Chapter 869

Chapter 869: Closed-Door Treasure Refining (Part One)

After reaching an agreement, Wang Chen signed a contract with True Master Jingyun.

For high-level Qi Training cultivators, the binding power of a contract is even stronger than for low-level cultivators, as it involves karma.

Unless their journey of cultivation is completely severed, no high-level Qi Training cultivator would easily break a contract they have signed.

However, True Master Jingyun did not immediately present the South Ming Leaving Fire to Wang Chen. Instead, they agreed that after ten days, she would supply Wang Chen with the materials needed to refine thirty high-quality spirit tools, and the trade would be completed once Wang Chen finished crafting these spirit tools.

Wang Chen had no objections to this. After all, the value of the South Ming Leaving Fire was exceedingly high, and True Master Jingyun also harbored concerns that he might abscond with it after receiving it.

In truth, since acquiring this seedling of South Ming Leaving Fire, True Master Jingyun had been too fearful to reveal it to anyone, let alone entrust it to a great weapon refiner for crafting magic treasures.

This was because those great weapon refiners often possessed deep and powerful connections, making it easy for them to seize her South Ming Leaving Fire without hesitation.

It was only after recognizing Wang Chen as a loose cultivator that True Master Jingyun dared to take the risk and bring out the South Ming Leaving Fire for this gamble.

This seedling of South Ming Leaving Fire had been a constant source of anxiety for her!

The Golden Core Kun Cultivator glanced at the contract and smiled, “So your name is Wang Chen.”

It was only now that she learned Wang Chen’s true name.

Wang Chen smiled in return.

The rank of the contract True Master Jingyun provided was quite high; if he had used a false name, he would have been exposed immediately.

That would have been a surefire way to make enemies!

Though revealing his true name was not a significant issue, he still added, “Please keep my identity a secret, fellow traveler.”

“Of course!”

Without hesitation, True Master Jingyun assured him, “This matter is known only to the heavens, the earth, you, and me. It will never reach a third person’s ears!”

Wang Chen desired confidentiality, and she was even more determined to keep the contract concealed!

The relationship between the two also grew closer because of this contract.

In that grand pavilion, True Master Jingyun warmly entertained Wang Chen and even presented him with a stack of letter symbols for ease of communication.

Ten days later, Wang Chen returned to Ling You City and collected the spirit tool materials from the Golden Core Kun Cultivator.

Two months later, he delivered thirty customized spirit tools to True Master Jingyun.

True Master Jingyun was thoroughly satisfied and, as per their agreement, handed Wang Chen a seedling of South Ming Leaving Fire along with five sets of magic treasure materials.

The three magic treasures she commissioned Wang Chen to create were all customized for her own use!

“I want it! Hurry up and give it to me!”

On his way back to the nameless small valley, the Little Cauldron leaped out of the Life Creation Cauldron, bouncing impatiently on his shoulder.

Wang Chen, however, was not one to indulge this little creature: “We’ll discuss it when we get back.”

Reluctantly, the Little Cauldron had no choice but to retreat back into the precious cauldron.

Upon returning to the cave at the bottom of the pool, Wang Chen did not disturb Su Ziling, who was in the midst of closed-door cultivation in the quiet room. Instead, he proceeded to the weapon refining room to summon the Life Creation Cauldron.

This weapon refining room had originally been a storage area, which he had reorganized and repurposed for the art of weapon refining.

Due to the inability to draw out the ground fire, Wang Chen had to rely entirely on his robust dan power to sustain the spirit tools he had refined some time ago.

The consumption was immense, resulting in no progress in his cultivation level during this period.

Now, things were finally looking up. With the South Ming Leaving Fire’s enhancement, Wang Chen no longer needed to deplete his Golden Core.

“Let me handle it!”

As soon as Wang Chen retrieved the crystal ball containing the South Ming Leaving Fire, the Little Cauldron leaped out again and pounced directly onto the crystal ball.

Its eager expression seemed ready to devour it whole!

“Don’t be reckless,” Wang Chen cautioned, “Once it’s used up, it’s gone.”

This little fellow was just like a mischievous child; if he didn’t keep chanting spells to control it, it would surely wreak havoc!

“No need to worry!”

The Little Cauldron declared confidently, “I know how to nurture the flame, and I promise it won’t extinguish. If you can gather the other nine kinds of ancient source fires, I can even refine a supreme path fire for you!”

It made it sound so simple!

Wang Chen’s eyelid twitched as he waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to indulge the little one’s boasting.

The ancient ten fires were exceedingly rare, with some already fading into legend. How could one possibly gather them all without extraordinary fortune and skill?

Wang Chen didn’t believe he could achieve such a feat.

However, since the Little Cauldron claimed to know how to nurture the flame and ensure it wouldn’t die out, that was a relief!

Thus, Wang Chen didn’t stop its actions.

With a cheer, the Little Cauldron lifted the crystal ball and hurled it into the Life Creation Cauldron, leaping in after it.

Bang!

The cauldron lid slammed shut, producing a deep, resonant thud.

Under Wang Chen’s watchful gaze, the precious cauldron began to tremble, the true seal characters etched on its surface glowing one by one, turning the entire cauldron a fiery red as if it were on the verge of being refined.

“Master, lend me your strength!”

The Little Cauldron’s voice echoed in Wang Chen’s Sea of Consciousness.

Wang Chen’s eyes flickered as he silently pressed his palm against the cauldron’s surface, channeling a steady stream of true essence into it.

The South Ming Leaving Fire couldn’t simply be used by placing it in the precious cauldron; like newly refined magical treasures, it required ritual refining and nurturing to fully integrate with the Life Creation Cauldron.

Only then could it be used to craft spirit tools and treasures!

As the master of the cauldron, Wang Chen naturally had to contribute his efforts.

In fact, it took him three full days and nights, exhausting his true essence and even tapping into the power of his Golden Core, to fully tame this seedling of South Ming Leaving Fire, transforming it into the cauldron’s inner flame.

The pressure and suffering Wang Chen endured during this process were beyond imagination!

After refining the South Ming Leaving Fire, Wang Chen spent five days recuperating until he returned to his peak condition before beginning to refine magical treasures.

Most of Wang Chen’s knowledge of weapon refining came from “Nine Directions in Weapon Refining.”

This treatise on weapon refinement was said to be the true heritage of the Nine Directions Sect, the foremost weapon refining sect in the Haotian Realm, from a millennium ago.

“Nine Directions in Weapon Refining” encompassed the fundamental refining methods for magical tools, spirit tools, and treasures at the third-grade level, including both theory and techniques. It also contained over a thousand refining recipes, covering a wide array of armors, weapons, and supplementary tools.

After obtaining “Nine Directions in Weapon Refining,” Wang Chen devoted considerable time to studying and mastering it, which allowed his refining skills to advance by leaps and bounds.

Now, refining spirit tools was a breeze for Wang Chen.

However, refining magical treasures was a different matter altogether; the difficulty increased by more than a tier, and with the materials being rare and precious, opportunities to practice were few and far between.

“Master, let the Little Cauldron assist you with the refining!”

The Little Cauldron popped up again, eagerly volunteering, “What magical treasure do you wish to refine? I guarantee I’ll help you craft it flawlessly, without a single issue!”

Ever since the South Ming Leaving Fire was refined, this little fellow’s confidence had soared, its tone brimming with assurance.

Wang Chen shot the Little Cauldron a sidelong glance, too indifferent to respond.

His own skills were what truly mattered; if he relied entirely on the cauldron spirit to accomplish everything, what would that make him?

A puppet? A mere tool?

Moreover, Wang Chen was certain that this little fellow had its own ulterior motives!

The more proactive it was, the less inclined Wang Chen was to agree.

Unless he truly found himself at a loss.

“Open the furnace!”