Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 175 Golden Dragon Sword Intent and Second-Rank Swordsmith
Furthermore, the three-colored sword itself is a highly powerful weapon.

If it can be fully repaired, its power will naturally be stronger than other precious artifacts and swords.

Although the five nodes inside are damaged, they are only loosely connected. If you are not careful, the connection between the nodes and the inscription will break.

Therefore, the requirements for the spirit are enormous, and it must be done in an extremely subtle way.

Zhou Ling continued to unleash the Five Elements Spiritual Flame, in conjunction with the [Divine Soul Like a Blade].

Under his control, the spiritual flames and divine soul were connected thread by thread to the damaged nodes between the inscriptions.

"Hoohoo!"

The Five Elements Spiritual Flames rose and shone, precisely enveloping the inscription nodes.

"This little guy's control over spiritual flames is so masterful!"

"Such a shrewd and experienced technique is truly unexpected!"

On the judges' panel, several judges were amazed by Zhou Ling's control over the spiritual flames.

Even with the same level of fire manipulation spells, different cultivators will produce different effects.

Some people's flames are like swords, taking a fierce and powerful approach; others' flames are like clouds, constantly changing shape.

However, the purity and ingenuity of the flames in each individual case require extremely precise control.

Only in this way can the best imprint be formed.

The final determination is made regarding the power of the imprinted artifact.

At this moment, Zhou Ling displayed amazing fire control skills, which made the judges watch intently.

Of course, since the assessment had only just begun, most of the others were still pondering how to choose a damaged spiritual item.

Zhou Ling then began refining the spirit flame.

Zhou Ling was completely focused, unaware that she had become the focus of the judges' attention.

As for his fire control skills, they were actually just basic operations for him.

It was only through meticulous and precise control, and a problem-solving approach based on intermediate analysis, that he was able to arrive at the best repair solution.

The Five Elements Spirit Flame has now reached the mid-stage of the second rank. Under the meticulous control, it consumes less than a quarter of the flame.

This effectively multiplies the power of the spirit flame.

Therefore, Zhou Ling didn't feel anything was wrong, after all, this time he was participating in the second-grade technique master assessment.

None of these opponents are simple.

I must do my best.

"This three-colored sword is really a huge trap!"

At this moment, Zhou Ling frowned.

As the nodes are gradually repaired, the [Intermediate Analysis] feature reappears.

The repair of most precious artifacts generally involves two aspects: the material and the inscription.

The most common problem is damage to the inscription.

This three-colored sword originally had five damaged nodes.

Once these five damaged nodes are repaired, the problem will be solved.

Moreover, given the difficulty of the three-colored sword, Zhou Ling should be able to score a considerable number of points in this round.

But at this moment, as the points gradually recover.

Zhou Ling sensed a faint surge of sword intent emanating from the three-colored sword.

Through [Intermediate Analysis], Zhou Ling quickly discovered that it contained an incomparably sharp metallic sword intent.

This is just like when he forged the Thunder Sword for He Zijian.

The weapon refiner who forged this three-colored sword incorporated a sword stone during the forging process.

This undoubtedly adds a great deal of difficulty.

Whether or not this sword intent can be reconstituted depends on your own attempt.

"This is the second-grade assessment, and the difficulty is completely different."

Seeing this, Zhou Ling narrowed his eyes and quickly thought of a way to deal with it.

Directly repairing the node and abandoning the connection and fusion of the sword stone is also an option, but in this case, the power of the three-colored sword will undoubtedly be somewhat diminished.

Whether he can achieve a top-tier result is hard to say.

The only thing we can do is try to figure out this sword intent.

With the emergence of [Intermediate Observation], Zhou Ling quickly discovered the existence of this wisp of sword intent.

The original three-colored inscription was damaged, causing the sword intent to disappear without a trace. It was only as the inscription nodes were repaired that it gradually condensed again.

Zhou Ling quickly identified the three-colored sword stone that contained the sword intent.

To reintegrate this metallic sword intent with the inscription, one must first inject one's divine sense into it and then suppress it.

Zhou Ling felt that this sword intent might be the most crucial test point.

[You are observing the tricolor sword stone. Intermediate Observation +1, Golden Dragon Sword Intent +3]

[You are currently performing the Golden Dragon Sword Intent. Illusion Simulation +1, Golden Dragon Sword Intent +3, Divine Soul +3]

A prompt will then appear on the panel.

The scene before Zhou Ling's eyes changed immediately.

The tricolor sword, which was still under repair, suddenly burst forth with golden sword light, radiating a blazing golden glow.

"Fortunately, it's only sword intent at the minor completion stage."

Zhou Ling murmured.

The next moment, the three-colored sword shot into the air, its sword energy whistling, and strands of golden sword light slashed out.

In an instant, golden sword light filled the void, like ferocious, roaring sword dragons.

Each sword dragon has a different form, appearing incomparably sharp.

Zhou Ling felt himself enveloped by an incomparably sharp sword intent.

In his mind, a sudden realization seemed to dawn, and golden sword beams appeared one after another.

As the Five Elements Sword's energy flowed, a sudden burst of golden sword light erupted, so intense that it was impossible to look directly at it.

Strands of golden sword light swirled around him, gradually coalescing into a golden sword dragon.

Originally, Zhou Ling only condensed the Furnace Sword Intent among the Five Elements Sword Intent, but now he naturally comprehended the Metal Element Sword Intent as well.

Zhou Ling carefully comprehended it.

The Golden Dragon Sword Intent can condense into two forms of sword intent.

First, there's the Sword Dragon Protective Sword Qi; second, there's the Sword Dragon Slash, both possessing immense destructive power.

Zhou Ling was overjoyed, never expecting to comprehend the metal-attribute sword intent by such a coincidence.

Now, with the improvement of [Deriving Illusion Simulation], the simulation effects are getting better and better.

If I had to practice diligently on my own, I might not have been able to achieve this level of results even last year.

[You are observing the Golden Dragon Sword Intent. Intermediate Observation +1, Golden Dragon Sword Intent +3]

[You are analyzing the Golden Dragon Sword Intent. Intermediate Analysis +1, Golden Dragon Sword Intent +3]

As the golden sword dragon continued to appear in his mind, Zhou Ling's understanding deepened.

However, it is still in the assessment and competition stage.

Zhou Ling didn't dare to expend too much of his spiritual energy. After comprehending the Golden Dragon Sword Intent, he withdrew his consciousness from the [Illusion Simulation].

After a brief moment of reflection, Zhou Ling found that his consciousness and spiritual awareness were still sufficient.

Now that he had grasped the Golden Dragon Sword Intent contained within the Three-Colored Sword, and combined with the inscription and the sword stone, things became much easier.

Internally connected to the inscription node, externally connected to the sword stone.

Before long, golden sword energy from the three-colored sword continuously emerged, like golden rings encircling Zhou Ling's body.

"The swordsmith!"

At this moment, Qin Zhizheng and the other judges who were paying attention to Zhou Ling couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Swordsmiths are a relatively independent group among weapon refiners.

Although forging swords is also a category of weapon crafting.

However, not all weapon refiners can be called swordsmiths.

Only a weapon refiner who can forge a sword imbued with sword intent is qualified to be called a swordsmith.

"Instructor Hu is absolutely right. This child is indeed a promising talent, no, he's practically a prodigy!"

Qin Zhizheng couldn't help but praise him repeatedly.

At this moment, Zhou Ling's displayed talent was enough to make up for his lack of a low-grade spiritual root.

"I have never taught the method of sword making."

Looking at Zhou Ling on the competition stage, Instructor Hu was quite surprised, because he was not a swordsmith either.

It's impossible for him to teach Zhou Ling how to forge swords.

"Could it be that this little guy can comprehend sword-making techniques on his own?"

Qin Zhizheng smiled with considerable amazement.

Since Zhou Ling is capable of forging spiritual swords imbued with sword intent, he should be recruited into the Heavenly Crafts Bureau no matter what.

The Heavenly Crafts Bureau has no shortage of second-grade weapon refiners, but swordsmiths are a completely different story. Out of a hundred second-grade weapon refiners, there might not even be one swordsmith.

······.

Mid-December is usually a time when the ground is covered in snow.

However, the entire Xuan Yuan Dao Academy was shrouded in a magic array, and the square was as warm as spring.

On the second-rank assessment platform, many magicians were still pondering which spiritual object to choose for repair.

The exam has been going on for half an hour, and there are still many technicians who haven't even started.

Some have not yet had any damage discovered on the spirit objects.

Just like Zhou Ling's three treasures: the spirit sword, the alchemy furnace, and the ancient bell.

Once you analyze it a little, you'll understand that the difficulty gradually decreases.

However, this requires the mage to expend a great deal of spiritual energy and time to discern the difference.

This hurdle alone has already stumped many people.

In some cases, the problem remains undiscovered even at the very end.

As for finding the problem, that would also lead to a significant depletion of spiritual energy.

"Hoohoo!"

Inside each of the light shields, some of the mages had already begun to condense flames, while others began to draw runes.

They began to display their individual skills.

No one will slack off in the slightest when it comes to this test that determines their future path.

Zhou Ling carefully condensed a furnace sword aura, which, like a furnace, enveloped the golden dragon sword aura and suppressed it.

"Hoohoo!"

The golden dragon sword energy roared and soared, its momentum astonishing.

However, it was soon suppressed by the flaming sword furnace and gradually subsided.

"Now that the Golden Dragon Sword Intent has been suppressed, it is sufficient to link it with the inscription."

Zhou Ling began to connect the repaired inscription with the sword intent.

The Golden Dragon Sword Intent is incomparably sharp; without the suppression of the Furnace Sword Intent, it would be difficult to connect it with the inscription.

Therefore, it is impossible to fully integrate into the spirit sword.

This process requires that not only the spiritual flame and divine sense, but also the sword intent, be flawless.

This is what distinguishes swordsmiths from other weapon refiners.

If any link in the chain goes wrong, all previous efforts will be in vain.

After a stick of incense had burned, the Golden Dragon Sword Intent and the Three-Colored Inscription were successfully linked, and the Three-Colored Sword seemed to emit a dragon's roar that soared into the sky.

"Finally done, phew!"

Zhou Ling breathed a sigh of relief. Connecting sword intent with the imprint was the most difficult part, and there was no room for carelessness.

But if successful, the power of this spirit sword will increase exponentially.

Its quality far surpasses that of other spirit swords of the same rank.

At this moment, the three-colored sword shone with alternating black, white, and gold light. Not only were all the nodes of the three-colored inscriptions inside filled, but the power of the original sword stone was also enhanced.

The released sword energy possessed an incomparably sharp and fierce aura.

"Indeed, with the Golden Dragon Sword Intent integrated, the power of this three-colored sword will increase by at least 100%."

Zhou Ling murmured, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.

In this round, he felt that there would be absolutely no problem with finishing in the top six today.

As the three-colored swords unleashed their full power, their light shot into the sky, shining brilliantly, and everyone in the square noticed this scene.

"Hmm? Such sharp sword energy!"

"What happened? Someone repaired the spirit sword so quickly?"

"Such sword energy, imbued with sword intent, can only be achieved by a second-grade swordsmith!"

"Golden sword intent, truly terrifying?"

"What? A second-tier spirit sword imbued with sword intent? And it's so fast?"

"Who is that?"

"It's actually that Qi Refining Level 8 disciple from the Dao Academy!"
In the square, all the disciples were discussing it animatedly.

There was no way to ignore it. At this moment, Zhou Ling had successfully repaired the spirit sword, and the sword aura was dazzling and extremely eye-catching, enough to attract the attention of the entire audience. It was hard not to see it.

On the first-rank assessment platform, Liu Yu, Ye Zhilan, and Wang Qian all looked on in disbelief.

Because they also knew Zhou Ling to some extent.

Even though Zhou Ling had shown remarkable talent, they believed that someone with a low-grade spiritual root was destined to go nowhere and was no match for them.

With their continued training at the academy, they will soon surpass Zhou Ling.

But at this moment, the three-colored sword light surged.

Judging from the effects of this spirit sword alone, Zhou Ling is not only not lagging behind, but is actually surpassing them by quite a bit.

The spiritual items they currently possess, although also of the second rank, are only of the lower grade of the second rank.

They have begun repairs, but not very quickly.

They were only just preparing to make their move.

"I had only just noticed the damage to the spirit weapon's inscription, and he had already repaired the mid-grade second-tier three-colored sword?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yu's eyes.

“How is this possible!”

Ye Zhilan frowned. How could Zhou Ling have made such rapid progress in just over three months?
With their qualifications, the three of them would definitely have been the leaders in their class at Xuan Yuan Dao Academy.

But now, he has been completely outmatched by Zhou Ling.

Moreover, this gap has not only failed to narrow over time, but has instead widened.

This was hard for all three of them to believe.

"Let's recover first."

On the jade platform, the three-colored swords were placed. Zhou Ling took out a pill bottle and consumed a Soul Essence Pill and a Qi Harmony Pill.

Afterwards, he sat cross-legged in meditation, refining and absorbing the medicinal power.

This was also the advantage he gained by quickly starting to repair the three-colored sword.

We're currently an hour ahead of everyone else.

There is enough time to recover.

[You are currently using the "Qinghui Nourishing Spirit Technique," restoring you to your original state by +1 and increasing your spiritual power by +2.]

[You are absorbing the Soul Essence Pill. Herbal Stress +1, Soul Essence Pill Power +2]

[You are absorbing the Qi Harmony Pill. Herbal Stress +1, Qi Harmony Pill Power +2]

[You are restoring your consciousness and spiritual power. Restoration to original state +1, Divine Soul +3, Spiritual Power +3]

[You are absorbing spiritual energy. Spiritual affinity +1, Five Elements spiritual energy +4]

As the medicinal effects dissolved in his body, they surged through Zhou Ling's meridians like a river of spiritual energy.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Zhou Ling's spiritual power and divine sense were fully restored.

However, Zhou Ling was not in a hurry; he had plenty of time now.

After recovering for a while, Zhou Ling opened the second assessment storage bag.

And now, only a little over an hour has passed.

"A mid-grade second-tier Thunderwood sword, and a mid-grade second-tier Xuan robe!"

As his divine sense swept over the area, Zhou Ling murmured.

The storage bag contained two items: a thunderwood sword and a black robe.

These are the tools used in the second round of assessment.

Choose one!

"I have already mastered the sword intent of lightning, so I obviously have a greater advantage in forging lightning wood swords."

"A second-tier Xuan robe requires the crafting of multiple inscriptions, which is costly and doesn't offer any significant advantage!"

Zhou Ling took the two items out of the storage bag and quickly thought about what to do.

Although his current spiritual cultivation level is not low, refining a spiritual imprint is a good option.

However, this is a second-grade Daoist qualification assessment, and the opponents are mostly Foundation Establishment cultivators, so the advantage in terms of spiritual cultivation is not obvious.

"Then let's forge the Thunderwood Sword!"

Zhou Ling pondered to himself.

The spirit sword is inherently the most powerful of all magical artifacts.

Moreover, it is of the lightning attribute, so once it is refined, its power will be even stronger.

Although it was quite challenging, it was the most suitable choice for me.

Moreover, having previously forged the Thunder Sword, he was even more adept at forging it.

(End of this chapter)