The abrupt notification in his mind froze Lin Feng's expression mid-thought, as if struck by an immobilizing spell.
Two seconds later, he jolted back to awareness, an uncontainable wave of ecstasy crashing over him.
It upgraded… The Repair Technique upgraded!!
The sheer unexpectedness of this breakthrough left him momentarily breathless. After several heartbeats of exhilaration, he steadied himself and retrieved a diamond-shaped jade talisman from his storage ring. This spirit light defense artifact, looted from Long Tian'ao of the Absolute Sword Sect, had been unusable during his tribulation due to its critical damage.
Focusing his intent, Lin Feng activated the upgraded Repair Technique. Instantly, data flooded his consciousness, sparking fresh joy.
Equipment Integrity: 20%
Repair Materials Required:
10 cm³ of Tier 5 Metal Essence Ore4 cm³ of Scarlet Radiance Stone (can be substituted with Crimson Vein Crystal)3 cm³ of Peakstone (can be substituted with Profound Star Sand)
"The Master-level Repair Technique can restore spirit artifacts now!" Lin Feng's eyes blazed with triumph. "And… it even displays material substitutes!!"
He'd anticipated the ability to repair spirit artifacts (beyond the forced repairs he'd managed before). But the substitution feature was a revelation—drastically easing the burden of material collection.
He stored the jade talisman and retrieved a crimson-gold bracelet—the low-grade spirit artifact defense treasure taken long ago from Liang Han of the Shadow Fiend Sect. Nearly destroyed after heavy use, it had languished forgotten in his ring. Activating Repair Technique once more, he scanned it.
Equipment Integrity: 4%
Repair Materials Required:
15 cm³ of Tier 5 Metal Essence Ore (can be substituted with Fire Essence Ore)6 cm³ of Rosy Dawn Stone (can be substituted with Jade Flame Sand)3 cm³ of Auric Inscription Stone
Not every material has a substitute, Lin Feng mused, but this function is invaluable. It seems each Repair Technique upgrade unlocks new capabilities. I wonder what the next level will bring…
He stowed the bracelet, resisting the urge to test the upgraded skill immediately. He hadn't forgotten the most crucial aspect: the 'upgrade reward' triggered after each advancement.
When Repair Technique ascended from Apprentice to Novice, its first use had transformed the Crimson Soul Sword from a high-grade treasure artifact to a low-grade spirit artifact, imbuing it with soul-damaging power. Lin Feng had theorized this boon accompanied every major upgrade. Now was the moment to verify it.
Such a precious opportunity couldn't be wasted on random gear. Lin Feng had planned this long ago—the Crimson Soul Sword would receive the blessing again.
Though the White Tiger Soul Raging Talisman ranked higher, the sword was his primary weapon. Already possessing soul-damage capability, further enhancing it promised greater returns than upgrading the talisman.
The sword, freshly repaired, currently sat at 0% damage. Lin Feng decided: Wear it down attacking the barrier first.
Ignoring his still-depleted true energy reserves from the talisman repair, Lin Feng strode back to the sealed exit. With a fierce gesture, he unleashed the Crimson Soul Sword in a frantic, relentless assault against the shimmering barrier.
"Boom! Boom! BOOM!!"
Changgong Xiaojing, who'd watched Lin Feng repair his artifacts without surprise (she knew him as a skilled artificer), observed his renewed fervor with curiosity. His evident excitement puzzled her, but she remained silent, patiently waiting from a distance.
After the barrage ceased—his true energy nearly drained once more—Lin Feng paid scant attention to the barrier's condition. Sitting cross-legged, he swallowed a Qi Restoration Pill and immediately focused on the recovered Crimson Soul Sword.
Equipment Integrity: 99%
Repair Materials Required:
1 cm³ of Tier 5 Azure Vein Stone (can be substituted with Profound Azure Essence Crystal)2 grams of Tier 5 White Anvil Sand (can be substituted with Spirit Brahmin Sand)1 cm³ of Crimson Blaze Stone
Only 1% damage?! Lin Feng scowled. He'd deliberately battered the sword beyond its limits! Since its ascension to spirit artifact, he'd been unable to see its repair needs clearly, relying on memory and educated guesses—upgrading original treasure-grade materials to Tier 5 and cautiously adding fire-attribute elements after it gained that affinity. The current list matched his estimations, though the absence of Wind Essence Ore suggested minor damage didn't require it.
He recalled the sword was at 80% damage during its first transformation. Will repairing just 1% still trigger the upgrade reward?
After a tense silence, Lin Feng gritted his teeth. Spiritual sense fused with the sword.
"Wheeenng——!!"
The Crimson Soul Sword in his hand convulsed violently, emitting a heart-rending wail like a dying beast. A faint crack echoed as a hairline fissure snaked across its blade!
Lin Feng instantly severed the command. The sword's mournful cry ceased. Re-scanning it, new data surfaced:
Equipment Integrity: 55%
Repair Materials Required:
20 cm³ of Tier 5 Azure Vein Stone (sub: Profound Azure Essence Crystal)50 grams of Tier 5 White Anvil Sand (sub: Spirit Brahmin Sand)25 cm³ of Tier 5 Wind Essence Ore (sub: Cyan Profound Crystal)15 cm³ of Crimson Blaze Stone
Lin Feng exhaled sharply. He'd forced the sword into partial self-destruction—a crude but effective method to simulate heavy damage. Refined cultivators could command bonded artifacts to self-destruct entirely, often as a last resort in battle. 55% damage should suffice.
The moment his true energy replenished, Lin Feng gathered the sword and materials, his hands trembling with anticipation.
"FWOOMH!!"
At his mental command, a vortex of searing flame erupted before him, engulfing the sword and materials. The very air around them warped and shimmered from the intense heat. Simultaneously, Lin Feng felt his true energy gushing out like a ruptured dam.
The sheer energy expenditure dwarfed even the White Tiger Talisman repair! A fierce grin split Lin Feng's face—confirmation! Through his bond with the sword, he sensed its essence intensifying, evolving.
"ZHEEENG——!!!"
Near the end, a triumphant, resonant sword cry split the air. Powerful sword energy rippled outward, making Xiaojing gasp and stare in disbelief.
The process lasted nearly half an hour—longer than the talisman repair. Beads of sweat dotted Lin Feng's forehead. Just as he considered tapping into his Spirit Spring reserve, the torrential drain of true energy ceased abruptly. The roaring flames flickered violently once… and vanished.
The completion notification chimed in his mind.
Ignoring his near-empty dantian, Lin Feng snatched the hovering sword.
Heat radiated from the Crimson Soul Sword like a forge-fresh blade, yet it didn't burn his skin. Its form remained unchanged—alternating bands of crimson and silver, the fiery patterns etched deeper, more menacing. The spiritual pressure it emitted, however, had multiplied exponentially.
To Lin Feng's senses, its aura now rivaled the White Tiger Soul Raging Talisman. Its grade had soared—from mid-grade spirit artifact to peak-grade!
Thrilled by the two-grade leap, Lin Feng focused on his true objective. Holding his breath, he channeled his spiritual sense deep into the sword's core, probing for its newly unlocked power…
Moments later, his eyes snapped open, blazing with stunned revelation. A single, electrifying word burst from his lips:
"Barrier Breaker?!"