Zhang Yuanqing pressed his palm against the relief carvings on the belly of the furnace and silently declared in his heart, "Upgrade!"
He then repeated over and over, "I want it upgraded to the Dominator stage. I want it upgraded to the Dominator stage."
Having informed the Hundred Refining Furnace of his request, Zhang Yuanqing withdrew his hand. He did not begin the refining process right away, but paused to think:
*I only have twenty fire stones, which means only twenty chances. If I don't succeed this time, things will get messy...*
As a Dominator-stage Scholar, Lian Sanyue might not be willing to ruin her reputation and principles over a Saint-grade rule-based item.
Yet a Dominator-grade rule-based item was a completely different story.
Even if the Purple Thunder Hammer only reached Level 7 upon ascending to the Dominator stage, it was still a Dominator-grade rule-based item.
Aside from peak Dominators, no one could afford to overlook a Level 7 rule-based item.
If Lian Sanyue succumbed to greed, he would find himself in a dreadful position.
Zhang Yuanqing had no desire to relive the previous scramble over fire stones; that had been sheer psychological torture.
His best bet was to succeed on the first attempt, then take his treasure and leave.
Of course, if Lian Sanyue truly intended to seize his rule-based item, Zhang Yuanqing would not back down either—worst came to worst, he could just kill her to christen his banners.
These days, as Duobao Tianzun, he was equipped with demigod- and Dominator-grade items and held Five Elements Spiritual Power Trial Cards in hand. A mere Level 7 artificer was hardly enough to intimidate him.
With those thoughts in mind, he retrieved an exquisite Saint-grade material, summoned a rough, scalding fire stone with his spiritual telekinesis, and tossed them into the furnace together.
Drawing on past experience, he believed that before enhancing a weapon, one needed to sacrifice a few low-grade materials first to build up luck.
Soon, searing heat emanated from the furnace's body. Plumes of purple smoke drifted from the vents on the lid, and frantic clangs rang out from within, sounding as though someone were forging iron inside.
After a dozen seconds, the noises died away, the purple smoke vanished, and the furnace settled into silence.
Zhang Yuanqing immediately stepped forward and pressed his palm to the hull to check the accumulated energy:
[Note 2: 1%]
*Only one percent? An unlucky start...* Zhang Yuanqing cursed inwardly. He produced a Level 6 material, summoned another fire stone, and tossed them into the furnace.
Amid another round of clanging, the Hundred Refining Furnace fell quiet again:
[Note 2: 3%]
*A Level 6 material only yielded two percent energy?* The corner of Zhang Yuanqing's mouth twitched. Without hesitation, he threw in a third piece of Level 6 material.
After five consecutive attempts, he had consumed three Level 6 materials and two Level 4 materials, raising the accumulated energy to 8%.
"All these materials combined are worth twenty to thirty million, and that only got me eight percent? What a complete scam! Ugh, let's just say I'm building up luck... building up luck..."
Zhang Yuanqing rubbed his hands together nervously and tossed in a Dominator-grade material.
After the clanging ceased, the purple smoke dispersed and the Hundred Refining Furnace stopped shaking.
Zhang Yuanqing could hardly wait to press his palm against it:
[Note 2: 21%]
*Awesome!!* Zhang Yuanqing danced with joy in his heart.
A single Dominator-grade material had injected 13% energy into the Hundred Refining Furnace!
He had just obtained four Dominator-grade materials from headquarters, received one as compensation from Heaven's Punishment, and been allocated five from the underground palace at Qinfeng Academy.
To possess ten Dominator-grade materials at such a young age—who could even imagine it?
If one Dominator-grade material converted to 13%, ten materials would be more than enough to complete the upgrade.
Invigorated, Zhang Yuanqing tossed in a second Dominator-grade material. After the Hundred Refining Furnace violently shuddered, the energy display read: [Note 2: 25%]
This Dominator-grade material had only increased the energy by 4%.
*???* Looking at the number shown in the attribute readout, a string of question marks drifted through Zhang Yuanqing's mind.
"I have a bad feeling about this..."
He steadied his mind, took several deep breaths, and threw in three more Dominator-grade materials in succession.
[Note 2: 30%]
[Note 2: 34%]
[Note 2: 39%]
Five Saint-grade materials and five Dominator-grade materials had only accumulated 39% energy.
He had ten upgrade attempts left, but only five Dominator-grade materials remained.
Zhang Yuanqing stood dazed in front of the furnace. At that moment, he finally recalled the dread once inflicted upon him by Kiri, and the humiliation of being trapped before a blacksmith's anvil, watching helplessly as his gear shattered to pieces.
After a prolonged silence, he lifted a long-handled iron hammer without a word.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!"
Zhang Yuanqing hammered the furnace while tears streamed down his face, his expression twisted as if facing the bitter enemy who had slain his father and stolen his wife.
After venting his rage, Zhang Yuanqing conducted a careful analysis based on past experience: given his terrible luck right now, continuing to toss in Dominator-grade materials was genuinely unwise.
At a time like this, he should offer some Saint-stage materials to build up luck.
No sooner thought than done. Zhang Yuanqing promptly selected three Level 5 materials and two Level 6 materials, feeding them into the Hundred Refining Furnace.
The furnace's accumulated energy rose to: [Note 2: 47%]
Zhang Yuanqing silently donned his Heaven-Worship Set, brought out the Accompanying Holy Spirit Moon, affixed the Thunder God Mark, waved flame into a robe and molten rock into armor, then swung the long-handled iron hammer:
"Forty-seven percent! Forty-seven fucking percent! Die, die, die for Daddy!"
Only five attempts remained, and only five Dominator-grade materials were left.
Exhausted, Zhang Yuanqing cast aside the hammer and tremblingly took out the Demon-Subduing Pestle and the Tiger Tally. "There's no turning back now. Let's melt these two down! One demigod-grade item and one Dominator-grade item—it'll definitely forge through, it'll definitely forge through..."
*Calm down, calm down! If I melt the Tiger Tally, the Five Elements Alliance will hunt me down. If I melt the Demon-Subduing Pestle, the old crone will hunt me down! There won't be a place for me to hide in either the real world or the dungeons...* Zhang Yuanqing took several deep breaths and banished the reckless impulse from his mind.
"If all else fails, I'll melt the Form and Spirit Obliteration Saber or the matchbox. And if it still fails, my only choice will be to kill Lian Sanyue to vent my rage..." Zhang Yuanqing felt driven half-mad by this wretched furnace.
Gritting his teeth and steeling his resolve, he fed the remaining Dominator-grade materials into the furnace one by one.
Perhaps the first fifteen attempts had accumulated enough luck; this time, the energy accumulation proceeded with unexpected smoothness. Four materials managed to push the energy all the way to 89%.
"One last chance... one last chance..."
Zhang Yuanqing first rubbed his hands, then bowed toward all four cardinal directions. Muttering a stream of "Buddha bless me," "God bless me," and "Jade Emperor bless me," he tossed the final Dominator-grade material into the furnace:
[Note 2: 100%]
The entire furnace shook violently like a roaring washing machine, its three legs skidding against the floor in small jerks.
Powerful jets of purple smoke erupted from the vents on the lid, resembling high-pressure steam blasting from a pressure cooker.
The process lasted three full minutes before the Hundred Refining Furnace quieted down. The purple smoke curling from the vents thinned, nearing dissipation.
*It's done—a Dominator-grade rule-based item...* Once smoke stopped rising from the vents, Zhang Yuanqing felt a surge of excitement. He could not wait to leap onto the furnace and lift the lid.
Inside lay a small purple-gold hammer, a hand cannon with a long, thick barrel, and a small round shield.
"Uh, why did it turn into three items?"
Zhang Yuanqing grabbed the Purple Thunder Hammer to check its attributes. Its functions remained unchanged, but its grade had risen from the Saint stage to the Dominator stage.
In its description, the line "A hammer crafted through the sacrifice of sixteen items by a red-eyed, reckless gambler" had changed to "A hammer upgraded by a gambling addict through the sacrifice of twenty top-tier materials."
Zhang Yuanqing felt thoroughly mocked by the Spirit Realm.
Furthermore, behind the five-minute duration in Note 2, a line had been added: "Below the Dominator stage, it can only be used for two minutes."
Beyond two minutes, the wielder would suffer a backlash from the resonant force and disintegrate into fine dust.
In Note 3, the switchable forms had changed to: "Part of the Purple Thunder Set."
Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing instantly understood. No wonder one item had split into three—it had become a set.
Next, he inspected the attributes of the Thunderstorm Cannon and the Purple Thunder Shield. Aside from their strength rising to the Dominator stage, their core functions remained identical.
However, the lightning strike backlash of the Thunderstorm Cannon was now powerful enough to kill him outright—the standard price of using a Dominator-grade item.
*In that case, the Thunderstorm Cannon can't really be used anymore. Even if I inject life fluid beforehand or shield myself to blunt the damage, I'd still be severely wounded and stripped of combat effectiveness. What's the difference between that and licking my own poisoned blade?*
Zhang Yuanqing's joy dampened slightly. "Let's see the set's effects first."
He eagerly activated the set bonus.
Instantly, the Purple Thunder Shield melted into liquid, swiftly washing over Zhang Yuanqing's body and solidifying into a suit of armor reminiscent of Iron Man, wrapping him completely in gleaming purple light.
Next, the Thunderstorm Cannon merged into his left arm, opening a pitch-black muzzle in the palm of his left hand. The Purple Thunder Hammer merged into his right arm, the back of his right palm swelling with pumpkin-like ridges while his rounded fingers transformed into alloy claws.
—The pommel of the Purple Thunder Hammer bore a triangular spike with armor-piercing and bleeding effects.
That property had now transferred to the claws.
And this was merely the set's combat form, not its special abilities.
While preserving the original attributes of all three items, the Purple-Gold Set granted three additional functions:
First: Armor. Immunity to physical and mental attacks below the Dominator stage. Attacks from Level 7 Dominators were weakened by 40%, and Level 8 attacks by 20%.
Against a Level 9 Dominator, the armor would shatter immediately without mitigating damage.
Second: Body of Steel. Grants immunity to one instance of the Thunderstorm Cannon's backlash, and extends the Purple Thunder Hammer's usage duration by two minutes.
Third: Steel Will. Grants immunity to the demoralization backlash of the Purple Thunder Shield.
As for the restriction, the set could only be worn for five minutes at a time. After five minutes, the set effect would automatically disengage without any backlash—a rare and gentle constraint.
After experiencing the set's effects, Zhang Yuanqing's breathing turned ragged.
This was an item capable of directly taking on a Level 7 Dominator. While its attack methods were relatively straightforward—limited to the Thunderstorm Cannon and close-quarters brawling—a Level 7 Dominator wouldn't be able to kill him within those five minutes.
It was effectively a reusable, slightly weakened version of the Five Elements Spiritual Power Trial Card.
*A pity this set can't be upgraded any further. Well, contentment brings happiness, contentment brings happiness...*
Zhang Yuanqing deactivated the set effect, stowed the three items away, and walked out of the room.
The moment his hand touched the doorknob, he glanced back at the quietly standing Hundred Refining Furnace.
*I am never touching that thing again. If I ever touch it again, I'm a dog,* he swore inwardly.
*Click!*
He turned the handle. Standing outside the door was the proprietress in her black tube top and black leather jacket.
Lian Sanyue's face was dark, a woman's cigarette pinched between her fingers, and she ground out through clenched teeth:
"You little brat, sneaking into my shop in disguise to take advantage of me again."
As an artificer, she had caught the scent of the Purple Thunder Hammer from the aura released when the item emerged from the furnace, thus confirming Yuanshi Tianzun's identity.
"Thank you, Boss Lady! Thank you so much!" Zhang Yuanqing said with a cheeky grin. "I forged a Dominator-grade rule-based item."
Lian Sanyue's expression turned even darker.
Watching someone else forge an exceptional item felt worse than losing an exceptional item of her own.
"Pay up and get lost!" she snapped crossly.
Zhang Yuanqing beamed as he retrieved Little Red Riding Hood and counted out fifteen stacks of US dollars, each containing one hundred thousand. "Keep the change. The extra is your tip."
He was in high spirits.
Lian Sanyue could not help asking, "How many Dominator-grade materials did you throw in?"
She didn't say items, because Dominator-grade items were exceedingly rare; even the Ten Elders at headquarters were not so extravagant.
"Ten!"
"Ten..." Lian Sanyue's lips twitched. "You little brat strike it rich out of nowhere or something? Did you become the Grand Marshal's kept boy, or did the Palace Mistress of the Water God Palace take a liking to you?"
"Nonsense, I earned it all myself." Zhang Yuanqing looked back at the furnace. "Honestly, this thing has a one hundred percent success rate as long as you prepare enough materials. Why haven't the Five Elements Alliance and the Zhao family used it to forge items?"
Lian Sanyue sneered:
"Take that item of yours: from the Saint stage to Dominator, how many materials and how many items did you sink into it? Calculate their total value yourself. Peak Dominators look down on it, and ordinary Dominators can't afford it.
"Besides, I made a rule for myself: the Hundred Refining Furnace doesn't take business from Dominators."
"Why?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, bewildered.
"I'm afraid of getting beaten to death."
*This damn furnace truly is peerless at driving people crazy...* Zhang Yuanqing thought back to how badly he had wanted to kill her to vent his frustration moments ago, and nodded in profound agreement. "Boss Lady, your business sense is solid after all."
***
Late at night.
Inside an apartment building in Pangxie City, Good Minister Chooses His Master to Slay switched off the lights and climbed into bed. Sitting by the headboard, he retrieved a silver disk bearing a yellow paper talisman.
Twisted, tadpole-like incantations were inscribed on the silver plate.
This item was called the Dream Compass, a tool exclusive to Dream Masters of the Southern Sect. Illusionists possessed a similar item, though of lower grade and crafted from brass.
The Nihility Sect's strongholds did not exist in the physical world, but within dreams.
The elders had constructed numerous stable dreamscapes that served as strongholds. Members of the organization could use the Dream Compass to travel between them, exchanging intelligence, trading items and materials, accepting missions, and more.
Entering a dream stronghold required not just the compass, but also an infusion of the Illusionist class's spiritual energy and secret incantations. Even if members of an orthodox class obtained a compass, they would still be unable to enter.
This was precisely why Illusionists were so elusive and difficult to capture.
They operated on their own private local network.
Little Fatty slipped under the blanket, placed the Dream Compass over his chest, and began channeling spiritual power while silently reciting the incantation.
As the chant unfolded, the silver compass erupted with blinding brilliance before going dark.
Little Fatty fell into a deep sleep.
After his consciousness traversed a dazzling, hazy expanse of void, he arrived in a spacious hall.
The hall spanned roughly three thousand square meters, furnished with sofas, booths, and peddlers seated directly on the floor whose stalls displayed physical goods woven out of illusion.
A clamor of voices rushed over him.
Chapter 611