134: Chapter 134 Divine Wood Yin-Yang Sword

"What!"

This time, it was Chu Linger's turn to doubt what her ears were hearing.

"M-Master, you mean... you're not only a second-rank Talisman master, but also a quasi-third-rank Artifact Refiner?"

"How many times do I have to say it? Do I need to repeat it again? Have you been addled by the heat?"

Xu Changsheng paid no further heed to Chu Linger's astonished gaze.

The Earth Fire was surging up from the furnace's base; he had to begin refining the sword as soon as possible.

Closing his eyes, he quietly sensed the intensity of the flames.

Countless thoughts raced through Chu Linger's mind at this moment; she had speculated on many possibilities.

Were there really Talismans that required Earth Fire to craft?

Melting down a large batch of Spiritual Artifacts to extract their original spiritual materials?

Or perhaps some other peculiar hobby?

The one thing she had never considered was that Xu Changsheng was actually using it for Artifact Refining.

After all, for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to master even one second-rank cultivation art was already a rare talent among men.

She knew this from her own deep personal experience.

Even though Xu Changsheng had given her a first-rank High Grade Talisman Legacy and frequently came to instruct her...

...she had only barely reached first-rank Medium Grade, still a long way from first-rank High Grade.

Yet Xu Changsheng possessed two second-rank cultivation arts, both at the quasi-third rank (she absolutely refused to believe his Talisman-making skill was only second-rank High Grade).

"It's simply unbelievable!"

Chu Linger felt that the longer she stayed with Xu Changsheng, the more she failed to grasp the depths of her bargain-basement master's background.

She inwardly grumbled: "Master couldn't possibly have other cultivation arts that have also reached the quasi-third rank, could he..."

At the same time...

"The fire has stabilized."

Xu Changsheng abruptly opened his eyes, shooting out two sharp gleams of light.

He slapped his Storage Pouch and took out the fusang divine wood.

Instantly.

The fire-attributed Spiritual Qi in the air was drawn to the divine wood, madly rushing towards it.

"This is... an ancient divine wood!" Sensing the archaic aura emanating from the fusang divine wood, Chu Linger's jaw dropped slightly in disbelief.

Then, feeling the astonishing Spiritual Pressure radiating from the Steadfast Stone Fire-Steadying Furnace...

...she was completely convinced in her heart.

"Master really is a quasi-third-rank Artifact Refiner!"

Xu Changsheng pressed a hand down on the furnace lid, opening a crack to let the divine wood slide into the furnace's heart.

As the Earth Fire coiled around it, the wooden block floated within the furnace chamber, slowly rotating.

He then took out all the spiritual materials and laid them out flat before him.

Chu Linger stared unblinkingly at Xu Changsheng's movements, not daring to even breathe loudly. She knew her master allowing her to stay here was an act of trust.

"I absolutely must not disturb Master. Today, I, Chu Linger, am just a bystander!"

Two incense sticks' worth of time passed.

Tendrils of mist seeped from the surface of the fusang wood, carrying a faint, scorched fragrance.

"Expel its nature, retain its spirit. Success!"

He opened his eyes, his gaze profound, and flicked a second strand of spiritual power from his fingertip, pushing the chi yang copper mother, which had been warming nearby, into the furnace.

Meeting the fire, it instantly liquefied, forming golden-red droplets suspended below the furnace's heart.

His Divine Sense meticulously controlled these droplets, slowly rising them to seep bit by bit into the grain of the divine wood.

This step required extreme precision, something only possible because he was a quasi-third-rank Artifact Refiner.

If the seepage was too fast, the copper liquid would crack the wooden matrix; if too slow, the matrix would be consumed by the Earth Fire.

Finally, after an hour, the last drop of copper liquid seeped into the divine wood, and the entire piece of fusang wood changed color.

Its original deep red now emitted a golden glow, as if wrapped in a thin layer of radiant light.

Without a moment's pause.

He tossed in the Fiery Iron Sand.

His hands formed seals, and the spiritual power within the furnace shifted, drawing the sparks of fire towards the sword embryo, attaching evenly to its surface.

When the sparks settled, the sword embryo had taken initial shape—about three feet long, faintly glowing with gold and red.

He took out some soft jade powder to neutralize the fire energy...

...twisted the Earth Fire Profound Vine into fine threads, embedding them one by one into the grain on the sword embryo's surface...

At this point, he gradually increased the Earth Fire. The sword embryo rotated in the furnace's heart, faster and faster, creating a whooshing sound.

Not daring to be distracted, he continuously channeled spiritual power into the furnace to maintain the sword embryo's stability.

This process continued for two full days.

Finally, the sword embryo's rotation slowed and it hung suspended right in the center of the furnace's heart.

Its body was entirely gold and red, with the spine faintly revealing a pure golden glow.

He continued to nourish the sword body with spiritual power.

The Earth Fire reflected on Xu Changsheng's face, turning it completely red, but he stared fixedly at the sword embryo in the furnace and let out a soft sigh.

The most difficult part was over.

What remained was the continued fine control of spiritual energy and Earth Fire to nurture the divine wood two principles sword. It was estimated the sword would be complete after six times six—thirty-six days.

Right at this moment...

Xu Changsheng's brow twitched. His fingers formed a seal, first pointing towards himself, then sending a beam of spiritual light towards Chu Linger.

The latter was puzzled: "Master, what is this?"

He coughed lightly twice, his expression slightly awkward: "This Restriction is to prevent you from being harmed by the unusual phenomena when the sword is finally completed."

She straightened her sleeves and bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Master."

...

Thirty-six days later.

Zhang Hu was growing somewhat impatient, pacing back and forth in front of the Earthfire Chamber.

"What's going on? Why is it taking so long?"

If not for the fact that he could sense, through the Restrictions, that Earth Fire was still being consumed within the Artifact Refining Room, he would have thought some accident had befallen Chu Linger inside.

The communication talisman at his waist vibrated slightly; another person had come to rent an Earthfire Chamber.

"Forget it. I'll just wait for her another day."

He then walked out.

At this very moment...

...behind the single door that separated them, the sword refining had reached its most critical juncture.

Xu Changsheng had long since shut off the Earth Fire. Now, within the Steadfast Stone Fire-Steadying Furnace, the last trace of residual warmth dissipated.

He formed a seal and made a guiding motion. A sword light leaped from the furnace, soaring straight up!

The divine wood two principles sword spun nimbly in mid-air, emitting a clear, crisp sword chime.

Its blade was entirely gold and red, with golden threads meandering along the spine.

He reached out and grasped the hilt.

In that instant...

...the sword body trembled lightly.

Another sword chime sounded, though this one was slightly deeper and more subdued.

A wave of scorching Yang Qi emanated from the sword, instantly filling the entire Artifact Refining Room.

The moment he came into contact with this aura, Xu Changsheng immediately felt a surge of wicked fire rise from his lower abdomen, disturbing his long-calm state of mind.

Chu Linger on the other side naturally could not escape it either. A deep blush spread from her neck to the roots of her ears. Her gaze grew hazy and sticky as she stared dazedly at Xu Changsheng.

The scorching, fiery aura grew increasingly heavy, and the two found it harder and harder to control their actions.

They drew closer to each other.

Finally standing mere inches apart, they could hear each other's heavy breathing. On the steps, they embraced each other, unable to resist.

The moment their bodies touched, Chu Linger stiffened as if shocked by electricity, but then immediately began an even more frantic pursuit.

"Mmm..."

She directly pressed her lips to Xu Changsheng's, seeking the moisture she desired.

At that moment, the sword's power also vibrated against the walls, directly penetrating the stone walls of the Artifact Refining Room and transmitting outwards.

"Hummm——"

Zhang Hu whirled around, looking towards the third-rank Artifact Refining Room deep within the Earth Fire Caves.

No further commotion came from it.

"Strange."

He scratched his head and continued walking outwards.

Meanwhile, within the Earthfire Chamber, the lone man and woman had reached the point of dry wood meeting fierce fire. The clothing on both their bodies had been completely shed, and they clung to each other, skin to skin.

Just as they were about to cross the final threshold...

...Xu Changsheng's eyes snapped open. Seeing the completely naked Chu Linger and feeling the soft, boneless sensation in his palm, he angrily slapped his own face:

"Damn it! Why did the Restriction activate only now?"