Chapter 597 - 40 Banner Presented as a Gift, Method Bestowed by the Fire Palace
Three days later, Upper Pure Qi Flow spilled over the Fish-Dragon Treasure Tripod, white mist rolled and churned, resembling steam about to surge forth, while the single-horned bronze Strange Beast atop the tripod lid issued a deep, low sound from its throat, a reverberation long and lingering. The refining room buzzed ceaselessly.
Zhang Yan sat upright on the cushion at the North Position, hearing the sound without a change in expression. His mind remained as calm as still waters, as the Elixir Evil spun like rolling smoke back and forth within the Fire Pool. The furnace fire remained steady as a water basin—neither blazing nor fading, neither increasing nor diminishing.
Zhao Houzhou looked visibly excited. The previous unusual phenomenon was precisely the omen that the Dharma Treasure was about to emerge, an event known as "Qi Connection"!
After undergoing refinement, this Magic Artifact was akin to being within a womb, now full of Spiritual Energy and stirring with vitality. At the moment of manifestation, one must use spells to rupture the pre-prepared spiritual acupoint, allowing it to inhale and exhale spiritual breath, sense temperature changes, and exchange Qi Mechanism with heaven and earth.
This was the most critical phase, akin to the cry of an infant upon birth. If this step was not executed successfully, it could lead to total failure, rendering all prior efforts meaningless.
In this process, the furnace fire was of utmost importance and could not tolerate even the slightest error.
Zhao Houzhou focused intently ahead. Three days and nights of relentless effort hinged upon this single moment!
He cast several spell gestures into the tripod furnace and finally found a brief moment of respite, turning his gaze toward Zhang Yan.
Throughout these past days, Zhang Yan had remained as composed and carefree as ever, seated steadily, his robe sleeves hanging loose, his demeanor calm and untroubled—even his breathing seemed almost unchanged.
Zhao Houzhou and She Yutang couldn’t help but admire him, exchanging a knowing glance. This First Grade Elixir Fruit was no ordinary attainment; its Elixir Evil was vast and inexhaustible. It seemed he could continue tending the furnace fire for another few days without issue.
An hour passed, and the white mist grew denser, spreading throughout the room and filling it completely. The silhouette of the towering tripod furnace and the three figures was barely discernible amidst the cloud-like haze. The atmosphere flowed with Spiritual Energy so clear and vibrant, it felt as though one was standing atop some mystical peak.
At this moment, the Fish-Dragon Treasure Tripod began to tremble lightly, emitting sounds akin to deep drumbeats.
As the tripod furnace’s lid lifted, a banner emerged from the white mist with a hum, suspended mid-air. Its pole was dark as wood or stone, while the banner’s surface was plain and devoid of patterns—simple and unadorned, seemingly unimpressive.
However, Zhao Houzhou seemed entirely unsurprised. He took a deep breath, brought his fingers together, and pointed. A Flying Needle emerged, swirling lightly before jabbing a specific point on the banner. With a hiss, as though bursting a hidden air bladder, the banner jolted mightily, followed by a rapid succession of crackling sounds, like firecrackers. Moments later, the banner began to move on its own, unfurling and standing upright in mid-air, immediately radiating a bright light several inches long. The light shifted in color, flowing brilliantly.
Zhao Houzhou’s eyes gleamed with unrestrained joy as he suddenly stood up from the cushion. With a wave of his hand, the banner seemed to receive a command, flying directly toward him. Grasping the pole, he used one hand to gently brush over the banner’s surface, finding it etched with countless Cloud Pattern talismans he didn’t recognize. The banner’s colors shimmered with a rich depth, unmistakably marking it as an extraordinary item.
He sighed deeply and said, "I had hoped merely for a Protective Magical Artifact, and yet today, a High Grade Spiritual Device has been refined—truly a blessing from heaven."
Today was Zhang Yan’s first time undertaking the Sacrificial Refinement of a Magic Artifact, and he hadn’t expected the resultant item to be a High Grade Spiritual Device. He felt momentarily surprised, but upon reflecting, he understood. Within the Zhao You Heavenly Pond, Spiritual Energy was abundant. Coupled with the Fish-Dragon Cauldron’s aid and the assistance of Zhao and She from the side, such a result was only natural.
She Yutang softly reminded, "Senior Brother, without Zhang Daoist’s help, how could we have succeeded in refining this Dharma Treasure? Truthfully, Zhang Daoist’s contributions were the greatest."
Zhao Houzhou instantly snapped out of his thoughts. His earlier comments had been spoken in the heat of the moment without much consideration. Though artifact refining required fortunate timing, location advantage, and human effort, there was no question that Zhang Yan was the chief contributor to this success. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he quickly bowed deeply and apologized, saying, "Daoist Zhang, today’s success in refining this Dharma Treasure is entirely thanks to your efforts. My momentary lapse was unintentional. I hope you won’t take offense."
Zhao Houzhou’s unguarded nature meant his delight was purely an expression of True Nature. Zhang Yan naturally wouldn’t concern himself with such matters. He stood up, smiled, and returned the courtesy, saying, "Fellow Daoists, you praise me too much. This was merely a small gesture on my part, truly nothing worth mentioning."