Chapter 114: Alchemy and Craftsmanship

"Junior Brother Fengchen, I have made my decision. I intend to take Yang Xiao under my own tutelage, so I cannot hand him over to you. However, should another outstanding disciple join us in the future, I will personally ensure they are assigned to your sect," Master Duanjian said, stroking his beard.

"Since you have spoken, Senior Brother Duanjian, I must defer to your judgment. You are the Sect Master, after all, and I trust you would not deceive me. If another promising talent joins the Heaven Sword Sect, I shall certainly claim them then," the purple-robed cultivator replied, sounding disappointed yet respectful.

"I keep my promises. Next time, I will let you choose first. Since I am the one deciding, the other junior brothers will surely not contend with you," Master Duanjian added with a smile.

"Very well, it is a deal. If I truly had to compete for them, I would be no match for you seniors," the purple-robed cultivator said, scratching his head.

The other cultivators could not help but laugh.

Once the decision was made, Master Duanjian dismissed his junior brothers. He then met with Yang Xiao again and said, "Yang Xiao, I am formally promoting you to the rank of elite disciple and intend to take you as my apprentice. Are you willing?"

Before Yang Xiao could respond, Chen Ping nodded and smiled, saying, "To have Master Duanjian personally instruct you, Junior Brother Yang Xiao, is truly your good fortune."

"I naturally accept the Sect Master's arrangements. Disciple greets his Master," Yang Xiao replied, bowing deeply in reverence.

"Excellent. As my disciple, you require a mountain for your cultivation. I hereby bestow upon you Luoxia Mountain so that you may practice in peace. I shall also grant you some medicinal pills. I may not have much time to instruct you personally, but you may attend lectures at the Martial Hall; it will be of great benefit to your foundational techniques. Should you need to see me, you may contact me via this high-grade transmission talisman, which functions within a range of one million miles. Additionally, here is a token exclusive to you. With it, you may enter and exit the Heaven Sword Sect freely, and it will also allow you to open certain restrictions on Luoxia Mountain." With these words, Master Duanjian handed Yang Xiao several pills, the talisman, and the token.

"Thank you for your generosity, Master," Yang Xiao replied with a bow.

"Chen Ping, take Yang Xiao to Luoxia Mountain. You should also offer your guidance to your junior brother from time to time," Master Duanjian instructed.

"I shall obey your command, Master. However, while I can escort Junior Brother Yang to Luoxia Mountain, asking me to guide him is a difficult request. Although my cultivation is higher, I am not necessarily his match in combat, so I dare not claim to 'guide' him," Chen Ping said, shaking his head.

"You are mistaken. Our Heaven Sword Sect possesses countless techniques. While Yang Xiao has mastered the Peerless Sword Manual, he is surely lacking in other areas, so it would be quite appropriate for you to provide guidance," Master Duanjian countered.

"Indeed, I have much to learn about the Heaven Sword Sect, and I will certainly need to consult Senior Brother Chen Ping," Yang Xiao added humbly.

"Good. You two should stand united and improve together. Now, off you go to Luoxia Mountain," Master Duanjian said.

Chen Ping and Yang Xiao departed the Master's residence and flew toward Luoxia Mountain, a nearby peak. The mountain was lush with spiritual energy, and dwellings had already been constructed, sparing Yang Xiao the trouble of building his own. It was clear that Master Duanjian was very thoughtful regarding his disciples.

"Junior Brother Yang Xiao, you are now an elite disciple with your own mountain. This is truly a cause for celebration. Now that we have arrived at Luoxia Mountain, my task is complete, and I should head back. If you need anything, do not hesitate to come to my residence," Chen Ping said.

Yang Xiao exchanged a few polite pleasantries and saw Chen Ping off. Afterward, he surveyed Luoxia Mountain. It was indeed an excellent place, with scenery made vibrant and majestic by the abundant spiritual energy, appearing much like a legendary fairyland.

The main hall contained various rooms, including a reception area, study, living quarters, and chambers for alchemy and weapon forging. Yang Xiao was most interested in the latter, as he had pills and artifacts to refine.

Upon entering the alchemy and forging chamber, Yang Xiao inspected the facilities and found them to be of superior quality. The geothermal fire channeled from beneath the earth was pure and featured adjustable intensity—a perfect environment for his work.

Using his token, he activated the restrictions on Luoxia Mountain, allowing him to focus entirely on his craft. Having gathered all the necessary materials beforehand, the process proceeded smoothly.

Before long, the Dragon Snake Sword underwent a profound transformation, leaping from a high-grade spiritual weapon to a spirit treasure. Moreover, thanks to the mysterious jade fragment, the quality of this spirit treasure was exceptional, rivaling even mid-grade spirit treasures—a development that left Yang Xiao overjoyed.

Refining a spirit treasure is notoriously difficult. Even the most skilled blacksmiths often face failure, especially when attempting to upgrade an existing weapon, which carries an even higher risk. Most would choose to start from scratch rather than risk ruining the original, as the success rate is remarkably low and the effort often deemed not worth the cost.

However, starting from scratch wastes significant time, which is why true spirit treasures remain rare. With the help of the mysterious jade fragment, these concerns vanished. Regardless of the complexity, Yang Xiao could easily succeed, and the results were of the highest caliber. It was clear the jade fragment itself was a rare and priceless treasure.

Yang Xiao pondered the origins of the jade fragment once more, but he remained unable to fathom its nature.

Unable to discern its secret, he decided to stop dwelling on it and returned to his alchemy. He had two types of pills to refine: Qi Condensation Pills and Creation Pills. He intended to test their efficacy to see which was better suited for his cultivation, thereby preparing himself for his upcoming period of deep seclusion.