Inside the refinement corridor of the Chu Family, silence reigned.
At its center lay a small water pond, carved directly into solid stone. The surface was perfectly still, reflecting the moonlight above like a fragment of the night sky captured within the corridor itself.
Beside the pond, Chu Jingxia sat cross-legged upon a smooth rectangular stone. Her posture was steady, her expression tranquil.
With each slow breath, her chest rose and fell in a precise rhythm.
She was practicing her breathing techniques, drawing in spiritual energy, allowing it to circulate gently through her meridians as the cool moonlight and quiet water amplified her focus.
Breathing techniques were a fundamental part of refinement.
Before a cultivator could even attempt to use primal essence, they had to first master the rhythm of breath—
to calm the mind, steady the body, and allow energy to flow without resistance.
Without this foundation, primal essence would become unstable,
turning refinement from an opportunity into a danger.
The corridor felt untouched by time—
as though even the world itself had learned to remain silent in her presence.
Soft, familiar footsteps began to echo through the corridor.
From the darkness emerged an elderly man with snow-white hair and a long beard.
It was Elder Chu Baishan.
The moment he arrived, he spoke gently,
"Jingxia… your practice isn't as focused today.
Did the task I assigned tire you out more than usual?"
There was no authority in his voice—
no pressure, no command.
Only quiet concern, spoken with warmth.
Jingxia did not answer him.
She remained seated, continuing her breathing rhythm as if nothing had changed,
as though she already knew why he had come—
Jingxia thought coldly:
He only comes when he needs something from me.
Either to assign more work… or to ask what I observed today.
He doesn't care about my future at all.
Everyone else is given artifacts, manuals, spiritual stones—
while I am given only work.
To them, I am useful. Nothing more.
Her breathing remained steady, her eyes closed.
Seeing her silence, Elder Baishan stepped forward and spoke again, his tone unchanged,
"It seems… this is what you want."
From within his robe, he took out a jade manual.
"This manual is related to artifact refinement.
Its name is—"
Before he could finish the sentence, Jingxia abruptly stood up and snatched the manual from his hand, her movements sharp and impatient.
Jingxia returned to her place and slowly opened the manual, her fingers brushing across the worn, ancient pages. The faint scent of old ink and spirit-treated paper lingered in the air.
Elder Baishan's voice sounded again, calm and unhurried:
"Its name is Soul-Anchoring Artifact Codex,"
"and it is a Rank Two artifact refinement manual."
He stepped closer, his gaze falling on the open pages.
"This manual will assist you in refining Rank One and Rank Two artifacts.
It teaches how to stabilize primal essence flow, carve proper inscription patterns,
and—most importantly—anchor your soul imprint into the artifact."
He paused deliberately.
"Without mastering this manual, Rank One artifacts will remain crude,
and Rank Two artifacts will reject you the moment refinement reaches its final stage."
Jingxia's breathing faltered for half a second.
Rank One… and Rank Two.
To her, this was not merely a manual—it was a stepping stone.
Elder Baishan continued, his tone neutral, almost indifferent:
"Whether the artifact serves you… or breaks you during refinement,
depends entirely on your concentration."
Jingxia tightened her grip on the manual.
In this martial world, all cultivators grow strong by walking their own paths.
Some pursue battle, some pursue bloodlines, some temper their bodies—
and among them exists a unique and highly respected path: the Refinement Path.
The Refinement Path is similar to manufacturing on Earth—
the process of creating products through precise steps and control.
However, unlike Earth's factories, in this world a single cultivator can complete the entire process alone—
using primal essence, soul control, and spiritual understanding instead of machines.
Refinement is not about brute force.
It is a path of precision, patience, and mental endurance.
One mistake during refinement can ruin materials, damage the soul, or even cripple a cultivator's foundation.
The Refinement Path itself is divided into multiple branches, each focusing on a different aspect of creation and transformation:
Artifact Refinement –
The refinement of weapons, armor, seals, tools, and spiritual artifacts.
This branch focuses on inscription patterns, material compatibility, essence circulation, and soul imprinting.
A refined artifact can amplify a cultivator's strength far beyond their realm.
Alchemy Refinement –
The refinement of pills, medicines, and elixirs.
It emphasizes temperature control, essence fusion, timing, and balance.
A single high-quality pill can determine life or death.
Between these, Artifact Refinement holds a special position.
Weapons and armor refined by skilled artifact refiners can decide the outcome of wars, sect conflicts, and clan survival.
Because of this, true refinement cultivators are never treated lightly.
Even the weakest artifact refiner is worth more than ten ordinary fighters—
and a master refiner can shape the destiny of entire factions.
Elder Baishan looked at Jingxia and spoke softly,
"So… can you tell me now what you observed today?"
Jingxia's gaze never left the manual in her hands.
Her fingers traced its worn edges as if the answers she sought were hidden between its pages.
Only after a brief pause did she lift her eyes slightly toward her grandfather and reply indifferently,
"Don't you already know what happened in the market today?"
Elder Baishan chuckled faintly. Reaching into his robe, he took out several faintly glowing stones—
spiritual stones, their surface shimmering with gentle primal essence.
"Yes, I know about that," he said calmly.
"Very well… I was thinking of giving these spiritual stones to you."
He paused deliberately, then added with a sigh,
"But it seems you are no longer interested in such things."
Turning around, he began walking toward the gate, his steps unhurried and unforced.
The moment the words left his mouth, Jingxia stiffened.
Without hesitation, she carefully placed the manual beside her seat and hurried after him.
Standing before Elder Baishan, she spoke quickly—almost defensively,
"No—no! I want those spiritual stones. I really do."
Her voice softened as she added,
"I don't even have a single one left anymore."
Elder Baishan stopped.
He slowly turned back, his expression calm, unreadable, yet carrying a trace of quiet amusement.
Looking at Jingxia, he said in the same gentle tone,
"Then tell me—quickly—what you observed today, from morning until now."
The corridor fell silent once more,
broken only by the faint ripple of water from the pond
Chu Jingxia finally spoke, her voice low and restrained.
"I used all three pills you gave me today… the Bloodshade Phantom Pills."
Elder Baishan's expression changed instantly.
He stepped forward and firmly grasped her shoulders, his calm finally cracking with concern.
"You used all three?" he said sharply.
"So that's why your breathing techniques were unstable today…"
His eyes searched her face as he continued, slower now, heavier.
"Did the backlash injure your soul in any way?"
Jingxia turned her gaze aside, avoiding his eyes.
"…It's nothing," she replied quietly.
"Just a little exhaustion."
Elder Baishan's grip tightened for a moment.
"So much happened to you," he said, his voice carrying a rare trace of reproach,
"and you didn't tell me a single word?"
He exhaled slowly, then reached into his storage ring.
A small jade pill appeared in his palm, sealed with faint soul-patterned runes.
Placing it into Jingxia's hand, he said,
"This is a Rank-2 Soul-Nourishing Pill.
It is specially refined to heal injuries to the soul and stabilize spiritual fluctuations."
His gaze hardened slightly as he added,
"Take it. It will repair the damage quickly."
The pill felt warm in Jingxia's palm—
as if it carried not only medicinal power,
but also the unspoken concern of an elder who understood the cost of ambition.
Without another word, Chu Jingxia raised the jade vial to her lips and swallowed the pill.
The moment it entered her body, a cool yet profound sensation spread through her chest.
It flowed gently into her spiritual sea, like a silent tide washing over fractured thoughts and strained soul threads.
The faint ache in her mind began to recede.
Her breathing, which had been uneven moments ago, slowly stabilized.
Elder Baishan watched closely, his eyes sharp and experienced.
Seeing her shoulders relax—even slightly—he finally allowed himself to ease.
"Good," he murmured.
"The pill is working."
Jingxia closed her eyes, crossing her legs once more beside the moonlit pond.
As the soul-nourishing energy settled within her, the reflection of the moon on the water became clearer, calmer—
just like her spiritual state.
After a few moments—
Jingxia's condition had clearly improved.
The strain in her breathing faded, and the instability in her spiritual aura settled down.
Only then did she begin to speak.
"When I consumed the first Bloodshade Phantom Pill," Jingxia said calmly,
"I intended to place Fang Lin under surveillance before the banquet began.
But the attempt failed before I even reached the hall… because I was touched."
Elder Baishan pressed his fingers against his forehead, a deep crease forming between his brows.
"It seems your attention was not fully on the assassination," he said with quiet disappointment.
"These days, your mind is occupied only with refinement."
Jingxia did not deny it. She continued instead.
"After taking the second pill, I successfully entered the banquet hall.
That was when I saw Tian Xueya."
Elder Baishan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"She—the girl who never socializes, who avoids gatherings entirely—was present.
Not only that… she handed Fang Lin a storage ring.
She stayed close to him, as if she had known him since childhood."
A faint bitterness flashed through Jingxia's eyes.
"I was lost in those thoughts when they suddenly collided with me.
I was standing near the entrance and had no time to react.
That impact caused the second pill to fail as well."
Elder Baishan's expression darkened further, his hand tightening slightly.
"Tian Xueya attended… and behaved differently than usual," he murmured.
"Did they begin to suspect you?"
Before he could finish the sentence, Jingxia answered helplessly,
"Yes.
When my invisible form dispersed into mist, they realized someone was observing them.
That was why the Fang family head later gave Fang Lin a defensive artifact—
the one that protected him in the market."
Understanding finally dawned on Elder Baishan.
"So because of your presence," he said slowly,
"they assumed an assassination attempt might occur…
and prepared an artifact in advance to protect him."
The moonlight reflected quietly on the pond beside them,
but the atmosphere had grown heavy.
************
Inside the Fang Family manor, a single candle burned quietly in one corner of the room, its flame casting a pale yellow glow that illuminated only half the chamber.
The rest remained swallowed by shadow.
A man sat on a gently rocking chair, leaning forward and back in slow, deliberate motions.
The candlelight fell across his face, revealing sharp features hardened by years of authority.
Before him stood a fifteen-year-old boy, his posture calm yet alert.
Beside the boy, a servant stood obediently, head slightly lowered, silent as a shadow.
They were Fang Qinxian, the head of the Fang family—
Fang Lin,
and Wei Shun.
Fang Lin stepped forward and clasped his fists in respect.
"Family Head, my deepest thanks to you," he said sincerely.
"If not for the artifact you gave me, I would not be standing here today.
Its defensive power was… astonishing. Without me doing anything at all, every enemy was suppressed."
Fang Qinxian replied calmly, his tone steady and assured.
"I had that much faith in the artifact.
If it could withstand power at Rank Four, then how could a few insignificant attacks possibly harm you?"
Wei Shun's heart trembled.
So the destruction in the market…
It was all caused by an artifact?
And not just any artifact—one capable of blocking Rank Four power…
Even more terrifying… it functioned without consuming primal essence.
He glanced at Fang Lin again, disbelief deepening in his eyes.
I can't believe this…
The Family Head cares so deeply that he entrusted Fang Lin with such a legendary artifact.
Wei Shun lowered his head slightly, his loyalty solidifying in silence.
*************
Elder Baishan asked, his voice calm and devoid of curiosity,
"And after that? What happened next? Did you chase him?"
Jingxia nodded slightly.
"Yes. After that, Fang Lin went to the market…
It took me a long time to find him, but in the end, I did."
Her voice slowed as the memory resurfaced.
"He was at the center of the market, standing near a stall, choosing a sword.
Then suddenly, three people wearing hooded cloaks began moving toward him."
"At first, I didn't pay much attention,"
she continued.
"Fang Lin was bullying a few disciples of the Lin family at the time, so I assumed those hooded figures were the same clan enforcers—assassins tasked with maintaining order and acting only if something unusual occurred."
"But then… my suspicion arose."
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"They were openly carrying swords and spears."
"That was when I realized the truth—
they weren't there to stop Fang Lin."
"They were there to kill him."
Jingxia took a slow breath.
"At that moment, I didn't know what kind of artifact he possessed.
Without thinking about my own safety, I tried to warn him as quickly as possible."
"But I was already too late."
"The attackers had reached him… and I was just about to arrive myself."
Her eyes darkened.
"That was when the defensive artifact activated."
"It was as if an invisible wall appeared out of nowhere, violently pushing everyone away."
"My third pill failed at that instant as well."
She paused, exhaling deeply.
"At that time… the backlash damaged my true body severely."
The room fell silent as Jingxia finally finished speaking.
She finally relaxed, releasing a soft breath she had been holding in.
Elder Baishan was still processing the information Jingxia had given him when she suddenly frowned. Resting a finger against her chin, she asked in confusion,
"By the way, Grandfather… why didn't the clan enforcers—the assassins—appear today?
Isn't their duty to maintain peace within the clan and suppress conflicts before they escalate?
Do you know why they were absent?"
Her voice pulled Elder Baishan out of his thoughts. He looked at her quietly for a moment before speaking,
"Those assassins… normally, they follow my orders directly.
However, if I am not present within the clan, the Patriarch has the authority to command them instead."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Today, I was not in the clan. I had to go to the sect to inform them about the awakened disciples.
Because of that, I believe only the Patriarch knows where those enforcers were—and why they did not intervene."
Elder Baishan spoke with visible concern as he lifted his hand and placed it gently on Jingxia's shoulder, meeting her gaze directly.
"Jingxia… for now, you must stop keeping watch over Fang Lin."
She looked at him in surprise.
"But why? You were the one who told me to observe him."
Baishan shook his head slowly.
"Not now. Wait a few days—until everything settles down.
And tomorrow, we must go to the Tian Court."
Jingxia frowned, confusion clear on her face.
"But why do we have to go to the Tian Court? And why must I go as well?
You can go alone, can't you?"
Baishan replied calmly,
"The Patriarch has issued an announcement.
Tomorrow, all family heads of the Tianjian Clan—and their trusted aides—are to appear at the Tian Court.
What happened in the market today must never happen again."
Jingxia nodded slowly, understanding dawning on her.
"Oh… I see. That's why you returned from the sect so urgently."
Baishan let out a quiet breath of relief.
"Yes. That is exactly why."
Then, after a brief pause, his tone lowered.
"And if you do resume surveillance later… do not use that pill again."
He reached into his storage ring and took out a pill—black with deep crimson veins spiraling across its surface. Placing several of them into Jingxia's palm, he said,
"Use this instead.
It is an upgraded version of the Bloodshade Phantom Pill."
Jingxia stared at the pills in her hand, her heartbeat quickening.
This is it… the pill I wanted.
Her lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile as her thoughts raced.
Now no one can stop me.
No matter what, I must uncover the truth behind that artifact…
I almost feel like going to him right now.
The candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across her eyes—shadows filled with obsession and curiosity.