This completely terrified Liang Yu. Realizing that Qin Chen's words were no lie, he could no longer maintain his composure.
"Please, sir, tell me the method to dispel the poison. I'd be endlessly grateful," Liang Yu said, grabbing Qin Chen's shoulders in agitation, his voice trembling and his eyes filled with pleading.
The spot they stood in was secluded, with no one around to witness this scene. Otherwise, if people saw Liang Yu begging a mere youth like this, they'd surely be stunned.
Qin Chen said, "Didn't you call me a fearmonger? Why do you believe me now?"
"I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness. Please, sir, be magnanimous and forgive me," Liang Yu said with a fawning smile. Yet inwardly, he seethed with rage and resentment, thinking to himself, *"Once I get the cure, just wait and see how I deal with you!"*
Qin Chen glanced at him, fully aware of his thoughts, but merely said calmly, "Let's go."
Liang Yu was taken aback. "Go where?"
"To your refining chamber. First, forge something for me."
Though surprised, Liang Yu led the way, guiding Qin Chen deeper into the Weapon Hall.
As a second-tier weapon refiner, Liang Yu naturally had his own private refining chamber. Along the way, he treated Qin Chen with respect, prompting whispers and speculation among onlookers about who this youth could be.
"We're here."
Soon, Liang Yu brought Qin Chen to a room fully equipped with all sorts of refining tools.
"What exactly do you want me to forge, sir?" Liang Yu asked in a deep voice.
Qin Chen grabbed some paper and a brush, swiftly sketching the design for the Heavenly Meridian Divine Needles. He said casually, "I need you to forge eighteen divine needles of this size."
Liang Yu took the blueprint with a neutral expression and glanced down at it carelessly. But his casual demeanor froze instantly, gradually giving way to surprise, then outright shock as his mind reeled from the impact.
The blueprint depicted an extremely slender black needle, three inches and three-tenths long, spiraling in shape. Every part was meticulously detailed, with varying diameters across its sections. The needle was covered in intricate runic inscriptions, dazzling to the eye.
At first glance, it seemed like just a thin needle. But upon closer inspection, it was extraordinarily sophisticated, like a work of art. Its complexity far surpassed that of some second-tier treasured weapons.
What shocked Liang Yu even more was Qin Chen's drafting technique. It followed the exact structure of forging, with every detail rendered to perfection. It was far more precise than many ancient treasured weapon blueprints he'd seen—a textbook example of a forging diagram, flawless in every way.
Liang Yu took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his eyes. He said gravely, "I may be a second-tier weapon refiner, but the intricacy of this divine needle exceeds that of a second-tier treasured weapon. Even a third-tier treasured weapon might not compare. How am I supposed to forge this?"
"If even you can see that, how could I not? Don't worry, I'll guide you from the side."
"You?" Liang Yu looked at Qin Chen skeptically.
But Qin Chen's expression remained steady, showing no sign of jest. Liang Yu's heart jolted, and he asked in a low voice, "What materials should I use?"
"Use the Black Radiance Nether Stone you just acquired!"
"What?" Liang Yu snapped angrily. "That's for forging a treasured weapon commissioned by the second son of Marquis Anping. If I use it, how will I explain myself to him?"
Qin Chen smiled at him and said, "I'm sure you'll figure something out."
Liang Yu's face darkened, shifting through several expressions before he gritted his teeth and said, "How can I trust you?"
Qin Chen gave a faint smile and slowly recited a few qi circulation formulas. "Follow the method I just told you to circulate your true qi, and you'll see I'm not lying."
Doubtful, Liang Yu let his true qi flow according to Qin Chen's instructions. Instantly, his body shuddered.
The robust Heaven-level true qi coursed smoothly through his meridians, and for once, there was no sensation of ants gnawing at him. Even the pain in his acupoints eased considerably.
For a moment, Liang Yu almost believed his condition had been cured.
But Qin Chen mercilessly shattered his illusion. "This method only alleviates the pain when your condition flares up. It treats the symptoms, not the root. If you want a true cure, finish this task, and I'll tell you afterward."
"You'd better not be deceiving me," Liang Yu said, taking a deep breath and letting out a cold snort.
The feeling of being at someone else's mercy infuriated him to no end. He wanted nothing more than to cleave Qin Chen in two right then and there.
Under Qin Chen's direction, Liang Yu soon ignited his true fire. As a second-tier weapon refiner, his fundamentals were solid. Without needing much instruction, he began heating the Black Radiance Nether Stone.
Blue-white true fire licked at the stone, radiating a heart-palpitating heat.
Yet after the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the Black Radiance Nether Stone had only turned faintly red, showing no signs of melting.
Qin Chen frowned. The Black Radiance Nether Stone was a top-tier third-rank material with a cold nature. Liang Yu's second-tier true fire couldn't melt it quickly—it was far too slow.
"Sprinkle some stone slip powder on the Black Radiance Nether Stone. At this rate, how long will it take to forge?" Qin Chen said impatiently.
"Stone slip powder?" Liang Yu furrowed his brows and sneered. "Stone slip powder is mainly used as a catalyst to remove impurities from various mysterious irons. What use is it on Black Radiance Nether Stone? Besides, it's a third-tier material. It's normal for it to melt slowly. What's the rush?"
Qin Chen's gaze sharpened, his voice turning cold. "Just add it when I tell you to."
Liang Yu's face flushed with anger, nearly dripping with blood. He roared, "Fine, you told me to add it. Don't blame me if the Black Radiance Nether Stone gets ruined!"
Fuming, he grabbed some stone slip powder and sprinkled it onto the Black Radiance Nether Stone as Qin Chen instructed.
What happened next left him dumbfounded. As the white stone slip powder landed on the stone, the faintly red Black Radiance Nether Stone began to glow brightly. It started melting at a visible pace, gradually turning into a liquid state.
This scene made Liang Yu's eyes widen in disbelief, as if he'd seen a ghost.
In all his years as a weapon refiner, he'd never heard of stone slip powder speeding up the melting of Black Radiance Nether Stone.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and remove the impurities!"
Qin Chen's sharp command snapped Liang Yu out of his daze, bringing him back to his senses.
But then he saw Qin Chen, looking displeased, stride quickly to the refining table. Picking up an array-carving pen, Qin Chen began swiftly inscribing array patterns.
His movements flowed like water, and in no time, a complex, mysterious six-pointed star array pattern took shape on the table. The pattern was seamless and profoundly intricate, each stroke a work of art. Liang Yu's eyes sparkled with awe, his heart struck by the sheer brilliance of it.
In just a dozen breaths, Qin Chen had carved an extraordinarily complex array pattern on the table. It was so dazzling and intricate that Liang Yu couldn't even discern its purpose.