Chapter 297 - 163: The Indispensable Method of Artifact Refining (2)

Chapter 297: Chapter 163: The Indispensable Method of Artifact Refining (2)

After a long while, Yang Wenqing finally felt settled. He immediately got up and walked to his office door. A clerk was on night duty in the general affairs department outside, and upon seeing the Director emerge, they quickly stood up.

"I’m going to the logistics and equipment warehouse to requisition some basic Artifact Refining materials," Yang Wenqing instructed. "Contact the staff on duty at the warehouse. I’m heading over now."

"Yes, Director!"

The clerk immediately contacted the warehouse via the internal communication system.

A moment later, Yang Wenqing arrived alone at the branch’s logistics and equipment warehouse. The middle-aged guard on duty had clearly been notified and respectfully handed him a list of supplies.

Yang Wenqing’s eyes swept quickly over the list. Then, he picked up a pen and wrote on the requisition form: five pounds of refined iron ingots, one pound of soft silver ore, three ounces of black-veined steel sand, and one ounce of green-glow stone powder.

He had come up with this ratio on the spot, combining basic knowledge from the jade slip with the experience from his recent failure. The refined iron would serve as the main component to ensure the blade’s strength and weight. The soft silver ore would add toughness and prevent it from becoming brittle, while the black-veined steel sand would reinforce the edge and overall hardness. Finally, the trace amount of green-glow stone powder left open the possibility for a simple enchantment or long-term nurturing.

’This is my first time attempting Artifact Refining, so I’m not trying to create a Divine Weapon. I’ll be happy if I can just successfully forge a structurally stable shortsword blank. I could even give it to one of my clan members later on.’

The guard on duty checked the requisition form. Seeing they were all common, low-grade materials in small quantities, he quickly processed the paperwork and, as per regulations, deducted the corresponding merit points from Yang Wenqing’s account.

As soon as he had the ores, Yang Wenqing returned to the Director’s office.

Once back in the break room, he shut the door, took out the materials, and arranged them neatly before him.

The refined iron ingots were a heavy, dark gray. The soft silver ore shimmered with a faint, milky-white luster. The black-veined steel sand glittered like inky stars, and the green-glow stone powder was a delicate, greenish-blue dust.

He then centered himself. Full of confidence, he formed the hand seals for a Spell. A steady, gentle flame manifested at his fingertip. Then, infused by his Heart Fire, the refined iron gradually melted into a flowing, crimson-red puddle of liquid metal.

He then split his focus, tossing the soft silver ore and the black-veined steel sand into different zones of the Heart Fire. He used precise temperatures to smelt and purify each one separately. Only when all three materials had become pure liquids did he cautiously guide them together using his Divine Sense.

The instant the liquid metals, each with its own unique properties, came into contact, a subtle repulsion and a disturbance of energy occurred.

Yang Wenqing was prepared. He subtly adjusted the temperature and output frequency of his Heart Fire, guiding the metals to permeate and merge with one another.

Simultaneously, he sprinkled the ounce of green-glow stone powder evenly into the molten alloy. The powder dissolved instantly, forming an incredibly thin film of Spiritual Light that further stabilized the fusion process.

Gradually, the repulsion faded, and a glob of all-new molten alloy floated within the Heart Fire.

The most critical step was complete!

Yang Wenqing remained intensely focused, not daring to relax for even a moment.

Then, the yin-natured aura of his kidneys acted like a gentle chisel, guiding the molten alloy to stretch and contract until it gradually formed the rough shape of a blade about sixteen inches long. The heavy qi of his spleen slowly permeated the blade from the bottom up, stabilizing its structure and ensuring a uniform texture.

The sharp qi of his lungs gathered at the tip and edges, honing them to a vicious point. Meanwhile, the vital qi of his liver washed over the blade’s interior and exterior like a ripple, smoothing out any internal stresses caused by the rapid cooling and imbuing it with a barely perceptible resilience.

The entire process was fluid and seamless. Though the Five Yang Qi within his body was being rapidly consumed, Yang Wenqing’s eyes remained bright and his focus absolute.

Finally...

A slender shortsword hovered silently in the air. Within the body of the blade, one could faintly make out silver threads like flowing water and black specks like distant stars. A fine, cold light clung to its edge, refusing to disperse.

Yang Wenqing extended his hand, and the shortsword, as if possessing a Spiritual Attribute, gently descended into his palm. It felt weighty, its cool touch carrying a hint of warmth. The connection he felt to it, a bond forged of his own vital essence, was several times stronger than what he had felt with the crude dagger blank from before. He flicked the blade with his fingertip, and it let out a clear ZING!

"Success!" Yang Wenqing breathed a long sigh of relief, a heartfelt smile spreading across his exhausted face.

After examining the shortsword for a good while, Yang Wenqing put it away in his Storage Bag. He glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall—it was already past three in the morning. He quickly settled into meditation, focusing his mind and circulating the Yuqing Secret Skill to restore his severely depleted Five Yang Qi.

By the time the first light of dawn streamed through the window, the Five Yang cycle within Yang Wenqing’s five major organs was once again full and flowing smoothly.

He got up promptly at eight in the morning. After a Dust Clearing Skill washed over him, he pushed open the break room door.

In the outer office, Liu Min was already methodically sorting through the stack of documents on his desk. Seeing Yang Wenqing emerge, she immediately stopped her work and bowed slightly. "Director."

"How is Yang Deyong’s transfer coming along?"

"He’ll be reporting to the archives department today."

"Excellent!"

Yang Wenqing walked behind his large desk and gave his orders before sitting down. "Two things. First, have Yang Deyong and Kong Yu come see me immediately. Second, notify Wu Quan, the head of the Folklore Section, that I’ll be using the memory space on the top floor in one hour. Tell him to make the necessary preparations and to keep any uninvolved personnel from spectating."

Liu Min’s eyes shifted slightly, but she asked no questions and immediately replied, "Yes, Director. I’ll see to it at once."

She turned and briskly walked out of the office.

Only then did Yang Wenqing turn his attention to the stack of urgent, red-flagged files on his desk. He picked up the top one. It was the final security deployment confirmation report for the upcoming ley line modification project in the Port District.

He picked up a pen and began his review.