NOVEL NEXT Chapter 181 Refiner Master_2
After unveiling Xie Qingfeng's "Weapon Refining Technique," Chen Ku planned to attempt integrating Xie Qingfeng's Weapon Refining Technique into the Erlang Transformation.
[To perform "Xie Qingfeng Transformation" and "Erlang Transformation" fetus transformation shape shifting, at least one strand of Third Realm Evil Qi is needed as a new embryo to begin...]
As luck would have it, Chen Ku still had over a dozen strands of Third Realm Evil Qi from the Firewood Iron Shop experts who had died.
[Using one strand of Third Realm Evil Qi as the embryo, deduction commencing...]
[The current success rate of fetus transformation refining shape is a perfect ten out of ten!]
Ten out of ten?
Chen Ku hadn't expected such a high success rate. It seemed that integrating the Fourth Realm Xie Qingfeng Transformation into the Third Realm Erlang Transformation was inherently a case of 'marrying down,' resulting in a success rate with considerable leeway.
In that case, I'll need to add some more.
Chen Ku decided to press his luck again. He looked at Xie Qi's Evil Qi and those from the Firewood Iron Shop, adding them to the process one by one.
[Xie Qi Transformation]
[Xie Qi Transformation · Shape Shifting]
[Transformation Part: Iron Cloth Shirt (Minor Achievement)]
Chen Ku heaved a slight sigh.
Indeed, fortune ebbs and flows like the ocean tides.
He had witnessed the previous night that the most formidable of Xie Qi's Martial Arts was undoubtedly the "Mountain-moving Cloak Hammer," its power no less than that of the Medicine King Hall's "Furious Ape Mighty Staff."
This style of Martial Arts, with its immense momentum and heavy power, shared some uncanny similarities with his own Furious Ape Mighty Staff, something he greatly coveted.
If he could shape-shift the Mountain-moving Cloak Hammer from Xie Qi's repertoire to at least the Great Achievement Level on his first try, it would undoubtedly have an incredible enhancing effect on his subsequent goal of mastering all ten forms of the Furious Ape Mighty Staff to Great Achievement.
Beyond that, Xie Qi's "Fourth Realm Meridian-Opening Realm" Cultivation was an even more precious ability. If he could shape-shift that as well, it would allow Chen Ku to experience "Fourth Realm Cultivation" ahead of time.
Unfortunately, what he ended up with was the Iron Cloth Shirt from the Firewood Iron Shop at Minor Achievement.
Perhaps because Xie Qi's Iron Cloth Shirt hadn't even reached Great Achievement, his head was battered so easily last night.
It's not too bad, though.
Afterward, Chen Ku sequentially unlinked the other three Transformation Diagrams and tried his luck at shape-shifting the abilities and Martial Arts of the three Third Realm experts from the Firewood Iron Shop.
[Chener Transformation · Shape Shifting]
[Transformation Part: Thousand Hammer Hundred Refine Weapon Casting Method (Great Achievement)]
...
[Feng Xiang Transformation · Shape Shifting]
[Transformation Part: Listening for Iron Identification Technique (Perfection)]
...
As expected of a guild specializing in iron forging and Weapon Forging, the Firewood Iron Shop yielded Martial Arts abilities related to Weapon Forging—exactly the skills Chen Ku needed.
Now that I have three transformations related to Weapon Forging and ironwork, one Iron Cloth Shirt, plus the Erlang Transformation, let's see if my 'Erlang Transformation' can acquire an enhanced version of the Weapon Forging Technique.
In an instant, five Transformation Diagrams in Chen Ku's Heart Sea each displayed "Erlang Transformation," "Xie Qingfeng Transformation," "Xie Qi Transformation," "Chener Transformation," and "Feng Xiang Transformation"...
Then, the Evil Qi from one of the Firewood Iron Shop's Third Realm experts was committed to the fetus transformation shape shifting slot.
[Estimating the success rate of the current fetus transformation shape shifting...]
[There's an eighty percent chance to shape-shift into a "Third Realm Peak Humanoid Transformation," and a twenty percent chance to shape-shift into a "Fourth Realm Early Stage Humanoid Transformation"...]
Chen Ku's heart stirred slightly.
"Begin!"
WHIRRR!
The five Transformation Diagrams immediately started revolving around that strand of Evil Qi, infusing it with light.
[It is estimated that the shape refinement will be successful in three two-hour periods.]
Three two-hour periods?
Chen Ku sighed internally; it seemed there was no chance in this world of achieving that twenty percent probability for a "Fourth Realm Transformation."
So, he got out of bed and went outside to eat, planning to wait patiently.
Once outside, Chen Ku heard that Qin Yuxian and Shangguan Yun had invited him and several Shopkeepers of Medicine King Hall to meet privately in the backyard of the county government office in three days.
"Meeting in the backyard of the county government office, rather than in the main hall, clearly indicates they have private matters to discuss with us," Kou Ming said. "I suspect their intention is to see our plans for expansion in Baojiao County. Simultaneously, they want to know our stance on Tan Chongrui's reforms. We must declare our position this time."
With Medicine King Hall defeating the Firewood Iron Shop, the previous three-way balance of power had shifted to one dominant force. For Tan Chongrui's reforms to proceed, he no longer needed to consult three parties, but simply needed the consent of Medicine King Hall.
"It's interesting that Junior Brother Chen Ku was specifically named," Kou Ming continued. "I suppose it must be related to the upcoming 'martial arts examination'."
"It's nothing serious. Just follow me," Yang Luochen said, patting Chen Ku's shoulder.
Chen Ku felt somewhat relieved upon hearing their words, but deep down, he still harbored an invisible wariness towards Shangguan Yun.
Thus, the group began discussing the next steps for Medicine King Hall's expansion within the city. Chen Ku listened intently, observing that the consensus among all the Shopkeepers, including both his masters and Kou Ming, was not to act hastily against the Fish and Dragon Association but instead to apply pressure on the Twin Rivers Guild...
Chen Ku's thoughts turned to his bitter enemy, Huang Muxia.
"Can this person be assassinated?" he asked.
"If an assassination is needed, it won't be your concern; I'll handle him," Yang Luochen laughed, puffing clouds of smoke from his pipe. "You just focus on preparing to meet the Grandmaster in three days."
Chen Ku didn't say much more, but he was still determined to personally eliminate Huang Muxia if the chance arose. He then changed the subject.
By the time this small meeting concluded, three two-hour periods had passed, and he heard a DING sound in his mind.
The fetus transformation refining shape is complete.
Chen Ku found an excuse to leave and returned to his room, where he looked at the Transformation Diagram above his Heart Sea.
The Erlang Transformation hadn't changed much overall. Its facial features had become more handsome and gained a refined elegance, likely due to the influence of the Xie Qingfeng Transformation.
He then reviewed the new abilities.
[Erlang Transformation · Shape-shift]
[Cultivation: Third Realm Jade Skin Peak (Gold Jade Level)]
[Root Bone: Nineteen thousand jin]
[Qualifications: Unparalleled Genius]
[Talent: Spiritual Heavenly Eye]
[Learned Skills: Dragon and Tiger Great Grasping (Great Achievement), Fish and Dragon Hundred Changes Step (Great Achievement)...
...
...
Weapon Refining Technique (Perfection), Thousand Hammer Hundred Refine Weapon Forging Method (Perfection), Listening for Iron Identification Technique (Perfection), Iron Cloth Shirt (Great Achievement)]
After the Erlang Transformation's second fetus transformation refining shape, not only were all previous abilities retained, but the abilities incorporated into the refining process had also advanced a level, seemingly out of nowhere.
At the same time, the weight of his Root Bone had also increased.
This is because these transformations, all from the Firewood Iron Shop, were imbued with Evil Qi that inherently possessed 'convergent' properties. Individual shape-shifting hadn't fully unearthed these, but after being reprocessed through fetus transformation refining shape, they merged and evolved. Chen Ku was pleasantly surprised. Xie Qingfeng's Weapon Refining Technique, originally only at Great Achievement, has reached Perfection. Xie Qi's Iron Cloth Shirt, only at Minor Achievement, has become Great Achievement. And Chener's Thousand Hammer Hundred Refine Weapon Casting Method has also gone from Great Achievement to 'Perfection'.
All of a sudden, Chen Ku felt his mind flooded with numerous experiences related to Weapon Forging and Artifact Refining, as if he had become a "Refiner Master."
A Refiner Master... It's said that within the Firewood Iron Shop, only the old Shopkeeper Xie Wenyuan and another mysterious master could reach this level. Most of the Famous Weapons from the shop were made by these two. The standard for the title of 'Master' is whether one can forge weapons of the 'Famous Weapons' caliber.
He absorbed these experiences into his mind, feeling that with the right Materials and furnace, he was almost certain he could forge a "Famous Weapon" on his first attempt.
Good! Good! Good!
Chen Ku laughed heartily within himself.
Immediately, he went outside the city to the forest. He activated the Flower Fox Mink and other transformations, then manifested Incarnations of both the Flower Fox Mink and Er Lang. He passed the Storage Bag to the man and beast, saying, "Your task now is to go to Fire Beak Mountain in Yuan Country and forge this Ruyi Stone into a Famous Weapon: a staff that can shape-shift into a saber and a bow."
Er Lang took the Storage Bag. The red mark on his forehead seemed more vivid, his face serene, his voice gentle, "Receiving my true self's Dharma Decree, Er Lang shall depart."
As he spoke, he gestured, and the Flower Fox Mink transformed into its behemoth form, crouching at Er Lang's feet. Er Lang stepped onto the Flower Fox Mink, and together they headed towards Yuan Country.
「...」