23: Chapter 23 Second-Tier Material Refining (Mid-Grade)

Zhao Ruoan was unhurried and calm, his Divine Thought probing into the furnace to precisely control every wisp of azure flame, allowing the astonishing heat to meticulously and evenly permeate every inch of the Ore's texture.

Time seemed to become exceptionally slow at this moment.

Outside the furnace, Hall Master Liu Xi and the others even forgot to breathe, staring fixedly at the furnace fire.

Finally, under their tense gazes, the edges of that stubborn azure-veined steel began to soften, ultimately transforming unwillingly into a slowly flowing pool of azure liquid.

Purification!

With a sweep of Zhao Ruoan's Divine Thought, the black spots representing Impurities within the spiritual liquid were forcibly stripped away by an invisible yet domineering force, turning into wisps of black smoke that drifted out from the furnace opening.

Throughout the entire process, there was not the slightest bit of drag or hesitation.

Elder Bai Ming's palms were already drenched in sweat.

He rapidly calculated in his heart that if it were him purifying this piece of azure-veined steel, the time required would at least double, and the purity... would definitely not reach the crystal-clear level of the young man before him.

This kid's control over spiritual energy had already reached an infuriating micro-control Realm.

Next were the cold iron Ore and drifting wind stone.

Following the same pattern, Zhao Ruoan melted and purified them one by one.

Soon, three clusters of spiritual liquid with vastly different attributes, yet refined to the absolute extreme, floated quietly inside the Artifact Refining furnace, distinct and yet faintly repelling each other.

Fusion.

This was the most crucial and dangerous step in refining a Spiritual Artifact.

Forcibly fusing spiritual Materials with different attributes easily generated violent repulsion; lightly, the Materials would be completely destroyed, and heavily, the furnace would explode on the spot, resulting in death and the dissipation of one's Dao.

Everyone's heart jumped to their throats.

Seeing Zhao Ruoan's Divine Thought move slightly, the three clusters of spiritual liquid began to slowly approach each other.

Just at the moment they were about to make contact, Zhao Ruoan formed seals with both hands, striking one profound incantation after another into the furnace.

"This is... the Ancient Spirit-Fusing Technique!" Elder Fu Gao blurted out in startled exclamation, his beard twitching upwards.

This was an ancient technique that had long been lost, capable of minimizing conflicts between Materials to the greatest extent. He had only seen records of it in a unique Incomplete Manual, never expecting to witness a living demonstration today.

Guided by the Spirit-Fusing Technique, the three clusters of spiritual liquid were like fledgling swallows returning to their nests, intersecting and fusing together perfectly without the slightest bit of repulsion.

A mixed spiritual liquid the size of a fist, flickering with a halo of three colors—azure, black, and white—thus took form.

It succeeded!

The most difficult step, and he actually succeeded on the very first try!

Hall Master Liu Xi and the others felt as though their hearts were about to jump out of their throats.

However, Zhao Ruoan's actions did not stop.

Shaping! Inscribing runes!

He repeated his old trick, using his Divine Thought as a knife to rapidly outline shapes on that soon-to-solidify spiritual liquid.

This time, what he inscribed was no longer a single rune.

Instead, it was a composite rune formed by combining three basic runes: "Sharp Gold", "Armor-Piercing", and "Agile"!

"Hum—!"

The instant the final stroke fell, the entire Artifact Refining furnace emitted a violent hum.

A dazzling golden light soared into the sky, illuminating the entire Artifact Refining Room as bright as day.

A longsword with a sleek design and a slender blade slowly rose from the furnace. On the blade, complex golden runes flowed endlessly, emitting an aura of sharp edge that could cut through anything.

Continuously outputting high-intensity spiritual energy and Divine Thought, even Zhao Ruoan felt a wave of exhaustion, his complexion turning slightly pale.

With a wave of his hand, the longsword emitted a clear, resonant sword chime, steadily landing in his palm.

It was done.

In the Artifact Refining Room, you could hear a pin drop.

Hall Master Liu Xi and the others stood motionless like wooden sculptures and clay figurines.

After a long while, Elder Fu Gao tremblingly stepped forward, asking with a hoarse voice, "Junior Martial Uncle... What, what grade is this?"

Zhao Ruoan handed the sword over: "This Disciple is blind and lacks judgment; I ask the Seniors to appraise it."

Hall Master Liu Xi snatched the longsword. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, and a pure aura of Geng Metal rushed toward his face.

He poured his spiritual energy into it, and the composite rune on the blade instantly lit up. A three-foot-long golden sword radiance flickered unpredictably, cutting the air and making a hissing sound.

"Spiritual energy amplification by thirty percent... No, thirty-five percent! Sharpness increased by fifty percent!"

"The compatibility of this rune is flawless! Flawless!"

Hall Master Liu Xi stroked the blade as if caressing his lover, his face flushed red with excitement.

"Medium Grade... This is a genuine Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact!"

He abruptly raised his head, looking at Zhao Ruoan with an expression reserved for monsters.

"Using Tier 2 Materials to refine a Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact! You... you have broken the grade shackles of the Materials!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Bai Ming and Elder Lu Xing also rushed over like madmen, one touching the hilt and the other touching the tip of the sword, muttering to themselves in a state of frenzied madness.

"A monster... A true monster!"

"This old man has spent four hundred years in Artifact Refining, and only today did I realize that these four hundred years of mine have all gone to waste!" Elder Bai Ming looked up to the sky and sighed, with an expression of utter despair.

"Four days... He only used four days to walk the path of our entire lifetime..." Elder Lu Xing muttered to himself, his mindset completely collapsing.

The Dao of Artifact Refining that they pursued throughout their lives was, in front of the young man before them, so naive and so ridiculous.

Elder Fu Gao stood to the side, also filled with bitterness and shock.

Zhao Ruoan regulated his breathing for a moment, recovering a fraction of his Qi and strength, and looking at these few dejected Elders, he spoke.

"It is a pity; the upper limit of Tier 2 Materials is ultimately limited. If one wants to refine a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, I am afraid even higher-tier Materials will be needed."

He was merely uttering a casual exclamation.

But these words falling into the ears of Hall Master Liu Xi and the others were no less than a thunderclap.

What did that mean?

He was still not satisfied?

He still wanted to refine a High Grade Spiritual Artifact?

The Elders, whose mental states had just collapsed, grabbed onto a straw of life and instantly resurrected on the spot.

"Materials! Junior Martial Uncle, are you lacking Materials?"

Hall Master Liu Xi patted his chest, brimming with heroic spirit: "In the treasury of the Weapon Crafting Hall, Tier 3 Materials are yours to choose from at will!"

"What are Tier 3 counts for!" Elder Bai Ming shoved him aside, roaring with a flustered and exasperated face: "Junior Martial Uncle, I have a privately treasured piece of Tier 4 scarlet flame essence gold, originally prepared to refine a Lifebound Treasure for my grandson during his Foundation Establishment. If you can use it, I will go fetch it for you right now!"

"Old Bai's scarlet flame essence gold is nothing!" Elder Lu Xing was not to be outdone, "I still have half a piece of Tier 5 'Outer Heaven Meteorite Iron', bestowed by the Sect, which I could never bear to use. If Junior Martial Uncle does not disdain it, please take it!"

Elder Fu Gao also grew anxious, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Stop arguing, all of you! The town-peak treasure of Tianhuo Peak, that piece of Tier 6 'Zichen Star Gold', no one except the Peak Master can touch it! I will go beg the Peak Master! Even if I have to kneel and beg, I will ask him to give the Materials for you to use, Junior Martial Uncle!"

For a time, the entire Artifact Refining Room became as chaotic as a boiling pot of porridge.

Several highly respected Elders argued until their faces turned red just so Zhao Ruoan would use their own family's Materials, almost coming to blows on the spot.

Duan He cowered in the corner, completely dumbfounded by what he saw.

Was this... the treatment of immortals?