Chapter Twenty-Three: The Protective Talisman (Part One)

“My lord, do you have any idea what kind of magical artifact you wish to forge?” The four of them sat down to discuss the refining of a magical artifact—Qing, feeling she could be of little help, had volunteered to look after Hu Hai in the bedroom. However, as most of them either knew nothing about the methods of crafting artifacts or were unfamiliar with Shi Jun’s abilities, the discussion became a cacophony of voices, yielding no coherent conclusion. Eventually, it was the expert Wang Li who managed to untangle the confusion just a little.

“Is there really much to consider about this?” Shi Jun was still rather bewildered, for this was his first time ever contemplating the creation of a magical artifact with his own hands.

“It’s like this,” Wang Li said, scratching his head and speaking in his rough voice, “Before you begin, my lord, you must first decide three things. First, the attribute of the artifact—much like a cultivator must choose a path of cultivation. Second, the primary and auxiliary spells you wish to imbue within it; this determines what the artifact will be capable of. Third, the method of refining. In this, I believe Qishang, Motuo, and myself can offer you some basic methods to choose from. Though the choice of technique is important, more crucial is the establishment of a spiritual bond between the artifact and its master, stamping your own spirit upon it. Only then can the artifact truly be called your own unique treasure. So, I have a suggestion, if you’d care to hear it?”

“Out with it! Out with it!” Motuo, ever impatient, spoke up before Shi Jun could answer.

Wang Li couldn’t help but laugh at Motuo’s eagerness, then continued, “At present, there are two materials available for forging an artifact. One I brought myself, the other you found, my lord. After comparing them, I must admit, though the piece I offered is of decent quality, in terms of attribute compatibility and the innate spiritual power within the material, it is far inferior to the one you found. So, my advice is to use my piece for practice first; that way, a failure would not be regrettable. As for your own piece, it is truly a rare treasure—best reserved until you have some experience, to ensure a safer outcome.”

As he spoke, a strange look flickered across his face; after a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Shi Jun and said, “In my opinion, the origin of your piece is quite peculiar. Normally, in this world where spiritual energy is scarce, such natural treasures are exceedingly rare. Yet not only is yours of excellent quality, it also appears to have undergone some highly advanced refinement. When I examined it just now, I faintly sensed a subtle and sophisticated sealing spell within. Unfortunately, my cultivation isn’t high enough to discern its nature. But one thing is certain—the former owner must have been a cultivator of exceptional skill. If you wish to refine it anew, you’ll need to either use your spiritual force to erase its original imprint or, better yet, build upon the existing spells within and add your own, thereby extending its abilities.”

These words did not seem to trouble the others, but they stirred a faint unease in Shi Jun’s heart. Wang Li’s expertise was well recognized, and if even he could not see through the true origins of this item, how did it end up in his mother's hands—a perfectly ordinary woman? Recalling the relief on his mother’s face when she handed the item to him, and her sudden departure, a sense of foreboding grew within him. Yet, with his mother now in Beijing, whatever mysteries remained could only be addressed after her return.

* * *

Though Shi Jun’s heart was full of turmoil, with both Wang Li and Qishang watching him expectantly, he forced himself to set aside his worries and focus on the matter at hand. After a moment’s thought, he said, “To be honest, at my current level, it’s still too soon for me to forge an artifact. Other than the basic spells I’ve picked up here and there from Qishang and elsewhere, I know next to nothing about the more advanced techniques of various attributes. There’s no time to learn something new now, so my only option is to organize the spells I already know and see if I can create something a bit more powerful to serve as the core spell of the artifact. As for auxiliary spells, I’ll have to rely on all of you for help.”

Wang Li still seemed uneasy at this, but Qishang, recalling how Shi Jun had miraculously picked up her signature “Disorder of Spirits” technique, and even innovated his own “Binding of Spirits,” knew well his unorthodox and prodigious talent for learning spells. She smiled and said, “You’re too modest, my lord. I’ve already witnessed your abilities. Who knows, you might surprise us all again!”

Motuo, full of confidence as ever, joked, “If Old Shi says so, it’ll be fine. I trust your knack for improvisation! Just don’t use me as a test subject for your new artifact—I don’t want to end up like Old Hu!”

Seeing their faith in Shi Jun, Wang Li dropped his reservations. Building on Shi Jun’s earlier words, he said, “Rest assured, my lord. As long as you imbue the primary spell, leave the auxiliary spells to us. With the three of us working together, you won’t be disappointed!”

The three of them then listed out several specialized techniques for artifact forging, and after some discussion, Shi Jun finally chose the one most suited to him—“Divine Forging Technique”—as the driving method for his first artifact.

With their plan settled, Wang Li, Motuo, and Qishang remained in the living room to work on the auxiliary spells, while Shi Jun retreated alone to another bedroom to quietly begin forging his very first magical artifact.

* * *

The “Divine Forging Technique” is in fact a special method for artifact refinement. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it does not require any special furnace or alchemical process; instead, the cultivator’s own spirit serves as the mold, and spiritual power as the flame. Solely through the strength of one’s mind, the artifact is shaped and imbued with its intrinsic power. This technique represents Wang Li’s unique insight gained from years of artifact refinement—even Qishang’s most prized possession, the Golden-Eyed Jade Toad, was forged this way. For cultivators with powerful spiritual strength, this is the simplest and most effective method.

Shi Jun’s innate spiritual power was already formidable, and as the seals within him gradually weakened, his mental strength now far surpassed Qishang’s. Thus, this method was not only ideal for him, but also the easiest to master. With only a brief explanation from Wang Li, Shi Jun had already grasped the essence of the technique.