Chapter 615 - 335: The Mysteries of the Morning Star Artifact

This forging ceremony is no simple matter. It’s like forging a person as if they were a weapon. If their body isn’t strong enough, it can easily lead to injury.

Besides, Su Chen’s status was quite unique. If something went wrong, he couldn’t bear the responsibility.

Hearing Guan Lin’s words, Jiao Beiluo and the others exchanged a glance, though they weren’t particularly surprised. Su Chen had been number one on the preliminary rankings for half a year; who would make a big deal out of this now?

After exchanging a few pleasantries, a thought occurred to Su Chen, and he asked about Morning Star Artifacts.

"A Morning Star Artifact?"

Jiao Beiluo was holding a small silver hammer, incessantly tapping a piece of Starfall Meteorite Iron. He looked up at the question. "The gap between a Morning Star Artifact and a Tier Nine Weapon is just too vast."

Su Chen invited the men to sit in a nearby pavilion. "Is it similar to the gap between a Tier Nine Professional and a Morning Star Tier Professional?"

Jiao Beiluo nodded, then shook his head. "Yes and no. The difference is far greater than the gap between a Tier Nine Professional and a Morning Star Tier Professional.

"An ordinary Professional can still bridge the gap through methods like achieving the Double Ninth Tier and by Melting Holy Professions. For example, a Divine Dawn who is Double Ninth Tier and has Melted two or three Holy Professions."

"I’m not saying they could defeat someone of the Morning Star Tier, but holding their own for a time wouldn’t be a problem. But a weapon isn’t human. It can’t undergo the Melting of a Holy Profession, nor can it advance to the Double Ninth Tier. That’s why the difference is so extreme."

Su Chen grew thoughtful as Jiao Beiluo explained further, "Furthermore, a Morning Star Artifact consumes tens of times more materials than an ordinary Tier Nine Weapon. Simply stacking them up can’t unleash the full power of those materials. The most crucial part is ’Spirit Attachment.’"

Su Chen’s expression shifted. He’d heard a familiar term—the Bronze Ancient King had mentioned "Spirit Attachment" before. Through Spirit Attachment, a Professional’s Spirituality could provide them with some assistance.

"So if a Professional Spirituality is attached to a weapon, it becomes a Morning Star Artifact?" Su Chen guessed.

"More or less," Jiao Beiluo nodded, continuing, "Only after advancing to the Morning Star Tier can one forge a Morning Star Artifact. It is only at that point that a Professional gains the ability to influence their Spirituality, allowing them to perform ’Spirit Attachment’ on a weapon and cause its metamorphosis into a Morning Star Artifact."

Jiao Beiluo stroked his goatee, sighing with emotion. "This is the standard method for forging Morning Star Artifacts nowadays, but their strength is a far cry from what the ancient method could produce."

"The ancient method?" Su Chen asked, surprised.

Jiao Beiluo set down the Starfall Meteorite Iron and nodded. "Correct. Spirit Attachment is just a partial blessing from the Spirituality. The ancient method wasn’t Spirit Attachment, but Spirit Fusion—completely fusing the Morning Star Spirituality into the artifact."

’Spirituality can really be fused with an object?’ Su Chen was surprised. ’No wonder the Bronze Ancient King didn’t make a big deal about me devouring the Great Venerable Red Flame Thunder Resonator’s Spirituality.’

However, Su Chen asked with confusion, "If the Spirituality is fused into the artifact, doesn’t that mean it can’t be recovered if something unexpected happens?"

Jiao Beiluo nodded and sighed. "Correct. That is precisely why the ancient method was gradually abandoned. The potential loss is too great. If the weapon is damaged or its wielder is ambushed and killed, it means the Morning Star Spirituality is lost forever."

These Morning Star Spiritualities are one of the most important cornerstones of the Five Great Sects and the Royal Court. Even if a Morning Star Tier individual dies, they can simply select another Star Seed and cultivate a new one.

But if a Spirituality itself is lost, it’s gone for good.

"Your Excellency should know the last person in our Sect who forged a Morning Star Artifact using the ancient method." Jiao Beiluo looked at Su Chen.

A thought stirred in Su Chen’s mind. "Venerable Red Sun?"

"Correct. It was him."

’No wonder...’ It suddenly dawned on Su Chen. He finally understood how the Great Venerable Red Flame Thunder Resonator’s Spirituality had shattered and ended up lost on Red Thunder Star.

’That great cauldron was truly extraordinary; the Great Venerable Red Flame Thunder Resonator’s Spirituality must have been completely fused with it.’

Thinking of this, Su Chen couldn’t help but ask, "How powerful is a Morning Star Artifact forged with the ancient method?"

Jiao Beiluo stroked his goatee and said slowly, "A Morning Star Artifact perfectly tailored to its owner, specially forged for them with their Spirituality fused inside... it’s enough to let a Morning Star Tier exert several times their normal power."

’Several times his power?’ Su Chen clicked his tongue in amazement.

’It was a shame. The ancient method was powerful, but the cost was too great. No one was willing to take such a risk.’

After speaking, Jiao Beiluo added with some feeling, "When it comes to forging weapons in the Dust Star Sea, the True Martial Sect is supreme. Even their Morning Star Artifacts made with just Spirit Attachment can reach nearly seventy percent of the strength of one made with Spirit Fusion."

"The other powers are nowhere near that level."

Su Chen was lost in thought. ’So a Morning Star Artifact is like a signature weapon for the Morning Star Tier. It’s another reason why they’re so much stronger than an ordinary Tier Nine.’

’An ordinary Tier Nine has no way to further enhance their power like this.’

Now that he had a general understanding, Su Chen arranged guest rooms for the craftsmen and returned to his training room.

...

The next day, in Copper Heart, at the Qin Family residence, a butler with a tense expression led Qing Cang to the front of Qin Yun’s room.

Before the butler could announce him, a voice drifted from within the room. "Ah, it’s you, Junior Brother. Come in."

The heavy door swung open silently. Qing Cang looked inside, his expression unreadable.

Qin Yun stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking out the window. He gazed up at the Flame Fire in the sky, his voice tinged with an ineffable melancholy. "It seems Master couldn’t get away after all."

As his words fell, specks of green fluorescent light began to glow around him. They were symbols composed of "0"s and "1"s, which interwove and gradually settled onto Qin Yun’s body, sinking into him.

Qin Yun’s aura immediately faltered. The butler standing behind Qing Cang tensed but did not dare to speak.

"Master couldn’t get away, but I could," Qing Cang said, his face a mask. He strode forward and unceremoniously clamped a hand on Qin Yun’s shoulder. Qin Yun’s expression chilled as he glanced down at Qing Cang’s hand.

Qing Cang said coolly, "Let’s go. The Peng King and the others are waiting."

In an instant, the two of them transformed into a stream of wind and vanished from the window.

At the Star Port, the Peng King was already waiting. He was holding a green cube, within which a purple light shone. It was the Sun.

A moment later, his expression shifted. A stream of cyan wind gathered before him, and the figures of Qing Cang and Qin Yun materialized.

"Even the Peng King is here to escort us. What a grand display," Qin Yun remarked, his eyes landing on the Sun in the Peng King’s hands with a hint of surprise.

"The Emperor and the Ancient Kings are watching this matter with extreme focus. There is no room for error. No escort could be too grand," the Peng King said, shaking his head. He glanced at Qin Yun and could already see that his strength was suppressed.

’With the old and weakened Profound Turtle King holding the fort, there wouldn’t be any major danger within the Bronze Sect. His own task was to accompany Qing Cang and escort Qin Yun and the Sun to the agreed-upon meeting point.’

’No one would feel at ease if Qing Cang were the only escort.’

"Yes, this is the Spirit of Sun, after all." Qin Yun nodded and sighed. "It’s a shame Master couldn’t come. If any unforeseen circumstances arise, I fear we might lose the initiative."

"We’re just lighting a fire. What’s all this nonsense about initiative?" Qing Cang’s expression turned cold.

The Peng King remained noncommittal and looked toward the waiting ship. "Gentlemen, let’s go."

...

"So this is the base required for the forging ceremony?"

Su Chen looked at the circular metal base before him. It was etched with dense, intricate symbols that pulsed with a faint glow.

The center was slightly recessed, and from it extended three streaks of light that flowed like mercury. At the edge of the base, each streak terminated in a smaller ring. A metal platform, about a meter long, hovered over each ring, dividing the entire base into three sections.

"Correct. Shortly, you will need to take your place in the center. The other three will hold the forging materials and occupy the three outer positions. Great Artisan Guan Lin will be in the middle to regulate the process and assist you," Luo Shuhang explained.

Hearing this, Su Chen looked at the four master artisans. "I’ll be in your hands, then."

"It is our duty," Jiao Beiluo said with a wave. He was already holding the Starfall Meteorite Iron as he stepped onto one of the platforms. The other two artisans took their respective places as well.

Su Chen walked toward the central recess. Guan Lin extended a hand, and a black metal hammer taller than he was materialized silently from the void. Dark patterns flowed along its handle as Guan Lin also stepped onto the base.

Su Chen glanced at it, the corner of his mouth twitching. The head of the hammer alone was bigger than his torso.

’Wait, they’re not planning on just smashing me with that thing, are they?’ he couldn’t help but wonder.

"Star Seed Su, the three of us have discussed this," Jiao Beiluo began. "Since you wish to forge a Furnace Base, we will most likely use the Heart of the Desolate Dragon as the foundation, the Earth Core as the support, and the Starfall Meteorite Iron as the framework." After a pause, he added a reminder:

"If you feel any discomfort during the process, you must speak up immediately. Wasting materials is nothing; your well-being is the most critical thing."

This forging ceremony was not without its dangers, and there was no guarantee an accident wouldn’t occur.