32: Weapon crafting tutorial

The wandering soul boat had flown less than a hundred miles before Su Ling was forced to land it quickly.

The Yuanze Mountain Range was teeming with all kinds of Yao Beasts, and some flying Yao Beasts even moved in packs.

Even if they were only first-tier Yao Beasts, if their numbers were large enough, they could only temporarily avoid their sharp edge.

Left with no choice, Su Ling and Yun Qingluan could only choose to travel on foot.

What Su Ling found strange was that during the three months of traveling through the Yuanze Mountain Range, the sky had been constantly covered in dark clouds, and he had never seen any daylight.

Every half month, the entire Yuanze Mountain Range would fall into a polar night lasting three days.

It was only thanks to a timekeeping magical artifact issued by the Sect that Su Ling was able to keep track of the hours.

Out of curiosity, he couldn't help but ask Yun Qingluan about this.

Yun Qingluan only replied indifferently, "The Cuiye Secret Realm is a fragmented plane. Once we reach the edge of the mountain range, you will naturally understand."

In the time that followed, Su Ling finally saw the benefits of traveling with Yun Qingluan.

That human puppet was at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.

Its suit of armor was actually a set of mid-grade defensive Magical Artifacts.

Su Ling had personally witnessed the human puppet withstand the siege of several late second-tier Yao Beasts without a single scratch.

As for the attacks of Peak second-tier Yao Beasts, even if they broke through the protection of the armor artifact, they could not cause any damage to the human puppet itself.

The Physical Body strength of this human puppet was truly terrifying.

Having been in the Cuiye Secret Realm for over three months, these past few days were the most relaxed Su Ling had ever been.

Almost all the Yao Beasts encountered along the way were handled by the human puppet.

As for those slain Yao Beasts, apart from occasionally picking out a couple of parts, Yun Qingluan didn't care for them at all, and they all became Su Ling's spoils of war.

His last remaining Storage Pouch was once again filled with various Artifact Refining Materials.

It got to the point where Su Ling had to discard some of those early Foundation Establishment Materials.

Over the course of a week, through more than twenty battles, they even encountered two Third-tier Demon Beasts.

The two had to take a detour, and after a week, they had only traveled about a thousand miles.

As it grew late, they took over the cave of an early second-tier Yao Beast to rest for a while.

Su Ling went off on his own to set up defensive and illusory formations to protect the cave entrance.

When he returned to the cave, he saw Yun Qingluan using a type of black spiritual fire to burn the damaged Magical Artifacts on the human puppet.

"Senior Sister, you also know the art of Artifact Refining?"

Su Ling couldn't help but be surprised.

In his view, Yun Qingluan had advanced to the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage in just a few short years.

Recently, she even showed signs of breaking through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Her array of exquisite Spells was endless and varied.

Besides her amazing talent, there must also be the reason of her single-minded persistence in cultivation.

He didn't expect her to have quite some research into the art of Artifact Refining as well.

"I know a little."

Yun Qingluan stared intently at the spiritual fire, occasionally forming a hand seal to carve formation patterns onto the armor artifact.

After spending a week together, Su Ling had grown somewhat accustomed to her taciturn nature.

He didn't mind it, sitting quietly to the side and carefully observing her Artifact Refining techniques.

In fact, in terms of defensive capability alone, this armor artifact was not even as strong as the human puppet's own physical intensity.

But the human puppet had no Divine Soul; its former self seemed to have been a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who specialized in Body Refining, primarily relying on physical strength to fight.

Magic power was merely a supplement.

Without armor for protection, once it encountered a high-intensity battle, that grey robe would no longer be able to cover its body.

Although Yun Qingluan didn't say it, with Su Ling's intelligence, how could he not see this?

At this, he could only curl his lips.

Su Ling had encountered many female Disciples of the demonic sect, but one as pretentious as Yun Qingluan was a first.

She was truly protected too well!

While complaining in his heart, on the surface, Su Ling was learning without even blinking.

Half an hour passed, and Yun Qingluan finally completed the repair of the armor artifact.

After making the human puppet put on the armor, she finally turned her gaze toward Su Ling, who was still wanting more.

"Take off your clothes!"

"What?!"

Su Ling was still savoring Yun Qingluan's control of the heat during the Artifact Refining just now, but upon hearing this, his eyes instantly widened.

Seeing his expression, Yun Qingluan also realized the ambiguity in her words. She quickly coughed lightly and said coldly, "The leather armor and the tusk artifact—I will re-refine them for you."

"Oh, thank you, Senior Sister!"

Su Ling realized and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He nimbly took off the Fierce-Toothed Crocodile leather armor and, along with the Golden Bone Beast tusk, handed them over respectfully.

For these two artifacts, Su Ling had previously only simply carved a formation pattern for magic power conduction.

In fact, they couldn't even be considered Magical Artifacts.

"Tusks and scales of a Core Formation Yao Beast..."

As her Divine Sense swept over the two items, Yun Qingluan couldn't help but be surprised.

Although she had the help of the human puppet and could easily deal with Crystal Cave Demon Spiders comparable to Peak Foundation Establishment, and could handle other Peak Foundation Establishment Yao Beasts with ease...

If she truly faced a third-tier Core Formation Yao Beast, unless she used her trump cards, her only option would be to flee.

She didn't expect Su Ling to actually possess Materials from two Core Formation Yao Beasts.

"Just luck, just luck..."

Su Ling chuckled and didn't explain the origin of the two items.

Yun Qingluan didn't delve further. Looking at the tusk and scales floating before her, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.

This Artifact Refining technique was simply a waste of natural resources!

After a moment of thought, Yun Qingluan reached out and wiped through the air, unceremoniously erasing the formation patterns Su Ling had previously applied.

Then, the black spiritual fire appeared again, starting the smelting with the tusk first.

After a moment, the Golden Bone Beast tusk gradually softened, and wisps of golden luster seeped out from the inside.

"The owner of this tusk should be a gold-attribute third-tier Yao Beast. Since you don't have a spiritual fire, you can't stimulate the power contained within it..."

Noticing that Su Ling had some knowledge of Artifact Refining, Yun Qingluan said a few more words than usual.

She explained the principles and techniques related to refining to him.

Generally speaking, when Cultivators perform Alchemy or Artifact Refining, they either borrow earth vein flames or use the Core Fire they have cultivated themselves.

The so-called Core Fire is a special flame nurtured by a Core Formation Cultivator through the Golden Core within their body.

Cultivators below the Core Formation stage, unless they specifically Cultivate fire-attribute techniques, can only use earth vein flames for Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

spiritual fires, on the other hand, are strange flames born from heaven and earth, such as the Nether Abyss Ice Flame.

Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage can use their own magic power to gradually refine spiritual fire, making it their own.

It can be used not only for Artifact Refining and Alchemy but also for combat.

The black spiritual fire in Yun Qingluan's hand was exactly a spiritual fire refined in this manner.

While envious, Su Ling listened with great interest, cross-referencing Yun Qingluan's words with the "Introductory Treasure Book of Artifact Refining" to deepen his understanding.

When he encountered doubts, he even dared to ask questions.

Yun Qingluan also patiently cleared his doubts, occasionally taking out one or two refining Materials from her storage bracelet to add in.

Three hours later, appearing before Su Ling's eyes were a bone Flying Sword covered with golden patterns and an enlarged version of a scale shield.

[golden bone sword, mid-grade Flying Sword artifact]

[Crocodile Armor, mid-grade defensive Magical Artifact]

"My ability is limited; I can only refine it to this extent."

While adjusting her breathing, Yun Qingluan said indifferently, "If Wu Tiehun were to do it, it should be at least a High Grade Magical Artifact."

"What are you saying, Senior Sister? To be able to obtain two mid-grade magical artifacts, I am already extremely grateful."

Su Ling stroked the golden bone sword and thanked her very sincerely, "It's just that I'm short of funds and really don't know how to..."

"No need."

Yun Qingluan shook her head and interrupted, "The reason I'm helping you is also in the hope that when I need you to act, you can provide your full support."

"That is only natural."

Su Ling promised solemnly.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

He also saw that Yun Qingluan had very little experience in both wilderness survival and combat.

Within her cold and taciturn nature, there was also a childish arrogance.

Along the way, she relied heavily on his reminders and the protection of the human puppet.

On the bright side, for some reason, besides her daily guard against him...

...she was relatively trusting in other aspects.

At least she followed almost all the suggestions he made.

It made Su Ling wonder, does sincere master-Disciple affection really exist within the demonic sect?

Otherwise, why would Yun Qingluan be protected so well!