Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8510: Refining (1)

Laura along with the rest gazed at Zhao Hai with concern. He sat cross-legged beneath the Hundred Spirit Tree, completely still, his aura tightly contained. Yet, his spiritual power surged wildly. This intense fluctuation stemmed from Laura and the group's misjudgment of the refinement procedure.

Even though Laura and her companions had run through numerous calculations and pondered the bronze figures' transformation, they hadn't foreseen that once the blood lotus absorbed the yin spirits within the bronze figures and gained better command over them, issues would arise in the refinement's second phase. Engraving the yin-yang Lightning Pool and heaven and earth runes onto the bronze figures while integrating the blood lotus demanded immense mental energy. Consequently, Zhao Hai had to withdraw all his strength to direct his spiritual power precisely. Success here would grant him a life-bound dharmic artifact akin to the blood lotus, essentially an extension of himself. Failure, however, would strike his spiritual power hard. He might avoid demonic possession or idiocy, but recovery could drag on for ages, potentially causing lasting internal damage. The endeavor would surely collapse.

This marked merely the second stage of artifact refining. Countless hurdles loomed ahead. Overcoming every one was essential; otherwise, the entire process would fail. Laura and the others plunged into profound self-reproach. Their relentless drive for flawless power had blinded them to the perils of refinement.

None of the heaven and earth talismans, yin-yang Thunder Pond, or blood lotus were commonplace items. Controlling even one proved beyond most, let alone fusing them. Merging these three posed extreme risks.

Zhao Hai had remained seated for three full days, eyes shut tight throughout. The bronze statue had melted into a glob of bronze liquid, hovering before him. It bubbled ceaselessly, resembling a pot at full boil. This state had persisted for those three days.

Suddenly, a boom echoed. The bronze liquid glob appeared to detonate. Pain flickered across Zhao Hai's face, vanishing swiftly. The blue liquid gradually calmed, with bubbles diminishing.

Now, the untouched Hundred Spirit Fruits overhead, superfluous ones stored in the interspace, natural energy crystals, and premium materials from the interspace all hurtled toward the bronze liquid mass. They plunged straight in, yet oddly, the bronze liquid didn't expand.

Following repeated enhancements, each Hundred Spirit Fruit had evolved into a Hundred Spirit Fruit Star. But upon entry into the blue liquid, these stars vanished entirely, as if utterly unaffected.

Upon witnessing this, Laura and the group felt joy rather than surprise. They understood the implications perfectly. It signaled Zhao Hai's total mastery of the process. He had advanced to the following phase. This third step involved incorporating various materials and fusing them to maximize their potential. The final phase would etch all the runes—the crux, and the toughest challenge.

While Laura and the others celebrated inwardly, Zhao Hai abruptly released the Yin Wind Ghost Flag, the black flexible sword, and the Killing God Blade. These artifacts, clearly originating from hell, were tossed immediately into the liquid bronze.

This sight left Laura and her companions bewildered. They couldn't fathom Zhao Hai's intent. The God-Slaying Saber and Yin Wind Ghost Flag ranked as elite magic weapons. Their initial scheme involved deploying the Yin Wind Ghost Flag and black flexible sword after conversion to bronze statues. The God-Slaying Saber wasn't even part of the plan. Why incorporate these three now? All had been swallowed by the liquid bronze.

As confusion gripped them, a droplet of blood emerged from Zhao Hai's fingertip and merged into the liquid bronze. Upon contact, the liquid bronze erupted into a frenzy once more. Simultaneously, a bloody hue stained the liquid, lending it a more eerie and fearsome appearance. Boundless killing intent, death Qi, and Yin Qi burst forth, amplifying the liquid bronze's dreadfulness.

Laura and the others grew even more anxious. They clustered around Zhao Hai. Though not overwhelmingly powerful, they weren't feeble. Long cultivation within the realm had forged a deep bond with it, and they had reaped substantial gains from its multiple upgrades. Thus, their strength now impressed. They fretted deeply over Zhao Hai. Should disaster strike him, they stood ready to aid instantly—even shielding him from a mental backlash, without a second thought.

Mental power wielded tremendous force. Intercepting a mental assault for Zhao Hai would doom them. Survival might mean brain death at best. Despite this, they embraced the sacrifice. They'd endure wounds themselves before allowing harm to befall Zhao Hai.

Yet, conditions didn't deteriorate further. The bronze liquid continued boiling but avoided explosion. Gradually, it steadied. Meanwhile, the bloody tint faded. The bronze liquid's shade deepened, evoking a profound weightiness.

Next, intricate golden patterns materialized across the liquid sphere. These designs resembled spreading vines. Before long, the golden patterns enveloped the whole sphere, transforming it into a gleaming golden orb.

Right on its heels, the golden orb tumbled and reshaped itself—into a human, a boat, a carriage, a flag, a sword, a saber, even a hand. Ultimately, it formed a lotus bloom, its petals etched with elaborate designs resembling intact runes. At the lotus's heart sat a tiny yin-yang fish in constant spin. Over the whirling yin-yang fish, countless electric serpents danced. It resembled a pistil crafted from lightning, radiating a perilous allure.

The lotus then faded away, and the golden orb ceased its motion. At last, the golden orb molded into a boat's form. It was a black-awning boat, modest in size. Yet, atop the bow stood a large flag bearing a skull. The black flag paired with the white skull created an unmistakably bizarre and grave vibe.

Zhao Hai's eyes fluttered open slowly. He instantly caught the anxious looks on Laura and the others' faces. Startled briefly, he grinned and remarked, “What’s wrong? You all seem worried.” Zhao Hai recognized that the unexpected shifts had alarmed Laura and the group. But now, the ordeal had passed.

Tears welled in Laura and the others' eyes. Laura even told Zhao Hai, “I’m sorry, Brother Hai. This is on us. We never imagined it could be this hazardous. Had we known, we wouldn’t have let you proceed with the refinement. We won’t allow it again.” She gazed at him with remorse. The others mirrored her sentiment.

Observing their faces, Zhao Hai chuckled softly. He extended an arm to draw Laura close, then beckoned the rest and embraced them each. Smiling, he continued, “Come on, why the fuss? Don’t you believe in me? With my power level now, it’s tough to harm me. Remember, I’m linked to the medium, so I’ll pull through. Actually, your strategy was impeccable, particularly that final twist. Without the blood lotus, relying solely on the bronze statue’s soul would’ve doomed the refinement. That soul would’ve shattered under the immense forces without my support.” He added, “Failure wasn’t an option this time. Anyway, no need to fret. I’ve truly profited from this, especially integrating those three magic weapons at the close. The artifact’s transformations have expanded remarkably. It can now harness the Yin Wind Ghost Flag’s ghostly might alongside the God-Slaying Saber’s lethal edge. Essentially, it fully assimilates the Bloody Massacre Sect’s deathly and murderous essences. It’s utterly ideal now.”

Zhao Hai’s reassurance eased Laura and the group. She regarded him and asked, “Brother Hai, what’s the might of this magic tool like? May we see it?” The others nodded eagerly, their curiosity piqued by the artifact’s capabilities.

Zhao Hai beamed. “Of course, let’s check it out. For this, we tapped endless resources from the interspace. Probably no one but me could gather such a haul.” With a gesture, the petite black-awning boat dropped into his grasp. Another wave enlarged it upon the ground, swelling to a standard black-awning boat’s dimensions. Roughly ten meters long and two wide, its height demanded stooping to board. This compact vessel seemed incredibly diminutive.

Still, the little boat’s hue captivated. A rich bronze tone graced it, absorbing light to appear profound and weighty. It carried an antique charm. Ornate patterns adorned its hull, enhancing its allure. Laura and the others fell for it immediately. The boat aligned perfectly with their tastes.