After leaving Wanbao Pavilion, Li Mu did not follow Fang Yunjian back to Xuantian Sword Sect's station; instead, he bid farewell to Fang Yunjian, expressing his intention to find another place for Artifact Refining.
"Elder Li, the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain is no longer peaceful as it once was; dangers lurk everywhere. Why don't you temporarily stay at the Sect's station for safety?" Fang Yunjian frowned slightly, his words revealing concern for Li Mu's safety.
Li Mu smiled faintly, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Thank you for Executive Fang's kind intentions, but I have chosen a secluded and safe place where no one will disturb my Artifact Refining. If Executive Fang needs to find me for anything important, a token message will suffice."
"In that case, Elder Li, please be careful with everything." Seeing that Li Mu's intention to leave was firm and knowing his resolute character, Fang Yunjian did not try to dissuade him further.
Subsequently, Li Mu turned and released the Earth Element Spirit Ship, controlling it like a flash of lightning cutting across the sky, speeding towards Yin Yang Valley.
Soon, the Earth Element Spirit Ship landed inside Yin Yang Valley. Li Mu's figure flickered, flying out of the Spirit Ship, putting away the Earth Element Spirit Ship, and releasing the four directions house, a portable Spiritual Artifact for residence, whose internal space was vast enough to accommodate more than a dozen Cultivators for living and Cultivating.
Li Mu placed the four directions house in Yin Yang Valley and then activated the surrounding original protective grand formation to ensure the Spirit Valley's safety.
Li Mu entered the four directions house's Artifact Refining Room, took out the Painting World Treasure Mansion, and with a flicker of his figure, disappeared from his original spot.
Inside the Painting World Treasure Mansion's Artifact Refining Room, Li Mu pondered for a moment, then summoned the Purple-Gold Fire Phoenix - Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire. Its figure circled in the air, quickly condensing into a scorching Skyfire Refining Furnace.
To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.
Before refining the Returning Void Pill, Li Mu planned to first refine an Alchemy Furnace to assist in Alchemy.
Artifact Refining and Alchemy, though different paths, lead to the same destination. Both involve refining Materials and Spirit Medicine through the power of Spirit Fire, allowing their spiritual properties to interact. However, compared to the rough initial stage of Artifact Refining, the complex array setting in the Middle Stage, and the precise inscription of Artifact Runes in the later stage, Alchemy focuses more on the refining and Fusion of Spirit Medicine's medicinal properties and the subtle control of heat. The formation of Pill Runes is the essence of Alchemy, embodying the essence and spiritual nature of the Medicinal Pill, and serving as a manifestation of its quality.
Therefore, if there is a high-quality Alchemy Furnace to assist in the Alchemy process, it can greatly improve the success rate of Alchemy and the quality of the Medicinal Pill.
Li Mu's Divine Sense entered the nine storage spiritual pearl, selecting suitable Artifact Refining Materials for refining an Alchemy Furnace. At the same time, his mind raced, conceiving the Artifact Array and Artifact Runes for the Alchemy Furnace.
Soon, Li Mu selected the suitable main Spirit Material for the Alchemy Furnace: a seven-rank Star Core. It originated from a galaxy left behind when an outer domain star collapsed, containing the power of stars and extremely rich essence.
Li Mu planned to use it as the foundation, supplemented by other six-rank Spirit Materials, to refine a six-rank Alchemy Furnace that uses Star Power as an auxiliary.
Star Power is gentle and restrained, suitable for providing stable and pure firepower during the formation of Medicinal Pills, ensuring that the Medicinal Pills can perfectly integrate various medicinal properties, remove Impurities, and improve quality during the refining process.
Li Mu sat cross-legged, forming hand seals, and slowly placed the Star Core into the Skyfire Refining Furnace for refining.
Several days later, the Star Core melted in the Skyfire Refining Furnace, transforming into a dazzling silver molten liquid, its surface shimmering with starlight, like a pouring galaxy. With a thought from Li Mu, the other six-rank Spirit Materials also flew into the furnace one by one, beginning to revolve around the Star Core.
Li Mu concentrated fully, circulating the profound Cultivation within his body, his Divine Thought firmly locked onto the inside of the furnace. He unleashed the Artifact Refining Divine Ability - Divine Refining Spirit Melting, like a master craftsman, guiding the silver molten liquid with his Divine Thought, slowly deforming it according to his conception, gradually condensing into the preliminary shape of the Alchemy Furnace.
Before long, the embryo of the Alchemy Furnace inside the Skyfire Refining Furnace gradually took shape. The furnace body was circular, about three feet in diameter, covered with a layer of delicate silver patterns. These patterns seemed to be natural star patterns, flowing and changing with the flickering of the furnace fire, emitting an enchanting luster.
The furnace lid was hemispherical, with a small star stone embedded in the center, emitting a soft glow that added a mysterious touch to the Alchemy Furnace. The lid was also carved with complex runes, which were Artifact Refiner's meticulously designed Artifact Array, capable of guiding Star Power to provide stable firepower for the Alchemy process.
The bottom of the Alchemy Furnace was supported by three legs, with a winding spiritual pattern connecting them. This spiritual pattern resembled a small galaxy, sparkling with brilliant light under the reflection of the furnace fire. The tips of the three legs were embedded with tiny star fragments, which not only stabilized the center of gravity of the Alchemy Furnace but also provided additional Star Power to it.
The furnace body was inlaid with eighty-one Star Spirit Pearls, which resonated with the surrounding Star Core, forming the Artifact Array of the Alchemy Furnace, emitting a faint glow that complemented the silver patterns on the furnace body, making the entire Alchemy Furnace mysterious and solemn, exuding a rich Star Qi.
Li Mu nodded slightly. The embryo of the Alchemy Furnace had already taken initial shape, and the Artifact Array inside the furnace was complete. Next, it was time to condense the Artifact Runes, imbuing it with unique Star Law and spiritual essence.
Li Mu took a deep breath, formed hand seals, and poured a vast amount of spiritual energy into the Skyfire Refining Furnace, once again unleashing the Artifact Refining Divine Ability—Artifact Runes Formation. Using his Divine Thought as a brush and spiritual energy as ink, he began to condense the Star Artifact Runes on the Alchemy Furnace.
Unlike previous refinements, this time Li Mu focused on the star attribute. He wanted to forge an Alchemy Furnace entirely centered on Star Power.
The first Star Rune—Star Protection—bestowed the Alchemy Furnace with powerful protective capabilities, shielding it from external interference and ensuring the purity and stability of the Alchemy process.
The second Star Rune—Star Gathering—this pattern could attract surrounding Star Power, gathering it within the Alchemy Furnace to provide a continuous supply of energy for Alchemy.
The third Star Rune—Star Purification—enabled the Alchemy Furnace to remove Impurities and purify medicinal properties during the Alchemy process, ensuring the excellent quality of the refined Medicinal Pills.
The fourth Star Rune—Star Acceleration—could speed up the Alchemy process, improving Alchemy efficiency, allowing the Alchemist to refine more Medicinal Pills in a shorter amount of time.
The fifth Star Rune—Star Self-Purification—this pattern endowed the Alchemy Furnace with self-cleaning ability. After Alchemy, there was no need for manual cleaning; the Alchemy Furnace could restore itself to pristine condition.
...
Inside the Skyfire Refining Furnace, the silver Alchemy Furnace shimmered with dazzling Star spiritual light, representing the formation of each Star Artifact Rune. As each Star Artifact Rune was inscribed, a clear and melodious chime suddenly resonated within the Alchemy Furnace, ethereal and prolonged, signaling the imminent perfect birth of an Alchemy Furnace.
As the Artifact Runes within the Alchemy Furnace embryo gradually stabilized, Li Mu did not stop. He continued to unleash the Artifact Refining Divine Ability - Artifact Potential Nurturing Spirit, fully outputting his true essence to activate the Artifact Array and Artifact Runes within the Alchemy Furnace, which then formed a Star Artifact Potential. This caused the array patterns and Artifact Runes within the Alchemy Furnace to intertwine and resonate with each other, forming a profound and stable structure within it, thereby nurturing the Artifact Spirit. It was not only the core of the Alchemy Furnace but also the concretization of the Star Law, imbuing the Alchemy Furnace with powerful spiritual essence.
Finally, after several days of effort, the Artifact Potential of the Alchemy Furnace within the Skyfire Refining Furnace reached its peak. A powerful spiritual fluctuation emanated from the Alchemy Furnace, as if a life was quietly Awakening within the furnace.
A hint of joy flashed in Li Mu's eyes, knowing that the Artifact Spirit was about to be born, and this Alchemy Furnace would be completely finished.
As the Artifact Spirit awakened, the star patterns on the surface of the Alchemy Furnace began to flow, as if life was pulsating.
The star stone on the furnace lid shone brightly, illuminating the entire Artifact Refining Room. The Star River spiritual pattern between the three legs at the bottom of the furnace also seemed to be activated, emitting a faint glow that complemented the silver patterns on the furnace body, creating a beautiful and magnificent sight.
With a wave of his hand, Li Mu deactivated the Skyfire Refining Furnace. The Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire transformed into a small Purple-Gold Fire Phoenix, spreading its wings and landing on his shoulder.
"Chirp! Chirp!" The Purple-Gold Fire Phoenix chirped twice at Li Mu as if seeking praise, full of spiritual intelligence.
Li Mu smiled faintly, took out a six-rank fire-element Spirit Material from the nine storage spiritual pearl, and fed it to it.
Upon seeing the six-rank fire-element Spirit Material in Li Mu's hand, a glint of excitement flashed in the Purple-Gold Fire Phoenix's eyes. It opened its small beak and gently pecked, swallowing the Spirit Material into its belly. As the Spirit Material entered its body, the flames around the Purple-Gold Fire Phoenix became even more scorching and bright, as if it had received great nourishment.
Immediately, the Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire plunged into Li Mu's body, disappearing without a trace.
Li Mu smiled faintly, his gaze falling upon the Alchemy Furnace before him. Under the Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, its attributes appeared before his eyes.
"【Unnamed】"
"【Rank: Six-Rank High Grade Alchemy Furnace】"
"【Characteristics: Star Power Gathering and Refining, Dazzling Stars, Furnace Rhyme of Stars, Star Fire, Star Protection.】"
"【Status: Furnace Spirit Awakening, Star Power Full】"
"This Alchemy Furnace is crafted with a seven-rank Star Core as its heart, supplemented by six-rank Star Sand as its base, combined with six-rank Spirit Materials such as Silver Moon Stone Marrow and Red Iron Crystal Marrow, and refined by Skyfire to become a six-rank Star Alchemy Furnace. This furnace excels at gathering Star Power, and the Medicinal Pills refined within it contain vast Star essence. It can instantly move the Medicinal Pill's position and protect the entire Alchemy process with Star Power, ensuring that every Medicinal Pill is as dazzling as a star and of excellent quality."
Li Mu nodded with satisfaction, reaching out to gently touch the furnace body. A wonderful sensation of intertwined heat and Star Power instantly surged into his heart.
Li Mu closed his eyes slightly, then poured a portion of his Divine Thought into it. After a moment, he successfully refined it.
Li Mu opened his eyes, a joyful glint in them, feeling an unprecedented connection established between himself and the Alchemy Furnace. He gently patted the furnace body and said with a happy smile, "From now on, you shall be called the star radiance treasure furnace! Become my capable assistant in Alchemy!"
With a "buzz!" the star radiance treasure furnace seemed to understand Li Mu's words, vibrating once. More dazzling starlight shimmered on its body, celebrating the birth of its new name, scattering large patches of brilliant Star Power that illuminated the entire Artifact Refining Room as if it were broad daylight.
Li Mu placed the star radiance treasure furnace in front of him, sat cross-legged, and took out a bottle of Returning Essence Pill and a bottle of Pure Clarity Condensing Spirit Pill from the nine storage spiritual pearl. He poured out two Spirit Pills and put them into his mouth.
The Medicinal Pills melted upon entering his mouth, and a rich spiritual energy instantly surged into his limbs and bones. Li Mu closed his eyes, fully circulating the Yin Yang Five Elements Scripture and the Star Cloud Contemplation Method, restoring his true essence and Divine Thought to their peak states.
Next, Li Mu prepared to attempt refining the Returning Void Pill.
The Returning Void Pill was a Seven-Rank Dao Pill. Although Qingyang Zi's Pill Formula and refining process were very detailed, Li Mu had no confidence in refining a Seven-Rank Dao Pill for the first time, as it required extremely high Divine Thought and a large amount of true essence support. Therefore, he dared not be careless in the slightest.
Once his state was fully recovered, Li Mu's thoughts stirred, and the star radiance treasure furnace lit up accordingly. A special Pill Fire within the furnace, under the blessing of a massive gathering of Star Power, spontaneously generated and slowly ascended, its temperature gradually rising, and the star radiance treasure furnace began to preheat.
Li Mu silently observed the state of the furnace fire, his mind completely immersed in the Alchemy process.
Following Qingyang Zi's instructions, he first placed the nine void spiritual mushroom into the furnace to extract and liquefy it.
He saw the nine void spiritual mushroom inside the furnace, and the Star Furnace Pill Fire emitted a faint, ethereal glow, as if alive, gently swaying within the furnace. As the nine void spiritual mushroom liquefied inside the furnace, its contained essence gradually began to release, permeating the furnace and forming a faint fragrance.
Li Mu concentrated his mind and Qi, sensing the charm within the fragrance, and couldn't help but feel anticipation for the Returning Void Pill he was about to refine.
Immediately after, Li Mu once again took out a purple gold spirit flower from the nine storage spiritual pearl and carefully placed it into the furnace. As soon as the purple gold spirit flower entered the furnace, it merged with the liquefied essence of the nine void spiritual mushroom, and the fragrance within the furnace became even richer, as if a mysterious power was quietly brewing.
At this moment, the heat had reached a critical point. Li Mu took a deep breath, concentrating fully on controlling the star radiance treasure furnace. He saw the Star Fire within the furnace rise again, its temperature gradually increasing, and the essence of the Spirit Medicine within the furnace began to undergo wondrous reactions under the intense heat of the flames.
The higher the rank of the Spiritual Artifact being refined, the more intricate the steps. Taking a seven-rank Dao Artifact as an example, the steps include: refining Spirit Materials, forging the Artifact embryo, setting up the Artifact Array, condensing Artifact Runes, shaping the Artifact Array, activating the Artifact Spirit, nurturing the Dao Law, and so on.
The process of Alchemy shares remarkable similarities with Artifact Refining. Although the specific steps and required Materials differ, the core rhythm and principles are interconnected. Taking the refining of a Seven-Rank Dao Pill as an example, the steps of Alchemy are: The first step - refining Spirit Medicine. In the Pill Furnace, rare Spirit Medicine is refined to remove Impurities and extract the purest medicinal essence. In this process, the Alchemist must possess profound knowledge of medicinal properties and pharmacology, as well as precise control over the Pill Fire.
The second step - refining the medicinal liquid. The refined Spirit Medicine essence, under specific heat, is carefully blended and gradually fused into a liquid raw Medicinal Pill solution. In this process, the Alchemist must have a deep understanding of the medicinal conflicts and Fusions between Spirit Medicines to ensure the stability and purity of the raw solution.
The third step - forming the Medicinal Pill. The quantity of Spirit Pills in one batch varies. The third step - forming the Medicinal Pill. After the raw Medicinal Pill solution is formed, it needs to be judged and divided into several portions based on the characteristics and medicinal properties of the Medicinal Pill, with each portion containing the same medicinal power and properties. This step requires the Alchemist to possess extremely high judgment and control to ensure that every Medicinal Pill can achieve the desired effect.
With Li Mu's Divine Thought intensity, he could barely control this batch of Returning Void Pills to condense into three Returning Void Pills. However, the difficulty of Alchemy in the next few steps would also increase threefold. (End of Chapter)
