25: Chapter 25 The Seven-Day Deadline Has Arrived

Inside the Yun Palace, cold air permeated.

Luo Li stood in the center of the hall.

"Revered Master."

She bowed respectfully to that stunning figure with her back facing all living beings.

"Junior Brother he... he went to Tianhuo Peak."

"Spending all day mingling with those blacksmiths, obsessed with the art of Artifact Refining, he has abandoned his Sword Dao cultivation."

Her voice was filled with confusion and annoyance at Zhao Ruoan for "neglecting his proper business."

In her view, possessing Fifth-Order Sword Intent meant he should forge ahead single-mindedly, pushing Sword Dao to its absolute limit.

Being distracted by extraneous matters was a major taboo in cultivation.

"Revered Master values his talent so much, how could he... how could he live up to your expectations!"

Yun Qinghan did not turn around, only watching the churning sea of clouds outside the hall calmly.

"I know."

Her voice was devoid of emotion.

"I gave him seven days."

"After seven days, if he cannot produce an explanation that satisfies me, I will naturally make him understand what true cultivation is."

Yun Qinghan's tone was very calm, but Luo Li could hear an unusual meaning behind it.

Revered Master had thoughts of reprimanding Junior Brother.

She said no more, bowed, and retreated.

The seven-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Yun Qinghan rose from the futon, the immortal charm and Dao essence around her quietly fading away.

"The time has come."

She stepped out and walked toward the outside of the hall.

"Revered Master, this Disciple is willing to go along."

Luo Li's figure appeared at the hall entrance, and she also wanted to see with her own eyes what kind of ruckus Junior Brother had been making at Tianhuo Peak over these past seven days.

Yun Qinghan neither confirmed nor denied, which was considered a tacit approval.

Two peerless figures transformed into streaks of light, shooting straight toward the direction of Tianhuo Peak.

...

Tianhuo Peak, Earth Fire Core Area.

This was the place where the earth-vein flames of the entire peak were the most vigorous.

Inside a top-tier Artifact Refining Room, usually listed as a Forbidden Ground and only qualified for Hall Master Liu Xi to use, the heatwaves rolled relentlessly.

Zhao Ruoan was standing in front of a giant Artifact Refining furnace that was entirely crimson red and inscribed with countless profound runes.

This "Chiyang Nine-Turn Furnace" itself was a Spiritual Artifact of extremely high grade, and its fire-controlling ability was far beyond what ordinary Artifact Refining furnaces outside could compare to.

In order to let Zhao Ruoan display his full potential, Hall Master Liu Xi went all out this time, directly giving up his own "rice bowl."

At this moment, the four Elders, Hall Master Liu Xi, Elder Bai Ming, Lu Xing, and Elder Fu Gao, stood separately in the four directions with solemn expressions.

Hall Master Liu Xi was even standing behind Zhao Ruoan, with both hands pressed against his back, continuously transferring his own pure spiritual power.

There was no other way; Zhao Ruoan was playing too big this time.

What he wanted to refine was a Tier-4 Spiritual Artifact.

The main Material used was none other than the Tier-4 "scarlet flame essence gold" personally treasured by Elder Bai Ming!

With Zhao Ruoan's early Spirit Gathering Realm cultivation base, wanting to smelt Tier-4 Materials meant his spiritual power reserve was simply a drop of water in a blazing cart of firewood.

Just maintaining the operation of the Chiyang Nine-Turn Furnace was enough to drain him completely.

"Hold steady!"

Zhao Ruoan let out a low cry, his Divine Thought highly concentrated, transforming into countless invisible tentacles that reached into the furnace.

Inside the furnace, a full six clusters of spiritual liquid with different attributes were rolling wildly, exuding a violent and miscellaneous aura.

In addition to the scarlet flame essence gold, there was also a small scrap piece of "Zichen Star Gold" contributed by Elder Fu Gao, as well as several other top-tier Tier-3 auxiliary Materials.

He wanted to forge a unique gift for Revered Master and the three Senior Sisters respectively.

This was his explanation to Revered Master.

The spirituality of high-grade Materials far exceeded that of Tier-2, and the difficulty of Fusion increased exponentially.

A slight mishap would result in the destruction of the furnace and death.

Zhao Ruoan's forehead was already covered with fine sweat beads, and his face was somewhat pale.

Simultaneously controlling six clusters of high-grade spiritual liquid for Fusion consumed a terrifying amount of Divine Thought.

But he was still persisting.

His Divine Thought was like silk, splitting every cluster of spiritual liquid into the most microscopic units, trying different ratios of blending and docking over and over again.

Under his exquisite control, those six violent clusters of spiritual liquid miraculously did not undergo violent repulsion.

They were like six unfamiliar streams, being guided by an invisible giant hand as they slowly converged toward the same lake.

A brand-new liquid prototype carrying multi-attribute halos was slowly taking shape inside the furnace.

Although the whole process was difficult, it was methodical.

...

Tianhuo Peak Gate Plaza.

"Look quickly! What is that?"

A Disciple who was practicing a Martial Skill suddenly stopped and cried out, pointing at the sky.

Everyone looked up.

They saw two streaks of light from the horizon coming from far to near, finally landing lightly in the center of the plaza.

The light dissipated, revealing two stunning figures.

One was peerless in elegance with an ethereal aura, as if she did not belong to this world.

The other was as cold as the moon with an otherworldly temperament, resembling a snow lotus on an iceberg.

They were precisely Yun Qinghan and Luo Li.

"Hiss—"

The Disciples in the entire plaza all drew a sharp breath.

"It's... it's Peak Master Yun of Qinghan Peak!"

"Gosh, why would Peak Master Yun come to our Tianhuo Peak?"

"The one next to her is Luo Li, right? She's even more beautiful in person than in the rumors!"

For a moment, everyone's movements stagnated, and the scene was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

These two were figures at the peak of Qingxuan Sect's pyramid, usually elusive, but today they actually arrived hand in hand.

An Inner Sect Disciple who looked rather clever hurriedly trotted forward; he was Hall Master Liu Xi's Personal Disciple Feng Chuan.

"D-Disciple Feng Chuan pays respects to Peak Master Yun and Luo Li."

Feng Chuan was so nervous that he couldn't speak fluently, and he secretly glanced at Luo Li, his heart beating wildly out of unruliness.

Yun Qinghan ignored his awkwardness and spoke directly.

Her voice was like heavenly music, yet carried a trace of majesty.

"Where is Zhao Ruoan?"

"Zhao Ruoan?"

Feng Chuan was stunned, his brain failing to turn the corner for a moment.

He had heard this name like thunderous drums—wasn't that the peerless Prodigy who had an Epiphany of Fifth-Order Sword Intent before the mountain gate and was snatched away by Peak Master Yun?

Why would he come to our Tianhuo Peak?

"R-Reporting to Peak Revered Master, that Senior Brother Zhao... he should be cultivating in Qinghan Peak, right? This Disciple has never heard of him coming to our Tianhuo Peak."

Feng Chuan wore a blank expression.

Luo Li's brow furrowed slightly.

Could Junior Brother have already gone back?

Yun Qinghan still remained expressionless and changed her question.

"Where is your Revered Master, Hall Master Liu Xi?"

"Oh, my Revered Master is in seclusion refining artifacts in the Earth Fire Core Area, and has been for several days." Feng Chuan answered honestly.

Just as the words fell.

Yun Qinghan ignored him no further and turned to walk toward the direction of the Earth Fire Core Area.

Luo Li followed behind, murmuring doubts in her heart.

Revered Master is going to the Artifact Refining Room?

Could it be...

She dared not think further and quickly kept up with Revered Master's pace.

Leaving behind the crowd of Disciples on the plaza and Feng Chuan, who was still in a dumbfounded state, staring at each other in dismay.

Earth Fire Core Area Entrance.

The two stewards responsible for guarding saw the arrivals, so scared that their legs went weak, and they saluted tremblingly without even daring to raise their heads.

Yun Qinghan directly ignored them and stepped into the deep passage leading to the underground in one step.

At the end of the passage, a heavy stone door was tightly closed, covered all over with Restriction and Formation.

Behind the door was precisely Hall Master Liu Xi's exclusive Artifact Refining Room.