Chapter 37: Making Magical Artifacts

Zhu Jianshen sneered, "Qingyun Sect has ordered me to conscript masters from the various families in Lone Boat City to eliminate the remaining Blood Bat Palace members in the vicinity!"

"I'll decide how many Blood Bat Palace members each family is assigned to kill!"

Xu Zhengyan's brows furrowed.

Most Blood Bat Palace members were brutal and powerful. They were generally above the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Their protectors had even reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and their branch masters were masters of the Foundation Establishment realm!

The authorities had launched several encirclement and suppression campaigns against the Blood Bat Palace, all resulting in heavy losses. If the Xu family were assigned too many targets, the consequences would be dire...

Zhu Jianshen shook the paper crane and said, "According to sect intelligence, the branch master of the Blood Bat Palace near Lone Boat City, two protectors, and thirty members have escaped."

"If your Xu family is willing to bow your heads and admit your mistake, and send Xu Youran to me for my amusement, I will exempt your family from this task. After all, the Xu family is merely a medium-sized family; there are many families stronger than yours." He continued, "If you refuse, then I'm afraid the branch master will be assigned to your Xu family."

"What?"

Xu Zhengyan's expression changed drastically. "You're using public office for personal revenge!"

Zhu Jianshen shrugged shamelessly. "If you're not happy, you can go report me to the Qingyun Sect!" He added, "But if you don't complete the mission within ten days, your Xu family can expect to have all your assets confiscated and be thrown into jail!"

Everyone knew this was no empty threat. If an assigned task wasn't completed, the Qingyun Sect would indeed impose severe punishment.

However, asking the Xu family to eliminate the Blood Bat Palace branch master was surely a joke. The strongest member of the Xu family was Xu Zhengyan, only at the first level of Foundation Establishment. The branch master, on the other hand, was rumored to be a master at the second level of Foundation Establishment. Moreover, given the enemy's cruel nature, how could Xu Zhengyan possibly be a match?

"Choose!" Zhu Jianshen said, looking perfectly at ease.

At that moment, Jiang Fan raised a piece of paper. "Uncle, leave the branch master to me."

In ten days, he was confident he could advance to the Foundation Establishment realm, and once he obtained the "Dragon-Seeking Scripture," his strength would increase even further. It would be enough to deal with the branch master.

Xu Zhengyan patted his shoulder, pleased. "As expected of the good son-in-law I approved of!" he exclaimed. "You truly haven't disappointed me!"

He turned his head to Zhu Jianshen and said with disdain, "How could a despicable wretch like you be worthy of marrying my daughter? My Xu family wants someone with backbone like Jiang Fan. You're not even fit to tie Jiang Fan's shoes! Get out of here! Come back in ten days to collect the head!"

Zhu Jianshen was furious and humiliated. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Fine! Xu Zhengyan, you're asking for it! If I don't see the branch master's head in ten days, I'll take yours instead! And you, Jiang Fan, when you return empty-handed, let's see what face you'll have to show the Xu family!" With that, he stormed off in a rage.

Jiang Fan clenched his fist. Ten days was indeed a very tight deadline.

At that moment, Xu Zhengyan patted his shoulder and said, "Relax, of course I'll be the one to kill the branch master. You just stay home and keep Youran company."

It turned out his choice was the same as Jiang Fan's. Even if Jiang Fan hadn't spoken up, he would have decisively refused. Moreover, how could a younger generation take on such a dangerous task while he, as the family head, remained indifferent?

After everyone had dispersed, the members of the Xu family all felt a heightened sense of crisis and began practicing their cultivation techniques. Jiang Fan was the only exception.

He had already broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement, and it would be difficult to make further breakthroughs in the short term. To increase his strength, he could only focus on combat techniques. He took out the high-grade Yellow-tier combat technique, the "Seven Star Sword Art."

This was the highest-grade sword art in the entire city, very profound. What he lacked most now was a sword.

Thinking of this, he retrieved the lightning-struck wood he had obtained from the auction, which was stored under his bed.

"'Taiyi Soul Art' states that lightning-patterned spirit wood is an excellent material for refining magical artifacts. One doesn't need to be skilled in artifact forging to transform it into a natural artifact."

Jiang Fan murmured, picking up a small knife and carving it bit by bit.

Half a day later, Jiang Fan held a crude, dark wooden sword in his hand.

"Is this a magical artifact?" Jiang Fan scratched his head, trying to swing it a few times in the air, but it didn't look like the artifacts described in legends. It was said that magical artifacts would unleash special abilities the moment they were wielded. This wooden sword, however, showed no reaction at all.

Unwilling to give up, he tried gently poking his forearm with the sword.

The result was immediate. The moment it touched him, a bolt of lightning shot out from the wooden sword, striking Jiang Fan's arm. Instantly, his entire body went numb. His limbs stiffened, and he couldn't move. It took him a while to recover, his heart pounding erratically from the electric shock, causing him to gasp for breath.

"This... lightning?"

He finally understood what a natural artifact was. Having endured numerous lightning strikes, this segment of lightning-patterned spirit wood contained a trace of thunder power. When it struck an enemy, it could paralyze their body. This was truly a potent weapon for killing!

Jiang Fan immediately recognized its wondrous use and was filled with joy. He promptly began cultivating the "Seven Star Sword Art."

This sword art was divided into three layers: upper, middle, and lower. The first layer was "Lone Star Touches the Azure"! The second layer was "Three Stars Illuminate the Moon"! The third layer was "Seven Stars Point North"!

Each stance was more powerful than the last, especially the final one, whose instantaneous destructive power could even cleave profound iron. And just as with comprehending cultivation techniques, he encountered no bottlenecks while practicing the sword art. Aside from the final layer, which required some effort, the entire sword art presented no difficulty.

Three days later, his sword art was complete. At the same time, while practicing his sword during the day, he didn't neglect his cultivation technique at night. With the aid of top-grade Qi Refinement fluid, he had successfully advanced to the perfected eighth level of Qi Refinement.

He only needed one exhilarating battle to solidify his spiritual power and successfully break through to the ninth level.

"Xiaofan, Xiaofan, good news! The Ascending Dragon Path in Lone Boat City has opened!" Xu Youran came with a joyful expression to deliver the good news.

Ascending Dragon Path? Jiang Fan was slightly surprised.

This was a trial ground established by the Qingyun Sect in every city. Not only was the spiritual energy abundant there, making it ideal for cultivation, but more importantly, one could battle various projections within it. These projections were youthful forms of past geniuses from the Qingyun Sect. The projections would demonstrate various cultivation techniques and display their strongest states. Because they were merely projections, they wouldn't harm the trial-takers but would enhance their combat abilities.

It was originally opened once every ten years. This time, it was opened as an exception due to the impending eradication of the Blood Bat Palace remnants.

"Let's hurry over." Wasn't practical combat precisely what Jiang Fan lacked most right now?

The Ascending Dragon Path was a tower. A winding stone staircase extended from the first floor to the top. Many people were already standing on the stairs, fiercely demonstrating their martial arts against the air.

Xu Youran said, "Xiaofan, there will be a projection on each step of the stone staircase. You can only advance one step after defeating it." She added, "It's said that those who perform exceptionally well will receive rewards."

Jiang Fan didn't care about rewards. He just wanted to fight a big battle as soon as possible.

So, he immediately stepped onto the first level. Sure enough! The moment his foot touched the step, his vision went black, and he found himself on an open, flat ground.

A projection of an eighteen-year-old youth slowly appeared. "Li Ziqin, fifth level of Qi Refinement. Please enlighten me!" This meant the threshold was the fifth level.

Jiang Fan nodded and decisively attacked, shattering it with a light punch. "No difficulty at all," he mumbled.

Jiang Fan quickly walked up to the second step. "Huang Gaihu, perfected fifth level of Qi Refinement. Please enlighten me!" Still just one punch.

"Chen Yuanqing, sixth level of Qi Refinement. Please enlighten me!" Still just one punch!

"Yuan Zhongdao, perfected sixth level of Qi Refinement. Please enlighten me!"

Jiang Fan defeated almost every projection with a single punch, barely pausing his steps. It was as if he were just walking. Only when he defeated the eighth-level Qi Refinement projection did his pace slow. He looked up, surprised, to see Xu Yining standing ahead of him.