Chapter Sixty-Three: The Art of Fire Condensation

A flash of light flickered in Mu Yun’s small eyes. Without another word, he leapt forward, pouncing straight for the Earth-Axe in Jiang Yan’s hand. “Senior Brother Sect Leader, please see clearly—this disciple has just today brought the Thick Earth Technique to the fifth level of Qi Training. Thank you for your generous gift.”

Jiang Yan’s face showed surprise. Mu Yun had also broken through to the fifth level of Qi Training—both of these boys had reached the fifth level so quickly! Fixing his gaze on Mu Yun, Jiang Yan examined his cultivation.

Name: Mu Yun
Sect: Mount Hua
Position: First Generation Disciple of Mount Hua
Cultivation: Fifth Level of Qi Training
Weapon: Earth-Axe
Techniques: First-Grade Mid-Tier Green Wood Technique, First-Grade High-Tier Thick Earth Technique
Merit Points:
Innate Bone Quality: 93

So the boy Mu Yun had indeed broken through to the fifth level of Qi Training, though his innate bone quality wasn’t as outstanding as Nanmen Luo’s. Even after taking the Bone-Transforming Pill, Mu Yun’s bone quality still remained below a hundred, but that was to be expected—not every cultivator in a sect could be prodigiously gifted. If every disciple had superior bone quality, Jiang Yan would start to doubt the authenticity of it all.

Mu Yun caressed the Earth-Axe fondly, his plump face glowing with joy. Nearby, Sun Yang’s face was full of envy as he gazed longingly at the exquisite little axe in his master’s hand.

The look of longing lingered on Sun Yang’s face for a long time. At last, gathering his courage, he took a step forward to the foot of the steps, raised his head, and asked, “Sect Uncle, if this disciple reaches Master’s cultivation level one day, will you also bestow a spirit tool upon me?”

Seeing Sun Yang’s face full of hope, Jiang Yan felt conflicted. To say no might dampen the disciple’s enthusiasm, so with some resignation, he replied, “Of course. If you reach the fifth level of Qi Training in the future, I will likewise grant you a spirit tool.”

Watching Sun Yang’s excitement, Jiang Yan’s brow creased. Having made this promise, it meant that in the future, as long as any disciple in the sect reached the fifth level of Qi Training, he’d be obliged to bestow a first-grade spirit tool. Yet, thinking of the seven remaining spirit tools left in the Sect Leader’s ring, Jiang Yan frowned again. The reserves of spirit tools were insufficient!

…

Back Mountain of Mount Hua, Western Waterfall Cliff

Jiang Yan glanced at the towering waterfall, then at the nearby bottomless precipice. At last, he decided this would be the site for the new Artifact Refining Room.

The Sect Leader System had rewarded him with ten spirit tools, and in the blink of an eye, he had already given away two. One would certainly need to be set aside for Tang Wan, and when Yun Ying grew up, she too would need one. As the number of disciples increased…

Jiang Yan shook his head, dismissing these thoughts, and focused on surveying the terrain. Once the Artifact Refining Room was built, he would have the chance to craft spirit tools himself. When that time came, every disciple of Mount Hua who could wield a spirit tool would receive one…

Before the cliff at Western Waterfall was a sheer drop of a thousand fathoms; behind it, a waterfall soared dozens of meters high, at the base of which lay a deep pool spanning several dozen meters in diameter. Building the Artifact Refining Room beside this deep pool was ideal, as water would certainly be needed in the refining process.

With a flick of his hand, Jiang Yan produced the rune scroll for the Artifact Refining Room. Pouring spiritual power into the scroll, it unfurled slowly, floating into the air and expanding to the height of a building.

With another wave, four wooden puppets appeared in his palm. Once infused with spiritual power, they grew rapidly in size and, under Jiang Yan’s direction, began constructing the Artifact Refining Room.

Felling trees, splitting rocks—the wooden puppets executed Jiang Yan’s commands with meticulous precision. The only dissatisfaction he felt was that these puppets lacked intelligence; they could only carry out simple orders, strictly adhering to the layout on the rune scroll, making any modifications he imagined impossible.

After several failed attempts to direct them, Jiang Yan gave up trying to command the puppets directly. As long as he infused them with enough spiritual power, they would build the Artifact Refining Room according to the scroll without error.

Taking advantage of the construction time, Jiang Yan carefully recalled the Flame Condensation Technique rewarded by the Sect Leader System. This first-grade technique was essential for artifact refining and alchemy. Though he had already handed the manual to Tang Wan, having skimmed through it once, the entire set of incantations was firmly imprinted in his mind.

“Wood begets fire, fire and water generate each other. Whether refining artifacts or concocting pills, all require control of flame. To control fire, one must first condense it. Flame condensation…”

The formula for the Flame Condensation Technique flowed through Jiang Yan’s mind just as it had when he had leafed through the manual, each word clear and distinct.

Previously, Jiang Yan hadn’t noticed this phenomenon, but owing to the second-grade Green Wood Technique jade talisman, he suddenly realized that any manual rewarded by the Sect Leader System could be memorized in its entirety after a single reading, even if he had only glanced through it. Later, he could recall every word with perfect clarity.

“Perhaps this is a benefit bestowed by the Sect Leader System,” Jiang Yan mocked himself with a smile, then set those thoughts aside and began cultivating the Flame Condensation Technique.

The first step in artifact refining was to refine materials—only by melting the materials into liquid form could one proceed to the next stage: shaping. Once shaping was complete, the cultivator could, as needed, embed formation arrays crafted by a formation master into the artifact embryo, granting the spirit tool special functions—such as the storage space of a Hundred-Treasure Pouch, the Green Wood Arrows generated by the Green Wood Vine, or the protective barrier on the Wooden Crane Spirit Tool. Only then was the crafting of a spirit tool considered complete.

After crafting, the spirit tool would be inscribed, a method used by major sects to distinguish their own creations from those of others, and a precaution against impostors.

Refining materials marked the first step. Only by mastering this could a cultivator be considered an apprentice artifact refiner, having set foot on the path toward becoming a full-fledged craftsman.

To refine materials, one had to master flame condensation—using one's natal fire to ignite the materials in the furnace, monitoring the flame and the refinement process at all times, supplementing with natal fire where ordinary flame could not suffice. This was an essential phase for any artifact refiner.

Condensing one's natal spiritual flame was the mark of an apprentice artifact refiner—only then did one have the qualifications to serve as an assistant.

Jiang Yan cleared his mind, following the incantation of the Flame Condensation Technique, guiding his spiritual power through his meridians as he sought the opportunity to project it outward…

The spiritual power flowed slowly within, and gradually, a blue glow appeared at his fingertip. As time passed and the circulation of spiritual power continued, the bluish radiance at his fingertip grew ever brighter…

With a soft pop, Jiang Yan’s fingertip suddenly heated, and a tuft of blue flame blossomed on his middle finger.

Pop… pop… pop… With several more soft bursts, blue flames emerged on all five of Jiang Yan’s right-hand fingertips, dancing merrily like little spirits.

To produce flame was the first step of the Flame Condensation Technique. For most cultivators, this required three to ten days of practice, but perhaps due to the influence of the Sect Leader System, Jiang Yan’s progress was swift. In less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, he had already succeeded in condensing five blue flames.

Because cultivators practiced different techniques, the color of the flames they condensed varied as well. Jiang Yan, who cultivated the Green Wood Technique, produced blue flames; were it Nanmen Luo, the flames would be red, and for Mu Yun, yellow.

Merging the flames—the second step in practicing the Flame Condensation Technique. The flames on the five fingers were too weak; they must be fused into a larger mass to be used effectively in artifact refining.

Jiang Yan carefully manipulated the flames on his fingertips, slowly bringing the ones on his thumb and index finger together. Following the formula, he adjusted the intensity on each side, lowering the temperature on the sides that were to be joined.

As Jiang Yan watched anxiously, the two blue flames drew closer…

With a gentle bang, a soft crackle sounded in Jiang Yan’s ear, like dry wood catching fire or oil suddenly igniting—a muffled sound of flames merging.

At that instant, the two flames brightened where they touched, and a taller tongue of blue fire shot up.

Jiang Yan’s face tightened. If it exploded, he would be in trouble.

Without reservation, his spiritual consciousness surged forth, enveloping the two merging flames…

…

In the Alchemy Room

Tang Wan frowned as she glanced at the flames on her right thumb and forefinger, her fair brow deeply furrowed.

What was strange was that a smudge of soot had appeared on her pretty face, and a strand of her black hair now had a faint yellow tinge, as if singed by flame.

Gazing at the blue flames on her fingertips, Tang Wan recalled her senior brother’s gentle, encouraging smile. Determination flashed in her eyes. She told herself quietly that she must not disappoint him—she must become a worthy alchemist.

With trembling hands, Tang Wan brought the blue flames on her thumb and forefinger closer together. Having twice experienced explosions in front of her eyes, she was understandably nervous about merging the flames…

The two blue flames shimmered and wavered as they drew near—

With a soft bang, the characteristic sound of merging flames rang in Tang Wan’s ears.

…

PS: My thanks to Lihua Yuliang once again for the reward. As for creating a fan group, my results are too poor and there are too few readers—if I created one, no one would join, so it's better not to. This afternoon, I will be featured on the Sanjiang recommendation. If you have any tickets to spare, please vote for me. Voting seems to add ten points, and maybe it will make my defeat a bit less miserable.