Chapter 1832: War Drums

The Mortal World

Mo Xingdao took out a jade slip and handed it to Qin Sang.

Seeing the list of treasures on the jade slip, Qin Sang felt a slight relief. He had been worried Mo Xingdao would demand extremely rare items.

For Mo Xingdao, gathering these treasures would be an insurmountable task, but for Qin Sang, it simply meant another trip deep into the Realm of Sin. After that, he just needed to spread the word and wait for responses.

He was about to visit Grandmaster Gu in Baishi Prefecture, as going through the Dao Court would likely speed things up.

After staying at Mo Xingdao's residence for only an hour, Qin Sang headed west. He traveled until he reached a mountain at the border of Jushan Prefecture and Baishi Prefecture, where he found Mirror Terrace Temple, which had relocated there.

Venerable Zhenru had originally intended to move to Baishi Prefecture, but after considering the inconveniences of being under the Dao Court's jurisdiction and the lack of a suitable location, he opted for the next best thing: establishing a branch monastery here.

The eminent monks of Mirror Terrace Temple and Qin Sang were already well acquainted. After a brief exchange of greetings, they entered the meditation hall to discuss Dharma.

Qin Sang shared his insights without reservation, and in return, when he sought guidance on Buddhist teachings, the monks held nothing back.

It was akin to Qin Sang collaborating with the monks to comprehend this profound concept.

Leaving the Mirror Terrace Temple branch, Qin Sang continued his journey west into Baishi Prefecture. He first visited Grandmaster Lingxu before finally arriving at Grandmaster Gu's residence.

To his surprise, this was Qin Sang's first visit since their last farewell.

"Daoist friend has quite the magnanimity, leaving such a treasure in my residence and not showing your face for a century. Were you not afraid I'd abscond with it, leaving you empty-handed?" Grandmaster Gu's tone held a hint of resentment. This visit was only because she had summoned him with stern words in a letter.

Qin Sang smiled at her words. Of course, he highly valued Grandmaster Gu. Repairing the broken drum would significantly enhance his artifact refining skills, giving him greater confidence when it came to repairing the Taiyi Star Chariot in the future.

However, for years he had prioritized cultivation, so he could only postpone artifact refining.

After all, the depths of the Altar were exceptionally dangerous. Even with the Taiyi Star Chariot repaired, he would still need sufficient strength to pass through the Two Realms Barrier.

"Grandmaster Gu's reputation for trustworthiness is known to all. If one cannot trust Grandmaster Gu, then there are surely no trustworthy people left in this world..."

Before Qin Sang could finish his compliments, Grandmaster Gu impatiently cut him off.

"Come with me!"

Grandmaster Gu led Qin Sang into the fire chamber.

Inside the fire chamber, the flames blazed fiercely. A crimson fireball hovered in mid-air, and unmistakably, the broken drum was suspended within it.

The flames enveloped it, yet no actual flames touched the broken drum. The artifact's aura remained unchanged from before.

Qin Sang couldn't make sense of it and looked at Grandmaster Gu with some confusion.

"Sit!"

Grandmaster Gu pointed to the ground. Once Qin Sang sat down, she sat cross-legged in front of him and said, "Ever since you left, I have been living with this artifact day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep..."

As Grandmaster Gu recounted her tale, Qin Sang learned the entire process of her comprehending the broken drum.

Although they had exchanged letters previously, the details were not exhaustive.

Due to their prior agreement, Grandmaster Gu omitted no detail, clearly articulating her thoughts on comprehending the artifact. The profound essence of the artifact refining dao contained within her words gave Qin Sang moments of sudden enlightenment, making him listen with increasing reverence and seriousness.

Seeing Qin Sang's earnest expression, Grandmaster Gu's demeanor softened. Finally, she asked, "How much did you understand?"

Qin Sang pondered, "Grandmaster, are you trying to tell me there are two options for repairing this artifact?"

Grandmaster Gu looked pleased. "Indeed, you are teachable! That is precisely what I mean, but the choice is yours. First, we could aim to restore the artifact to its original, complete form, but that is something I am still far from being able to achieve. Second, I could repair it using my current understanding of the artifact refining dao. This would cause it to lose some of its power, and might even alter its original functions, but it could be forged immediately."

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then asked, "If we choose the second option, after it's repaired, can it be restored to its current state later?"

Grandmaster Gu was slightly startled. "You mean to say..."

Qin Sang nodded. "Grandmaster just said that this artifact's spirit has been extinguished. Even if we repair it perfectly, at best it would only be comparable to a spirit treasure, and most likely just a pseudo-spirit treasure. I am not lacking in pseudo-spirit treasures. Therefore, the greatest use of this artifact is to verify your artifact refining dao and to improve my own artifact refining skills."

Pausing, Qin Sang stated decisively, "Let us first proceed with Grandmaster's method to repair this artifact, and then revert it to its original form. This will surely be helpful for the next forging session!"

"If you are willing to part with it, then I shall certainly accompany you," Grandmaster Gu had no objections. This proposal was most beneficial to her. She hadn't expected Qin Sang to possess such daring.

Repairing a post-celestial spirit treasure required countless spiritual materials, an expense ordinary people couldn't bear.

Qin Sang, always decisive, retrieved the beast bones and other materials he had accumulated from his Qianjun Ring and said, "For this forging session, Grandmaster, please take the lead. I shall merely act as an apprentice tending the fire."

He knew his own capabilities.

If he were to attempt to repair a post-celestial spirit treasure now, even with Grandmaster Gu's assistance, his chances of success would be less than ten percent.

Grandmaster Gu's expression shifted slightly. She glanced at Qin Sang, stopping him from taking out more treasures. "These are sufficient. My residence still holds some reserves, enough to cover the expenses for this forging session. As for the next time, I've subtly gained some insights and there are a few essential items you should endeavor to collect."

She named several items, which Qin Sang noted down one by one.

Following this, Qin Sang uncharacteristically stayed at Grandmaster Gu's residence for an entire year, studying artifact refining.

Grandmaster Gu had made preparations beforehand, procuring all the spiritual materials within just one year, and conveniently gathered most of the items Mo Xingdao needed.

Inside the fire chamber.

The firelight blazed brightly.

Both Qin Sang and Grandmaster Gu appeared to be draped in crimson gauze.

Dazzling red light reflected on Qin Sang's face. He stared intently at Grandmaster Gu's movements, afraid of missing any detail.

At this moment, Grandmaster Gu was performing an artifact refining technique Qin Sang had never seen before. She first conjured eight spiritual incense sticks with her divine ability, placing them in the eight cardinal directions.

The spiritual incense sticks ignited, and wisps of fragrant smoke gathered towards Grandmaster Gu's hands.

The fragrance merged into the spiritual flame, causing strange changes, as if cloud dragons were circling the broken drum.

As one incantation seal after another was cast, the holes on the drum's surface gradually closed.

Grandmaster Gu worked with the precision of a master embroiderer, carefully weaving over the holes, gradually repairing them.

Easy to say, but this single step took ten days.

Finally, the drum surface was completely restored.

Grandmaster Gu suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp glint within them. With a wave of her hand, the spirit drum burst forth from the flames, looking brand new!

Whoosh!

The flames subsided.

Qin Sang flew to Grandmaster Gu's side and examined the spirit drum. The drum surface showed almost no trace of repair, emitting a lustrous, jade-like white glow. The drum body was red, adorned with unknown patterns.

Grandmaster Gu raised her right hand, holding the spirit drum in her palm. Her divine sense slowly probed it. She found no Treasure-Communication Incantation, but it could be wielded normally.

According to her understanding, a true treasure whose artifact spirit had been extinguished would not have a Treasure-Communication Incantation. Whether a post-celestial spirit treasure retained its Treasure-Communication Incantation depended on the relationship between its owner and its artifact spirit—on whether they could trust each other.

Qin Sang waited quietly by her side.

Before long, the spirit drum flew up on its own, transforming into a red streak of light that soared into mid-air, astonishingly becoming a massive drum several tens of feet in diameter.

The drum body vibrated.

Though no one struck it, a thunderous drumbeat emanated from within the drum.

Boom!

The moment the drumbeat sounded.

Qin Sang's heart gave a heavy thump. Even with his resolute will, at that moment, he felt a surge of exhilaration, as if a boundless fighting spirit was rising from the depths of his being.

Anyone with weaker resolve, incited by the drumbeat, would likely forget their own life on the spot and charge forward recklessly.

Next, Grandmaster Gu tested the spirit drum's other divine abilities, all of which were related to battle formations.

The artifact's function was self-evident.

"What a pity..."

Grandmaster Gu sighed.

Born from the Daoist sect, she instinctively considered the Dao Court. If this spirit drum appeared on the battlefield, it would undoubtedly provide immense aid to their side.

If it were a fully intact post-celestial spirit treasure, just this artifact alone would increase the Dao Court's chances of victory by ten percent!

If its spirit treasure power could be restored, it would be an extremely rare and supreme treasure. Grandmaster Gu would do everything in her power to acquire it.

Unfortunately, Grandmaster Gu confirmed that this artifact was a life-bound spirit treasure of a certain senior. Even if fully repaired, it could only exert power equivalent to a top-grade magic artifact.

No matter how special its function, a top-grade magic artifact could not change the tide of battle.

Of course, the spirit drum was not without value. One day, if she fully comprehended it, she might have the chance to replicate similar treasures.

Grandmaster Gu shook her head slightly and handed the spirit drum to Qin Sang. "This is a war drum..."

Qin Sang took it. After a brief period of comprehension, he understood the spirit drum's function, yet his emotions remained largely calm.

The spirit drum, being a life-bound spirit treasure (though not his own), was useful for him to keep and further his artifact refining skills. If it hadn't been a life-bound spirit treasure, it would have been of little personal use, and presenting it to the Dao Court through Grandmaster Gu would surely not have resulted in him being treated unfairly.

Regardless, it wasn't a bad outcome for Qin Sang.

What interested Qin Sang most was Grandmaster Gu's artifact refining process. He had many questions and eagerly began to ask them.

Grandmaster Gu was also eager to comprehend her recent insights, so she briefly explained things to Qin Sang, then took the spirit drum and went into seclusion, leaving Qin Sang alone in the fire chamber.

After Grandmaster Gu left, Qin Sang remained in the fire chamber for several days, continuously refining something.

Finally, two fist-sized bone spheres hovered before Qin Sang.

The bone spheres, one black and one white, were transformed from Xiahou's deer antlers. After days of refinement, they had been forged into spiritual embryos.

He decided to integrate the bone spheres into his gauntlets and reforge the artifact, but not here.

Grandmaster Gu was in seclusion, so it was inconvenient to disturb her. Qin Sang left a letter and departed from Baishi Prefecture.

Before leaving, Qin Sang hesitated, thinking of two other items in his Qianjun Ring.

These were the Unrefined Jade he obtained from the Formless Immortal Sect and the white chess piece he acquired from the Lan Dou Gate.

Qin Sang had presented three other damaged treasures for experts to appraise, but he had kept these two, intending to comprehend them himself.

Over the past century, his progress in artifact refining had been significant, yet he still couldn't fathom their origins.

As for the "Yin-Yang Heavenly Struggle Secret Art," he certainly couldn't afford to be distracted by it anytime soon.

"Should I consult someone else again?"

Qin Sang hesitated, then ultimately dismissed the idea.

Both the Unrefined Jade and the white chess piece were related to the Yin-Yang Heavenly Struggle Secret Art, concerning an entire dao lineage. If that lineage clashed with this realm and was recognized by someone with ill intentions, it would only invite trouble.

Upon returning from Baishi Prefecture, Qin Sang went to visit Grandmaster Qi.

Grandmaster Qi was already unkempt, but now "disheveled and grimy" would be a more fitting description. Knowing his time was short, he dared not waste a single moment.

His disciples understood their master's painstaking efforts, and sadness was evident on their faces.

Sensing the oppressive atmosphere in the residence, Qin Sang sighed inwardly. Without announcement, he simply pushed the door open and entered.

Grandmaster Qi was startled awake. He raised his bloodshot eyes, his expression somewhat dazed.

"Are you losing your mind, Grandmaster?" Qin Sang shook his head repeatedly and forcibly pulled Grandmaster Qi to the doorway.

Bathed in the strong sunlight, he gradually regained his clarity.

Grandmaster Qi remained silent for a long time, then murmured in a hoarse voice, "I only have ten years left to live!"

Qin Sang knew his ambition and, unsure how to console him, sighed and said, "I came here precisely to do everything I can to help you, Grandmaster."

As he spoke, he swept his sleeve, clearing away the miscellaneous items in the fire chamber and placing the true treasure fragments into his Qianjun Ring.

Seeing the true treasure fragments being taken away, Grandmaster Qi almost fought him.

"Don't worry! Look at this!"

Qin Sang waved his hand again.

Two gauntlets, the black and white bone spheres, and several light clusters of varying sizes floated in mid-air.

Grandmaster Qi glanced over, immediately captivated by the black and white bone spheres. With his discerning eye, though he didn't know their origin, he could sense their extraordinary nature.

"I intend to reforge this artifact and would like to ask for your assistance, Grandmaster. What do you think?" Qin Sang asked.

Before he finished speaking, Grandmaster Qi nodded eagerly.

Seeing him staring intently at the bone spheres, Qin Sang smiled and directly placed them into his hands.

Grandmaster Qi cherished them, sat down right there, and analyzed them with secret arts as if no one else was present. A moment later, however, he revealed a hesitant expression. "This... I fear my skill is insufficient, and I might ruin your painstaking efforts..."

Qin Sang brushed it off. "If we forge it together, even if we fail, how could it be solely attributed to you, Daoist friend?"

Grandmaster Qi finally understood Qin Sang's profound intentions. He took a deep breath, his lips moving, and then stood up and bowed deeply to the ground. "Thank you, Daoist friend, for making this possible!"

The two then sealed off the fire chamber and did not emerge for several months.

During these months, Qin Sang, firstly, explained his ideas, and secondly, instructed Grandmaster Qi in artifact refining techniques.

Of course, the "guidance" was actually knowledge Qin Sang had just learned from Grandmaster Gu, which he was now putting into practice and imparting to Grandmaster Qi, passing on what could be shared.

Once, Qin Sang had learned from Grandmaster Qi's methods. Now, with their positions reversed, Grandmaster Qi showed no concern and absorbed everything with avid hunger.

Finally, the day for forging arrived. Grandmaster Qi's face radiated confidence. He and Qin Sang sat cross-legged on either side of the square cauldron.

Qin Sang still controlled the fire, but this time he also participated in the refining process, and the two cooperated seamlessly.

The two gauntlets flew into the square cauldron.

Next, the black and white bone spheres and the other light clusters merged in succession. Inside the cauldron, only a fluctuating mass of gray colloidal substance remained, its gauntlet shape no longer discernible.

The spiritual flame blazed fiercely.

The aura within the square cauldron changed constantly. Both Qin Sang and Grandmaster Qi kept their eyes tightly shut, continuously casting incantation seals towards the cauldron.

After an unknown duration, the square cauldron suddenly vibrated and hummed. Grandmaster Qi, his face filled with excitement, slapped the cauldron's body vigorously.

Whoosh!

A streak of blood-red light shot out, instantly unleashing an incredibly sharp aura.

The blood-red light circled once in the air before being caught by Grandmaster Qi. After inspecting it, he laughed heartily and threw it to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang received it, immediately feeling a sense of bloodline connection. A chill entered his body, and the object in his palm had vanished.

Looking at his palm, Qin Sang's heart stirred. Blood-red light flickered in his palm, and a sharp, blood-colored thorn silently emerged.

A "Palm Sword," or perhaps a "Palm Thorn"!

Qin Sang's physical body was now exceptionally strong, making the gauntlets more like an embellishment. After careful consideration, he decided to abandon the gauntlets and forge this surprising weapon instead.

Of course, this artifact held another significance: it validated Qin Sang's previous accumulated knowledge in the dao of artifact refining.

Upon successfully forging this artifact, both reaped considerable benefits.

After staying at Star Island Immortal Lake for several more months, Qin Sang returned to his cave dwelling, preparing to explore the Poison Den!

(End of Chapter)