Chapter 263 - 184: Sky-Breaking Saber Restored

Chapter 263: Chapter 184: Sky-Breaking Saber Restored

Inside the Cave Mansion, Zhao Zuo casually put his Identity Token back into his Storage Bag and took out the Communication Jade to check his messages. First, Liu Heng and Wang Yao had exchanged for a batch of Cultivation resources and had already begun closed-door training. They might be unreachable for some time, but Liu Heng had left something for Zhao Zuo in the secret compartment he mentioned last time.

Zhao Zuo saw that the messages were dated five days ago. Only then did he realize he had spent so much time on the Refinement of the Thousand-Year Red Ginseng. The results, however, left him incredibly satisfied. ’If I had two or three more Thousand-Year Red Ginsengs,’ he estimated, ’I could probably advance directly to Qi Cultivation Perfection and start preparing for Foundation Establishment.’

But he also knew that was impossible.

The greatest characteristic of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects was their rarity; they could not be replicated.

After leaving his bedroom, Zhao Zuo followed his routine and fed the Fire Spirit Snake, which had been starving for several days. After sending it on its way, he began his daily Cultivation. He first took out the Red Flame Bead and absorbed a wisp of Sun Essence from within, then struck a pose and began practicing the Golden Body Technique.

The churning Energy strengthened every one of his muscles, causing them to tremble slightly. It was as if the most precise mechanisms were interlocking and compressing continuously. His long period of Cultivation had allowed him to grasp the characteristics of the Golden Body Technique. Its main enhancements were to defense and strength.

Because of this, the physique cultivated through the Golden Body Technique wouldn’t reach inhuman levels. Instead, it compressed every muscle, continuously raising his Defense Power as if forging a golden body, to the point where even Magical Artifacts couldn’t break his surface defenses. However, its effect on speed was quite limited.

Stimulated by the Sun Essence, Zhao Zuo’s muscles underwent immense conditioning. Sweat poured from his pores, trickling slowly down the contours of his sharply defined muscles. The air around him seemed to shimmer and distort from the heat he was radiating.

As the Sun Essence was refined, a faint stinging pain emanated from within his body. Under the effect of the Source Water Pearl, this pain slowly subsided. About a two-hour period later, the wisp of Sun Essence was completely absorbed, but the stinging sensation inside him remained.

This stinging could be understood as a form of backlash—the price a Mortal body paid for daring to absorb Sun Essence. As such, it was difficult to heal with Pill Medicine and could only be worn down over time. Although the Source Water Pearl had some effect, it couldn’t complete the repairs entirely.

Zhao Zuo first gulped down some Clear Spring Water to rehydrate his body. Then, he gripped the Red Flame Bead and squeezed lightly. A transparent panel instantly appeared before his eyes.

[Level: Lower Grade Magical Treasure · Red Flame Bead] (Damaged)

[Experience: 242/200]

[Status: Upgradeable]

Without hesitation, Zhao Zuo tapped the upgrade option. A familiar gray light spread out, forming an oval sphere roughly the size of a basketball that enveloped the Red Flame Bead. Wisps of gray energy flowed into the cracks on the bead’s surface and began to slowly repair them. The process was very slow, a subtle and silent change that occurred almost imperceptibly.

After about half an hour, the cracks were finally repaired. Then, the gray energy began to seep, wisp by wisp, into the crystal’s interior. The dull, sullied spots on the surface were rapidly cleansed, and the once-murky crystal grew increasingly clear and translucent.

It was as if time were flowing backward, restoring an object that had lost its spirituality to its most perfect state. Such power was simply beyond Zhao Zuo’s imagination. After another ten-plus minutes, the gray light’s activity gradually subsided.

The crystal returned to its original crimson color, emitting a somewhat dazzling light. However, Zhao Zuo keenly noticed that fine cracks still remained on its surface. Against the perfect curvature of the bead, those cracks were glaringly obvious. This meant the repair of the Red Flame Bead had not reached a perfect state.

The gray light slowly dissipated, and Zhao Zuo reached out to catch the bead.

[Upgrade Description: Slightly increased the condensation speed of Sun Essence.]

Immediately after, the transparent panel appeared again.

[Level: Lower Grade Magical Treasure +1 · Red Flame Bead] (Damaged)

[Experience: 42/400]

[Status: Not Upgradeable]

Zhao Zuo had guessed this might be the case when he saw the cracks on the crystal’s surface. ’A simple upgrade can’t completely repair the damage,’ he thought. ’This means... only by adding some kind of material during an advancement can the Red Flame Bead be fully restored.’

All he could do now was hope that the material needed to repair the Red Flame Bead wasn’t some exceptionally rare Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure. Otherwise... advancement would be very difficult to achieve.

He toyed with the Red Flame Bead for a moment before standing up. He walked through the passage behind the wall and placed it back on the small platform, allowing it to continue absorbing the Sun’s power to nurture more Sun Essence.

Next, the Sky-Breaking Saber flew up and circled his body, moving very slowly. Its surface was still covered in numerous cracks, as if it could disintegrate at any moment.

Zhao Zuo had a simple lunch, then reached out and gripped the Sky-Breaking Saber. The transparent panel appeared.

[Level: Lower Grade Magical Treasure · Sky-Breaking Saber] (Damaged)

[Experience: 208/200]

[Status: Upgradeable]

The experience was now sufficient. Zhao Zuo lightly tapped the upgrade option.

The familiar gray light spread out, completely enveloping the Sky-Breaking Saber. The light first expelled the adhesive from within the cracks, then acted as a new bonding agent, continuously mending the fissures.

It was like a miracle, something that couldn’t be described by any skill. The Sky-Breaking Saber was repaired bit by bit. The cracks healed, the fragments reassembled... The body of the saber became smooth and even, and Spiritual Light once again shone from within the blade.

Zhao Zuo could almost feel the Sky-Breaking Saber’s joy. He sensed the change in the surrounding air currents, and faint azure traces were left behind... in his heart.

These changes allowed Zhao Zuo to clearly perceive one fact: the Sky-Breaking Saber was being repaired.

After a long while, the last crack on the Sky-Breaking Saber’s surface was mended. It was restored, bursting forth with Spiritual Light.

Perhaps because it had been broken and then rebuilt, the Spirit within the Sky-Breaking Saber itself became more active and powerful, at least doubling in strength.

’After enduring hardship, a person’s Heart Realm and willpower can be elevated. I never thought it would be the same for a Magical Artifact. To be broken and then rebuilt... is like a new birth.’

The gray light... gradually faded. Without anyone’s control and without needing Zhao Zuo’s Mana, the Sky-Breaking Saber flew rapidly around the Cave Mansion, reveling in its rebirth.

Streaks of azure light, one after another.

Only when Zhao Zuo gave a slight wave of his hand did it slow down, finally landing back in his palm.

[Upgrade Description: The Magical Artifact’s flight speed and attack speed have been greatly increased.]

[Level: Lower Grade Magical Treasure +1 · Sky-Breaking Saber]

[Experience: 8/400]

[Status: Not Upgradeable]

The Sky-Breaking Saber trembled slightly, as if in joy.

Seeing this, Zhao Zuo immediately decided to attempt the owner-bonding and Refinement process for a Lifebound Magical Treasure, striving to make it his strongest trump card as soon as possible.

Soon, he found the Bronze cauldron, immediately let some blood, and began the process of nurturing the bond between himself and the Sky-Breaking Saber.

...