Deep within the Dragon Palace.
Ao Yuan sat cross-legged before an enormous, colossal cauldron.
The cauldron's four legs were distinct, entwined with the shadows of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.
They all looked up at the top of the cauldron with reverence.
Upon the cauldron were carved lifelike patterns of various demonic beasts.
Even before being opened, a profound and ancient aura emanated, washing over everything.
This was…
The Myriad Beasts Cauldron!
Ao Yuan surveyed it, then opened his mouth and exhaled a blast of hot fire beneath the Myriad Beasts Cauldron.
Roar!
A raging inferno erupted, illuminating the surroundings.
The ambient temperature rapidly increased, and soon the bottom of the cauldron glowed fiery red.
"It's about to begin!" Ao Yuan's gaze was fixed, occasionally controlling the intensity of the flames.
After more than a month of contemplation, Ao Yuan had fully grasped the Compendium of Artifact Forging.
He could finally begin forging, crafting his very own weapon.
Watching the flames grow fiercer, coloring half the cauldron red.
"It's time!"
Ao Yuan softly murmured, and from somewhere, he produced the Spear of Destiny.
The Spear of Destiny was not thick, but it felt incredibly heavy.
It was entirely black, emitting a dark glow.
Ao Yuan opened the cauldron and directly tossed the Spear of Destiny inside!
Bang!
He sealed it shut!
Ao Yuan opened his mouth again and exhaled another stream of flames, increasing the heat.
Boom!
The Myriad Beasts Cauldron turned red under the flames. Ao Yuan watched intently; the next step was to melt down the Spear of Destiny.
Only then could he forge the weapon.
After waiting for a while, Ao Yuan retrieved the Shield of Destiny and the trident, throwing them all into the Myriad Beasts Cauldron.
"Once everything is melted, I can start refining," Ao Yuan's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
This was his first time forging, and he was crafting his own weapon; an indescribable excitement surged within Ao Yuan.
Boom!
After an unknown period, the Myriad Beasts Cauldron suddenly emitted a muffled sound.
"Refining successful!"
Ao Yuan immediately opened the cauldron and took out a mold, entirely black.
The mold was extremely elongated, etched with intricate patterns.
A glance revealed that the mold was shaped like a long spear!
This was the weapon Ao Yuan intended to forge!
The mold itself was crafted from obsidian by Ao Yuan, to prevent damage later.
Ao Yuan poured the refined liquid, bit by bit, onto the mold.
Soon!
The molten liquid gradually filled the spear-shaped mold.
Even though it was not fully formed, a terrifying aura could already be sensed emanating from within the mold.
This was evident of…
What the fully forged spear would be like!
Quickly.
As the liquid cooled, a cold weapon in the shape of a long spear appeared before Ao Yuan.
"Now for the second step!"
Ao Yuan whispered and tossed the mold back into the Myriad Beasts Cauldron to begin the processing.
"Myriad Beasts Cauldron! Forge!"
Ao Yuan exhaled a dense stream of flames.
Boom!
As the fierce flames burned, Ao Yuan continuously performed several incantations and hand seals.
The depicted demonic beasts on the cauldron seemed to come alive.
Each one let out a heaven-shattering roar, echoing the ferocity of their kind.
But beneath these beastly roars, the sound of clashing metal could be heard.
This was the forging process utilizing the unique properties of the Myriad Beasts Cauldron!
If one could see inside the Myriad Beasts Cauldron.
They would find that the blackened mold, now shaped into a spear, was burning intensely red.
The liquid was further solidifying!
This defied conventional logic, yet it was the reality!
In a trance, Ao Yuan felt as if he were refining an elixir, not forging a weapon.
Bang!
Not long after, the Myriad Beasts Cauldron began to tremble violently.
Following that.
The Myriad Beasts Cauldron shook intensely, the lid rattling as if about to explode.
It seemed… something was trying to escape from within.
"Hmph!"
"It's developing a weapon spirit?"
Ao Yuan paused for a moment, then a wave of joy washed over him.
He had learned about the concept of weapon spirits from the Compendium of Artifact Forging.
It stated that all divine weapons would eventually birth a weapon spirit.
Just then, the collisions within the Myriad Beasts Cauldron became more violent.
Boom!
With a final, explosive sound, the lid of the Myriad Beasts Cauldron was violently flung open.
A beam of light flashed out, intending to escape.
"Hmph! Trying to run?"
Ao Yuan sneered, and with a wave of his hand.
Swish!
A flash of watery light instantly sealed off the surroundings.
This left no room for escape.
At this moment!
The radiance gradually faded, revealing the spear within the light.
Behold.
This long spear was entirely black, yet etched with dots of azure stripes, forming a ferociously depicted dragon silhouette!
The dragon silhouette glowed faintly, as if alive.
And at the dragon's head, the spear tip, it was a pale gold, exuding an air of nobility.
Yet, the overall aura it projected was one of immense ferocity!
As if nothing in this world could subdue it.
"A good weapon!" Ao Yuan couldn't help but praise.
Whoosh—
As Ao Yuan spoke, the spear suddenly shifted its position, its golden tip aiming directly at Ao Yuan and then shooting forward!
Where it passed, the space emitted sonic boom-like sounds, and even the void distorted slightly.
"Hahaha!"
Ao Yuan did not get angry; instead, he was filled with laughter.
"Stop!"
Just as the spear was only a finger's breadth away from Ao Yuan, Ao Yuan suddenly roared, and his dragon might surged forth.
It pressed down upon the spear like a tidal wave.
Rumble!
The spear suddenly stopped in mid-air, as if hitting an invisible, intangible defense.
Upon closer inspection, one could see the spear body trembling slightly.
It was as if a son was facing his father.
Ao Yuan beamed, and with a wave of his hand, he grasped the spear!
Cold!
So cold!
This was Ao Yuan's first sensation upon touching the spear.
But it slightly calmed his excited heart, as if someone was comforting him.
Ao Yuan had experienced this feeling before.
It was…
The first time he had touched the Heavenly Pool Water.
Buzz!
Just then, the spear, which had been trembling, suddenly calmed down.
"Not bad!"
After a few tentative swings, each swing resonating with sonic booms in the void, Ao Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
"With this weapon, my strength will likely double!" Ao Yuan surveyed the spear, murmuring with a smile.
He found this spear to be excellent.
The only drawback was that it couldn't arbitrarily change size, and could only be used in his human form.
However…
On second thought, when he transformed into his dragon form, Ao Yuan wouldn't need a weapon.
After all!
At that time, his enormous body would be the best weapon!
…