章 25: Chapter 25: The Secrets Beneath Crown Island
As Lu Fan took a closer look at the island for the first time, he noticed that the land he'd been living on was formed by lava that had filled the mountain's center, eventually creating a flat landmass. If his theory was correct, there might be lava caves hidden deep beneath the island. The prospect of these lava-formed air pockets excited him; they could be perfect spots to set up intricate three-dimensional arrays.
With curiosity guiding him, Lu Fan prepared a few talismans, especially one for earth escape. "Let's see what secrets are buried below," he muttered to himself, activating the talisman. As he sank beneath the island's surface, he was awestruck by the intricate network of caves, big and small, sprawled out like bubbles beneath the land.
"Just what I need," he said, thinking of the potential these natural caves had for his array setup. Each bubble-like cave could serve as a separate node for a vast, multi-dimensional array. But his exploration of the caves wasn't the only thing on his mind. There was something else he had been meaning to refine: the gourd.
Researching the Art of Weapon Refining
Back at his workshop, Lu Fan delved into ancient texts on weapon refining. He realized that every weapon was essentially a combination of two elements: the material, which formed its base, and the inscriptions, which brought out the material's hidden powers.
"Materials provide the body, inscriptions the soul," he mused. It dawned on him that re-refining a weapon could elevate it to another level altogether, a fact that sparked an idea regarding the gourd array he'd previously set up.
He copied every inscription he had seen forming on the gourd while it was in the array, noting each symbol carefully. "Now, let's see if I can replicate this myself," he said, procuring a few ordinary gourds for practice. With a steady hand, he inscribed the first pattern. But almost immediately, the gourd cracked, unable to withstand the power embedded in the symbols.
"Material too weak," he muttered, nodding in understanding. "It's just like weapon crafting—inscriptions hold energy, and the base material has to be strong enough to contain it."
Lu Fan spent the next month practicing tirelessly. Finally, after dozens of attempts, he managed to inscribe the delicate patterns onto a new gourd without damaging it. He leaned back, admiring the finished product, but his excitement quickly faded when he found that it wasn't doing anything.
"Guess it's time to try re-refining the material," he said to himself. Using wood essence, he attempted to enhance the quality of the base material, hoping it would allow the inscriptions to activate. But despite his efforts, the gourd remained as inert as before.
"Come on, there must be something I'm missing," he muttered in frustration. An idea struck him—space material. After integrating a small amount of space element, the gourd began to hum faintly.
"Finally!" he exclaimed, feeling the success. The inscriptions now glowed subtly, indicating that a storage space had been created inside the gourd. While pleased, Lu Fan knew this success had come at a high price. "Space materials are way too expensive for this to be practical," he sighed.
Determined to enhance it further, he placed the gourd in the array he'd previously set up for it and left it to develop, hoping the array would expand its storage capacity over time.
A Trip to the Star Pavilion
Lu Fan knew his journey in weapon crafting and talisman crafting was far from over. He needed to refine the Silent Aura Medallion, but his lack of skill with talismans was holding him back. Deciding to seek help, he traveled to the Star Pavilion, concealing his foundation-building strength with a high-level talisman.
Inside, he scoured the market for resources, eventually purchasing a piece of wood with spatial properties—a level 2 material typically used in arrays, and expensive even at its basic quality.
"I'll make this work," he said, clenching the material tightly. Next, he sought out an independent talisman master. The master he found was a level 9 Qi cultivator who had achieved level 2 talisman mastery, but he was known for his arrogance.
"What can I do for you?" the talisman master asked haughtily, looking Lu Fan up and down.
"I need a flawless talisman drawn on this medallion," Lu Fan replied, suppressing his irritation.
"Ha! A flawless talisman? Do you even understand how difficult that is?" the talisman master sneered. "It's not something I'll waste on a low-level cultivator like you."
Lu Fan's eyes narrowed. He dropped his disguise, allowing his foundation-building strength to ripple through the air. The talisman master blanched, immediately bowing. "Forgive me! I… I didn't realize…"
"I don't need excuses," Lu Fan said coldly. "Just the talisman. Think you can manage that?"
The talisman master nodded quickly. "Yes, of course! It will be flawless, I swear it!"
For the next few months, Lu Fan stayed with the talisman master, observing and guiding him through multiple attempts. The process wasn't easy; each time the master tried, he encountered some small flaw.
Lu Fan watched with a critical eye, sometimes offering subtle guidance. Finally, after several tries, the talisman master managed a flawless rendition on the medallion. The intricate design was delicate yet powerful, and Lu Fan admired the flawless work.
"It's… beautiful," he murmured, unable to hide his appreciation.
The talisman master, relieved, gave a small smile. "It's rare to see such a high-quality talisman," he admitted.
Lu Fan nodded. "You've done well." Handing over the agreed-upon payment, he thanked the master and left.
Refining the Silent Aura Medallion
Back at his home, Lu Fan was eager to complete the medallion's transformation. Using high-level materials, he began re-refining the medallion's base, making sure not to harm the talisman's delicate inscriptions. Slowly, the medallion ascended to a top-level rank 2 weapon.
"This is turning out better than I'd hoped," Lu Fan whispered as he infused his own blood into the medallion, linking it to him spiritually. The blood infusion enhanced his connection with the medallion, enabling him to wield it effortlessly.
Holding the medallion, he could feel its unique power pulsing in sync with his own Qi. He tested it, activating its aura suppression. A veil of silence seemed to descend around him, blanketing his presence entirely.
"This will be very useful," he thought, pleased with the outcome. The Silent Aura Medallion was now a powerful tool, one that would make his movements virtually undetectable.
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