In just a few breaths, amidst the hearty laughter, one could see within the swirling purple-gold flames, amidst the radiant light, a divine bird soaring through the sky, its fiery sounds echoing like melodious chirps.
Under the intense heat of the flames, perhaps the array prepared for the former cultivator to attain the Golden Core truly led to some profound realm, embodying a supreme essence.
In the span of mere moments, the palm-sized fragment of North Sea Xuan Copper, once corroded by time, had all the deep-set rust marks completely shed away.
It was not reduced to smoke and ash.
This mottled rust, when compared to the North Sea Xuan Copper, might seem like mere scrap, yet in the eyes of others, it was still a precious material.
Standing in place, Chu Weiyang pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, sending a seal of law into the flames.
Instantly, the layer of rust settled at the bottom of the purple-gold fireball, allowing the flames to refine it.
Before Chu Weiyang could transform waste into treasure, he first needed to grind away the traces of time and reforge the elite material within.
At the same time, looking towards the center of the flames, what unfolded before Chu Weiyang's eyes was the entire body of Xuan Copper!
Its color was like ink, warm like jade, and as the flames devoured it, even from a distance, Chu Weiyang could feel an endless chill emanating, as if the gaze could freeze his soul and spirit.
Seeing this, Chu Weiyang remained calm.
Under the guidance of Chunyu Zhi, he had gradually grasped many characteristics of North Sea Xuan Copper, anticipating changes during the refining process.
From within his wide sleeves, as if sensing Chu Weiyang's mental guidance, the White Jade Poisonous Snake buzzed, extending part of its body, and then a puff of black smoke enveloped Chu Weiyang's face.
A faintly sweet and fishy scent wafted over, momentarily dizzying Chu Weiyang, but instead, it broke the chilling sensation that had slowed him down.
It was hard to say whether it was the nature of the Xuan Copper or if the precious material itself possessed spirituality.
After this moment, when Chu Weiyang looked again, his mind was already unaffected, thoughts clear.
He no longer hesitated, pinching the Master Seal in his hand, and then struck down fiercely towards the North Sea Xuan Copper from afar!
Bang—bang—bang—!
It was as if the formless seal transformed into a tangible hammer amidst the flames!
In just a breath, it became three continuous strikes, and the sound of thunder echoed like a great bell upon the North Sea Xuan Copper!
After a breath, the reverberations of those three strikes still echoed within the array.
Chu Weiyang had steadied his mind and struck down the second seal into the flames!
Moments passed, dozens of breaths…
After a long time, suddenly, at a certain moment, when the hammer formed from the seal fell again, it no longer produced the thunderous sound.
In a flash, Chu Weiyang clearly saw a crimson hue appearing on the North Sea Xuan Copper.
At this moment, within his mind, Chunyu Zhi finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, followed by a hearty laugh.
Before she could finish speaking, Chu Weiyang continued to strike down several seals, the continuous dull sounds nearly drowning out Chunyu Zhi's voice.
With a hint of annoyance, Chu Weiyang replied, still holding the small Master Seal in one hand while the other fell to his side.
As he wrapped his spiritual power around it and flicked it forward, two pieces of refined gold and a piece of Wu Jing Iron soared into the air.
In the air, wrapped in spiritual power, the Wu Jing Iron was sandwiched between the two pieces of refined gold.
In the next moment, as the seal struck down, several pieces of precious materials were thrown into the flames, accompanied by the booming sound of the hammer, and as he looked again, the refined gold and Wu Jing Iron had melded together.
In the intervals, more pieces of gold and iron were wrapped in spiritual power and thrown into the flames, and when the seal fell, they were just right to be hammered into a solid form.
Thus, what followed was a painstaking process.
As the materials increased, within the fierce flames, the gold and iron not only melted together but also continuously folded, hammered, and extended within Chu Weiyang's spiritual power.
Hundred-refined gold, thousand-refined gold, ten-thousand-refined gold!
At this moment, the distinction between precious materials and the weapon embryo had become clear!
Finally, under Chu Weiyang's gaze, the North Sea Xuan Copper had been refined into a bright yellow color, with a core that radiated crimson, extending into a copper plate under the hammer formed from the seal.
At this moment, Chu Weiyang raised both hands, and under the wrapping of spiritual power, he neatly overlapped the gold and iron with the copper plate.
Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!
When the seal transformed into a hammer and struck down again, it produced a solid sound.
Looking closely, there were hardly any sparks flying out.
The last few extensions and folds.
During the forging process, the layer of rust that had earlier shed had been refined to its essence, transforming into a viscous, paste-like copper liquid.
At this moment, as the precious materials extended and folded, this viscous copper liquid was also smeared within the layers.
Thus, it was refined nine times.
A wave of spiritual power brushed over the still glowing red precious material, and a spiritual light began to swirl within, showing no signs of delay, even nurturing within, almost as if each breath was stronger than the last.
Seeing the change in the spiritual light, Chu Weiyang finally revealed a smile.
In a few breaths, while Chu Weiyang took out bottle after bottle of precious pills to consume, after all, he practiced the "Five Organs Food Qi Essence Technique," often focusing on the Yuan Qi and spiritual power, not paying much attention to the medicinal effects.
In an instant, as the five organ chakras revolved, Chu Weiyang restored the spiritual power he had previously expended.
Straining to lift his spirits, as he struck down several seals in succession, Chu Weiyang had already shifted from the Master Seal to the Lotus Seal.
When the seal fell, it was like hammering, like chopping, like carving, requiring precision and strength, with a thought bringing about various changes.
At this moment, with each seal that fell, Chu Weiyang often had to inscribe talismans with his sword finger in the air, then embed them into the rough embryo of the precious weapon.
Upon closer inspection, the inscriptions Chu Weiyang used included the "Qingwei Thundercloud Seal Script" and the "Jiuyuan Qiling Red Text Talismans," but overall, it was primarily based on the Thunder Seal and Cloud Talismans, with the Jiuyuan Red Text as the main focus.
Having previously set up the protective array on Lingfu Island, Chu Weiyang felt his understanding of the Jiuyuan Red Text had deepened further.
Not to mention that the Jiuyuan Red Text was already highly compatible with the refining of water and fire, just this book of Dao contained numerous inscriptions that seemed to be layered and refined, ultimately pointing directly to the nine red texts, transforming into the main principles and essence.
The changes within were particularly aligned with Chu Weiyang's alchemical path of "Ten Thousand Spirits Secret Extraction," seeking simplicity within complexity, all aiming for unity from a distance!
As for the "Qingwei Thundercloud Seal Script," commanding thunder with the number nine five, it was indeed the pinnacle of precious weapons, determining the stability of its foundation.
Moreover, this book of Dao was said to be the ultimate of Thunder Seals and Cloud Talismans, serving as a supplement, implying that within this precious weapon, nothing would be left unrefined!
Every cultivator's essence, spirit, and energy could determine many changes, from the achievements of precious weapons to whether the methods ultimately led to enlightenment.
At the same time, as the shape of the precious weapon gradually revealed itself within the flames, Chu Weiyang flipped his hand again, taking out several empty Qiankun pouches.
At this moment, holding the Qiankun pouch, Chu Weiyang ignited the jade fire in his hand, and in an instant of spiritual light, it burst open in the flames.
Looking again, the intact ring that could contain the universe was completely destroyed by the flames, and amidst the swirling light, only transparent threads remained visible in the fire.
This was also a precious material, extracted from the spine of the Illusory Void Beast in the deep sea, and after repeated refining by cultivators, it could yield such a thread, refined into the Qiankun pouch, perhaps saving a bit was still a bit, but Chu Weiyang, in crafting his precious weapon, always sought perfection.
Seeing it unsatisfactory, he steeled his heart, gritted his teeth, and took out the Qiankun pouches of Yan Jianming and Chunyu Huai.
As expected, being from a prominent family, just one person's Qiankun pouch could yield a small bundle of Illusory Void threads.
Estimating the quantity, Chu Weiyang then pinched the seal, following the formation for the ring to contain the universe that Chunyu Zhi had taught him, and refined all these Illusory Void threads into the weapon embryo.
At this moment, one could clearly see the shape of the precious weapon.
A vessel of Sun and Moon Mountains and Rivers, a double-eared, ring-footed vessel!
The precious weapon resembled a cauldron or a pot, yet contained its unique essence, round, with a flared mouth, deep belly, and ringed feet.
The double ears on either side of the vessel were identical, but upon closer inspection, one ear was carved with phoenix feather patterns, and upon further scrutiny, it bore the hidden inscription of the "Five Phoenixes Summoning the Phoenix South Ming Spell"; the other ear was carved with tortoise shell patterns, and further inspection revealed the hidden inscription of the "Nine-Faced Xuan Turtle Taiyi Spell."
The Mountains and Rivers Vessel spun continuously in the purple-gold flames, perhaps it was fate, but at this point, the fire and murderous aura summoned were nearing their limits, and the array laid with refined gold was no longer as flat as before, with mournful cries hinting at an unbearable distortion.
As the power of the purple-gold flames gradually weakened, when Chu Weiyang raised his hand again, the Mountains and Rivers Vessel immediately spun with spiritual light and leaped into Chu Weiyang's hand.
Clearly, while in the flames, it was as thick as a person's waist, but now resting in the palm of Chu Weiyang's hand, it shrank to the size of a palm with a swirl of spiritual light.
Upon touching it, it felt cool and smooth like beautiful jade, without the mottled appearance of ancient bronze.
Upon closer inspection, the dark-colored body of the vessel faintly revealed layered dark golden patterns, exuding smoothness and moisture.
Then, just as Chu Weiyang was about to look inside, suddenly, a thunderous sound rang in his ear.
What was happening?
Before Chu Weiyang could react, the Mountains and Rivers Vessel in his hand suddenly brimmed with spiritual light, spinning as it leaped directly from his palm, expanding in the wind, and directly enveloping Chu Weiyang within.
In an instant, looking up, Chu Weiyang saw the surging flames tearing apart the array laid with refined gold, the purple-gold flames menacingly ready to explode.
Before his eyes turned black, the curse that had been pressing on Chu Weiyang's lips finally slipped through his clenched teeth.
Damn—
A few days later.
On the sea surface surrounding Lingfu Island.
Not yet out of the protective island array's range, Chu Weiyang sat upright at the bow of the boat, surrounded by layers of mist.
At this moment, beside Chu Weiyang lay the Mountains and Rivers Vessel.
That day, when the array reached its limit, it was also an unpredictable event; in the blink of an eye, the precious weapon protected its master with its naive spiritual resonance.
Perhaps, this was the fate of every sip and every peck.
In that moment, as if the heavenly thunder had ignited the earth fire, the array inscribed on the ground nearly coincided with the purple-gold flames, perhaps due to their shared origin, still retaining a small portion of the Dao rhythm, which was completely imprinted at the entrance of the cave wrapped in the earth, tightly locked by the Thunder Cloud Seal; and at the center of the array, the original "Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix" and "Lotus Sun" patterns were vaguely imprinted on the base of the Mountains and Rivers Vessel.
Initially, Chu Weiyang felt a bit unsettled, as it was unexpected, fearing that at this point, all his efforts would be in vain, ruining his precious weapon.
However, after Chunyu Zhi examined it repeatedly, she instead said that under heaven's will, this was perhaps the best arrangement.
Both North Sea Xuan Copper and Wu Jing Iron were treasures from the outer sea, naturally possessing a bit of water essence.
The Mountains and Rivers Vessel, refined on Lingfu Island, with its geomantic principles, gained even more water essence; it was necessary to enhance the "Five Phoenixes Summoning the Phoenix South Ming Spell" with part of the array to harmonize the water and fire within the Mountains and Rivers Vessel.
At this moment, looking closely, there was already a swirling interplay of water and fire within the Mountains and Rivers Vessel.
The water was like an endless expanse of dark light, as if someone were stirring a cold pool with their hand.
The fire was a jade green with a sky blue hue, clearly resembling a great sun descending to the world, demonstrating the might to boil the sea!
And amidst the intertwining of water and fire, a rich fragrance of elixir gradually spread, and upon closer inspection, within the rolling fish and meat, there was a pale red demonic fish, absorbing the rich spiritual energy and medicinal power sweeping in from all directions, almost completely dissolving into the dark water, soaking into the formless.
Who possesses the sun and moon in the cauldron?
What elixirs are there in the furnace?
People laugh at the loneliness within, yet this loneliness is different from that of others.
With a fine alchemical cauldron, he also found the best main ingredient in the formula.
At this moment, Chu Weiyang's brows twitched as he suddenly raised his hand.
In an instant, the surrounding mist stirred lightly, and a demonic fish wrapped in dark light was refined of its demonic blood and fell straight into the Mountains and Rivers Vessel.
Seeing this, Chu Weiyang sighed again.
Meanwhile, in the outer sea, at the Hundred Serpent Isles.
From afar, a crimson spiritual light swirled, then revealed its form from mid-air.
Upon closer inspection, it was a middle-aged Daoist, stepping upon the fiery form of the Red Phoenix, exuding abundant spiritual resonance, appearing almost like a true demonic beast.
The fierce sea breeze blew past, causing a strand of white hair at the middle-aged Daoist's temple to dance wildly in the wind.