Chapter 19

As the petals of cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

Qin Wentian, following Feng Ping's instructions, poured the alchemy liquid into the weapon embryo and then placed it in the alchemy slot to let it solidify. Feng Ping, however, set up a small alchemy furnace beside the large smelting furnace and instructed Qin Wentian, "Go to the material hall and fetch me one pound of bronze, half a pound of silver sand, half a pound of blood rock, a small amount of star steel, and some light aluminum."

"This is for forging a sword, and a light and agile one at that." The alchemy knowledge in Qin Wentian's memory naturally included information about alchemy materials. Bronze was the main material, silver sand could make the sword shine, and the other materials could make the sword light and sharp, especially blood rock and star steel, which were quite precious metals.

"Master, are you going to forge a flexible sword for Lin Yue?" Qin Wentian asked tentatively.

Feng Ping glanced at him coldly and said, "You have some knowledge, knowing I'm forging a flexible sword. Lin Yue's father and I have some acquaintance, and she herself is a cultivation genius. I will naturally put my heart into forging for her. You offended her to attract her attention, but I advise you not to daydream. If you can serve as my apprentice for three years, I will bestow you some simple divine patterns to comprehend."

"Three years, and just simple divine patterns?" Qin Wentian muttered. Alchemists really valued divine patterns.

"What, too long? Do you know what I paid to obtain the divine patterns from the Star River Guild?" Feng Ping snorted and said, "Go fetch the materials."

Qin Wentian nodded slightly and went to the material hall to fetch the materials Feng Ping needed. He then saw Feng Ping place them in the alchemy furnace.

"The flames here are provided by the Star River Guild. Without the Star River Guild, many alchemists can't even smelt materials. It's indeed stringent to become an alchemist," Qin Wentian sighed inwardly. Star steel, a material of extreme hardness, could not be melted by ordinary flames.

Especially when the divine weapon to be forged is of a higher grade, the materials needed are even harder to melt.

Of course, for alchemists, the most difficult and important thing to obtain is still divine patterns and the ability to comprehend and engrave them.

After placing the alchemy materials in a separate alchemy furnace, Feng Ping waited until the weapon embryo showed cracks. He then had Qin Wentian place the sword embryo on the forging stone, and with a tap of his finger, the embryo cracked open, revealing a sword that had been scorched red by the flames.

"At this point, the weapon has not yet fully solidified and cooled, making it the best time to engrave divine patterns," Feng Ping said indifferently. Then, the power of the stars fluctuated, and Feng Ping extended a finger, from which a brilliant star power emerged, transforming into a star engraving knife.

"This is a star soul. Feng Ping's star soul is an engraving knife, not a casting star soul, but it's quite good for engraving divine patterns," Qin Wentian thought. He then saw Feng Ping use the star engraving knife to engrave divine patterns on the scorched red sword, not at all avoiding Qin Wentian. The divine patterns were incredibly intricate, with intersecting lines that were hard to distinguish with the naked eye, like the veins in a human body, with the sword being the body.

However, Feng Ping probably didn't expect that Qin Wentian could see his actions clearly.

"This is a basic sword-shaped divine pattern, which can enhance the sharpness of the sword and increase its attack power, but Feng Ping's engraving is a bit rough," Qin Wentian thought clearly but naturally didn't say it. Feng Ping, without a casting star soul, used his hands to engrave divine patterns, and his alchemy talent was average, making it difficult for him.

In fact, Feng Ping knew that his engraving knife star soul had no advantage in cultivation, which was why he put a lot of effort into the path of alchemy and achieved some success, though he didn't expect to be looked down upon by Qin Wentian.

"If you can learn these divine patterns, you will be carefree for life," Feng Ping, unaware of Qin Wentian's thoughts, smiled and glanced at Qin Wentian. He then engraved divine patterns on all the weapons, waited for them to cool completely, and then polished and sharpened them, finally fitting them with sheaths and other decorative items.

As for the divine patterns engraved on them, they completely disappeared after the forging was completed, as if they had been embedded into the divine weapons, becoming part of their veins.

"Try it out," Feng Ping handed the completed divine weapon to Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian held the sword, and star power surged, invading the sword. Instantly, he felt a sense of connection, as if the divine pattern veins were also part of his body veins, and the star power could flow into them to enhance the sword's power.

"How marvelous," Qin Wentian, who had never practiced before, naturally had not come into contact with divine weapons and was surprised by the wondrous effect of the divine patterns.

"Today, you saw the entire process of polishing and forging. If you really want to be a long-term apprentice, in the future, I will focus on engraving divine patterns, and you will handle the other tasks. How about that?" Feng Ping asked Qin Wentian.

"Master Feng Ping, I won't come here often, but if I have time, I will help with these tasks, and I don't need any compensation," Qin Wentian replied. He had understood the forging process today, and he already had alchemy methods in his memory, but he needed to experience them firsthand to understand them better.

The most important part of alchemy is still engraving divine patterns. The rest is just about mastering the combination of different materials for different divine weapons. Of course, polishing and sharpening also require skills, and the flames are not a concern in the Star River Guild.

Because everything in the Star River Guild is ready-made, Feng Ping can mass-produce low-grade first-stage divine weapons, but even a low-grade first-stage divine weapon is a precious treasure for many people in the Body Cultivation Realm.

"Ungrateful," Feng Ping snorted and said, "I'll rest for a while. Help me clean up and throw away some waste."

Qin Wentian saw Feng Ping leave and thought to himself that the guy was quite cunning. He could mass-produce some ordinary divine weapons in a day but made others wait three days to make it seem like he needed more time to forge.

Of course, if Feng Ping wanted to forge a divine weapon with care, it would indeed take three days, like when he forged a divine weapon for Lin Yue. Engraving divine patterns is not an easy task, and any error in engraving would result in a failed forging.

After Feng Ping left, Qin Wentian fetched another sword-shaped weapon embryo and poured the liquid with the so-called 'golden ratio' into it. He decided to try it himself.

"According to the memory I obtained, divine patterns and divine weapons are divided into the same grades, from one to ten. A first-stage divine weapon requires a first-stage divine pattern, and a second-stage divine weapon requires at least a second-stage divine pattern. These graded alchemy divine patterns are derived from the combination of basic divine patterns. The higher the grade, the harder they are to comprehend. Some third-stage divine patterns in my memory, I can't even understand."

Qin Wentian thought to himself. When the cooled weapon embryo showed cracks, he placed it on the forging stone and, with a tap of his hand, shattered the embryo, revealing the scorched red sword. The star power in his body surged, weaving into a beautiful pattern, a sword-shaped divine pattern, which was a first-stage divine pattern called 'Flying Sword.'

A star hammer appeared in his palm and continuously changed to fit the shape of the sword. The star power in his body also flowed toward the star hammer, imprinting on its base.

Qin Wentian raised his hand and slammed it down on the sword, imprinting the divine pattern on the hammer directly into the sword, becoming part of its veins.

"Phew..." Qin Wentian took a deep breath, unsure of the result.

Putting away the star hammer, Qin Wentian began to polish the sword. However, when he was about to sharpen it, Feng Ping rushed over, his expression changing as he saw Qin Wentian's actions. He frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Master Feng Ping, I'm just trying to see if I can polish it," Qin Wentian said.

"Do you know where you are? The weapon embryo and alchemy liquid you used are enough to forge a divine weapon. Can you afford to compensate me?" Feng Ping was furious, walked to Qin Wentian's side, and with a flick of his sleeve, the sword Qin Wentian had not yet sharpened fell to the ground.

"Master Mu Qing is coming to check today. Consider yourself lucky, get out of here immediately," Feng Ping said coldly, clearly not expecting an apprentice to be so presumptuous.

Qin Wentian's expression stiffened. Feng Ping, being an alchemist, was indeed arrogant. He snorted and left.

"What an ungrateful person, I even thought of pitying and taking you in," Feng Ping said angrily. By then, Qin Wentian had already left, and a few figures were approaching, all wearing Star River robes. The leader had an extraordinary presence, accompanied by a beautiful girl and an old man.

Mu Qing was the former head of the alchemy division of the Star River Guild in Tianyong City, but he had been transferred to the imperial city. He had returned to check on the progress of the alchemists here.

Qin Wentian passed by this group, and the girl glanced at him indifferently, a look that made Qin Wentian feel the arrogance of alchemists even more. They were all proud and haughty people.

"Feng Ping, what has you so angry?" Mu Qing and the others entered Feng Ping's alchemy room.

"Master Mu Qing, President," Feng Ping bowed, his face now full of smiles, with no trace of anger.

"En." Mu Qing nodded and entered the alchemy hall, saying, "Let's see how your alchemy skills have improved."

As he spoke, he happened to see the sword by the casting stone and picked it up. Sometimes, looking at someone's failed work can reveal their skill level.

Feng Ping was about to speak when he saw Mu Qing's expression suddenly change, and he turned to look at Feng Ping, surprised, "Feng Ping, your alchemy skills have improved so much?"

Feng Ping was taken aback. Mu Qing handed the sword back to him, and Feng Ping, with a thought, infused star power and elemental energy into it. His expression also changed dramatically.

"How is this possible?" Feng Ping was incredulous.

"The sword's flaw is in the material selection. You must have used the pre-mixed smelting liquid, but the divine pattern is so exquisite that it makes me feel ashamed. It's nearly perfect, even though it's just a first-stage divine pattern. You're not far from becoming a second-stage alchemist."

Mu Qing smiled at Feng Ping and said, "After the New Year, I plan to take an assistant to the imperial city. This person can be decided now. Feng Ping, is this sword definitely forged by you?"

Feng Ping hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth. This opportunity was too good to miss.

"Of course."

"Good, I'll give you three days to forge a divine weapon with all your might. Let me see your peak level," Mu Qing smiled and turned to leave.

Feng Ping's heart sank, his face slightly pale. He had admitted to forging the sword out of greed, but now, how could he engrave that divine pattern? Greed was harmful.

"That kid... Yes, I must find him!" Feng Ping's heart trembled. If he couldn't find Qin Wentian, he was finished.