CHAPTER 174: THE BEGINNING OF ARTIFACT CRAFTING

At the break of dawn, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan reached the Wudang Mountains. After greeting the Daoist master patrolling the area, they deliberately took a detour through the back mountain to reach their courtyard.

Corrupt cultivators were now targeting them. Keeping their whereabouts secret would bring them some peace and also save the Wudang Mountains from unnecessary trouble.

Although the plan to deal with the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect had already been drawn up, they couldn't push through with it immediately.

Wang Sheng's idea was simple: he would use the ancient devil at the Ziyan Temple and online gossip to build momentum. Afterward, trusted righteous experts would cooperate in putting on a grand performance of a tragic loss, which he hoped would be enough for the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect to take the bait. However, they had a series of problems to overcome before they could put it into motion.

The first was the ancient devil within the Devil-Sealing Well. After two years of surveying it, the research institute still hadn't made any real progress. All they discovered was a vast space under the temple.

Any detection device that approached the vicinity of the Devil-Sealing Well completely shut down. After multiple rounds of verification, it was confirmed that the area around it had an intense magnetic field and other unknown forms of interference. The more precise and spiritually sensitive the instrument, the more likely it was to malfunction.

Over the past two years, dozens of high monks had chanted sutras day and night. The devilish qi within the well ceased to increase further, and things seemed to have temporarily stabilized. Nevertheless, the authorities didn't dare let their guard down.

An armored division had been stationed on the mountains near the Ziyan Temple. If the ancient devil under the well broke through its seal, modern military forces would launch a saturation attack[1]. However, no one could be sure what effect that would actually have.

The idea of destroying the Devil-Sealing Well with a nuclear weapon had been brought up again and again over the past two years, but it was rejected every time. No one knew what methods the ancient devil—whom even ancient immortals and mighty cultivators had failed to kill—still possessed. Nuclear weapons couldn't be deployed lightly either.

All they could do was maintain the status quo of the Devil-Sealing Well, station a modern armored division nearby, and keep the Hua Republic's satellite weapons and a high-energy storage on standby as a last resort.

The Hua Republic had a system known as "Heavenly Sword," a top-secret space-based laser weapon. Its full power was unknown, and all tests were conducted under strict confidentiality. However, it wasn't invincible. It had several notable flaws, the biggest of which was the difficulty in locking it onto a target. Its slow charging speed was a close second. To top it all off, the system was also restricted from being used against humans.

Most importantly, whether the "Heavenly Sword" worked or not depended heavily on the weather and local air pollution. If the skies were perfectly clear, it could carry out precise strikes. However, if thick clouds or heavy smog were present, the high-energy laser beam could do nothing more than flash across the sky and disappear.

Since Wang Sheng wanted to stir things up using the ancient devil, he had to take the devil itself into account. If his plan forced the corrupt cultivators to recklessly release it upon the world, it would cause grave consequences.

Taking that into consideration, the Special Investigation Unit would have to apply for approval from higher-ups and hold meetings to discuss it first. Whether the plan would be approved was still uncertain.

Qing Yanzi, his disciples, and Rufeng were only responsible for laying out the framework of the plan. Afterward, Qing Yanzi would pass it to Chi Ling. The final decision would still be up to the Special Investigation Unit and the higher-ups of the Hua Republic.

If the plan was approved, it would take two to three months just to build up the necessary momentum. Since the Ziyan Temple was too close to the Shu Sword Sect, the Ziyan Temple and the Shu Sword Sect would both have to make preparations in advance.

***

After returning to the Wudang Mountains, Wang Sheng spent another half a day thinking and making additions to the second stage of the baiting plan.

Since it's just for show, why not create a fake Ziyan Temple, one so realistic that it could pass for the real thing?

He shared the idea over the phone with his master, who found himself with one question.

—Threatening Little Xuan aside, does the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect have some deep-seated grudge against you as well? You just can't seem to rest until they're utterly destroyed.

—Anyway, I've never thought of that method. The more I think about it, the better it sounds. With the government's help, constructing a fake Ziyan Temple wouldn't take much manpower or resources. Alright, I'll go talk to your mistress about it now. If this works, we might even lure out one or two of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect's Golden Core Realm cultivators.

Sensing that his master was about to hang up, Wang Sheng quickly added, "Master, I've got another idea."

—What is it?

"Have the Special Investigation Unit release some information saying that Senior Sister and I are carrying out missions elsewhere. We're in seclusion at the Wudang Mountains right now anyway, trying to avoid drawing trouble to Wudang's Daoist lineage.

—I've already told them to do that. You don't have to worry about it.

There was a hint of emotion in Qing Yanzi's tone. He softly chuckled.

—The fact that you're thinking about these things now shows you've matured a lot. I'm quite pleased. Little Sheng, your senior sister is too pure-hearted. The world is unpredictable, and people's intentions are hard to read. With you by her side, I can rest easier.

—In the future, I may not always be able to watch over the two of you. Your cultivation is already quite profound. You can now stand on your own. Though you are the junior brother, you have to take better care of your senior sister. Remember: don't let others deceive her. You understand what I mean, right?

No, I absolutely do not. What are you even trying to say, Master?

Wang Sheng frowned slightly, sensing that there was a hidden meaning in his master's words. He cautiously asked, "Master, did I do something wrong? Have I been too close to Senior Sister?"

—That's not it. Anyway, focus on your cultivation and don't let your ambition get ahead of you. Goodbye.

Qing Yanzi decisively ended the call. Wang Sheng sat in the rattan chair in the courtyard, deep in thought.

Mu Wanxuan approached him in her training attire, carrying a plate of freshly washed grapes. Thinking of his master's recent reminder, Wang Sheng immediately stood up. "Senior Sister, have a seat. This is more comfortable."

He then casually brought over a low dining table and a stool with a wave of his hand, setting the table beside the rattan chair and then sitting down on the stool.

Mu Wanxuan blinked but didn't stand on ceremony. She reclined comfortably in the rattan chair, using her qi to control the grapes while browsing the latest manga updates on her phone and basking in the warm winter sun.

Wang Sheng carefully pondered his master's words once more. In the end, he could only shake his head and ignore a few absurd possibilities.

How could a master deliberately matchmake their disciples and encourage them to fall in love instead of cultivating? Anyone would assume that masters were supposed to emphasize earnest cultivation and discourage such distractions.

The plan to lure the devil out of its cave was thus temporarily settled. All that remained was to wait for a reply from the Special Investigation Unit and his master.

Soon, Wang Sheng recalled he had proper business to attend to. He rushed into the house and brought out a suitcase. Opening it, he revealed a case full of colorful metals. He picked out a few pieces of ironstone, weighed them in his hand, then grabbed two more.

Now that Wang Sheng was at the Illusory Core Realm, his true essence could be considered abundant—albeit barely. He at least had enough to refine sword cores and flying swords.

The Shu Sword Sect had provided these precious materials in preparation for the Sword-Controlling Art. Among them were several materials that could certainly be used to forge ordinary-grade flying swords of decent quality, making them quite valuable. Wang Sheng initially selected the lowest-value and most abundant materials available, intending to use the simplest forging formula for crafting a flying sword.

"Eighteen taels of Hundredfold Refined Iron, nine taels[2] of Purewater Soft Gold, and three taels of Firestones. Can be mixed with Stardust Iron or Ziyang Wood. Fuse them with enchanted power to forge a basic sword embryo..."

Mu Wanxuan watched with curiosity as Wang Sheng fiddled with the rocks and pieces of metal. At first, she found it rather novel.

Wang Sheng began melting the materials with his true essence, then quickly fell completely still. He carefully sensed the changes within the materials, meticulously removing impurities one by one with full concentration.

Growing a bit bored, Mu Wanxuan lay back down and pretended to be a dead fish who no longer had to cultivate. Everyone had their own hobbies. Even though it was a bit bewildering that her junior brother liked playing with rocks, she ought to respect it as his senior sister.

Wang Sheng quickly realized that the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra worked surprisingly well for this kind of forging. He couldn't help but wonder if this counted as one of the advantages of his sect's cultivation technique.

Illusory Core Realm cultivators normally took at least two hours to melt these materials. However, Wang Sheng only spent fifty minutes to melt the Hundredfold Refined Iron and Purewater Soft Gold into two blobs of molten metal. He then wrapped them in true essence and suspended them beside him.

While maintaining the molten state of the two metals, he took the three taels of stone fragments and slowly ground them into fine powder. The most crucial step was to mix the three main materials together and forge them into a sword embryo, which would then be refined into a sword core using the sword-forging technique of the Sword-Controlling Art.

This process required no molds and relied entirely on one's ability to precisely control their true essence.

Closing his eyes, Wang Sheng carefully felt the faint rhythmic pulses from the three materials. He first stretched the molten iron until it was three chi long, then slowly poured in the gold and powdered stone at the same time.

To smoothly blend the three substances, he began rhythmically releasing threads of true essence from his fingers. The true essence struck the molten iron from all directions. From left to right, the Purewater Soft Gold and powdered stone were gradually infused into the molten iron.

The sword embryo was now taking form.

For some unknown reason, light suddenly flickered within it. The molten iron began to boil, and the powdered stone burst into sparks.

Wang Sheng immediately suppressed it and combined the three materials into a ball of liquid. He then wrapped it in Pure Yang True Essence, took a step forward, and hurled the mass out of the courtyard gate with great force.

Boom!

Flames exploded, reminding Wang Sheng of the fireworks they had watched the night before—only far louder. He waved his hand, scattering the falling sparks, then stood in place and reflected for a moment. Soon after, he ran back with full confidence.

It was just a test, and a failed attempt was still valuable. What mattered was that he gained experience from it. Although only a little, the success rate would be higher next time.

Seeing Wang Sheng tinkering with another set of materials, Mu Wanxuan blinked and then used her qi to control her rattan chair. She quietly scooted a little farther from her junior brother.

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, several loud explosions had erupted all afternoon. Consequently, quite a few Daoist priests in the Purple Cloud Temple began murmuring among themselves, wondering which high-ranking elder in the back mountain was practicing a fire-based ultimate move.

1. A saturation attack or swarm attack is a military tactic in which the attacking side hopes to gain an advantage by swarming and overwhelming the defending side's technological, physical and mental ability to respond effectively. ☜

2. A weight used in China and East Asia, of varying amount but fixed in China at 50 grams(1 3/4 oz.). ☜