“It’s fine, it’s fine. It only extinguished a bit of your golden light; it didn't damage your actual body...” Lu Ming comforted Ye Fan as he watched the saber sizzle and smoke.
Ye Fan: “...”
Are those even human words?
I’m already in this state, and you’re still saying it’s fine!
Just then, Lu Ming turned around and shouted to Huang Tianbao and the others:
“Hurry, hurry... Cross quickly! Don't let the immortal saber give out...”
“Coming, coming...”
Huang Tianbao called back, completely ignoring Ye Fan's condition.
He stepped directly onto Ye Fan and dashed toward the opposite bank.
“Lu Ming, you’re not human!”
Ye Fan roared in fury.
While channeling spiritual energy into Ye Fan, Lu Ming replied:
“Right, right... I’m not human, I’m an immortal. Happy now?”
Ye Fan choked on his words. He had never seen anyone so utterly shameless!
Seeing Huang Tianbao dash across, Big Yellow didn't hesitate to follow right behind.
Then came Wang Defa and the rest...
Thud... Thud...
When Man Xiong's massive feet stomped onto Ye Fan, the saber felt like he was about to snap.
“Dammit, Lu Ming! I’m going to snap!”
Lu Ming quickly channeled more spiritual energy and yelled:
“It’s fine! If you snap, I can weld you back together! Just hang in there!”
Just as Ye Fan felt like he was on the verge of breaking, Man Xiong finally reached the other side.
“Boss, we’re across! Come on over!”
Once everyone had crossed, Big Yellow barked back at Lu Ming.
“Coming!”
Lu Ming replied. Looking down at Ye Fan, whose blade was already somewhat corroded, he continued to comfort him:
“My dear Immortal Saber, don't be sad. In a bit, I’ll refine and reinforce you. I’ll restore you to how you were before, maybe even make you stronger...”
“Like hell I’ll believe your bullshit!”
Ye Fan couldn't help but swear.
All the refinement and manners he had cultivated over several lifetimes couldn't withstand three days by Lu Ming's side.
This guy was a master at making people spit blood and bending blades out of sheer frustration!
“Look at you, you’re a saber, why are you still swearing?”
Lu Ming patted his chest and said:
“Don't doubt me. I am a genuine, albeit unlicensed, master forger...”
“Then hurry up! I’m about to be completely corroded!”
Ye Fan urged.
At the same time, killing intent swirled deep within his heart. I must endure.
With this sacrifice, I should be able to gain Lu Ming's trust, right?
Sigh... To think that I, a dignified Immortal Emperor, have been reduced to a mere weapon.
Being used so casually, trampled upon, and even stepped on by a dog... It’s all because of this goddamned mortal.
The more Ye Fan thought about it, the more his hatred grew. The golden light around his body suddenly flared, and a sky-piercing killing intent erupted from him!
“Holy crap, Immortal Saber! You’re looking awesome!”
Lu Ming exclaimed. Seizing the moment while Ye Fan was in top form, he leaped onto the saber.
Just as he reached the middle of the bridge, Ye Fan's mind raced.
Should I take this opportunity to kill this goddamned mortal right now?
Boom!
A sharp, piercing ring of the blade suddenly echoed, shaking the void!
Ye Fan's entire body trembled as he prepared to cleave Lu Ming right in two from bottom to top...
But the very instant he was about to strike, he held back.
No, no. This guy hasn't used that weapon he has specifically for me yet.
If I make a move now, I might just get sucked in by his weapon again.
I only have one shot. I absolutely cannot fail!
With that thought, Ye Fan forcefully suppressed the intense killing intent in his heart.
Thud!
Lu Ming landed on the ground on the opposite bank.
With a wave of his hand, he recalled Ye Fan.
By now, Ye Fan's blade was covered in black spots and completely devoid of luster. His rank was on the verge of dropping to the Mystic Rank.
“Tsk, tsk... You took some heavy damage!”
Lu Ming muttered as he examined Ye Fan.
“So you noticed!” Ye Fan snapped.
“Don't be mad! I told you I’d reinforce you!”
Lu Ming chuckled and began pulling various forging materials out of his storage bag.
He had found this Immortal Saber quite handy; it would be a shame to let it go to waste like this.
“You’re going to reinforce me right here?”
Watching Lu Ming's movements, Ye Fan couldn't help but cry out in shock.
He knew Lu Ming was good at forging, but he couldn't just do it so casually!
I am an immortal artifact right now!
“What’s wrong with this place?” Lu Ming asked, puzzled.
“Sure, there are no green hills, clear waters, singing birds, or fragrant flowers, but the environment is nice and quiet!”
Ye Fan's face darkened. “...”
Of course it's quiet when there's absolutely nothing here!
But Lu Ming kept talking:
“When I forge, I do it anytime, anywhere! I’m not picky about the environment!”
“But... but... even if you don't use a forging room, this setting is completely inappropriate!”
“Don't you dare ruin me during the process...”
Ye Fan yelled anxiously.
“Relax! I’ve never made a single mistake when forging magical artifacts!”
As Lu Ming spoke, he took out a pile of forging materials and began selecting what to use.
“Eldest Senior Brother, I have some materials I got from the Great Black Mountain. See if you can use them?”
Seeing that Lu Ming was about to repair the immortal saber, Huang Tianbao offered his help.
Huang Tianbao pulled out a black stone that gleamed with a faint, eerie light and handed it to Lu Ming.
Lu Ming inspected it and found that the stone was made of a very unusual material with excellent hardness.
Although it lacked spiritual energy, it was incredibly tough and durable.
He didn't know what kind of material it was, but he decided to use it anyway.
Seeing Lu Ming select that stone, Ye Fan became displeased.
“Hey, hey... What kind of material is that? Can you even use it?”
“It’ll work. It’s hard enough to make up for your structural weaknesses...”
Lu Ming didn't even look up as he picked out a few more materials.
“These are all rare materials, by the way. You’ll have to pay me back later...”
Hearing this, Ye Fan wanted nothing more than to hack him to death on the spot.
If it weren't for you people, would I even be injured? And now you're asking me to pay you back for the materials...
“Lu Ming, you’re crossing the line! How is a weapon supposed to pay you back?”
Ye Fan gritted his teeth.
“You can always sell your body to clear the debt!” Lu Ming suggested earnestly.
“Lu Ming...”
Just as Ye Fan was about to say more, Lu Ming cut him off:
“Stop whining, we’re starting...”
With that, Lu Ming’s eyes focused, and the spiritual energy within his body surged violently.
He pointed a finger, sending a stream of pure, vast spiritual energy to wrap tightly around Ye Fan.
Next, Lu Ming transformed the spiritual energy into thousands of thread-thin lines.
The threads pierced through the surface charm of the Immortal Saber, penetrating deep into the origin structure of the blade.
They began to clear away, bit by bit, the corrosion caused by the black mist.
Meanwhile, Ye Fan was enduring an unprecedented, agonizing pain.
He felt as though he were being skinned alive and having his tendons ripped out. The pain gnawed at his soul and physical form.
Instinctively, he wanted to struggle and let his power explode.
But in the end, he held back.
He was afraid that if he thrashed around, Lu Ming might ruin the forging process.
Most importantly, as Lu Ming continued to forge, he realized that the damage on his body was actually healing.
After removing the corrosion, Lu Ming began to melt down the other materials and integrate them into Ye Fan's body.
The blade vibrated slightly. Ye Fan felt an incredibly profound sensation, separate from the pain.
It felt as though his bones were being reshaped and his Dao foundation recast. His rank was slowly climbing.
Joy surged in Ye Fan's heart. Could this guy actually be upgrading me?
...
As Lu Ming continuously refined and integrated the materials, the aura emanating from Ye Fan steadily climbed, finally breaking through to the Earth tier in one fell swoop.
Boom!
A black light shot into the sky as a terrifying aura erupted.
“I... I actually... really broke through to the Earth tier?”
Ye Fan cried out in disbelief.
“Of course! Didn't I tell you?”
Lu Ming said smugly.
This was all thanks to the black crystal stone provided by Huang Tianbao, which had directly elevated Ye Fan's grade to the Earth tier.
Ye Fan was ecstatic. His upgrade was a success!
Now I’ll have an even better chance of killing Lu Ming in the future.
Just as everything was nearing completion and about to take final shape, Lu Ming’s voice rang out:
“Oh, crap. I’m out of spiritual energy! I can't finish shaping you!”
Ye Fan, who had been overjoyed by his breakthrough, was instantly driven to the brink of madness upon hearing this.
Because right now, he was just a long, shapeless lump. When Lu Ming had added the materials earlier, he had melted Ye Fan down along with them.
Currently, he was neither a saber nor a staff!
Rate on N.U.
