Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 675 - 294: Tier 2 Superior Artifact Refiner

"Ice and Fire Elder... Ice Elder, Fire Elder..."

Ji Yuan whispered these words in his mind as he stared at the Fire Willow Flying Saber that had returned once more to his grip.

He infused it again with ice-type Spiritual Qi, and the flying saber sliced through the air, trailing intertwined red and blue flames across the chamber.

Using ice-type Spiritual Qi to power a fire technique saber produced this effect, but what if applied to a person—could fire techniques ignite an ice body?

No split personality existed; it was merely an ice figure manipulated by the Ice and Fire Elder, creating the illusion of ice powers.

This perfectly accounted for the shift during the intense clash with the Dark Venerable, beginning as an ice cultivator yet concluding as a fire technique practitioner.

That battle unfolded above the Starfall River, where ice cultivators should dominate fire ones no matter the conditions.

Yet the outcome proved otherwise...

Thus, no true Ice Elder existed—only an ice puppet under the Fire Elder's command.

Much like Ji Yuan's own Corpse Puppet.

It could well be yet another Corpse Puppet.

The deeper Ji Yuan delved, the more convincing it felt.

As for the Ice and Fire Elder's motive, it was blatantly clear: blending fact with fiction to conceal his actual power.

The Dark Venerable had undoubtedly fallen victim to this ruse.

"Viewed this way, this Ice and Fire Elder in the dragon robe appears so noble on the surface, but he's cunning and treacherous inside—a real sly old fox, fitting for a former emperor, no benevolent soul at all."

After mulling it over, Ji Yuan couldn't pin down the facts, so he let the matter drop.

He then retrieved a dark yellow Demon Pill from his Storage Bag, sensing the rich demonic energy pulsing from it in his palm.

A Demon Pill—a Tier Three Earth Attribute one.

Alongside the Tier Three Fire Attribute Demon Pill he'd claimed after slaying the Fire Python before.

Now Ji Yuan possessed two Demon Pills in reserve!

No more desperate hunts when a building upgrade loomed next time.

Preparedness eliminated all worries.

Ji Yuan then tucked it away in his Storage Bag, secured within a dedicated Jade Box.

Among the leftover treasures, the refining furnace and massive iron hammer seized Ji Yuan's attention most.

Stored in a separate Storage Bag, they had escaped his initial notice.

Both the hammer and furnace ranked as Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Plus, heaps of refining materials filled crates.

...No wonder this fellow seemed short on valuables; he'd hidden them all here.

Upon closer scrutiny, Ji Yuan realized Fire Python Zhenren had reached Peak Tier Two Artifact Refiner status.

That allowed him to craft Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts!

A level of expertise that outstripped even Isle Master Tie Chui from back then.

Despite Isle Master Tie Chui's leftover guidance, Ji Yuan hadn't advanced to Tier Two Top-grade Artifact Refiner yet.

At present... His gaze shifted to a bookshelf within that Storage Bag.

Scattered atop it lay haphazard stacks of books and scribbled sketches; he picked one up for a quick scan.

Prime material.

All artifact refining notes!

...Mastering these should propel my artifact refining to Tier Two Top-grade, shouldn't it?

Once capable of forging Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, batch-producing Celestial Thunder Seeds becomes feasible.

This realization fired up Ji Yuan even more, eager to dive right in.

He'd already resolved to practice by crafting a Mid-grade Spiritual Artifact sword.

Perfect for the Sword Pavilion upgrade as well!

Without delay, after scouring Fire Python Zhenren’s Storage Bag thoroughly to miss nothing, Ji Yuan immersed himself in those artifact refining notes.

Two days passed, and he linked to the earth vein, erecting the furnace in his courtyard.

Fire Python Zhenren's legacy gear—the "Stabilizing Peak Furnace" and "Earth-shaker" hammer—both Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Ji Yuan devoted nearly ten days to acclimating, tempering and hammering select refining materials in basic crude fashion.

After ten days, with sufficient mastery attained.

He commenced forging the required Spiritual Artifacts in earnest.

Sword Pavilion level 1 upgrade demanded five sword-type Spiritual Artifacts.

Ji Yuan owned one Flowing Frost Flying Sword, leaving four short even with it.

Not to mention the fifty sword-type Magical Artifacts needed simultaneously.

Ample tasks lay ahead in the coming days.

Fortunately, Ice and Fire Zhenren granted plenty of leeway—a solid three months of free time.

As Ji Yuan hunkered down forging at home, Li Changhe and his comrades faced no such ease.

They rotated shifts guarding the city walls, ever vigilant against Demon Dao incursions.

This particular day.

Li Changhe rested beside a Spiritual Energy Cannon atop the wall when a figure zipped over from the distance to join him.

"Brother Li, check it out—they're back again."

At these words, Li Changhe lifted his eyes eastward, spotting six streaks of light returning from beyond the market amid rumbling wind and thunder, settling only upon reaching the market.

"Selected for some demon hunting squad or not, they're merely Peak Foundation Establishment—not even Fake Pill Cultivators—strutting around like this, clueless about peril."

The youth shared this solely via sound transmission.

"Don't sweat it, just keep focusing on your Cultivation."

Li Changhe reassured him.

"No, word is our Water Dragon Sect’s Isle Master Wuyou got picked initially but pulled out somehow... Now other sects' cultivators are ridiculing our Water Dragon Sect, and I can't take it."

Cyan Mountain's young Isle Master seethed with irritation.

Li Changhe took it in stride, grinning as he replied, "Want me to put them in their place?"

"Well... I'd hate to impose."

The young Isle Master of Cyan Mountain chuckled sheepishly.

Li Changhe shook his head. "Think they wouldn't bash Water Dragon Sect without the Isle Master Wuyou drama? The six sects have clashed since antiquity; this righteous-Demon Dao war is just surface-level alliance."

Rising as he spoke.

"Brother Li, headed where?"

Cyan Mountain's young Isle Master called out hastily.

"To give them a lesson," Li Changhe answered.

"But you just mentioned..."

"They can trash Water Dragon Sect, but not my brothers."

With that, Li Changhe vaulted up, touching down on the northern wall.

"..."

"It's done!"

The last hammer blow landed, and Ji Yuan eyed the Top-grade Spiritual Artifact longsword in his grasp, exhaling a heavy sigh of relief.