In the blink of an eye, two months have passed.
In the upper layers of the Qingming Realm, within a grand hall used for cultivation, sounds like metal being forged occasionally echo.
"Clang clang clang... hiss!"
Accompanied by flickering flames and intense heat, after a while, Su Yuan emerged from the chamber wearing a loose plain robe.
In Su Yuan’s hand, he held a longsword measuring three feet and three inches.
The sword’s edge was cold and sharp, with the black-grey metal of the blade possessing a strong texture.
Su Yuan lightly tapped the blade: "Since it is a star device forged primarily from Sunken Sea Gold and Bibo Stone, I’ll call you the Chenbo Sword!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a shallow azure ripple-like light began to flow on the sword.
[Chenbo Sword]
[Grade: Blue]
[Introduction: Forged primarily from Sunken Sea Gold and Bibo Stone, it is hard, stable, and can disperse force.]
[Trait: Heavy Wave. When attacks are launched continuously in a short time, it accumulates ’Bibo’, with each layer increasing the strength of force and Star Power by 10%, up to seven layers.]
"Not bad, it even has such a trait!" Su Yuan’s face revealed a look of joy.
Although it was just a blue-star artifact, Su Yuan was quite pleased when he looked at this sword at this moment.
Because this sword was precisely forged by Su Yuan himself!
Indeed, after alchemy, Su Yuan also learned artifact refining, and this was the first blue-star artifact Su Yuan had crafted!
Once one reaches the Grandmaster level in the Array Path, they need a star artifact to hold the formation.
Since he’s already learned array formation and alchemy, he thought, why not learn artifact refining as well—focus on self-reliance.
Su Yuan summoned the panel: "System!"
[Alchemy Dao]
[Level: Master (Knowledge: 11%, Experience: 1.4w/500w)]
[Mastered Elixirs: Clearing Vein Pill (Level One), Detoxification Pill (Second Stage), Revitalizing Pill (Level Three)]
...
[Artifact Path]
[Level: Master (Knowledge: 4%, Experience: 2000/500w)]
[Mastered Star Devices: Standard Ten Refinement Sword (White), Standard Hundred Refinement Sword (Green), Chenbo Sword (Blue)]
...
While the outside world remained tumultuous, Su Yuan entered a state akin to seclusion.
Besides basic cultivation every day, he focused on learning alchemy and artifact refining.
During this time, Su Yuan also had Ashley make a special trip to Qingye City Library and Qingye Academy with Wang Haiping to borrow many restricted alchemy and artifact refining materials.
In just two short months, Su Yuan replenished his knowledge to the level of an Artifact Refining Master in both alchemy and artifact refining, quietly advancing both the Alchemy and Artifact Paths to the Master Stage!
The speed of such progress is incredibly shocking!
After all, even for apprentices with extremely high talent, pushing either artifact refining or alchemy to master level takes at least two to three years!
However, given that Su Yuan is already a Burning Sun Expert and has the help of the Star Dust System, being slightly exceptional is understandable...
"Now it’s time for the Grandmaster level, but the amount of Star Dust needed for the Grandmaster level is enormous, and Qingye City doesn’t have Grandmaster-level Alchemy Dao or Artifact Path texts, so I’ll likely have to make a trip back to Yan Court..."
Pausing his practice in the Alchemy and Artifact Paths, Su Yuan began to contemplate the current situation.
The Great Flame and the Grey Realm are still clashing continuously, with considerable twists and turns in their progress.
After capturing the Sha Ke and Lianqi ridges, the Great Flame advanced significantly and successfully took over a third territory—Glo—within half a month!
Currently, there are no less than sixteen permanent Great Flame Army troops stationed in the Sha Ze Domain!
However, three weeks ago, when the Great Flame reorganized its military supplies and launched an attack on a fourth territory, it encountered fierce resistance and strikes from the Grey Realm Royal Court!
Despite having Three Suns Realm generals participating, the Great Flame Army suffered over ten thousand casualties, with even three Burning Sun Experts falling!
This struck the Great Flame people like a loud and clear alarm clock!
Though the Grey Realm Royal Court might lack large-scale tactical, strategic, and military capabilities compared to the Great Flame, it has several unique advantages.
First and foremost is the endless cannon fodder!
It seems that every star beast in the Sha Ze Domain dares not defy the Royal Court’s orders; upon summons, they charge fearlessly and relentlessly.
Star beasts are everywhere in the Sha Ze Domain, and their numbers are probably staggering!
Under constant assault, even Burning Sun Experts tire from killing, and if not for the establishment of military bases in captured territories, the Great Flame Army would have been overwhelmed long ago!
The second advantage is the demon plants!
The Great Wilderness Tree is just one of many, as the Royal Court seems able to control many high-stage demon plants, such as the Poison Mist Tree, Carnivorous Demon Plant, and Investigation Dandelion...
These strange demon plants, comparable to biochemical weapons, offset the Grey Realm Star Beasts’ lack of star energy weapons and inflicted significant hardships on the Great Flame side.