Translator: AnubisTL
The mechanism of the Storm Pear Blossom Nails, forged from refined iron, had been imbued with spiritual energy. Li Qing touched the cold mechanism, clearly sensing the abundant spirituality it contained.
At the same time, spirit patterns from the incomplete artifact refinement inheritance he had acquired at Heavenly River Market surfaced in his mind.
This lotus-like mechanism was designed to launch Bone Nails. Inscribing it with spirit patterns for speed and agility seemed perfectly suited.
After a brief period of meditation to restore his focus, Li Qing pressed his fingertip against a corner of the mechanism and channeled his refined mana into it.
Buzz!
As his fingertip traced a line, a luminous, crystalline, and mysterious spirit pattern emerged, then seeped into the spiritually rich material.
His plan was simple: the spirit patterns etched into the grip would conduct his spiritual energy to the Bone Nail-loaded chamber, where it would be converted into speed and agility-enhancing patterns, propelling the launched Bone Nails at tremendous velocity.
With the relevant spirit pattern designs flashing in his mind, Li Qing set to work.
The spirit patterns Li Qing had barely begun to inscribe instantly dissolved.
First attempt: failure!
Li Qing had anticipated this. He never expected to succeed on his first try, especially since his previous experience was limited to basic Five Elements spirit patterns. This was his first time attempting other types, so failure was natural.
"A bit clumsy," he murmured. "I need finer control over my spiritual energy. These patterns require a more fluid, graceful touch."
Li Qing's slightly furrowed brow smoothed as he resumed his work.
With each failed attempt, the spirituality within the newly tempered mechanism gradually dissipated.
Yet Li Qing remained patient, treating the half-finished Magic Artifact as if it were a priceless treasure.
After a full day and night, most of Li Qing's spiritual energy had been depleted, and his mind began to feel the strain.
Hiss...
As the final spirit pattern vanished, the intricate mechanism in his hand became completely devoid of spirituality.
Fortunately, the initial forging process had been flawlessly executed. When the spirituality dissipated, it caused no structural changes to the mechanism, and the meticulously refined iron withstood the shock.
Another round of spiritual quenching was all that was needed before Li Qing could resume inscribing the spirit patterns.
Of course, repeated dissipation of spirituality in mechanisms crafted from ordinary iron like this would inevitably lead to structural weaknesses or even cracks in the material. After all, they weren't true spiritual materials.
After re-quenching the mechanism with spirituality, Li Qing closed his eyes briefly. Instead of rushing to continue inscribing the spirit patterns, he focused on replenishing his spiritual energy and reflecting on his recent experiences.
After a long while, once his spiritual energy was fully restored, Li Qing adjusted his mental state and resumed the inscription process.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, the spiritual energy in Li Qing's courtyard began to surge violently.
Boom!
A massive influx of heaven and earth spiritual energy, as if drawn by an invisible force, rapidly converged toward the intricate mechanism in Li Qing's hand.
As this occurred, the delicate spirit patterns etched onto the mechanism pulsed with radiant spiritual light, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
After a long while, once the spiritual energy had settled, the launching mechanism for the Storm Pear Blossom Nails was finally complete!
"Next, it's time to inscribe the spirit patterns on the Bone Nails!"
Li Qing had already imbued all the Bone Nails with spiritual energy. These hidden weapons, crafted from demon beast materials, inherently possessed abundant spirituality.
He had long since decided on the type of spirit patterns he would inscribe. For such a consumable hidden weapon, maximizing damage upon impact was paramount. Penetration was the primary concern, and metal-attribute spirit patterns perfectly fulfilled this requirement. With sufficient speed and the Bone Nails' inherent piercing power, their lethality would be formidable.
In addition to metal-attribute spirit patterns, Li Qing also considered incorporating some earth-attribute patterns. While some earth-attribute patterns provided durability and weight, others could inflict splash damage. Coincidentally, the Bone Nails were made from materials sourced from the Earth Rock Bear, making earth-attribute patterns a natural fit for the materials' inherent properties.
Imagine over twenty razor-sharp Bone Nails, launched at blinding speed, effortlessly piercing through a cultivator's body. As they tear through flesh and bone, their devastating force spreads inward, shattering everything in their path.
"There's no choice," Li Qing muttered. "Cultivators have too many tricks up their sleeves. This is just a precaution to ensure they're dead."
"After all, anyone who forces me to use the Storm Pear Blossom Nails must be stronger than me. It's best to keep this ultimate weapon as a last resort, a hidden trump card."
With that, Li Qing began inscribing spirit patterns onto each Bone Nail.
The Five Elements Spiritual Inscription was a type he knew intimately. Even on these tiny surfaces, his movements remained fluid and practiced, showing no hesitation.
Moreover, the materials from the Earth Rock Bear were naturally rich in earth attribute Vital Energy, making the inscription of earth attribute spirit patterns effortless. Li Qing's only challenge lay in inscribing the metal attribute spirit patterns.
But for someone as patient as Li Qing, even this proved remarkably simple.
Soon, with the first Bone Nail successfully inscribed, the process became smoother and faster.
In the end, all twenty-two Bone Nails were successfully inscribed with spirit patterns!
In the next moment, a notification appeared:
[Successfully crafted a Low-Grade Magic Artifact: Storm Pear Blossom Nails! Lifespan increased by thirteen years!]
His lifespan had now reached two hundred and forty-three years.
But what pleased Li Qing most was the artifact's quality—a genuine Low-Grade Magic Artifact!
"This is the second Low-Grade Magic Artifact I've forged, and a powerful weapon at that! With this skill, I should have no trouble making a living in Heavenly River Market."
Li Qing's lips curled into a slow smile as he carefully loaded all twenty-two Bone Nails into the mechanical cylinder.
Click!
The intricate mechanism emitted a crisp sound. Li Qing gripped the handle of the Storm Pear Blossom Nails with one hand, his thumb firmly pressed against the firing trigger.
The Bone Nail-filled cylinder began to rotate slowly, while the surrounding lotus petal-shaped leaves spun in the opposite direction.
The polished surface of the mechanism reflected a chilling light, complemented by the mysterious patterns of flowing spiritual light. It looked both dangerous and deadly, yet the exquisite craftsmanship lent the hidden weapon a stark beauty.
Li Qing cautiously channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the artifact. The spirit patterns connecting the handle to the cylinder glowed faintly, and the twenty-two Bone Nails seemed to tremble imperceptibly.
With a flick of his thumb to release the mechanism, the twenty-two Bone Nails would transform into an incredibly lethal weapon of mass destruction.
Li Qing withdrew his spiritual energy and slowly disengaged the mechanism, carefully stowing the devastating weapon back into his storage pouch with utmost reverence.
"Phew! Finally finished!"
It had taken him nearly half a month to forge this deadly hidden weapon, a process that had cost him countless brain cells and a substantial amount of physical and spiritual energy.
But now, looking at the finished product, he knew it had all been worth it.
The cultivation world was shrouded in uncertainty, making every means of self-preservation crucial.
Though he appeared safe for now, no one could predict whether tomorrow or disaster would strike first.
What if those lunatics who attacked the Heavenly River Sect's Spirit Stone Mine turned their sights on the Liu Clan?
If chaos erupted, Li Qing was confident that with his current defenses, he could handle Mid Qi Refining Realm cultivators with ease, as long as he wasn't targeted by someone in the Late Qi Refining Realm.
With that in mind, Li Qing mentally inventoried his current offensive capabilities.
He possessed several talismans acquired from trade fairs, among which the Fire Rain Talisman and Thunder Flash Talisman were particularly potent, capable of threatening even Mid Qi Refining Realm cultivators.
Among his magic artifacts, the highest grade was still the Crimson Shadow Umbrella, seized from the World of Eternal Night—a mid-grade magic tool.
Unfortunately, the spirit patterns inscribed upon it were encrypted, preventing Li Qing from deciphering them. Forcibly probing them risked destroying the patterns and ruining the artifact.
Many artifact refiners employed such measures to safeguard their craft's inheritance from being stolen by others. After all, each spirit pattern was incredibly precious.
"Then there's the Peerless Hammer, the Storm Pear Blossom Nails, and a few low-grade magic tools I forged during practice. They're not particularly useful, but I'll see if I can offload them all at the Heavenly River Market later."
As for the Wandering Dragon Dagger, Li Qing hesitated to refine it into a mid-grade magic tool. Lacking confidence in his current skills, he planned to wait for the opportune moment before attempting the refinement.
Despite its small size, the Wandering Dragon Dagger was crafted entirely from spirit materials, making it exceedingly valuable. Losing its inherent spirituality through too many failed attempts would break his heart.
"Oh, right! And this gluttonous beast! After gobbling down so many of my elixirs, it's become quite the formidable combatant!"
Li Qing smiled faintly, his gaze settling on Fan Tong, the imposing beast sprawled in the courtyard, radiating a fierce aura.
Despite his mixed bloodline and mere early first-tier strength, Fan Tong, working in tandem with Li Qing, could effortlessly slay cultivators in the mid Qi Refining Realm.
Of course, Li Qing's own martial prowess couldn't be overlooked. His Grandmaster-level physique and Vital Energy, surging like an ocean, were beyond the reach of ordinary immortal cultivators.
Before he knew it, his own strength had grown considerably.
"Hmm, not bad, but complacency is a dangerous trap," he mused.
"The immortal cultivation world stretches far and wide, teeming with extraordinary individuals and strange anomalies. Who knows what kind of monsters lurk in the shadows?"
As he spoke, Li Qing's thoughts drifted to the recent sensational rumors surrounding Daoist Ling Miao.
A Late Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator capable of slaying Pseudo-Core level experts? Such divine abilities were beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals.
Yet even this powerhouse had his cave abode plundered and its secrets divvied up like treasure. This underscored the treacherous depths of the immortal cultivation world.
There's always a higher mountain to climb!
Maintain reverence for all things, and never let arrogance take root!
(End of the Chapter)
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