The rag picking sister turned out to be a weapon refiner

First, she lightly touched the blade with her fingertips, and spiritual energy flowed in like a thread, beginning to outline the outline of the boundary rune on the blade. This rune was complex and exquisite, requiring extremely high spiritual energy and concentration to complete. Hu Xingtong concentrated her mind, her consciousness highly focused, striving for perfection in every detail. Her spiritual energy flowed across the sword like flowing water. During this process, when her spiritual energy was insufficient, the system helped her dissolve the drug effect and restore her condition. This process continued for countless days and nights. Finally, within a hundred days, a rune with a faint glow appeared on the sword.

Once this boundary rune is activated, it will form a powerful defensive barrier around Qing Huanjian, which can greatly weaken both physical attacks and spiritual impacts, providing solid protection for Hu Xingtong, and at the same time has the ability to autonomously rebound attacks.

After drawing the rune, Hu Xingtong felt tired all over. He had been tense for a long time and beads of sweat were oozing from his forehead. Hu Xingtong could only wipe them off and then immediately enter a meditative state.

After recovering, Hu Xingtong immediately began carving the Myriad Tides Array. This array was even more complex, not only drawing the dragon and phoenix energy from heaven and earth, adding a unique aura to Qing Huan Jian, but also unleashing a powerful surge of spiritual energy during battle, enhancing Qing Huan Jian's destructive power.

Hu Xingtong's spiritual power surged out like a tide, and every strand of it landed precisely on the sword, still without stopping. With the help of the system, the medicinal power was dissolved, and gradually, an intricate and gorgeous Ten Thousand Tides Array pattern took shape on the sword.

As the two runes were completed, the blade of the Qing Huan Sword glowed brightly, and a powerful spiritual energy wave emanated from the sword, shaking the entire cave. Hu Xingtong felt this power, his heart filled with pride and joy.

She glanced at the Qing Huan Sword, and a strong sense of familiarity welled up within her. She thought, this Qing Huan Sword must be her future family. With a gentle swing of the sword, its light shone like a dragon and a phoenix, tracing a brilliant arc through the air. At that moment, Hu Xingtong seemed to transform into a dragon and a phoenix, soaring through the heavens alongside the Qing Huan Sword. She knew she had finally embarked on the path of the sword. From now on, weapons, swords, talismans, and formations would be her primary focus.

At the same time, Hu Xingtong also realized that her cultivation had made great progress during her period of retreat. She tried to guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into her body, and was surprised to find that she had touched the threshold of the Golden Core Stage.

"Xiao Wuzi, how long have I been in seclusion?" Hu Xingtong could hardly tell the difference between day and night after carving runes in this cave day and night.

[It took you almost a year to shape your body, and almost two years to create the seal pattern. This means you've been in seclusion for almost five years.]

"Then I have reached 20 years old without realizing it?" Hu Xingtong was a little surprised and felt a little regretful. Five years, just five years to forge a sword. Woo woo woo, she has aged five years again.

"Xingxing, now that you have the Qing Huan Sword, you're only one step away from advancing to the Golden Core stage. How about practicing the Ying Zhen Sword Technique while you're at it?" the system suggested.

Hu Xingtong thought about it and decided that since he was already in seclusion, he might as well advance a level. However, when he thought of the word that sounded like "dog crawling", he felt a headache. "That word is so abstract. And how did Master think of giving it to me? Could it be that he had already calculated that I would learn swordsmanship in the future? Also, Xiao Wuzi, can you help me transfer the content into my mind?"

[Who knows? Maybe your master is really awesome and has figured it out. I can transfer the details directly into your mind, but you still have to practice the details yourself.] The system agreed without hesitation and immediately transferred the details of the sword technique into Hu Xingtong's mind.

In an instant, the huge amount of information made Hu Xingtong's head buzz and hurt.

The Yingzhen Sword Technique is indeed a heavenly-level martial art. Its content and intensity completely exceed Hu Xingtong's existing spiritual reserves.

After a period of torment, Hu Xingtong finally digested all the content transmitted by the system. She closed her eyes and concentrated, the spiritual power surged in her body, and tried to dance with the sword according to the guidance of the Yingzhen Sword Technique. With the blessing of the passive skill of Kendo Spirituality, with every swing of her sword, the sword body would guide the external spiritual energy of heaven and earth to circulate in her body at an unprecedented trajectory.

With each adjustment of the depth of her breath, she seemed to feel that each strand of spiritual energy became more refined, gradually gathering into a trickle in her meridians, and finally converging at her dantian, forming an increasingly condensed vortex of spiritual power, with a subtle tendency to transform into a materialized golden elixir.

"So, this is the secret of the Golden Core Stage..." Hu Xingtong marveled inwardly. She felt an unprecedented surge of power filling her body, as if every movement could mobilize the vital energy of heaven and earth. But she knew this was only the beginning. To truly reach the Golden Core Stage, she would need to fully condense this power into a solid golden core.

She continued to immerse herself in her cultivation. After an unknown amount of time, a powerful surge of spiritual energy suddenly surged within the cave. The surrounding air seemed to be drawn by this force, forming circles of spiritual energy ripples visible to the naked eye. Hu Xingtong's body even began to rumble, a sign that her spiritual energy had reached its peak and was about to break free from its shackles.

At that moment, Hu Xingtong, as if sensing something, swung her sword fiercely, a resolute look flashing in her eyes. At that moment, the blade of the Qing Huan sword suddenly flashed with a dazzling white light, and Hu Xingtong's aura reached its peak. The immense spiritual power within her body, like a floodgate, burst forth, crashing into the spiritual vortex in her dantian.

"Crack!" A subtle but clear sound echoed through the air, and then, a warm and powerful force emanated from her dantian, quickly spreading throughout her body. She could clearly feel that her spiritual energy had undergone a qualitative leap, and a golden elixir, shining with golden-red light, had formed in her dantian.

At this moment, the system also issued a timely congratulation: [Congratulations to Xingxing for successfully advancing to the Golden Core Stage. Next, it's time for rewards.]

As Chen Wu finished speaking, a mechanical electronic voice followed: [Congratulations to the host for completing the Jindan stage mission and forging the natal spirit weapon. The mission reward has been issued, please check it.]

[Qi Gathering Domain Disk: A special space is built inside that can gather and collect all the innate qi.]

【Thunder Crystal: A product of heaven and earth condensed from heavenly thunder.】

[Rune Treasure Book: A special secret book that records various rune formations.]

[Congratulations to the host for activating the weapon encyclopedia. The mission rewards have been issued.]

[Warming Spirit Stone: A spiritual stone from heaven and earth that warms and nourishes spiritual instruments.]

The continuous sound of rewards made Hu Xingtong dazed. This feeling was like getting something for nothing, which was both pleasant and exciting.

But this excitement did not last long, and the thunder outside brought Hu Xingtong back to his senses.

Hu Xingtong emerged from the cave entrance, only to see a massive rift in the once-cloudy sky. Silvery lightning flashed through it, and thunder roared, creating a magnificent symphony between heaven and earth. The wind grew even stronger, sweeping up fallen leaves and dust, creating powerful storms.

Hu Xingtong looked up at the thunderbolt that was about to pour down, feeling distressed but not afraid at all. Instead, he felt speechless: "Xiao Wuzi, will there be twenty-seven thunderbolts this time?"

[You guessed it right, 27, not a few. I think you'll end up as barbecue this time.] The system tried to ease the tension with teasing, but Hu Xingtong didn't need it at the moment. Perhaps she was used to it, or perhaps she wanted to test Qing Huanjian's strength. She looked towards the sky filled with rolling thunderclouds with a glimmer of anticipation.

"Come on, let me see what your heavenly tribulation is capable of!" Hu Xingtong shouted softly, holding the Qing Huan Sword tightly in her hand, with the tip of the sword pointing directly at the sky. The spiritual power surrounding her body resonated faintly with the thunder and lightning between heaven and earth, as if she had become one with nature.

The first bolt of lightning finally gave way to her arrogant cries, and with devastating force, it descended, aiming directly at Hu Xingtong. Hu Xingtong wasn't afraid, believing it would only hurt slightly and leave her half-dead. With a flash of her own, she dodged the lightning bolt like a swift swallow, deftly avoiding its direct impact. Meanwhile, her Qing Huan Sword slashed through the air, emitting a brilliant, sharp blade that collided with the lightning in a burst of dazzling light and deafening sound.

"Xiao Wuzi, can the heavenly thunder in the thunder tribulation be considered as the innate energy?" Hu Xingtong was really unhappy that the heavenly thunder struck her every time. If she could collect these heavenly thunders, it would be perfect to make a spiritual weapon that utilizes the heavenly thunder.

[Yes, you can use the Qi Gathering Domain Disk to collect it.] The system confirmed her thoughts. Hu Xingtong naturally wouldn't be polite with the Heavenly Being. After all, she still called it Grandpa, and it wasn't too much for a granddaughter to take Grandpa's things.

He immediately took out the Qi Gathering Domain Plate and placed it on his forehead.

Then, a funny scene happened next. Hu Xingtong was hiding from the thunder with a round plate on his head, and the thunder was chasing Hu Xingtong and striking him.

Occasionally, when Hu Xingtong was tired of running, she would wave her hands to resist the thunder. With the help of the Qi Gathering Domain Plate, the thunder was like a toothless tiger to her and did not hurt her at all.

[Xingxing, use the Meridian Expanding Pill. You must withstand the last few thunderbolts and temper your body!] The system reminded Hu Xingtong before the last few thunderbolts were about to arrive. Without hesitation, the latter took out the Meridian Expanding Pill from the system backpack, threw it directly into his mouth, and chewed it twice. Feeling the power of the medicine flushing through his meridians, the swelling and explosive feeling made Hu Xingtong want to curse.

After collecting the Qing Huan Sword and the Qi Ju Yu Disk, Hu Xingtong looked up at the sky and shouted, "Come on, I asked you to chop someone else but you wouldn't dare, so chop me!"

"Boom——"

The attack of the heavenly thunder became more and more fierce as Hu Xingtong shouted. The thick thunder fell directly from the top of Hu Xingtong's head. The numbing electric current passed through his whole body, and the swelling and explosive feeling on his body was inexplicably reduced a little.

Hu Xingtong looked inward at the meridians throughout his body and was surprised to find that as the heavenly thunder penetrated deeper, his meridians expanded a lot, and his absorption of external spiritual energy also gradually increased. This feeling made Hu Xingtong excited, and when he looked up again, his eyes were full of eagerness to try.

"Come again!"

"Boom——"

Finally, when the last bolt of thunder dissipated, Hu Xingtong could no longer suppress the ecstasy in his heart, and he jumped up and down and cheered.

[Don't be too happy, your God has invited you again.] The system's voice was faint. Hu Xingtong subconsciously looked up at the sky, only to see the familiar Zedao space appear again in the void.

This time, the Heavenly Dao did not seem to intend to give Hu Xingtong a chance to refuse. It directly set up a ladder under Hu Xingtong's feet, leading directly to the void.