Of course, this was only the power of the third lightning strike. If more followed, the true intensity remained uncertain.
But Chen Xin trusted that if Chu Chengzhou had deliberately sought out the lightning, he must have had confidence in his ability to handle it. Even if something went wrong, it wouldn't be beyond repair.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
The fourth four-colored tribulation descended.
As Chu Chengzhou channeled it, the four-colored light surged like a tidal wave into the newly formed Heavy Silver Hammers.
At that moment, his body glowed with radiant soul power. Behind him, a vast shadowy image appeared.
Within the image stood a clear figure—himself.
In the vision, Chu Chengzhou wielded massive hammers.
One strike—spiritual radiance burst forth.
Two strikes—life emerged.
Three strikes—wisdom was born.
The scene of creation itself—the very essence of divine crafting—materialized behind him.
Then, in an instant, the vision shattered into countless glowing particles.
From all directions, they flowed into the four-colored Heavy Silver Hammers.
And suddenly, a strange sensation filled the air.
To Ning Fengzhi and the other three, the hammers floating before Chu Chengzhou—though made merely of Heavy Silver, a rare metal that was valuable, but not extraordinary—now felt like divine artifacts capable of creating life and awakening all things.
"Creation… truly, this is divine creation!"
Fang Quan breathed out in awe.
This time, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong did not find his outburst embarrassing.
Instead, they nodded silently in agreement.
Regardless of anything else, this overwhelming aura of creation alone would multiply the value of these hammers countless times over.
Especially Ning Fengzhi.
Even without activating his martial soul, his Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda trembled faintly within him—as if whispering a truth only its ancient spirit could perceive.
These hammers were not merely rare.
They were among the most precious artifacts he had ever seen.
In fact, they ranked second in value among all treasures he had encountered in his life.
The only item surpassing them?
The former imperial treasure of the Tian Dou Empire—the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
Even the 90,000 year old legacy soul bone passed down by his ancestors paled in comparison.
Of course, from the perspective of a human soul master's valuation, Ning Fengzhi couldn't say whether this Heavenly Refined metal was truly worth more than the 90,000 year old soul bone.
But one thing was certain: this Heavenly Refined metal was incredibly powerful.
Too bad—the continent's soul guidance device technology had long been lost.
Without soul guidance device technology, no matter how excellent the material, its true potential could never be unlocked.
At that moment, the four-colored aura around Chu Chengzhou and the elemental storm above gradually faded.
The moment the creation aura faded from the hammers, all their radiance collapsed inward.
The hammers flew into Chu Chengzhou's hands.
No longer glowing with yellow, blue, crimson, or cyan—they returned to their original silver-gray appearance.
To the naked eye, the Heavenly Refined Heavy Silver Hammers looked little different from the Soul-Refined ones before.
But Chu Chengzhou knew better.
The transformation was fundamental.
After absorbing elemental energy and enduring the tribulation, the Heavenly Refined Heavy Silver was no longer Heavy Silver.
It had become something entirely new.
He stared at the hammers in his palms.
His soul power was nearly drained.
But he nodded slowly—satisfied.
*How about… calling them the Four Symbols Heavy Silver Hammers?*
He silently named them.
"Kid," Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, eyeing the hammers curiously. "So your Heavenly Refining… requires you to get struck by lightning?"
Chu Chengzhou nodded. "Precisely. It is only through the baptism of the Elemental Tribulation that Heavenly Refined metal achieves a fundamental distinction from Soul-Refined metal.
And what I performed was only the most basic Four-Element Heavenly Refining. The more elemental types involved, the stronger the final metal becomes.
But likewise—the more elements involved, the greater the tribulation's power."
"Fundamental distinction? So… these hammers aren't really Heavy Silver anymore?"
Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow, his expression oddly skeptical.
"Ahem…" Chu Chengzhou cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. "Well… they're still made of Heavy Silver. But they're no longer ordinary Heavy Silver."
Heavenly Refined metal was powerful?
Yes—immensely powerful.
But only if it could be forged into a Four Word Battle Armor, or at least into soul guidance devices.
Otherwise? As raw material, its advantage over ordinary rare metals was… modest.
In truth, without matching soul guidance device arrays, he—the only Divine Craftsman of the age—was nothing more than a skilled artisan with a fancy title.
His status might not even surpass that of a Spirit Refining Grandmaster from the future.
Hmph. Next time I head to the Sun Moon Continent, I'll awaken soul guidance device technology. Let these backward fools see what a real Divine Craftsman can do!
"By the way," Ning Fengzhi asked, suddenly serious. "If you forge armor from Heavenly Refined metal, how much power does it amplify?"
Chu Chengzhou had once given him a set of Soul-Refined Blue Gold Armor.
For a Soul Douluo like him, it boosted his soul power attributes by 20%—without conflicting with any soul skill enhancements.
Even for Titled Douluo like Chen Xin and Gu Rong, it still granted a 15% boost—and provided solid defensive capability.
If he used Heavenly Refined Blue Gold to craft armor?
The buff would be far greater, wouldn't it?
"Uh…" Chu Chengzhou hesitated. "Uncle Ning, this is my first Heavenly Refining. I can't yet say the exact effect.
Besides, let's hold off on armor for now. I'm planning to travel somewhere soon. There's a legacy of soul guidance device technology there. I want to see if I can revive something truly extraordinary."
The "extraordinary thing" he meant, of course, was Battle Armor.
After all, future Battle Armor were truly monstrous.
A One Word Battle Armor, forged from Thousand-Refined metal, could elevate a Soul King to the power of a 7th-ring Soul Saint.
A Soul Emperor wearing a Two Word Spirit-Refined Battle Armor could rival a Soul Douluo.
A Soul Saint in a Three Word Soul-Refined Battle Armor could match a Titled Douluo.
And a Titled Douluo wearing a Four Word Heavenly Refined Battle Armor? They could match a Limit Douluo.
Pure, unexplainable cheating.
Upon hearing Chu Chengzhou planned to leave, Ning Fengzhi arched a brow. "How long will you be gone? When will you return? Fourth Elder is about to break through. I was planning to take you with me on a trip to the sea."
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