Chapter 468 - 426: Flying Snake Daoist Soldiers

Chapter 468: Chapter 426: Flying Snake Daoist Soldiers

This was a gigantic Ink-Scale Python, each of its hexagonal scales as large as a pair of ordinary people embracing, hard and cold, shining black. Talisman marks the size of basins quietly emerged and vanished on the surface of the scales.

The snake’s head was raised high, standing three zhang above the ground. Its half-open mouth revealed two large venomous fangs on the upper and lower jaws, along with a dense array of sharp serrated teeth behind the fangs.

"The Flying Snake Daoist Soldier experimental machine is seven zhang in length from head to tail. The main materials include Bo Mountain Profound Iron, Langya Golden Jade, Flame Crystal Copper, Geng Metal Mother, Cold Heaven Stone..." Tao Boliang introduced as he gazed at the giant snake with fiery eyes, explaining to Lu Qian and others.

The members of the Artifact Refining Team followed him, staring obsessively at their creation.

Before the actual refining was complete, who could have imagined that someone who originally found it difficult to refine a Magical Artifact could participate in such a high-end project and eventually forge such a masterpiece?

This was a challenging breakthrough and a remarkable improvement.

"Because everyone’s foundation was poor, the difficulty of the breakthrough was high, and we spent a lot of time and effort in the early stages to improve the overall artifact refining level, trial casting the machinery and core components. Before the formal casting, the material costs were roughly... 130,000 spirit stones," Tao Boliang continued.

"Honored Guest Tao remembers incorrectly. If we round it up, it’s 153,600 spirit stones," Jiang Qingfeng lightly coughed and corrected him. With such a huge investment, she was closely monitoring this project, fearing any mishaps.

Yang Jiye gasped, his mouth almost unable to close. He could never have imagined that so many spirit stones had been spent! This would be impossible in a typical Foundation Establishment Sect.

Jiang Qingfeng also felt the pinch. It was equivalent to hosting a Shuangye Square festival in vain. If not for the Yunshan Sect’s substantial resources and frequent replenishments from enemies, they couldn’t withstand such consumption.

Despite their astonishment, Tao Boliang laughed heartily without any embarrassment.

As a master in artifact refining, he naturally knew whether these spirit stones spent like flowing water were worth it or not.

"This was the preliminary investment. Officially crafting this experimental machine roughly involved an additional material cost of 50,000 spirit stones," Tao Boliang’s bald head glistened under the glow of earth fire. "But rest assured, Elders, you will find it very worthwhile once the Daoist Soldiers are tested."

In other words, creating this experimental machine cost over 200,000 spirit stones in total!

However, once this technology is mastered, future manufacturing will only require the material costs for each Daoist Soldier.

Lu Qian nodded, holding firm to his belief that "money is earned, not saved." Though the investment was substantial now, it would surely yield more substantial returns on the battlefield in the future.

Then, Tao Boliang further introduced the various technologies applied to the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier, such as the Eighty-One Acupoint Chain Transmission, Regional Linked Defense Technology, and the Three-Star Energy Gathering Spiritual Core, among others.

Although he spoke with fervor, Lu Qian and others found themselves somewhat dazzled, unable to grasp its greatness but perceiving its brilliance.

As he continued speaking, this bald man became emotionally stirred, his eyes brimming with tears, and tightly grasped Lu Qian’s hands.

"Sect Leader Lu, being able to personally oversee the crafting of such a Daoist Soldier is a tremendous honor for any Artifact Refiner. Thank you for giving me this opportunity; my life is fulfilled."

At the moment when the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier was successfully refined, Tao Boliang truly felt the sense of a warrior willing to die for a confidant.

Jiang Qingfeng had rescued him and his brother from Baose Manor, entrusted important responsibilities to him after he joined midway, providing people, money, and opening the Treasury when materials were needed.

Additionally, with an Artifact Refining Base established on a Third-Level Spiritual Vein, he found himself astounded upon entering the Octagonal Glazed Tower for the first time.

A Spring of Spiritual Energy was gushing upward, spraying crystalline Spiritual Light Water Beads. Even a small Spiritual Energy Carp materialized, swimming up and down the spiritual energy fountain. Surrounding the Spirit Vein spring was a vast web-like spiritual energy pipeline, connecting the earth fire refining pit, the roaring giant furnace, the shining spirit anvil, the surging Xun Drum, and the powerful golden hammer...

At that moment, Tao Boliang stood blankly in the center of this eight-zhang-tall Artifact Refining Base, looking at everything around him, suddenly feeling that everything was surreal, like a dream.

Even Baose Manor, primarily focused on artifact refining, wouldn’t dare place an Artifact Refining Base directly on a Spirit Vein!

Of course, they lacked a Third-Level Spirit Vein.

The Yunshan Sect was destined to possess secret teachings like the "Ten Thousand Refinements Golden Touching Wondrous Method" and destined to continuously improve their artifact refining level until they successfully forged the Flying Snake Daoist Soldiers!

Facing Tao Boliang’s excitement, Lu Qian chuckled slightly: "Honored Guest Tao, you’re too kind. I prefer to believe that the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier is just an ordinary work in your artifact refining career. In the future, you will lead my Yunshan disciples to refine more exquisitely marvelous works that will become immortal legends."

Tao Boliang nodded heavily, momentarily choked with emotion.

After listening to the introduction of the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier’s technical specifications, the most crucial moment arrived.

Combat Drill.

Tao Boliang led the disciples to conduct a final inspection up, down, left, and right, confirming the good condition of the machine. Then, he opened a mechanism, activating clattering chains. Above ground, a huge opening slowly began to reveal a pitch-black space below.

It turned out that the Octagonal Glazed Tower not only comprised the ground-level three floors for artifact refining, storage, rest, and cultivation but also included a vast underground space thirty zhang deep, intended for testing refined creations.

"Tao Zhongxian!" Tao Boliang suddenly shouted, "It’s your turn now, young man. Show what you’ve got, or don’t blame me for spanking you!"

A lean young cultivator responded, flashed out, performed a salute to Lu Qian and the Elders before heading toward the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier. He was none other than Tao Boliang’s brother, Tao Zhongxian.

He appeared even thinner, and his skin had grown much darker, with many burn marks like his brother on the exposed skin.

According to the disciples, after entering the sect, although Tao Zhongxian occasionally made cheeky remarks to beautiful senior and junior sisters, it was harmless. Based on his Spiritual Root, after consulting the "Yushan Seventh Grade Profound Mystery Scripture," passing on cultivation techniques, he diligently cultivated most days, spending his free time in the Octagonal Glazed Tower, showing significant improvement.

This made Tao Boliang even more devoted to the Yunshan Sect.

At this moment, Tao Zhongxian mounted a Flying Spiritual Artifact, ascending to the space beneath the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier’s jaw.

Perhaps due to fatigue over the period, his movements were somewhat unsteady. He reached out to fumble a bit, then came the crisp sound of machinery, and a hatch opened on the snake’s body.

Tao Zhongxian stowed away the Flying Spiritual Artifact, bowed, and slipped into the opening. As soon as he entered, the snake’s body immediately sealed shut.

A dozen breaths later, a humming sound was heard emanating from deep within the snake’s body.

The humming grew louder, causing the entire snake to vibrate, with a row of cauldron-sized sigils lighting up in sequence along its length. The nearby Spirit Vein trembled gently, and the spiritual energy fountain scattered, creating a mist-like spiritual energy, drawn by the array, rapidly infused into the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier’s body.

Another series of mechanical clattering, and within a vast expanse of spiritual mist, the enormous snake shadow suddenly twitched and soared!

Two fiery red beams pierced through the mist — the serpent’s eyes lit up.

At this instant, everyone present clearly felt the violent spiritual pressure within the Flying Snake Daoist Soldier steadily intensifying, finally surging upward, filling all directions.

Its strength equaled that of the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment!