Humanity’s Great Sage

Chapter 926, Artification

Translator: Jon

Translation Checker: Silavin

The man who called himself Wang Yang was apparently not a living person. He was more like an apparition or a wisp of willpower. However, he looked dim as though he would dissipate at any moment. That said, he was adept at the Way of Swords.

Lu Ye watched from afar and saw flying swords moving around at the bottom of the mountain. As Sword Lights flickered, Nian Yuexian got into a fight with the man.

The power that Wang Yang showcased suggested that he was a Divine Ocean Realm Master.

Lu Ye was dumbfounded as he couldn’t believe that the flying swords on Sword Mountain were so powerful. Moreover, it was only the first sword at the bottom of the mountain. No one knew if the flying swords up there would be even more powerful.

The battle ended a moment later. Wang Yang’s figure disappeared, leaving behind a flying sword on the ground.

Nian Yuexian meditatively picked up the sword and stepped forward. Soon enough, the second figure got in her way.

Lu Ye watched for a moment and figured out what was with Sword Mountain. Every flying sword was left behind by a deceased Divine Ocean Realm Master, and it carried a wisp of his willpower or Divine Ego. Whenever anyone hiked up the mountain, the power of the flying swords would be triggered.

It was also a test on the Way of Swords by the Sword and Tool Sect.

Lu Ye soon realised something. After the three of them fell into this Hidden Realm, Nian Yuexian was sent flying away by Kong Kong because she had offended the old man. Now, it seemed that Kong Kong didn’t only want to teach her a lesson. He also wanted her to inherit the Sect’s insights on the Way of Swords.

Given Kong Kong’s eyesight, he could definitely tell that Nian Yuexian was a Sword Cultivator. It would be better for a Divine Ocean Realm Master like her to trek up Sword Mountain and obtain the Sect’s inheritance than selecting two Real Lake Realm Masters.

On the other hand, Lu Ye and Ying Wuji only had to learn the Sect’s Way of Artification.

As Nian Yuexian hiked up Sword Mountain, Lu Ye was unable to help with anything, so he watched for a bit and returned to his wooden house. He had to get some rest so that he would be energetic enough to learn the Way of Artification the following day.

The next day, he and Ying Wuji arrived at the hut. Kong Kong taught Ying Wuji a new Glyph and took Lu Ye somewhere else. Ying Wuji bitterly watched them leave.

A moment later, they reached a stone wall. The smooth surface suggested that it was carved by Humans. As Kong Kong lifted his hand, the stone wall slipped sidewards and revealed a downward passageway. A heat wave came right at them from the passageway.

“This is the workshop where we make Artifacts. This place is protected by many abstruse Wards. It’s also an important foundation for our Sect. All of our flying swords were made in this place. In the past, common disciples were not allowed to enter.” Kong Kong sighed as he reminisced about the Sect’s past glory.

“Let’s go,” he said and led the way for Lu Ye.

The air became hotter as they went further into the passageway. An average Real Lake Realm Master would have to activate his Spiritual Power to resist the heat. However, as a cultivator of Fire Attribute, Lu Ye didn’t find the environment scorching. Instead, he felt comfortable in this place.

However, as they went deeper, he had to slightly activate his Spiritual Power to resist the heat. He had no idea how deep he had gone when a huge cave suddenly came into sight.

The environment in the cave was sweltering. The Void appeared contorted because of the heat wave.

Anvils of different sizes were scattered around the cave. Tools of different kinds were neatly placed. Although it had been a long time since anyone came, this place still looked well-organised.

Kong Kong led Lu Ye to the smallest anvil and said, “Earth Fire is hidden underground. You can draw on it when making Artifacts to save time and energy…”

As he spoke, he pointed at the anvil and activated the enchantment. In an instant, fire was spit out from a part that looked like a Dragon’s head.

“The tools used to make Artifacts are important too. It’s pointless to talk about it endlessly as you need some hands-on experience to grasp it…” Kong Kong then pointed at the tools and explained to Lu Ye how to use them.

Lu Ye listened in silence while looking at the Dragon’s head that was continuously spitting fire.

That was supposed to be the Earth Fire. In that case, the Tree of Glyphs should be able to absorb it. Although it was hidden underground, it wasn’t hard for Lu Ye to get it. After all, the roots of the Tree of Glyphs could be extended.

Although he had a stable way to earn Fire Spirit Stones now, the Tree of Glyphs’ need for fuel had increased significantly following its transformation. A lot of fuel had to be consumed when Lu Ye made use of the Tree of Glyphs to absorb external powers.

Since he had come across such a chance, he naturally wouldn’t miss it. It should be alright for him to keep the Earth Fire to serve as the Tree of Glyphs’ fuel.

As Kong Kong spoke to Lu Ye, he had no idea what was on the latter’s mind. A moment later, he told Lu Ye to try out those tools. Lu Ye obediently obliged.

Around four hours later, Kong Kong said, “When it comes to the Way of Artification, it’s better to give it a try than to talk endlessly. I’ll make an Artifact now, and you should watch carefully. As for how much you’ll learn, it depends on your intelligence and capabilities.”

“Yes,” Lu Ye replied respectfully.

The next moment, Kong Kong turned his hand over and produced an ore the size of a skull. Then, he placed it on the anvil and activated the Earth Fire to burn it while saying, “If you want to make a decent flying sword, you have to choose good materials. The Way of Artification begins with selecting and refining materials. It’s just like cultivation. Once a foundation is built, everything else will become easier.”

For the next half a day, Kong Kong forged the Artifact and explained the process to Lu Ye. He had been doing it slowly so that Lu Ye could observe and learn from him. It wasn’t until a sword was made that the demonstration was over.

Although Lu Ye was determined to leave this place sooner, he was still awestruck when he saw that a Grandmaster of Artification was able to craft a flying sword in such a short time.

Moreover, there were 72 enchantments within the flying sword, so it was a Spell Artifact. Such a flying sword could be sold for over 10,000 Contribution points in the Vault of Providence.

Over 10,000 Contribution points weren’t a lot to Lu Ye, but it was a considerable sum to most cultivators.

“How much do you understand?” Kong Kong asked.

Lu Ye frowned. “Around 30 per cent.”

Kong Kong dipped his head. “That’s good enough. Although you can understand 30 per cent of it, you might only achieve five per cent of it when you try to make an Artifact.”

“Why don’t I give it a try?” Lu Ye offered.

Naturally, Kong Kong was happy to hear that. “Go ahead.”

The materials were provided by Kong Kong, and they weren’t of high quality. The materials were given to Lu Ye for practice, so they didn’t have to be good. With materials of lower quality, it would be easier to make an Artifact as well. Despite that, the process was still very difficult for Lu Ye.

One good thing about Artification was that once it failed, the Artifact could be remoulded. It was unlike pills which were all destroyed once the process failed. Therefore, one could save more materials by making Artifacts than by producing pills.

During the process, Kong Kong would patiently give Lu Ye some guidance from time to time. Since Lu Ye had been attentive, his progress was rapid.

They spent their time like this for the next three days. Only the sounds of making an Artifact were heard coming from the workshop.

Three days later, an exhausted Lu Ye held out a sword. During this period, he successfully made his first sword. Although its appearance was alright, its quality was terrible. There were only five enchantments within it, so it was considered a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact.

However, Kong Kong was elated. “You’ve done a great job. You’re indeed talented in the Way of Glyphs. That’s why it’s easier for you to study the Way of Artification.”

Artification wasn’t just about giving form to a Spirit Artifact. If that was the case, any smith could do the job, and Lu Ye didn’t need the anvil.

Given his cultivation and skills, he could produce anything of any shape using low-quality materials without the help of an anvil.

When a cultivator crafted an Artifact, he had to give it form and embed enchantments inside the Artifact. That was the key. An Artifact without enchantments wasn’t useful at all.

Lu Ye had made many Ward Flags before, but that skill wasn’t comparable to the real Artification.

“How long did it take you to achieve this back then, Sect Master?” Lu Ye asked.

Kong Kong seemed to be walking down memory lane as he replied, “It took me eight days, and its quality wasn’t as good as yours. There were only three enchantments. If you can progress at the same speed, you’ll be able to make a flying sword that is good enough in three years.”

Three years were still a painfully long period for Lu Ye.

“Go and get some rest. Don’t forget to reflect on the mistakes you’ve made today. From tomorrow onwards, you’ll go to the hut in the morning, and I’ll teach you the Way of Artification. Then, you’ll come here in the afternoon to craft Artifacts. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just come up to me right away.”

“Yes.”

After Lu Ye left the workshop, he returned to the wooden house and saw Nian Yuexian still trekking up Sword Mountain as she was contending with the wisp of willpower or Divine Ego of a flying sword. She had made some progress as she was now 300 metres above the bottom of the mountain. Amber came over and looked at Lu Ye with concern.

“I’ve only exerted myself. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine after getting some rest,” Lu Ye said. He meant to ease Yi Yi’s mind. Ever since their arrival in this place, Yi Yi had been hiding inside the tiger. After all, Kong Kong was too terrifyingly powerful. Upon entering the wooden house, Lu Ye slumbered off instead of meditating.

All his energy was restored when he woke up the next morning. He still remembered what Kong Kong had said, so he went to the hut to look for him and listen to his lesson on the Way of Artifaction.

In the afternoon, he went to the workshop alone while Ying Wuji looked bitterly at him. Kong Kong didn’t keep him company this time.

Lu Ye wouldn’t dare to be lackadaisical as he focused on making his Artifact. After all, he didn’t know if Kong Kong had a way to monitor what was going on in the workshop. As such, he had to be serious.

Also, he wanted to leave this place sooner, so he had to quickly pass Kong Kong’s tests.

Three years were too long for him. He had set the goal of leaving this Hidden Realm in half a year.

If he stayed here for too long, he could imagine how worried Shui Yuan and the others would be.