Chapter 686: Third Heavenly Recognized Master

The Ice Rain Sword, although a mid-grade spirit weapon, had a low melting point because of its cold attribute.

Advancing a weapon involves integrating one or more rare materials into the existing finished item. The most crucial rule is to avoid melting the original weapon.

Once a weapon melts and loses its form, it's equivalent to starting the refining process from scratch, which more than doubles the difficulty.

Luo Qiqi had been steadily increasing the flame temperature, multitasking and not observing carefully. She never dreamed that in the short time it took to add a few herbs, the Ice Rain Sword was about to melt!

If it melted, its original properties would completely disappear. How could she refine it then?

It was easy to advance a peak mid-grade spirit weapon to a high-grade one, but refining a high-grade weapon from scratch... that was utterly impossible!

Just as she was at a loss, Master Zhang's voice continued, "Add one drop of Purple Star Grass medicinal liquid onto the Ice Rain Sword!"

"Purple Star Grass medicinal liquid? Okay... huh?" Luo Qiqi took out the liquid, intending to put it into the alchemy furnace, but suddenly froze, almost going mad. "On the Ice Rain Sword?"

What kind of operation was this?

The Ice Rain Sword was for artifact refining; Purple Star Grass medicinal liquid was for alchemy!

Adding medicinal liquid to a weapon? It was like adding minced meat and ketchup while casting an iron pot. Was he sure this was artifact refining and not a barbecue?

Was he sure he hadn't misspoken?

"Yes, quickly!" Zhang Xuan's voice was urgent.

"Alright!" With a twitch of her brow, she immediately flicked her wrist, and the liquid dropped onto the already melting Ice Rain Sword.

Sizzle! A sizzling sound, like meat grilling, filled the air. The medicinal liquid flowed along the sword, turning into a cloud of white mist and emitting a rich fragrance.

"So fragrant..." Luo Qiqi couldn't help but sniff when she smelled it.

She had to admit, the smell of roasted Purple Star Grass was quite pleasant. Perhaps she could consider getting some to eat later...

As she pondered, her feet wavered, and she felt a sudden dizziness.

"Oh no!" Her heart tightened, and her pupils constricted.

Purple Star Grass was a rare broad-leaf herb named for the purple spots covering its surface. While it could neutralize other medicinal herbs, used alone, it possessed a faint toxicity that could induce hallucinations and dizziness!

She had only focused on its pleasant smell just now and completely forgotten this fact!

This was a critical moment for both alchemy and artifact refining. If she fainted, the furnace would undoubtedly explode!

To be simultaneously killed by an exploding alchemy furnace and an exploding artifact refining furnace... this would probably be a first in the Hongyuan Empire in ten thousand years!

Despite her dismay, her eyelids continued to droop. She tried to keep her eyes open but couldn't, feeling herself on the verge of complete unconsciousness.

"This is bad!" Zhang Xuan's expression darkened.

He had considered many possibilities but never imagined that Luo Qiqi would be so careless as to be incapacitated by the Purple Star Grass fumes.

A five-star alchemist, so negligent!

Actually, Luo Qiqi couldn't be entirely blamed for her lack of precaution. Purple Star Grass was not only rare but, when it did appear, it was typically used to neutralize other herbs. Its standalone effects were often overlooked. Furthermore, her attention was divided between artifact refining and alchemy, leaving her no time to discern the danger before being affected.

Once Luo Qiqi fainted, Zhang Xuan, despite possessing the theories of artifact refining and alchemy, couldn't perform the actual process... an explosion was now inevitable!

Should he... dismantle the formation and lure the puppet here to be destroyed by the explosion?

But he couldn't control the timing or power of the furnace explosion. If the force was too great, he could be instantly killed. Even if he survived, the cave would collapse, burying him hundreds of meters underground, which would surely prove fatal!

Most critically, the puppet had astonishing defenses. While the two exploding furnaces would be powerful, they likely wouldn't inflict fatal damage on it.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle! Just as he was filled with anxiety and about to rush over to wake Luo Qiqi, he saw the alchemy furnace in front of him boiling again, with violent air currents swirling, on the verge of exploding!

The Cyclical Alchemy method meant the furnace was always on the brink of explosion.

Luo Qiqi's fainting had caused a delay of at least two breaths. If no more herbs were added, it would be too late.

Even if he knew alchemy and rushed to add the herbs now, it would probably already be too late!

"Continue adding Red Leaf Tendril to the alchemy furnace..." In his desperation, he couldn't help but shout again, instinctively infusing his words with the Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will.

Luo Qiqi, though unconscious, didn't stop. Her hand lightly grasped the Red Leaf Tendril, then casually tossed it in.

Splash! The herb entered the cauldron, and the imminent explosion was once again averted.

"This..." Zhang Xuan blinked, momentarily stunned, then almost jumped with excitement.

He had used the Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will in a moment of desperation. Why hadn't he thought of this before?

As long as the Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will aligned with natural laws and the profound principles of the Heavenly Dao, it could compel others to instinctively follow his verbal instructions. Even though Luo Qiqi was in a semi-conscious state, it didn't prevent him from employing the ability to make her body continue with alchemy!

In fact, without emotional fluctuations, the alchemy process might even yield better results!

"Place the Cold Green Stone and the Ice Rain Sword together. Continue using the 'Drawing Bamboo' technique to add another Ice Yin Cold Grass into the alchemy furnace..."

Encouraged by the initial success, Zhang Xuan continued with the Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will. Luo Qiqi had previously struggled to adapt to multitasking, but now, under the influence of the Teacher's Impartation, her left and right hands worked independently, one refining artifacts and the other performing alchemy, without any hindrance.

Her efficiency more than doubled.

Sizzle! When the Cold Green Stone and Ice Rain Sword were placed together, they began to fuse with a sizzling sound.

Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow, "Take out the long sword and hammer it seven hundred seventy-nine times using the Layered Tempering method!"

Hearing the command, Luo Qiqi's left hand twitched, and the long sword immediately flipped onto a nearby stone platform. Her hand then grabbed the artifact refining hammer prepared by Wu Yangzi and began pounding it continuously.

"Add Xuhua Stems and Baoxing Juice to the alchemy furnace, increase the flame by thirty percent, and shake the furnace seven times using the 'Falling Clear Hand' method!"

He continued to instruct.

Whirring and clanking! Luo Qiqi was meticulous, strictly following his every word.

Everyone has an aversion to difficulty. Luo Qiqi had never simultaneously performed alchemy and artifact refining before. Seeing the furnace on the verge of exploding, fear would naturally arise in her heart. If such thoughts were allowed to grow, simultaneously refining would be inherently difficult to accomplish.

No one had expected that accidentally consuming Purple Star Grass and falling into a coma during the refining process would actually significantly increase her efficiency.

Zhang Xuan spoke faster and faster, and Luo Qiqi's movements became smoother and smoother. Their coordination was seamless, as if Zhang Xuan himself were performing the refining.

Although the alchemy furnace was volatile and on the verge of exploding at any moment, it consistently hovered at the critical point, remaining safe.

The Ice Rain Sword, infused with the Cold Green Stone and Purple Star Grass, regained its original long sword form after tempering, appearing even sharper.

"Alright, open the alchemy furnace!" After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xuan suddenly raised an eyebrow, his mind operating at its peak, and let out a low cry.

Luo Qiqi's right hand grabbed, and the cauldron of the alchemy furnace opened. The potent medicinal power instantly condensed, clearly forming a pill.

"Place the Ice Rain Sword into the alchemy furnace!" Zhang Xuan continued.

Hearing the command, the girl instinctively tossed the long sword inside.

A sharp ringing sound, like a dragon's roar, sang out, filling the entire cave with a clear, melodious, and enchanting sound. Immediately after, the long sword, just placed in the furnace, flew out of the cauldron again, hovering and trembling in the air like an excited bird escaping its cage, emitting a joyous long cry.

Streaks of cold light emanated from the sword's body, shimmering with brilliance. It felt capable of cutting through gold and severing jade, its sharpness seemingly able to pierce one's eyes.

"Come here!" He beckoned with his hand, and the long sword immediately flew over, settling into his palm.

He looked down. The Ice Rain Sword was still the same size as before, with no significant change in length, but it appeared lighter and thinner. Its previously smooth and bright surface was now covered with star-like patterns, resembling those on Purple Star Grass, and also seemed to contain the stars of heaven and earth, giving it a unique charm.

He gently flicked the sword's body with his finger, and the long sword immediately flew up like a soaring dragon, emitting a melodious cry, as if it could transform into a giant dragon at any moment, soaring through the heavens and earth, slaying corruption.

"This is... a Half-Saint grade?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted, and he was stunned.

After cultivating the six volumes of Heavenly Dao Artifact Forging, he possessed exceptional discernment in identifying weapons. Even without the aid of the library, he could tell that this Ice Rain Sword had clearly surpassed the pinnacle of spirit-grade weapons, reaching the Half-Saint grade!

Weapons were categorized into five grades: Divine, Saint, Spirit, Ghost, and Mortal.

Although Half-Saint grade hadn't reached true "Saint" level, it had broken free from the constraints of the Spirit grade, reaching an entirely new tier!

Weapons of this caliber were difficult for even a peak six-star artifact forger like Wu Yangzi to successfully create, let alone one who hadn't reached the seven-star level!

This meant that he, using the Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will through Luo Qiqi's hands, had actually forged a Half-Saint artifact! If word got out, it would undoubtedly shock countless people to death!

Weapons of this grade were exceedingly rare even in the Hongyuan Empire, countable on one's fingers.

Terrifying!

With a flick of his wrist, he put away the long sword and turned to look at Luo Qiqi.

She was now sitting cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed, seemingly in a state of enlightenment.

Although she had been unconscious, the experience of simultaneously refining artifacts and pills through the Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will remained ingrained in her mind, forming muscle memory.

In the future, her comprehension of both alchemy and artifact refining would further increase, reaching a higher realm.

"Her unconscious state just now must have been a realm of no thought and no distraction. In this way, whether it's the circulation of true qi or muscle memory, the imprints are deeper, and the results are even greater than the guidance she received at the Alchemist Guild before!" Zhang Xuan pondered, observing her state.

"It seems Teacher's Impartation of Heavenly Will not only imparts cultivation to students, allowing them to cultivate independently, but also sharpens their mindset, enabling them to progress even better!"

"People have inertia and an aversion to difficulty. If gentle persuasion isn't enough to make them learn, they must be compelled to act, forming muscle memory and true qi circulation. This way, even without future supervision, they can cultivate independently..."

As a realization dawned in his mind, the entire underground palace suddenly shook. A special aura descended from thin air, completely enveloping Zhang Xuan!

The third Heavenly Acknowledged Master!