Gu Zuo’s thoughts moved. Then, a weaver shuttle that was one inch long appeared in his hand. Its entire body was a silvery-gray color. Although it had already shrunk to this extent, it still gave others a mysterious feeling — Now, he realized that this type of mysterious feeling stemmed from the sensation of spacetime.
To be honest, he greatly admired the Xiao Clan for being able to obtain this kind of object.
It was just that...he didn’t understand why it wasn’t enough to use a drop of blood to refine it. Why did he need to use his psychic power, too?
[Spirit weapons are defined as weapons with spirituality, and they are generally divided into grades according to the spirituality. Basic use only requires shallow refinement with internal qi, but it is easy to be snatched away by someone else. Thus, it can be further refined by using a drop of blood. Normally, a spirit weapon refined in this manner can be placed inside one’s qi ocean to be nurtured. However, even if the compatibility with the owner is relatively high, after being taken by a martial artist whose internal qi realm far exceeds that of the owner, any traces of the previous refinement will be erased, which will allow its use. Damage to the spirit weapon will not cause harm the owner.
[Now, it can be refined even further with one’s own life and heart’s blood. After refining, this kind of spirit weapon is placed within a martial artist’s qi ocean and nurtured for a long time. At this point, the compatibility with the owner will be at the highest level. Through nurturing and increasing the owner’s strength, it can also improve its own product rank. The result of this improvement depends on the owner’s strength and the spirit weapon’s aptitude. Unless the owner dies, it cannot be snatched away. However, damage to the spirit weapon will cause harm to the owner. With the first two methods of refinement, the spirit weapon can be exchanged at any time. But a life-bound, natal spirit weapon cannot be exchanged. One qi ocean can only accommodate one natal spirit weapon.]
Gu Zuo nodded his head.
He had a rough understanding of these things, but never to such a meticulous degree.
Though, the system still didn’t say anything about using psychic power for refinement.
[The aforementioned are the methods martial artists use to refine spirit weapons. However, spirit weapons are not only suitable for martial artists. They are also suitable for pharmacists. As far as pharmacists are concerned, internal qi can only be used to refine medicine and maintain one’s own long lifespan. It cannot be used to take action externally with martial skills. Therefore, there is a big difference in the refinement of spirit weapons between pharmacists and martial artists.
[Pharmacists cannot use the vast majority of spirit weapons, but there are a small portion that can be utilized. For this portion of spirit weapons, a type of refining material known as Galvanized White Iron is incorporated during the forging process. It is just that Galvanized White Iron conflicts with most refining materials. As a result, there are very few spirit weapons suitable for pharmacists. When a pharmacist refines a spirit weapon, the simple recognition of an owner with a drop of blood can only accomplish a shallow level of utilization. Normally, this method is used for refining defensive-type spirit weapons. And if one wants to have complete control over a spirit weapon, they must simultaneously inject their psychic power, and stamp their own psychic brand onto the spirit weapon. Afterwards, the spirit weapon will be placed inside their own Tianfu Acupoint and nurtured for a long time with psychic power, which will gradually improve the tacit understanding between the pharmacist and spirit weapon.
[The more powerful the spirit weapon is, the harder it will be to completely refine it. However, so long as the pharmacist’s psychic power is strong enough, the Tianfu Acupoint can accommodate multiple spirit weapons. These are not considered natal spirit weapons, per se. However, after refining, they will automatically be prioritized according to their own strengths and weaknesses. The more powerful a spirit weapon is, the closer it will be to the center of the Tianfu Acupoint.]
Once Gu Zuo finished listening, he gained a better understanding.
Based on this, pharmacists really had very few choices for spirit weapons... He thought about it again. Back then, he obtained that black cloak from the Tomb of the Human King. It was said to be mysterious and powerful. Not even Human King Yan Ruo was able to dig out all of its secrets. Previously, he had only shallowly refined the cloak. As such, should he use his psychic power for further refining so it could be stored and nurtured in his Tianfu Acupoint?
Gu Zuo suddenly asked.
[Can the Void-Breaking Shuttle only be refined by a pharmacist?]
The system’s answer was swift.
[A martial artist also possesses mental power. As one of the refining materials, Galvanized White Iron will not negatively affect the martial artist’s refining process. However, while there are extremely few spirit weapons that can only produce the best effects after being refined by a pharmacist and controlled with psychic power, the Void-Breaking Shuttle is not included among them.]
Gu Zuo understood.
Yes. Although the Xiao Clan had that soul pill pharmacist, their true inheritance wasn’t the path of medicine refinement. Since the Void-Breaking Shuttle was left behind, it was clear that this thing could be used by martial artists!
At this time, Gu Zuo turned his head, and looked at Gongyi Tianheng.
There was a smile on Tianheng’s face.
Gu Zuo was a little embarrassed.
Just a moment ago, he was chattering with the system for so long. Meanwhile, he had been ignoring his big brother on the side the entire time...
Hence, Gu Zuo told Tianheng about his conversation with the system. After that, he said: “Big brother, it would be for the best that you refine the Void-Breaking Shuttle. It won’t be particularly useful if it’s given to me. On the contrary, when big brother is out adventuring, if you encounter danger, you can control the Void-Breaking Shuttle to save yourself.”
Meanwhile, Tianheng shook his head: “The Void-Breaking Shuttle’s might is boundless. If it’s going to be refined, it must be refined into a natal spirit weapon to completely control it. As far as I’m concerned, any natal spirit weapon should be compatible with the attributes of my qi oceans, and I’m afraid that it’s not suitable. If it’s refined by Ah Zuo, there won’t be anything to worry about.”
Gu Zuo was conflicted: “If I encounter danger, I can escape into the Divine Medicine Palace Hall...”
Tianheng smiled: “Nevertheless, Ah Zuo will have something he can completely control to protect himself. This elder brother will feel reassured.”
— It was obvious that this object would be desperately fought over among martial artists, but between these two people, it was being pushed back and forth. Both of them were thinking about the other’s safety and wellbeing.
Gu Zuo heard the words of his dear big brother. Naturally, his heart felt sweet and happy. Moreover, he also understood his big brother’s meaning. Tianheng still didn’t particularly trust the system that much.
This wasn’t surprising. While Gu Zuo had long guessed what the system was, when all was said and done, it hadn’t been confirmed. Although, when it came to himself, he actually trusted the system quite a bit. He could have conversations in his consciousness at the drop of a hat, but big brother couldn’t hear them. With big brother’s nature, it was normal for him not to trust the system, right?
Thinking along these lines, Gu Zuo was a little gloomy.
If big brother could hear his conversations with the system, that would be great.
Hence, Gu Zuo couldn’t help but talk to the system.
[Is it possible for big brother to listen to our conversations, too? Or maybe, he can directly join in?]
The system’s voice was steady and flat.
[The guardian contract has already upgraded to Life and Death Companions. It can be done.]
Gu Zuo: “...”
Then, why didn’t the system bring it up just a while ago, and let him waste so much time to pass everything along?!
Gu Zuo took a deep breath. After that, he turned his head: “Big brother, the system told me that we can simultaneously communicate with it now.”
Tianheng slightly raised an eyebrow: “Oh?”
Gu Zuo had a deadpan expression.
[System, how should it be done?]
At the exact same time, the system’s voice didn’t only resound inside Gu Zuo’s mind, it also echoed within Tianheng’s mind as well.
[In the future, should the host allow it, three people can hold a simultaneous conversation.]
Tianheng perceived the voice transmitted in his mind. His gaze darkened slightly.
[System?]
The system’s voice was still rigid and inflexible.
[The host’s big brother. Greetings.]
Gu Zuo silently wiped the sweat off his forehead.
It was fine as long as the system didn’t say “the host’s patron”...
Tianheng smiled.
[In the future, I’ll have to ask the system to give plenty of advice.]
This time, the system didn’t answer to any questions.
It just made a sound. It seemed to only be for the sake of showing its presence, and to indicate that it could indeed talk to them... That was all.
Gu Zuo’s voice also appeared.
[Big brother, you can refine the Void-Breaking Shuttle now, right?]
Tianheng pulled Gu Zuo over, and pinched his cheek.
[No. It’s still Ah Zuo who’s going to refine it.]
After Gu Zuo was pinched, he covered his cheek: “...”
Previously, it didn’t matter if he was treated like a child and his cheeks were pinched all the time. But weren’t they already dating now? Why was big brother still pinching him?
He felt slightly more gloomy.
Tianheng looked at Gu Zuo who was angry, but didn’t voice his grievances. He couldn’t help finding this amusing. He ruffled Gu Zuo’s hair, and raised another question in his consciousness.
[How much psychic power is necessary to refine the Void-Breaking Shuttle? Are there any dangers for Ah Zuo to refine it with his psychic power?]
This time around, the system responded.
[Psychic powers of the Nurturing Psyche Realm and above can refine the Void-Breaking Shuttle. To avoid the situation of an inadequate supply, the host can keep on hand wondrous medicines that can replenish psychic power. Just as a precaution.]
Gu Zuo nodded his head.
This wasn’t a problem at all.
In that case...he would start refining now.
During the actual refining process, it wasn’t going to be that difficult.
Whether it was the path of martial arts or the path of spirituality, when recognizing an owner with a drop of blood, the purer the blood used, the closer the connection with the spirit weapon.
As a result, what Gu Zuo squeezed out was a drop of heart’s blood.
And the instant he forced out the drop of heart’s blood, his complexion turned a shade paler.
The heart’s blood dripped onto the Void-Breaking Shuttle. Almost instantly, a layer of silvery-white radiance appeared on the shuttle. These rays of light seemed to ripple. In a split second, the heart’s blood was completely absorbed. The shuttle was dyed with fine lines of blood, which criss-crossed into a circuit-like network that enveloped the entire Void-Breaking Shuttle.
Right at this time, the space between Gu Zuo’s brows heated up, and a wisp of pure psychic power erupted. It similarly fell onto the Void-Breaking Shuttle. In the blink of an eye, the psychic power was continuously injected into the blood circuitry. Little by little, the entire Void-Breaking Shuttle was encapsulated.
The moment the network of blood circuits appeared, Gu Zuo could already sense a faint bloodline connection with the Void-Breaking Shuttle. And once the psychic power permeated and combined with the blood circuitry, that feeling wasn’t just a bloodline connection. Instead, it was like the shuttle had assimilated within his psychic power. It became a slightly protruding and craggy cobblestone that formed whirlpools and eddies in the long river of his psychic power.
It was obvious that, as his psychic power continuously accumulated and developed, this “cobblestone” would be reshaped until it was incomparably smooth and round. After a period of time passed, it would become a portion of his psychic power that fitted perfectly together.
At last, Gu Zuo opened his eyes. A spirited light blossomed within his gaze.
It was also at this moment that a psychic brand, which belonged exclusively to Gu Zuo, firmly pressed onto the core of the Void-Breaking Shuttle!
At this time, Gu Zuo gained an extreme understanding of the shuttle. Whether it was how to control it, how to replenish its energy, or what its special properties were, everything was clear to him.
As it turned out, although the Void-Breaking Shuttle was a spirit weapon that straddled the paths of spirituality and martial arts, and both sides could refine it, because it bore the spacetime attribute, it required at least a Cosmic Realm martial artist to truly be capable of piloting it.
This was also why ordinary spirit weapons only needed internal qi to be poured into them, but the Void-Breaking Shuttle still needed its energy replenished. With only Gu Zuo and Tianheng, these two people, their internal qi ranks definitely weren’t adequate!
To put it simply, it was because Cosmic Realms and above needed to use source crystals to cultivate. The energy they utilized was also source energy. As a result, even treasured crystals were barely enough to pilot the Void-Breaking Shuttle. Therefore, they needed the source sand to make up the deficiency.
Moreover, for this trip back to the other world, because the energies of the treasured crystals and source sand weren’t enough to totally stimulate the Void-Breaking Shuttle, and they would also use the added support of the incomplete five-elements cycle of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects, the trip would certainly be incredibly dangerous...
At this point, Gu Zuo truly understood all the reasons for the recommendations given by the system.
Once Gu Zuo finished refining the Void-Breaking Shuttle, Tianheng watched it grow to become a little more than a foot long. He asked: “Ah Zuo, how is it?”
Gu Zuo breathed a sigh of relief: “It’s refined.” He mentioned all the discoveries just now, and said, “However, I still can’t distinguish the Void-Breaking Shuttle’s rank. I can only vaguely sense that the spirituality within the shuttle’s core is dormant, and I can’t make any judgments. However, since it needs a Cosmic Realm to be used, the lowest it should be is a heaven-level spirit weapon. Its spirituality should also be eighty percent or above.”
Tianheng faintly nodded: “Since it’s like this, you can nurture it first.”
Gu Zuo heeded these words. His thoughts moved, and the Void-Breaking Shuttle was placed inside his Tianfu Acupoint.
Following this, Tianheng spoke: “Matters shouldn’t be delayed. Ah Zuo, you’ll stay here to take care of Uncle Zhao. I’ll go to that tropical rainforest to retrieve that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object.”
Gu Zuo paused. Shortly thereafter, he nodded his head: “In that case, have a safe trip, big brother.”
Although he also wanted to take a look, his father’s health was more important. He trusted that Tianheng would bring back the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object without any problems.”
T/N: Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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