294: Lei Yuanye

Dusk on the third day.

As the last wisp of Green Thunder Sand paste seeped deep into the wood grain, Su Ming's fingers finally stopped.

The piece of Thunder-Struck Wood was no longer the charred, coal-like thing it had been.

Although its exterior remained ancient and weathered, a layer of crystal-clear cyan crystals now filled the cracked patterns.

As spiritual power was injected, those crystals seemed to come alive, reflecting off the original purple thunder patterns to form a strange cyan and purple dual-colored halo.

Hum— A low humming sound rang out.

That was not the precursor to an explosion, but the joyful hum of the Formation core as it regained its rhythm.

Su Ming let out a long breath and withdrew his spiritual power; his body swayed, and he nearly toppled over.

A rough, large hand firmly steadied his arm.

"Get up slowly; it's easy to get dizzy after squatting for so long." The stiffness in Zheng Tieshou's voice was gone, replaced by a hint of the warmth one only shows to fellow practitioners.

Su Ming steadied himself and bowed, saying, "I have fulfilled the mission. However, this method of repair relies on some shortcuts; I must ask Deacon Zheng to take a look."

Zheng Tieshou didn't speak, walking with large strides to the stone table.

He reached out with his calloused palm and gently stroked the restored piece of Thunder-Struck Wood. The sensation from his palm was warm and tough; spiritual power flowed through it smoothly and without obstruction, and because of the addition of the Green Thunder Sand, it even possessed an added sharpness it hadn't had before.

"Shortcuts?" Zheng Tieshou shook his head, turned to look at Su Ming, his eyes complex, "If this counts as a shortcut, then the decades I've spent swinging a hammer have been in vain."

The surrounding old Artifact Refiners also gathered around, clicking their tongues in wonder.

"Using water methods for nourishment is actually able to overcome the violence of thunder fire, and it can fuse two types of spiritual Materials so perfectly." An old man with a white beard stroked his beard, looking at Su Ming as if he were looking at an unpolished piece of jade, "Young friend, your talent in the art of blending spiritual Materials is extraordinary."

"This technique is as delicate as embroidery; us folks who swing big hammers really can't do this," another person chimed in.

Zheng Tieshou fished a small cyan bottle made of an unknown material from his robes and shoved it into Su Ming's hand.

"Take it."

Su Ming was stunned: "This is?"

"During the process of repairing this Formation base, you used water methods to force out the thunder-fire essence, which I collected and refined along the way." Zheng Tieshou scratched his hair, looking a bit unnatural, "This is called 'Thunder Origin Liquid'. Although there isn't much, it has miraculous effects for tempering the Physical Body and purifying spiritual power. Consider it a little bonus."

Su Ming's heart stirred. Thunder Origin Liquid! This was a rare treasure that couldn't be bought with money.

"Thank you, Deacon." Su Ming didn't decline and accepted it gracefully.

"Also, I will have someone record the one hundred and twenty points of military merit under your name." Zheng Tieshou patted Su Ming on the shoulder with considerable force, "In the future, if you have any difficulties regarding Formation Materials, or if you want to tinker with some strange and odd things, you can come directly here to find me. Although my skill in Formations is not as refined as yours, in the area of Materials, there are few in this Iron Wall Pass who can compare to me."

This was the greatest harvest.

Su Ming was secretly delighted. With these words from Zheng Tieshou, he now had a reliable source for both Materials and technical support whenever he wanted to tinker with his "little inventions" in the Repair Hall.

"Alright, stop standing there, go back and rest." Zheng Tieshou waved his hand, "Look at how pale you are; you look like a ghost."

Su Ming bowed again and turned to walk outside.

Walking out of the sweltering workshop, the cold wind outside struck him again, but it made him feel exceptionally clear-headed.

"Master, this time, we not only earned military merit but also established a connection with the Artifact Hall." Su Ming touched the warm little bottle in his robes, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"That's because your skills are solid." Lin Yu yawned in the Sea of Consciousness, "However, disciple, have you noticed that your 'water-grinding' ability is becoming more and more proficient? If you can't continue cultivating immortality in the future, we can go open a blacksmith shop; we would definitely make a fortune."

Su Ming stumbled, nearly slipping in the snow.

By the time he returned to the Bing Battalion, it was completely dark.

Just as he walked to the door of Stone House No. 7, Su Ming saw Zhao Tieji squatting by the entrance, holding a twig and drawing something on the snow, with Old Man Liu and Chen Chuan gathered around him.

Seeing Su Ming return, Zhao Tieji stood up abruptly and approached with a mysterious expression.

"Brother Su, you're finally back." Zhao Tieji lowered his voice and looked left and right, "Something happened."

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously reached for the Formation Plate at his waist: "Did Yao Beasts attack the camp?"

"No." Zhao Tieji shook his head, his expression somewhat strange, appearing both excited and worried, "It's the logistics camp. I heard that this afternoon, a batch of damaged Magical Artifacts was transported back from the front lines, and it seems something incredible got mixed in, injuring the two Deacons responsible for counting them. The area is already sealed off, and they are looking everywhere for someone who understands ancient Formations to take a look."

Su Ming's heart sank.

Transported back from the front lines? Injured Deacons?

Could it be...

"Our battalion commander just issued an order for you to go over first thing tomorrow morning." Zhao Tieji patted Su Ming on the shoulder, "They said they specifically requested you by name, it seems because your reputation from repairing that thunder wood Formation last time has spread."

Su Ming narrowed his eyes slightly.

Reputation is something that is sometimes a protective talisman, and sometimes, a death warrant.

"Understood." Su Ming nodded, his expression normal, "Brother Zhao, I want to rest early tonight."

"Alright, you've been busy for three days and must be exhausted, go get some sleep." Zhao Tieji didn't think much of it and led the others away.

Su Ming pushed open the stone door and cast a Restriction behind him.

He didn't rest immediately, but sat cross-legged and took out the bottle of "Thunder Origin Liquid".

"Master, it seems it will be difficult for us to keep a low profile." Su Ming looked at the purple liquid in the bottle and said softly.

"What are you afraid of?" Lin Yu's voice was filled with a rogue-like energy, "Soldiers come, block with generals; water comes, cover with earth. As long as we aren't greedy and don't touch those deadly core secrets, even if the sky falls, there will be taller people to hold it up. Hurry up, refine this thing; your Physical Body is too weak, in case you really need to run away one day, don't start panting after running two steps."

Su Ming took a deep breath, uncorked the bottle, and swallowed the drop of Thunder Origin Liquid into his stomach.

Boom!

A violent, hot current instantly exploded in his stomach, turning into countless tiny thunder snakes that burrowed into his limbs and bones.

Su Ming let out a muffled groan, gritted his teeth, and activated the Ruoshui Art, guiding that violent power to slowly temper his Meridians and bones.

And deep in the soil beneath him, the wood demon core fragment engraved with the "Spiritual Response Resonance" rune was emitting an extremely faint rhythm, perceptible only to him, in sync with his breathing.

That rhythm penetrated the rock layers, extending deeper and darker into the underground.

Down there, that "river" seemed to sense something, and its flow quickened a few more notches.