Chapter 119: Refining

The Wish Stone, even in a world abundant with resources, is exceedingly rare. It is an essential item for cultivators who rely on a vast array of materials for their training. Cultivators require enormous resources, and carrying them conveniently is paramount. The Wish Ring is the best and most practical choice. Even low-level cultivators, if unable to obtain a Wish Ring, will resort to using a simple Wish Pouch.

Once Ling Tian reaches the Qi Transformation stage, he can forge his own Wish Ring. If he acquires a damaged Wish Ring, he can use the Wish Stone to repair it. Given Ling Tian’s current strength, he is capable of restoring rings that are not severely damaged.

After all, the foundation of a damaged Wish Ring has already been established, so repairing it is far easier than forging a new one from scratch.

“Zhao Ming, you and I will leave first. The rest of the work can be handled by Sun Yibin,” Ling Tian said, carefully pocketing the Wish Stone like a precious treasure before stepping out of the workshop. Zhao Ming, puzzled but obedient, followed him out.

The leader scratched his head, watching Ling Tian’s retreating figure with a puzzled expression. “I just don’t get it. It’s just a stone, why get so excited? Could it be that our new boss likes collecting strange stones?”

Sun Yibin was also curious but had long since realized that with Ling Tian’s vision and strength, any stone he values must be extraordinary. He said, “Our boss has no other hobby but collecting various odd stones. If you ever come across one, inform me immediately.”

The leader chuckled naively, “I really don’t understand you guys. What use is a worthless stone? It can’t be used as money or food.”

Sun Yibin smiled silently, knowing this was simply a matter of perspective. From Ling Tian’s lofty viewpoint, the stone might hold immense value; from an ordinary person’s standpoint, it was just an ordinary rock—far less practical than a steamed bun.

After leaving the stone factory, Ling Tian and Zhao Ming took Sun Yibin’s car back to the small courtyard Ling Tian had rented. Having expended most of his true energy in the recent burst, Ling Tian urgently needed to replenish his spiritual energy to activate the Heaven and Earth Inferno, which would purify the Wish Stone.

Upon entering, Ling Tian said to Zhao Ming, “This is the small courtyard I rented. The environment is very good and peaceful.”

Zhao Ming was a bit surprised. Given Ling Tian’s current standing, one would expect his residence to be quite upscale, if not luxurious. Yet, Ling Tian was living in a typical farmhouse courtyard, with waist-high weeds growing around the edges except for the central area.

Stepping inside, Zhao Ming was even more shocked—there were no basic household appliances, not even a bed. What exactly did Ling Tian intend to do here?

Ling Tian seated himself cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Formation and said, “I need to cultivate. Find a place to sit wherever you like.”

Zhao Ming nodded, having grown accustomed to Ling Tian’s many extraordinary behaviors. Even if Ling Tian now claimed to be a living immortal trained deep in the mountains, Zhao Ming would find it hardly unbelievable—Ling Tian’s actions were already beyond ordinary comprehension.

After some time, the spiritual energy within the formation had accumulated sufficiently. Under the refining effect of the formation, the purity was impressively high. Entering a meditative state, Ling Tian absorbed the spiritual energy voraciously, his resilient meridians and body allowing such intense absorption.

Within less than a minute, the spiritual energy gathered by the formation had been completely absorbed by Ling Tian. However, his true energy had only partially recovered, forcing him to slow his intake.

After about three hours, Ling Tian emerged from meditation, his true energy restored to half.

“The Wish Stone is indeed a fine treasure, but it has too many impurities,” Ling Tian murmured, taking out the Wish Stone and letting it float before his eyes under the control of his true energy, weightless as if in space. Then he summoned the Heaven and Earth Inferno—flames of deep crimson swiftly enveloped the stone.

Zhao Ming, having just woken from a nap on the grass, witnessed this astonishing scene. Startled, he rubbed his eyes hard and focused intently on the spectacle, curious about what kind of cultivation Ling Tian practiced, which seemed nothing like what was shown on television.

The Heaven and Earth Inferno was of a lower grade, and Ling Tian’s strength was insufficient to release intense heat. After burning for about half an hour, the Wish Stone only softened slightly, showing no signs of melting. “The Wish Stone lives up to its reputation,” Ling Tian bit his lip and said softly.

The true energy he had painstakingly accumulated was once again depleted. Fortunately, the Spirit Gathering Formation continued to gather spiritual energy ceaselessly, allowing Ling Tian to absorb it and avoid interruption in refining the stone. However, the power of the Heaven and Earth Inferno was greatly diminished.

After another half hour, Ling Tian’s true energy was completely exhausted. Essentially, the formation collected some energy, Ling Tian absorbed it, and it was immediately consumed by the inferno. Ling Tian sighed; if only he had spirit stones. Unfortunately, resources were scarce, and the search for spirit stones and heavenly materials had only just begun.

Just as Ling Tian was about to give up, the Wish Stone melted, transforming into a floating liquid mass in midair, shifting shapes like spilled water inside a space capsule. Joy surged within Ling Tian as he immediately began purifying it, removing all impurities from the Wish Stone.

Eventually, only a glass marble-sized drop of liquid remained. Under the guidance of his divine sense, it gradually took shape in the air, forming an ancient, black ring that finally landed in Ling Tian’s hand.

“First, I’ll forge it into the shape of a ring. Once my strength is sufficient, I’ll refine it into a proper Wish Ring,” Ling Tian said, slipping the ring onto his middle finger—it fit perfectly. “Opening a space and forging a Wish Ring require far more divine sense than I have right now,” he added with some regret. Then he glanced at Zhao Ming, who had already fallen asleep on the grass, and smiled gently.

Ling Tian rose and searched the house for a set of camping sleeping bags. He infused a trace of true energy into Zhao Ming’s body to enhance his physical condition, then tucked him into the sleeping bag.

“Brother, get some good rest. I still need to cultivate for a while longer. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out to explore,” Ling Tian said with a faint smile.

Returning to the Spirit Gathering Formation, Ling Tian took out a large golden stone—the Skybright Stone.

“This thing is too big; carrying it around is too troublesome,” Ling Tian muttered as he summoned the Heaven and Earth Inferno again to refine the Skybright Stone. Though large, it contained more impurities than the Wish Stone. Fortunately, it was easier to refine, and under the inferno’s blaze, it melted in less than a minute.

After purification, only a droplet remained. Ling Tian shaped it into a small sphere and affixed it to the ring as an embellishment. At first glance, it appeared to be a golden gem. To prevent the Skybright Stone’s aura from leaking, Ling Tian stubbornly inscribed a concealed formation on the ring to shield its presence.

Though no other cultivators in this world were known to use divine sense like Ling Tian, the world was vast, and his exposure limited. Should someone emerge with similar abilities, it could attract their covetousness. The Skybright Stone was exceptionally rare, capable not only of enhancing divine sense but also aiding cultivators in dispelling inner demons and stabilizing their divine core.

For low-level cultivators, the Wish Stone was the most precious; for high-level cultivators, the Skybright Stone was invaluable.

Either one could easily provoke the envy of other cultivators.

Ling Tian closed his eyes once more, entering meditation and ravenously absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy to replenish his nearly depleted dantian.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already past eight in the morning. After a night of replenishment, his true energy had recovered nearly half, and his divine sense was fully restored. The refined Skybright Stone’s effects had multiplied several times, continually nurturing his divine sense and stabilizing his divine core.

Stretching his body, Ling Tian glanced at the still-sleeping Zhao Ming and smiled warmly. This was probably the soundest sleep Zhao Ming had had in years.

A knock came at the door. After several knocks, Zhang Ding opened it himself and walked in. Looking at Zhao Ming wrapped in a sleeping bag on the grass, then at Ling Tian examining silverleaf grass, he wore a puzzled expression.

“Boss, are you guys having a camping party in the courtyard? Why are you sleeping outside?”

Ling Tian smiled and said, “This is my good brother. You’ll get to know him better in time.”

Awakened by the knocking, Zhao Ming saw himself swaddled in a sleeping bag, with Ling Tian and a stranger examining something in the corner. He rose and introduced himself to Zhang Ding, then crouched beside them, curious to see what Ling Tian was up to.

Zhao Ming’s eyes settled on a small emerald-green snake coiled on an unusual bamboo stalk, lifting its triangular head warily to scan its surroundings.

“You little fellow, so responsible. Guard well. When the silverleaf grass grows, I’ll give you a leaf to eat,” Ling Tian chuckled heartily, reaching out to catch the bamboo leaf green snake and holding it in his palm.

“Ling Tian, that’s a bamboo leaf green snake—extremely venomous. One bite and it’s over,” Zhao Ming hurriedly warned.

“No worries,” Ling Tian smiled, looking down at the snake in his palm. Having learned from previous lessons and carrying the aura of the Cock’s Crest Snake King’s inner core, the bamboo leaf green snake behaved meekly, resting obediently in his palm while its little head looked around.

When did the bamboo leaf green snake become so docile? Could this be Ling Tian’s pet?

Heavens! Who would have thought someone would keep such a venomous snake as a pet!

“Go back and guard well,” Ling Tian said, sending a trace of true energy to the snake before placing it back on the silverleaf grass. The snake immediately entwined itself around the grass’s emerald stalks, blending in perfectly unless one looked closely. It seemed unwilling to leave, knowing that being with the silverleaf grass brought immense benefits. Even the nourishment of spiritual energy alone was enough to greatly benefit the snake.