Chapter Four: The Gourd of Fire and Water

Reforging the treasured gourd was not a sudden whim for Song Changsheng, but a decision he had contemplated for some time.

In the cultivation world, there has always been talk of a hundred arts, a thousand methods, and ten thousand types of tools. The sheer variety of magical instruments is dazzling, each with its own distinct focus and strengths. The treasured gourd was an auxiliary-type artifact, containing its own independent space. At the bottom of the gourd, an Engraving of the Bone-Eroding Array was inscribed, allowing its wielder to ensnare opponents within and refine them to a pool of blood.

It was considered an excellent magical tool, but compared to offensive weapons like blades, spears, swords, or halberds, it ultimately lacked a certain lethal sharpness.

Song Changsheng, possessed of extraordinary talent, had taken the path of the spell cultivator and learned many techniques for self-defense. Now, having mastered the Water and Fire Commanding Art, his water and fire spells had become significantly more powerful, far surpassing others of his realm.

By contrast, his magical instruments had become something of a weakness. Inspired by his experience crafting talismans, he resolved to imbue the treasured gourd with the forces of water and fire, transforming it into a weapon of slaughter.

Naturally, forging a magical instrument could not be treated as lightly as crafting a talisman. Song Changsheng made his way to the clan's Hall of the Hundred Arts, a place dedicated to cultivating the clan's skills and managing its various enterprises.

Beneath the great hall, a segment of an earthfire spirit vein was buried, providing a continuous source of earthfire for alchemy and artifact forging.

Though Song Changsheng possessed a fire spiritual root, flames conjured from spiritual power could not compare to the natural earthfire. Being a perfectionist, if he was to reforge his magical tool, he would do so impeccably.

Due to the hour, the Hall of the Hundred Arts was rather deserted. Song Changsheng walked straight to a corner of the grand hall and bowed respectfully. “Nephew greets Fifth Uncle.”

There, a middle-aged, corpulent man reclined lazily on a lounge chair, eyes closed and fanning himself with a plantain fan. Without even opening his eyes, he said, “Did I not tell you to rest? There’s no work for you here today.”

“Fifth Uncle, I’m here to borrow the artifact forging chamber. I have made some progress in my craft and plan to reforge one of my instruments.”

At these words, the man’s eyes snapped open. He sat up and looked at Song Changsheng. “You’ve advanced to a first-rank high-grade artifact forger?”

Song Changsheng nodded with a smile.

“Alas, I told you long ago that you should study alchemy, not tinker with arrays and apparatuses. With your talent, you could have become a great master of the alchemical arts.” The man sounded somewhat regretful.

This uncle was no ordinary individual. His name was Song Luzhou, the fifth among his generation and currently the clan’s second elder, in charge of the Hall of the Hundred Arts.

He was not only a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator but also the clan’s sole second-rank high-grade alchemist.

At his uncle’s words, Song Changsheng smiled. “It’s harmless to say such things to me, but if Grandfather hears of it, your ears will be in for trouble again.”

Song Luzhou instinctively shrank his neck, but quickly grinned and poked at Song Changsheng. “Cheeky boy, daring to tease your Fifth Uncle. Fine, the C-class artifact chamber is vacant. Go ahead.”

With a wave, he dismissed Song Changsheng and settled back into his chair for a nap.

Song Changsheng descended the stairs beneath the hall, where, thanks to the earthfire, the air was oppressively hot, with flames flickering even in some of the stone crevices.

At the center of the forging chamber stood a towering copper cauldron, its surface etched with birds, fish, and insects, forming a vivid tableau.

This was a first-rank, top-grade copper cauldron—far superior to Song Changsheng’s own bronze vessel.

He sat cross-legged, took down the treasured gourd at his waist, and murmured, “Can’t let this wine go to waste.”

With that, he began to drink in great gulps, not stopping until his tongue licked up the final drop of wine, at which point he belched with satisfaction.

He activated a special switch, and orange-red flames burst forth from the fire vent beneath the cauldron, heating it rapidly.

When the temperature was right, he tossed in several pieces of water- and fire-attributed ore he had acquired, and began to manipulate the earthfire to roast them.

As the impurities were gradually expelled, the ores melted into liquid.

Unhurried, Song Changsheng placed the treasured gourd into the cauldron, sprinkled in some powdered minerals, then sealed the lid and began the ritual.

Under his careful control, all the materials and the gourd fused perfectly. The process lasted three days and nights. Only when sweat beaded on the tip of his nose did the refining complete, and the treasured gourd advanced to a first-rank, high-grade magical tool.

Yet this was not the end. After a brief meditation, Song Changsheng began to inscribe formations. He muttered, “The Bone-Eroding Array can remain, but I’ll add a Water and Fire Dual Polarity Array on top of it. Only then can I fully unleash my strength.”

So saying, he focused his spirit and began engraving the formation within the gourd. To inscribe a first-rank, high-grade formation took him nearly two days and nights.

Setting up a formation externally would have taken only moments, but inscribing it within a magical instrument was exponentially more difficult and exhausting.

Were it not for his exceptional spiritual strength, it would have been impossible to finish so quickly.

With the array inscribed, the reforging was complete. The gourd had transformed from a yellow vessel to one of red and blue, with a metallic sheen and a gratifying weight in the hand.

“Since you now possess the power of water and fire, you shall be called the Water and Fire Treasured Gourd from now on,” Song Changsheng said with satisfaction as he gazed at his handiwork.

He tried activating it, and the gourd immediately floated into the air, tilting downward so that a faint red glow flickered within its dark mouth.

“Go!”

With a spell gesture, he commanded the gourd, and a torrent of scorching flame burst forth, instantly filling the entire chamber with a sea of fire. The temperature was so high the very air seemed to ripple and distort.

Thankfully, he remembered where he was in time and hastily withdrew the flames. Even so, the forging chamber had been scorched beyond recognition.

“Its power is truly formidable. If the fire array is this strong, the water array must be equally so. At last, I possess a true weapon of destruction.” Song Changsheng looked at the gourd, unable to conceal his delight.

After a short rest, he lifted the restriction and prepared to leave, only to find Song Luzhou’s broad, sooty face blocking the doorway as soon as he opened it.

“Uh... Fifth Uncle,” Song Changsheng said, suddenly feeling guilty.

Song Luzhou said nothing at first. Instead, he shoved Song Changsheng aside and peered inside. At the sight, his fury nearly erupted. He all but roared, “You little rascal, just what have you done?!”

Song Changsheng realized trouble was brewing. His fifth uncle was notorious for his stinginess, and with the chamber ruined like this, he was sure to be in for it. His eyes darted about as he plotted an escape.

But before a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had no chance. Song Luzhou easily seized him, grinding his teeth. “Brat, how do you plan to fix this?”

Knowing he was at fault, Song Changsheng grinned sheepishly. “Fifth Uncle, it’s just a bit of superficial damage. Please let me off this once.”

“Hmph. Letting you off is possible—aren’t you going to preside over the Ascension Gathering? Bring me a jug of second-rank spirit wine, and I’ll drop the matter.” Song Luzhou’s eyes gleamed slyly—he was making a heavy demand.

“Second-rank? That’s greedy! My mother only has a few jars of that, and even I’ve never tasted it!” Song Changsheng protested loudly.

“Well, that’s your problem. Off you go—don’t forget the spirit wine!” Song Luzhou chuckled wickedly and tossed Song Changsheng out with a flick of his hand.

...