Ma Fan looked at me with a terrified shock. He seemed to know what I was really asking of him. "Young Master Yang, the 7th rank ones I could probably manage some improvement up to the 8th rank at most. As for the other ones…" He explained, in a tone indicating he knew this wasn't the desirable answer.
"I see, what would you need to make a 9th rank furnace?" I asked as I inspected each of the furnaces before me. "Oh this 8th rank is in good shape, it'll be perfect." I said with a bit of excitement.
"Young Master, to make a 9th rank furnace… I'd need nothing less than a minimum of a full set of 9th rank materials. I'm sure you can find the Yin Yang ones if the twins help…" Ma Fan explained, in a bit of hesitation.
"Ma Fan, stop beating around the bush. What do you need, that's all you need to answer me with. I'll take it from there." I instructed, as I picked another good furnace.
Ma Fan gulped, realizing or remembering that I am not one for round about measures when there is no need for them. "Then, for a single furnace of that quality, a full set of 9th rank materials. As far as ability goes… I'd need at least two others to support me in the refinement. Having the aid of a 9th rank would also be ideal." He answered, being mindful of his words.
"Hmm, I see. Then I'll have to recruit from our sister forces… Not the most ideal situation but it can't be helped. As for the resources needed… That is definitely not an easy feat to pull off. However, I don't think it's impossible. But any more than one would be too much of a drain on our finances… I guess we shall wait to make one of those for a while yet." I said, thinking about how unrealistic it was. I had finished checking the condition of all the furnaces and made my selections. "The rest of these ones will need to undergo repairs. They aren't able to handle the strains of chaos." I instructed, towards Ma Fan.
"As you wish, Young Master, I'll see what can be done about them." Ma Fan cupped his hands to receive the order properly.
Using a bit of strength I floated the furnaces into the air and then made a circle around the Good Fortune Divine Furnace. In all there were 2 8th rank furnaces and 5 7th rank ones as well. It was unfortunate but this was all of the suitable furnaces from the stock that had been brought.
"Alright, now then. I guess it's time I begin the final part of my plan here." I said, assuming the Lotus position once again, and floating above the Good Fortune Divine Furnace.
Yang Kai and Smiles backed up to stay out of the way. Both sensing the sheer magnitude of strength I was about to use. They were also notably worried about me considering the issues I had used to explain away my exhaustion. Even so, they watched closely at what was going to come.
I pulled out a veritable mountain of resources from the explosion earlier, isolating the 7th rank materials and 8th rank materials. I found that I needed to make a variety of resources. So using the 5th and 6th rank resources as best I could, I used the furnace relentlessly, unworried about the prospect of what I would or wouldn't get in return. All until there was a full set of corresponding rank materials for each of the furnaces I had placed before.
"Hmm, what does he intend to do? Breakthrough?" Six Wood muttered thoughtlessly.
"Just watch, you'll definitely learn a thing or two from this. And don't expect me to show it a second time. Father, I'm likely going to be extremely lethargic for a few days after this. So this is the last moment I'll give you to stop me." I answered, then ran right into the next issue.
"So you're saying if anything serious happens, I'll need to handle it? Given what you're about to do is useful beyond measure… I'll allow it. Besides knowing how fast you recover, I doubt you'll be tired for long." Yang Kai chuckled.
"Yeah, he's probably just saying that so he can see his siblings. They are rather adorable, so I get it." Smiles added, with a teasing smirk and giggle.
My lips curled in a slight embarrassed smirk. Then I cleared my throat. "Alright, then I'll begin…" My eyes glowed with a pulsating, chaotic storm.
With the sets of resources over each furnace, they began to spin in their formation. Influenced by my energy and the spinning of the resources, each set combined together to form an imperfect ball of chaos. A single slow stream of blood came from my nose, a physical representation of the intensity of this reaction.
Lightning struck around the room, slowly tuning towards the seven chaos balls. Eventually forming a complete circle with each other, each complete with another bolt attached to me. The bleeding finally stopped. Using my energy, to will the drops of blood how I desire, placing several drops into each of the seven balls of chaos.
Once the chaos balls had calmed down, a lightning bolt shot down from below me beginning a surge of chaotic energy through me and to the 7 chaos balls. It was clear at a glance that not just anyone would be able to survive such a flow, after all, it's effectively the purest dao strength in existence. Surviving a direct confrontation with it is not for the faint of heart.
It only took a few breaths but, it felt like eons… The chaotic energy began to subside, and the balls of chaos began beating with their own signature. Each a complete source similar in nature to the original of which they were created from. The lightning disappeared and the chaos balls floated down, resting into their homes the 7 furnaces I had placed earlier.
Floating down, I landed and then stumbled a little bit before my wife, Bing Xue came to my side. "Ma Fan, you've got some time to make repairs on those furnaces. I'm not doing that again for at least a couple of years." I chuckled half heartedly.