The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1404 - 723: Academy Artifact Refining (Part 2)

"In fact, regarding the 'Pantao Conference,' we have long been aware, but with so many nobles shielding it, we cannot act impulsively and bring calamity upon ourselves."

"That Zhao Qingxu cut off all ties, clearly intending to act independently. The Capital has a population of millions, gathering the Three Religions and Nine Sects. With his profound Dao, if he genuinely wants to hide, it will be difficult to track him. We can only focus on his target."

Li Yan spoke in a deep voice, "His target should be the Academy's Divine Artifact. But now that the steam engine has been made public and the court is promoting it vigorously, all factions will eventually acquire it. It's hard to fathom what he intends to do."

Su Yu shook his head slightly, "The Academy, perhaps, is just a smokescreen..."

After speaking, he looked at Li Yan, "Young Hero Li, this Zhao Qingxu is a Jianmu demon, undoubtedly a yin criminal, but his background is hidden by the Captain Bureau. If we knew this, we might find some clues."

"Elder Su truly is worthy of being a Golden Swallow Sect elder."

Li Yan gave a wry smile and shook his head, "It's fine to tell you. The Captain Bureau refrains from disclosing this because it involves Dragon and Tiger Mountain. Fearing complications, they dare not speak recklessly, but I am not concerned."

"This Zhao Qingxu is not human but a reincarnated demon!"

He did not hide, revealing Zhao Qingxu's background in its entirety.

The Jianmu demons, who stir up trouble behind the scenes, often rely not on their Dao, for this world hides many talents and experts, and their era has long passed. Even the Wudang Sect Leader Yu Chanzi could take the Zhenwu Sword and cut them all down.

What makes them more terrifying is the accumulation over the years, knowing many hidden secrets of the world.

Revealing their background is the first step to removing their mysterious veil.

"Money Ghost... Jiaozi Rebellion..."

Su Yu was visibly shocked, suppressing his emotions and nodding, "Rest assured, Young Hero Li, these Jianmu demons are disrupting the Divine State. Though we are from the pugilistic world, apprehending this person is also our duty. Allow me to ponder carefully and decide where to start."

"Thank you for your trouble then."

Li Yan solemnly clasped his hands in salute, then picked up the box and left.

It was already late at night, and the Capital gates were closed, but he had the Token bestowed by the Academy, allowing him to leave through the basket and return early to the Academy to craft the Magic Artifact.

"Master..."

After he left, Zhao Wanfang, who had been silent and looking down, finally spoke.

She had just advised Li Yan not to provoke the Crown Prince. Although it was for Li Yan's sake, such actions were against the Golden Swallow Sect's principles, and now she felt anxious, fearing Su Yu's anger.

"No harm."

Su Yu shook his head slightly, "Though our Golden Swallow Sect values weaving benefits, we also adhere to the codes of the pugilistic world. We interact with talented people, and only by exchanging hearts can we make friends. From now on, you will be responsible for the Twelve Primordial Spirits line. Off you go."

"Yes, Master."

Zhao Wanfang let out a sigh of relief, clasped her hands in respect, and carefully retreated.

Not long after she left, a Yin Wind rose suddenly in the room, making the candlelight flicker dimly.

When the Yin Wind subsided, opposite Su Yu was now a little girl.

She looked about four or five years old, dressed in palace attire, her skin exquisitely delicate, precisely the Earth Immortal hidden in Su Garden.

"Greetings, Ancestor."

Su Yu respectfully kowtowed, then recounted the previous events, puzzled, "Master, monsters reincarnating as humans, I've never heard of such a thing. Is it true?"

"Why wouldn't it be possible?"

This porcelain doll-like little girl sat there sternly, her tone unexpectedly that of an elder.

She sneered, "Even Immortal Master Erlang in Shu once reincarnated as a human. As long as the Power of Incense is used to complete the Three Souls and Six Spirits, with someone to accommodate and nurture a good womb, and a protector to support, the Dao can be cultivated to restrain Demonic Qi."

"But to accomplish this, it's impossible without assistance. Either the Jianmu demons helped, or it was a traitor from the Mystical Sect in the Capital who defected back then."

Su Yu said helplessly, "This matter is from a long time ago, it may be hard to investigate."

The "little girl" thought for a moment, "Zhao Qingxu's betrayal of Jianmu suggests a major motive, with plenty of preparations."

"Perhaps, you are looking in the wrong direction..."

......

The next morning, the forge at the Academy was ablaze the entire day.

The "Thunder Fallen Mysterious Gold" given by the Crown Prince had already been heated red and placed on the anvil.

This item was indeed extraordinary, requiring Zhao Huogong to use a Secret Technique to scorch it for an entire day before it was thoroughly heated through.

"Stand back a bit!"

Wearing deerskin gloves, he personally picked up a heavy iron hammer, gesturing to Li Yan, then exploded with Hidden Energy, his back and upper arm muscles bulging, and swung it down forcefully.

Clang!

A loud noise erupted, sparks flying.

More peculiarly, several arcs of electricity spread outward with the sparks, crackling.

The disciples watching nearby were all dumbfounded; they had never seen such a treasure before.

Li Yan was well-prepared, extending his left hand, and the dispersing electric light was completely absorbed by the Soul-hooking Thunder Rope.

"Good heavens!"

Zhao Huogong was also affected, retreating repeatedly, his upper arm muscles trembling.

Yet the heated Mysterious Gold showed no change whatsoever.

"Troublesome."

The old man vigorously threw the hammer to the ground, helplessly saying, "I've heard of this treasure before. During the Early Tang era, it fell atop the high mountains of the Northern Border, struck by thunder for over a century, before someone used immense effort to transport it back."

"In the previous dynasty, when the Great Xing forged the Thunder Ancestor Statue, they invited numerous craftsmen masters and even a Grandmaster to assist, which led to success. Although this is only a fragment, my strength alone won't suffice."

"No problem!"

Li Yan quickly sent for Wu Ba.

In terms of strength, Wu Ba was unparalleled; the heaviest hammer among craftsmen was lightweight to him.

Ding!

Zhao Huogong tapped it with a small hammer to determine the position, and Wu Ba wielded a great hammer to strike down forcefully.

In this manner, Zhao Huogong with his small hammer, Wu Ba with his great hammer, and Li Yan absorbing the dispersing electric light, the three cooperated seamlessly, spending an hour turning the fragment into a long strip.

The next step, drawing silk, was also troublesome.

Using the Mo Sect's specially designed Black Silver Plate, thirty-six bare-chested disciples operated foot treadles, working with a thousand-pound water wheel to draw the silk.

At intervals, they had to return to the furnace to reheat.

After another full day, they finally drew this treasure into fine threads.

Yet this was just the beginning.

The weaving Grandmaster "Wan Baicao" skillfully wove with specially made Meteorite Iron Needles, threading Thunder Pattern Silk, while Li Yan stood nearby absorbing electric light, the warp and weft continuously intertwining, taking another two days.

With this treasure, the new arm guard "Thousand Thoughts" finally took shape.

Li Yan continuously wielded the "Heavenly Thunder Demon Suppressing Hammer," the arm guard radiating lightning, yet the silk threads remained unbroken.

Next came the repair of the "Five Directions Luo Feng Flag."

This time, not only Grandmaster Weaver "Wan Baicao" repaired the flag surface, but Elder Tao Fengchun of the Mo Sect also created the flagpole. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The flag itself was the "Yellow Heaven Five Elements Flag" refined by Zhang Jiao back in the day, woven with silver silk, inscribed with the Taiping Dao's "Yellow Heaven Should Be Established" Cloud Seal, and embedded by experts with the Taiping Sutra's "Six Jia Secret Prayer" Yin Talisman, which later fell into Yin Talisman Sect's hands as the Treasure of the Sect.

The Magic Method of the Yin Talisman Sect often involved exorcism techniques, using aged cypress wood from the Han Tomb in Mang Mountain as the flagpole.

Through years of nurturing, it became a fierce tool for summoning and exorcising, capable of binding the gods of Mang Mountain, a testament to its power.

After the battle in Luoyang, the flag, though damaged, retained its depth.

"Wan Baicao" embroidered Thunder Pattern Cloud Seals with Thunder Gold Thread, Tao Fengchun crafted the flagpole with Dragon Blood Wood.

Originally filled with Yin Sha Qi, the demon flag now transformed under the Thunder Technique, becoming dignified and imposing...

Meanwhile, Sha Lifei was also involved in artifact refining.

The Thunder Fallen Mysterious Gold was unsuitable, but the plump Lin Yu found tough Mystic Iron.

Using it to make the gun barrel and firing pin was enough to withstand the power of the new gunpowder.

However, the refining process was no easy task.

Each time Zhao Huogong hammered the gun barrel using the Ninefold Forging Steel Technique, Sha Lifei had to cut his wrist and drench the parts with his blood.

Even with healing medicine, it left him staggering, his face pale.

The results, however, were impressive. The gun barrel, after quenching in cold springs, exhibited entwined blood patterns.

With his limited Dao, Sha Lifei resorted to this blood refining method, achieving "Man and Gun as One."

While they were busy, the Capital was also in turmoil.

Attracted by the steam engine, not only were forces from across the Divine State drawn in, but experts from surrounding barbarian lands also infiltrated the Capital...