Monarch and take the next step forward.

So, there was no need to be so anxious.

’The advantage is mine.’

「For the next ten years.」

Xu Yunfan sat cross-legged in the depths of his cave residence, Evil Qi surging around him. The Yin Turbid Qi, accumulated over many years within Cold Crow Pass, circulated through the meticulously arranged Gathering Yin Array, transforming into pure Spiritual Power that poured ceaselessly into the Artifact Refining Furnace before him.

’My Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture has reached Minor Achievement. Artifact Refining isn’t much of a challenge for me now.’

Xu Yunfan gazed at the dancing Eight Sceneries Spirit Flame within the Artifact Refining Furnace, a plan already forming in his mind.

The Dao of Artifact Refining emphasized the harmony between materials and method.

The quality of the materials determined a Magical Treasure’s foundation, while the refining technique dictated its ultimate might.

Now that his *Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture* had reached the Minor Achievement Realm, he had a crystal-clear understanding of this Artifact Refining Technique thanks to his Attribute Panel. Refining ordinary Magical Treasures was now a seamless process.

’At the Minor Achievement Realm, I can refine Magical Treasures. If I reach Great Success, my creations will be even more perfect and flawless...’

He tapped the furnace fire lightly with a fingertip, and the eight-colored Spirit Flame flowed and shifted at his will.

Although he had yet to reach the Great Success Realm, with the Spiritual Materials he had gathered in Cold Crow Pass and the unique quenching methods of the Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining technique, he had enough to refine Magical Treasures suited for the three-headed, six-armed manifestation of his Divine Martial Dao Foundation.

As for higher-level Spiritual Treasures, or even Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures, those required more profound Artifact Refining Mastery and the support of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, so there was no need to rush.

’What I have is good enough for now.’

Xu Yunfan reined in his thoughts and immersed his Divine Sense in the furnace.

Artifact Refining was like Cultivation; being too greedy or striving for absolute perfection could easily create obstacles.

For now, he would first forge suitable Magical Treasures with the materials on hand. It wouldn’t be too late to pursue a higher Realm of Artifact Refining in the future, when his own Realm had increased and his resources were more abundant.

You couldn’t get fat from a single bite.

Even with the help of his Attribute Panel, he could only progress step by step.

With a flicker in his eyes, he tapped a fingertip, and the flame within the furnace suddenly surged, transforming into eight Spirit Flames of different colors that coiled around the Furnace Cauldron.

This was the unique aspect of the *Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture*.

It used the Eight Sceneries to refine the heavens, transforming the Spiritual Mechanism of Heaven and Earth into a refining fire. Each ray of flame corresponded to a Power of Origin in the world, capable of smelting all things and quenching their essence.

When the Divine Martial Dao Foundation manifested its three-headed, six-armed form, it would be impossible to unleash its full power without a set of suitable Magical Treasures for its six arms.

After all, he had learned from the records of the Primordial Sect that when the Divine Martial Daoist Master of old unleashed his Divine Martial Dao Foundation, all six of his arms could strike at once, allowing him to contend directly with the Sword Cultivators of the Wansheng Sword Sect—specialists in the Slaughter Sword Dao—without losing ground.

This was precisely the kind of power Xu Yunfan sought. Now that his Divine Martial Dao Foundation was established, he naturally had to follow the example of his predecessor and use the Martial Dao to prove his path.

’Divine Martial Daoist Master, you may rest in peace. I will naturally carry on your will and use the True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture to attain a Golden Core Fruit Position.’

Xu Yunfan sighed with mock solemnity. Sometimes, you had to find a righteous justification for yourself. Only then could you raise your spirits and act with complete conviction.

With a single thought, piece after piece of rare material flew out from his Storage Bag.

Spiritual Ores, Demon Bones, and Evil Crystals he had collected from the Cold Crow Pass Market over the years, and even a few damaged Magical Artifacts he had traded from Loose Cultivators—he tossed them all into the furnace.

"Rise!"

He formed a Two-Handed Seal, and his Divine Sense surged into the furnace like a tide. Every wisp of his Divine Thought precisely controlled the smelting, purification, and recombination of the materials.

Xu Yunfan then integrated the essence of the Celestial Craft Forging Technique into his Artifact Refining process.

This Forging Skill was a legacy from the Divine Martial Realm. While not as profound as an Immortal Dao Refining Method, its strength lay in its solid foundation.

Its most unique feature was the ability to custom-forge items based on a Cultivator’s specific traits. It could be used to conventionally hammer out standard-issue Magical Treasures, or to creatively bring unique designs to life.

After all, its ingenious mechanisms were something not found in the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm.

The Spirit Flame churned in the furnace. Under the quenching heat of the Eight Sceneries Fire, the materials rapidly melted. Impurities were incinerated, leaving only the purest essences behind.

Without blinking, Xu Yunfan drew his fingertip through the air, branding one Rune after another onto the molten materials and causing them to gradually take shape.

Even though this was his first time refining an artifact, with the aid of the Attribute Panel, all the crucial aspects of Artifact Refining from the Minor Achievement Realm of the *Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture* were already deeply ingrained in his mind.

His ten fingers danced like butterflies as he precisely cast one Spell after another into the furnace. The Eight Sceneries Cloud Qi swirled at his will, drawing out all the Essence Qi from the various Spiritual Materials.

He refined it for a full forty-nine days.

With a low cry, black light erupted from the furnace. A long halberd, pitch-black and wreathed in Yin Evil Qi, slowly took shape.

The tip of the halberd was like a dragon’s fang, and its shaft was inscribed with arcane patterns. It had been quenched with the unique Yin Evil Qi of Cold Crow Pass. Once activated, its Evil Qi would surge like a tide, capable of corroding an enemy’s Magical Power and Magical Treasures. It was an exceedingly deadly weapon.

"Profound Evil Heavy Halberd!"

’You have successfully refined a Lower Grade Magical Treasure. Your Skill Level in the Profound Capital Eight Sceneries Celestial Refining Creation Cloud Scripture has increased.’

’Your Celestial Craft Forging Technique has received a massive Skill Level increase.’

’Your Celestial Craft Forging Technique has reached Perfection.’

Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but marvel as he felt the essentials of forging surge through his Sea of Consciousness.

In the Divine Martial Realm, the Celestial Craft Forging Technique was definitely considered a top-tier Secret Technique, one that combined the arts of Forged Soldiers and mechanisms. Yet now, simply by successfully refining a single Magical Treasure, he had managed to push it to Perfection.

’It’s a bit of a low-tier technique, then.’

The essential knowledge of Forged Soldiers and mechanism design, an inheritance that came naturally with the Perfection of the Celestial Craft Forging Technique, now swirled in his mind and was rapidly absorbed.

He stared at the Profound Evil Heavy Halberd in his hand. As the Yin Evil Qi flowed along its shaft, he suddenly perceived several subtle flaws.

"I see..."

He gently caressed the halberd’s blade with a fingertip. The Eight Sceneries Spirit Flame flickered within the weapon’s patterned channels.

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