Chapter 30: Viewing the Movie

"A Shadow Scroll?"

Surprise flickered across the faces of Wang Mingmei and the other three.

A Shadow Scroll is a unique item capable of recording and replaying visual information. Its contents cover a vast array of topics, including explanations of cultivation methods, combat techniques, alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman crafting. Before some high-level cultivators pass away, they use Shadow Scrolls to record videos, explaining their legacies to those fated to receive them. Some alchemists record the alchemy process on Shadow Scrolls to preserve their lineage and provide reference for future generations learning alchemy. Other cultivators record their battles with demonic beasts for future generations to study. Beyond this, Shadow Scrolls have even broader uses, such as recording demonic beast lairs to sell at high prices to high-level cultivators, or documenting the rise and fall of a sect.

The creation of Shadow Scrolls is extremely complex. A spirit-artifact level Shadow Scroll is worth three thousand spirit stones, comparable to a set of first-grade medium-tier formation tools. Spirit-artifact level Shadow Scrolls can play recorded images for anywhere from fifteen minutes to half an hour, while Dharma-artifact level Shadow Scrolls can play images for over half an hour. Treasure-artifact level Shadow Scrolls are said to be able to record the entire history of a sect, starting from its founding patriarch. Before the elders of cultivation sects pass away, they pass on their accumulated knowledge through books and Shadow Scrolls for future generations. Ancient cultivation sects store a vast number of Shadow Scrolls, which document the cultivation experiences and various mystical arts of their predecessors. This constitutes their profound heritage.

Relying solely on written records makes it somewhat difficult for future generations to cultivate. Written accounts are not always clear and are far less vivid and intuitive than video recordings. Legacy cannot depend only on text; visuals are also crucial. It is said that cultivation sects with deep heritage not only possess cultivation techniques that can lead to high levels of cultivation, but also have Shadow Scrolls documenting the cultivation experiences of their successive patriarchs.

With just cultivation techniques and Shadow Scrolls, disciples from major sects far surpass rogue cultivators and those from cultivation families.

Disciples from major sects cultivate in spirit-rich spiritual vein locations. They also have superior cultivation techniques and other cultivation resources. Moreover, they benefit from the cultivation experiences of their predecessors. Each level of their cultivation techniques comes with detailed explanations. They almost never experience cultivation deviation, and bottlenecks are also relatively few. In such an environment, the starting point for major sect disciples is much higher than that of rogue cultivators or those from small families. Even if they don't become exceptionally talented, they won't be worse off than rogue cultivators or small family disciples.

Without a strong background, no fortuitous encounters, and with average aptitude and cultivation techniques, it is truly very difficult for rogue cultivators or small family disciples to catch up to the pace of major sect disciples.

Wang Yaoxi nodded and said with a hint of pride, "That's right, it's a Shadow Scroll. This is a Shadow Scroll left by our Wang family ancestors, documenting the method for refining the low-grade spirit artifact, the Azure Moon Blade. It's one of our Wang family's most important legacies."

"Watch carefully to see how our ancestor refined artifacts. Memorize every step before you begin refining yourselves."

Upon hearing this, Wang Changsheng and the other four held their breath and focused intently on the green-robed elder.

"I am Wang Yuangang. Today, I intend to refine a low-grade spirit artifact, the Azure Moon Blade. The Azure Moon Blade is a spirit artifact that every artifact refiner must learn to make as an entry-level skill. It requires two materials: profound iron and iron sand. The first step is ignition. Since there is no earth fire on Green Lotus Mountain, Qi Condensation cultivators who want to refine artifacts can use spirit charcoal or spirit wood. I'm using thirty-year-old Silver Needle Wood. This spirit wood is very durable, and a small piece can burn for fifteen minutes."

As Wang Yuangang spoke, he took out a square piece of silver wood.

He placed the square wood under the green bronze furnace and raised a finger.

With a soft whoosh, a crimson flame appeared at his fingertip. With a flick of his finger, the flame shot out, landing on the square wood and igniting it. The square wood burned fiercely, and soon, a large expanse of crimson flames enveloped the base of the green bronze furnace.

"After lighting the spirit wood, once it's sufficiently preheated, you can add the profound iron. Novice artifact refiners might not know how much to preheat. If the heat isn't controlled properly, it can easily lead to refining failure and a waste of spirit stones. There's a simple, convenient method: After lighting the spirit wood, stick a piece of dough onto the surface of the refining furnace. When the dough turns into a flatbread, the preheating is sufficient, and you can then add the profound iron. The profound iron must weigh one *jin* and two *liang*. After thirty breaths, you can drop a box of three *liang* of iron sand into the refining furnace..."

Wang Yuangang explained each step in detail as he refined the artifact.

Wang Changsheng and the other four watched very attentively. Some aspects were unclear in written records, such as preheating; beginners wouldn't know the exact extent required. Wang Yuangang had considered this and used the method of sticking dough to the furnace, indicating sufficient preheating when it turned yellow. Otherwise, just this preheating step alone could lead to countless failures for beginners. In addition, other details that were vague in written accounts were crystal clear in the video. This was the benefit of the video.

After watching Wang Yuangang's artifact refining process, Wang Changsheng and the other four all showed thoughtful expressions.

Wang Mingmei furrowed her brow slightly and requested, "Seventh Uncle, please play it again! Our ancestor was too fast when engraving the spirit patterns; I couldn't see it very clearly."

Wang Yaoxi nodded and said, "It's fine. You'll need to watch this video for several days. You won't start refining artifacts so quickly. A single set of materials for refining an Azure Moon Blade costs fifteen spirit stones. Back then, I was too eager to start refining and wasted many sets of materials. Learn from my mistake; you must watch it many times. For cultivators new to artifact refining, failing dozens of times is normal, hundreds of times is not surprising, and those with bad luck might even fail a thousand times."

Wang Changhuan hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Great-Seventh Uncle, how many times did you fail when refining the Azure Moon Blade back then?"

Hearing this, Wang Mingmei and the other four looked at Wang Yaoxi with curious gazes.

Wang Yaoxi's old face flushed, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Forty-eight times. Each of you has fifty opportunities. If you still can't refine a spirit artifact after fifty sets of materials, you'll be eliminated directly. For now, watch our ancestor's refining process carefully. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Although I couldn't become a first-tier artifact refiner, I can still refine an Azure Moon Blade."

"Great-Seventh Uncle, what is the standard for being recognized as a first-tier artifact refiner?"

Wang Changsheng asked curiously.

Although he had memorized a vast amount of artifact refining knowledge, he was still unclear about the hierarchy of artifact refiners.

"Artifact refiners are categorized from first-tier to ninth-tier, corresponding to the nine realms of cultivation. Each tier is further divided into low, medium, and high grades. Generally, one can only be called an artifact refiner if their success rate is over fifty percent. An artifact refiner who can craft spirit artifacts is a first-tier artifact refiner. One who can craft Dharma artifacts is a second-tier artifact refiner. A third-tier artifact refiner can craft treasure artifacts, and so on. It seems the standards for alchemists and talisman crafters are similar to those for artifact refiners."

Wang Mingcan asked, "Seventh Uncle, why couldn't you become a first-tier artifact refiner back then? What was your success rate for refining artifacts?"

Hearing this, Wang Yaoxi's expression grew somewhat dim.

This matter was an eternal pain in his heart. To support his artifact refining, the family had purchased a large quantity of refining materials, spending thousands of spirit stones. His artifact refining success rate was less than forty percent. Even so, his clan members never complained, but instead, comforted him.

The more his clan members comforted Wang Yaoxi, the more self-reproach he felt. He always felt that he was a disappointment, having squandered vast family resources, leading to the family's increasingly difficult circumstances and forcing younger clan members to start working prematurely.

For this reason, he hadn't claimed a single spirit stone in all these years. He saved his cultivation resources for the younger clan members, which made him feel a little better.

Wang Yaoxi took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Back then, I used up over a hundred sets of materials. Although I managed to refine the Azure Moon Blade, my success rate was less than forty percent. The family was in financial difficulty, so I had to give up. Don't feel any psychological burden. Just study hard. It's okay to fail; you can still continue to serve the family."

As soon as he spoke, a hint of self-mockery appeared in Wang Yaoxi's heart.

Hadn't his elders guided him in the same way back then? But the more the elders said this, the greater the pressure he felt. With the family's hopes resting on him and clan members scrimping to support his artifact refining, how could he not feel a psychological burden?

"Alright, enough with these digressions. Let's continue watching our ancestor refine artifacts!"

Wang Yaoxi cast a spell on the Shadow Scroll. A silver light shot out, transforming into a silver mirror, within which Wang Yuangang's figure appeared.

"I am Wang Yuangang. Today, I intend to refine a low-grade spirit artifact, the Azure Moon Blade. The Azure Moon Blade is..."