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"Follow me," Liu Rumeng said with a smile, leading the two of them to the mid-grade third-tier subterranean fire refining chamber.
Upon entering, Elian looked around and saw a large, ancient cauldron placed in the center of the chamber. Beneath it was a fire vent sealed by an intricate formation.
Pointing to the cauldron, Liu Rumeng explained with a smile, "My master once said that using a furnace for alchemy mirrors the principle of unifying essence and form, subtly aligning with the Heavenly Dao. But for artifact refinement, using a furnace can feel somewhat restrictive."
"Instead, a grand cauldron that embodies the heavens and supports the earth is more suited for creating unparalleled artifacts. This 'Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Cauldron' is the treasure my master frequently uses to refine magical tools."
As a skilled artifact craftsman, Chen Changxuan couldn't resist touching the cauldron, his excitement evident.
"Senior Jiang's cultivation is profound, and her insight into the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao is remarkable. Her accomplishments in alchemy, formations, artifact crafting, and talismans are unmatched. I am far from comparable."
"Of course," Liu Rumeng responded, clearly reverent.
"My master always says that the myriad arts of cultivation all align with the greater Dao."
"Mastering alchemy helps a cultivator comprehend the microcosm within their body. Formation arts contain the mysteries of the universe; with enough mastery, one can even glimpse the grand forces and creation of the vast world."
Elian listened silently, his eyes flashing with astonishment. He had assumed Jiang Linglong's reputation stemmed merely from her advanced cultivation, unparalleled beauty, and flawless elegance. He had not expected such profound wisdom.
Satisfied with the chamber and cauldron, the two rented it for two months at a rate of 300 spirit stones per month.
Once Liu Rumeng departed, they wasted no time and began refining the Fiery Void Sword. Chen Changxuan activated the formation, channeling the third-tier fire into the cauldron, placing the sword embryo inside while explaining the process.
"To craft the Fiery Void Sword, the purest millennium crimson iron is the ideal material."
"Millennium crimson iron is refined from ten-thousandfold tempered black iron, buried in the depths of subterranean fire veins for a thousand years, absorbing the essence of fire veins."
"Though called crimson iron, after prolonged exposure to subterranean fire, it becomes imbued with so much fire essence that it takes on a pale blue hue."
"The purer the hue, the higher the grade. Judging by the transparency of this sword embryo, its material is already of rare top grade."
"This high-quality natural treasure contains very few impurities. Moreover, since no other materials have been added, re-melting it will yield the finest millennium crimson iron."
The old patriarch slowed his actions, patiently explaining the intricacies of artifact crafting to Elian.
The process of melting the millennium crimson iron was arduous. Even with the aid of subterranean fire, Chen Changxuan spent seven days refining it into a translucent, crystalline liquid.
And that was just the beginning. Next, he retrieved the Crystal of Blazing Flame, placing it into the cauldron with a solemn expression.
Compared to the millennium crimson iron, melting the Crystal of Blazing Flame was far more challenging. As the essence of fire veins, it contained a trace of creation's power.
This extraordinary treasure could be used to craft powerful pills, assist Foundation Establishment cultivators in opening their Purple Mansion, or convert spiritual energy into true essence.
When integrated into a life-bound artifact, it significantly enhanced its power and potential.
However, refining this fiery treasure was no easy feat. Chen Changxuan focused entirely on using the Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Cauldron to melt the crystal, taking great care to avoid wasting such a rare resource.
The cauldron, a third-tier superior Purple Mansion artifact, amplified the power of the subterranean fire several times. After half a month of painstaking work, the Crystal of Blazing Flame finally melted into a concentrated fiery essence.
Using his true energy, Chen Changxuan combined the crimson iron essence with the fiery essence, repeatedly tempering them with flames until they formed a single radiant blue liquid.
At this point, the process reached its critical stage. Ignoring his sweat-soaked appearance, the old patriarch reduced the fire's intensity by 90%, carefully shaping the glowing liquid into a sword.
"Now, Elian!" the old patriarch shouted suddenly.
Prepared in advance, Elian stepped forward and began inscribing the life-bound formation patterns onto the sword.
These intricate patterns were the core secret of the Fiery Void Sword, essential for controlling the sword, and could only be inscribed by the sword's master.
Fortunately, Elian had memorized the patterns thoroughly, practiced under the old patriarch's guidance, and faced no mishaps during this crucial step.
After a quarter of an hour, the inscriptions were complete, and both sighed in relief.
Wiping his brow, the old patriarch smiled with satisfaction.
"The sword is complete!"
At this stage, the most difficult steps were over. The next phase required Elian to infuse five-elemental energies into the sword, gradually solidifying its form.
Elian took out 3,000 strands of Blazing Flame Essence and Metal Essence, painstakingly fusing them into the sword one by one.
The five-elemental essences are the purest quintessence of the natural elements, often needed by high-level cultivators to refine treasures or practice advanced techniques.
Though Elian's five-elemental roots made him unable to produce such essences himself, he had reached a stage where he could purchase and utilize them to refine his life-bound sword.
Day after day passed as Elian worked diligently. Forty-nine days later, he completed the infusion process, and the sword embryo was nearly fully formed.
Watching from the side, the old patriarch stroked his beard, his voice trembling with excitement.
"It's almost done."
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