Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery
Chapter 513 - 498 Refining the Flying Sword

"Senior, rest assured."

Jiang Ding said calmly, "All the No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal I buy will be for my own use and not for sale."

Not just No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal, but other synthetic materials like Electromagnetic Magical Gold are also regulated by the Xianmen Sect, and they are only sold occasionally in exchange for urgently needed Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

It's impossible to buy them at the low prices available within the sect, where they can be purchased with low-grade Spirit Stones.

"That's good to hear."

Jin Daqian let out a sigh of relief.

"Besides the regulation, the production of No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal is limited—it's a scarce resource. Of course, this doesn't apply to you, as with your God-transforming Level merit, you are exempt from these restrictions."

"However..."

He showed a hint of difficulty on his face

"Our production is limited."

"Limited production?"

Jiang Ding looked at him with confusion.

How could such a large Xianmen Sect claim to have limited production for mere third-order materials for personal use?

"You may not be aware,"

Jin Daqian said with a bitter smile, "the production is actually sufficient, but Air-Space Battleships, Air-Space Motherships, and many Golden Pill and Nascent Soul Monks in the sect have demands, and they all have placed orders."

"We can offer you No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal once every five years at most. To apologize, how about a price of two thousand nine hundred low-grade Spirit Stones?"

"Products from companies wholly owned by the Immortal Sect Assets Committee are subject to discounts based on civic merit."

"Once every five years?"

Jiang Ding frowned slightly.

To be fair, that isn't a small amount; in fact, it's quite substantial.

Top-tier third-order material!

A Golden Pill Monk doing well might convert two portions in a century, allowing their treasures to become much sharper amongst those of the same order and gaining a significant advantage.

One portion every five years means twenty portions in a century—a Golden Pill Monk could spend an entire lifetime without cultivating and still might not finish converting it all.

"Give me the priority materials list for No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal."

Jiang Ding said helplessly.

Every industry in the Xianmen Sect has similar rules, allowing exchange with scarce Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure for speed or quantity. This is also a reflection of the poverty within the sect.

"Please have a look."

Jin Daqian handed over a Jade Slip.

Jiang Ding's Divine Sense surged into it.

Second-order Void Mysterious Stone, first-order Green Crystal Iron, second-order Gold Copper Stone… and a large number of other rare first and second-order materials, all scarce minerals within the sect and required in large quantities, often in the thousands of tons.

"You might consider trading with your classmate, An Tuzi,"

Jin Daqian suggested, "Taoist disciples in the Five Elements Heavenly Sect hold a very special status and can often decide on most matters effortlessly."

"An Tuzi?"

Jiang Ding was noncommittal.

In his mind, he had already dismissed this suggestion.

To beat someone up and then shamelessly go to them for help wasn't something he could bring himself to do.

Besides, even if he hadn't beaten An Tuzi, he wouldn't go.

The alliance between the Xianmen Sect and the Five Elements Heavenly Sect was based on interests, and if external circumstances change, a falling out could occur at any moment, leading to conflict. He disliked being emotionally entangled in such matters, as it may cause his sword to falter in decisiveness.

His gaze lingered on materials like Gold Copper Stone and Silver Star Iron, which looked familiar.

After a brief recollection, he recalled similar second-order materials from other worlds among the hundreds of priority materials listed.

"Let's start with No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal every five years, priced at two thousand nine hundred low-grade Spirit Stones,"

Jiang Ding confirmed again, "Senior Jin, as long as I deliver these priority materials, the quantity and price of the No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal will be even more favorable, right?"

"Daoist Jiang, indeed it is so,"

Jin Daqian said earnestly, "There is also another method; you can apply to the Headmaster of Qingfeng University, Immortal Dinghai, for special funding. With your past merit, you should be able to get more priority and temporarily suspend orders from other cultivators, prioritizing your own needs."

"Suspend others' orders?"

"Let's talk about that later."

Jiang Ding shook his head and politely bid farewell to the senior.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, he didn't want to do that.

The cultivators of the Xianmen Sect, especially those applying for No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal, are mostly on the front lines of battle, facing danger daily.

By delaying their orders, it would be akin to putting them in danger.

He disconnected from the network.

Behind Jiang Ding, the Sun God Wood burst through the soil with a roar, spreading and growing, its canopy blocking out the sky and absorbing the Spiritual Energy and Great Sun Essence within a fifty-kilometer radius, condensing into twinkling droplets that fell like stars.

"'All-transforming Magnetic Origin Sutra' Golden Pill Chapter."

Jiang Ding closed his eyes to ponder this chapter of the text, with the Magical Aura on his body fluctuating constantly, moving in a more profound and complex direction. Within several kilometers, transparent ripples continuously appeared, faintly resonating with the Power of Ten Thousand Magnets of Heaven and Earth.

Several days later, one cycle of the Cultivation Method and Zhou Tian was completed, and both Mana and Divine Soul returned to their peak state.

At the same time, the tens of tons of tungsten and Magic Arts-Breaking Steel he had ordered were delivered by the Green Bird, placed on the mirror-like platform before the Green Bird took the delivery receipt and left.

"Refining the Flying Sword..."

Jiang Ding drew out the Taiqing Flying Sword from his brow and placed it in front of him.

He opened his mouth and expelled a deep azure Elixir Fire, which spewed from the virtual shadow of the Nine Aperture Golden Core, falling upon the Taiqing Flying Sword and continuously burning it.

After several breaths, the Taiqing Flying Sword turned a faint red, seemingly unchanged.

"To refine the Treasure and the Flying Sword, the first step is to scorch them with Elixir Fire, bringing the Treasure and Flying Sword back from a cooled state to a forging state, allowing the refinement and re-engraving of prohibitions to begin,"

"Generally speaking, this process takes at least a year."

"No wonder refining a Life Treasure is so time and effort consuming."

Jiang Ding's thoughts soared.

Of course, that's the most common method.

Some Cultivators choose to use external forces, but that's a risky affair, as external forces aren't as reliable as Elixir Fire and could easily damage or even destroy the Treasure.

External forces usually refer to things like Earth Fire, Ghost Fire, and the like.

"Sun Flame Crystal."

Jiang Ding took out an item.

The crystal was shaped with clear flame-colored sword patterns inside it.

This item came from one of the three great fortunes of the Great Sun Heavenly Pond, the Sun Flame Sword Refining River. It could violently yet precisely refine both the sword body and the Sword Intent, having the effect of tempering both simultaneously.

An accumulation of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion's countless years of research and hard work in the way of the sword.

Jiang Ding's Divine Sense and Sword Intent surged into it, and with a light stab,

Boom, an orange-red flame burst out from within the crystal, scorchingly hot and blistering, and also containing a highly concentrated Flame Sword Intent, which could simultaneously smelt the material and the spirit of the Flying Sword.

Under the scorching of this flame and the sapphire blue Elixir Fire, the completely defenseless Taiqing Flying Sword began to turn red at a rate visible to the naked eye.

In just ten days,

The body of the sword turned completely red, and the Flying Sword returned to an unstable, fragile state. The Divine Sense Brand inside it was painfully seared by the Flame Sword Intent, and it had to combat and temper it with the force of Divine Sense.

"The heat is sufficient."

Jiang Ding's Divine Sense made a move.

A small mountain of Magic Arts-Breaking Steel and tungsten flew over from not too far away, all landing on the Sun Flame Fire. With sounds of sizzling, they vaporized into white smoke. The mountain-like Magic Arts-Breaking Steel and tungsten rapidly dissolved, burning impurities and refining their essence.

In just a few hours,

The mountain-high metal ingots were reduced to a drop, the size of a soybean, one silver-white and the other pitch-black, representing the refined essence of Magic Arts-Breaking Steel and tungsten.

"Gengjin Qi."

With another movement from Jiang Ding's finger, No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal flew over, landing on the Sun Flame Fire. After several days of smelting, strands of pure Gengjin Qi emerged.

Gengjin Qi, the essence of tungsten, the essence of Magic Arts-Breaking Steel.

These three floated above the Sun Flame Fire, occasionally rotating.

"Come!"

From within Jiang Ding's Divine Soul emerged the various secret nodes of the "Great Sun Heavenly Pond Sword Refining Method." He pinched the Mana Technique and chanted words, while the Taiqing Flying Sword hummed in coordination.

"Quickly!"

He pointed with his finger.

Hum!

Instantly, the Gengjin Qi, essence of tungsten, and essence of Magic Arts-Breaking Steel whirled around, each sending strands into the Taiqing Flying Sword. They served as ink, inscribing the patterns of the Great Sun God Prohibition upon the sword body, bit by bit, spreading from the periphery towards the center near the Divine Sense Brand.

The three metallic 'inks' even infiltrated the pre-existing array patterns within the sword body, continuously absorbing them.

One day, two days...

Jiang Ding opened the dormitory's Defensive Array, indifferent to the alternating day and night, wholly concentrated on refining his Life Flying Sword, heedless of the outside world.

Two more months later,

The essence of tungsten and the pure Magic Arts-Breaking Steel were completely consumed, and the last stroke of the Great Sun God Prohibition pattern had been inscribed.

Hum!

The Taiqing Flying Sword trembled violently.

At the same time, the newly inscribed prohibition patterns all around flashed, inhaling and exhaling Heavenly Earth Spiritual Qi, channeling it into the patterns.

Constantly refining, constantly merging.

Ultimately, a bright glow flickered, forming an intricate Earth Evil Prohibition pattern near the Divine Sense Brand, tightly connecting to the Divine Sense Brand and the first Earth Evil Prohibition pattern.

"The second Earth Evil Prohibition pattern is complete!"

Jiang Ding opened his eyes, exhaling lightly.

Just two months, and an additional Earth Evil Prohibition pattern had been added.

It would be shocking to disclose, as no Golden Pill Monk would believe it, but if they knew that it was driven by a Nascent Soul Level Divine Soul, it would make sense.

He stowed away the considerably depleted Sun Flame Crystal and No. 21 Synthetic Geng Metal.

The Taiqing Flying Sword gradually stabilized but still appeared entirely red.

"It would require a lengthy period to let it cool naturally or could be done through external forces."

"However, no matter the method, the alternation of high heat and intense cold would cause minute damage to the sword body."

Jiang Ding's gaze flickered, "So, after refining a Treasure, it's mandatory to nurture and temper the sword body with a spirit liquid made from elixirs that are at least a hundred years old, repairing any damage... There really are many expenses, not to mention it takes a great deal of time."

He flipped his hand and produced a mist-covered Ice Crystal.

Moon Creek Crystal!

One of the treasures formed by the powers of the Moon Creek Sword Refining River of the Great Sun Heavenly Pond, a rare and precious sword crafting Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

Jiang Ding's Divine Sense surged into it, and immediately, the crystal cracked slightly, and a stream of icy mist continuously billowed out, covering the glowing red Taiqing Flying Sword.

In the alternation of cold and heat,

The sizzling sounds persisted, resembling water droplets falling. The contrasts between the Ice-cold Sword Intent and the Flame Sword Intent caused conflicts, extinguished, and provided the Sword Intent of Destruction a trial by ice and fire.

As for the sword body, it was the opposite. A gentle Spiritual Power from within the Moon Creek Crystal emerged, soothing and repairing the minute damages caused by the violent refining, enhancing the sharpness and resilience of the Flying Sword, taking it to another level.

Several days later, the mist dissipated.

Having undergone tempering, a deep blue Flying Sword shone radiantly, its aura having grown stronger.