Chapter 20: Tool Training

"Two bottles of Medium-grade Spirit Quickening Pills and one bottle of high-grade Forging Body Pills."

Xu Fan placed the three bottles of Spiritual Pills on the transaction counter, enjoying the envious expressions of others as he completed tasks in the alliance from time to time.

At this moment, the staff at the counter handed Xu Fan the corresponding items for the transaction. The Spiritual Pill staff didn't check, as no one in this alliance would fake a transaction.

After the transaction was complete, Xu Fan said to Pang Fu beside him, "Senior Brother, help me post a task to collect various rune materials, preferably natural Divine Descent Runes. The price will be determined based on the value of the runes."

"By the way, mark that we don't need runes taught by the Refining Equipment Peak for trade," Xu Fan added.

"Alright, let's go upstairs for some tea and chat, Junior Brother Xu." Pang Fu said with a smile, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes, wondering if this junior brother was now learning artifact refining.

Inside the Guest Reception Room, Xu Fan looked at the busy crowd downstairs and praised, "Elder Brother Pang, not bad. In such a short time, our alliance has become quite influential."

"It's all thanks to talented people like Junior Brother Xu sitting firmly in our alliance, allowing me to quickly gather our brothers together in the alliance."

Despite being a cultivator, he exuded the aura of a businessman.

"What should our alliance do next? As you know, our sect is somewhat resistant to alliances. Although they don't oppose it, they won't just sit back and watch us grow either," Xu Fan said, as he had some understanding of the attitudes within the sect.

After Xu Fan had been in the Outer Sect for a while, he was amazed at the sect's training system.

All outer disciples, including geniuses, must stay in the Outer Sect area for the entire Qi Cultivation stage. Even those who have been accepted as disciples by the sect seniors must reside in the Outer Sect. Their performance then decides whether they can enter the Inner Sect.

The Heavenly Gate placed great importance on the character and disposition of disciples.

Xu Fan had a feeling that there was a pair of unique eyes watching every disciple in the Outer Sect from the sky.

After pondering for a while, Pang Fu said, "Once our alliance grows larger, I will establish a Chamber of Commerce to gain a foothold in the Outer Sect."

"Forming this alliance was originally a way for me to accumulate connections. In the future, the alliance will also exist in the form of a Chamber of Commerce."

Pang Fu candidly stated, they were both smart people and covering up too much would seem belittling to the others.

"In the future, you will definitely be a wealthy cultivator known far and wide," Xu Fan praised. Those who could easily manipulate such a platform were both resourceful and talented.

In Xu Fan's view, it was only a matter of time before such people became famous in the Cultivation World.

"Haha, Junior Brother Xu, you're too kind."

"By the way, Junior Brother Xu, are you learning artifact refining now?" Pang Fu asked.

"Yes, why? You're not trying to persuade me to focus on alchemy, are you?" Xu Fan laughed. Wang Yulun had tried to convince him in a previous conversation.

"Junior Brother Xu, I'm not trying to persuade you. Rather, I want to tell you a secret,"

"Oh? What secret?" Xu Fan asked with interest.

"I accidentally learned about dual cultivation of alchemy and artifact refining,"

"Whether it's alchemy or artifact refining, reaching the peak in either results in a divine light descending from this world to guide them to the Immortal World."

"But if one cultivates both alchemy and artifact refining, they give up the divine light and can only break through realms based on their cultivation level," Pang Fu said seriously.

"Haha, Elder Brother Pang, you're worrying too far ahead for me."

"But thank you, Elder Brother Pang."

Xu Fan took out a bottle of high-quality Small Spirit Pills from his Storage Bag.

"I'm grateful to hear Elder Brother Pang's secret."

"This bottle of high-quality Small Spirit Pills is for Elder Brother Pang's information," Xu Fan said. He didn't see any harm in becoming closer to someone with potential like Pang Fu.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Xu."

Pang Fu accepted the Small Spirit Pills without any unnecessary words, and Xu Fan's eyes flashed with admiration.

With Pang Fu's farewell, Xu Fan headed towards Artifact Refining Peak. Before entering the Secret Realm, he wanted to refine a few more artifacts.

Artifact Refining Peak was the location of the artifact refining branch within Heavenly Gate. The peak itself was a large volcano, which was said to have been brought up by the Peak Master of Artifact Refining Peak from the depths thousands of years ago for the use of junior cultivators for refining during their early stages.

After handing over a hundred spirit stones at the Artifact Refining Peak, Xu Fan finally obtained a single-room token for Earth Heart Square.

"Oh my heavens, did they hollow out the entire mountain?"

"And there's so much Fire Spirit Qi too."

As soon as Xu Fan entered Earth Heart Square, he saw the lava at the center of the grand hall, which seemed to be controlled by an invisible force, flowing like a stream towards all the rooms.

Following the sequence, Xu Fan found the room marked on the token and placed it directly on the mechanism, and the door to the room opened.

A room of more than 40 square meters, this was the lowest grade room in Earth Heart Square, just perfect for refining basic artifacts.

There was an inlet and outlet trough underneath the diagonal wall of the room, with Earth Heart lava flowing inside, as well as a small lava pool, and three Fire Spirit Stones on the wall to ensure an ample amount of Fire Spirit Qi in the room.

"It must be at least 60 degrees Celsius here, perfect for a sauna."

As Xu Fan spoke, he waved his hand, and a thin layer of Frost Armor appeared on his body, instantly cooling him down.

"Black Iron Ore, Thousand Cloud Steel, Hundred Flower Spider Silk, Thousand Fire Copper, Flame Wood Vine Fiber......." Xu Fan laid out all the materials he would need.

"Let's practice first," Xu Fan said, directly throwing the Black Iron Ore and Thousand Cloud Steel into the lava pool, waiting for them to soften.

Summoning spiritual fire for refining would consume too much spiritual power.

Half an hour later, Xu Fan quickly drew out the softened Black Iron Ore and Thousand Cloud Steel, controlling them with his spiritual power to float in mid-air, before slowly landing on the quenching and refining platform prepared in the room.

Xu Fan performed hand signs, using both hands at the same time; two hammers made of spiritual power appeared in the air, striking the two spirit ores on the quenching and refining platform.

"This is completely different from what I imagined artifact refining would be like."

As Xu Fan spoke, he controlled the spiritual hammers to strike and quench the two spirit ores, occasionally flipping the metal over.

An hour later, just as the Black Iron Ore and Thousand Cloud Steel began to solidify, Xu Fan had quenched them to the desired degree.

"That was a bit draining on my spiritual power. If it weren't for my strong foundation, an ordinary Qi Cultivation 4th level cultivator wouldn't be able to endure it."

Xu Fan instantly controlled the two quenched metals to float in mid-air, and he put a High-quality Quick Spirit Pill in his mouth, instantly restoring his spiritual power.

'Shaping Technique'

The two metals in mid-air began to change. The Thousand Cloud Steel transformed into the most ordinary longsword, while the Black Iron turned into a liquid that slowly attached to the surface of the sword-

A pitch-black longsword appeared.

At this moment, Xu Fan's eyes became serious. The remaining task was to integrate the runes.

Xu Fan used his finger as a pen, drawing runes in the air and integrating them into the artifact.

'Spirit Control, Breaking Armor, Solid, Lightweight Feather, Silence, Po Ling.'

Just as Xu Fan was about to integrate the sixth rune-

'Bang!'

The explosion of spiritual power instantly destroyed the artifact that was about to take shape.

'Earth Spirit Shield'

'Water Spirit Shield'

At the moment of the explosion, two layers of protective shields formed on Xu Fan's surface.

Looking at the scene of failure and destruction, Xu Fan felt as if he wanted to cry, but had no tears.

"Is more than 400 spirit stones' worth of materials gone just like that?"