310: Chapter 310 My sister has helped me so much, I haven't even properly thanked her.

"I need a place, along with some basic Materials and tools, to verify and initially craft these concepts."

Xu Ruyu spoke bluntly: "Hehuan Sect currently lacks the conditions for Artifact Refining."

"Therefore, I would like to borrow one of your clan's Artifact Refining sites. It would be best if it were relatively independent, quiet, and capable of providing stable earth-fire or a similar high-temperature energy source."

"Additionally, I need some basic Materials for Artifact Refining, such as refined iron, red copper, cold iron, star-patterned steel, several types of common metals and crystals with good spirit conductivity, as well as some basic measuring tools, such as a ruler with precise graduations, a balance scale for measuring minute weights, and 'temperature stones' for measuring heat, and so on."

"The list of Materials is here."

He handed another list containing dozens of Materials to Lady Qingli. Most of them were common low-grade Artifact Refining Materials in the Cultivation World, with only a few special ones marked as "urgently needed for testing," such as "hollow metal tubes with good spirit conductivity," "high-toughness, low-weight alloy foil," and "crystals sensitive to specific energy frequencies."

Lady Qingli took the list and glanced at it. She found that although there were many types of Materials required, their grades were not high, and the quantity requested was not large; it was merely a drop in the bucket for the Taihu Clan.

The venue was even less of an issue. She pondered for a moment and nodded: "This is not difficult."

"Our clan has a public Artifact Refining workshop called 'Fire Cloud Cave' beneath 'Chiyan Peak.' It draws in stable earth-vein true fire and is equipped with dozens of independent or semi-independent Artifact Refining Rooms, which are used year-round by our clan's Artifact Refiners and Disciples."

"I can arrange a relatively secluded independent Artifact Refining Room for you and have someone deliver the basic Materials on your list. As for the few special Materials you mentioned..."

"The clan's storehouse might have similar 'hollow cold iron tubes' or 'wind copper tubes' for the 'hollow spirit-conducting metal tubes'; the high-toughness alloy foil might need to be custom-made or substituted; and the sensitive crystals will require checking at the 'Jianbao Pavilion'."

"I will do my best to help you procure them."

"That's great! Many thanks, Sister Qingli!" Xu Ruyu was overjoyed.

"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me."

Lady Qingli looked at him, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of concern and warning: "Xiao Yuer, Fire Cloud Cave is an important Artifact Refining site for our clan, with Artifact Refining Elders and Disciples from the clan coming and going all year round."

"These... unconventional concepts and refining methods of yours might attract some... attention, or even criticism."

"You need to be mentally prepared."

Xu Ruyu smiled indifferently: "It's fine. In the Dao of Artifact Refining, everyone has their own methods."

"If they don't understand, let them talk."

"I just need a quiet place to verify my ideas."

Seeing Xu Ruyu so composed, Lady Qingli said no more. However, watching Xu Ruyu about to leave, this seductive woman who had already tasted the pleasures of the flesh felt a bit resentful and said: "Why, in such a rush to leave?"

"I have been thinking about you, Xiao Yuer, these past few days."

"Do you have a bed-warming maid by your side now, and have started to forget about me?"

"I've helped you so much, and you don't even know how to thank me properly!"

Upon hearing Lady Qingli's words, Xu Ruyu understood her intentions. He smiled immediately, and seeing no one around, walked over and scooped the beautiful young woman up into his arms. Lady Qingli cooperated, waving her hand, and a mist immediately obscured their figures...

"Three days" later, a satisfied Lady Qingli immediately summoned a maid and gave instructions to arrange an Artifact Refining Room in Fire Cloud Cave for Xu Ruyu and prepare the Materials.

The next morning, guided by a Deacon Disciple sent by Lady Qingli, Xu Ruyu arrived at Chiyan Peak, located on the other side of the Tianyin Mountains.

Chiyan Peak was dark red all over, and the temperature of the mountain was significantly higher than elsewhere, with the air permeated by a faint smell of sulfur and a scorching heat.

A huge cavern entrance had been carved into the mountainside, with the three ancient characters "Fire Cloud Cave" written above it.

Waves of heat continuously gushed out from the cave entrance, and red light could be faintly seen flickering inside, with the clanging sounds of hammering and energy fluctuations coming from time to time.

Entering the cave, the interior space was even more vast than imagined.

Passageways crisscrossed like a labyrinth, with doors to stone rooms of various sizes on both sides. Some were open, revealing busy figures and roaring furnace fires inside.

The air was filled with the complex scents of melting metal, quenching Ore, and various exotic Materials mixed together.

Many Taihu Clan Disciples shuttled back and forth; some were transporting Materials, while others were exchanging insights, presenting a scene of busy activity.

The guiding Deacon Disciple brought Xu Ruyu to the end of a relatively secluded passageway and opened a stone room numbered "Dingwei Seven."

"Sect Leader Xu, Elder Qingli has instructed that this Artifact Refining Room is for your use for the time being."

"The required basic Materials will be delivered shortly."

"The room is equipped with an earth-fire vent, and the fire control Formation is here. On the shelf over there are some basic tools such as forging hammers, tongs, and anvils."

"If you have any other needs, you can apply at the management office at the cave entrance, or inform me directly."

Xu Ruyu looked around the stone room.

It was about thirty square meters in size, with walls built from fire-resistant dark red rock, engraved with reinforcement and heat insulation Formations.

In the center of the floor was a circular opening about a foot in diameter, surrounded by a complex metal Formation; that was the earth-fire vent.

Beside it was a heavy stone workbench, several stone racks for tools and Materials, and in the corner, a large stone vat for quenching and cleaning, supplied with running water.

Although the conditions were simple, it was sufficient for initial verification and testing.

"Thank you for your trouble." Xu Ruyu nodded in thanks.

The Deacon Disciple bowed and left.

Before long, several Utility Disciples delivered the first batch of basic Materials from his list, piling them in a corner of the stone room. There were refined iron ingots, red copper blocks, cold iron Ore, star-patterned steel billets, several types of common low-grade spirit wood and animal bones, and a small box containing various low-grade crystals and raw gemstone Ore.

In addition, there was a set of basic measuring tools, including a vernier caliper (a simplified version for the Cultivation World), a precision balance, and 'temperature stones' (special stones that change color in different temperature ranges).

"Let's begin!"

Xu Ruyu rubbed his hands together, his eyes full of motivation.

He did not immediately touch those Materials but instead took out several pieces of "soft jade wood" blanks, which were uniform in texture and easy to carve, from his Storage Pouch.

He intended to first use this wood to make several scale models of the weapons and prototypes of key components to verify the structural feasibility and conduct simulated assembly.

He first took out a charcoal pencil and parchment, and according to the design drawings in his mind, carefully outlined the lines on the soft jade wood blanks. Then, he picked up a sharp small carving knife and began to carve intently.