Chapter Forty-Nine: The Art of Refining Treasures

Seeing this, Zhang Xiao's expression turned cold as he shouted, “This magical treasure is of great importance to me—how can I let it fall into someone else’s hands?”

“Of great importance? Hmph, more like you want to line your own pockets,” Jin Wulei retorted, meeting Zhang Xiao's gaze with undisguised disdain. Jin Wulei was now also a master at the Core Formation stage, and with his swordsmanship, if not for Wang Yanbo's Five-Colored Treasure Armor and the Heavenly Demon Banner, the title of the sect’s top expert would never have fallen to Wang Yanbo. Zhang Xiao, apart from making a move during the Mount Mao competition and killing over a dozen inner disciples in a fit of rage a year ago, had done nothing that Jin Wulei considered noteworthy. To Jin Wulei, Zhang Xiao’s dominance in the competition was merely due to entering the sect earlier and having higher cultivation, while the slaughter was only possible because of his armored corpse. Now, Jin Wulei’s cultivation matched Zhang Xiao’s, and with his own sword aura, he had nothing to fear from a mere armored corpse.

Zhang Xiao narrowed his eyes. It seemed that some people had grown unruly with the rise of their cultivation. Very well, he’d take this opportunity to set an example and remind them who was in charge. He sneered, “So, it seems that unless I act, there are those who think that as an outer elder, I have no means to deal with you inner disciples.”

Jin Wulei smiled, “I wouldn’t dare. Elder Zhang’s strength is unfathomable.” As he spoke, he glanced at the Headmaster Kongxuan, who showed no intention of intervening. Jin Wulei’s smile widened as he continued, “However, as your junior, I would like to ask Elder Zhang for some guidance in cultivation.”

Zhang Xiao replied with a laugh, “Such arrogance! You’ve just stepped into the Core Formation stage and already you’re so reckless. Beware, the hardest tree is the first to break.” He took the chance to fully assume the authority of an elder.

Jin Wulei’s face turned cold. “Whether I’m arrogant or not, I ask Elder Zhang to teach me.” With that, he summoned a flying sword and, with a move like a dragon emerging from the sea, thrust it toward Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao stepped lightly, and in a blink, dodged dozens of yards away. With a flick of his finger, a Heart-Devouring Curse shot out toward Jin Wulei.

Jin Wulei sneered, “Such a petty spell cannot harm me.” He waved his sword, sending out waves of sword aura that formed a wall around him, blocking the curse. The sword aura surged endlessly, and the wall grew into a massive mountain in moments.

“Sword Mountain Descent!” The mountain of sword energy crashed down on Zhang Xiao like Mount Tai. Jin Wulei, seeing Zhang Xiao’s mysterious footwork, unleashed this broad attack to prevent him from evading. This Sword Mountain Descent was Jin Wulei’s proudest move. The watching disciples turned pale, and even Wang Yanbo pondered how he would deal with such an attack. Still, he quickly reassured himself that, with his Five-Colored Treasure Armor and Heavenly Demon Banner, no sword aura could harm him.

The surrounding rocks, struck by the Sword Mountain, were instantly reduced to powder. As the sword mountain was about to crush Zhang Xiao, a golden light flared, shredding the mountain to pieces. Jin Wulei’s face changed. The golden light appeared before him—it was Zhang Xiao himself, his body aglow. Zhang Xiao struck with his palm. Jin Wulei hurriedly raised his sword to block, but with a loud crack, his flying sword—an artifact of the fifth grade—was split in two.

Jin Wulei was stunned. How could his prized sword be broken with a single blow? Before he could recover, Zhang Xiao’s palm, its force undiminished, drove toward his forehead. No one doubted the power of this strike; it seemed Jin Wulei would be killed on the spot. Yet Zhang Xiao’s palm stopped just before his face, and the force sent Jin Wulei flying.

“Hmph, fool. You dare show off such flashy but hollow techniques?” Zhang Xiao scoffed coldly, his gaze sweeping the other disciples. No one dared meet his eye. Jin Wulei’s strength was well-known, but he had been defeated in a single move. Zhang Xiao’s dominance made it clear that, compared to him, they were still far behind—even if they had all reached the Core Formation stage, they would not be his match.

As silence fell, the Headmaster Kongxuan’s face was icy. He sent a stream of spiritual light to heal Jin Wulei’s wounds and said, “Hmph, a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well. Do you think that reaching the Core Formation stage makes you invincible? Know that the top experts of the other eight sects are no weaker than you. The upcoming Nine Sect Tournament will gather heroes from every corner. If you remain arrogant and ignorant, you’ll only disgrace the name of Mount Mao. Now, return to the sect and make preparations. Gather before the main hall tomorrow morning.”

With that, Kongxuan flipped his palm, and a flying sword crackling with lightning appeared. “Jin Wulei, your sword is broken. Here, take this seventh-grade Heavenly Thunder Sword. Remember, there are always others stronger than you, and victory and defeat are common for any warrior. If your spirit is broken, then nothing else matters.” Defeated and disheartened, Jin Wulei was shocked and overjoyed by this encouragement and the precious sword. He knelt, accepting the sword with both hands. “Your disciple will not let you down, Master.”

The other disciples looked at the seventh-grade sword in Jin Wulei’s hands with envy, so different from their attitude toward Zhang Xiao and his Heavenly Sound Bell. Many praised Jin Wulei, while Zhang Xiao felt a wave of frustration. Glancing back, he saw Kongxuan smiling at him. Zhang Xiao cursed inwardly, “Old fox—using me to discipline the disciples, while you play the kind master.”

Since the Nine Sect Tournament was imminent, Zhang Xiao needed to prepare. He had to visit the Pavilion of Thousand Mechanisms and see if his master could help him refine the ninth-grade treasure, the Heavenly Sound Bell. With this in mind, Zhang Xiao took his leave and, upon leaving the valley, used his Divine Footwork to instantly arrive outside the pavilion. With his cultivation rising, his Divine Footwork became even more miraculous: though Core Formation experts could fly on treasures, none could rival his swiftness.

“Greetings, Master,” Zhang Xiao said respectfully as he approached Master Kongling.

Kongling smiled, “So, the headmaster has already given you the Heavenly Sound Bell. You’ve come to ask me to refine it for you, haven’t you?” Zhang Xiao was not surprised; perhaps it was at Kongling’s suggestion that the headmaster gave him the bell in the first place.

Zhang Xiao nodded. “Yes, time is short, so I hope Master can help me refine the bell.”

Kongling shook his head. “Better to teach a man to fish than give him a fish. You must refine this treasure yourself. I will impart to you a method for refining artifacts. With it, you can refine the bell within three days and still make it to the tournament in time.” With a touch to Zhang Xiao’s brow, a technique called the Treasure Refinement Formula appeared in his mind.

Again, Kongling touched his brow. “When you joined the sect, I taught you the Taiyin Mysterious Essence Scripture, but only half of it—it only allowed you to reach the Nascent Soul stage. Now, I’ll give you the entire set.”

Another scripture appeared in Zhang Xiao’s mind: the complete Taiyin Mysterious Essence Scripture, containing everything from artifact forging and alchemy to secret arts. Zhang Xiao bowed deeply. “Thank you, Master.” Kongling nodded and dismissed him.

As Zhang Xiao left the pavilion, he studied the Treasure Refinement Formula. It was indeed wondrous—a secret method for refining magical treasures. Once mastered, it was said that nothing could escape its power; as long as one’s cultivation was higher than the artifact’s owner, one could seize and refine the treasure for oneself in moments.

As he walked, Zhang Xiao pondered the technique until he found himself in a bamboo grove, where his old hut stood in disrepair. He gently touched the bamboo walls, recalling his early days in the sect, and felt a surge of emotion. With a wave of his sleeve, he swept the dust away, took out the lotus seat crafted from extreme yang jade, sat down, and produced the little jade bell—the Heavenly Sound Bell. Following the Treasure Refinement Formula, he sent several seals into the bell. The bell trembled and turned into a blue ray, merging into his body.

This method differed from others in that the treasure was first refined into the body and smelted with the inner alchemical fire. In three days, the treasure would be fully refined and imprinted with his spiritual mark. No one else could use it unless they forcibly erased his mark. Though the method seemed simple, without knowledge of its mysteries, one could not refine a treasure into the body.

With the bell refining within him, Zhang Xiao meditated. Spiritual energy gathered around him, and even the withered bamboo hut began to revive, turning lush and green, with new shoots repairing the damaged parts. By dawn, after a night of cultivation, his strength had stabilized. His inner core, once the size of a thumb, was now as large as an egg. Strangely, strange runes had appeared around his core, though he could not decipher them. Still, as they were part of his core, he felt no danger.

Above the core floated a bone fan and the jade bell, enveloped in alchemical fire. He could feel the bell gradually merging with him—three days more, and he could wield it freely.

Suddenly, streaks of multicolored light flashed across the sky as the Core Formation disciples flew toward the main hall for assembly. Zhang Xiao smiled; no matter how fast their treasures, they could not match his instant-traveling Divine Footwork. With a step, he reached the main hall in a blink.

The disciples had already gathered, chatting and laughing, but none approached Zhang Xiao. His infamy in the sect was well known, and he was long prepared for such isolation.