Chapter 170: You Actually Found the Earthfire Furnace
Heavenly Water City, Qingfeng Pavilion.
Shen Mo and Xiao Fan returned to the private room they had visited the previous day.
Wei Xiongtie personally served them some chilled tea.
"Elder Xiao, how did your search for the Earthfire Furnace go?" Shen Mo asked.
Xiao Fan shook his head, "I couldn't find it. I visited several places where the Earthfire Furnace was rumored to be, but I found nothing."
"I also checked the locations provided by some rogue cultivators, but there was no success."
"What about you, Young Master?"
Shen Mo shook his head as well, "Same as you, nothing to report."
"It seems luck is not on Qingxuan Sect's side this time."
Wei Xiongtie smiled, "Young Master, there's no need to be disheartened. Those cultivators from a thousand years ago searched for decades and still didn't find it. We can't expect to discover it overnight."
"I heard that even the Thunderfire Sect is infuriated by their failure to find a single trace."
Shen Mo chuckled softly, "Let's keep looking for a few more days. If we still don't find it, we'll leave it at that."
"Understood." Xiao Fan nodded.
In the following days, Shen Mo pretended to search for the Earthfire Furnace in the southern part of Heavenly Water City.
Naturally, he found nothing.
Each day when they regrouped, Xiao Fan furrowed his brows, feeling increasingly frustrated.
He had an intuition that the Earthfire Furnace was near Heavenly Water City, but why couldn't they locate it?
Could it be that his instincts were wrong?
That didn't seem right. Ever since he had awakened his past-life memories, his instincts had never failed him.
What should he do?
If he couldn't find the Earthfire Furnace and present it to Luo Chaotian, he wouldn't be able to climb the ladder of Divine Sword Sect.
Although, from the perspective of his former Nascent Soul self, Divine Sword Sect was nothing more than a minor faction that could be wiped out with a flick of his finger.
But with his current lack of power, even a small faction like Divine Sword Sect had become a towering tree for him to lean on.
"Elder Xiao, stay in Heavenly Water City. I'll return to the sect and report the situation to our master," Shen Mo said with a slight smile.
"As you wish, Young Master," Xiao Fan and Wei Xiongtie immediately bowed respectfully.
Inwardly, Xiao Fan let out a sigh of relief. Shen Mo's overwhelming strength had left him feeling somewhat restrained the entire time.
Shen Mo then quickly flew back to the Qingxuan Sect.
Before departing, he had already examined Xiao Fan's life panel.
After Shen Mo intercepted the opportunity of the Earthfire Furnace from the Zhongding Sect, Xiao Fan was never able to find the furnace's location.
Knowing this, Shen Mo felt at ease leaving.
...
Qingxuan Sect, Sect Master's Courtyard.
Shen Mo knocked on the courtyard door. "Master, your disciple has important news to report."
"Is that you, Mo'er? Come in quickly," came the joyful voice of Murong Yue from within the courtyard.
Shen Mo pushed the door open and immediately saw Murong Yue standing with her sword in hand.
Today, Murong Yue was dressed in a bright red gown, making her look even more valiant and heroic.
Perhaps from long hours of practicing martial arts, there was a slight sheen of sweat on her nose, and her cheeks were flushed.
She looked completely different from her usual cold and stern appearance.
"I heard you and Xiao Fan went near Heavenly Water City to search for traces of the Earthfire Furnace?"
"Seems like you didn't find anything," Murong Yue said with a playful smile, taking a sip of water.
Shen Mo smiled without saying a word, then drew out his Thunder Sword and handed it to her.
Murong Yue glanced at it and her body instantly trembled.
She quickly took the Thunder Sword and examined it closely.
Her gaze grew even more astonished when she saw the demon crystal perfectly embedded in the sword's hilt.
"A fourth-grade demon crystal?"
"This sword can actually embed a fourth-grade demon crystal?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Indeed, Master. I refined this using the Earthfire Furnace."
Thanks to his incredible aptitude, after many failed attempts, Shen Mo quickly mastered the art of crystal refining with the Earthfire Furnace.
Last night, he had used the furnace to refine a fourth-grade demon crystal into the Thunder Sword.
Murong Yue's eyes widened in shock, "The Earthfire Furnace?! You actually found it?!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly, "It's beneath Thousand Bamboo Lake."
"Hiss..."
Murong Yue was so overwhelmed with excitement that she nearly lost her balance.
She fully understood the immense significance of this discovery.
The Earthfire Furnace could refine demon crystals into multiple spiritual weapons in a single session.
Its efficiency was astounding!
Currently, Qingxuan Sect had two elders and fifteen Foundation Establishment disciples dedicated to refining crystals into spiritual weapons, but the process was painstakingly slow.
On average, it took them two days to complete just one crystal-refined weapon.
However, if the Earthfire Furnace was used for all refining tasks, they could produce at least ten refined weapons in a single day!
That would be a twentyfold increase in productivity!
With this furnace, Qingxuan Sect would be able to create more crystal-refined weapons, rapidly amassing greater resources and solidifying its foundation.
In this way, the rise of Qingxuan Sect would truly become unstoppable!
"Mo'er, what do you plan to do? I'll follow your lead," Murong Yue said seriously.
Shen Mo smiled, "For now, we won't change the elders and disciples who have been handling weapon refinement. Instead, we'll assign newcomers to take on this task."
"It doesn't matter if these individuals aren't yet skilled in crystal refining. I can teach them, but they must be loyal and trustworthy."
Murong Yue agreed wholeheartedly, "Exactly! Do you have anyone in mind?"
Shen Mo had already selected candidates. He immediately replied, "Wei Xiongtie and Elder Li—both are capable of handling this."
"As for the disciples, Zhao Ting and Zhao Rou can handle the selection."
"I've already thought of a cover story: we'll claim that the sect is forming a secret assassination team, and these individuals have been chosen for that task."
"We'll let Luo Shengnan spread a little information about it, but not too much."
"This way, outsiders will only believe that Wei Xiongtie and the others were assigned to form this secret team."
Murong Yue nodded repeatedly, "Excellent!"
She looked at Shen Mo with deep satisfaction.
That very day, the Qingxuan Sect quietly began a secretive internal reorganization.
Despite the secrecy, those with a keen interest in the sect's affairs still investigated the movements.
However, after all their efforts, the only information they uncovered was what Shen Mo had intentionally leaked through Luo Shengnan.
...
Underneath Thousand Bamboo Lake, at the Earthfire Furnace.
"My goodness... this really is the Earthfire Furnace of the Zhongding Sect. It's enormous!" Zhao Rou exclaimed, her face full of awe as she took in the scene before her.
Beside her, Zhao Ting and a group of Foundation Establishment disciples were equally stunned.
Wei Xiongtie and Elder Li were slightly more composed, but they couldn't hide the astonishment in their eyes.
"Young Master, you actually found it! I thought you hadn't managed to locate it," Wei Xiongtie said, unable to contain himself.
"You didn't mention it earlier to guard against Xiao Fan, did you?"
Shen Mo nodded slightly, then looked around and spoke in a clear voice, "You've all proven your loyalty to the sect, which is why I've chosen you for this task."
"From today onward, you'll be stationed here indefinitely. Your only task each day will be to refine crystal-infused spiritual weapons."
"No one is to leave without my permission."
"Anyone who leaves will be considered a traitor to the sect!"
Everyone's expressions turned solemn, and they responded in unison, "Understood!"
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Don't take it personally. The Earthfire Furnace is far too important. We must prevent any possible leaks of information."
"While I trust that none of you would reveal the secret, frequent comings and goings will eventually draw attention."
Wei Xiongtie cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Young Master, we fully understand."
"Indeed, Young Master, we're more than willing to fight for the sect!"
"I owe my life to you, Young Master. Back when we were in the Profound Frost Cave, if it weren't for you, I would have died at the hands of the Blood River Sect. My life belongs to you—whatever you say, I'll do!"
"Exactly! We'll stay here and won't go anywhere!"
Shen Mo nodded slightly in approval.
With a team like this, things would run smoothly.
He spoke in a commanding tone, "Very well. Next, I'll demonstrate how to operate the Earthfire Furnace and how to control the heat. Pay close attention."
"Yes!" they all responded.
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