Chapter 547: Chapter 190 Artifact Dao Competition

Above the Void of Guanghan South Mansion, there were endless array platforms.

The platforms were surrounded by countless cultivators, either sitting or standing, as they waited for the arrival of the Artifact Dao competition.

Atop the Void Array Platform, Saint Yao, Yaochi Saint, and Fairy Die had already been waiting for quite a while.

As the cultivators participating in the Artifact Dao competition arrived and the time for the competition neared, Fairy Die flew out and addressed the many cultivators, “In this competition, do not harbor any thoughts of taking shortcuts. Rest assured that the Saints have no ill intentions or purposes, and everyone is free to showcase their abilities.

Artifact Dao is related to the true disciple selection for Nine Origin Heavenly City, this genius stronghold, which is very important. If you conceal your true abilities, it may lead to a lower assessment of your talents and possibly prevent entry into Nine Origin Heavenly City.

Nine Origin Heavenly City is the gathering place for the geniuses of the Five Great Prefectures, the convergence of the elite, and the main force to face the Nine Origin Reincarnation in the future. Competition there is fierce, resources are abundant, and the strongest Saints are on hand to pass down the Tao — an opportunity not to be missed.

The difference between entering and not entering is enormous. I hope you will seize this opportunity with all your might.

So, no matter who you are, I hope you give it your all.

This competition, like the next Alchemy Dao competition, is not merely about the Holy Daughter seeking a suitor. I think you can understand that.”

Fairy Die had beautiful wings behind her, fluttering gracefully like an ethereal fairy of unparalleled beauty, with a voice that was incredibly pleasant and melodious.

As she spoke, countless cultivators were mesmerized by her.

Even Zhou Yan was somewhat affected.

But Zhou Yan quickly recovered his composure.

He proceeded to his designated array platform, as instructed by Fairy Die.

The entire Void was divided into numerous array platforms, each holding a variety of artifact refining materials.

The materials were all the same, as were the requirements for artifact refining — everyone was to refine top-grade soul device level materials to create a Qiankun Ring.

The Qiankun Ring is the most basic space storage item in all the Sword Burial Ancestor Star and the Outer Star Domains. One doesn’t need to truly understand the rules of space but simply needs to craft a ring while activating their soul sensing ability to capture a sliver of space fissure. By merging the two, incorporating that sliver of space fissure into the ring, a stable space can exist.

The size of the space depends on the soul strength of the refiner.

Of course, the strength of the soul is also a reflection of an artifact refiner’s ability.

Beyond the soul, another aspect of artifact refining is the capacity of the Artifact Refining Furnaces on the platforms. These furnaces contain heaven and earth flames that can easily melt the platform’s materials. Thus, even an ordinary cultivator with sufficient ability can forge a soul device with their strong control.

And those cultivators with potential and talent, using these tools, could even possibly refine high-grade soul devices.

This effectively shortens the developmental process for talented refiners whose artifact refining abilities are not that strong.

Moreover, the materials for crafting a Qiankun Ring are tenfold, implying that the process allows for nine failures, as long as there is a finished product, and as long as the final product is satisfactory, it will be enough to pass the test.

However, only those truly skilled in artifact refining know that amongst the ten parts material, even producing one is already a rarity. After all, forging a high-quality soul device normally requires having undergone countless Sword Tribulations, possessing strength comparable to that of a Sword Ancestor Level.

As Zhou Yan pondered, he saw white light curtains continuously descending between heaven and earth. Then, each array platform area was enveloped by a transparent light screen, creating an independent Void Space.

This kind of space, not only filled with abundant and strong, substantial energy, is also free from constraints and disturbances. It allows the artifact refining process to be unaffected by the energy fluctuations from other cultivators’ refining, akin to refining alone in the world, providing the best possible environment for artifact refining.

Such conditions are naturally the best for artifact refining.

Only a Saint-level powerhouse could deploy such largesse.

“Alright, the artifact refining area is now open, and the artifact refining competition officially begins. All you geniuses can now prepare to commence your artifact refining. Each space will have a targeted record of your refining process.

However, rest assured that your methods of artifact refining will not be learned through these records, as you know, that’s nearly impossible. The reason for recording is solely because, during the selection for Nine Origin Heavenly City’s genius ranks, a certain ‘Illusion Array Crystal Stone record’ is needed for a precise evaluation of your talents.

Furthermore, if you have any questions, now is the time to ask. Once we officially start, there must be no disturbances,” Fairy Die spoke again.

She finished speaking, and immediately there were cultivators with marked emotional fluctuations. After Fairy Die displayed the light screen, she was enveloped within it, having the chance for a face-to-face conversation to clear up uncertainties.

“Fairy Die, since you said that geniuses unfamiliar with artifact refining also qualify to win first place, then in this regard, how do you make the judgment?”

The inquiring person was a green-clothed woman with a very delicate appearance, not particularly beautiful, but there was an inexplicable self-confidence in her words.

“Shiyin, since you’ve asked this, I presume many people are also thinking the same thing. First, if it’s the same grade and the same Qiankun Ring, and the Artifact Souls’ strengths are similarly close, then what needs to be judged is the age of refining. After everyone learns to refine artifacts, they have a record similar to the Three Souls and Seven Spirits, just like trees have rings, something that cannot be faked. However, generally, people do not have the ability to detect this, but it’s different for Saints, who can detect these.

For the same Qiankun Rings, if one cultivator has only three years of refining age, compared to another with five years, the result is self-evident, isn’t it?”

Fairy Die spoke smoothly.

“It turns out to be so, thank you Fairy Die for clearing up my doubts, Shiyin understands now.”

The delicate woman named ‘Shiyin’ finished speaking, bowed respectfully, and then withdrew from the light screen.

Then, several more cultivators with intense emotional fluctuations came forth, corresponding to some of their doubts.

Fairy Die showed no airs whatsoever, nor the slightest dissatisfaction, answering all questions in great detail, and her words remained consistently gentle.

Afterward, there were no cultivators with uncertainties left because those asking had already voiced the majority of what other cultivators had in mind.

With that, the artifact refining competition officially began.

It was also at this moment that a trembling figure, drenched in blood, flew over from afar.

“Ji Wu the Mysterious?”

“How did he end up like this? Why is he so weak?”

“He couldn’t have been schemed against and seriously injured by an enemy, could he? It might be that Zhou Yanxuan the Mysterious dealt a deadly blow!”

“Shut up, does a piece of trash like Ji Wu even need Zhou Yanxuan the Mysterious to deal a deadly blow? Ji Wu has been playing himself, right? He must have been too arrogant and offended a powerful enemy, then got beaten up again.”

“To think that a waste like Ji Wu still dares to call himself a genius, ha, but then again, geniuses without any real ability often encounter disasters.”

“This Ji Wu has made himself neither human nor ghost, thinking that if he loses the artifact refining he won’t lose face, but doesn’t he realize he’s already become a laughingstock?”

“Indeed, an embarrassing spectacle, seeking attention in such a manner, Ji Wu is truly pitiful.”

…

The moment Wu Ji appeared, he immediately stirred up much discussion among the cultivators, but many no longer admired him, even thinking him incompetent.

Thus, apart from a few cultivators who were somewhat puzzled, many whispers were not intentionally hidden and came out openly.

Mocking gazes and inexplicable hisses made Wu Ji entirely unwelcome.

What Zhou Yan had endured before now fell onto Wu Ji. Wu Ji seemed like a face of mockery, almost everywhere regarded with disdain and derision.

Zhou Yan glanced at Wu Ji’s injuries, his pupils subtly contracted—only a Saint could deliver such strength, instantly crushing the robustness of his body.

Zhou Yan could sense that Wu Ji was more powerful than Ji Wu by more than just a bit? It seemed as if Wu Ji had also nearly reached the verge of a combat power of ten, yet Wu Ji was still nearly killed!

After all, which Saint would dare to make a move on Wu Ji?

Zhou Yan’s eyes shifted, but in the next moment, he immediately understood that those who would dare to move against Wu Ji might actually only be Wu Ji’s own parents, so as to ensure the Thunder Origin Sword God would not step in to punish.

That is to say… Wu Ji was dealt a deadly blow by his parents.

“What’s going on? Why would Wu Ji’s parents want to strike him down? If they truly wanted to kill him, Wu Ji would certainly have no power to resist and naturally could not survive, right? Strange, could it be to enhance his artifact refining ability? Does such a method exist in this world?”

Zhou Yan was filled with doubts.