Chapter 508: Yin-Yang White Fire, Terrifying Talent for Artifact Refining

Chapter 508: Yin-Yang White Flame, Terrifying Artifact Refining Talent

The moon set and the crows cried, Shen Lingfeng hung from a tree.

Madam Shen had changed into a plain white dress, her light makeup still not wiped away.

Her fierce eyes were wide with rage, her face full of anger.

“Did you carry the bathwater here?”

She held a whip in her hand, nearly lashing out.

After a night of bliss with her husband, she had been about to enjoy a lovely bath.

And then…

Of course, she still bathed, but after finishing, she came to find trouble with Shen Lingfeng.

“Mother, I was wrong!” Shen Lingfeng hung from the tree, not knowing what had happened, but recalling the clever trick his brother-in-law had taught him: apologize.

“Hmph, you know you’re wrong?” Madam Shen was furious. “Tell me, what are you wrong about?”

These words left Shen Lingfeng dumbfounded again.

“Hmph, it’s bad enough that Qi Yuan acts recklessly—he once lived in the madhouse. Do you want to live there too?”

Thinking of the bathwater, Madam Shen grew angry.

Because she suddenly felt that Shen Lingfeng’s earlier talk of wanting a little sister had been deliberate.

“Pouring out the bathwater is one thing, but what did you mean by adding scallions, ginger, and garlic to it?”

Madam Shen swung the whip, cracking it through the air.

Shen Lingfeng screamed in terror, howling like a ghost.

The servants and maids hid far away, not daring to come close.

…

“Today is a very lucky day.”

“The role-playing degree for the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan has reached 70%.”

“More than expected. Could it be that not only did my mother-in-law bathe, but my father-in-law bathed too?”

Qi Yuan speculated silently.

According to his calculations, pouring out his mother-in-law’s bathwater would have raised the degree to around 60, but it ended up 10 higher.

Clearly, the bathwater he poured might not have been used only by his mother-in-law…

“For this degree, the reward is… Yin-Yang White Flame.”

When the degree reached thirty, Qi Yuan had obtained the Artifact Refining Heart, increasing his success rate by half a percent.

Now, he had received the Yin-Yang White Flame.

The Yin-Yang White Flame is a powerful heart flame.

The strength of an artifact master depends not only on refining skills but also on the heart flame.

Many materials in the world are indestructibly hard, even difficult to melt.

Some artifact masters, whose awakened heart flames are too weak, cannot melt or forge certain rare and precious materials.

The Yin-Yang White Flame is different—a fierce and domineering flame that can even melt divine-grade materials.

“It seems this live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan actually has great talent as an artifact master, but… it just never awakened.”

Qi Yuan remarked.

“Yin-Yang White Flame!”

With Qi Yuan’s gesture, a mass of eerie white flame appeared.

Above this flame, Qi Yuan sensed an extreme cold and an intense heat.

Two completely different essences coexisted in one flame, a contradiction.

Qi Yuan thought and took out a special material he had purchased.

This special material was called Wind Emperor Gold, a heaven-grade material.

The unranked magical tools he had refined, if a bit of Wind Emperor Gold were added, could reach yellow grade.

If already yellow grade, it could be elevated by one minor rank.

Previously, Qi Yuan could not melt this material.

Now, with the Yin-Yang White Flame surging forth, the Wind Emperor Gold instantly began to change, slowly softening and turning into liquid.

“As expected of the Yin-Yang White Flame. Now I can even aim for earth-grade magical tools.”

So far, the strongest magical tool Qi Yuan had refined was only at the profound grade.

After awakening the Yin-Yang White Flame, he could try refining an earth-grade tool.

An earth-grade artifact master was considered a regional power even in Jining Prefecture.

The next day, Shen Lingfeng did not come, but Chen Xianwei walked over.

“In half a month, I will follow the Shen family to Ye Mountain Lake to attend the Artifact Master Assembly.” Chen Xianwei spoke of this with a worried expression. “I wonder if this time any young talent can repair the Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan.”

The Artifact Master Assembly, also known as the Refining Assembly.

The purpose of this assembly was to gather the young talents of the three prefectures of Jiangzhou together to discuss the repair of the Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan.

“In the past, someone as new to the craft as you wouldn’t have been qualified to attend such a high-level gathering.

Now, with the threat of the Ye Mountain Lake Water Lord imminent, every artifact master’s creative ideas are needed.” Chen Xianwei continued.

“I’m no good at refining, but creative ideas are my forte,” Qi Yuan said casually. “If I could repair the Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan, what would the reward be?”

“You’re thinking too far ahead.” Chen Xianwei chuckled. “Probably a million taels.”

“Only a million taels? That little?” Qi Yuan couldn’t help saying.

If it were a few days ago, he would have said a million taels was a lot.

But now, with two million taels in his pocket, he would say, “Is that all?”

“Sigh, a small goal, worth my making a move.”

“You, a typical earth-grade magical tool costs only tens of thousands or a hundred thousand taels.

The Mighty Dragon Xuan Yuan, being a near-heavenly tool and very special, concerns the safety of Jining Prefecture’s people, so it’s worth a million taels!

And you still complain about the small amount. The Shen residence you live in now probably can’t even produce a million-tael banknote.” Chen Xianwei said, panting.

The Shen family’s assets exceeded a million taels, but most were fixed assets; their ready cash and banknotes were pitifully few.

Chen Xianwei was relatively wealthy, but even he only had about ten thousand taels in banknotes.

“Enough of that. Here, these are the materials for refining the Mystic Origin Spear. If you can forge it in the next few days, you can go to Ye Mountain Lake.” Chen Xianwei handed a pile of materials to Qi Yuan.

The Mystic Origin Spear was a common, standard, unranked magical tool.

In most military formations, a powerful spear unit would use the Mystic Origin Spear as their weapon.

These spearmen were also the elite of the army.

A thousand spearmen could suppress an Earth-level Imperial Arms Master.

"Fine, I'll forge it now."

"Isn't it too early? Aren't you going to prepare..."

Chen Xianwei's words caught in his throat.

Then, on Qi Yuan's arm, a flame appeared—both icy and scorching, born of opposites—and a pile of materials vanished into that blaze.

In an instant, those materials turned into molten iron.

"This is Profound Jade Iron—even I would need a quarter of an hour to smelt it... You, you, you..." Chen Xianwei was stunned.

Before him, Qi Yuan had melted the Profound Jade Iron into liquid in just a few breaths.

He stared at Qi Yuan's heart flame, utterly astonished.

Had Qi Yuan's heart flame grown stronger than what he had seen before?

Could his heart flame evolve?

What kind of heart flame was this?

Countless question marks erupted in his mind.

He had never seen such a heart flame.

Yet his shock did not last long, for a brand-new, straight Profound Origin Spear appeared before him.

A cold gleam flickered on the spear tip, as if a chill radiance swirled within.

That single ray of cold light shimmered brilliantly, as though it could pierce through every obstacle in the world.

"Master Chen, am I now qualified to go to Ye Mountain Lake?" Qi Yuan asked calmly, holding the Profound Origin Spear.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Chen Xianwei felt as if he were still dreaming and nodded hastily. "Ahem, Qi Yuan, if you win that million taels, could you spare a little for me... ahem."

Qi Yuan glanced at Chen Xianwei in surprise.

Was there anyone in this world bold enough to ask him for money?

He was the head of the Debt Collection Sect.

"Since you've told me good stories these past days, I'll share some with you," Qi Yuan said generously.

Chen Xianwei's face lit up with joy at these words.

At that moment, the more he looked at Qi Yuan, the more satisfied he became. "Come, Qi Yuan, write down your insights and thoughts on forging the Profound Origin Spear. Let me have a look." Chen Xianwei, struck by an idea, quickly took out a notebook and pen and handed them to Qi Yuan.

"Do I have to write this?" Qi Yuan was surprised, but without any hesitation, he jotted down some of his insights and thoughts.

Chen Xianwei took the notebook, glanced over it casually, and couldn't help but marvel.

Could Qi Yuan really be, as Chen Kangbao said, a god descended to earth? Otherwise, how could his forging talent be so formidable?

The things written here—even he, a Profound-level Artificer, did not fully understand some of them.

He looked at the notebook and finally wrote at the top: "Qi Yuan's First Forging of the Profound Origin Spear—Random Notes, Witnessed by His Teacher, Chen Xianwei."

After writing this, Chen Xianwei was very pleased.

In the future, when Qi Yuan became a powerful Artificer, perhaps even a Heaven-level Artificer, other Artificers would surely look at Qi Yuan's manuscripts.

When they saw the manuscript, they would see the words "Teacher Chen Xianwei."

Those later generations would surely say that Qi Yuan's achievements were inseparable from his teacher, Chen Xianwei.

And this teacher, Chen Xianwei, left no masterpieces to posterity—clearly a man indifferent to fame and fortune.

In that case, wouldn't he also earn a place in history?

At this thought, his heart grew even more joyful.

"Keep up the good work. Your teacher is going back now."

Chen Xianwei hurried away, eager to report what had happened to the family head.

With Qi Yuan's forging talent, becoming a Heaven-level Artificer was almost certain.

How long had he been forging?

This heart flame of his—even an Earth-level Artificer's might not compare.

But as he passed through the alley, Chen Xianwei ran into his old rival, Wu Zhen.

"Ah, Old Chen, why are you walking so fast? My disciple here has just forged a passable, unranked artifact. Come, give your opinion," Wu Zhen said, holding something like a chopstick. "Alas, he's been learning forging for a month, and this is all he's achieved. It wears me out."

He held that chopstick-like object, his expression one of deep distress.

He looked as if he truly despised it.

In truth, he was showing off.

See? My disciple forged an unranked artifact in just one month.

Chen Xianwei paused, glanced at the artifact, and said,

"What trash! The technique is too crude!"

Then he left without another word.

Wu Zhen was stunned.

At that moment, he felt rather like someone posting a beautiful photo on a certain social platform, humbly saying, "Alas, I'm so plain, nothing compared to those stunning beauties."

Only to have the comments below say, "Girl, you really are plain."

It threw him off completely.

How could Chen Xianwei look down on this? Could it be...

Suddenly, a terrifying suspicion arose in his mind.

Judging by the direction, Chen Xianwei had walked out of Qi Yuan's courtyard with joy.

Could it be that the young master's talent surpassed that of his own disciple?

He stared at Chen Xianwei's back and couldn't help shouting, "Your hair is a mess—it's not straight!"

Chen Xianwei, walking quickly, nearly stumbled. He hastily pulled a small mirror from his pocket and tidied his hair.

Seeing this, Wu Zhen felt he had regained some ground.

...

"My cultivation hasn't fully recovered yet, but 'Heaven-Slaying Sword Draw' and 'Deathly Radiance' are usable again."

"No new skills awakened—could it be that I need to reach the Heaven level?"

Qi Yuan mused.

After reaching level ninety, all his major and minor skills had returned.

But as for new major skills, aside from the arrival of "Myriad Transformations," none had awakened yet.

This made Qi Yuan ponder.

"Strategist, think quickly—this trip to Ye Mountain Lake is dangerous. How can I avoid the peril?"

Qi Yuan inquired.

"If it were the old me, I wouldn't care at all.

But now, I'm a live-in son-in-law, and a live-in son-in-law wears a mocking face—anyone who looks at me wants to bully me.

My strength hasn't recovered; if I'm bullied, I might just have to take it."

This was also Qi Yuan's worry.

"Master, you can bless me, and I'll protect you!" Chen Kangbao said earnestly, full of confidence.

Qi Yuan shook his head.

Chen Kangbao's strength, with a "blessing," could handle small-time thugs, but big-time thugs would be tough.

"Anything else?"

"How about... Master turns into a steamed bun?" Chen Kangbao looked at Qi Yuan with eager anticipation, drool nearly spilling from his mouth. "If I hold you, Master, no one would have ill will toward a steamed bun."

Indeed, no one would have ill will toward a steamed bun.

But you, Chen Kangbao, would have hunger for a steamed bun!

Qi Yuan glared at Chen Kangbao, then said, "You've reminded me—when I'm a live-in son-in-law, I have a mocking face that invites others to hit me.

As long as I'm not a live-in son-in-law, then when we go to Ye Mountain Lake... we'll leave the Shen family's territory."

"Turn into a steamed bun?"

Qi Yuan glared at Chen Kangbao again: "Turn into a kitchen knife."

"A kitchen knife?" Chen Kangbao was somewhat disappointed.

"Then, find me a cook."

"To make steamed buns?"

"...Get lost!"

Qi Yuan was utterly speechless: "Old man, were you a starving ghost in a past life? Can't you go three sentences without mentioning steamed buns?"

"Master, this old servant was poor in his youth and often went hungry!"

"Hmph!"

Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered to talk further with Chen Kangbao.

He already had a plan in mind.

Now, the role of the live-in son-in-law was stuck again.

The progress on playing the kitchen knife was still very low; he had to seize this chance to raise his proficiency in playing the kitchen knife.

"But before that, I need to gild myself—what if that cook uses me to cut snakes, abalone, or steel bars? I couldn't bear that."

Qi Yuan's idea was simple: there were still a few days before heading to Ye Mountain Lake.

In that time, he would forge a sheath for himself and put himself inside it.

As for that sheath, the first essential was that the outer shell be hard, extremely hard; the second essential was that the inside be soft—if not soft, how could a kitchen knife sleep?

"Wait, does a kitchen knife need to sleep?"

"And also, what should I pay attention to when playing a kitchen knife?"

Qi Yuan really wanted to ask his pet kitchen knife what to watch out for when playing a kitchen knife.

Was it supposed to be walked?

And... dig through trash?

Qi Yuan shook his head—he couldn't accept that.

"But if it's walking people, if it's digging through treasure vaults, I think I'm good at that."

"The core of playing a role should be twofold: first, the thoughts and traits of the character itself; second, my own perception.

After all, it's just playing a role—it's not making me become it!"

Playing a role was merely playing a role; Qi Yuan didn't want to become a puppet on strings.

Otherwise, what if next time he played a flower thief—would he really go stealing flowers? Play a Cao thief—would he have to sleep with someone else's wife?

Hmm... the second one... doesn't seem impossible.

Qi Yuan thought of a way to exploit a loophole.

He plays the Cao thief and sleeps with the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan's wife—isn't that sleeping with someone else's wife?

(End of this chapter)