Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 27: Refining

This contract is the fundamental reason why this direct descendant of the Chen family can continue to run the business of renting out magical artifacts. Once signed, no matter where the lessee flees, they will suffer the backlash of the talisman. Not to mention the destruction of their own cultivation path, the pain will be unbearable.

If a cultivator is lucky and willing to spend time and effort to find the corpse of a mid-grade first-tier demon beast each month, it is still possible to complete this task.

However, if one chooses to leave, the backlash from the Yin Ghost Soul Devouring Contract will result in an even more severe and unbearable price to pay.

Of course, there are quite a few ways to break this Yin Ghost Soul Devouring Contract in the vast Northern Frontier cultivation world.

However, the price to pay for any one of these options far exceeds that of a mid-grade first-tier Azure Water Sword, and is far beyond what rogue cultivators like Tong Bingfeng can afford.

Choosing the lesser of two evils is the best way for Master Chen, a direct descendant of the Chen family, to control a magic artifact renter.

"The contract is complete."

Tong Bingfeng did not hesitate for long. A drop of life essence blood imprinted between his fingers landed precisely on the most ferocious ghost head in the center of the talisman.

"Buzz, hiss, hiss, roar, roar"

The essence blood fell onto the ghost head, as if opening a gap in the Yin Ghost Devouring Soul Contract. The ghost that was originally attached to it quietly suddenly began to struggle violently, as if trying to break free from the binding of the talisman. At the same time, a lifelike, blood-red, thumb-sized ghost head was imprinted on the left arm.

"Collect, photograph"

Master Chen was used to this kind of scene. Seeing that the deal was done, he casually put the Yin Ghost Soul Devouring Contract into his storage bag.

"This is a mid-grade first-tier Azure Water Sword, of excellent quality. It was just taken from the Chen family's weapon-refining room. As long as you sell mid-grade first-tier demon beast corpses on time, you will be safe and sound. Moreover, with each transaction, the ghost head imprint will fade a little until it disappears completely."

"This contract is limited to transactions only. It does not restrict your daily cultivation or range of movement in the slightest, so please rest assured. You can simply trade the monthly monster corpses with Liu's General Store."

Master Chen was quite service-oriented; after confirming the transaction was completed, he immediately explained the basic functions of the Yin Ghost Soul Devouring Contract.

"Thank you for your kindness, Second Master. I will remember this and will certainly keep my promise and complete the transaction on time in the future."

Tong Bingfeng carefully took the Azure Water Sword into his hand, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he examined it inch by inch with an unprecedentedly gentle gaze.

Fifteen minutes later, Tong Bingfeng returned to the rented courtyard. Thus, this transaction, which came at a considerable cost but was worthwhile for him, was successfully completed.

By selling the corpse of a mid-grade first-tier demon beast to Liu's General Store at a low price each month, one can acquire the right to use this mid-grade first-tier magic weapon.

"Only by possessing a magic weapon with compatible attributes can one be considered a qualified cultivator. With the assistance of the Azure Water Sword, the success rate of hunting mid-grade first-tier demonic beasts will greatly increase in the future. This will be the starting point for my cultivation."

Tong Bingfeng sat cross-legged on the futon, treasuring the first magical artifact he had acquired after embarking on the path of cultivation with the same level of appreciation as the most precious treasures.

This first-tier mid-grade Azure Water Sword, among all first-tier mid-grade magic weapons, is merely mediocre in terms of pure performance, without any particularly outstanding features. However, for him, it is the starting point for his future cultivation.

"Although magical artifacts are precious, they must be refined in the shortest possible time to play their proper role; they must not be used merely as decorations."

As a qualified cultivator, Tong Bingfeng naturally understood how to use magical artifacts and the best scenarios for their use, but refining them was the first task he needed to complete.

For a magical artifact to be used effectively in battle, it must first have sufficient aura imprints left on the core operating array patterns inside the artifact.

A cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining will undoubtedly see their dantian's magical power significantly improved after the advancement and purification process, essentially meeting the requirements for refining the Azure Water Sword.

However, for Tong Bingfeng, refining the artifact was not easy. On the one hand, the details about refining the artifact were basically recorded in a few words in the "Spirit Water Manual" and unreliable rumors in the market.

The entire Azure Water Sword has more than twenty array patterns, arranged in different locations. Discovering the true core array pattern is a considerable challenge in itself, and the whole process comes at the cost of rapidly depleting the mana in one's dantian.

If the magical power in the dantian cannot provide continuous support during the refining process, all the refining efforts will be in vain, and it will need to start all over again.

"Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting; the most important thing is to get your energy and spirit to their peak."

Tong Bingfeng did not start rashly, but instead took the lead in circulating his energy through the Great Heavenly Cycle to refine the spiritual energy sealed in the bedroom and further polish and purify the magic power in his dantian.

At this moment, no increase in strength, however slight, can be overlooked, as it is a crucial factor in whether the subsequent refinement of the Azure Water Sword will be successful.

The spiritual energy dissipated from the first-grade low-level spiritual vein for one hour each day was naturally insufficient to meet Tong Bingfeng's needs. Therefore, after quickly refining the spiritual energy, he continued to work hard to refine the spiritual energy that was floating in the world. Although it was thin and difficult to refine, it was still better than nothing.

The last rays of the setting sun illuminate the approaching evening.

After half a day of effort, the already scarce mana in his dantian was not only fully replenished, but also, after further compression, its quality was subtly improved from its original level.

"With ample magical power and abundant energy, this is the perfect time to refine the Azure Water Sword."

Tong Bingfeng spread his hands apart, touching the two ends of the Azure Water Sword one in front of the other. The magical power in his dantian surged out, and under the guidance of his divine sense, it transformed into two torrents of magical power. He poured them into the two ends of the Azure Water Sword without reservation, showing his determination to refine all the array patterns of the sword at once.

"Boom!"

The moment the magic power met the Azure Water Sword, a primal collision erupted. The thin membrane that originally existed outside the magic weapon was unable to resist the impact and shattered instantly.

Two dense and abundant streams of magical power surged into the Azure Water Sword, carrying an unstoppable momentum as they fiercely crushed towards the first array pattern.

In fact, some families or sects, or even groups of independent cultivators with master-disciple relationships, all have their own tricks for refining magical artifacts of the same grade as themselves, and there is no need for such a reckless refining method as he did.

The first array pattern was not complicated. Under the flood of magical power, it did not hold for long and was immediately dyed into a watery blue color with the aura of magic in the shortest possible time.

The process of refining the Azure Water Sword officially began at this moment. The array patterns were unable to stop it, but at the same time, the consumption of mana was increasing at a visible rate.