The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Captured the Villainous Demon Venerable - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: That Didn’t Count, Let’s Do It Again.

…Telling lies too many times led to the other person completely disregarding your genuine feelings when you finally revealed them, which could be considered self-inflicted.

However, even at that time, she had good feelings for Yun Wushang, just not as…

…deeply ingrained as now.

Even after being caged, she took pleasure in it. The moment their eyes met, she would lose control of her body, drawn to her like a magnet, losing her rationality like a moth to a flame.

Never mind, since things have come to this, let’s cultivate first.

Mo Xun sat cross-legged, but just before she entered a state of meditation, she suddenly remembered something and called out to the System in her mind: System, the second stage mission is complete. What about the third stage mission?

She knew something was missing. Accustomed to inventing ways to gain reward points from Yun Wushang every day, she felt empty inside when there were suddenly no missions.

The System replied: The third stage mission is a long-term one. I judged that I could tell the Host later, so I didn’t mention it. If the Host wants to know, I can tell the Host now.

Mo Xun: Tell me now.

Mo Xun replied mentally, wondering at the same time: The third stage mission is a long-term mission, which means the first and second stage missions were short-term missions?

I completed the short-term missions only after crossing a realm. Will the long-term mission require crossing two or three realms?

The third stage mission and rewards are: The System paused before continuing: [One, earn 10 million spirit stones, and you can instantly advance one realm. The starting realm is decided by the Host. Two, break through to the Mahayana stage, and you can gain a special ability.

Mo Xun: “…”

This mission was indeed very long-term.

10 million spirit stones… If she could genuinely earn that much spiritual stone wealth, she could probably advance one realm simply by absorbing the spiritual qi within those stones herself.

Mahayana stage… She was only at the Early Integration stage now. Above that were Mid-Integration, Late-Integration, and Great Perfection. Above Integration were Void Refinement and Body Fusion, and only then came the Mahayana stage.

Neither mission could be completed immediately.

However, Mo Xun also noticed a problem.

Mo Xun: What does this mission have to do with Yun Wushang?

What happened to the goal of “conquering Yun Wushang”? The first stage involved intimate contact with Yun Wushang, and the second stage involved deep contact with Yun Wushang. Even if the third stage couldn’t progress further, there should at least be a mission to get married to Yun Wushang, shouldn’t there?

System: Is the Host disappointed?

Mo Xun: Nonsense.

System: Of course, I set these missions to help the Host conquer Yun Wushang! Strength is also a form of charm. Raising your realm helps increase your charm and enhance your attraction to Yun Wushang!

Mo Xun: Fine, whatever you say.

Mo Xun always felt the System had another purpose, but with her current strength, she was not qualified to probe that purpose. She could only follow the System’s instructions for now, and in the process, try to gather as much information as possible.

Mo Xun: Break through to the Mahayana stage to gain a special ability. What special ability?

System: I can’t tell the Host yet, but I can reveal in advance that after possessing that special ability, the Host will know why you came to this world, why you must conquer Yun Wushang, and why you have 100% evasion.

Mo Xun thought, What does me transmigrating to this world to conquer Yun Wushang have to do with me having 100% evasion? It’s not going to suddenly tell me that this world is a game and give me a game panel so I can become the Fourth Great Calamity, is it?

If so, I’ll first adjust the combat power of myself and Yun Wushang to be at the peak of the world, at least twice as high as the third strongest!

After letting her imagination run wild for a while, Mo Xun finally pulled her thoughts back to reality.

10 million spiritual stones… She might not be able to earn that much by refining pills alone. Coming here to learn artifact refining was truly the right decision.

The two women met each other’s eyes, and in the next instant, they both looked away.

Mo Xun didn’t ask Yun Wushang if she had dealt with the body of the Integration stage cultivator, or how she had dealt with it, but Mo Xun wasn’t worried. She believed Yun Wushang would handle it flawlessly.

The Outer Sect Elder who greeted them yesterday seemed somewhat preoccupied today, but she still approached Mo Xun: “Junior Mo Xun, you just joined yesterday. Today, I will explain the basics of artifact refining to you individually first.”

Although Yun Wushang had also just joined and was standing right there, she was completely ignored.

The cultivation world was always like this: those with high talent were like stars surrounded by the moon, while those with low talent were overlooked.

Fortunately, Yun Wushang’s heart wasn’t set on this, and she wished everyone around her would ignore her. Except for Mo Xun.

“The steps of artifact refining can be summarized into five parts…”

The Outer Sect Elder began to explain to Mo Xun, but she was interrupted right after she started.

Mo Xun: “I know: material identification, fire condensation, shaping, array inscription, and spirit nurturing.”

The Outer Sect Elder looked surprised: “How do you know?”

“I have a divine sense jade token inscribed with the Fundamentals of Artifact Refining and read it once before joining the Immortal Sect,” Mo Xun replied.

A divine sense jade token is used to inscribe memories onto a specific jade token for others to read. Most divine sense jade tokens record knowledge, but some wicked people also inscribe indecent scenes on the tokens to corrupt people’s minds.

Mo Xun found this divine sense jade token inscribed with the Fundamentals of Artifact Refining in the storage pouch of the scumbag she had killed. Looking back now, that scumbag really carried a lot of good stuff.

Outer Sect Elder: “In that case, tell me your understanding of these five parts.”

Mo Xun nodded and said “Okay,” then spoke smoothly: “‘Material identification’ is identifying materials. Refining artifacts of different effects and grades requires different materials. Being skilled at identifying and selecting materials is necessary to refine the artifact you want.”

“‘Fire condensation’ is condensing the flame. The most important part of artifact refining is the ‘refining’ process. To refine high-grade artifacts, one must possess high-grade spiritual fire, and the control over the heat is also vital.”

“‘Shaping’ is forging the artifact’s external form. A suitable shape helps the artifact better utilize the effect the refiner imbues it with.”

“‘Array inscription’ refers to carving array patterns onto the artifact. This is a critical step in imbuing the artifact with its effect.”

“‘Spirit nurturing’ refers to nurturing the artifact spirit. With an artifact spirit, the artifact gains a certain level of self-awareness and can autonomously protect its owner.”

However, Mo Xun didn’t intend to sacrifice any life during the artifact refining process. Whether she could nurture an artifact spirit was up to fate.

“Very well said,” the Outer Sect Elder praised. “If everyone could master the basic knowledge before starting artifact refining like you, I would have a much easier time.”

Mo Xun smiled, saying nothing.

“Since you have mastered the basics of artifact refining, let’s begin the refining process,” the Outer Sect Elder said, giving Mo Xun some materials. “These are the scales of a Grade 1 demonic beast, the Earth-Boring Snake. They can be used to refine a Grade 1 defensive artifact. Your divine sense jade token should have the array patterns for this type of artifact. Give it a try.”

“Yes,” Mo Xun responded, feeling very excited the moment she touched the Earth-Boring Snake scales.

She had always wanted to refine artifacts, and she finally touched the materials!

Catching a glimpse of Yun Wushang staring at her without blinking, Mo Xun turned around as if nothing was wrong, turning her back to her, and began to attempt artifact refining.

With her experience in pill refining and her talent in array formations, she didn’t feel flustered during her first attempt at artifact refining. Instead, she was eager and excited.

It was like a person who was a good chef and had some artistic talent switching to making novelty pastries. Although the methods were different, it was fundamentally a recombination of the skills she already possessed.

There was a chance of failure, but it wasn’t starting from scratch.

Mo Xun first used spiritual qi to suspend the refining materials in mid-air, then ignited the almost colorless and transparent Nine-Grade spiritual fire in her palm, using the appropriate heat to soften the materials so she could change their shape as she pleased.

For some reason, the shape of a ring appeared in Mo Xun’s mind, so she disassembled and reassembled the scales into a ring.

Yun Wushang’s fingers should be a little thinner than mine, so…

Wait, I’m not refining it for Yun Wushang!

Never mind, that’s not important. Focus on refining.

Artifact refining required concentration. Mo Xun quickly focused her attention back on her hands, meticulously controlling every wisp of flame and the temperature on every piece of material.

Feeling the shape was about right, Mo Xun used spiritual qi to inscribe a circle of array patterns on the inner side of the ring.

The whole process took four hours, refining from day to night.

Sensing the fluctuation of spiritual qi, Mo Xun suppressed her excitement and carefully lowered the temperature, allowing the artifact to set its shape.

The cooled artifact presented a jade-like texture. Its color transitioned naturally from blue to purple, giving it both the transparency of colored glaze and the dreaminess of an evening sunset.

Although the entire ring was overly plain except for the inner inscription, plainness also had its beauty.

Mo Xun looked at Yun Wushang.

Yun Wushang was slightly stunned. She probably hadn’t expected Mo Xun to suddenly look up at her.

Mo Xun also hadn’t expected to look at Yun Wushang first after successfully refining her first artifact.

It’s okay. That didn’t count. Let’s do it again.

Mo Xun lowered her head back to the ring, and when she looked up again, she faced the Outer Sect Elder: “Senior, do you think my artifact counts as successfully refined?”

The Outer Sect Elder came up to her, took the artifact from her hand with spiritual qi, and exclaimed repeatedly: “A Grade 1 protective ring! This texture, this luster! Truly worthy of someone who can control the Nine-Grade White Flame. To achieve such finesse on the first attempt at artifact refining, your future is boundless!”

Mo Xun curved her lips into a smile, already impatient to refine a Five-Grade artifact.

This female cultivator frowned throughout the process, looking at Mo Xun with unconcealed displeasure.

During the four hours Mo Xun spent refining, she had blown up eight pill furnaces.

When Mo Xun successfully refined her first artifact, the female cultivator could no longer hold back. She picked up the artifact she was halfway through refining, which was about to explode, and walked toward Mo Xun: “Fellow Daoist, you are exceptionally talented. Could you give me some pointers?”

Hearing this, Mo Xun instinctively turned to look at her, but before she could clearly see her face, Yun Wushang suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her view.

Yun Wushang stood between Mo Xun and the female cultivator with her back to Mo Xun, releasing cold qi with a cold face: “Take your junk and get out.”