[What else? Why did you think you couldn’t use its full power? It has its own spirit. And it hasn’t acknowledged you completely. Your cultivation base is too weak.]
Understanding dawned on him as he slowly nodded his head. “I see, so that’s why. But I remember it also absorbed a lot of tribulation energy.”
[Yeah, if it absorbs more of tribulation energy, it might very well reach the Sovereign Grade. The peak your current world can withstand.]
He took a deep breath before entering the blacksmithing room which he had prepared the last time he was here.
“Well, I can’t do much with it for now. Let’s forge a few weapons while I’m at it. I remember taking out a few techniques from the Treasury before,” he said before looking through his inventory.
From his inventory, he took out two jade slips and placed them on a wide anvil-like workbench:
-Heavenly Tempering Method (King Grade)
Emphasizes durability, resonance, and a close bond between artifact and wielder.
A subtle, harmonious forging method that helps cultivators glean deeper insight into weapon Intents when wielding the final product.
-Auric Forge Technique (King Grade)
Imbues weapons with elemental affinities, amplifying synergy with the user’s chosen element.
Allows for advanced layering of elemental arrays within the artifact’s structure.
He said with a soft chuckle, “Time to see if these can help me churn out some serious Earth-Grade treasures… Let’s start with the saber.”
He rubbed his palms, letting arcs of Fire Intent spark between his fingertips. He was finally back at the blacksmithing room, a place he both liked and was looking forward to playing with.
He retrieved a handful of Earth-grade ores:
-Draconium Steel – Known for its high strength and strong affinity for destructive-type Qi.
-Moon-Soaked Iron – A rare ore bathed in yin-essence, ensuring a balanced temper to counter Draconium’s overly aggressive nature.
-Crimson Lotus Flame – He’d rely on the same advanced flame that powered his pill furnace, but this time harnessing the forging principles of the Heavenly Tempering Method.
He arranged the ores on a sturdy forging platform. Above it, a specialized forging cauldron was inscribed with blacksmithing runes—activating them required a careful infusion of Qi.
[Using the Heavenly Tempering Method first, I see. You wanna forge a saber to maximize the resonance with its wielder?]
He nodded his head. “Exactly. This saber will be heavier than most, but if the forging goes right, the wielder will feel it as an extension of their own will. Could become the ideal weapon for most Extreme Origin Core Realm cultivators—or even a stepping stone to the Dao Core Forming realm.”
He let the Crimson Lotus Flame flare under the crucible, carefully adjusting the temperature to smelt the Draconium Steel.
He channeled Heavenly Tempering principles, synchronizing his forging Qi with the molten metal. This synergy shaped the metal from within, weaving threads of spiritual resonance that would later echo the wielder’s Qi.
Once the Draconium Steel began to liquefy, he introduced slivers of Moon-Soaked Iron in carefully timed intervals.
Each addition lowered the metal’s overall aggression, balancing it with a gentler yin property. The entire forge glowed with a calm silver-crimson mix.
He poured the molten alloy into a pre-engraved mold shaped for a broad, curved saber. He immediately felt the forging array’s subtle hum—Heavenly Tempering runes compressing and refining the metal’s internal structure.
With each hammer strike, he used a faint swirl of Wind Intent to cool and shape the saber’s outline.
Your adventure continues at empire
As the saber cooled, he tapped into his third-level Saber Intent, letting the essence of unstoppable arcs permeate the forging process.
A faint shimmer traveled along the saber’s surface. It gradually formed a bond with the forging Qi, raising the metal’s internal alignment with that unstoppable slash principle.
After hours of meticulous hammering, cooling, re-heating, and final shaping, he lifted the glowing, half-finished blade from the anvil.
He quenched it in a vat of spiritual water, then pulled it out: a majestic crimson-silver saber. Despite its dense material, it felt surprisingly balanced.
He tested the blade with a simple slash. The air parted in a sharp gust, reverberating with a low, harmonious hum—a sign the Heavenly Tempering Method had successfully bonded blade to Qi.
“Not bad. I sense a stable resonance—should be a solid Peak Earth-Grade Saber.”
[Congrats. So you’ll keep this as a demonstration piece or—]
He shrugged. “I’ll see if one of my subordinates can wield it best. Let’s move on.”
Next, he rummaged through another stash of materials, aiming for a distinct approach:
-Aqua Jade Alloy – Known for harmonizing well with watery or wind-based Qi, carrying a slight azure sheen.
-Skyfeather Ore – Light as a feather, reinforcing agility in the final weapon.
He decided to craft a curved short blade—something suitable for swift, fluid combat.
This time, he added a small amount of Wind Qi during the smelting process to amplify the blade’s synergy with air currents.
The Aqua Jade Alloy liquefied under his Crimson Lotus Flame, shimmering with a turquoise hue.
He introduced ground Skyfeather Ore powder, letting it dissolve carefully to preserve that sought-after lightness.
The hallmark of the Auric Forge Technique demanded direct infusion of elemental Qi.
Shen Yuan coaxed wisps of Wind Intent and a pinch of Water Qi (which he gathered with a low level water technique.) into the molten metal.
The forging array built into the floor glowed softly, resonating with each infusion.
He poured the molten mixture into a specialized mold for a short, elegantly curved single-edged blade.
Every swirl of the forging array’s lines locked in the elemental aura, ensuring the final piece would enhance agility, fluid attacks, and possibly even water-based or wind-based techniques.
When the forging concluded, he cooled the short blade in a mild spiritual bath, tinted with extracts that favored wind Qi synergy.
He gripped the finished blade—it felt feather-light, humming with an undercurrent of breezy fluidity.
A single slash produced a gentle whoosh of air, strong enough to rustle the forging workshop’s equipment.
“This one will definitely suit a cultivator who merges wind or water arts. The Auric Forge arrays gave it a near-living resonance with those elements.”
[Good, another Earth Grade Treasure. You are getting better at these new techniques.]
He nodded. “The technique ensures strong elemental infusion. I can see it hitting the highest level of Earth-Grade, maybe even a half-step to Heaven-Grade with the right final touches.”
Satisfied with these two experimental successes, he launched into an extended forging spree. Days within the Dual Cultivation Chambers—which might be just hours outside—spooled out in relentless cycles:
Refining swords with either Heavenly Tempering for sturdy resonance or Auric Forge for specialized elemental synergy.
Spear or halberd forging, blending in small arcs of thunder for shock-laced thrusts, or wind Qi for swift jabs.
Axes, scythes, and hammers shaped using heavier metals, letting him test intense forging arcs under the Heavenly Tempering arrays.
Even bows with specialized metallic frameworks, perfect for cultivators who harness wind or radiant Qi for arrow shots.
Over and over, he repeated the processes—smelting, infusing elemental or conceptual Qi, shaping, quenching, final enchantment.
Each finished piece arrived near or at Peak Earth Grade, occasionally touching with half-step Heaven potential if the synergy was especially strong.