Immortal Refiner

Ji Bai’s foundation establishment celebration lasted for three days. During that time, Li Qing indulged in various Spirit Wines and spirit teas to his heart’s content.

Of course, at the foundation establishment realm, these ordinary Spirit Wines and spirit teas no longer offered much benefit. They were merely for enjoyment and to savor the flavors.

Once the three days were up, the guests began to take their leave. Li Qing also clasped his hands in a farewell bow.

Guiding his leaf-shaped Magic Artifact, Li Qing drifted through the air, his mind filled with thoughts.

”Thanks to Ji Bai, I’ve learned more about the inner workings of the cultivation sects.”

As one’s cultivation level rose, so did the depth of information they could access.

For example, the three cultivation sects in the Azure Ridge Domain, though each held dominion over their own territory, weren’t truly as distant as they appeared. They maintained a certain level of connection with each other.

Only the Holy Temple Tribes of the northern Grasslands remained truly aloof, secluded deep within the vast Grasslands and rarely venturing into the world.

Li Qing gained a deeper understanding of the power dynamics within the Azure Ridge Domain’s cultivation world.

The three cultivation sects were roughly equal in overall strength.

Of course, the Shangqing Sect now had Exquisite True Lord, who had already reached the core formation stage. This might subtly disrupt the balance in the future.

”Ah, none of this really concerns me. When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. My priority now is to increase my own strength!”

With that, Li Qing returned to his cave abode.

His current combat power was only average among foundation establishment cultivators—not at the bottom, but not much better.

First, he needed to replace most of his magic artifacts.

By the foundation establishment realm, Mid-Grade Magic Tools were no longer sufficient. Only high-grade magical artifacts and top-grade magical artifacts were truly effective.

Of course, many foundation establishment cultivators with substantial wealth would even flaunt Talisman Treasures or damaged magic treasures without raising eyebrows.

Back in his cave abode, Li Qing examined his magic artifacts. He smiled wryly, realizing that most of them would be of little use in future battles.

”I can keep the Wandering Dragon Dagger for now, and the Storm Pear Blossom Nails. Later, I’ll consider refining a new mechanism tube using more precious spiritual materials!”

”The Crimson Shadow Umbrella, Water Entangling Net, and Peerless Hammer probably won’t be very effective in future battles.”

At this point, Li Qing sighed regretfully, gently stroking the Peerless Hammer. This hammer had accompanied him from the mortal world to the cultivation realm, serving him faithfully in both combat and blacksmithing. It was undoubtedly a weapon he knew intimately.

However, during his recent battle with the Joyful Ape, he had used the hammer to withstand a blow from the white ape, resulting in its near-total destruction. The hammer’s handle was now bent and twisted.

”I’ll need to find an opportunity to reforge you, old friend. You can retire for now.”

With that, Li Qing carefully returned the ruined low-grade magic artifact, the Peerless Hammer, to his storage pouch.

The Crimson Shadow Umbrella was in even worse condition. As a Mid-Grade Magic Tool, its spirit patterns had suffered significant wear and tear. If he were to face an attack from a foundation establishment cultivator wielding a high-grade magical artifact, the umbrella likely wouldn’t even withstand a single blow.

He put this artifact away as well.

As for the Water Entangling Net, he had originally refined two of them. Unfortunately, one had been torn apart during his battle with the Joyful Ape, leaving him with only one remaining.

”I have the Artifact Refinement Diagram for this. If I ever need Sect Contribution in the future, I could consider offering the diagram in exchange for contribution points, or perhaps take on an elder position in the refining hall and specialize in refining Water Entangling Nets for disciples. That would be a pretty good option too.”

Having risen through the qi refining realm, Li Qing understood better than anyone how deadly the Water Entangling Net was to cultivators at that level.

After inventorying his current possessions, Li Qing exhaled deeply and retrieved the spiritual materials he could use for artifact refinement.

First came several Bone Spikes. These were extracted from the spine of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast, the Joyful Ape. Each spike was as long and thick as a war spear.

Their quality was beyond question: incredibly hard and imbued with spirituality, they were the essence of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast. With proper handling, they even had a chance of becoming the core material for a top-grade magical artifact.

There were seven Bone Spikes in total. Li Qing couldn’t possibly use them all at once. His current artifact refinement skill was sufficient to craft high-grade magical artifacts with considerable confidence, but he still had little experience with top-grade ones.

”So... what kind of magic artifact should I refine?”

This question immediately plunged Li Qing into a dilemma.

This was his first attempt at refining a high-grade magical artifact. After years of artifact refinement, his mind suddenly went blank.

”The Bone Spikes are shaped like spears, with incredibly sharp tips. The best choice for a magic artifact would undoubtedly be a polearm.”

”Spear? War lance? Guan Dao? Halberd?”

As a Grandmaster in Martial Dao, Li Qing was most accustomed to using hammers. However, he was also proficient in these long-handled weapons.

Considering the formidable Demon beasts and foundation establishment cultivators he would soon face, the magic artifact he refined couldn’t merely focus on close-range combat.

Li Qing quickly began to consider his current situation.

”I cultivate a fire attribute cultivation manual. The magic artifact should emphasize explosive power, aligning with the strengths of my cultivation manual.”

”Moreover, my greatest advantage lies in my divine soul. With a soul comparable to a mid-foundation establishment cultivator, I can control multiple magic artifacts simultaneously without feeling overwhelmed.”

”In that case...”

Li Qing stroked his chin, a clear idea forming in his mind.

He would refine a combined magic artifact!

”Since I have so many Bone Spikes, I might as well refine several high-grade magic artifacts and combine them. This could yield unexpected results!”

The more he thought about it, the more Li Qing believed this approach was sound.

This approach would leverage his powerful spiritual sense. In future battles, he could simply wave his hand and unleash several high-grade magical artifacts simultaneously, forming a combined force whose might might even rival a top-grade magical artifact.

”Refining all seven Bone Spikes into a combined artifact seems impractical and too difficult. Let’s settle on four for now.”

”As for the artifacts’ attributes, they don’t all have to be fire-attributed. That would be too monotonous.”

Considering the Five Elements’ interactions—wind fuels fire, wood begets fire, and fire begets earth—Li Qing decided to refine the four Bone Spikes into high-grade magical artifacts with wind, wood, fire, and earth attributes, respectively!

”Wind can fan the flames. In the Five Elements, wood generates fire, and fire generates earth...”

”Let’s call it the ’Wind, Wood, Fire, Earth Spear’!”

With the artifact refinement plan finalized, Li Qing immediately began preparing all the necessary materials.

The white ape’s Bone Spikes lacked any inherent attribute affinity. To refine them into the attributes Li Qing needed, he would need not only to temper them with spiritual essence but also to gather several portions of attribute-specific materials.

But where would he obtain these materials? He didn’t have a single one! He couldn’t just conjure them out of thin air!

The best way to obtain these spiritual materials would be to exchange contribution points with the sect. The sect’s treasury was undoubtedly well-stocked, and acquiring materials for refining high-grade magical artifacts would be effortless.

However, Li Qing had only joined the sect less than a year ago and had been an elder for a mere few months. He hadn’t yet received the annual contribution points that elders were entitled to.

Therefore, exchanging with the sect was not an option.

But let’s not forget Li Qing’s current status: he was an elder of the Lingyun Sect!

This position allowed him to issue tasks to the sect’s qi refining realm disciples, who could choose whether or not to accept them.

That’s right, Li Qing currently lacked contribution points, but he possessed a wealth of valuable items.

For instance, he had Heavenly Star Grass of considerable age, a large quantity of spirit stones, and two uneaten foundation establishment pills!

Even a small portion of these treasures would send the sect disciples into a frenzy, especially the foundation establishment pills. Offering just one would mobilize an unimaginable force!

”Each elder can issue two tasks per year. Since I need to collect materials of four different attributes, I might as well combine them into a single task. No need to waste task slots.”

Li Qing muttered to himself, his mind racing as he considered which materials would be suitable for refining a magic artifact.

”For fire attribute, Molten Fire Marrow from an earthfire vein would be ideal. However, there’s no earthfire vein near the Lingyun Sect, so I might not be able to find any. Firecloud Stone Essence will have to do as a backup.”

”I don’t know much about wind attribute materials, especially those that are considered ’materials.’ Perhaps I should consider materials from wind attribute Demon beasts.”

”Wood and earth attributes are easy. Centennial spiritwood branches and yellow jade stone will suffice.”

Having decided on the four materials he needed to collect, Li Qing knew he could begin refining the artifact as soon as he obtained them.

He immediately flew out of his cave abode and headed straight for the General Affairs Hall.

After a while, he landed in front of the hall and bowed respectfully to an elder of the General Affairs Hall, addressing him as ”senior brother.”

”Greetings, senior brother. I’ve come to issue a task to collect materials.”

(End of the Chapter)

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