Chapter 481: Grandmaster Ren.
While Hao Ren was sitting inside his mansion comprehending everything inside his mind and learning the body refining arts and the other things, he found a method to refine a grandmaster hammer for himself. However, his hammer didn't need the small needle inside his hammer.
The technique that Tang San created in his lifetime was half a research, and he had imparted it to Hao Ren without holding back. The young man used his own comprehensions and came up with a simple plan that would change the face of element fusion in the refining world.
The needle penetrating through the surface of the metal would decrease the integrity of the artifact. So, the next best way was to refine the artifact with a hollow as thin as a human hair. The structure won't be compromised and the elemental ink material could be placed inside. Well, that was what Tang Sen thought.
Hao Ren came up with the idea to change the process a little, by mixing the ink inside the heated metal. After coming upon the idea he got to work. So, he smelted some metal, namely, Tungsten steel, Moon Copper, and Titan Dust.
The three metals together formed a compound that was called, Star Refined Alloy. Hao Ren smelted the metal in his flames, and then he placed the hot smoldering chunk on the anvil before wielding his heaviest hammer, and swung it down to hit it hard.
The repeated strikes caused the metal to take shape and when it was half way done, Hao Ren covered the wind and water elemental ink within spiritual bubble, and then he manipulated it to form the rune shape.
The rune inside the bubble was placed upon the blade and then Hao Ren began to fold the metal within itself with the help of his hammer. He was patient, and precise, he left a pocket for himself to latch a thread of spiritual energy inside the folds and that way he would have a better connection to the bubble inside.
To top it off, he used his Yin and Yang eyes and observed the movement of the ink inside the folds. Every few hits, he would adjust the striking pattern a little to make sure that the strikes help the ink move in the direction and shape he desired it to.
The process was difficult but he had to go through with it regardless of anything. The refining room echoed with hammer strikes, while the rest of the world was enveloped in an eerie silence. The fall of the northern director of the council had caused great loss. The two other districts were competing for soliciting powers. After all, the southern director was burnt to death, and the northern director dared to challenge the refining saint's spirit phantom.
The director of the eastern district sat with Samaira and asked, "You knew that Hao Ren was capable of something like this?"
Samaira shook her head as she sighed and said, "You overestimate my capabilities, Brother Yao. Do you know that I had all the intention to throw him inside the sword refining camp? This guy rose through the ranks within three weeks, and if I tried to suppress him knowingly it would cost me a great deal of trust among my workers."
Director Yao was slightly older than Samaira but he was younger than the two fallen counterparts. The young man thought for a bit and asked, "How about we just leave the eastern and the western councils? This way we will be successfully dividing the left over supporters left in the south and the north. And also deter those who dream to fly high."
Samaira replied, "What you said makes sense but it won't be easy, also after the appearance of the saint and his support for Master Ren, we are sitting on eggs."
Yao nodded as he frowned while saying, "What a high level variable this guy is. He alone can take command of the city and leave us out of it. There is only one option, bring him in the fold. However, looking at how cunning he is, I doubt he will agree with us."
Samaira nodded while thinking, you underestimate his cunning Yao, be careful or you will suffer.
…
While the two old people were discussing the matters of power dynamics. Hao Ren was busy refining the artifact to another level. He had finished folding the metal layer by layer, and was now releasing the spiritual bubble around the ink.
As he slowly allowed the ink to flow out of the bubble and assume the rune shape intended for it. He realized that it wasn't as easy as he thought it would be in his mind. Controlling the spiritual bubble that was connected to a microscopic thread of spiritual energy, was proving to be more time consuming than the rest of the process because he had to pull the entire spiritual energy around the ink back out of the artifact.
The theory was to slowly let the spiritual energy churn and braid itself into a thread and flow out of the microscopic hole. This hole didn't leave a structural vulnerability in the artifact because Hao Ren had planned the positioning very well.
He was using his Yin and Yang eyes not only to see through things but to detect the better designs that he thought about.
After half an hour, the spiritual energy was pulled out and the ink had stabilized as Hao Ren used a negligible amount of flames to soften the core of the sword and used the expansion theory to plug the microscopic leaks.
Then he quenched the artifact and after the water transformed into vapors he sighed and said, "Such an idiot. I could have directly caused the spiritual energy to evaporate."
*Glad that you learned something new. Also, for self teaching yourself, you are rewarded with the comprehension of a hundred such geniuses in the field of artifact reminding.*
Ignoring the system the young man began to examine his artifact. The sword was three feet tall, two inches at the tip and three inches wide. The edge was sharp and the blade was simple. He looked at the hilt of the sword and carved out an intricate line pattern.
After he finished inspections, he thought about it and approved of the weapon but only as a prototype. The young man had taken it upon himself to develop a better rune inscription method and today was just a partial failure.
Hao Ren calmed down and began to go along with the second refining attempt but then he froze and began to comprehend whatever he has learned from the first refining onto his halo.
The sword on the table was glowing with dim lights. The young man had no idea that it was caused by the elemental might contained within the blade. This was his first Grandmaster Sword, and he was learning something new every moment.
One of the examples of this situation was how and compared the colour of the dim glow emitting from the bladee with the other blades of the same level he has seen in Old Hephi's workshops.
When he compared it to the same level, he found that his artifact was just slightly better in terms of smooth conduct. However, when he tried attacking a vacant target with the sword energy, he realized that the attack had caused the void to split.
After all the tests and all the hard work, he had to take this blade to the council tower and see how things were there. He changed his clothes and dashed away to the council building. On the way he found that the people were avoiding him like a plague but they had a big smile on their faces.
Hao Ren wondered if this was the impact of Tang San's ultimatum. While wondering he came to the western and eastern hall union and noticed the change in the environment. Unable to put his fingers on the changes. He looked at the receptionist who smiled and said,"Take this blade, and test it properly."
The receptionist asked, "Should I test it for advanced Spirit weapon?"
Hao Ren nodded and paid the fees before he walked up to the Nirvana Hammer and sat down before it to comprehend things that he had not seen yet. He was just showing off his ability to touch the spiritual artifact of this level and refreshing the memory of the people who still has I'll intentions.
After ten minutes, the lady rushed over to him. She bowed and said, "My lord, the answer has been confirmed. This is a rank two advanced spiritual artifact."
Hao Ren opened his eyes and he was surprised to hear that this first time refined and experimental artifact managed to reach this level. He said, "It's good. Thank you."
He collected the sword back, bowed his head to the hammer before turning around and leaving the hall. Behind him was a wave of murmurs, Hao Ren was now the youngest Grandmaster of the city.
As he reached back home, Hao Ren's gaze turned sharp because it was now the time to hunt.