Chapter 926 - Upgrading the Heretic Blade

The refining process was mainly the same, except for engraving dao runes. Liu Wuxie did not need to reforge the Heretic Blade in another manner, as it had already achieved the unity of heaven and earth and possessed a consciousness of its own.

Liu Wuxie initially lacked a primary ingredient to start the reforging process, but it would be significantly easier with the Indigo Lightning Crystal and Earth Essence. The Indigo Lightning Crystal was a scarce crystalline material with incredible toughness and formidable lightning energy. It had gained its crystalline appearance after being repeatedly tempered by lightning.

As for Earth Essence, it originated from the depth of the earth.

They contain two completely different forces and could stir a violent clash if they collided.

Liu Wuxie formed seals with his hands and countless dao runes poured into the Heretic Blade like a waterfall.

In the next second, golden light erupted with bolts of thunder rippling across the chamber.

The Heretic Blade had been altered by the Thunder God Hammer and possessed the power of thunder. After fusing with the flood dragon's blood essence, it now carried the energy of a dragon.

"Fuse!" Liu Wuxie roared as the materials being burned by the demonic flame gained spirituality after the dao runes fused into them.

Oddly enough, the heavenly tribulation didn't descend this time. This was likely because the heavens had already acknowledged the Heretic Blade, allowing it to exist.

Dozens of materials merged into the Heretic Blade in the blink of an eye, a surging aura erupting from deep within the weapon.

Outside, midnight had already fallen, and the number of disciples refining their weapons had dwindled.

Time passed quietly until a figure appeared at the entrance to the forging chamber.

Liu Sheng had completed a longsword for his brother in just half a day. As expected of a holy son from the Treasure Institution, his blacksmithing skills were exceptional.

Liu Lin had waited outside the entire time—and thoroughly enjoyed the result.

"Big brother, someone's here to see you," Liu Lin said, sheathing the longsword.

"Someone's looking for me?" Liu Sheng frowned, puzzled. He couldn't imagine who would seek him out in the middle of the night.

"He told me to bring you to him once you were finished," Liu Lin said, pointing toward a dim corner in the distance, an overlooked spot that few would notice, even if they walked right past it.

In the shadows stood a middle-aged man, his features obscured by the darkness.

Liu Sheng walked over without any hesitation. This was the Treasure Institution, and no one would dare to strike down a holy son openly; his safety wasn't a concern.

As he approached the shadowed corner, he saw a black-cloaked figure standing with his back turned, his face completely hidden.

"Who are you, and what business do you have with me?" Liu Sheng asked cautiously. He could sense that this was no ordinary man, and his presence alone revealed strength at the higher levels of the Earth Profound Realm or beyond.

"Who I am is irrelevant. What matters is that I can help you," the black-cloaked figure said in a low voice, still facing away from Liu Sheng.

"We're not acquainted. So, why are you offering to help me?" Liu Sheng asked. He was a proud person and wasn't the type to bow down over vague promises.

"You don't need to know my identity, but I can help you survive tomorrow's duel," replied the black figure, whose words made Liu Sheng frown.

"What a joke! I can kill Liu Wuxie tomorrow, and I don't need your help," Liu Sheng said. He didn't want to continue this topic and was ready to leave.

"What a fool! Do you think his strength is what it seems at the surface? Let me tell you the truth: Liu Wuxie could already kill someone at the fifth-level Spirit Profound Realm half a year ago," said the black figure. His words hit Liu Sheng like a thunderbolt, leaving him utterly stunned.

The news of Liu Wuxie slaying Urim and Wei Wang had begun to spread quietly among the higher circles.

Liu Sheng stood there, as if spellbound. He himself was only at the fifth level of the Spirit Profound Realm—if Liu Wuxie could defeat someone at that level six months ago, who knew what heights he had reached now?

"Is it really true?" Liu Sheng asked, his voice low. If what the man said was accurate, then his chances of winning tomorrow were far slimmer than he had imagined.

"It is," the black figure reassured. With his strength at the higher level of the Earth Profound Realm, there was no reason for him to lie to someone like Liu Sheng.

Silence fell, and Liu Sheng said nothing. He knew the battle tomorrow was unavoidable because he had initiated it. Then again, Liu Wuxie would've issued a challenge eventually, even if he hadn't provoked the latter.

"How do you plan to help me?" Liu Sheng asked, taking a deep breath. Even his tone had become more respectful. He knew he needed this person's help to increase his odds of winning.

The black figure threw an interspatial ring over to Liu Sheng.

"There's everything you need in here. But remember not to use it unless necessary."

By the time Liu Sheng caught the ring and looked up the black figure had vanished. It was as if the latter had never been there at all. If it weren't for the interspatial ring in his hand, Liu Sheng would've thought he was imagining things.

When he walked out, Liu Lin was still waiting for him.

"Big brother, who was that person?" Liu Lin asked. He had only seen a faint silhouette when the black figure had appeared.

"No one. You must've imagined it. Let's go," Liu Sheng said, and the two left the forging chambers area. It was best for Liu Lin not to know too much, fearing the latter might reveal it accidentally.

As Liu Wuxie reached the climax of the Heretic Blade's refinement, dawn broke across the horizon. The blade was now just one step away from ascending to the level of a dao artifact.

"Let's start the ascension!" The Indigo Lightning Crystal and Earth Essence swiftly merged into the Heretic Blade.

The moment they entered the blade, cracking sounds came from the runes on the surrounding walls. They had all been activated as they burrowed into the Heretic Blade.

This phenomenon caused Liu Wuxie to widen his eyes in awe. He knew the entire forging chamber would be destroyed when he finished his refinement.

However, there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't expect the Heretic Blade to be so powerful as to destroy the runes on the surrounding walls. It was like an insatiable beast, devouring every trace of metal or runes within reach.

Liu Wuxie didn't resist. He simply let the Heretic Blade absorb everything, his fingers forming seals as he released a wisp of aura from the immortal rune within his body.

He had refined a complete immortal rune within his body, and channeling a fraction of it wasn't difficult.

After receiving the immortal rune's aura, the Heretic Blade dazzled with golden brilliance, like a colossal blade hovering before him. The blade aura it gave off was overwhelming, creating cracks in the surrounding walls.

Many disciples had lined up by the time dawn arrived, and the commotion created inside Liu Wuxie's forging chamber instantly drew everyone's attention.

"Quick, look! What's happening over there? That chamber looks like it's going to explode!"

A mix of awe and fear filled the disciples' eyes. Even several elders, who had come to forge weapons for some disciples, stopped in their tracks, turning to observe the disturbance.

"Everyone, back off!" Someone instantly realized something was wrong as the cracks in the chamber began to expand. If the chamber exploded, the subterranean flame would spiral out of control, and anyone nearby would get caught in it.

The crowd backed away, unwilling to enter even if the other chambers were open. Instead, they wanted to know what was going on.

With a thunderous rumble, the forging chamber erupted, shattering into countless fragments that shot outward like deadly shrapnel before anyone could react.

Thankfully, the crowd had retreated in time, or the explosion would've injured many people.

The moment the entire chamber vanished, a pillar of flame shot to the sky, swallowing the whole chamber. Under normal circumstances, the person inside the chamber would've been instantly incinerated.

"Who was inside to cause such an explosion?" Even cultivators at the Spirit Profound Realm exclaimed in disbelief. The forging chambers were reinforced with complex runes, structures so durable that even a peak Spirit Profound Realm expert couldn't easily destroy them.

With the runes lost, it was natural that the structural integrity of the chamber collapsed.

The collapse was terrifying and the explosion unleashed an invisible shockwave that devoured the entire chamber. The subterranean flame lost control as it continued to spread out.

"Look, there's someone inside the flames!"

Many people had assumed that the person inside the chamber had already died. After all, even someone at the Spirit Profound Realm would be reduced to ashes under such a terrifying flame.

"Who's that? He's giving off such an overwhelming aura!"

Liu Wuxie was obscured from their view after being enveloped by the flames. The aura didn't come from Liu Wuxie but from the Heretic Blade.

"That's...blade intent!" Boundless blade intent erupted from the flames, rippling outward. The disciples with lower cultivation couldn't withstand the pressure and were sliced by the aura as they cried out in pain.

"That's a dao artifact, but why does its aura surpass that of ordinary dao artifacts?"

Even those at the higher levels of the Spirit Profound Realm were at a loss.

They could tell from the aura radiating off the Heretic Blade that it was a dao artifact, but the intensity of its blade aura had far surpassed the norm, reaching beyond what dao artifacts typically exhibited.

As the subterranean flame blazed, the Heretic Blade vanished, and a figure walked out from the flame. A forcefield around him prevented the surrounding flames from approaching him.

"The True Profound Realm, this..." Those at the higher levels of the Spirit Profound Realm were stunned. They had assumed that someone at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm had forged the weapon. Who could've thought it would be someone at the True Profound Realm?

"He's Liu Wuxie, and he's the one who challenged Liu Sheng to a fight in the Astral Moon Valley."

Someone naturally recognized Liu Wuxie and many people had already received news of Liu Wuxie's fight with Liu Sheng in the Astral Moon Valley.

"Someone at the fifth-level True Profound Realm fighting another cultivator at the fifth-level Spirit Profound Realm? Is he insane?" Many disciples at the higher levels of the Spirit Profound Realm scoffed. They were under the impression that Liu Wuxie had overestimated himself.

"I bet you don't know that he killed the White Dragon Peak's Qi Yang half a year ago in the Astral Moon Valley. Back then, he was only at the second-level True Profound Realm," whispered another disciple.

Now that Liu Wuxie had reached the fifth-level True Profound Realm, his strength had multiplied.

Ignoring the chatter around him, Liu Wuxie left the Treasure Institution. He had succeeded in reforging the Heretic Blade, making it stronger than he had imagined.

Liu Wuxie didn't return to the Heavenly Gate Peak and headed to the Astral Moon Valley. There were only two hours left until the duel.

Han Feizi had gone to the Astral Moon Valley to witness the battle.

By now, a crowd was gathered at the Astral Moon Valley as a fight involving a holy son was rare and naturally drew attention. Not to mention, Liu Wuxie was ranked fourth on the Mortal Ranking.