I Can Extract Divine Power

Chapter 187 - 117: Qualitative Change in the Casting Technique, Unusual Movement at Qingyun Cloud Temple

The member of the Ding Division quickly cupped his hands. "As you command."

Shen Bai said no more and walked toward the nearest blacksmith shop on the street.

...

「Inside the blacksmith shop.」

Due to the upcoming state celebration, the blacksmith shop was surprisingly not filled with its usual scorching heat.

Blacksmiths in Fenglin State occasionally forged Weapons, but they mostly made farm tools, a trade that provided a modest profit.

When Shen Bai walked in, he found the shop owner hanging red decorations around the establishment.

Everyone was in a festive mood, and the blacksmith was clearly not one to be left out.

Noticing Shen Bai’s arrival, the owner instinctively turned his head. The sight of Shen Bai’s black official uniform made him jolt.

"Sir, you..."

Few commoners ever found themselves in such a situation. It was a wonder the man could speak at all.

Shen Bai stated his purpose and placed some silver coins on the table. "Consider this payment for using your facilities."

He didn’t need any materials for this task. He only needed to follow the method of the Spirit Casting Technique to modify Cold Moon, making it compatible with the Commander Attribute.

Therefore, he only needed to use the blacksmith’s tools.

The owner hastily waved his hands. "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! How could I possibly accept money from you, sir?"

In truth, not everyone was like the owner of the breakfast stall. Upon seeing Shen Bai, this blacksmith looked like a mouse that had just seen a cat.

After all, the black official uniform Shen Bai wore was far too conspicuous.

Shen Bai pressed the silver coins into the owner’s hand. "Just take it."

With that, he ignored the owner’s stunned look and walked straight into the forge.

The area in the back was the forge, fully equipped with an anvil, a furnace, hammers, and all manner of tools.

Shen Bai casually picked up a nearby hammer. The next moment, an intensely familiar feeling washed over him.

It was the feeling of a master craftsman who had been forging for many years. The instant his hand touched the hammer, a thousand ideas on how to use it flooded his mind.

But the Spirit Casting Technique was no ordinary smithing method. Shen Bai shook his head, clearing away those extraneous thoughts. He drew the Cold Moon Sword from his waist and placed it on the anvil.

The blade of Cold Moon was crystal clear, with a faint, dark red light shimmering upon its surface.

Shen Bai was only modifying the sword this time, not reforging it completely. After heating Cold Moon in the flames for a moment, he raised the hammer.

He circulated the Qi within his body, guiding it toward the hammer. In a mere instant, the Qi completely enveloped the tool.

With the Spirit Casting Technique, the Casting was done with Qi; the hammer was merely a vessel to channel it.

Shen Bai raised the hammer and brought it down on Cold Moon.

"CLANG!"

A clear, crisp sound rang through the forge.

An expression of intense concentration settled on Shen Bai’s face as he swung the hammer again and again.

Sparks flew, and his Qi slowly depleted.

With every strike, not only did Cold Moon change, but his Skill Level also increased.

As Shen Bai’s hammer fell, the dark red light clinging to Cold Moon’s surface began to warp.

With each blow of the hammer, strange, dark red patterns gradually began to intertwine and connect.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Shen Bai set the hammer aside and let out a long breath.

Before him, Cold Moon had taken on a new appearance.

Previously, the dark red glow on the Cold Moon Sword’s blade had been irregular. But under Shen Bai’s hammer, it had transformed into intricate and bizarre blood-red patterns that enveloped the blade.

Shen Bai lifted Cold Moon and circulated the Qi in his body.

The next moment, blood-red Sword Qi enveloped the sword’s blade.

The dark red patterns on the blade began to glow, flickering like a viper’s tongue and sending a chill through the heart.

’Its power has undergone a fundamental transformation. My Sword Qi flows much more freely now.’

After assessing the change for a moment, Shen Bai felt a sense of satisfaction. He sheathed Cold Moon back at his waist.

’Time to get back to the grind.’

With the modification of Cold Moon complete, Shen Bai walked out of the blacksmith shop under the owner’s astonished gaze. He took a deep breath of fresh air and resumed his patrol of the streets.

...

Shen Bai, for his part, had just received a new upgrade.

Meanwhile, far from the streets patrolled by the Ding Division, members of the Qingyun Cloud Temple were giving out congee.

The one leading them was none other than Master Xuanyang, the very same Daoist who had clashed with Shen Bai at the city gates.

Master Xuanyang, dressed in a Daoist Robe, watched the commoners come and go, a flicker of deeply hidden disdain in his eyes.

’Past state celebrations were always like this.’

’In his heart, Master Xuanyang didn’t quite agree with the Temple Master’s methods.’

’Back when the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple was still around, they did these things as a performance for influential eyes.’

’But now the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had declined for the sake of Fenglin State, and Qingyun Cloud Temple had long since become the largest Daoist temple in the entire state. Master Xuanyang felt it was all unnecessary.’

’But the Temple Master had given the order, and he had no choice but to obey.’

Steam billowed from the pots of congee up ahead.

Many of Fenglin State’s commoners happily collected their bowls of congee and moved to the side to eat.

A young Daoist asked, "Senior Brother, why aren’t we going to the area the Ding Division is responsible for?"

Master Xuanyang was lost in thought, but the question snapped him out of it. He smacked the young Daoist. "The Temple Master said we are to avoid the Ding Division this time. The Bing Division is perfectly fine."

The young Daoist flinched from the blow and ducked his head, looking confused. "But why?"

Master Xuanyang shot the young Daoist a glare but didn’t explain.

The young Daoist knew he had said the wrong thing and fell silent, not daring to press the matter further.

Master Xuanyang flicked the Floating Dust whisk in his hand, his mind replaying the image of that figure at the city gate.

’Why aren’t we going to the Ding Division? I suppose the Temple Master wants to avoid provoking him.’

’After all, with that fellow Shen Bai’s current status, he’s not someone we can afford to offend.’

As this thought surfaced, Master Xuanyang recalled the stir Shen Bai had been causing recently and felt a cold draft on the back of his neck.

He was growing afraid, but he was careful not to let it show.

When one is afraid, one needs a distraction.

Master Xuanyang looked at the freshly prepared pot of congee, walked over, and pulled a small bottle from his sleeve.