To enable Li Mu to refine the formation artifact for the Thunder Prison Grand Formation, Venerable Lei Hong was responsive to his every request, bringing out the other two formation artifacts—the Six-tier Thunder Suppressing Stele and the Six-tier Thunder Yuan Formation Plate—for him to examine their artifact patterns and formation arrays.
Li Mu took possession of the two six-tier formation arrays, having already successfully 'refined' one six-tier spirit treasure. After investing his Divine Thought to examine them, he was immediately awestruck by their powerful thunder elemental artifact patterns and complex Thunder Dao Law base arrays.
Unlike the Five Elements Dao Law, where the Five Elements generate and counteract each other with distinct characteristics, the artifact patterns and arrays related to thunder were filled with a wild, destructive, and domineering aura. Purple lightning patterns were intricately outlined, imbued with terrifying thunderous intent.
Li Mu's Divine Thought probed for a moment, not daring to delve too deeply, and then retreated from the artifact core. If it weren't for Venerable Lei Hong assisting in controlling the two six-tier formation arrays, merely probing with Divine Thought would have been overwhelming for his Divine Thought.
"How is it? How was the artifact pattern exploration? Dao Friend Li, can the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer, this formation artifact, be replicated?" Venerable Lei Hong watched Li Mu's every move, asking with concern.
"Six-tier formation arrays, their core Spirit Arrays involve the Dao Laws. Forcibly refining them would result in an extremely high failure rate. However, refining a five-tier formation artifact with slightly less power should be no problem!" Li Mu pondered for a moment before responding.
"That's wonderful! I dare not hope for a six-tier one, but having a five-tier Purple Azure Thunder Hammer to complement it, restoring five-tenths of the Thunder Prison Grand Formation's power, would satisfy me!" Venerable Lei Hong said happily.
"Then it's not a big problem. However, I just acquired Heavenly Fire and need to refine a batch of Spiritual Artifacts to familiarize myself with it before I can be more confident in refining that formation artifact!" Li Mu nodded, indicating.
"Of course, of course! Dao Friend Li, feel free to speak if you have any other needs!" Venerable Lei Hong nodded repeatedly, saying generously.
After chatting for a while longer, Li Mu asked Venerable Lei Hong for some high-tier Yao Beast essence souls as Artifact Refining Materials.
Venerable Lei Hong was responsive to Li Mu's every request, directly taking out over a hundred high-tier Yao Beast essence souls from his storage ring as a gift.
Yu Ling Sect, which started by subduing Spirit Beasts, capturing Yao Beasts, cultivating Spirit Beasts, hunting Yao Beasts, and so on, had an abundance of high-tier Yao Beast essence souls stored.
Li Mu was overjoyed. After receiving this batch of high-tier Yao Beast essence souls, he immediately informed Venerable Lei Hong that he would be going into seclusion for a period. Once he had fully mastered the Heavenly Fire, he would formally begin refining the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer, this formation artifact.
Upon hearing this, Venerable Lei Hong was delighted and treated the matter with solemnity. He ordered the entire Sect that, in the near future, no one was allowed to disturb the esteemed guest at Lingyun Pavilion. During this period, the Sect would be under strict lockdown, strictly prohibiting Disciples from entering or exiting important Sect areas, to prevent the remnants of the Nine Demon Sect from invading again.
As for the negative impact caused by the Sect's lockdown, it could only be lifted after the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer was successfully refined.
After all, Corpse Yin Demon Lord and Nine Nether Demon Lord's whereabouts were unknown, and the other three Demon Lords had also escaped. It was uncertain when they would make a comeback.
Time flew by like a white colt passing a crevice, fleeting in an instant.
Half a month had passed in a blink of an eye.
Li Mu left the Treasure Mansion Space and walked out of the secluded cultivation chamber, looking refreshed and stretching comfortably. He appeared in the courtyard of Lingyun Pavilion.
To complete the Artifact Refining commission from Venerable Lei Hong as quickly as possible.
During this time, Li Mu stayed indoors, diligently refining artifacts within the Painting World Treasure Mansion, familiarizing himself with the Eightfold Heavenly Fire Tempering Method, and learning to coordinate with the Skyfire Refining Furnace formed from the Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire.
He successfully refined a batch of five-tier pseudo Spirit Treasures.
Li Mu used a Flying Sword for communication to notify Venerable Lei Hong, then landed in the pavilion, took out Spirit Wine and Spirit Fruits to taste, and waited for Venerable Lei Hong.
In less than half a cup of tea's time, Venerable Lei Hong arrived like a whirlwind, flying down and walking directly into the pavilion, taking a seat opposite Li Mu.
"Dao Friend Li, was the Artifact Refining smooth?" Venerable Lei Hong looked at Li Mu with anticipation, asking expectantly.
Facing Venerable Lei Hong's fervent gaze, Li Mu put down his wine cup, smiled slightly, and took out nine Spiritual Artifacts from his nine storage spiritual pearl.
One by one, the Spiritual Artifacts appeared out of thin air, floating in the air. Their Artifact Spirits leaped forth—nimble little carp, obedient black cats, small and Honest green oxen, lazy little lions… They each possessed different Divine Abilities and were full of vitality.
Seven five-tier Artifact Spirits, some prostrating on the ground, some patrolling in mid-air, some chasing and playing… They surrounded Li Mu, creating a lively scene.
Venerable Lei Hong's mouth hung open as he stared blankly at the seven vibrant Artifact Spirits, his eyes hazy and his excitement immeasurable.
Seeing this, Li Mu couldn't help but smile.
"Lei Sect Master, I did not disappoint. Five five-tier pseudo Spirit Treasures, two five-tier Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts. My success rate in refining five-tier Spiritual Artifacts has now reached eight-tenths. If I refine the formation artifact—the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer—I estimate I have about six-tenths confidence." Li Mu looked at Venerable Lei Hong and introduced with a smile.
"Five five-tier pseudo Spirit Treasures? Two five-tier Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts? These were refined by Dao Friend Li in half a month? This Artifact Refining efficiency is too fast!"
Venerable Lei Hong gasped, looking at Li Mu with amazement, followed by a surge of ecstasy in his heart.
Yu Ling Sect had inherited thousands of Years of Legacy. In the past, due to the ability of the founding Ancestral Master, there were also a large number of high-tier Spiritual Artifacts, and even six-tier spirit treasure formation artifacts were the family assets left by his old self.
However, as the Years passed, generations of Elders or elite Disciples encountered calamities and perished during their external training, leading to the loss of high-tier Spiritual Artifacts.
This resulted in the current Yu Ling Sect, apart from the two six-tier spirit treasures, the 【Thunder Suppressing Stele】 and the 【Thunder Yuan Formation Plate】, and the one six-tier spirit treasure each carried by him and Revered Qing Wei, the total number of five-tier Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts among the Nascent Soul True Lords was only eight or nine, with not even one five-tier Top-Grade pseudo Spirit Treasure.
Now, Li Mu had actually refined five five-tier Top-Grade pseudo Spirit Treasures and two five-tier Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts. His achievement in half a month alone was equivalent to several hundred Years of operation for Yu Ling Sect. It was simply unbelievable.
"Lei Sect Master, please, help me entrust this Spirit Treasure to True Lord Tianhong." Li Mu controlled the seven Spiritual Artifacts to fly before Venerable Lei Hong, and specially selected a tripod-shaped Spiritual Artifact with a green ox Artifact Spirit, saying.
"Dao Friend Li, what do you mean by this? Could it be...?" Venerable Lei Hong looked at Li Mu in confusion, not expecting him to send such a Spirit Treasure to him.
"This Artifact Refining used all the Artifact Refining Materials provided by Lei Sect Master. I merely used this opportunity to practice my Artifact Refining skills. The finished products cannot simply be kept by me." Li Mu smiled slightly and explained.
"Even so, it shouldn't all belong to me! Dao Friend Li, I'll take three pseudo Spirit Treasures and one Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, how does that sound? If you don't need the rest, I'm willing to buy them with Top-Grade Spirit Stones or exchange them for equivalent Materials. What do you think?"
Venerable Lei Hong also dared not monopolize this batch of Spiritual Artifacts. Although pseudo Spirit Treasures were tempting, according to usual custom, an Artifact Refiner was supposed to receive half of the remuneration.
"That works too. I need a batch of Five Elements Artifact Refining Materials." Li Mu smiled indifferently, agreeing to Venerable Lei Hong's proposal, and went with the flow, selling the Spiritual Artifacts he didn't need to Yu Ling Sect.
"Good! Good! I'll go prepare them right away." Venerable Lei Hong nodded repeatedly with joy. With the help of this batch of high-tier Spiritual Artifacts with Artifact Spirits, the overall combat power of Yu Ling Sect's Nascent Soul True Lords would increase by two or three tenths.
"Oh, right, I also have a Delicate Thunder Orb here, specially refined for Senior Beast God as a healing thunder artifact. It will be extremely beneficial for his recovery from injuries." Li Mu thought of something and again took out a Spirit Orb from his nine storage spiritual pearl, indicating.
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast is a Seven-rank True Spirit. If not for its old injuries not yet healed, it could have single-handedly defeated the five Soul Transformation Demon Lords of the Nine Demon Sect.
After all, a seven-tier Yao Beast's strength is enough to contend with a Void Refining Realm powerhouse, and a Seven-rank True Spirit's strength is even superior.
Moreover, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast possesses the Bloodline of an ancient Beast King, making its strength far surpass that of ordinary Yao Beasts. If it could recover to its Peak, even Human Race Body Integration Realm Cultivators would not be its match.
It was worth investing in.
Gifting a five-tier Spirit Treasure to aid its healing and building a bit of a relationship was most appropriate.
Upon hearing this, Venerable Lei Hong was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Dao Friend Li. I will have Beast God come here now."
Li Mu nodded in agreement. Venerable Lei Hong indeed understood social etiquette; this generous gift had to be personally delivered to be meaningful.
Venerable Lei Hong used some method to notify the Purple Azure Thunder Beast.
During the wait, Venerable Lei Hong prepared to hand over the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer's Artifact Refining Materials to Li Mu.
Venerable Lei Hong solemnly took out a storage ring, looked at Li Mu, and asked, "Dao Friend Li, please take a look. If these Materials are used for refining, how confident are you?"
"This is...?" Li Mu took the storage ring and probed it with his Divine Sense.
In the center of the storage ring's space lay a purple thunder stone, a zhang high and half a zhang wide. Streaks of purple electric snakes continuously flashed across its surface, exuding surging thunderous intent. To its left floated a six-tier thunder-paulownia wood heart, over three chi long. To its right floated a porcelain bottle, covered in numerous purple lightning bolts, containing thunderous might comparable to the purple thunder stone.
"Six-tier - Purple Azure Thunder Essence Stone, six-tier thunder-paulownia wood heart, and what's in this bottle?" Li Mu 'looked' at the items in the storage ring, then raised his head in surprise to look at Venerable Lei Hong, asking.
"The Thunder Containing Bottle holds six-tier Thunder Essence Marrow Liquid, extracted from the Myriad Thunder Pool of Tianlong Mountain, a total of seven hundred and fifty drops." Venerable Lei Hong looked at Li Mu and explained in detail.
"These three six-tier thunder-attribute Artifact Refining Materials, Lei Sect Master, must have taken a lot of effort to collect!" Li Mu nodded, looking at Venerable Lei Hong and asking solemnly.
"Indeed!" Venerable Lei Hong nodded with emotion, looking at Li Mu and asking with concern, "Dao Friend Li, I wonder, using these three thunder-attribute Artifact Refining Materials, how confident are you in refining a five-tier formation artifact? I don't ask it to reach the level of a pseudo Spirit Treasure, only that it can match the other two formation artifacts!"
"Using six-tier Materials to refine a five-tier Spiritual Artifact is too wasteful! However, this way, I will have at least six or seven-tenths confidence." Li Mu pondered for a moment, estimating.
Six or seven-tenths confidence, this success rate is already very high!
"Good! Good! Then I'll trouble Dao Friend Li!" Venerable Lei Hong was very satisfied and solemnly handed the storage ring to Li Mu.
Li Mu smiled as he accepted the storage ring, accepting this Artifact Refining commission. This was also one of the costs of obtaining the Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire from True Lord Tianhong. Taking a ball of Heavenly Fire from someone without helping Yu Ling Sect complete their formation array would be truly inexcusable.
As they spoke, thunder suddenly rumbled in the distance. The Purple Azure Thunder Beast transformed into a flash of lightning, shrinking to one zhang, and landed in the courtyard.
Seeing Li Mu, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast showed a human-like smile on its face, asking with a grin, "Dao Friend Li, what is it that you called me for?"
"Senior, I know your old injuries have not healed, so I specially used these thunder-attribute Artifact Refining Materials to forge this Delicate Thunder Orb for you. As long as you wear it, you can absorb the residual power of the Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulation during thunderstorms and when others are Undergoing Tribulation, as well as the natural thunder containing natural power, to heal your injuries. According to your injuries, ten Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulations, or over a hundred instances of heavenly thunder irrigation, will be needed to fully heal your injuries and restore your cultivation."
Li Mu spread his five fingers, and in his palm lay a crystal-clear blue thunder orb, as if it had absorbed endless thunder.
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast's eyes lit up, and it said with surprise, "Little Friend, this Spiritual Artifact is truly tailor-made for me. I owe you another great favor. Damn it, I don't even know how to repay you!"
This battle had aggravated the Purple Azure Thunder Beast's injuries. In Yu Ling Sect, which lacked a thunderous environment, although there were several thunder-attribute formation artifacts from the Thunder Prison Grand Formation protecting it, their contribution to its injury recovery was still a drop in the bucket. It also couldn't draw the Thunder Prison Grand Formation's thunder power without restraint.
What it needed most was a large amount of thunder essence to aid its recovery. This Delicate Thunder Orb precisely scratched the Purple Azure Thunder Beast's itch. With its help, perhaps its old injuries could even fully recover.
The gift Li Mu presented this time truly solved the Purple Azure Thunder Beast's urgent problem.
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast's injuries had lasted for a thousand Years. Its original Peak strength at the Late Stage of the seventh-tier had fallen to the threshold of the seventh-tier under the torment of its thousand-year-old injuries.
Otherwise, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast wouldn't have been entangled with that group of Soul Transformation Demon Lords for so long in this battle. In its prime, they wouldn't have been enough for it to swallow in one bite.
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast's pair of purple vertical eyes, filled with gratitude, stared intently at Li Mu, wondering how to repay him.
"Senior, there's no need for such. Earlier, when Hundred Refinements Sect caused trouble for me, didn't you also step forward to protect me? It's only right that I do this!" Li Mu smiled slightly, saying indifferently.
Upon hearing this, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast grew even fonder of a junior like Li Mu. However, having received favors from someone repeatedly, how could it just let it go?
"Little Friend Li, you saved my life, and this time you sent a healing Spiritual Artifact. I have never been able to repay you. If I just accept this item, I will be restless! Tell me whatever you need." The Purple Azure Thunder Beast looked at Li Mu and said solemnly.
"What Beast God says is absolutely true, Dao Friend Li, do not be modest. You are also refining a Sect-protecting formation artifact for my Sect. If you have any other needs, just say so."
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast and Venerable Lei Hong, one after another, indirectly pleaded with Li Mu, hoping to repay some of the kindness, however little.
Li Mu appeared troubled on the surface, but inwardly he was slightly pleased; this was precisely the effect he wanted.
"Senior Purple Azure, since you've said so, I'll boldly ask. Next, for refining the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer, I'll need a bit of True Spirit Blood. I wonder if you can..." Li Mu looked at the Purple Azure Thunder Beast, saying awkwardly.
True Spirit Blood!
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast's expression changed slightly, showing a look of difficulty.
True Spirit Blood is not just any blood from the body; it is the vital heart blood after the True Spirit has solidified. Every drop is extremely precious, intimately related to one's Divine Soul, cultivation, and lifespan.
If too much True Spirit Blood is given, it could worsen existing injuries, or even turn into an incurable severe illness, endangering life.
This request truly put the Purple Azure Thunder Beast in a difficult position.
However, Li Mu was refining artifacts for their Sect, and he had specifically refined a Magic Treasure for it, and he had saved its life. The life-saving grace was right there, and it couldn't refuse.
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast tentatively asked, "Little Friend Li, I wonder, how much True Spirit Blood do you need?"
Li Mu cautiously said, "Ten drops will be enough! It's okay if it's inconvenient for Senior!"
Upon hearing this, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast's tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and it gritted its teeth and nodded, "Little Friend Li, you scared me! It's just ten drops of True Spirit Blood, I'll give it!"
As soon as the words fell, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast extended its right claw and forcibly squeezed out several drops of purple True Spirit Blood, imbued with a strong Yao Beast aura, from its fingertip, floating in mid-air.
This was True Spirit Blood, containing extremely powerful vitality and thunderous intent.
Seeing this, Li Mu quickly cupped his hands in thanks, took out a liquid storage bottle from his nine storage spiritual pearl, and carefully collected the blood.
"Little Friend Li, if there's nothing else, I'll go rest!" Having offered ten drops of True Spirit Blood, the Purple Azure Thunder Beast felt a wave of discomfort and a desire for sleep, so it bid farewell to Li Mu.
"Senior, please rest well. This Magical Artifact can also slowly heal your injuries during normal times." Li Mu quickly presented the Delicate Thunder Orb.
The Purple Azure Thunder Beast nodded, waved its claw to collect the Delicate Thunder Orb, its figure floated into the air, and it transformed into a streak of lightning, disappearing into the distance.
"Lei Sect Master, I'm going to refine the Purple Azure Thunder Hammer now. Shall we chat next time?" Li Mu put away the True Spirit Blood and indicated to Venerable Lei Hong.
"Alright! Alright! Dao Friend Li, just do your best, there's no need to feel pressured."
Venerable Lei Hong was very happy and also very nervous. He gave Li Mu a parting instruction, fearing he might disturb his Artifact Refining, then stood up and left Lingyun Pavilion.