He had managed to accumulate over eight hundred years of Lifespan.
He originally planned to save enough to push straight through to Core Formation.
He never expected to lose fifty years in one go.
Don't think fifty years of Lifespan isn't much now.
But you must realize, this was only the most common, lowest-grade Earth Lung Fire.
Even this cost fifty years.
What about mid-grade Spiritual Fire? And high-grade?
Wouldn't those cost hundreds or even thousands of years!
There are hundreds of types of Spiritual Fire in the world.
Just thinking about it makes his scalp tingle...
Since the remaining Lifespan isn't enough for Core Formation, he might as well continue.
【Consume 1 year of Lifespan to Record Cultivation Method?】
Yes!
【You successfully recorded the Cultivation Method 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》!】
《Basic Artifact Refining Art》, Not Yet Initiated!
【Deduction Begins!】
【First Year, you adopted an attitude of theory before practice, diligently studying Artifact Refining related knowledge.】
【You discovered that Artifact Refining was far more complex than you imagined.】
【You had the illusion of returning to a calculus class!】
【Second Year, you were half-dead.】
【Third Year, your head was swimming.】
【Fourth Year, you only understood a little.】
【Fifth Year, you grasped a fraction of it.】
【Sixth Year, you gradually became familiar.】
【Seventh Year, you mastered it completely.】
【Four years plus three years, after seven years of study, you finally completely mastered the basic theoretical knowledge related to Artifact Refining.】
【With theoretical guidance for practice, your progress was rapid.】
【Tenth Year, 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》, Initiated!】
……
【Twentieth Year, 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》, Minor Accomplishment!】
……
【Thirtieth Year, 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》, Major Accomplishment!】
……
【Fortieth Year, 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》, Perfection!】
……
【Fiftieth Year, you continued to comprehend, because the theoretical knowledge told you that Perfection was not the limit!】
【Sixtieth Year, 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》, Superb!】
【Sixty years as one day, you practiced the basic operations of the Artifact Refining Art to the point of Superb mastery.】
【Coupled with the powerful boost from theoretical knowledge.】
【You brought the 《Basic Artifact Refining Art》 to a height unprecedented before or since!】
……
Opening his eyes, a cold glint flashed.
The Sword Embryo in the Earth Lung Fire Furnace had also just finished heating.
Du Tianle drew out the Sword Embryo.
He placed it on the anvil and began hammering with the iron hammer.
Clang, clang, clang, clang-clang-clang.
The rhythmic striking sound echoed in their ears.
The fluid, flowing movements caused the onlookers to hold their breath.
Everyone stared intently.
The high temperature brought by the Spiritual Flame Art meant the Sword Embryo didn't need repeated heating.
Shaped in one go!
Du Tianle stopped hammering.
He plunged the entire Sword Body into the spiritual spring beside him.
A puff of white mist rose up.
Then he casually tossed it aside.
The Long Sword, fresh from the furnace, carried rolling waves of heat and stuck straight into the ground in front of Deacon Hu.
No need to check.
The unique aura emanating from the Long Sword showed at a glance that this was an Artifact-grade Long Sword!
“Hiss~~~”
The crowd present all sucked in a sharp breath.
The murmuring instantly erupted into a clamor.
Deacon Hu’s embarrassed expression was mixed with disbelief.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Just then, a deep voice sounded:
“What is all this chaotic noise? Why aren't you working?”
The one who entered with the voice was Elder Zhou, who managed the Artifact Refining Hall.
Everyone immediately quieted down.
Elder Zhou frowned when no one answered, about to scold them, but his gaze swept over.
He suddenly noticed the Cold Iron Longsword stuck in the ground.
He couldn't help but utter an 'Oh.'
He quickly stepped forward to draw the sword and examine it.
The more he looked, the more shocked he became.
The Cold Iron Longsword was covered in cloud patterns formed by hammering.
The cloud patterns were layered, orderly, and well-arranged.
They provided an extremely high bonus to the containment and conduction of Mana.
He sent his Spiritual Sense deep into the Sword Body to investigate.
The entire piece of cold iron had been hammered extremely densely.
Not only was the strength of the Sword Body greatly improved,
but even its sharpness had undergone a qualitative enhancement.
All of these stacked together
made the originally ordinary Cold Iron Sword
resemble an Artifact-grade Long Sword imbued with the Sharpness Art, Mana Guiding Art, and Toughness Art.
However, no Formation Array was inscribed on the Sword Body.
These Daoist Magic characteristics were achieved entirely through hammering!
It was simply astonishing!
Let alone himself,
even other Artifact Refining masters he knew couldn't achieve this.
Elder Zhou looked up and asked in shock:
“Who forged this sword?”
Everyone pointed their fingers toward Du Tianle, who was standing by the sword quenching pool.
Seeing this, Du Tianle thought to himself that he had shown off a bit too much.
Elder Zhou stared at Du Tianle with shining eyes, asking again in disbelief:
“This sword, did you really forge it?”
Du Tianle could only steel himself and reply:
“Yes, it just came out of the furnace, still hot.”
Elder Zhou’s excitement was obvious, and he pulled Du Tianle over, constantly asking questions.
Du Tianle could only answer one by one.
Upon learning that he was still an Outer Sect Disciple
and had only studied Artifact Refining for one month,
he became even more ecstatic.
Finally, Elder Zhou asked cautiously:
“Are you willing to take me as your Master?”
This statement instantly made the surrounding disciples extremely envious.
One must know that Elder Zhou was a powerful Elder in the sect.
Becoming his disciple
meant achieving instant success.
Skipping the Registered Disciple and Inner Sect Disciple stages,
he would directly advance to become a Direct Disciple,
achieving a massive leap in status.
Du Tianle thought for a moment and shook his head:
“I am not willing.”
This answer stunned everyone else.
They secretly cursed Du Tianle for not knowing what was good for him.
An opportunity many people wished for, and he refused it?
Elder Zhou was also stunned for a moment before sighing:
“Indeed, with your level of Artifact Refining technique, I am ashamed of my own inferiority.”
“And I am indeed unqualified to be your Master.”
“However, I am devoted to Artifact Refining, so I still possess some unique experience and insights.”
“If there is anything you don't understand, you can come to me to discuss it.”
This was clearly a true talent focused purely on technique.
He didn't care at all about personal gain or loss.
Du Tianle was slightly moved and cupped his hands in a salute:
“Thank you for your kindness, Elder.”
Elder Zhou nodded with a smile, then took out a Token from his Qiankun Ring.
“This is my Hand Token.”
“You can pass through anywhere in the sect except for a few restricted areas.”
“Take it. It will be convenient for you to find me when needed.”
Du Tianle was taken aback and blurted out:
“Can this Hand Token grant access to the Scripture Depository Pavilion?”
Elder Zhou frowned:
“Why do you need to go there?”
Du Tianle's mind raced, and he replied:
“While studying the Artifact Refining Art, I discovered
that to truly forge divine weapons and sharp tools, other methods are needed for cooperation.”
“Such as Formation Arrays, and Restrictions, for example.”
“I want to go to the Scripture Pavilion to see if there are any Cultivation Methods in these areas.”
Upon hearing this, Elder Zhou burst into hearty laughter:
“Good, good, good.”
“High talent, and you are willing to study diligently.”
“I truly didn't misjudge you.”
“How about this, I will speak with the Scripture Pavilion.”
“You can freely enter and exit anywhere except the third floor.”
Du Tianle was overjoyed inwardly upon hearing this.
He had searched everywhere for something and found it without effort.
The chance to really go all out
had just arrived!
……