Chapter 27: Meditation in the Painting

In the blink of an eye, nine months had passed, leaving only one month before the Five Realms Battle. During these nine months, Ye Jiuyao transformed the spirit stones he had acquired into a constant flow of heaven and earth energy. Within the Canglang Diagram, through both coaxing and trickery, he finally obtained a manual for a Spirit Gathering Array.

With a billion spirit stones and the previously won spirit crystal mines, including those belonging to the traitors, the total number had reached an astonishing level. Ye Jiuyao had originally thought that mastering the array would be difficult, but to his disappointment, he comprehended its essence within an hour.

However, setting up the array took a considerable amount of time. People thought Ye Jiuyao had gone mad, wandering idly through the palace every day. On the day he laid the array, Ye Jiuyao toiled from dawn till dusk without a single pause, occasionally knocking his head, sometimes smiling, sometimes sorrowful. Those who witnessed this were overjoyed.

They assumed there was finally something he couldn't do, but as night fell the next day, a surge of energy suddenly converged and flooded the palace. Fierce, swift gusts of wind swept through, leaving ministers bewildered. In their confusion, energy rushed in from all directions, enveloping the palace in a dense mist.

"Energy... energy... such rich energy..."

Everyone exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with astonishment. This concentration of energy could rival the legendary sanctuaries.

"No need to be surprised. It was just a casual effort. Focus on your cultivation, strive to reach the Fusion Qi Realm. That way, when I take you out for adventures, I'll have some pride..."

"And from now on, training will be revised. Practice the Nine Nether Wilderness Palm in the early morning, receive special instruction at midday, and consolidate and enhance your cultivation at night!"

Ye Jiuyao laid out a simple plan for them. Throughout the nine months, he was rarely seen except at midday; the rest of the time, he was cultivating within the Canglang Diagram.

"Yaoyao, go seek Invincible Lian for training. He can refine weapons. Sun Qigang’s alchemy skills are too poor. Just memorize his recipes and methods..."

Xuan Niang said this earnestly to Ye Jiuyao, while Sun Qigang stood awkwardly by her side. Over the nine months, Ye Jiuyao had completely emptied his reserves.

Those alchemical recipes and methods were handed over without reservation, and under Ye Jiuyao’s relentless practice, they all became his knowledge, mastered with ease. Sun Qigang went from shock to numb acceptance, while Xuan Niang, fully aware of Ye Jiuyao's talent, was nonetheless amazed.

In the end, Sun Qigang truly could not teach Ye Jiuyao anything more. Driven to despair, he begged Xuan Niang to intervene, allowing Ye Jiuyao to train with Invincible Lian.

"Mother, why didn’t I meet him back when I became a demon? If I had, would I have been sealed and suppressed? Now my strength can’t even recover..." Sun Qigang’s heart simmered with resentment. After nine months of torment, he was on the verge of madness. The difference between people—or rather, between humans and demons—was simply unfathomable.

Ye Jiuyao’s talent made him question his life. He recalled how it had taken him a hundred years to merely enter the basics of alchemy, yet this youth—

Three hours to begin, half a day to reach his level, and by the second day he was mastering and extrapolating countless techniques. If not for the sheer volume of recipes and methods he had collected, nine months would not have been necessary. And those nine months included time spent sleeping, eating, and refining.

"Xuan Niang, has Invincible Father returned? Where did he go these last days?"

"Don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked. Go find your Invincible Father and let him teach you."

Clearly, Xuan Niang didn’t want Ye Jiuyao to know too much, and he was wise enough to understand that some questions were best left unasked.

Sun Qigang watched Ye Jiuyao and Xuan Niang depart, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Unconsciously, tears of happiness streamed down his face.

"This kid is simply not normal. Learns so fast—how am I supposed to save face? I wonder what our brothers and sisters inside will think, knowing this generation’s Seal Lord..."

Sun Qigang gazed in the direction Ye Jiuyao had gone, muttering to himself, before returning to his own cultivation to numb his thoughts.

Ye Jiuyao arrived at Invincible Lian’s place, his heart stirred, for Invincible Lian’s abode was unlike any other.

A thatched hut, a large furnace, dozens of scattered refining tools—it was all as simple as could be.

"Invincible Father..."

"Oh, Yaoyao’s here. Xuan Niang didn’t come?"

"She said she had something to do and left..."

Their conversation was simple. Ye Jiuyao sat to the side, watching Invincible Lian wield his large hammer. His powerful arms swung the hammer, relentlessly pounding a glowing red iron block, which gradually took the shape of a sword blank.

Clang, clang, clang...

Switching to a smaller hammer, Invincible Lian worked quickly on the sword tip. The sound was like the music of the great Dao, causing Ye Jiuyao’s right hand to unconsciously mimic the motion, as if he could feel the rhythm.

"Father, let me try."

"Alright, Yaoyao, come."

Invincible Lian, though rough in appearance, was gentle in character. He had noticed Ye Jiuyao’s movements from the start and, as soon as he spoke, tossed him the small hammer.

Ye Jiuyao imitated the hammering, but Invincible Lian only smiled, constantly correcting him whenever he went astray. Finally, when the sword body could take no more, Invincible Lian told him to return it to the furnace, and Ye Jiuyao set down the hammer.

"Refining, alchemy, arrays—these three auxiliary disciplines are the most coveted professions today. You’ve mastered alchemy, so today I’ll teach you weapon refining. Watch closely!"

As Invincible Lian spoke, his energy flowed forth. Ye Jiuyao sensed it and felt a remarkable concentration to the energy.

"Weapon refining is similar to alchemy. What you need is to condense the flame—like the pill fire. Both come from the same source. Next comes the shaping."

Ye Jiuyao kept his eyes fixed on Invincible Lian’s hands, his mind echoing his words. His own energy followed, covering his hands.

"Now!"

"Now!"

Both shouted in unison. Pieces of mysterious ore flew over, enveloped by their energies.

Boom!

Two bursts of flame erupted from their hands, transforming their energy into fire that instantly smelted the ore.

"This is the most basic technique. Now let’s refine them inside the cauldron."

With a thought, Invincible Lian summoned a great cauldron before them, separating the two.

He sent the wrapped ore into the cauldron, and Ye Jiuyao did likewise. The instant it entered, Ye Jiuyao felt a difference.

"Do you sense it? This is weapon refining. They possess life—you bestow that life!"

Ye Jiuyao closed his eyes and felt it. Suddenly, he realized how much he had missed in the past. The flame under his control moved like a puppet, dancing to his will.

After several hours, the cauldron shook.

The weapon was finished.