My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

Clearly, this state was unsuitable for Artifact Refining or practicing the Golden Body Technique.

He could only return to his bedroom, slip onto his bed, and absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power through meditation. At the same time, he didn’t forget to allocate some Mana to grind the experience for his Breath Concealment Ring.

In the blink of an eye, night fell. The courtyard was bathed in moonlight, and a gentle breeze stirred.

Zhao Zuo rose from his bedroom and went to the Earth Fire Chamber. He piled the Hidden Blade Giant Sword and a hundred jin of Blazing Fire Rock together, making the final preparations before the upgrade.

The Blazing Fire Rock had a gray exterior. The larger pieces were nearly the size of a basketball, while the smaller ones were only fist-sized. The rocks were covered in holes, resembling naturally formed honeycomb briquettes, except these holes contained a kind of orange energy that radiated intense heat.

It was said that Blazing Fire Rock existed in a naturally stable state. If this stability was broken with Mana, the rock would combust rapidly, burning out completely in about ten-odd seconds and leaving behind only a gray, hole-riddled husk.

Seeing that everything was ready, Zhao Zuo didn’t hesitate and directly initiated the upgrade.

In a blur, a gray light pushed back the darkness of the night. A faint golden light formed an impenetrable barrier. However... this time, the ball of light was much larger than before, nearly one hundred fifty centimeters long and thirty centimeters wide.

After all, the Hidden Blade Giant Sword was massive on its own, not to mention it also needed to envelop the hundred jin of Blazing Fire Rock.

Although the gray light didn’t seem to displace even the lamplight or the darkness, it didn’t obstruct Zhao Zuo’s vision. He could clearly see the scene inside.

At that moment, the Hidden Blade Giant Sword floated in mid-air, looking incredibly imposing. It absorbed the orange energy surging from the Blazing Fire Rock. As this high-temperature energy was infused into it, the sword’s own temperature began to rise, though its appearance and color remained unchanged.

Watching this scene, Zhao Zuo suddenly recalled the difference between Middle Grade and Lower Grade Magical Artifacts. ’When the materials are nearly identical, the key is the addition of Elemental Power, such as the Wind Series energy of the Sky-Breaking Saber, or in this case, the Fire Series energy for the Hidden Blade Giant Sword.’

For example, Shen Yunjiao’s longsword and her Black Flame also possessed Fire Attribute power.

’Undeniably, Middle Grade Magical Artifacts are often harder and sharper than Lower Grade ones. However, I believe the added attribute is the greatest distinction between them. Take the Hidden Blade Giant Sword, for instance. Its hardness is already comparable to a Middle Grade Magical Artifact, but because it lacks an attribute, it can only be rated as a Lower Grade Magical Artifact.’

’Of course, this theory isn’t absolute. It’s just a conclusion I’ve drawn from my own analysis of the current situation. It probably applies to most Middle Grade Magical Artifacts, but there are bound to be some exceptions.’

’So, what I need to figure out is how to imbue a Lower Grade Magical Artifact with Elemental Power.’

Zhao Zuo quickly reined in his wandering thoughts. The most important thing right now was to carefully observe the Hidden Blade Giant Sword’s upgrade. He felt that this miraculous transformation... could be applied to his own Artifact Refining.

’If I can accomplish the fusion of Fire Element power with a Lower Grade Magical Artifact myself, it’ll mean I’m qualified to forge Middle Grade Magical Artifacts.’

’First, I’d have to extract the Elemental Power from the material, just like what the Hidden Blade Giant Sword is doing right now—drawing out the deeply hidden energy from the Blazing Fire Rock.’

’It has to be... a safe extraction.’

’There must be some kind of technique or method for these two steps: extraction and fusion.’

About half an hour passed. Gray, slag-like chunks of rock fell continuously. The temperature in the Earth Fire Chamber had risen so high that the air was beginning to shimmer. This was the intense heat radiating from the Hidden Blade Giant Sword after it had absorbed the Fire Element power.

Only its color remained unchanged.

Zhao Zuo knew that the next step was about to begin.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

It was as if invisible hammers were constantly striking the Giant Sword. Pitch-black impurities broke off from its surface, falling to the ground with a CLINK and a CLANK. Then, the blade suddenly erupted in orange flames, which worked in concert with the invisible hammers to continue Refining the Hidden Blade Giant Sword.

The chaotic patterns on the blade seemed to find a new order, as if they were shifting position. These were the innate patterns of the Ink Pattern Steel; there was normally no way to make them move at will.

The numerous patterns converged, outlining a design as if with brushstrokes. The burning orange flames also found their direction. Empowered by the fire, the ink patterns twisted and gathered, faintly forming a ferocious dragon’s head, complete with sharp claws and teeth.

The remaining patterns formed dense dragon scales, each one incredibly small yet perfectly distinct, with no blurriness whatsoever. They no longer looked like natural markings, but rather the masterpiece of a master carver who had spent months pouring his heart and soul into his work.

Finally, a ferocious, lifelike black dragon appeared on the body of the Hidden Blade Giant Sword!

It was roaring, bellowing.

Adorned by the orange flames, the scales began to burn, the fire gradually spreading across the entire dragon. Its color turned fiery red, like a ball of flame that might leap off the pitch-black blade at any moment.

Finally, a flash of golden light shot out from between Zhao Zuo’s eyebrows and entered the Hidden Blade Giant Sword.

The Golden Light vanished as quickly as it appeared, but the changes it brought were just beginning. The Creation Point seemed to inject the dragon with vitality, giving it a touch of spirituality and majesty. It was no longer a ferocious Evil Beast; instead, it exuded a comforting aura for Zhao Zuo, as if the two were intimately close and now shared a bond.

Next, golden patterns began to grow from the fiery red dragon’s tail. They spread quickly at first, then gradually slowed, losing momentum. In the end, they only covered about a third of its body. The patterns took root within the fiery red dragon, and the two became inseparable.

The high temperature gradually subsided, and the fiery red and golden colors receded. The dragon once again became an inconspicuous black, so much so that one might miss the pattern on the blade’s surface without looking closely.

But Zhao Zuo could clearly feel a mass of blazing energy now residing within the Hidden Blade Giant Sword. He only needed to infuse it with Mana to trigger it, and scorching flames would erupt from the blade to incinerate his enemies.

The ambient temperature was also slowly dropping. The Hidden Blade Giant Sword’s upgrade was complete.

Zhao Zuo picked up a towel to wipe the sweat streaming down his cheeks, patiently waiting for the gray light to dissipate.

About three seconds later, the gray light dissipated, and the Hidden Blade Giant Sword slowly floated into Zhao Zuo’s palm. Its overall size seemed to have shrunk by about a fifth; the blade was now nearly one hundred forty centimeters long and about twelve centimeters wide.

Zhao Zuo put strength into his right arm and swung the Hidden Blade Giant Sword. He discovered that although its volume had decreased, its weight had suddenly increased by about a hundred jin.

Of course, for him, this change was beneficial. The Hidden Blade Giant Sword felt even better in his grip.

’What in the world is the principle behind this? It’s not scientific at all.’

Zhao Zuo couldn’t understand this change. Logically, after expelling so many impurities, the Hidden Blade Giant Sword should have become lighter, but the reality defied common sense.

During the upgrade, the Hidden Blade Giant Sword had gained Fire Element power and the golden patterns of unknown effect. ’Could one of those two things have increased the weight?’

’Weight can’t just increase out of thin air. There must be some principle at work that I don’t understand.’

[Upgrade Description: Greatly increases the weapon’s own hardness and sharpness. Moderately increases the weapon’s Fire Attribute attack effect.]

After the advancement was complete, the Hidden Blade Giant Sword still had 7,600 experience points, which was enough for two more upgrades. Zhao Zuo didn’t hesitate and directly initiated the upgrades.

Another half an hour passed, and the two upgrades were complete.

[Level: Middle Grade Magical Artifact +2 · Hidden Blade Giant Sword]

[Experience: 1600/8000]

[Status: Not upgradeable]

These two upgrades to the Hidden Blade Giant Sword had increased its sharpness and hardness, respectively, but its Fire Series damage hadn’t improved. Zhao Zuo estimated... that the third upgrade would be the one to boost its fire damage.

An unconcealable smile spread across Zhao Zuo’s face. He happened to have a Fire Series Spiritual Root, which perfectly matched the Hidden Blade Giant Sword’s new attribute. With this synergy, his combat power was bound to increase dramatically.

...........

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