Translator: AnubisTL
TL/N: Treasure Artifact Spirit Imbueing/Imbuement Method à Treasure Artifact Spirit Fusion Method.
"Treasure Artifact Spirit Fusion involves implanting a Demon Spirit into a magic artifact to nurture its Artifact Spirit," Li Qing murmured to himself, holding a small, emerald-green bottle.
The Treasure Artifact Spirit Fusion Method was an ancient cultivation technique he had obtained long ago in the Soul Nurturing Secret Realm. However, due to its impractical nature, he had never used it.
The success rate of nurturing an Artifact Spirit was extremely low. Failure would not only completely dissipate the Demon Spirit but also severely damage the magic artifact's spirituality, potentially even erasing the spirit patterns inscribed upon it.
Such a cost would be unbearable for most cultivators in the foundation establishment realm.
Moreover, Demon Spirits were rare treasures only produced by second-tier or higher Demon beasts. Each one was nearly as valuable as a Demon beast's Crystal Core.
"If the wind spear could develop its own Artifact Spirit, it would be an invaluable asset to me."
"But if it fails..."
Li Qing trailed off, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Now, only a white ape bone spike remained in his storage pouch.
The cost of failure wasn't insurmountable. Even if the wind spear were destroyed, he could refine another one.
With the sect's recent rewards, he wasn't short on contribution points for the time being.
Using these points to acquire artifact refining materials from the sect would be a simple matter.
"I still need to try. After all, we'll continue fighting the ancient demons soon. If I encounter a situation like junior sister Shen's again, I'll be able to have the wind spear carry me away on its own."
The future war remained shrouded in uncertainty. Having an extra means of survival was always a good thing.
After all, who could predict whether they might one day find themselves in a desperate, energy-depleted situation?
A magic artifact with its own Artifact Spirit, capable of autonomous activation without consuming mana, would be invaluable!
"Refining an Artifact Spirit into a high-grade magical artifact... this is truly unheard of, unseen before."
With these words, Li Qing picked up the azure wind spear and pressed the small green bottle against its shaft.
The Demon Spirit inside the bottle was still in a nascent state, possessing bat-like wings but with four limbs beneath its body.
In life, this Demon Spirit had been a Second-Tier Demonic Beast with a wind attribute. The wind spear had been refined using spiritual materials harvested from its body.
Strictly speaking, the two shared a common origin, which might significantly increase the chances of a successful fusion.
Channeling his pure spiritual energy, Li Qing carefully coaxed the Demon Spirit out of the luminous green bottle.
At this stage, the Demon Spirit was incredibly fragile, as if it could dissipate into smoke or completely disintegrate at any moment. Watching this made Li Qing's heart pound with anxiety.
After all, it was only a Second-Tier Demonic Beast. Had it been a Third-Tier Demon Spirit, the situation might have been much more stable.
But with only this one Demon Spirit available, he couldn't afford to be too picky.
As the ethereal azure Demon Spirit emerged from the luminous green bottle, it instantly became even more insubstantial.
Without a moment's hesitation, Li Qing immediately activated the spirit fusion spell recorded in the Treasure Artifact Spirit Fusion Method.
The azure Demon Spirit seamlessly merged with the wind spear, encountering minimal resistance. Given that the wind spear was also a wind attribute magic artifact, their compatibility was remarkably high.
Li Qing remained uneasy. Spirit fusion was no simple matter; merely merging the Demon Spirit into the artifact was only the first step. Next came nurturing the Artifact Spirit.
"It's time to begin. Though this is only a high-grade magical artifact, it still requires at least ten days of nourishing with the Treasure Artifact Spirit Fusion Method."
"Whether we succeed or fail hinges on this moment!"
With that, Li Qing sat cross-legged, placing the wind spear horizontally before him. He gently rested his hands on it and silently activated the secret technique.
His refined and abundant mana transformed into a gentle, permeating force, seeping into the wind spear to nourish the fragile Demon Spirit within, guiding its transformation into an Artifact Spirit.
He summoned absolute patience, focusing more intently than ever before during any previous artifact refinement.
Thus, with a mind free of distractions, Li Qing tirelessly nourished the wind spear day and night.
Azure Ridge Domain, Heavenly River Sect Mountain Gate.
Over half a year had passed—a mere blink in the grand scheme of a cultivation sect war.
Yet for the Heavenly River Sect, these months had stretched into an eternity.
Nearly every few days, an Ancestor from the Shangqing Sect would storm to the mountain gate, challenging them to battle and unleashing their overwhelming spiritual pressure to shake the entire sect.
It's no exaggeration to say that the disciples and elders of the Heavenly River Sect had been living in constant fear, dreading the moment their Mountain Gate Grand Formation would be breached.
During this time, the Heavenly River Grand Formation had fully activated several times, attempting to strike at the Shangqing Sect Ancestors who approached the mountain gate.
However, these core formation realm True Lords were as cunning as they were powerful, refusing to risk even the slightest danger. Whenever the Grand Formation fully activated, they would immediately retreat beyond its range.
Boom!
A massive spiritual energy handprint descended from the sky, slamming down before the Heavenly River Sect's mountain gate.
In an instant, the Heavenly River Grand Formation sprang to life, radiating spiritual light as it intercepted the core formation true lord's devastating strike.
"Those Shangqing Sect bastards are back again, each one more repulsive than the last!"
The Heavenly River Sect Elder guarding the Grand Formation glared with bloodshot eyes, a testament to the mental torment he had endured during this prolonged siege.
They had grown almost accustomed to the overwhelming aura emanating from outside the mountain gate, yet they could never afford to ignore it.
This was a core formation realm True Lord. If they launched a full-scale assault, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Originally, guarding the Mountain Gate Grand Formation had been a relatively easy task. But in times of crisis like this, it became a life-or-death responsibility.
"Go and report this to Sect Leader Qing Xuan."
"Understood!"
Meanwhile, Sect Leader Qing Xuan of the Heavenly River Sect wore a face etched with worry.
"Martial Uncle Wan Shan, it seems the Shangqing Sect is truly determined to fight us to the bitter end this time," Sect Leader Qing Xuan sighed.
In the council hall, Ancestor Wanshan's face appeared even more aged than usual. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his weathered hands clenched tightly.
"It's all because of the seeds of disaster we sowed long ago," Ancestor Wanshan lamented. "I never imagined Ling Long would survive."
"Now that things have come to this, there's no point in clinging to this defensive posture," True Lord Kong Ming declared. "It will only weaken us further."
Known for his fiery and direct temperament, Kong Ming had long grown weary of this futile waiting game. As a cultivator with a thunder attribute variant spirit root, he had always valued clear and decisive action. Over the past six months, his heart had been simmering with pent-up rage, ready to erupt at any moment.
Even if it meant death, they would bite back fiercely! They couldn't let the Shangqing Sect have it so easy.
"The Shangqing Sect's power is overwhelming. A direct confrontation would be futile. We must preserve our sect's dao lineage, leave behind a fire seed, and hope for a future," another ancient core formation true lord declared.
"Over the past six months, the Shangqing Sect has likely sealed off this entire region. Preserving a fire seed won't be easy."
"Sacrifices are inevitable. We must prioritize saving a small group of individuals with strong resolve and exceptional talent."
"What about the rest of us?"
Sect Leader Qing Xuan remained silent, utterly stunned. He never imagined the Heavenly River Sect would truly meet its end.
This was a great cultivation sect with a history spanning millennia, once at the height of its glory, even showing signs of dominating the Azure Ridge Domain.
Yet even the most glorious powers eventually face their decline.
Sometimes, a single careless oversight, a misstep, or a flawed decision can, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings, trigger an unimaginable storm.
At that moment, Ancestor Wanshan felt a pang of anguish and profound regret for not having completely eliminated the Exquisite True Lord—that harbinger of calamity—long ago.
Now, his negligence had finally brought about this catastrophe!
"Let's move."
(End of the Chapter)
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