Chapter Sixty-Nine: The First Spear in Cultivation

The trembling of this isolated space grew increasingly violent, and with it, the hope in Lei Xiang’s heart swelled. Thunder boomed overhead, mingling with the crashing of meteors of varying sizes. Zhu Chi had returned to reside within Lei Xiang’s consciousness, while Lei Xiang himself was already clad in a defensive armor of reverse scales, reinforced outside by three layers of beast-hide tents.

When the second tent’s defenses were breached, Lei Xiang was deliberating whether to add more layers or to set up a defensive formation instead. Suddenly, the meteors ceased their assault, and the thunderous noise stopped abruptly.

Zhu Chi immediately sent a divine thought: “What’s happening? Has the heavenly tribulation ended? Was the spatial fissure broken through?”

Lei Xiang shook his head with a bitter smile. “My plan failed. We’ll have to remain in this space a while longer.”

In a flash, Zhu Chi flew out again, transforming into the guise of a shabby old man. His rodent-like eyes blinked, and he smiled gently. “No matter. The fact that you thought to harness the power of the heavenly tribulation to break the spatial barrier proves you’re a prodigy. With your intellect, I’m increasingly confident you’ll find a way out soon.”

Lei Xiang suddenly grew serious. “Master, I have a second plan, but I’ll need your help. If it goes smoothly, perhaps we’ll soon regain our freedom.”

“A second plan?” Zhu Chi’s eyes widened. “You—little demon, you have another solution? Go on, tell me about it.”

Lei Xiang smiled calmly. “The heavenly tribulation brought on by my advancement to the mid-stage, though it didn’t completely shatter the spatial fissure, has at least loosened the exterior. If I attack from within now, with a pincer movement, we might break it open.”

Zhu Chi nodded approvingly. Lei Xiang continued, “I’ve just refined the fifth layer of the Divine Treasure Mirror and advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Now I can boldly craft mid-grade, even high-grade magical artifacts. I intend to forge one with immense offensive power, to strike from inside. But I’ll need your guidance, since I lack experience with high-level artifact crafting.”

Zhu Chi frowned. “I can certainly guide you, which will increase your success rate by thirty percent. But what sort of artifact could shatter this spatial fissure in one blow? I don’t recall anything like that in the entire Limitless Continent—unless it’s a true Celestial Spirit Treasure. But even I don’t know how to craft one, and we have no clue about their materials or methods. You want to make one, but you have nowhere to begin.”

Lei Xiang smiled. “I wouldn’t know how to craft a Celestial Spirit Treasure—maybe after mastering the Divine Treasure Mirror. And even if I had one, I couldn’t control it with my current cultivation. What I want to make is a unique, powerful offensive artifact, something unseen not just in the Limitless Continent, but throughout the entire cultivation world.”

“Oh? So bold—what is this artifact, and what’s its name? Tell me so I can broaden my horizons.”

Lei Xiang found himself at a loss—not because he didn’t want to answer, but because he didn’t know what to call it. In his original world, this artifact had a name: handgun. But he couldn’t simply tell Zhu Chi it was called a handgun; Zhu Chi wouldn’t understand.

After pondering, Lei Xiang decided to name it himself. Since this artifact was his own creation, he was entitled to name it. Gun—he would call it the Immortal-Slaying Shooter, and the handgun would be the Palm-Sized Immortal-Slaying Shooter. He shared the name with Zhu Chi.

“The artifact I’m crafting is the Palm-Sized Immortal-Slaying Shooter, a weapon of tremendous offensive power with little defense. It’s based on memories from my mind, modified and uniquely created by me. There is nothing else like it in the cultivation world.”

Zhu Chi’s rodent eyes scanned Lei Xiang’s face. He knew his disciple was extraordinary—no one else in the Limitless Continent could draw a heavenly tribulation at the Foundation Establishment stage. Lei Xiang’s origins were mysterious, so Zhu Chi could accept that his mind held things beyond this world. He didn’t doubt him and said, “Very well. Since you’re so confident, I’ll assist you in crafting it. Together, we’ll leave this place.”

Lei Xiang quickly stopped him. “Wait, there’s something else I’d like you to do. You’ve patrolled this enclosed space for years and know its terrain well; could you search for the weakest point? The heavenly tribulation must have created some vulnerabilities, but remember: return within fifteen days at the latest. That’s when I’ll begin crafting. For now, I’ll make preparations.”

Seeing Zhu Chi depart without hesitation, Lei Xiang set up a Time Treasured Formation once more, took out the Blue Lotus Disk, and duplicated all his accumulated crafting materials and artifact fragments, storing them to use in forging the Palm-Sized Immortal-Slaying Shooter.

A year passed. On this day, a fist-sized refining furnace hovered before Lei Xiang, emitting wisps of blue smoke. A large quantity of materials and artifact fragments were fed into it, all previously refined in the smelting and initial refining furnaces. Lei Xiang solemnly formed various hand seals, channeling them into the furnace.

This was the final step: forging the barrel. The barrel was particularly difficult, requiring materials of extreme hardness, high heat resistance, and the ability to withstand repeated friction. Moreover, it needed precise rifling. This was Lei Xiang’s third attempt, the previous two ending in failure.

Now, at the critical moment, Lei Xiang watched the furnace closely. When the flames reddened, he poured in more spiritual power until they returned to pale blue. The drain forced him to keep spirit stones close at hand, ready to replenish his energy.

Suddenly, Lei Xiang ceased his input, exhaling deeply. The refining furnace spun automatically, releasing a stream of pitch-black liquid into the steel trough below. Hissing sounds echoed as blue steam surged skyward, soon enveloping the entire area and even shrouding Lei Xiang himself.

When the mist cleared, the steel trough was empty, but Lei Xiang stood revealed, turning a palm-length hollow black tube in his hand. It was black as ink, gleaming with a dark luster, exuding spiritual energy.

Yet not a hint of joy appeared on Lei Xiang’s face; instead, he frowned. A swirl of black smoke spun into Zhu Chi’s form. Seeing the black tube, Zhu Chi’s eyes glowed with strange light. “Excellent, Lei Xiang. You’ve succeeded at last. In artifact crafting, you’re already at the master level. Within ten years, you’ll surpass me. But why aren’t you happy?”

Lei Xiang shook his head with a wry smile. “The crafting is complete, but it still needs machining. The equipment required doesn’t exist in this world.”

“Doesn’t exist in this world? That’s a big claim.”

Lei Xiang thought, “The barrel needs rifling, which requires lathes, drills, mills, and grinders—numerical control machines that simply don’t exist here. There’s no time to build them myself.”

He laughed aloud, “Forget the rifling, we’ll just use a smoothbore Immortal-Slaying Shooter. It won’t be as powerful, but I think it’ll be enough to break through the weakest node.”

Zhu Chi laughed so hard his eyes disappeared. “Lei Xiang, you’re truly remarkable—to find another means of escape in such a short time. You’ll surely surpass your master. When we get out, I’ll teach you the cultivation method for the blue glow of the eye, which will enhance your Divine Thunder Strike. Be quick now, unleash your Palm-Sized Immortal-Slaying Shooter—I can hardly wait.”

Lei Xiang replied with a wry smile, “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a bit longer. The Palm-Sized Immortal-Slaying Shooter must be assembled before it can work—otherwise it’s just a pile of useless materials.”

“How much longer must I wait?”

Lei Xiang made a funny face. “About ten breaths.”

Zhu Chi scolded, “Little rascal, you’re teasing me—ten breaths is hardly waiting… Wait, you can assemble it in ten breaths? Don’t exaggerate.”

Lei Xiang winked. “Master, let’s make a bet. Close your eyes and breathe normally ten times, then open them and see if I’ve finished assembling it. If I haven’t, or it doesn’t work, I lose and you may punish me as you wish.”

Zhu Chi blinked and asked, “What if you do finish, and I lose the bet?”

“Then, after we escape, you’ll teach me another spell besides the Divine Thunder Strike.”

Zhu Chi said nothing, pondering. “Teaching him an auxiliary spell isn’t much, and I probably won’t lose. Not even the top artifact masters of the Limitless Continent could do it.” He declared loudly, “Deal!” With that, he closed his eyes. “Begin!”

Lei Xiang seemed utterly unconcerned. He took out a storage pouch and shook it in the wind. With a rustle, the crafted parts floated in midair, and Lei Xiang methodically grabbed and assembled them with swift hands.

Stock, trigger, barrel, firing pin, sight—all were fitted together. Then Lei Xiang called out, “Done! Open your eyes.”

Zhu Chi was startled, hurriedly opening his eyes to see Lei Xiang holding the Immortal-Slaying Shooter, stunned. He muttered to himself, “Lei Xiang is incredible. I even cheated, counting one breath less, but he still finished three breaths ahead. It certainly looks powerful.”

“Alright, I concede. But you, did you make me close my eyes so I wouldn’t learn your assembly method, using the bet as a cover?”

Lei Xiang replied proudly, “Master, it’s not boasting—the assembly method can’t be learned just by watching. Only through diligent practice can one assemble it instantly. If you wish, I’ll disassemble and reassemble it before your eyes.”

Zhu Chi said nothing, simply smiling as he watched him.