Jiang Yifan's essence blood turned into three gold-red light threads in the furnace fire, slowly wrapping around the spirit pearl.
To everyone's surprise, the spirit pearl was not contaminated; instead, under the wrapping of the blood threads, the spiritual light on its surface became increasingly pure.
Just as everyone held their breath, thinking he was about to perform some earth-shattering technique—
His movements suddenly stopped.
"Huh?" Duan Xianxing craned his neck. "Why has Fourth Senior Brother stopped moving?"
Jiang Yifan simply stood quietly before the refining platform, his hands hovering over the furnace fire, occasionally adjusting the spiritual energy input.
The three gold-red light threads formed from the essence blood flowed slowly with the furnace fire.
"This..." Elder Ming Deng's beard twitched. "Why has he stopped?"
"Isn't he supposed to be performing essence blood tempering?" Elder Chang Yan also fell into deep thought. "But this way, the steps aren't right either."
Over the following period, Jiang Yifan would occasionally raise his hand suddenly and strike a hand seal.
The hand seal would vanish into the furnace, and the light threads on the surface of the spirit pearl would brighten slightly before returning to calm.
"It's been fifteen minutes..." Elder Tan glanced at the timing hourglass. "Is he just going to stand there?"
This time, even the direct disciples of other sects couldn't help but begin whispering.
"What's going on? Did he fail the refinement?" Jiang Zhi quietly asked the junior sister beside him.
"It doesn't feel like it." Xie Qingru shook her head, looking bewildered.
Meanwhile, the disciples from the Qingxia Sect regained their spirits:
The purple-robed cultivator rubbed his hands. "Haha, this is a sure win!" He nudged the round-faced cultivator next to him. "Old Zhou, about our bet..."
The round-faced cultivator narrowed his eyes. "Don't rush, wait until he officially declares failure..."
"Buzz—"
Chu Chenzhou's refining platform suddenly emitted a clear chime. An ancient copper mirror rose slowly from the refining furnace, its surface shimmering with soft silver light.
This sudden development instantly attracted everyone's attention.
"This is..." Elder Tan stood up abruptly, the tea in his cup tilting and nearly spilling. "The spiritual energy fluctuations of a tier 5 magic tool!"
Elder Ming Deng stood up and slapped the table excitedly. "Chenzhou is about to succeed!" He glanced toward the still-motionless Jiang Yifan out of the corner of his eye, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
Though Chu Chenzhou's face was slightly pale, his expression was focused.
His hands formed seals, precisely striking one spell after another into the copper mirror. As the spells were injected, fine patterns began to appear on the mirror's surface, gradually splitting into seven phantom images.
"Divide!"
With a light shout, the copper mirror suddenly split into seven, forming a perfect array.
Seeing this, Chu Chenzhou let out a long sigh of relief and recalled the copper mirror. Though his face showed fatigue, the pride in his eyes could not be hidden.
"This disciple has not failed the sect's teachings." Chu Chenzhou respectfully presented the copper mirror and began to demonstrate. "This mirror is named the Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror. I have made some improvements based on traditional mirror techniques."
With a light tap of his fingertip, the seven copper mirrors immediately lit up with different glows.
"I have added a star-track linkage method to the magic tool, allowing the seven mirrors to..."
His explanation was clear and detailed, causing several elders to nod repeatedly.
Elder Ming Deng stroked his beard complacently. "Chenzhou, this boy, has finally lived up to the sect's cultivation." He turned to Liu Changhe. "Sect Leader, your disciple has made significant progress lately."
Liu Changhe allowed a rare smile to show. "Indeed, it was unexpected."
One had to know that before this, Chu Chenzhou could at most refine tier 5 low-grade magic tools.
Breaking through his limits during a competition was truly a rare feat.
Chu Chenzhou continued to explain the mirror's wonderful uses: "When the seven mirrors merge into one..." He combined the copper mirrors back together. "It can exert the strongest defensive effect."
After a detailed demonstration and discussion, Elder Chang Yan announced loudly, "Chu Chenzhou of the Water Moon Sect, Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror, tier 5 mid-grade!"
This result immediately caused a sensation.
"Tier 5 mid-grade!" Li Nanyi's eyes widened, his voice rising an octave. "Senior Brother Chu is incredible!"
Qu Chen also spoke up rarely. "To be able to refine a tier 5 mid-grade item at such an age is indeed extraordinary."
Even the habitually cold Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao nodded slightly. "Not bad." His gaze lingered on Chu Chenzhou for a moment before he said to Cang Dongqing beside him, "This boy has good talent."
Cang Dongqing watched Chu Chenzhou for a moment and nodded gently. "Indeed, it is rare." Her voice was soft, and a strange brilliance flickered in her eyes.
However, the people of the Five Elements Dao Sect remained as calm as ever.
"What's the rush?" Duan Xianxing curled his lip and crossed his arms. "Fourth Senior Brother isn't finished yet."
Li Nanzhu also gave a light huff. "Let them gloat for a while."
On the judges' bench, several elders were still full of praise for Chu Chenzhou's magic tool.
Standing below the platform and hearing these praises, the pride in Chu Chenzhou's eyes intensified. He couldn't help but look at the still-motionless Jiang Yifan, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
As time passed, the atmosphere on the field grew increasingly tense.
Just as everyone was still discussing Chu Chenzhou's Seven-Star Reflecting Moon Mirror, a series of crisp bell rings suddenly erupted from Liu Qingyang's refining platform.
"Ding—"
Twelve small gold bells flew out from the furnace, arranging themselves into a peculiar formation in the air. Each gold bell shimmered with a different luster, with spiritual light seemingly connecting them.
Liu Qingyang wiped the sweat from his forehead, a relieved smile appearing on his face.
He carefully carried the gold bells toward the judges' bench. "This time, I attempted to combine rhythm and illusion..."
He explained while demonstrating, the twelve gold bells changing through different rhythmic combinations according to his spells.
"Good." Elder Chang Yan took one gold bell and examined it closely. "The sound runes are clear, and the spiritual energy conduction is smooth."
Hua Xiangrong's round fan suddenly stopped in mid-air. A flash of surprise crossed her beautiful eyes, which always held a hint of a smile. "To be able to combine rhythm and illusion to this extent..." She gently shook her fan, her voice carrying a few notes of genuine admiration. "It is truly rare."
Once this evaluation was given, the entire audience immediately broke into an uproar.
As an elder of the Hehuan Sect, Hua Xiangrong had specialized in the path of illusion for three hundred years.
To receive a "rare" evaluation from her was already the highest praise for an illusion-type magic tool.
Upon hearing this, a hint of red appeared on Liu Qingyang's pale face. He bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Hua."
After evaluation, Liu Qingyang's Twelve-Tone Soul-Siphoning Bells were determined to be tier 4 mid-grade.
Although the grade was lower than Chu Chenzhou's, the design was novel and earned much praise.
Immediately after, the refining platform of Lu Tingyun also lit up with the light of completion.
A pitch-black long sword rose from the furnace, with faint dark red patterns visible on the blade.
"This sword..." he explained in a raspy voice, "has mysterious yin stone and soul-siphoning sand added to it..."
After the elders' careful inspection, the long sword was graded as tier 4 high-grade. Although its power was impressive, because its attributes leaned toward yin, it received only a standard evaluation.
Meanwhile, the other contestants also completed their refinements one after another.
Every time a contestant finished, it would cause a small stir.
But everyone's gaze would ultimately and unconsciously return to Jiang Yifan.
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