Soul Emperor Martial God

Xiao Yi left Northern Mountain County with one and a half months to spare before the Pharmaceutic Competition.

He counted the days.

Roughly, there was about one month left.

Anyway, there was plenty of time.

Xiao Yi simply stayed in Anyun County for a few days.

Hoping to uncover the cause of the recent Beast Tide.

For Anyun County, such a large-scale Beast Tide was certainly not common.

But the result was rather disappointing to Xiao Yi.

After several days,

he had practically scoured every forest inhabited by demon beasts in Anyun County.

Yet he found nothing at all.

His instinct told him this was no simple matter.

But he couldn't find any clues.

Out of options,

Xiao Yi could only leave Anyun County and continue towards the Royal Capital.

A week later, Xiao Yi traversed ten counties.

Along the way, as he had expected,

every one or two counties experienced a Beast Tide.

And their scale was immense.

In his own encounters, there were no fewer than five.

Of course, Xiao Yi lent a hand when he could.

Some counties, not as strong as Nine River County,

needed Xiao Yi's help to slay demon beasts until the crisis of the Beast Tide was resolved.

The Martial Artists of some counties were inherently strong.

Xiao Yi roughly helped stabilize the situation before he departed.

After all, he did not know which counties were in urgent need of assistance.

Naturally, he wouldn't linger for too long.

As a Demon Hunter, hunting beasts was his calling.

Moreover, achievements were the prerequisites for Demon Hunters to obtain greater authority and rank.

Furthermore, he needed to collect demon beast cores and essence blood to enhance his own Cultivation.

Back to the story.

After leaping across ten counties,

Xiao Yi arrived in Meteor County.

Meteor County was an essential pathway to the Royal Capital.

No matter which county or direction you were in within the Flame Martial Kingdom,

if one wanted to go to the Royal Capital, they must pass through Meteor County.

Meteor County, with a mere distance of five counties from the Royal Capital,

was relatively close.

Rumor had it that this place would experience meteor showers from time to time,

a sight both spectacular and beautiful.

It drew endless streams of people to witness its wonder.

Upon arrival, Xiao Yi did not find any Beast Tides.

He speculated that he might have been overthinking.

Perhaps the Beast Tides in the ten-plus counties previously were just coincidental.

Of course, it was also possible that the Martial strength of Meteor County was too formidable.

Given its proximity to the Royal Capital, the Martial strength of Meteor County was naturally extreme.

Not to mention the high-end Martial Artists.

Even the City Guards were each elite.

The weakest were at the Innate Realm, while stronger ones, of Captain Level, were at the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

Bear in mind, in a small place like Purple Cloud City,

being at the Innate Realm was already dominant enough to become the elder of a major clan.

Yet in Meteor County, such a status merely qualified one as a lowly City Guard.

One could imagine how formidable the Martial strength of Meteor County was.

...

The county seat of Meteor County, Meteor City, was situated in the center of the county.

Xiao Yi did not head there.

Instead, he randomly chose a large city with a resident Demon Hunting Team.

In the thirty-six counties of the Flame Martial Kingdom,

every county had at least ten Demon Hunting Halls.

Evenly distributed across the counties.

Xiao Yi went to the Demon Hunting Hall, showing his token.

He submitted the tasks he completed over the past days.

After recording the Task Points and receiving the bounty,

Xiao Yi said to the staff, "I would like to exchange for items in the treasure vault."

"Yes, General Executor Yi Xiao," the staff said respectfully, nodding and then leading the way.

Upon reaching the treasure vault,

the staff said, "General Executor Yi Xiao,"

"The items here are all protected by prohibitions and cannot be taken at will."

"Please take your time to choose."

"Once you have selected the items you wish to exchange for, you may instruct me at any time."

"I will process the exchange for you."

"Hmm," Xiao Yi nodded.

The staff member bowed and withdrew.

Inside the treasure vault,

Xiao Yi looked at the wide array of treasures shining before him,

his eyes briefly lighting up.

But he soon contained his gaze.

He had come today not to seek Cultivation Techniques or rare Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or unique treasures.

Instead, he wanted to exchange for 'Artifact Refining Technique.'

Such Artifact Refining Techniques referred to the books and secrets of weapon forging.

Simply put, to create a variety of strange but powerful items.

Such as Subspirit Artifacts, Puppet Balls, and even Spiritual Artifacts and Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts and the like.

Artifact refining was another skill for Alchemists.

However, many Alchemists did not desire to delve into such a diverse craft.

After all, Elixirs were what could most improve one's own Cultivation.

In the Flame Dragon Continent, strength was everything.

Artifact refining itself wasn't difficult.

As long as one had a Fire Attribute Martial Soul capable of controlling a powerful flame,

coupled with a strong Fire Furnace,

one could qualify to engage in Artifact Refining.

Afterward, merely finding suitable materials,

one could create Subspirit Artifacts and even Spiritual Artifacts.

Of course, crafting Spiritual Artifacts was more challenging.

Not only was it hard to find the right materials,

but if one were to refine High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, there seemed to be additional restrictions.

Xiao Yi didn't yet know what these restrictions were,

only that he had heard Elder Yi mention them before.

It seemed related to a Martial Artist's Small World.

Moreover, a Martial Artist's Cultivation would have to be at least above the Heavenly Element.

It's no wonder that Spiritual Artifacts of a High Grade or above are so rare.

There simply aren't many Martial Artists in the Heavenly Origin Realm,

And even fewer amongst those are Alchemists.

Finding the materials is also a hassle.

The materials for forging High Grade Spiritual Artifacts are noticeably extraordinary.

...

Xiao Yi had searched the treasure vault for quite a while.

Only in the end did he decide to exchange for a book titled 'Artifact Refining Record.'

It required 2000 Task Points.

The technique of Artifact Refining itself was not a rare thing.

It was quite widespread throughout the continent.

Of course, that only referred to the common Artifact Refining techniques.

The really advanced techniques for crafting top-grade Spiritual Artifacts were not shared with outsiders.

What Xiao Yi was seeking was merely the common Artifact Refining technique.

So it wasn't expensive.

He called over the same staff member from before.

Xiao Yi exchanged for the 'Artifact Refining Record.'

After the exchange, Xiao Yi did not leave.

Instead, he casually found a corner and started reading the book on his own.

Once Xiao Yi began working on something, he would do so with great diligence.

He read the Artifact Refining Record for an entire day.

Only at night did he finally stop.

The method of Artifact Refining was indeed not difficult.

It was also quite easy to comprehend.

Xiao Yi even had the confidence to refine some fourth and fifth level Puppet Balls.

Of course, the refining method was simple.

The trouble was in finding the materials.

Xiao Yi didn't overthink it for now.

At the end of the Artifact Refining Record, it detailed a method to promote the grade of a Spiritual Artifact.

Low Grade and Mid-grade Spirit Artifacts could be elevated to High Grade Spiritual Artifacts using Starlight Stones.

For a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, it would take five Starlight Stones.

Along with two High Grade Spiritual Artifacts as material wastage.

With these, one could forge a top-grade Spiritual Artifact.

Xiao Yi chuckled to himself.

The Artifact Refining Record was a widely known refining technique.

It only made use of 'Starlight Stones' to upgrade the tier of a Spiritual Artifact.

The truly advanced refining techniques would explain how to directly craft top-grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Of course, those advanced refining techniques.

Were likely difficult for Xiao Yi to find.

Xiao Yi couldn't be bothered to look for them.

After all, for him, elevating the grade of a Spiritual Artifact with 'Starlight Stones' seemed like a simpler matter.

Now, the two Spiritual Artifacts he had on hand.

One was the Blood Slaughter Sword, which was inherently a top-grade Spiritual Artifact, albeit currently just High Grade.

But given time, it was bound to return to its top-grade status.

There was no need to fuss over it.

On the other hand, the Flame Gloves.

They were the most suitable Spiritual Artifact to enhance the power of his fire.

Unfortunately, they were only Low Grade.

Xiao Yi's goal was to elevate them to a top-grade Spiritual Artifact.

"Five Starlight Stones, two High Grade Spiritual Artifacts," Xiao Yi murmured lightly to himself, "It shouldn't be difficult to gather them."

Just as Xiao Yi was about to leave the Demon Hunting Hall,

Sudden bursts of explosive sounds emerged from outside.

Boom... Boom... Boom... Swoosh... Swoosh... Swoosh.

"Hm?" Xiao Yi frowned.

He stepped out of the Demon Hunting Hall to look.

He found that the street was already crowded with people.

Everyone was looking up into the sky.

Meteor showers streaked across the sky in waves.

The horizon was marked by brilliant, fleeting trails.

Such dazzling colors, such transient glows.

If one did not see it with their own eyes, they could hardly be described in words.

"Is this the special meteor night of Meteor County?" Xiao Yi smiled faintly.

"It is beautiful."

"It's a pity, I'm the only one watching. If Yiyi were here..."

"Sigh." Xiao Yi took a deep breath, his gaze cleared as he looked up at the meteors slicing through the sky.

"I will find you."

Xiao Yi clenched his fist tightly.

Swoosh…

Suddenly, a disheveled figure burst out from the crowd

And rushed straight towards the Demon Hunting Hall.

The man was covered in blood and his clothes were tattered.

He must have been through a fierce battle and was now severely injured.

Thump, the man stumbled to the front of the Demon Hunting Hall door.

Accidentally bumping into Xiao Yi.

Interrupting Xiao Yi's yearning.

"Hm?" Xiao Yi frowned slightly but didn't mind it.

"Are you alright, brother?"

The man was disheveled and his face was unclear.

With a hoarse voice, weakly he said, "Quick… go inform the Commandery Prince and the Sub Hall Master."

"Hm?" Xiao Yi frowned.

Suddenly, he felt that the man's voice sounded familiar.

Surprised, he quickly lifted the man's face and looked carefully.

"Ye Ming." Xiao Yi's expression turned to shock.

Upon hearing his name, the man looked at Xiao Yi in astonishment.

"Elder Yi… it's you, that's great," Ye Ming said weakly.

"Quick... go tell the Commandery Prince to save them."

"The disciples of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect from all the counties heading towards the Royal Capital, including several Sword Masters, are being ambushed."

"Their lives hang by a thread."

"What?" Xiao Yi was startled and asked, "This place is so close to the Royal Capital."

"Who dares to ambush the Sword Masters, and even several of them?"

"Black Demon Hall." As Ye Ming spoke, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of bloody spit and then fainted.

Before losing consciousness, he could only weakly point in a certain direction.

"Black Demon Hall." Xiao Yi's complexion changed.

"Meteor night, countless meteors send the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy of the entire county into chaos."

"If the place of battle is outside the city, no matter how fierce the fight, no matter how intense the True Qi…"

"Even Martial Artists in the Heavenly Origin Realm would find it difficult to detect."

"No wonder they dare to be so bold."

"Damn it." Xiao Yi cursed quietly, his figure flashed in an instant.

Racing towards the direction Ye Ming had pointed.

...

...

The third update.