Chapter 486 - 241: Spirit Armor Success

Chapter 486: Chapter 241: Spirit Armor Success

If Mr. Zheng’s family were to settle down in Su State City, Chen Cheng would likely have to go there in the future too.

’With a powerful backer like Mr. Zheng, I could develop in peace.’

However, Min Wei had returned without instructions for everyone to move, which clearly meant that things weren’t easy for Mr. Zheng in the Great Dao Sect either.

’Wherever there are people, there is the Jianghu. Mr. Zheng’s Martial Arts Power might be considered top-tier in Linji City.’

’But in Su State City, a place teeming with experts, it was a different story.’

The Ancestors of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City were once Outer Sect Stewards of the Great Dao Sect, just like Mr. Zheng.

They also had the chance to develop in Su State City.

’Their choice to come to Linji Prefecture instead of staying in the State City was undoubtedly because their own Martial Arts Power wasn’t formidable enough to support the growth of a clan.’

’Therefore, I still have to be cautious. The only sure path is to work hard and improve my own Martial Arts Power.’

’My destiny must be in my own hands. That will never change.’

...

The time needed to forge the Ink Gold Inner Armor far exceeded expectations.

As the new year approached, Chen Cheng and Luo Tiezhu were working at a feverish pace.

In the blink of an eye, the new year had passed, and it was now the first month of the year.

On this day, a blanket of heavy snow was falling.

In Xuanwu Courtyard, the CLANG CLANG CLANG of hammering metal rang out incessantly!

At times, it sounded like a rapid drumbeat; at others, like the intermittent, soft chime of a great bell.

"Ah Cheng, Spiritual Infusion!"

Luo Tiezhu, his large eyes shot with blood, roared.

"Alright!"

Chen Cheng answered, unleashing his Great Power Realm to its absolute limit. He forcefully stretched open countless small fissures in the Inner Armor, which had taken the initial shape of a pair of shorts.

Luo Tiezhu took out an emerald-green Jade Bottle and uncorked it.

As the Jade Bottle was tilted, the Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood within slowly flowed out and was poured onto the Inner Armor.

Tier Six Demon Beasts were entities comparable to Puncture Realm Martial Artists, making them extremely formidable.

Even after being slain, its blood still contained much Innate Spirituality, as if it were a living thing, emitting a powerful and terrifying aura.

Infusing the Inner Armor with the Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood was a way to harness its Innate Spirituality. This would aid the Floating Light and Shadow Array, granting the armor some of the power of a Spiritual Artifact and allowing it to stretch and transform freely.

The Ink Flood Dragon Blood squirmed as it entered the Inner Armor. The jet-black Inner Armor immediately erupted with a mist of blood-red light.

Immediately, it emitted intense humming sounds and began to tremble violently, as if it would break free from the constraints of the Great Power Realm at any moment.

Chen Cheng activated all of his body’s Qi Blood Power, steadily suppressing the Floating Light and Shadow Array, and tried hard to guide the Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood into the Array Hub.

But the Floating Light and Shadow Array was incredibly powerful, generating immense force to resist his Great Power Realm.

Meanwhile, the Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood vibrated wildly, completely out of control.

This process was incredibly difficult and could fail at any moment.

Beside them, Luo Tiezhu was going mad with anxiety, but he was completely unable to help!

"Ah Cheng, remember the incantation and Heart Method!

Hidden within the palm-sized forge, water and fire refine the truest steel... Golden essence merges with jade marrow, tempering the soft and the hard... Divine Thought spins a thousand threads, branding patterns ’cross heaven and earth... When the artifact’s soul awakens, spiritual light descends from the sky!"

Luo Tiezhu roared.

Chen Cheng had naturally long since memorized these incantations and Heart Methods.

But memorizing them was one thing; actually applying them was another entirely.

Neither Luo Tiezhu nor Chen Cheng could be considered an Artifact Refining Master.

The Flowing Light and Shadow Array and the Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood were both out of control!

The only thing Chen Cheng could do was suppress it with all his might!

"Sigh... That’s not right, not right at all! In the Path of Artifact Refining, you can’t use brute force. You have to be gentle!

"Damn it, you have to be gentle! You have to guide it, not just cram it in there!

"Pay attention to the Array’s fluctuations! You have to move with it..."

The light of the Floating Light and Shadow Array darted about in utter chaos. Luo Tiezhu grew more anxious, his brows knitting in fury as he periodically burst out cursing!

He was truly at his wits’ end!

Chen Cheng was even more anxious than him, but how could he possibly hear his words?

Time passed bit by bit, from early morning to noon, and from noon to evening!

The Spiritual Infusion was still unsuccessful!

Luo Tiezhu’s voice was nearly hoarse from shouting!

Of that bottle of Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood, less than thirty percent had been infused into the Inner Armor. The rest had been forcefully evaporated and dissipated during the struggle between the Array’s fluctuations and the Great Power Realm!

"Sigh... It’s a failure!" Luo Tiezhu’s eyes were bloodshot as he beat his chest and stamped his feet.

"Elder Luo, there’s still another bottle of Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood, hurry up and take it out!" Chen Cheng roared.

Luo Tiezhu snapped back to his senses and hastily found the other bottle of Ink Flood Dragon Blood...

The Spiritual Infusion continued!

...

「The next morning.」

Mu Xiaowan, carrying a bamboo basket, came to Xuanwu Courtyard with light steps.

Just as she was about to knock on the door ring, she heard bursts of hoarse cursing coming from inside!

"Oh, dear..." Mu Xiaowan’s delicate brows knitted as she sighed softly.

She turned and checked the food in the alcove by the gate. It was completely covered in snow and frozen solid, completely untouched.

She carefully placed her own basket into the alcove, listened for a moment more, then shook her head and walked away.

’The anxious, furious cursing has been going on for a whole day and night. I wonder what on earth Brother Cheng and Mr. Luo are doing!’

Another hour or so passed.

In the smithy, it suddenly fell silent.

Luo Tiezhu sat slumped on the ground, his large eyes wide open, ringed by deep, dark circles.

The second Spiritual Infusion was much better than the first. A full fifty to sixty percent of the Ink Flood Dragon Blood was successfully infused into the Floating Light and Shadow Array.

But, in the end, it was still off by just a tiny bit!

They were just a hair’s breadth away from a successful Spiritual Infusion!

Success had been within reach, but they had fallen short at the last moment. At this point, Luo Tiezhu was the very picture of despair.

He didn’t even have the strength to curse anymore!

Such precious Ink Crystal Stone, such a precious Floating Light and Shadow Array.

In his entire life, this might have been his only chance to forge a Pseudo-Spiritual Artifact Inner Armor!

"Elder Luo, don’t lose heart! At worst, I’ll just go exchange for more Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood!"

Chen Cheng struggled to control the Floating Light and Shadow Array, guiding the last bit of Ink Flood Dragon Blood into it.

"What the hell do you know! Once this Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood is infused, it doesn’t take long for the Array to set and stabilize, becoming an incomplete Array.

"At that point, it won’t matter how much more Tier Six Ink Flood Dragon Blood you have!"

Luo Tiezhu finally managed to speak.

"What?" Chen Cheng was so frustrated he could spit blood.

’I’ve toiled for over a month to forge this Inner Armor, and it fails just like that? This is just agonizing!’

PFFT! Speaking of spitting blood, Chen Cheng actually did spray out a mouthful of fresh blood!

Of course, while Chen Cheng was incredibly frustrated, he wasn’t so angry that he’d actually cough up blood.

The reason he spat blood was just because he had been continuously activating his Qi Blood Power for a day and a night. At this point, his Qi Blood was severely depleted and unstable.

After coughing up that mouthful of blood, his whole body actually felt relaxed and refreshed!

"Ah Cheng! Continue the Spiritual Infusion!"

Luo Tiezhu’s eyes suddenly went wide again, and he jumped up, roaring.

Chen Cheng’s mouthful of blood had sprayed directly onto the Floating Light and Shadow Array. The crimson blood was now seeping into the Array, causing it to erupt in a dazzling glow!

’This works too?’ Chen Cheng was startled. He subconsciously used his Great Power Realm to control the Floating Light and Shadow Array and continue the infusion.

The Spiritual Infusion with Chen Cheng’s blood was extremely smooth. As more blood was infused, the light of the Floating Light and Shadow Array grew brighter and brighter, and a faint dragon’s roar could be heard!

"Hahahaha!

Materials chosen from nature’s best, with fire both civil and martial... The will guards the Central Palace, as spirit forges the artifact’s core... Patterns align with the Great Dao, blood opens a path to the profound... Tribulation tempers its fine edge, and a spiritual resonance is born!

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Simply marvelous! Truly profound! The Spiritual Artifact can be forged!"

Luo Tiezhu danced about, laughing loudly as he recited the incantation.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the Flowing Light and Shadow Array suddenly emitted a faint tremor and then vanished!

The originally jet-black Ink Gold Inner Armor suddenly shone with a brilliant, dazzling, bright silver light!

"Ah Cheng, try on the armor!"

Luo Tiezhu’s eyes shone with light as he shouted excitedly.

Chen Cheng gave a slight wave of his hand, and the Inner Armor flew into his grasp. He immediately slipped it on, and it slid perfectly into place around his waist.

It was, indeed, a pair of bright silver shorts!

"Hey! I told you to test the armor! Test it!" Luo Tiezhu was once again fuming, blowing his mustache and glaring as he grumbled,

"If you don’t activate your Qi Blood Power, how can you test the armor?"

"Oh," Chen Cheng said, then immediately activated his Qi Blood Power.

HUM!

The Inner Armor suddenly let out a light hum and extended, and in an instant, it had completely enveloped Chen Cheng!