"Formless Sword," Jiang Linglong murmured, her brow arching slightly with surprise.
Formless Gold was an extremely rare and precious material, and the method for forging the Formless Sword was equally profound. Unlike ordinary third-rank swords, forging the Formless Sword required exceptional skill in both formations and crafting.
This sword did not absorb elemental essence but required tempering with 108 different spiritual herbs over 49 days.
These herbs were extraordinarily valuable, including three Condensed Void Grass, each worth over 30,000 spirit stones. Given Elian's resources and status, gathering all 108 herbs would be no easy feat.
"The cost of these herbs, combined with the Formless Gold and the forging method, means this sword will cost you over 200,000 spirit stones," Jiang Linglong remarked.
However, she nodded in acknowledgment, adding, "But the Formless Sword, with its invisible nature, is particularly effective against protective barriers and treasures. Even Golden Core cultivators can be gravely injured if caught off guard."
"While expensive, it's worth the investment."
She led Elian to the Earthfire Chamber, where they began the crafting process.
The Formless Sword was a high-tier third-rank sword, and its crafting was among the most challenging in its rank. Fortunately, Jiang Linglong's mastery of artifact forging had reached the fourth rank, ensuring a high success rate.
As she melted the Formless Gold, she explained, "The Formless Sword's damage isn't particularly high for its rank, but its real value lies in its concealment and barrier-breaking abilities."
"The key lies in two formations: the Formless Concealment Formation and the Barrier-Breaking Sword Aura Formation. As long as these formations are properly inscribed, even ordinary Golden Core cultivators will fear this sword."
Over the course of several days, Jiang Linglong meticulously inscribed the formations, completing the sword. The remaining process of refining it with herbs was tedious but straightforward.
"You can handle the refinement yourself," Jiang Linglong said, stepping back.
"I'll return to my cultivation. The Qingyang Sect may pose trouble in the coming years."
"Understood," Elian replied.
Based on her calculations, Qingyang Sect's Xu Ancestor would recover from his injuries in about twenty years. If more than fifteen years passed, his partial recovery would make it much harder to take down the sect.
Jiang Linglong still needed to refine several life-bound treasures, leaving her pressed for time. Though reluctant to leave, she handed Elian a jade box before departing.
"This is... a King Conch Pearl?" Elian asked, opening the box to reveal a translucent pearl.
The King Conch Pearl was an incredibly rare treasure from the Vast Marshes. Once refined, it could boost a Purple Mansion cultivator's training speed by 50% for thirty years.
"Yes, it will accelerate your cultivation," Jiang Linglong said. Her tone carried concern.
"The Qingyang Sect has a thousand-year legacy and deep foundations. If we go to war with them, I may not be able to protect you fully."
"Xu Ancestor will likely see you as a prime target, so it's best if you reach mid-stage Purple Mansion soon for your safety."
"I understand," Elian replied, accepting the pearl.
After Jiang Linglong departed, Elian began the lengthy process of refining the sword with spiritual herbs. After using all 108 herbs, the sword was finally completed.
A faint dragon-like hum resonated as the transparent Formless Sword materialized in his hand, radiating a misty barrier-breaking aura.
"What an excellent sword."
Elian tested it briefly, noting its silent operation and effectiveness against protective barriers and defensive treasures.
While not as powerful as the Grand Plough Celestial Sword in raw strength, its specialized capabilities made it arguably more valuable in certain situations.
With the Formless Sword complete, Elian decided to use the Earthfire Chamber to refine a batch of Spirit Nourishment Pills. After years of practice, his alchemy skills had reached the high third rank.
In just half a month, he successfully refined two pills using the fusion method Jiang Linglong had taught him. Satisfied with the results, Elian departed Tianxu Mountain and flew back to Linghu Isle.
At Black Iron Mountain's Metal Earth Element Vein, Elian stood before the Sword-Cleansing Pool in meditation.
Suddenly, a sword hum echoed from the pool as a streak of light shot skyward and landed in Elian's hand.
"Three years of cleansing the sword, and it's finally done."
Elian examined the Formless Sword in his hand, his gaze flickering with satisfaction.
Five years had passed since he crafted the Formless Sword. During his free time, he had immersed the Formless Sword and the Heavenly River Deep Water Sword in the Sword-Cleansing Pool for tempering.
The washing process had significantly enhanced the sword's invisibility and barrier-breaking capabilities.
"Unfortunately, the Sword-Cleansing Pool..." Elian frowned. Years of tempering various swords—including the Fiery Void Sword, Heavenly River Deep Water Sword, Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, and Grand Plough Celestial Sword—had depleted 90% of the pool's treasured liquid.
It would take sixty years to replenish the pool sufficiently for another round of tempering.
"The pool is excellent, but the Metal Earth Element Vein is too low in grade," Elian murmured.
"If it were a fourth-rank Metal Earth Element Vein, it could temper a third-rank sword every ten years."
"Legend has it that such veins can produce liquid essence every sixty years, a single drop of which can boost the power of a fourth-rank sword by 30%."
These musings were not idle fantasies but grounded in examples.
The Celestial Sky Sword Sect's reputation as the premier sword sect in Chu was partly due to its control of the kingdom's only fourth-rank Metal Earth Element Vein.
The essence from its Sword-Cleansing Pool was a priceless treasure, sustaining the sect's famed Sky Sword, a demon-vanquishing treasure capable of severely injuring late Golden Core demons with a single strike.
Treasures like the Sky Sword, the Qingyang Sect's Radiant Heaven Mirror, and the Purple Abyss Sect's Purple Abyss Furnace were all renowned for their ability to repel demons and monsters.
Among them, the Sky Sword was unparalleled in its lethality, having claimed the most Golden Core demon and monster kings.
...
85+ chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D