Chapter 523: Contest 2

After some discussion about the specific arrangements for the Lotus Lantern Dharma Assembly, and after several rounds of food and wine, Hall Master Yu of the Five Elements Gang’s Black Earth Hall suddenly spoke up with a smile. “We’ve all had our fill. A gathering of Martial Artists can’t just have wine without fists, can it? As is tradition, we old folks have had our exchange. It’s time to give the youngsters a chance to have theirs.”

“Well said. The saying goes, ‘honor the guest from afar.’ Our friends from the Divine Weapon Tomb have traveled a great distance. Why not have them start by broadening the youngsters’ horizons and demonstrating the art of Artifact Refining?”

Lv Xin Feng of the Rebirth Palace also chimed in with a smile, and the others murmured their assent.

“Haha, since my fellow daoists have so graciously invited us, how could I refuse? It’s just that this was an urgent and distant journey, so our sect’s most elite disciples had pressing matters and were unable to attend. However, a new disciple I’ve taken on in recent years, who just turned eighteen, is one of the best in our sect’s Blood Strengthening realm. He is certainly worthy of sparring with the members of Heqing Dao.”

“Liu Tie, get on stage and ask for some pointers from our Blood Strengthening peers of Heqing Dao!”

Jiang Shitai said with a hearty laugh. His casual shout exploded like muffled thunder, instantly making everyone’s ears ring.

“You got it, Master!”

In the Divine Weapon Tomb seating area, a mountain of a man around two meters tall stood up. He wore loose black robes and carried a massive hammer on his back that looked less like a warhammer and more like the kind of Cast Iron Hammer used for forging.

He had a pair of small eyes set in a fleshy, intimidating face. Judging by his appearance alone, anyone would have believed he was thirty.

‘He’s only eighteen?!’

The Elders from the various sects all wore peculiar expressions.

Liu Tie seemed unfazed by the crowd’s stares. With a carefree swagger, he walked out from the disciples’ area and vaulted onto the fighting stage in a single bound.

“Senior Brothers and Sisters of Heqing Dao, this younger brother, Liu Tie of the Divine Weapon Tomb, has just turned eighteen. My Cultivation is at the Blood Strengthening realm. I’m about to make a fool of myself, so I hope the esteemed experts of Heqing Dao will offer plenty of guidance!”

Liu Tie gave a slight bow with cupped fists to the crowd. His voice was sonorous, showing no hint of stage fright.

Seeing that the sparring session was about to begin, a flicker of excitement passed through the crowd, and all eyes focused on the stage.

Seated beside Zhao Xuanqi, He Xijun’s eyes lit up with eagerness. Just as she was about to rise, a loud shout came from the Rebirth Palace disciple section: “Ren Fei of the Rebirth Palace, come to experience your esteemed techniques!”

A figure in white, sword in hand, then leaped over the crowd and landed on the high stage. It was Ren Fei from the Rebirth Palace.

After the Ghost City incident, experts from various sects—like Chi Li of the Yin Mountain Sect, Deng Mingsheng of Miaoyin Hall, and Lu Dong of the Red Heart Sect—had successfully advanced to the Refining the Internal Organs realm. Ren Fei, however, was not among them. His repeated use of the “Infinite” ability had severely depleted his body, and he had spent a long time recuperating, thus missing the opportunity to advance.

“Damn it!”

He Xijun, who had been about to get up, froze in place, a look of frustration on her face.

“So it’s Senior Brother Ren of the Rebirth Palace. Please, do enlighten me.”

Liu Tie gave Ren Fei a slight bow with cupped fists before hefting the Cast Iron Hammer, which was half as tall as a man, from his back.

“Swords have no eyes. Be careful, Liu!”

Ren Fei nodded. The two of them quickly drew up their Techniques. Then, without hesitation, Ren Fei lunged forward, taking the initiative. His form became a streak of white light in the night sky as he charged at Liu Tie.

Just as everyone expected Liu Tie to meet the attack with his hammer, his mouth moved, and he unexpectedly produced a black whistle from under his tongue.

SHREEEEE!!

The next moment, he blew the whistle with all his might. A piercing shriek echoed out, accompanied by an intense fluctuation of Primordial Qi.

The shrill sound seemed to transform into countless needles, drastically affecting the environment within a certain radius.

Ren Fei’s charge came to an abrupt halt. The effect of Liu Tie’s Black Whistle felt even more potent and harder to guard against than the enlarged rattle wielded by the Three-Headed Child back in the Ghost City. Under the influence of the Primordial Qi, he could even feel a sharp pain spreading through his muscles.

‘A Magical Artifact?’

Everyone was taken aback. ‘They hadn’t expected his Magical Artifact to be this Black Whistle instead of the Cast Iron Hammer.’

Practitioners of Artifact Refining all have a Lifebound Magical Artifact. They constantly temper and communicate with it using Primordial Qi, Essence Blood, and Secret Techniques. Over time, this forges a bond between the living and the inanimate, causing the object to gain a spirit and become a Magical Artifact.

This is a long and incredibly draining process. While refining a Magical Artifact left by a predecessor could save time, it would be a counterproductive shortcut. At a certain realm, the practitioner would be unable to fully merge with their Lifebound Magical Artifact, making it impossible to break through their own cultivation bottleneck.

To use an item without this refining process, it would have to be a Magical Treasure, something that inherently possesses the ability to channel the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. But such treasures are exceptionally rare, typically requiring a Martial Artist Above Innate to expend immense effort to create them. Moreover, to ensure fairness in friendly spars, an unwritten rule forbids the use of Magical Treasures.

Generally speaking, for a Martial Artist at the Blood Strengthening realm, it was already an impressive feat to have refined a single Lifebound Magical Artifact.

‘So this person’s Lifebound Magical Artifact… is a whistle?’

However, to everyone’s surprise, at the very moment Liu Tie blew the whistle, he also swung the Cast Iron Hammer in his hands, striking at the empty air.

‘No!’

He Xijun and the others narrowed their eyes.

‘He’s not striking the air, but the Sound Waves generated by the whistle!’

The Elders of the various sects, however, saw something more. The Cast Iron Hammer wasn’t striking the Sound Waves—it was striking the “Primordial Qi” itself.