Chapter 119

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Chapter 119: Arduous Forging

The old bird selected these two Second-tier treasure cannonballs for Fang Lie not only due to their simple construction and ease of forging, but also because the materials were readily available—just a matter of spending spirit stones.

Both underground poison fire and fire steel were common materials sold in many Mo Sect markets.

Fang Lie immediately dispatched Ice Second Brother to purchase them.

True to his skills, Ice Second Brother returned within hours clutching a gourd brimming with underground poison fire.

Though small, the gourd contained spatial enchantments—its stored poison fire sufficed for crafting multiple Second-tier treasures.

This single gourd cost two million spirit stones, a discounted price granted due to Fang Lie’s status as a Great Pill Master.

Without wasting words, Fang Lie hurried to his secret room with the gourd.

Following the old bird’s teachings, he sat cross-legged on a cushion and pointed at the floating gourd, releasing a wisp of green flame.

Fang Lie then activated both the Explosion Qi Technique and Blood Ignition Technique, temporarily elevating his magic to Golden Pool realm cultivator levels.

His hands flew through intricate gestures, imprinting secret techniques into the flickering flame.

As the techniques merged with the fire, the green mass contracted into a hen’s egg-sized sphere.

This marked only the initial step. Fang Lie continued channeling magic and weaving techniques to reshape its internal framework.

Hours passed. The sphere shrank steadily, hardening into a gem-like form after four hours.

But prolonged exertion took its toll. Distracted, Fang Lie misfired a technique—

The dormant poison fire sphere detonated violently. Standing directly in its path, Fang Lie was instantly obliterated.

Two hours later, he resurrected within the Cycle of Fire. A self-inspection revealed minimal harm beyond the loss of his Soul-Settling Bell, Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe, and Roaring Sky Cannon. Paradoxically, the near-death experience expanded his Qi Sea to 360 zhang.

The old bird quipped, "I instructed you to forge treasures, not commit suicide!"

"Easy for you to say!" Fang Lie snapped. "One tiny error caused instant detonation! Ordinary treasure crafting allows mistakes without explosions!"

"Disposable attack treasures are inherently volatile," the old bird retorted. "Others create stable items where errors can be corrected. Yours are designed to explode—instability comes standard."

"Curse this! Maintaining Explosion Qi and Blood Ignition Techniques for eight hours strains body and mind. How can I avoid mistakes?" Fang Lie groaned.

"Persist. Practice." The old bird shrugged. "Your undying nature lets you retry endlessly. What’s to fear?"

"Then I’ll endure—for vengeance!" Fang Lie roared before darting from the Cycle of Fire toward his sacred mountain.

His siblings waited anxiously outside his cave dwelling. Relief washed over them at his safe return.

Mao Mao rushed forward with fresh clothes. Fang Lie dressed hastily, dispelling his modesty-concealing flames.

Ice Second Brother presented retrieved treasures: the Dao Robe, Roaring Sky Cannon, Soul-Settling Bell, and poison fire gourd.

"Big Brother," Ice Second Brother puzzled, "why the explosion? It flattened your chamber!"

Fang Lie surveyed the devastation—the stone chamber reduced to a smoldering crater. "No margin for error when crafting these shells," he sighed. "Fortunately, detonating midway only unleashed Second-tier treasure power. A completed shell’s blast would’ve destroyed everything I own."

"This is too perilous!" Ice Second Brother urged. "Find another forging site!"

"Agreed!" Fang Huo added. "Our cave can’t withstand Fourth-tier Magical Item attacks!"

"Understood!" Fang Lie said helplessly. "I’ll find some rugged mountains to open a new cave dwelling for crafting cannon shells. Keep these treasures safe for me first to avoid destruction."

He handed the Soul-Settling Bell and other items back to Ice Second Brother, keeping only the underground poison fire. As he walked out, he added, "Keep gathering more materials. Looks like I’ll be wasting plenty!"

"No problem, leave it to us!" Fang Huo and others quickly responded.

After leaving alone, Fang Lie searched for suitable rugged mountains around Mo Sect headquarters. Though wild mountains existed, most nearby lands belonged to others. Crafting cannon shells under their watch would expose his secret. Worse, if he died, his abandoned gourd might get claimed by others.

Finally recalling the perfect spot, Fang Lie rushed straight to Cycle of Fire.

The old bird grinned upon seeing him. "Smart choice coming here!"

"Home’s too cramped for this," Fang Lie shrugged. "Safe to craft here?"

"Of course – this place is yours," the old bird said. "Begin now. I’ll point you in the direction."

Nodding, Fang Lie sat cross-legged and started working. Guided by the old bird and previous experience, he lasted six hours before the unfinished cannon shell exploded.

After reviving, Fang Lie roared, "I’ll master this craft if it kills me!"

Hours later, another blast reduced him to ashes.

The old bird sighed. "Anyone else would’ve stayed dead with such clumsiness."

Days became hellish cycles of explosions, deaths and revivals. When underground poison fire ran out, he tried fire steel with similar results.

Two months later, Fang Lie gloomily stared at his haul – just two Second-tier treasure cannonballs. "Am I that dumb?"

"Not exactly," the old bird said. "Crafting Golden Pool realm items with your cultivation is tough. Succeeding twice is impressive."

"But I wasted so much time!"

"Gained valuable experience! These last two took three days each. Plus, facing death repeatedly strengthened your mind and boosted cultivation. Your Qi Sea’s over four hundred zhang now, right?"

"Only consolation prize," Fang Lie grimaced.

"Your cultivation speed’s excellent! Magic reserves grew hundredfold from hundred zhang months ago. Not satisfied?"

"Guess it’s decent," Fang Lie reluctantly smiled.

"After obtaining Arhat Immortal Fruit, your Qi Sea should reach five-six hundred zhang, unlocking new divine skills. Then you’ll have real self-defense power."

"Pah! Core Inner Gate Disciples have thousand-zhang Qi Seas, elites reach miles. I’m far behind!"

"They used opportunities to grow. Yours are better – I estimate two years to surpass Core Inner Gate Disciples’ hundred-mile Qi Seas."

"My target’s twelve-thousand-mile Qi Sea. Otherwise I’ll die old! Seems impossible…"

"Quitting guarantees failure!"

"Never quitting!" Fang Lie declared. "I’ll avenge Father, restore Fang Family’s glory! Watch me break through Golden Pool realm, Purple Palace, become Thunder Tribulation Immortal!"

"Good spirit! Now prepare for Secret Realm."

Nodding farewell, Fang Lie vanished from Cycle of Fire.