CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 144 A GLIMMER OF HOPE! FREEBIE INHERITANCE_1

"What is this stuff?!"

The Black Blood made contact with other Cultivators and, as if alive, drilled into its targets’ bodies through their mouths, nostrils, eyes, and skin.

"Get out of my body!"

"Can anyone save me?"

Terror seemed to spill from the Cultivator’s eyes. The only Evil Warding Talisman on their body burned quickly, its red halo rapidly fading.

The Black Blood was not expelled; a single Evil Warding Talisman was not enough.

The body inflated like a balloon, expanding continuously.

BOOM!

The Cultivator exploded on the spot, splattering Black Blood in all directions.

The crowd snapped out of their daze and quickly distanced themselves from the contaminated area, fearing even the slightest contact. They looked at the Black Blood with dread, as if it were a devil.

They had just experienced a night attack by Magical Beasts and hadn’t even had time to feel grateful for surviving before this catastrophe occurred.

Panic boiled in the hearts of the Cultivators.

Some couldn’t bear it and screamed frantically, venting their inner terror.

Those who had narrowly escaped wore blank expressions, their futures uncertain.

They were all trapped on this ’isolated island’ known as the Great Wilderness. Who knew how long any of them could survive?

We’re all going to die...

"Stay away from the bizarre blood! Don’t get near it!"

Bizarre blood, a product of cultivators’ contaminated blood, was far less potent than its source. It posed no threat as long as it did not come into contact with Cultivators.

After losing their hosts, the bizarre blood, as if alive, slowly crept towards the depths of the Great Wilderness.

After the battle, the bodies of Cultivators and Magical Beasts were gathered, and the traces of the fight were cleaned up.

Fewer than twenty Cultivators had died, not a large number.

But the panic it caused was severe.

The terrifying sight of Cultivators exploding as the bizarre blood entered their bodies triggered a frantic rush to buy Evil Warding Talismans.

Exchange prices skyrocketed from two hundred to four hundred Market contributions.

Evil Warding Talismans were in short supply and sold out in less than the time it took for half an incense stick to burn.

The Market’s leadership claimed the choicest Evil Warding Talismans, leaving only lower-quality ones in fewer numbers for the public. Crucially, they couldn’t be bought even with Spirit Stones or contributions...

The Inner City became deserted.

The only exception was the residence of the Talisman Makers, where many Cultivators crowded the doorway.

News of a Talisman Master had somehow leaked, and Talisman Master Zhang’s residence attracted a large number of Cultivators seeking talismans, including... other Talisman Makers.

"Brother Zhang, as a fellow member of the Talisman Cultivators’ Association, please sell me a Grandmaster-level Evil Warding Talisman. I’m willing to exchange five portions of Evil-warding Spirit Ink."

"Talisman Master Zhang, I’m willing to spend one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones for a Grandmaster-level Evil Warding Talisman."

If it weren’t for the Meng Family sending guards, the doorstep would have been trampled.

It took Jia Ren quite a while to deliver a hundred Grandmaster-level Evil Warding Talismans inside.

The appearance of Magical Beasts and Bizarre Demons left people in a state of anxiety.

This was only the beginning.

The Great Wilderness was not a place to stay for long.

"How did the Artifact Refining Department’s test flight go?"

Jia Ren harbored high hopes for the Flying Boat Magical Artifact he had crafted for the first time. Eager to learn the results, he hurried to his Cave.

"Daoist Shi, it’s great you’re unharmed. The Market Master wants to see you. Come with me quickly."

Having just experienced the night attack by Magical Beasts, the desire to leave the Great Wilderness Market grew more urgent, and any viable plan was given twice the attention.

The Flying Boat Magical Artifact Jia Ren had crafted, though extreme, was among the best. Its creator, Jia Ren, couldn’t be absent for the maiden flight.

"Master Shi, the Artifact Refinement Department is fortunate to have you join us."

"Your Flying Boat Magical Artifact has significant safety risks. Do you have a solution?"

This was the crucial point.

It was difficult to trust a Magical Artifact with safety hazards.

"To craft an artifact capable of soaring over the Great Wilderness, even a Top-grade Magical Instrument wouldn’t suffice. The only solution is to take an unconventional approach."

"My idea is to combine different Magical Artifacts. The Flying Boat will serve only as a carrier to achieve higher altitudes, while other Magical Artifacts will be used to reinforce it and provide propulsion..."

Jia Ren shared his innovative concept for the Flying Boat.

He had considered keeping his techniques secret.

But then he thought that collaboration could lead to a win-win situation.

Let others conduct the dangerous experiments and supply the materials needed for crafting; he would simply focus on refining his artifact Proficiency Level.

His Artifact Refining experience was still too limited compared to veteran Artifact Refiners. Pooling ideas could speed up the crafting of a Flying Boat Magical Artifact that met the requirements.

When escaping on Flying Boats, multiple vessels would depart together.

If there truly was danger, others would share the risk with him.

Revealing the combination artifact approach had more advantages than disadvantages.

"The structural integrity of combined artifacts can’t compare to one complete, smoothly functioning artifact. However, this method allows us to achieve a level surpassing that of a Top-grade Magical Instrument in a short time."

"What we need is to escape the blockade of the Black Blood Bizarre."

"After escaping, we can switch to using ordinary Flying Artifacts for long-distance travel."

As Jia Ren spoke eloquently, everyone’s eyes lit up with understanding.

Even laymen grasped Jia Ren’s intent.

"Combining Magical Artifacts... seems feasible."

The Market Master and Commerce Guild members all turned their attention to Qi Mu, the head of the Artifact Refinement Department.

"A genius in the Path of Artifacts! This is undoubtedly the best approach right now," Qi Mu praised generously. For the first time, he felt a flicker of hope of escaping the Great Wilderness.

"Daoist Shi, the Artifact Refinement Department will support you fully. Let’s create the Flying Boat Magical Artifact to leave the Great Wilderness together."

"Daoist Shi has given me a new idea! The Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat could be reinforced for a short time with the Thick Earth Seal, a High-Grade Magical Artifact. Its propulsion could be supplemented by the Flowing Fire Flying Box, which is also a Flying Artifact..."

"I believe the Flowing Gold Sand, a Middle-Grade Defense Magical Implement, would be more suitable for reinforcement, and the Fire Cloud Gourd could be used for propulsion..."

The Artifact Refiners eagerly discussed this, exchanging ideas.

"Let’s start the experiments!"

A Qi Refinement Seventh Level Cultivator, the test pilot for the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, nervously eyed the vessel.

The Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, a vessel one zhang in length and lacking the Big or Small Ruyi Inscription, looked different from standard Magical Artifacts.

"Take off!"

The Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat was extremely light, its weight almost imperceptible. However, the inadequate Ride the Wind Inscription and other supporting inscriptions meant its flight and ascent speeds were only half that of a Low-Quality Magical Artifact.

A palm-sized Flowing Fire Flying Box positioned itself beneath the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, expanding to half a zhang in length. Its tail spewed out countless tiny silver sparks, propelling the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat skyward at an alarming speed.

The Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat gradually shrank to a black dot in the sky, eventually becoming indiscernible without activating the Spirit Eye Technique.

Everyone watched intently, fearing the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat might disintegrate in midair.

They gazed into the distance, waiting for the time it took to brew a cup of tea.

When a Flying Boat slowly descended from the sky, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to before departure, fine cracks had appeared on the hull, but fortunately, a midair disintegration had not occurred.

"What was the flight altitude?"

The Cultivator’s face was pale. Barely off the Flying Boat, he almost vomited on the spot. Riding the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat was a nerve-wracking experience, like walking a high wire; it was utterly dreadful.

"I just measured it with a Magic Artifact. The total altitude was 3,652 zhang."

"To go any higher, the Flowing Fire Flying Box lacks sufficient power."

"The Gang Wind in the Ninth Heaven is ferocious, and the Thick Earth Seal can only maintain its integrity for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."

An altitude of over ten li?

What was the previous limit?

At most a thousand zhang; this method had more than tripled the previous altitude limit.

The combined Magic Artifacts’ flight altitude surpassed that of a Top-grade Magical Instrument.

Even in its initial state, it achieved such an effect! With continued improvement, the plan to fly over the Great Wilderness is sure to succeed!

"Is there a way to reinforce the hull?"

The cracks on the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat were alarming. No one wished to experience the disaster of a Flying Boat disintegrating in the Ninth Heaven.

"Sacrificing some Cloud Light Inscriptions for Solid Inscriptions would solve the issue. The only problem is that this would reduce the flight altitude."

"Such a distance is sufficient; safety is paramount."

Qi Mu offered a suggestion, opting for a more secure strategy.

"We only have one chance to try. The slightest mistake will prevent us from leaving the Great Wilderness."

"The altitude needs to be at least two to three times higher," Jia Ren interjected, pouring cold water on their optimism.

An altitude of over 3,600 zhang, which is just over ten li, is far from enough. The Black Blood Bizarre’s range of influence is even greater.

At least doubling this limit again is necessary to ensure absolute safety.

"Such heights are typically achievable only by the Magical Treasures of Golden Core Cultivators skilled in flight..."

The Artifact Refiners knew they faced a terrifying entity capable of instantly killing Golden Core Cultivators; the higher they could fly, the better.

This was already their limit.

To increase it further by two or three times?

Only Magical Treasures could meet such requirements...

For a Magic Artifact to achieve the effect of a Magical Treasure—who could possibly manage that?!

"How do we know without trying?"

Jia Ren was far from being a Cultivator with a rigid mindset.

If the Flowing Fire Flying Box’s propulsion is insufficient, how can its power be enhanced?

Replace it with a High-Grade Flying Artifact for assistance?

Or perhaps... an eight-cylinder engine concept?

If one Flowing Fire Flying Box isn’t enough, what about four? Or eight?

If quality is lacking, compensate with quantity.

The number of Cloud Light Inscriptions couldn’t be reduced; they were crucial for the Flying Boat Magical Artifact to maintain high-altitude flight for extended periods.

Reducing the Cloud Light Inscriptions might briefly increase flight altitude, but it would inevitably descend later.

The higher one flies, the stronger the Nine Heavens Gang Wind becomes, so the defensive strength must be further increased.

To stabilize the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, other methods could be employed, such as layering materials or reinforcing it with various Defense Artifacts.

Alternatively, integrating Formations and Talismans could provide short-term enhancement.

Qi Mu remained silent all along, pondering possible solutions.

"I’ve conceived an improvement for the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat," Qi Mu finally said. "By replacing the refining materials, we should be able to increase its stability. However, the most crucial aspect is to fully utilize the effect of the Cloud Light Inscriptions."

The initial test flight, achieving an altitude more than triple the previous limit, had already given the Artifact Refiners a considerable shock.

It proved their approach was correct.

The next step is to improve the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat’s propulsion, flight altitude, and stability. Solving these three issues will mean the success of the plan to fly over the Great Wilderness.

"Daoist Shi, if you have any requirements, just state them. We will do our utmost to satisfy them."

They had just endured the calamity of the nocturnal Magical Beast attack, and the Flying Boat Magical Artifact intended to traverse the Great Wilderness was still far from completion. Thus, the shadows of doubt lingering in their hearts had not dispelled.

Until this moment, they finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Really?

"I want to draw inspiration from Formations and attempt to integrate them into artifact refining."

"I recall that the Market has Formation inheritances available for exchange. Perhaps studying them could spark some insights through analogy."

Now was the time to take advantage; there was no reason to miss out.

Only at this moment did Jia Ren reveal his fox’s tail.

The Market Master and several Commerce Guild Managers exchanged peculiar glances.

They were all old foxes; what was the point of this charade?

Referencing Formations was just a pretext; his real intention was to obtain the Formation Path inheritance, wasn’t it?

Formations are one of the most challenging cultivation arts to learn and master. How could one possibly learn it with just a few glances?

In the past, they would have turned and walked away without hesitation.

How could they hand over a precious Formation Path inheritance just for the asking, even if he offered a mountain of Spirit Stones?

But now... their lives were more important.

The plan to fly over the Great Wilderness was of unparalleled importance. They had to give Shi Bai a sufficient incentive; only then would he give his all.

"Handing over the Formation Path inheritance to you is not an issue." The Market Master’s gaze, like that of the others present, was fixed intently on Jia Ren. "However, I want to see a suitable Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat within seven days. It must be capable of reaching at least double the current maximum altitude, and it must be stable and secure."

"Rest assured, I will do my utmost."

"The Formation inheritance will be sent to you shortly. We hope you won’t disappoint us."