Qingxu Temple, alchemy workshop's ground fire room.
Tang Xiao Qi stood motionless above the surging ground fire vein eye. Before him floated the black iron frying pan that had accompanied him for so long. The pan's body was covered with fine cracks, spiritual light dim--those were medals from repeatedly blocking powerful enemies but also showing it was approaching its limit.
Beside him on a stone platform rested quietly a fist-sized, neither gold nor jade ore emitting soft starlight--Starfall Tear Gold. This was discovered when sorting the master's belongings, handed to him solemnly by Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng, who said the master had obtained it during his early wanderings, had always treasured it, seemingly waiting for the right time and inheritor. Beside the ore were several small auxiliary materials he had collected before, such as millennium cold iron and secret silver.
It was time.
Xiao Qi took a deep breath, his gaze becoming focused and resolute. The condensation of the Red Flame Sword Heart allowed him to control his own power to a whole new height. The transformation of Purification Origin gave him more refined energy control and material sensing ability. At this moment, he was no longer satisfied with simple repair--he wanted to reforge this pan connected to his fate, granting it rebirth.
He did not immediately invoke the ground fire but first extended his right hand, gently pressing on the cold pan body. His spiritual sense like silk threads probed into the frying pan's interior. Past scenes emerged in his mind: his clumsy attempts to cook using it when first entering Qingxu Temple; his focus practicing fire control in the kitchen; the thrilling moment he knocked out a demonic beast with it on his first mountain mission; in the secret realm, during the defense battle, it time and again blocked before him, bearing attacks far exceeding its limit...
This seemingly ordinary pan had long ceased to be merely a weapon or kitchen tool. It carried his memories, sweat, and growth from a ignorant youth walking this road, it was his indispensable companion.
Old friend, Xiao Qi murmured to himself, gentle eyes, we've been through so much together. This time, let me help you become stronger. We still have a longer road to walk together.
As his words fell, his gaze hardened.
Hum!
In his brow's sea of consciousness, that dark gold and crimson sword embryo--the Red Flame Sword Heart--suddenly brightened. A condensed extreme, containing protective will and scorching sword intent force, not through meridians but directly through his palm, gently yet resolutely injected into the frying pan.
This was not brute impact but like the most exquisite carving knife, using spirit as guide, heart as fire!
The frying pan vibrated intensely. The cracks on the pan body, under the sword heart fire's burning, seemed to come alive, emitting faint sizzling sounds. Impurities and hidden damage within were refined and eliminated strand by strand. The originally dim black iron color gradually deepened, faintly revealing an introverted black luster.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qi's left hand guided the Starfall Tear Gold and other auxiliary materials to float up. His will moved. The more abundant Red Flame Sword Heart fire wrapped these materials.
The Starfall Tear Gold, under the sword heart fire's burning, did not melt but seemed awakened, emitting more brilliant starlight. Tiny star specks like tears, actively separating, blending with other melted auxiliary material liquid, forming a flowing, shimmering with star spots and cold gleam strange metal liquid mass.
This step was extremely taxing on the mind. Using heart as fire consumed great spiritual sense. Xiao Qi's temples' veins bulged, sweat soaking his hair, yet his gaze remained calm. He controlled the sword heart fire, maintaining subtle balance.
When most impurities in the frying pan's main body were eliminated, the pan body became pure and active, Xiao Qi knew the crucial moment arrived.
Go!
He shouted, left hand controlling that Starfall Tear Gold fusion liquid, right hand controlling the initially tempered frying pan. The two slowly approached.
At the moment just before contact, the transformed Purification Origin in Xiao Qi's dantian moved. A warm, vast blue-green energy containing protection and rebirth Dao flowed out, not directly participating in smelting but forming a thin, catalyst-like energy membrane between the two.
This purification membrane played a crucial role. It neutralized the Starfall Tear Gold's overly domineering stellar force and the frying pan's original material's possible subtle rejection, guiding new materials like spring rain moistening things, evenly, perfectly penetrating and integrating into every minute structure of the frying pan, rather than simple covering or joining.
Hiss--
Blue-green, red, gold three-colored lights intertwined on the frying pan, emitting pleasant hums. The entire ground fire room's spiritual energy was stirred, gathering toward the frying pan.
Xiao Qi held his breath, all his mind immersed in this reforging. Using Red Flame Sword Heart as control core, precisely controlling every detail of fusion. Using Purification Origin as harmonizing medium, ensuring fusion process smooth and flawless.
Time passed bit by bit.
The frying pan's form did not undergo huge change, still that familiar round-bottom pan shape. But its color had changed from original black iron to a deep silver. On the pan's surface, faint tiny star lights flowed, as if a miniature night sky was branded on it. Those once fierce cracks completely disappeared, replaced by a integrated, solid, introverted texture.
More importantly, Xiao Qi felt an unprecedented close connection established between himself and this pan. It was no longer merely an artifact driven by his spiritual power but more like an extension of his body, projection of his will.
When the last trace of material perfectly fused, all light internalizing--
Clang!
A clear, dragon-roar-like sound from the frying pan echoed in the ground fire room. The pan body lightly vibrated. A joyful, intimate intent clearly transmitted to Xiao Qi's heart.
Reforging, succeeded!
Xiao Qi extended his hand. That brand-new frying pan automatically flew into his palm. Warm to the touch, weight seemed lighter yet felt more solid. His will moved slightly.
Big.
The frying pan instantly expanded, transforming into a huge shield sufficient to shield several people. The pan rim flowed with stellar light, emanating an unbreakable aura.
Small.
It quickly shrank, becoming only palm-sized, exquisite and delicate, easily fitting into a sleeve.
Following his will, the frying pan's weight also changed as he wished. Sometimes light as a goose feather, sometimes heavy as a mountain.
Size at will, weight as desired!
This pan reforged by him using Red Flame Sword Heart as fire, Purification Origin as guide, integrated with Starfall Tear Gold and other precious materials, had been reborn, its quality qualitatively leapfrogged, becoming a top-grade artifact completely connected to his will, even touching the threshold of spiritual treasure.
Xiao Qi lovingly stroked the pan body, feeling its vast power and spirituality. He gave it a new name, no longer just frying pan but--
From now on, I shall call you Cosmos. Xiao Qi said softly, meaning it can contain the might of cosmos and also guard a tiny space.
Cosmos Pan slightly vibrated, transmitting a childlike and recognized intent.
Holding the Cosmos Pan, Xiao Qi walked out of the ground fire room. Sunlight fell on him, also on this pan that had been reborn and had even deeper karma with him. The road ahead was still long, but with the Red Flame Sword, with the Cosmos Pan, with transformed power and steadfast sword heart, he feared nothing.