"Wait, this feeling..."
After the embryonic form of the divine armament took shape, which was when the soul bone armor clad his body, it didn't take long for Chen Junting to keenly sense that something was wrong—wrong all over his body. He felt that the soul bone armor could collapse at any moment.
"Disperse—"
With a single thought from Chen Junting, the armor virtualized by his blood essence instantly dissipated. Following that, the armor formed by the five soul bones vanished, retracting back to their respective positions.
He knew in his heart that firstly, it was because the trunk bones connecting the other parts were incomplete, so they could only be simply connected by blood essence power; secondly, it was because each soul bone didn't come from the same species or even the same attribute of soul beast, causing every part of the armor to be exclusive. Under mutual conflict, it was difficult to maintain. Therefore, to form a so-called divine armor/armament, he was still far from it.
The fact that it succeeded this time still relied on the baptism of the two great divine powers. Moreover, as the soul bone armor retracted, a wonderful fiery sensation also spread throughout his body. After slowly converging, Chen Junting could clearly feel a noticeable drop in his soul power.
However, Chen Junting didn't stand up because of this. The intense pain brought by the violent fluctuations within his body previously had only been "numbed" because of the suppression from the soul bone armor. Now that the soul bone armor was retracted, the severe pain from all over his body swept over him once more. Chen Junting hurriedly guarded his mind and entered a meditative state amidst the continuous agony.
He knew that this severe pain was the prelude to his body's metamorphosis. As long as he succeeded, his physique could successfully take that step.
So, while meditating, he allowed his blood essence power to constantly roam throughout his body like little dragons, permeating his meridians and bones. Subsequently, the vigorous fluctuations of blood essence overflowed from his pores, even tearing open tiny cracks.
He saw traces of blood constantly bubbling out from his pores and the torn cracks on his body. In just the blink of an eye, Chen Junting's body was coated in a layer of dark red blood.
He didn't know how long had passed—perhaps an hour, or perhaps a day...
When Chen Junting woke up from his meditation, and at the moment he opened his eyes, he only felt that everything before him had become crystal clear. This wasn't due to his spiritual power, but purely the sensory perception of his naked eyes.
He instinctively moved his body, but felt a sense of being bound, as if a layer of something was restricting his movement.
Chen Junting's fingers moved slightly, Crack— With just a slight exertion of force, he felt something shatter. Then, as he opened his mouth slightly, the same shattering sound came. "Looks like I really am trapped by something."
Saying trapped was actually just a joke.
It was just that when Chen Junting looked down, another series of cracking sounds came from the back of his neck. He didn't pay too much attention to it, only seeing that the blood essence that had surged from his body had coagulated during the time just now, forming a blood-colored keratin layer, which wrapped around his entire body and completely sealed him inside.
So, with a shudder throughout his body!
The keratin layer gradually cracked open starting from his chest. And along with the keratin layer, Chen Junting's surface skin also cracked along with it. Then, with the keratin layer and the skin together, the cracks rapidly spread, and he broke free from his bindings.
After half of both his arms were exposed, Rip— Chen Junting's hands grabbed the continuously expanding tear in the skin and keratin layer on his chest, and then with a sudden force, he tore all of it off, revealing new skin and flesh.
The skin was fair with a rosy tint, looking incredibly healthy. Beneath the skin, a faint crimson halo faintly flowed. At this moment, he was utterly reborn!
Chen Junting knew very well that his physique's strength had broken the half-step shackle and completely reached the mortal pinnacle.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of joy arise spontaneously.
With just a smooth movement of his arms, space itself seemed to tremble, and the air tore apart, turning into a vacuum. At the same time, rich blood essence fluctuations instantly spread throughout his body.
As he clenched his fist, Boom— an aerial explosion was formed just that simply.
"Hehe, I've succeeded."
...
"Pulling out this stick was indeed quite perilous. But I also turned misfortune into a blessing, not to mention the harvest this time is huge."
On the altar, Chen Junting, whose blood essence were like a dragon's, gradually retracted the blood essence power permeating his body. He planted the "Scepter of Destruction" on the ground, stood up, and then took the "Scepter of Life" in his hand. Nourished by the life energy, he finally caught his breath.
Out of the corner of his eye, he simply glanced at the "Scepter of Destruction," and then without the slightest hesitation, he turned around and walked down the Altar of Destruction.
Just now, it was to achieve a breakthrough amidst danger. Now that the important part was done, wouldn't he be a fool to stay?
Didn't he see that the pillar of light was still emitting destructive energy? Even though the current pillar of destruction, like the pillar of life after the "Scepter of Life" was pulled out, had weakened significantly in energy, and his physical body had already reached the mortal pinnacle... but destruction was still destruction. Continuing to stay would only result in his life force being continuously worn down.
As for the small hole in the middle of the altar, he figured it was the same as the Altar of Life, so there was no need to dwell on it.
"Sure enough, both sticks are in the same situation."
After stepping down from the altar, the first thing Chen Junting did was hand the "Scepter of Destruction" to Electrolux as well, asking his teacher to inspect it. The conclusion drawn was exactly as he had expected: the "Scepter of Destruction" was no different from the "Scepter of Life." It seemed that both sticks were excellent materials for forging divine artifacts.
Just as Chen Junting was fiddling with the two sticks, suddenly, it was probably the God of Destruction—anyway, a majestic voice resonated in his mind.
[First stage over-fulfilled. Not only did you rely on wit and perseverance to pull out the 'Scepter of Life' and the 'Scepter of Destruction,' but you also achieved a massive breakthrough in your physical body and soul power under the baptism of the divine power of life and destruction, stepping to the mortal pinnacle, and your soul bones achieved the embryonic form of a divine armament.]
[Reward: A set of Divine Artifact Forging Methods. This method has been improved by the God of Craftsmanship; non-god-level existences can use it to forge with the help of external forces.]
Hearing this reward, Chen Junting's eyes instantly lit up.
A Divine Artifact Forging Method! This was truly getting a pillow just when he was feeling sleepy.
Originally, he was still wondering how he could forge these two premium materials—the "Scepter of Life" and the "Scepter of Destruction"—into the divine artifact versions of the Immortal-Trapping Sword and the Immortal-Slaying Sword.
After all, although his teacher could also create divine artifacts, the method came from the world of the Divine Throne (Throne of Seal). While it was good, in Chen Junting's view, if he wanted to forge a divine artifact in the Douluo Plane, it would be best to combine it with the local divine artifact crafting method to achieve localization.
However, there was no local method available. Who would have thought that the local method would arrive right now!
Moreover, this method could actually be applied by non-god-level existences. It was a reward that hit the very core of his desires.
If he could leave this method in the sect... it would also add another layer of foundation to the sect. Whether this was good or bad, Chen Junting hadn't thought too much about it yet; anyway, it was still early. There was no need for that now.
Thus, as strands of divine artifact forging knowledge poured into Chen Junting's mind, he also released the restrictions that came with the method, watching it together with Electrolux and the four great soul spirits in the Spiritual Sea.
However, the most important thing was still for Electrolux to see it.
After all, let alone creating divine artifacts, even creating non-divine artifacts was something only Chen Junting could barely count as half-qualified for. Because creating something like the Zhu Xian Array Map was not a standard forging technique for artifacts.
As for soul tools... logically speaking, they should be, but the method they currently had and Electrolux's divine artifact creation method had no correlation with the forging techniques mastered by the Divine Realm. Not to mention, it was not mature enough yet.
To be precise, the top-tier technology of soul tools was insufficient. Therefore, if Chen Junting wanted to combine the methods of the Divine Throne plane and the Douluo Divine Realm to manufacture divine artifacts, ultimately, he still had to rely on his teacher. After all, Electrolux had single-handedly crafted the Eternal Tower in his past life, and he seemed to have heard someone say that this offensive and defensive divine artifact reached the level of a pseudo-super-divine artifact. Perhaps it wasn't that exaggerated, but it was definitely strong!
"Teacher, how is it?"
After barely digesting the divine artifact forging knowledge, Chen Junting turned his gaze to the pondering Electrolux.
As for the four great soul spirits... to them, the method of forging divine artifacts wasn't of much significance. A glance was enough; there was no need to spend effort studying it.
"It's feasible."
Electrolux integrated his thoughts and let out a slight sigh in his heart. Actually, after recovering all his memories, he felt somewhat regretful. Because in the past, regarding the construction of the Eternal Tower, he was actually aiming for a super-divine artifact.
But ultimately, he still backed down. Because he wasn't confident at the time.
And now, after obtaining the divine artifact forging method from the Douluo Divine Realm—perhaps this forging method wasn't top-tier and was only suitable for the current Chen Junting—but for Electrolux, he could draw inferences and find a suitable path.
"Feasible?!"
Hearing this, Chen Junting's eyes couldn't help but light up.
"Teacher, what should I do?"
Naturally, Electrolux didn't hide anything. He took the essence and discarded the dregs of the two methods, and quickly came up with the divine artifact forging method most suitable for Chen Junting. For a grandmaster who could hand-craft a pseudo-super-divine artifact, this was considered easy.
Not to mention, there were quite a few similarities between the method Electrolux mastered and the divine artifact forging method provided by the Douluo Divine Realm.
"The method I have summarized for you mainly proceeds from three angles: materials, quenching, and enchantment. First, materials, this is no longer a problem for you; second, quenching, in your situation as a non-god-level powerhouse, you need to rely on external forces, such as the two great divine powers of the Altar of Life and the Altar of Destruction, using divine power as fire to quench and forge the materials; third, enchantment, you need to endow it with rules, such as magic-breaking, gravity, and the like..."
Electrolux's narration continued, but the following words were all in-depth elaborations based on the initial three points. Chen Junting listened without missing a single word.
Actually, so-called divine artifacts, to put it bluntly, still required the participation of a god. As long as one of the three points—materials, quenching, or enchantment—had the participation of a god, then this weapon could already be considered a divine artifact. But if one wanted to make this divine artifact stronger, then all three points had to be linked to the "god" aspect. If going even higher...
Then it wouldn't just be these three points.
For example, super-divine artifacts either required the nurturing of the power of faith to connect them to a powerful divine throne, or... relying on an external force capable of metamorphosis to break through, like the power of chaos.
"I see."
After listening to Electrolux's explanation, Chen Junting said this verbally while remaining calm on the surface, but in reality, a hint of sudden realization flashed through the depths of his eyes, vanishing in an instant.
If he followed what his teacher said...
Chen Junting looked at the Altar of Destruction, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"On this island, it is definitely an absolutely perfect opportunity."
An opportunity to try forging a divine artifact.
For example... the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords!
This place not only satisfied the materials and the external forces needed for quenching, but it was also quiet and uninhabited; he wouldn't be disturbed at all.
"Teacher, should we give it a try?"
In the outside world, Chen Junting's consciousness was discussing with Electrolux, but his hands involuntarily picked up the "Scepter of Destruction" and the "Scepter of Life," and then accidentally triggered a collision.
At the very moment the "Scepter of Life" and the "Scepter of Destruction" struck each other, time seemed to stop. A sudden mutation occurred in the blink of an eye under Chen Junting's stunned gaze.
The next second, Hum—
Suddenly, the Altar of Destruction trembled. A purplish-red stream of light instantly flew out from the exact center of the altar's surface, and even the heaven-piercing pillar of destruction on the altar dissipated along with it.
And that stream of light was precisely the so-called "jade." Like a fleeting phantom, it flew in a certain direction.
Chen Junting was very familiar with this direction. Because previously, it was from that direction that he had gone to the Altar of Life.
In other words...
"The two 'jades' are going to merge?"
Without the slightest hesitation, his spiritual power rapidly expanded outward!
In Chen Junting's perception, an emerald-green stream of light appeared at some unknown time, similarly crashing toward the purplish-red jade. At this moment, it was as if the two were rushing toward each other.
But...
"Why do I feel that something is wrong?"
Almost as soon as Chen Junting's voice fell, within his spiritual perception, the two "jades" had already collided. In an instant, life and destruction fiercely spread!
Immediately after, the two "jades" spun rapidly just like a Tai Chi diagram, or rather, the Yin-Yang fish.
The next second, Hum—
After the two spun, it was impossible to tell whether it was emerald green or purplish red anymore. Anyway, a vortex appeared, seemingly devouring everything around it, and an inexplicable fluctuation instantly spread out!
From the Forest of Destruction to the Valley of Life, this mysterious fluctuation reached Chen Junting in just a few breaths. But when he saw it clearly, his eyes widened instantly.
'Not good! This is coming for me!'
Before he could react even slightly, a white light flashed!
When the radiance dissipated...
The Chen Junting standing in that spot was simply gone.
It was at this very moment that a faint, seemingly non-existent voice rang out, but it seemed as though no other living creature could hear it. In any case, the content of this round of the divine trial had now been conveyed.
[Second trial…]
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