Chapter 262: Chapter 238: Fang Yun’s Bounty

It was late autumn.

The Celestial Demon Sect. The sect’s headquarters.

A stone stele stood within the Cyan Mountain Rift Valley. The three large, purplish-black characters for "Celestial Demon Sect" were carved upon it. Looking up, a faint mist shrouded the air.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi here was not low, but it was heavily suppressed by a dense Demon Qi, creating the perfect environment for Demons to cultivate.

Within the valley was a dark purple grand hall.

This was the meeting place of the Celestial Demon Sect’s Soul Destruction Hall.

The responsibilities of the Soul Destruction Hall within the Celestial Demon Sect were similar to those of the Battle Peak and the Evil Extermination Hall in the Celestial Cloud Sect.

"Elder Ren, I’ve specifically summoned you today to report on the results of your latest refining efforts," the Spirit Destruction Hall Master said, looking at the sect’s best Artifact Refining Elder.

Compared to other departments, the Soul Destruction Hall held the most power within the Celestial Demon Sect.

The Spirit Destruction Hall Master was the most powerful person in the Celestial Demon Sect beneath the Core Formation Demons.

"Yes." Elder Ren nodded. He then turned to the dozens of Foundation Establishment Demons and said, "We have studied the patterns on those Upper Grade Magical Artifacts and can now refine Lower Grade Magical Artifacts capable of dealing with Spirit Refiners."

Elder Ren had barely finished speaking when another Foundation Establishment Demon interjected with disdain.

"Just Lower Grade Magical Artifacts? What’s the use of those? Surely you don’t expect some Outer Sect disciples in the early stages of Qi Refining to use them against Spirit Refiners, do you?"

"Outer Sect disciples must reach at least the middle stage of Qi Refining before they can even enter Celestial Cloud Sect territory."

"They’re completely useless."

In the eyes of the Foundation Establishment Demons of the Soul Destruction Hall, even Middle Grade Magical Artifacts designed to counter Spirit Refiners were useless, let alone Lower Grade ones.

Only artifacts reaching the Upper Grade level were of any real use.

Sect rules stipulated that disciples could undertake missions in Celestial Cloud Sect territory upon reaching the middle stage of Qi Refining. However, the majority of disciples who performed such missions were Inner Sect Disciples. Very few Outer Sect disciples actually took on these kinds of tasks.

The Foundation Establishment Demons of the Soul Destruction Hall chimed in one after another.

Elder Ren moved his lips but ultimately didn’t say a single word in rebuttal. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

There was something else he hadn’t said.

Although they had developed Lower Grade Magical Artifacts to counter Spirit Refiners, this type of artifact had a serious flaw.

They were too fragile and would invariably be destroyed after withstanding just a few bursts of Demon Power.

Compared to their effectiveness in use, the refining cost was far greater than the reward.

"Silence."

The Spirit Destruction Hall Master spoke, and the Foundation Establishment Demons in attendance immediately fell silent.

"Elder Ren, approximately when will you be able to refine this type of Middle Grade Magical Artifact?" the Spirit Destruction Hall Master asked once the hall was quiet.

"The research becomes more difficult the further we progress. If we want to refine Middle Grade Magical Artifacts to counter Spirit Refiners, it will take thirty years at the very least."

The other Foundation Establishment Demons started clamoring again.

"Thirty years! Why don’t you just say fifty, or a hundred?" the Foundation Establishment Demon who had spoken first scoffed.

"That’s far too long! It only took over three years for the Lower Grade ones, but thirty years for Middle Grade? By that logic, will Upper Grade Magical Artifacts take three hundred years?"

Elder Ren remained silent.

’It would take far more than three hundred years for Upper Grade,’ he thought. ’Even five hundred would be a conservative estimate.’

"I’ve said it before, there’s no future in Artifact Refining. Elder Ren, the strongest Demon Artifact you’ve ever refined can’t even compare to the strength of my own body."

"Only those frail Spirit Refiners need Artifact Refining. Why would powerful Demon Cultivators like us need it?"

"I really don’t understand what the Supreme Elders are thinking, setting aside a dedicated place for Artifact Refining."

This time, the Spirit Destruction Hall Master did not cut them off.

He had no more questions for the Artifact Refining Elder.

The development of Magical Artifacts to counter Spirit Refiners was progressing this slowly. If they ever actually produced a Demon Artifact for the same purpose, it would probably be several thousand years from now.

When it came to the path of Artifact Refining, they were still far behind the Spirit Refiners.

"...Hall Master, I suggest you speak with the Supreme Elders and call a halt to the research on this type of Magical Artifact. It’s just a waste of resources."

"Well said. Hall Master, I see it the same way. The Spirit Refiners have only just managed to refine Upper Grade Magical Artifacts to use against us, and the creation of those artifacts is solely attributed to that Spirit Refiner named Fang Yun."

Fang Yun had refined Upper Grade Magical Artifacts specifically to counter their Demons.

They had already uncovered this information.

Their intelligence indicated that, for now, no other Artifact Refining Elder in the Celestial Cloud Sect knew how to refine this type of Upper Grade Magical Artifact.

"Elder Ren, let me ask you something. When do you think the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Fang Yun will be able to refine a Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact to use against us?"

"Well... I estimate it would take a century at the very least," Elder Ren said conservatively.

"A century at the very least? So you’re saying it could be two or three hundred years."

"Two or three hundred years... that Fang Yun from the Celestial Cloud Sect won’t even live that long."

"Elder Xiang, there’s a problem with what you’re saying. Are you so certain that Fang Yun of the Celestial Cloud Sect can’t break through to the Core Formation Stage? I know he only has Five Spirit Roots, making his chances of reaching the Core Formation Stage minuscule, but given his value to the Celestial Cloud Sect, they will do everything they can to help him achieve Core Formation, won’t they?"

As they discussed the problems with Artifact Refining, the conversation naturally shifted to Fang Yun.

For the Celestial Demon Sect’s Soul Destruction Hall, this was the true main topic of today’s meeting.

The issue of Artifact Refining was merely a side note.

"Speaking of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Spirit Refiner, Fang Yun, our previous assessment of him was completely wrong. His Seven-Aperture Exquisite Body is nothing special; it doesn’t increase his chances of reaching Core Formation. His talent for Artifact Refining is the real key."

"According to the latest intelligence," the Spirit Destruction Hall Master interjected, "Fang Yun of the Celestial Cloud Sect is suspected of having a talent for Alchemy that is no less than the talent he has already displayed for Artifact Refining."