Chapter 171: What Does Sacrificing a Few Children for the Future of the Thunderfire Sect Mean?

Chapter 171: What Does Sacrificing a Few Children for the Future of the Thunderfire Sect Mean?

Shen Mo quickly demonstrated to the crowd.

With ease, he successfully refined a spiritual weapon of the Profound Grade.

Seeing this, the others immediately came forward to try as well.

However, the vast majority ended in failure.

The only one who succeeded was Zhao Rou.

Shen Mo was slightly surprised.

It seemed Zhao Rou had a natural talent for crystal refinement techniques.

"Do not fear failure. When I first started refining crystals, I often failed too."

"Every three days, I will bring you new materials."

"As for resting, there's a place south of the Earth Fire Furnace. There are two stone chambers, and I've set up an ice-attribute formation there to lower the temperature inside."

"Everyone, see you in three days."

Shen Mo then took out a storage ring and handed it to Wei Xiongtie, which contained the spiritual weapons and demon crystals from the sect's treasury.

After that, he clasped his hands toward the group in farewell.

"Yes!" everyone responded.

...

A month later, at Thunderfire Sect.

Zhao Liepeng walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, frowning deeply.

In front of him, three elders at the Core Formation stage knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.

The courtyard was eerily silent.

"You want to tell me that after sending out hundreds of disciples and a large number of rogue cultivators, searching the area around Heavenly Water City for over a month, you couldn't even find a trace of the Earth Fire Furnace?" Zhao Liepeng said coldly.

Sweat poured down from the three elders.

"In that case, there's no need for you to continue serving as inner sect elders!" Zhao Liepeng looked down at them, his tone filled with malice.

Suddenly, one of them called out, "Sect Master! I just remembered something! Recently, the crystal refinement weapon output of Qingxuan Sect has significantly increased!"

Upon hearing this, the other two elders immediately reacted.

"Yes, yes! This is another matter we needed to report to you. Under normal circumstances, Qingxuan Sect's crystal refinement output is very low."

"But now, their production is almost catching up with ours!"

"We suspect that they have found the third Earth Fire Furnace! However, they are very cunning and have hidden the exact location well, with no leaks whatsoever."

Hearing this, Zhao Liepeng's expression shifted slightly as he muttered, "Qingxuan Sect…"

His gaze suddenly turned icy, "The rise of Qingxuan Sect has been far too rapid. I've long had plans to deal with them."

"I still remember that incident at the Thunder Crystal Mine vividly!"

"And they even dared to kill the Sect Master's brother-in-law!"

"This is a humiliation we've never forgotten!" Zhao Liepeng paced back and forth, coldly saying, "Surveillance, kidnapping, assassination, we must extract the precise location of the Earth Fire Furnace from the mouths of Qingxuan Sect's cultivators!"

"Yes!"

The three elders immediately stood up.

Zhao Liepeng added, "Zhao Wu, stay behind."

A middle-aged elder, who bore some resemblance to him, nodded and did not leave with the other two.

Zhao Liepeng said indifferently, "Qingxuan Sect is very crafty. I suspect that aside from their core members, no one knows the location of the Earth Fire Furnace."

"Their efforts may not yield results."

Zhao Wu was taken aback, "Then why are you still…"

Zhao Liepeng smiled faintly, "It's just a show for Qingxuan Sect, to lull them into a false sense of security."

Zhao Wu's expression turned to admiration, "Truly worthy of being the Sect Master."

"Sect Master, you must have something important for me to handle, right?"

Zhao Liepeng nodded, "You're my cousin, and I trust you the most with this task."

"You should be familiar with the Blood Infant Guidance technique, right?"

Zhao Wu was stunned, a look of shock appearing in his eyes, "Are you referring to the forbidden technique of the Blood River Sect?"

"I heard even within the Blood River Sect, this technique was considered too sinister and was sealed away, never used."

"After the fall of the Blood River Sect, the technique was lost as well."

Zhao Liepeng casually waved his hand, and a thin booklet appeared in his palm.

He tossed it over.

Zhao Wu caught it and saw the cover—boldly written with the four characters: Blood Infant Guidance.

"This isn't a martial technique or combat skill, just a special forbidden method."

"The effect is simple: it allows you to find one thing based on another."

"Once you've cultivated the Blood Infant, if you give it a piece of clothing, it can find the owner."

"And if you give it a crystal-refined weapon made by the Earth Fire Furnace, it will lead you to the furnace itself."

Zhao Liepeng spoke indifferently.

Zhao Wu's eyes widened, "I understand now!"

"But this method is extremely vicious and ruthless. Cultivating the Blood Infant requires the heart's blood of twenty pairs of twin infants with cultivation potential..."

Zhao Liepeng sneered, "Which is more important, the Earth Fire Furnace or those infants?"

"Our Earth Fire Furnace has significantly weakened compared to a thousand years ago. The efficiency of refining crystal weapons has dropped considerably, and it will be completely extinguished in at most a hundred years."

"If we can obtain this new Earth Fire Furnace, do you not understand what that means for Thunderfire Sect?"

He spoke with fervor, "Once we acquire this Earth Fire Furnace, every elder in Thunderfire Sect will be equipped with a complete set of crystal weapons, and each weapon will be refined with Tier 4 demon crystals!"

"Each of them will be able to fight against enemies of a higher realm. Do you not understand the significance of that?!"

Zhao Wu swallowed hard, as though envisioning the incredible scene himself.

"I understand! Sect Master, rest assured, I will definitely find that third Earth Fire Furnace!"

Zhao Liepeng finally nodded slightly, "Go ahead. Everything must be for the grand future of Thunderfire Sect. What are twenty pairs of twin infants in comparison? They are nothing but mere mortals."

"When Thunderfire Sect unifies the Xuanjing Prefecture, we will naturally bring blessings to many more mortals."

"Yes!"

…

At Qingxuan Sect, in the Sect Master's courtyard.

Murong Yue was admiring the brand-new sword at her side, her heart filled with joy.

"Master, this sword is a top-grade Profound level weapon. I refined it using the demon crystal of a Tier 4 Scarlet Flame Ice Python."

"This demon crystal perfectly complements your Fiery Ice Physique."

Shen Mo smiled.

Murong Yue beamed with happiness, "Wonderful! I love it so much!"

Shen Mo then brought out a set of soft armor, arm guards, and boots.

"These are your personal spiritual weapons, and each has been refined with a Tier 4 demon crystal as well."

Murong Yue's eyes widened, "None of them failed?"

Shen Mo chuckled, "I crafted them myself. How could they fail?"

Murong Yue could hardly contain her joy, "Fantastic!"

"How are we doing with demon crystals? Do we have enough? Yesterday, we completed a large transaction with Storm Rain Sect and Purple Star Sect, adding over thirty Tier 4 demon crystals and more than a hundred Tier 3 demon crystals to the sect's treasury."

Shen Mo nodded, "That should be sufficient."

Wei Xiongtie, Zhao Rou, and others had greatly improved their success rates.

Especially Zhao Rou, whose success rate had reached eighty percent.

If not for her lower cultivation level, Shen Mo would have already put her in charge of all matters related to crystal weapon refinement.

"By the way, have you heard? Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect have started fighting," Murong Yue suddenly said.

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, "Started fighting? Over what?"

Murong Yue spoke in a serious tone, "Rumor has it that the Mountain Gate Formation of Zhongding Sect might be located near Rising Sun Mountain, and there are ancient records to prove it."

"Zhongding Sect's Mountain Gate Formation is a top-grade Earth level killing array. If someone acquires it, it will undoubtedly boost their sect's strength considerably."

"That's why Divine Sword Sect and the others are forced to fight for it—it's a major battle."

"If any of them obtain the Mountain Gate Formation, their strength will surge, breaking the current balance of power."

Shen Mo pondered for a moment.

No wonder the people from Divine Sword Sect, Rising Sun Sect, and Verdant Vine Sect hadn't been seen near Heavenly Water City recently.

Turns out, they were fighting for something else entirely.

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