Chapter 379: Artifact Refining

Chapter 379: Refining Tools

"Master Li, has the cinnabar I ordered arrived?"

The pharmacy owner, who had been busily counting on his abacus, looked up and immediately saw that peculiar man in the red Daoist robe.

A servile smile bloomed across his face—this was no ordinary customer. "Heh heh, sir, we've been waiting for you. Thirty jin are right here. Xiao Huazi, go help the gentleman carry them home."

"No need, I'll take them myself." After settling the final bill, Li Huowang lifted the bag with one hand and turned to leave the pharmacy.

Xiao Huazi, the young clerk, was puzzled and asked his boss, "Boss, what does this fellow want thirty jin of cinnabar for? Even if someone were using it medicinally, they'd only buy a few taels at most."

"Thwack!" The pharmacy owner flicked his middle finger, giving him a sharp slap on the head. "Does it hurt? Good! That's what you get! Remember this lesson well! You're just an employee; why should you care what others buy? If he wants to mix it with rice, it's none of our business!"

"Thud," the heavy bag of cinnabar hit the cart. Li Huowang climbed aboard, blew a whistle with his mouth, and the steamed bun followed obediently.

"Go~! Go~!" Glancing at the cinnabar bag beside him, Li Huowang tugged the reins and drove the cart toward the western city gate.

Last night, Li Huowang suddenly realized he had gone down a dead end. If others could use heart essence to refine magical tools, why couldn't he?

Moreover, his body healed at an extraordinary rate, causing him only temporary discomfort without any real side effects.

More importantly, magical tools refined from organs made of heart essence possessed extraordinary abilities, greatly enhancing his strength. This would surely prove invaluable in his upcoming confrontation with Bei Feng.

"Tock-tock-tock." As the horseshoes clattered against the stone pavement, Li Huowang gradually ventured beyond the city walls.

Rather than taking the main roads bustling with people, Li Huowang deliberately sought out secluded mountain paths.

As the sun set, Li Huowang finally found a suitable spot—a flat area before several graves.

The moment the steamed bun reached this place, it became alert, lowering its body and baring its teeth in a threatening display.

"I humbly request to borrow this space for the night. Please do not be offended." Li Huowang bowed respectfully to the graves, then turned to retrieve items from the cart.

Suddenly, the steamed bun lunged forward, startling several mice to scurry about.

Li Huowang first took out the small alchemical furnace he had obtained from the Renxiao, then placed cinnabar inside, with top-grade snow charcoal beneath the furnace.

Having once been a pill cultivator, refining cinnabar came easily to him. An hour later, he opened the furnace to find a silver liquid mixed with residue.

This substance, which Master Danyang had taught him while staying at Qingfeng Monastery, was called "Chinv" when refined from cinnabar. In Li Huowang’s previous world, it was known as mercury.

Quickly sifting out the residue, Li Huowang poured the Chinv into a bowl. But this wasn’t enough—he needed more.

After further refinement, looking at the large bowl of shimmering silver Chinv, a satisfied expression appeared on Li Huowang’s face.

"This should suffice."

Li Huowang turned and took out a shovel he had prepared earlier, beginning to dig a hole. The deeper he dug, the larger it grew. When it was deep enough for a person to stand inside, he stopped.

Closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths, then reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a dagger gleaming with cold light.

"Daoist, reconsider, please. Is it really worth this?" The monk rushed forward, pleading with a look of compassion.

In contrast, Hongzhong sat atop Peng Longteng, watching with anticipation like a spectator enjoying a show.

No matter how many illusions whispered in his mind, Li Huowang's resolve remained unshaken. He raised the dagger high, slowly slicing across the center of his scalp. Soon, his skin parted, revealing bloodied flesh beneath, entangled with veins.

Then, stripping off his clothes, Li Huowang stood naked in the hole he had dug, lowering himself to bury himself in dirt.

It was difficult to bury himself alone, but fortunately, Li Sui could assist.

With Li Sui's tentacles beating the earth, the soil around Li Huowang was packed tightly.

"Li Sui, good boy, help me again."

Under Li Huowang's command, two tentacles emerged from his neck, slowly lifting the bowl filled with Chinv toward the wound on his head.

Swallowing hard, Li Huowang said, "Move it aside a bit before pouring. Don’t spill it."

Li Sui obeyed instantly, extending the tentacles to their maximum.

As the bowl tilted, the silver stream sparkled under the moonlight, beautiful in its brilliance.

"Hmph...ahhh!!"

This process was excruciating. Yet Li Huowang dared not move even slightly, fearing the mercury would spill.

At first, he felt pain, but he could endure it. Gradually, however, the pain transformed into an unbearable itch, spreading all over his body.

When the itching reached its peak, the buried Li Huowang struggled violently, feeling as though ants were biting every inch of his skin. It nearly drove him mad.

As he twisted and writhed, his body squeezed upward like a snake, and after much effort, he finally managed to crawl free.

"Haha..." Li Huowang trembled violently. He could no longer tell where the pain was worse. He thought he had grown accustomed to suffering.

But when the harsh winter wind cut through his bare skin like a blade, Li Huowang nearly fainted from the agony.

Trembling, he pulled out the *Fire Robe True Scripture*, shakily reciting the incantations upon it.

A burning centipede crawled slowly over Li Huowang. Soon, his entire body was covered in blackened, yellow burns.

Perhaps it hurt even more now, but at least the scars allowed him to wear clothes again.

Dressed, Li Huowang glanced at the ground. His breath left him, and he collapsed onto the cart, curled up, arms wrapped tightly around himself, unconscious.

(End of Chapter)