Starting My Cultivation With Time Management-Chapter 779 - 16: Shennong Cauldron
Chapter 779 -16: Shennong Cauldron
Speaking of the Sun and Tai Yin Swords, there’s an issue that simply can’t be explained, which has led to their being overlooked: how exactly were such divine artifacts forged?
Many godly weapons remain from ancient times, but few are definitively known to have been crafted by the mighty of the Human Race. Among them, three are most renowned for each having averted a great cataclysm.
The Heaven-Mending Stone, refined by Nuwa herself. After repairing the Heavenly Dome, the Demon Heads from beyond could no longer easily descend upon the Lower Realm en masse.
The Shennong Cauldron, cast by Shennong. By subduing the Earth Veins of the Nine Provinces, the ghosts and specters of the Nine Serenities Underworld were sealed within the Underworld.
The Yin Yang Sword, forged by Fuxi. It decimated the Demons, far outnumbering the Human Race, forcing their retreat into the Eastern Emperor Realm.
It was precisely these three sets of divine artifacts of the Human Race that saved them in times of peril, hence their fame has endured far beyond those equally powerful but obscure divine artifacts.
“How was I forged?” The Summoning Sword was amused by this question, “Sword Master, do you remember how you were born?”
Luo Yan was at a loss for words and after a long pause, he said,
“Between the Sun True Obscure Sword and you, which was forged first?”
If the Summoning Sword was created first, then perhaps it might have witnessed the forging of the True Obscure Sword.
“The True Obscure Sword came into existence first,” the Summoning Sword said softly, “Initially, I was forged as a backup for the True Obscure Sword.”
“A backup?”
“It means to prevent a scenario where, if anything were to happen to the True Obscure Sword, the Human Race wouldn’t be left without recourse,” explained the Summoning Sword.
Luo Yan instantly understood. When considered carefully, wasn’t this the case with other divine artifacts as well?
The piece of the Heaven-Mending Stone that I am looking for is the backup Nuwa created during her refinement process, isn’t it?
“Speaking of which, I remember that Shennong originally refined ten cauldrons,” the Summoning Sword suddenly asked the Kunlun Mirror, “Nine to subdue the Earth Veins of the Nine Provinces, with one spare. Do you know where the spare went?”
“It seems to be in the Shennongjia,” replied the Kunlun Mirror.
“But over the years, the Shennongjia Mountain Range must have been thoroughly explored, right?” commented the Summoning Sword.
“Yes, but if it had been discovered, it wouldn’t still be missing today,” the Kunlun Mirror pondered, “Such Strange Objects like the Shennong Cauldron would certainly only be obtained by major sects, and if these sects got their hands on it, they’d definitely use it, not hide it away.”
“Sword Master, why don’t we seek out that Shennong Cauldron?” proposed the Summoning Sword with a smile, “Aren’t you seeking a superior Sword Casting Technique for your consort?”
“It’s said that on the Shennong Cauldron are engraved all the secret techniques of Artifact Forging, Alchemy, Formation, and others practiced by the Human Race at that time—certainly including Sword Casting.”
“Oh?” Luo Yan’s interest was piqued, but then he pondered and asked, “Why would the Shennong Cauldron have all these secret techniques engraved on it?”
“Because Shennong was a person who loved to study various subjects,” answered the Kunlun Mirror, “His expertise was in Spirit Grass identification and Alchemy, but he was also proficient in other areas.”
Hearing this from the mirror and the sword, Luo Yan began to entertain the idea of exploring Shennongjia.
As the Summoning Sword said, theoretically, after several hundred thousand years since the ancient era, Shennongjia Mountain Range should have been completely scoured by now.
Just by the name alone, who wouldn’t know that the spare Shennong Cauldron was most likely hidden there?
However, armed with his scanning ability and a talent for deriving truths from the faintest of clues, along with Shi Liuli’s exceptional skills in Art Calculation, Luo Yan was full of confidence for this venture.
Arriving at Shi Liuli’s Sword Casting Workshop, he saw her retrieving a Sword Embryo from molten iron and then delineating a Formation upon it with her sword chisel.
The Sword Casting Workshop, as the name would suggest, was a place brimming with energy, and indeed it was thus, with temperatures inside reaching well above fifty degrees. The heat waves incessantly rolling out from the furnace Magic Artifact made one subconsciously imagine the place being filled with topless, muscular men at work.
But Shi Liuli was a Golden Core True Person after all, wearing only a single cloth imbued with a cooling Formation, she resumed her focused work.
With graceful hands, she skilfully carved patterns on the Sword Embryo, filled with rhythm and a sense of geometric beauty.
Luo Yan knew that enchanting the Flying Sword was the most crucial moment in the sword casting process, so he dared not disturb her.
After Shi Liuli finished engraving, she placed the red-hot sword embryo into a container filled with liquid next to her and turned around to ask,
“Husband, did you need me for something?”
“You’re done?” Luo Yan asked in surprise, pointing at the sword embryo.
Although he specialized in cauldron casting and formation, he was not completely ignorant about sword casting. Each time a pattern was engraved onto the sword embryo, a layer of Daoist magic would adhere to it. It needed to be reheated, then submerged in molten iron for sealing, followed by another pattern engraving. This process would repeat several times.
Having only one engraving meant there was just a single layer of Daoist magic, and without sealing, it would consume even more True Yuan… Could such a Flying Sword really sell?
Shi Liuli understood what Luo Yan meant and answered calmly,
“If they want it sealed, the price will have to be much higher.”
“You’re not willing to spend even that bit of Spirit Stone?” Luo Yan blurted out subconsciously, then realized that loose cultivators indeed didn’t have much income, “What about the Daoist magic? Don’t they need multiple layers?”
“No need,” Shi Liuli confirmed, “According to market feedback, what loose cultivators look for in the Daoist magic of a Flying Sword is simply the more powerful, the better.”
“If two layers of Daoist magic were engraved, they would definitely use the set with greater power and discard the other, so there’s no need to seal multiple layers onto it.”
“What about auxiliary and defensive Daoist magic?” Luo Yan inquired.
“They won’t use it,” Shi Liuli replied.
“Alright then…” Luo Yan was after all gifted with the ability to catch on quickly. He pondered for a moment and understood.
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Most loose cultivators have low cultivation levels and lack defensive capabilities, thus during magical competitions they tend to fully unleash their attacks on their opponents.
If the opponent falls, won’t I then not need to defend myself? Quite a simplistic line of thinking, but it matches the characteristics of loose cultivators very well.
“Husband, was there something you needed me for?” Shi Liuli continued to inquire.
“Liuli,” Luo Yan organized his thoughts anew and asked, “Would you be willing to join me in exploring Shennongjia?”
Shi Liuli was silent for a moment before asking,
“Husband, are you planning to search for traces of the Shennong Cauldron?”
“Actually, the number of expeditions Yuqing View has sent to Shennongjia over the years is not one thousand, then eight hundred, yet each time they have found nothing.”
“It’s said that not only is there no Shennong Cauldron, but there aren’t even any ruins that might contain clues. The entire Shennongjia mountain area is full of trees and wild beasts; there’s no trace of anything left behind by the Human Race.”
“The view now suspects that the area might just be a result of compounded errors in transmission, and in fact, it might not be the place where Shennong once lived.”
Unmoved, Luo Yan chuckled, “Then why not have my wife perform a divination to see what fortunes this trip may bring us?”
Shi Liuli nodded and flipped a copper coin from her hand to start the divination.
After a moment, she furrowed her brows thoughtfully and said,
“Hmm, strange… it seems we can make the trip.”
“What’s strange about it?” Luo Yan asked.
“The hexagram shows two outcomes,” Shi Liuli answered, “One of coming up empty-handed and the other of gaining something.”
