Translator: AnubisTL
Pale, cold flames rose within Li Qing's cave abode, filling the surrounding air with an icy chill.
Gazing at the slowly burning Netherworld Cold Fire, Li Qing's expression grew serious as he retrieved the long-held Primordial Chaos Stone.
Perhaps due to its prolonged storage within the Royal Marquis Tomb Mansion, even this peerless spiritual material had become tainted with traces of yin energy.
However, this posed no problem. The Primordial Chaos Stone itself was an exceptionally rare and precious spiritual material, and the slight yin energy contamination would have no lasting impact. It could be easily purged during the refining process.
Bang!
The entire Primordial Chaos Stone glowed with a hazy, gray luster, as if veiled in primordial chaos.
The stone was incredibly heavy; even Li Qing struggled to lift it.
To possess an entire Primordial Chaos Stone as refining material for his natal magic treasure immediately after achieving core formation was a stroke of extraordinary fortune. If other cultivators learned of this, they would undoubtedly envy Li Qing immensely.
Many rogue cultivators in the core formation realm often spent years after their breakthrough gathering suitable materials for refining their magic treasures.
Core formation realm cultivators like Li Qing and Gui Fan were truly rare exceptions.
Boom!
The Netherworld Cold Fire enveloped the entire Primordial Chaos Stone, sealing it completely within its icy embrace.
Though chilling to the bone, this fire also melted the stone, refining it into a molten state.
Simultaneously, the yin energy naturally present within the Primordial Chaos Stone fused with the Netherworld Cold Fire clinging to its surface.
"Primordial Chaos Stone possesses immense density and an innate resistance to all techniques. A magic treasure refined from it should excel in both offense and defense."
For this refining of his natal magic treasure, Li Qing used only the Primordial Chaos Stone, refusing to add any other materials.
After all, this natal magic treasure would later be nourished by his own true essence and pill fire. The purer the refining material, the greater the treasure's power would grow over time.
Moreover, the Primordial Chaos Stone was already a rare and peerless treasure in this realm. Adding other materials would be like gilding a lily—utterly superfluous.
As he melted the Primordial Chaos Stone, the complete form of the Peerless Hammer materialized in Li Qing's mind.
With a subtle mental command, his divine sense surged forth, guiding his spirit fire to refine the Primordial Chaos Stone according to his will.
Li Qing was intimately familiar with the Peerless Hammer, having wielded it as his weapon for countless years.
He didn't even need to strain his memory; every grain and texture of the hammer seemed etched into his mind.
Time trickled by. Melting the Primordial Chaos Stone was destined to be a long process. Even with his heavenly spirit fire, Li Qing couldn't hope to shape it into his desired form quickly.
Fortunately, his previous experience breaking Gui Fan's Demonic Essence Gold Pure Yang Seal had accustomed him to maintaining the Netherworld Cold Fire for extended periods.
He still had plenty of millennial spirit milk on hand, and the Core Formation Celebration had yielded a substantial amount of spirit stones, so mana depletion wasn't a concern for the time being.
Li Qing possessed unwavering patience. He was well-versed in artifact refinement, especially when it came to refining his first natal magic treasure. He understood deeply that meticulous work required time and care.
Before he knew it, seven days had passed in a flash.
Li Qing took a few small sips of millennial spirit milk, steadily maintaining the Netherworld Cold Fire with smooth, efficient movements.
The flames continued to burn. Under his mental guidance, the Primordial Chaos Stone had gradually taken on the rough shape of a hammer.
This wasn't the end. Li Qing slowly withdrew the Netherworld Cold Fire.
Of course, this wasn't because his mana was running low. Rather, he intended to use his own pill fire to continue refining and shaping the hammer.
Boom!
Upon successfully forming their core, every cultivator's innate true fire would transform into pill fire.
This flame was intimately connected to the cultivator's very essence. Natal magic treasures forged with this fire would naturally establish a bond with their creator, requiring neither blood oath nor divine sense imprint.
Except for exceptional natal magic treasures like the Ancestral Imperial Sword, other cultivators couldn't use another's natal magic treasure, even if the core formation realm cultivator had already died and vanished.
Even if the original owner was deceased, others would struggle to unleash the full power of their natal magic treasure.
Therefore, some core formation true lords, knowing their great limit approached, would choose to transform their natal magic treasures into talisman treasures to benefit their descendants.
For example, the Zhao Family, once a core formation clan in Giant Deer Prefecture, had their founding core formation ancestor convert his natal magic treasure into numerous talisman treasures after his death, burying the severely weakened original treasure in his tomb.
This practice offered several advantages.
Leaving a magic treasure to one's descendants would not only be useless but might also attract unwanted attention.
A common man is guilty for possessing a priceless treasure!
Without core formation realm cultivation, even if given a magic treasure, one couldn't activate it—a fatal flaw. It would be better to forge it into a talisman treasure, deterring other cultivators from coveting the family's resources and thus strengthening the clan's position.
This was why the Zhao Family, despite their core formation ancestor's passing many years ago, remained the foremost cultivation clan in Giant Deer Prefecture.
The legacy left by a core formation true lord was simply too substantial!
Consider the talisman treasures alone: ordinary foundation establishment realm cultivation clans could never amass such a quantity.
Returning to Li Qing's cave abode, crimson pill fire surged forth!
Unlike the Netherworld Cold Fire, his pill fire burned with scorching intensity, fueled by his cultivation of the Crimson Blaze Heaven-Burning Art. The temperature was unimaginably high.
Under this terrifying heat, the Primordial Chaos Stone, which had already been smelted for seven days and seven nights, began to undergo violent transformations.
Li Qing focused his mind, merging his divine sense into the entire Primordial Chaos Stone. He manipulated the stone, guiding it to evolve into the shape of the Peerless Hammer.
At that moment, Li Qing's true essence and divine sense began to drain rapidly. Refining a natal magic treasure proved far more challenging than he had imagined.
Whenever his mana neared depletion, he would take another sip of the millennial spirit milk.
Unbeknownst to him, the already scarce supply of millennial spirit milk was gradually dwindling.
Fortunately, Li Qing's divine soul far surpassed that of his peers. Though his mana was severely depleted, his divine sense remained strong enough to endure.
Another five days passed in this manner.
A mountain-like aura, heavy and profound, began to emanate from the Spirit Mountain where Li Qing resided.
Buzz!
As time passed, the aura intensified, like a premonition of some extraordinary treasure about to emerge.
On Nanyang Spirit Peak, the rogue cultivators dwelling on the other peaks were once again startled by this heart-palpitating presence.
"What's happening? It feels like the sky is about to collapse!"
"I nearly suffered a qi deviation! What's going on?"
"It's coming from Senior Limitless's peak. Is he about to break through again?"
"Impossible! He only achieved core formation a few days ago. There's no way he could break through so quickly."
"..."
Figures darted out of their cave abodes, their gazes complex and indescribable as they turned toward Li Qing's mountain peak.
Since the arrival of a core formation true lord, the days had grown increasingly turbulent, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the past.
Of course, no one was eager to relocate. After all, having a core formation realm cultivator overseeing the area significantly enhanced its safety.
Under the collective gaze, the mountain peak where Li Qing resided suddenly underwent a dramatic transformation.
Boom!
The spiritual energy across the entire Nanyang Spirit Peak region seemed to be stirred, coalescing into a vast, surging tide that surged toward Li Qing's cave abode.
The converging spiritual energy formed an almost visible vortex, pouring down like a spiritual infusion.
During this process, the aura finally stabilized, ceasing its relentless intensification.
Hum!
A hazy gray light flashed from within Li Qing's cave abode, only to quickly recede.
Meanwhile, the oppressive aura that had been unsettling all the cultivators finally began to subside.
"Senior Limitless... could he be refining a treasure?"
The mere suggestion caused many to swallow hard.
That must be it, they thought. What else could explain such a violent surge of spiritual energy?
To refine one's natal magic treasure immediately after core formation? That's utterly astonishing!
Indeed, within Li Qing's cave abode, a stone hammer with distinct patterns and a seamless, monolithic form had taken shape.
After the massive influx of spiritual energy just now, the stone hammer now radiated an extraordinary aura, as if imbued with an innate dao resonance.
Gazing at the Primordial Chaos Stone hammer, Li Qing's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"Unlike ordinary magic artifacts, natal magic treasures don't require inscribed spirit patterns. As my cultivation realm advances and I face Heavenly Tribulations, I'll simply bring it forth to weather the tribulation alongside me, allowing natural dao patterns to be imprinted upon it."
"Weaving together the natural dao and principles—that's one way a magic treasure grows."
As his words faded, Li Qing made a slight gesture with his hand, and the stone hammer flew effortlessly into his palm, moving as smoothly as if it were an extension of his own body.
The moment the hammer landed in his hand, a tremendous weight pressed down from his palm.
So heavy!
"As heavy as a mountain—truly worthy of being a magic treasure refined from the Primordial Chaos Stone."
"I shall name you the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer!"
In the next instant, a string of text appeared before Li Qing's eyes:
[Successfully refined magic treasure: Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer. Reward: 500 years of lifespan!]
Whoosh!
The numbers representing Li Qing's lifespan began to surge rapidly, finally settling at 1,583 years!
1,583 years of lifespan!
Such a terrifying number! Even though Li Qing had already achieved core formation, this overwhelming abundance of lifespan left him breathless with shock.
Author's Note:
Some might think that Li Qing's vast lifespan is useless without greater power. To them, I say: be patient. I've already considered this.
Readers who have read widely should be able to guess my plan. I won't spoil it here!
Translator's Note:
Dear readers, if you are enjoying reading this story, then please support it. You can do so by commenting, reviewing, sharing and giving the novel powerstones. Thank you for reading.
(End of the Chapter)
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