Daoist Competition

Both exchanged glances, and from each other’s eyes, they could see a trace of appreciation and admiration.

Back when they first used the Heavenly Furnace, even with the teachings of their masters on the dharma technique, it took them a full half month to suppress the refining fire, leaving them both in utter disarray.

Today, the ease they experienced was not only due to the advancement in their cultivation, but also the result of their repeated reflections and efforts to remedy oversights upon returning. Otherwise, if either of them faltered by even a fraction, the time required would have extended further.

Liang Changgong turned to look at Zhang Yan, bowed, and said, "True Master Zhang, the fire has reached its peak; you may now bring out that Mystic Turtle Shell."

Zhang Yan nodded, retrieved the turtle shell from his sleeve, and tossed it down into a seemingly bottomless earth pit.

Seeing this, Liang and Wei both shouted in unison, waved their red banners, and with a whoosh, each split off a Yin Fire and a Yang Fire from their banners to support the turtle shell, gradually letting it descend. At nine yards deep, Liang Changgong retracted the Yang Fire and switched to the Yin Fire, while Wei Shudan retracted the Yin Fire and switched to the Yang Fire. Thus, they alternated every nine yards, and after approximately thirty-six exchanges, the Mystic Turtle Shell had sunk to the depths of the earth cave.

Both inserted the red banners into the ground and retrieved the yellow banners from behind, shaking them with a rumbling sound. Countless white stones flew up like swift swallows returning to the forest, converging in one spot, and in an instant, formed a circle around the turtle shell, piled up like a hill, resembling a well border.

Wei Shudan glanced upward when he had the chance. There, more than a hundred disciples on flying boats wandered back and forth. He shouted loudly, "What are you doing, standing there? Didn’t I instruct you earlier? Hurry up and get to work!"

Upon hearing his command, the disciples came to their senses and swiftly tossed down the pre-prepared treasure materials from the flying boats. In the blink of an eye, they were thrown into the unfathomable earth pit.

Once all the treasure materials on the flying boats had been cast down, the disciples orderly retreated, leaving the scene deserted.

At this moment, Liang and Wei took up the green banners, gently shook them, and like smoke puffed from a fire mouth, the flames suddenly shot up dozens of yards high, causing the earth pit to tremble incessantly. Streams of fiery, dazzling-hot molten material seeped out from underground, accumulating thicker and thicker, rising slowly from the pit formed by the white stones, swallowing up the Mystic Turtle Relics and assorted treasure materials.

Just as it was about to overflow, Liang Changgong spoke up, "Brother Wei, should you handle this ’covering the pit,’ or should I do it?"

Wei Shudan replied with a smile, "Why be modest, Daoist Liang? This round, you take the lead, and I’ll handle the next stage."

Liang Changgong laughed heartily and said, "Then I shall graciously accept."

He picked up the yellow banner and pointed it down, instantly sending a gale over, raising vast amounts of golden sands to fill the pit mouth.

An hour later, the earth pit showed no signs of activity, the fire abated and the wind ceased, as if nothing had ever occurred.

Both relaxed as they descended from the rocks, leaping to stand beside Zhang Yan.

Liang Changgong first wiped the sweat from his forehead, then cupped his hands and said, "True Master Zhang, these treasure materials are extremely difficult to refine. At least eight months of nurturing are needed before the furnace can be reopened. With the Great Array guarding this place, there’s no need for the True Master to stay here. Just return when the time comes."

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "During my time in East Splendor Continent, the methods of refining treasure that I observed were entirely different; it is an eye-opener today."

Wei Shudan chuckled, "True Master may not know, but in these ten days, we haven’t actually begun the sacrificial refinement of the Dharma Treasure."

Seeing Zhang Yan’s slightly surprised expression, Liang Changgong was concerned he might misunderstand, so he explained, "True Master Zhang, this method is called ’Earth Covering Fire Cage.’ When executing this technique, one must block the fire mouth’s paths, leaving only dozens of secret serendipitous apertures. Using this method to burn and refine, it can refine the treasure materials to remove impurities and temper them pure. If the vessel used is exceptional, it can fully incorporate the Qi. After eighty-one days, dig up the mud and repeat this process several times, thereby enhancing the treasure’s quality even further."

Zhang Yan’s eyes gleamed with wonder, saying, "Oh? Do the two of you really possess such abilities?"

The turtle shell is already the remnant of a Cave Heaven Demon, a rare thing in the world. Yet according to these two, they can further refine it to make it even better, an outcome he hadn’t anticipated.

Speaking of their pride in their expertise, Liang Changgong couldn’t help but boast a bit, "True Master Zhang, all things in the world have their uses; it’s not about how rare they are but how fittingly they’re applied. Those who don’t understand might simply acquire a rare treasure, pound it somewhat, and claim it’s turned into a Dharma Treasure. Little do they know this is just a façade relying on the treasure’s inherent attributes. Does this qualify them as an Artifact Refining Expert?"

At the end of his remarks, his tone carried a bit of disdain.

Wei Shudan also chimed in proudly, "If their skills were only that level, then why would we be needed? Any disciple under us could undertake such tasks. Whereas, being able to perform Creation from Nothing, refining treasure materials so they vastly exceed their original form, truly showcases our means."

Zhang Yan nodded repeatedly. If these two truly achieve that, they do deserve to say such things.

Nonetheless, Wei Shudan and Liang Changgong forgot that their success is partly due to their commendable skills in refining artifacts. But Artifact Refiners in their continent aren’t naive either; their skills fall short not due to their own inadequacies but because they lack access to such plentiful treasure materials. Only the wealth of Central Pillar Continent allows such extravagance.

For example, the fine sand they used at the end is actually Gang Ying Powder sedimented in mud soil for tens of thousands of years, which combined with Earth Qi to become this fine sand. Whereas elsewhere, it’s replaced with mud and stone, making it incomparable to their methods.

Indeed, this particular stage — what treasure materials are thrown in, the timing and intensity of fire, the fluctuations of Yin Yang Fire — are precisely the expertise passed down through generations on Central Pillar Continent, unknown to outsiders.

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...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)