Chapter 261: Refining a Natal Magic Treasure

Chapter 261: Refining a Natal Magic Treasure

The Tianyin Tower was essentially a trading outpost for the Tianyin Pavilion in this city.

Chu Ning descended to the third floor. The first and second floors offered items that were relatively low-end, and with his current cultivation, they held little interest for him.

The third floor and above catered to late Qi Refining and even Golden Core cultivators, which piqued Chu Ning's curiosity.

Compared to Jiuhua City, Tianyin City was indeed livelier. Perhaps due to its proximity to the other alliances, the variety of items on offer was significantly greater.

As Chu Ning perused the third floor, he unexpectedly came across talismans and pills from the Tianji Alliance and some sects of the Demon Path Alliance.

When Chu Ning inquired, the Qi Refining cultivator from Tianyin Pavilion explained with a smile, "Some of these items were obtained by our sect's cultivators during their dealings with the two alliances. Others were sold to us by other cultivators. Quite a few of the talismans and pills here possess unique qualities. For example, these talismans from several sects of the Demon Path Alliance are used in the same way as our Yunxiao Alliance's talismans. They don't require any special demonic arts to activate, but their offensive capabilities are quite formidable."

Chu Ning nodded and then pointed to several high-grade, top-quality talismans from the Demon Path Alliance and the Tianji Alliance, saying, "I'll take these talismans."

The Tianyin Pavilion cultivator was slightly surprised by the request but retrieved the talismans and handed them over to Chu Ning, smiling as he said, "Senior is probably a guest invited by Elder Xue. We'll only charge you a token amount for the cost of materials."

Chu Ning nodded and took the talismans, paying the required spirit stones without hesitation. With his current wealth, such a sum was insignificant.

After browsing for a while longer, he didn't find anything else of interest and prepared to leave.

As he reached the staircase, two graceful figures ascended from the lower floors.

Chu Ning glanced casually and recognized one of them as a familiar face—Han Qiaoer, whom he had met briefly at Honghu Lake.

He had intended to greet her, but then he recalled that she had only seen his appearance as Li Qun, so he decided against it. Instead, he merely smiled politely when she bowed and greeted him.

Even after Chu Ning ascended the stairs, Han Qiaoer continued to stare at the spot where he had disappeared from view, her expression filled with surprise.

Noticing her behavior, the other charming female cultivator teased, "Han Qiaoer, why are you staring at that senior? Do you fancy him because he's young and handsome?"

Knowing that each floor of the tower was warded by restrictions, she felt free to joke without worrying about being overheard.

Han Qiaoer shot her companion a glare. "What nonsense are you spouting? It's just that he looked at me as if he recognized me, and I sensed a hint of familiarity from him as well. However, the spiritual aura I perceived from him is unfamiliar, and I can't recall where I might have met him before."

Hearing Han Qiaoer's words, the charming female cultivator's face also betrayed a hint of astonishment. "Your Jade Woman's Insightful Art is renowned for its perception of spiritual auras. And this person is already a Golden Core cultivator at such a young age; one would think that anyone who has met him would remember."

Han Qiaoer shook her head. "Maybe it was just my imagination. Let's go; he's probably a guest invited by Elder Xue, or perhaps I met him a long time ago and simply don't recall."

With that, the two women entered the third floor.

At that moment, Chu Ning had already returned to the fifth floor and informed the attendant that he would be in the meditation room, in case Ling Cang looked for him.

Once inside the meditation room, Chu Ning took out the talismans he had purchased from the Demon Path Alliance and the Tianji Alliance sects and began analyzing them. It was only then that he suddenly remembered that these items would prove useful in the future.

Aside from other applications, when the Spirit Domain opened, he could easily impersonate someone from another sect. With the magic treasures he possessed, including the Double Fire Rings and the newly acquired Ghost Shadow Swords, along with the flying trident he had obtained from Sun Shi Fan of the Da Luo Zong in Wolong Valley, he could completely conceal his true appearance if he also employed a few spells.

As for spells, Chu Ning had no means of learning them through conventional channels. However, he had another option—talismans!

By deciphering the talismans of these sects, Chu Ning could learn the art of crafting talismans and then utilize his True Talisman Spirit Body talent. He could transform these talismans into talisman seeds and store them within himself.

In doing so, when he unleashed the true talisman spells, it wouldn't be much different from using regular spells.

With a plan in mind, Chu Ning, who had some free time on his hands, immediately began deciphering the relevant talismans.

As for crafting talismans and transforming them into true talisman spells, Chu Ning naturally wouldn't attempt such a thing in this place. Although he believed that Tianyin Pavilion wouldn't dare to use special methods to circumvent his spiritual sense and spy on him, it was better to be cautious.

After spending half a day in Tianyin Tower, Ling Cang sought him out. With his business in the tower concluded, the two of them returned directly to the Jiuhua Zong without further delay.

As soon as they returned to Jiuhua Zong, Chu Ning retreated to the pill refining chamber. This trip to Tianyin City had been extremely fruitful, yielding millennium spirit milk, magic treasures, and spirit herbs.

However, the item that Chu Ning valued the most was, of course, the Xianlu Grass. Now that he had obtained this spirit herb, he immediately set about refining the Xianlu Pill.

Two days later, Chu Ning had successfully refined several furnaces of high-grade, mid-tier pills.

"With these Xianlu Pills, the Tianxing Fruits, and three drops of Millennium Spirit Milk, it should be enough to sustain my spiritual power restoration," Chu Ning said contentedly as he returned to his cave abode on Tianlan Peak. After two days of rest and recuperation, he adjusted his physical condition to its peak state.

Chu Ning arrived at the Refining Pavilion and officially began the process of forging his magic treasure.

While refining a magic treasure required tempering by Elixir Fire, not all steps involved the use of the Elixir Fire.

Instead, it was a combination of Earth Fire Array and Elixir Fire Tempering.

Among the three attribute spirit swords, Chu Ning chose the Wood Attribute Spirit Sword as the first one to refine.

Out of the three swords, the Fire Attribute Spirit Sword was the one he had high hopes for, as it could maximize the power of his fire-attribute spells.

So, if he had to choose, Chu Ning felt that this sword must not fail.

Of course, what Chu Ning was striving for was to ensure the success of all three spirit swords.

Chu Ning took out several refining materials and, using the Nine Luo Refining Essence Technique he had learned during the competition, began to temper each material.

Unlike more than a decade ago when he had just started his Foundation Establishment and first encountered the Nine Luo Refining Essence Technique, Chu Ning now had a profound understanding of this technique. His control over spiritual power and spiritual sense had reached an impeccable level.

Golden Bamboo Sand, Amber Fine Iron... He continued until each material was refined to the highest level of purity.

Only then did Chu Ning take out the main material for the Wood Spirit Sword, the Primordial Bamboo.

He threw the bamboo into the earth fire array, and with a series of hand seals, the blazing earth fire enveloped and liquefied the bamboo.

Using his spiritual sense, Chu Ning began to shape the liquid into a sword embryo.

Once this process was completed, Chu Ning exhaled, and a stream of elixir fire emerged from his mouth, wrapping around the sword embryo to stabilize its form without solidifying it.

Simultaneously, the refined materials like Golden Bamboo Sand and Amber Fine Iron were also liquefied by Chu Ning and merged into the sword embryo.

At this moment, Chu Ning's face turned solemn.

He casually took out a Xianlu Pill from his storage bag and consumed it.

His spiritual power, which had been depleted considerably, was quickly replenished.

Now, Chu Ning picked up the Black Xuan Gold that he had prepared earlier.

He exhaled again, and a stream of Elixir Fire emerged from his mouth, enveloping the Black Xuan Gold.

Thus began the lengthy process of refining the Black Xuan Gold.

Midway through, Chu Ning consumed two more Xianlu Pills before he could finally liquefy the small piece of Black Xuan Gold completely.

It was then merged into the sword embryo.

At this point, Chu Ning started the process of repeatedly tempering the sword embryo with Elixir Fire and then taking it out for forging.

After countless repetitions of this process, a two-foot-long spirit sword, shimmering with green light, appeared before Chu Ning.

However, there was no sign of relief on Chu Ning's face.

His spiritual sense swiftly enveloped the entire sword, and his fingertips ignited with a thread of Elixir Fire condensed from the Five Elements Chaos Formula, fused with his spiritual sense.

He began inscribing the sword with mystical patterns! Ever since obtaining the Five Elements Chaos Formula, Chu Ning had been constantly studying and comprehending the mystical patterns required for refining magic treasures.

And it wasn't until after he succeeded in his Golden Core formation, refreshing his Array Dao Spirit Body, and spending months of uninterrupted comprehension, that he finally mastered it.

Now, Chu Ning inscribed intricate and profound mystical patterns into the sword using Elixir Fire and his spiritual sense.

As the final pattern merged into the sword, countless streams of spiritual energy rushed into the sword, and the green light radiating from it intensified!

Chu Ning's face lit up with joy.

The first Wood Spirit Sword had been successfully refined! He stared at the sword, watching the green light grow stronger and stronger until it became so dazzling that one could hardly look directly at it.

Then, with a flash of green light, all the radiance retracted into the sword.

The two-foot-long spirit sword now exuded a profound spiritual aura.

"The Wood Spirit Sword is complete!"

Chu Ning smiled slightly.

He pointed a finger, and the sword floated up automatically, humming softly as it spun in the air.

"This magic treasure that I refined myself is truly extraordinary!"

Chu Ning felt a sense of elation as he experienced the feeling of controlling the sword as if it were an extension of his arm.

It was a completely different sensation from manipulating magic treasures like the Double Fire Rings.

And this was just the beginning; the sword had only undergone Elixir Fire tempering and had yet to be nurtured by his Yuan Spirit and Elixir power.

With that thought, Chu Ning inhaled, and the Wood Spirit Sword transformed into a green light and flew into his mouth.

"I didn't expect that refining this sword would take me a full half a month."

It was only after storing the sword within his body that Chu Ning noticed the time, and he couldn't help but feel a little surprised and slightly emotional.

"Indeed, refining the Black Xuan Gold was exceptionally difficult, and the subsequent tempering and forging processes were equally challenging.

If not for my Elixir Fire's power, which is comparable to that of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, coupled with the boosts from my Fire Spirit Body and Artifact Spirit Body, it would have been hard to accomplish.

Even so, I've consumed a third of the Xianlu Pills.

Fortunately, I had the Tianxing Fruits and Millennium Spirit Milk, or else it wouldn't have been enough."

Of course, as a result, Chu Ning was extremely satisfied with the effects of the Wood Spirit Sword.

He could clearly sense that the power of this sword alone surpassed that of Sun Shifan's flying trident-shaped natal magic treasure, which he had nurtured for ten years.

If all three swords were refined and formed a sword array, their combined might would definitely reach a whole new level.

After a full day and night, when he felt that his condition had completely recovered, he began to forge the next Earth Spirit Sword.

Half a month later, a spirit sword the same size as the Wood Spirit Sword, emanating a profound spiritual aura and shimmering with yellow light, appeared before Chu Ning.

"Compared to refining the Wood Spirit Sword, my control over the Elixir Fire is stronger now, so I consumed less spiritual power and took fewer pills," Chu Ning said with great satisfaction.

With this, he felt that the Xianlu Pills he refined himself would be sufficient to restore his spiritual power.

The Tianxing Fruits and Millennium Spirit Milk could, of course, be kept for future needs.

After meditating for another two days to adjust his state, Chu Ning finally began refining the last Fire Spirit Sword.

With the experience from refining the previous two spirit swords, Chu Ning completed this one in just thirteen days, including inscribing the mystical patterns.

Looking at the spirit sword before him, which was frantically absorbing fire-attribute spiritual energy, Chu Ning's eyes narrowed. He opened a jade box and took out the feather of the Ancient Fiery Sun Spirit Bird.

In the next moment, Chu Ning performed a series of intricate hand seals, directing them toward the fiery red feather.

The feather, imbued with the spirit of the Ancient Fiery Sun Spirit Bird, floated up and hovered above the vortex of spiritual energy over the Fire Spirit Sword.

Faintly, the silhouette of an ancient spirit bird, its body shimmering with flames, could be seen.

Chu Ning performed another set of profound hand seals, channeling them onto the feather.

The wisp of the Ancient Fiery Sun Spirit Bird's spirit became increasingly visible and emanated a powerful aura.

However, after Chu Ning imprinted his seals, the aura did not disperse as expected.

Instead, it followed the dense fire-attribute spiritual energy and merged into the Fire Spirit Sword.

Gradually, it seemed as if the wisp of the spirit bird's soul was about to break free.

But at this critical moment, the spiritual energy swirling above the Fire Spirit Sword suddenly reached a point of saturation.

The scarlet light flashed and vanished, sinking entirely into the sword.

Suddenly unbound by the vortex, the power of the Ancient Fiery Sun Spirit Bird's wisp of spirit spread throughout the entire refining chamber.

The wisp of spirit seemed poised to detach itself from the feather.

Chu Ning's expression changed slightly as he quickly changed his hand seals, intending to retrieve the feather into its jade box.

However, the wisp of spirit had already become somewhat uncontrollable.

Startled, Chu Ning performed his hand seals faster, mobilizing all his spiritual power.

Thick and powerful spiritual energy condensed into streams of hand seals, falling onto the feather.

Then, he raised his hands, and a fiery sun spirit bird, formed by the Fiery Flame Technique, appeared.

It flew up, picked up the feather with its beak, and placed it back into the jade box.

Chu Ning quickly closed the lid and took out several talismans from his storage bag, sticking them onto the box.

Only then did he heave a sigh of relief.

"It seems my cultivation is still insufficient. I wanted to see if I could condense the spirit of the Ancient Fiery Sun Spirit Bird into this Fire Spirit Sword as its spirit entity, but I almost ended up losing it instead," he said, his eyes flickering as he looked at the jade box.

"This box cannot be opened for a short while; otherwise, this wisp of spirit will surely escape.

But since this feather once housed this wisp of spirit and it hasn't completely detached yet, I should be able to bind it again after some time."

With that thought, Chu Ning carefully put away the jade box into his storage bag.

He then turned his attention to the Fire Spirit Sword before him and smiled.

Although he hadn't been able to fully infuse the wisp of the Ancient Fiery Sun Spirit Bird's spirit into the sword this time, he hadn't left empty-handed.

After absorbing a significant amount of the spirit bird's power and a hint of its spirit, the Fire Spirit Sword's aura was noticeably more profound than that of the Wood and Earth Spirit Swords.

In terms of power, it was naturally stronger than the other two swords as well.

"With just the might of this Fire Spirit Sword, I should be able to face many cultivators.

And if I combine all three swords to form a sword array, I should have a fighting chance even against powerful enemies!"

As this thought crossed his mind, Chu Ning opened his mouth and exhaled, causing the two spirit swords he had previously stored within his body to fly out.

With Chu Ning's hands constantly performing intricate hand seals, the three spirit swords whirled and danced within the refining chamber.

Sometimes they separated into three distinct beams of sword light, shooting in different directions, and sometimes they formed various sword arrays, displaying boundless variations.

Chu Ning watched with great delight.

After practicing for a while, he felt much more adept at controlling the swords.

Satisfied, Chu Ning stored all three spirit swords back into his body.

At the same time, his eyes reflected a thoughtful expression.

"The reason I can manipulate them so effortlessly is not only because I refined them myself, but also because my spiritual sense is strong enough, especially after cultivating the Spirit Division Art.

Otherwise, just learning how to manipulate these three swords would have taken a significant amount of time."

Having finally refined his own natal magic treasure, Chu Ning was filled with satisfaction and joy.

However, he didn't rush to leave the refining chamber.

Instead, he took out a small bottle from his storage bag—the Dragon Whisker Grass Essence he had obtained from the female cultivator Jia of the Guiyuan Sect.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end