Cao Yun had to restrain himself or he would have trained with his new 'Dark Abyss Wrathful Serpent Spear' for days, weeks, maybe even months. Just having the spear in hand gave him incredible sensations. It was always reacting to his Spear Heart and to his 'Azure Dragon's Seven Piercing Stars'. In fact, it was literally reacting to Cao Yun's understanding of the 'Azure Dragon's Seven Piercing Stars'. There was no other way to explain those sensations. Ren Chao had truly produced a masterpiece. Of course, the resources used were priceless, but without a great master to mold and forge them, they would never produce such a weapon.
Just like his brother, Ren Chao was fully immersed in Cao Yun's handling of his spear. Seeing his work being wielded by an expert was the greatest satisfaction for a blacksmith. He could have stayed to observe his brother for as long as Cao Yun was training. Unfortunately, Cao Yun stopped in the middle of it. He had not even used his best moves yet. Obviously, Ren Chao was extremely disappointed. However, he tried to hide it as best as he could. That being said, he failed miserably and everyone could see the disappointment, not just on his face, but from his entire slouching body.
Mei Hua chuckled a little, Ren Chao looked like his kids when they were scolded by Wang Mei. For a moment, Cao Yun didn't even realize the situation as he was still staring at the deep black of his spear. In it, Cao Yun could see the seven Piercing Stars as well as bits and pieces of his own Insight Writings, which were forming his understanding of the Dao of the Spear. In fact, Cao Yun felt as though those Insight Writings were slowly coalescing, trying to form something new. The 'Dark Abyss Wrathful Serpent Spear' was a 1-star Spirit spear so it could harness a spirit. But for now at least, it didn't have one. Maybe it was actively trying to form one...
Anyway, when Cao Yun came back to reality, he saw his brother and put a hand on his shoulder with a big smile.
"Brother, this is the greatest weapon I've ever seen. For sure, it will help me take down the traitor and save my family. Thank you!"
Hearing those words and the pride in Cao Yun's voice, Ren Chao stood up straight and stuck his chest out with a smirk.
"I can assure you that this spear can go through any armor I ever forged. It will pierce through it as though it were butter. Just tell me when you plan on attacking and I'll be there for you, Brother."
Cao Yun's face changed.
"I can't ask that of you."
Suddenly, Ren Chao got genuinely angry. In fact, Mei Hua also became a bit ticked off upon overhearing them as she had a bad feeling about it.
"Are you kidding me?! We swore an oath! If you die in battle and I don't even try to help you, I will have no place to live under the sky."
"Brother, you have a family to take care of. Besides, ... you're too weak."
"That does it!"
With no hesitation, Ren Chao struck Cao Yun with all of his strength. A powerful echo resounded in the entire chamber as Ren Chao's fist crashed onto Cao Yun's chest. Cao Yun had to admit that Ren Chao's physical strength was incredible. Even early Spirit Warriors would have been coughing up blood after such a strike. However, it didn't faze Cao Yun at all. Moreover, Cao Yun was still holding the 'Dark Abyss Wrathful Serpent Spear'. As such, he was much too heavy to be moved by this strike.
"You still think I'm weak?!"
"Brother, despite your physical prowess, you would not stand a chance against actual Spirit Warriors. You can't fly. You lack speed and technique. Yes, you are a tremendous blacksmith, probably the best there is. But you won't be able to help me on the battlefield. Not only would you risk your life for nothing, but you would also hinder me because I would worry about you."
Ren Chao's entire body was twitching.
"Brother, please, listen to me. You will be fighting by my side through this spear! Isn't it enough?"
"No, it's not! You've been holding your secrets in order to protect us for so long, you've suffered through Hell and back, you've helped us all, and yet, I have armed your greatest enemy. Now that I can finally redeem myself and finally support you, you tell me that I'm inadequate?! Would you accept it?! Would you?! If your masters asked you to sit this one out, to let them save your sister for you, could you?! And do you really expect me to?!"
"Us!"
Mei Hua joined her brother Ren Chao. Indeed, everything Cao Yun had told his brother was also true for her. Even now, she wasn't a Spirit Warrior. Considering her cultivation, she was very close to the Lesser Tribulation, maybe even closer than Feng Yingyue had been before the dual cultivation session. In fact, she might be able to break through in a matter of months, maybe weeks. Unfortunately, she would also need time to stabilize her cultivation, and she wouldn't risk her future on a quick breakthrough. Thankfully, as an alchemist, she knew of many pills that could help. With everyone's help, she might actually be able to forge a pill that could propel her to the Spirit Warrior realm. But she had in mind that it wouldn't satisfy Cao Yun. Just like Ren Chao, he would ask her to sit this one out.
As Ren Chao and Mei Hua were both inner disciples of the Wubei Sect, they couldn't disobey their young sect master. That being said, they could always change his mind.
"Brother, I understand what you feel. I really do! But it is our decision. This is our life. Even if we can't do a thing against your enemy, we can still fight other enemies. We can support you in your hour of need."
Cao Yun looked at their eyes. They were both determined. He remembered that day under the bodhi tree. They had sworn to die the same day. Cao Yun imagined if the roles were reversed. As a matter of fact, Ren Chao had been perfectly right. If someone asked him to let them save his own sister and to do nothing, he simply couldn't take it. He also remembered Mei Hua's past. Even now, her younger sister Mei Ying was a warrior. Although Mei Hua was afraid for her and hoped to end the war before Mei Ying could see the front lines, Mei Hua had let her choose her path in life.
"I... I'm sorry. You're both right."
"Ha ha ha. I knew you would listen to me, Brother."
Mei Hua threw a sidelong glance in Ren Chao's direction. He acted as though she had done nothing.
"I'll be sure to tell your wife that you decided to risk your life without asking for her opinion on the matter."
"Hey?! Sister, don't..."
Ren Chao suddenly acting like a frightened little boy broke the tension. All three of them burst out laughing. Deep down, Ren Chao saw his wife and kids. He swore to himself that he would survive, no matter what. For that to happen, his brothers and sister had to survive too as he would give his life for them if need be. As such, he promised that none of them would die when the time came.
Finally, they all left the underground chamber. Immediately, Cao Yun went back to work. He had to focus on the Nine-Souls Calamity Ascension Pill. Everything was almost ready. Now, they only had to wait for Sun Liao's arrival. That being said, Cao Yun and all alchemists involved were still preparing themselves. After all, this wasn't a minor pill. Even the Life Boiling Cradle pill was nothing in comparison. Several times, Cao Yun visited the Thirteen Celestial Pyre and the Core Earthly Life.
The Thirteen Celestial Pyre was the biggest cauldron in the entire Hongchen Kingdom, a 3-star Spirit cauldron made from the claws of a Thirteen Calamities Vulture, a literal Immortal Beast. Considering that Cao Yun would use most of the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu's body, he had to use this cauldron, as no other could take in the entire corpse. As it turned out, the Thirteen Calamities Vulture was somewhat related to the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu since both were ominous birds. It would make the refinement a bit easier, but it was so difficult to begin with that it wouldn't change much.
The Core Earthly Life was also a 3-star Spirit furnace. Just staying near it, Cao Yun could feel his Rune of Fire and his Solar-Orchid Flame reacting to it. The Core Earthly Life was said to be ten thousand li deep, using the fire of the Piaolu planet itself. For several weeks, Cao Yun and Dian Mo had thoroughly studied the Core Earthly Life Master, the array formation controlling this deep furnace. During the refinement process, Cao Yun intended for Dian Mo to be the main array formation master in charge of the Core Earthly Life Master. Most likely, Sun Liao would also help a lot, but he would have to deal with other array formations as well. In fact, Cao Yun still wasn't sure about Sun Liao's role in the refinement. First, he had to meet him.
Then, Cao Yun visited the storage room where all the ingredients had been prepared. Of course, the main ingredient was the corpse of the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu. Piece by piece, Cao Yun had processed the body. He had cut all the main parts and had kept all of the medicinal ingredients within. All over the flesh and the bones of the demonic beast, Cao Yun and Dian Mo had carved runes that were forcing the ghastly energies to stay within. Those runes would also help during the refinement process.
One final thing was the poison. Using all the knowledge he had consumed from Yu Xiangling, Cao Yun had prepared the worst possible poison he could think of. Within the confines of a very secret workshop, he had refined it. Soon, it would be perfect. The main issue would be to introduce it in the pill at the last moment without destroying the pill and without anyone being able to detect it. Cao Yun had used two poisons he knew very well as a basis, Black Death Prison and Rictus of the Shattered Orchid. Unfortunately, Rictus of the Shattered Orchid was very easy to spot.
Black Death Poison was a 5-star Heaven poison that would trap someone's soul within their flesh. As such, the soul would slowly decay under the assault of the poison while being unable to escape. Rictus of the Shattered Orchid was also a 5-star Heaven poison, but it targeted the muscles and the flesh much more than the soul. It could contract muscles to the point of tearing up tendons and snapping bones. Usually, it was used during a fight as a form of diversion. Indeed, it was easy to spot and detoxify for many Spirit Warriors. However, Cao Yun had derived a new kind of poison from them, and from Yu Xiangling's experiments.
That woman had truly been despicable. Now that Cao Yun was looking at the black foam under his nose, he could truly curse her and her experiments. Unfortunately, he had to finish her life's work and make this accursed thing, the Shattered Soul Hellbloom. It was a 2-star Spirit poison. Although it had never been tested, Cao Yun could imagine the effects. Of course, Yu Xiangling would have actually tested it to make sure. On the other hand, Cao Yun couldn't do so. He wouldn't subject an innocent victim to this horrendous thing just to make sure that it worked as intended.
From everything he knew, this Shattered Soul Hellbloom would attack both flesh and soul. It would tear apart the flesh, forming infected buboes all over the skin of the victim. Those would be full of Death Energy and Ghost Energy, ravaging the flesh, directly attacking the pre-natal Jing of the prey. Just like the Black Death Prison, the soul and Soul Embryo could not escape the body. Those buboes would also bloom on the Soul Embryo itself, turning it into Death Energy and Ghost Energy while the victim was still alive. The worst part of this poison was that it would never completely kill the soul. The flesh would die but somehow, the poison would give more vitality to the soul so that it could survive.
As a 2-star Spirit poison, it had instincts. Obviously, it lacked intelligence, but it could be seen as a bug. It would do everything to keep its prey alive while it was feeding on it. The fate of the prey would be akin to the poor victims of Yu Xiangling. Cao Yun could still see them, souls being tormented within decaying flesh. Thanks to that poison, Yu Xiangling wanted to farm Death Energy and Ghost Energy. The worst part was that she had been successful even in death, through Cao Yun's expertise. He had finished the work of that evil woman. Seeing it himself, even though he had not tested it yet, he resented and hated himself. Such a poison should never have been brought into existence...
Unfortunately, Cao Yun had to use everything he could in order to take down Emperor Weide. Once more, he asked himself if that was the same line of logic that had pushed Emperor Weide to slaughter his entire family. The only solace Cao Yun found was that his victims would actually be guilty. He wasn't killing innocent people just to satisfy his ambitions. But then again, because of the chaos he would probably create, innocent people might die in the war against the Empyrean Asura Theocracy, both humans and demons. From that, Cao Yun comforted himself by thinking it would be worse without him. And he was probably right, although it wasn't much comfort.
At last, Cao Yun received a very good piece of news. Just now, his brother Sun Liao had arrived in order to prepare the array formations for the refinement process of the Nine-Souls Calamity Ascension Pill. Sadly, he had come with bodyguards sent directly by Emperor Weide. Director Hua and Cao Yun had to find a way to talk with him in private. But they had already thought of that, so it shouldn't be too difficult.