379: Chapter 378 On one side, everyone has their own ulterior motives; on the other, everyone is immersed in weapon crafting.

Zhao Qianyi was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "That old fox Situ E must be nearby. He intentionally leaked the news that the Hehuan Sect is hiding in Tianyin Mountain just to let me be the one to go die first."

"Then what should we do?"

Zhao Qianyi sneered: "What to do? Wait. Wait for Situ E to lose his patience first.

He hates Xu Ruyu more than I do, and he wants Xiao Nianyin even more.

I don't believe he can hold back forever."

He paused, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes: "Wait for them, the Jile Sect, to make the first move, and then we will strike.

It would be best if they and the Taihu Clan both suffer heavy losses, so I can reap the rewards."

"Elder is wise!"

Two groups of people, each harboring their own secrets, were watching and waiting.

No one was willing to be the first to step out.

No one was willing to suffer a loss.

And this subtle balance gave Xu Ruyu the most precious time.

...

Inside the inner layer of the Illusory Moon Well, in the Artifact Refinement Hut.

Xu Ruyu had no idea about the situation outside. His entire focus was devoted to Artifact Refining.

In the following days, he completely locked himself inside the Artifact Refinement Hut.

Every morning, he woke up early to prepare Materials, design blueprints, and tune equipment.

Every late night, he dragged his exhausted body to sit on a cushion in the corner to recover.

When hungry, he would gnaw on a few spirit fruits prepared by Taihao Clan; when thirsty, he would drink a few sips of spirit spring water; when sleepy, he would doze off for a while, and then continue.

Taihao Clan mocked him at first: "How many days can you keep this up? Don't end up exhausted before you even finish refining the artifact."

Xu Ruyu didn't even look up as he continued carving the Array Pattern in his hand: "Senior, don't worry, I know my limits."

Taihao Clan curled her lips and said nothing more, helping him as an assistant on the side—melting Materials, polishing parts, and adjusting the flames.

At first, the two worked separately, rarely communicating.

But gradually, Taihao Clan couldn't help herself.

"Why does this Array Pattern have to turn here? Wouldn't a straight line work?" She pointed at a newly carved part, her face full of confusion.

Xu Ruyu looked up, glanced at her, and explained: "The turn here is to make the energy rotate as it passes through, increasing stability.

Just like when you throw a stone, a rotating stone flies more steadily than one that doesn't."

Taihao Clan nodded thoughtfully, but soon frowned again: "But didn't you say before that energy has the least loss in a straight channel? Doesn't this turn cause loss?"

Xu Ruyu smiled: "Senior, your observation is very keen. Indeed, a turn causes loss, but the stability brought by this rotation can greatly improve the efficiency of the energy in subsequent acceleration.

Losing a little bit in exchange for an overall increase in power is a good deal."

Taihao Clan's eyes lit up. She leaned over to look closely at the Array Pattern and muttered: "So that's how it is... the balance between loss and efficiency... interesting."

After a while, she asked again: "Why is the chest plate of this armor made into an arc? Isn't a flat one better?"

Xu Ruyu said: "An arc can better disperse impact force. If an enemy slashes over, a flat surface will transmit all the power to the body; an arc will let the power slide off, reducing damage."

Taihao Clan's eyes lit up: "That makes sense! Then why are some places flat?"

"The flat places are for fixing the Array Pattern. Array Pattern need a flat surface to be carved precisely. Moreover, some Array Pattern need a stable foundation, and an arc would actually affect the effect."

"So that's it..."

Taihao Clan was like a curious baby, asking one question after another. Xu Ruyu was patient, explaining while he refined.

Gradually, Taihao Clan began to get the hang of it.

She was originally a Saint Realm Artifact Refiner with an excellent foundation.

Although she didn't understand Xu Ruyu's unheard-of ideas and methods at first, as long as Xu Ruyu explained them once, she could remember them and even draw inferences.

"Look here," she pointed to an Array Pattern on the armor's bracer, excitedly saying, "If I superimpose this acceleration Array Pattern and this protective Array Pattern, wouldn't it be able to both accelerate attacks and protect the arm?"

Xu Ruyu looked carefully, and his eyes lit up: "We can try! But pay attention to the order of superposition; they shouldn't interfere with each other."

Taihao Clan nodded repeatedly and immediately started to try.

The two began to research.

The fifth day.

The first batch of ten "poqi type i" rifles was successfully refined.

Xu Ruyu picked one up and examined it carefully.

The gun body was forged from a mixture of dark iron and Star Pattern Steel, and the surface was covered with dense Array Pattern.

He pulled the trigger, and a pale golden light sprayed out, blasting a bowl-sized deep pit into the test wall.

"The power is even greater than that one before." He nodded with satisfaction.

Taihao Clan leaned over, her eyes shining: "Let me try!"

She took the gun and fired a shot at the test wall.

"Boom!"

The pit in the wall was an inch deeper than the one from Xu Ruyu's gun.

Taihao Clan jumped up with excitement: "So powerful! Shoot again!"

"Senior, use it sparingly, the energy crystals are limited..." Xu Ruyu quickly stopped her.

Taihao Clan curled her lips: "What are you afraid of? Refine more if you run out! Aren't those crystals of yours made using my Materials?"

Xu Ruyu was torn between laughter and tears: "Senior, Materials are also limited. That room full of Materials you have, it looks like a lot, but if we really use them freely, it won't last long."

Taihao Clan glared: "Then refine more crystals! Didn't you say you could extract energy from the air? Why are you so stingy?"

Xu Ruyu sighed: "Extraction is possible, but it takes time. Where do I have time now?"

Taihao Clan thought for a moment and said: "Then I will help you. You teach me how to make those crystals, and I will refine them."

Xu Ruyu's eyes lit up: "Senior is willing to learn?"

"Nonsense! Isn't that why I came here?"

"Good! Then let's start now!"

The eighth day.

The first batch of five "Chuan Yang Type I" sniper units was successfully refined.

This thing was twice as long as the rifle, with a thinner barrel and more complex Array Pattern.

Xu Ruyu mounted it on a stand and aimed at a test stone three hundred zhang away.

"Bang!"

With a crisp sound, that pale golden light instantly hit the test stone, blasting it into fragments!

Taihao Clan was dumbfounded, her mouth wide enough to fit an egg.