Chapter 422

Chapter 422: Goddess of War

"You think this is just a simple matter of recognizing a master?" Xu Fan chuckled, his expression suggesting that they were underestimating him.

"That’s only part of it. The main goal is to awaken the celestial tool’s intelligence, allowing it to grow alongside Chufan and even protect him in times of danger."

"Once Chufan’s cultivation reaches a level where he can control the Heavy Water Source Blade, he’ll achieve a state of unity between man and tool," Xu Fan explained.

"Thank you, Master (Grand Elder)," Li Xingci and his wife said, bowing respectfully.

"They’re all like my own children," Xu Fan said, waving his hand dismissively.

The four of them stepped back from the Celestial Script Formation. Xu Fan formed a series of hand seals, and intricate celestial script characters began to flow into the formation.

The Celestial Script Formation, which covered the entire training ground, started to glow, and the Heavy Water Source Blade appeared above Li Chufan’s head at the center of the formation.

As the formation trembled slightly, the celestial scripts began to shrink and slowly merge into Li Chufan’s body.

A look of pain crossed Li Chufan’s face, as if something was being forced into his mind.

"Chufan, calm your heart and focus your mind. Listen to my incantation," Xu Fan’s voice echoed across the training ground.

"The wide road is like a blade, cutting through the heart, the body, and the spirit."

"Control the blade with your heart, ………."

As Xu Fan continued speaking, Li Chufan’s pained expression gradually eased, and he closed his eyes, as if deeply contemplating something.

Three hours later, all the formations in the training ground had fully merged into Li Chufan’s body, and the Heavy Water Source Blade had become one with him.

"Alright, Chufan will wake up in about half an hour."

"Don’t worry," Xu Fan said, noticing the concerned looks on the couple’s faces.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master," Li Xingci said.

"It’s nothing. Chufan’s aptitude has improved slightly; from now on, he should focus solely on the path of the blade," Xu Fan replied.

Meanwhile, Spirit Cut Elder still looked entranced, not yet snapping out of the insights Xu Fan had shared about the blade’s visualization technique with Li Chufan.

"Spirit Cut Elder, don’t get too carried away; the foundation-building technique for the blade isn’t useful to you anymore," Xu Fan teased.

Spirit Cut snapped out of his reverie and sighed, "If I had this foundation-building technique for the blade back then, I wouldn’t have been chased and burned like I was."

"Haha, what’s done is done; no use dwelling on the past," Xu Fan laughed.

"I wish I could turn back time and start cultivating all over again."

Xu Fan rolled his eyes. "I wish time would fast forward a few thousand years so I could reach the Great Ascension stage and dominate the cultivation world."

That night, Xu Fan sat in his courtyard, holding the time crystal ball and gazing at the starry sky, lost in thought.

Xu Gang appeared in the courtyard.

"Master, you called for me," Xu Gang said, bowing.

"Yes, today during the celestial tool recognition ceremony for Chufan, I remembered something," Xu Fan said, pulling out a multicolored bracelet and tossing it to Xu Gang.

"What is this…?" Xu Gang asked, examining the bracelet, which clearly wasn’t an ordinary object.

"These five beads are made from five different types of spirit ore at the celestial tool level. Wear it and cultivate it with your consciousness and spiritual energy. When you reach the Great Ascension stage, I’ll be able to refine celestial tools."

"At that point, we’ll use this bracelet to forge a celestial tool," Xu Fan said.

"Am I the only one with this?" Xu Gang suddenly said, feeling touched.

"Do you think I’m the kind of master who plays favorites? Don’t worry, your junior brothers will get theirs too," Xu Fan replied, lying in his reclining chair. He shifted his position to gaze at the sky, still fiddling with the time crystal ball in his hand.

"Master, you always save the best for us," Xu Gang said, admiring the multicolored bracelet in his hand.

"Of course I do. Why would I give it to someone else? Just keep it and enjoy it," Xu Fan said with a chuckle.

"Understood. I won’t let you down, Master," Xu Gang replied earnestly.

After Xu Fan helped Xu Gang sort out a few cultivation issues, he sent him on his way.

Once Xu Gang was gone, a profound look flashed in Xu Fan’s eyes. He pulled out six copper coins, gave them a light toss, and watched as they scattered on the ground.

After a quick glance, he smiled and said, "Looks like I’ll finally have some peace and quiet."

Three months later, atop the Steel Wall, a Large Spiritual Boat returned, fully loaded.

As it landed, two Transformation Stage knife wielder puppets stepped off, their bodies drenched in beast blood.

"Big Brother, do you think we can trade the Transformation Stage beast corpses from this boat for a top-tier Transformation Stage puppet?" the middle-aged butcher asked excitedly, his bloodlust still simmering.

"Your math’s off again. This boat’s haul is only enough for a high-quality spiritual blade. A puppet? That’s still a long way off," Spirit Cut said with a laugh, well aware of his brother’s shaky calculations.

"Fine, I’ll settle for the spiritual blade for now," the middle-aged butcher grumbled.

"Good call."

Meanwhile, a swarm of logistical puppets boarded the spiritual boat to tally up the beast corpses in the cold storage.

On the docking platform, Tian Puppet Masters who had just returned from hunts gazed at the Large Spiritual Boat in awe. Only the most elite Fifth Tier Tian Puppet Masters could afford to rent such a vessel.

Suddenly, the sky darkened as a fleet of hundreds of medium and Small Spiritual Boats descended toward the platform.

"Ah, the Goddess of War is back. No wonder there’s such a fuss," Spirit Cut remarked with a grin.

"She’s something else. Tens of thousands of Tian Puppet Masters move like a single unit under her command," the middle-aged butcher said, admiration clear in his voice.

"Even though they’re only Third and Fourth Tier, they’re bold enough to take on entire armies of Transformation Stage beasts," he added.

"Not just that—she’s taken on most of the sect’s beast extermination missions," Spirit Cut chimed in, clearly enjoying the gossip.

As the fleet landed, a rare command-type puppet stepped off a pink spiritual boat, surrounded by a cheering crowd.

The entire docking platform erupted in shouts of praise for the Goddess of War.

"Feeling jealous?" Spirit Cut teased, noticing the middle-aged butcher’s distant expression.

"Not really. I’m just wondering if she’ll get in the way of me buying a top-tier Transformation Stage heavenly blade puppet," the middle-aged butcher said seriously.

"Maybe someday, but not anytime soon," Spirit Cut replied. "The Lin Sen Fairy City region is huge. It’ll take a while to clear out all the beasts."

"Good point."

Just then, a jingling sound came from both of their puppets, signaling that their spirit stones had been deposited.

"Looks like you were right, Big Brother. I’ll have to settle for the spiritual blade first," the middle-aged butcher said with a laugh.

"Keep at it," Spirit Cut said, giving him a pat on the back before logging off.

The middle-aged butcher logged off too.

On Hidden Spirit Island, in the Giant City for Mortals, the middle-aged butcher stepped out of his room in a three-entry courtyard.

He immediately spotted his son sitting by the pool, looking glum.

"What’s wrong? Did you get in trouble at the academy again?" the middle-aged butcher asked with a chuckle, well aware of his son’s ongoing rivalry.