Zong Shou’s expression was curious, and his gaze immediately fixed upon the furnace within.

Beneath the furnace, crimson flames burned, and suspended inside the vessel was a gourd of purple-gold.

With just a brief glance, Zong Shou understood. This gourd was undeniably modeled after his Tàishàng Zhǎnxīan Tú Lù (Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart).

His heart filled with both shock and admiration; Shen Yuexuan was truly exceptional. After observing the Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart for only half a day, he had managed to transcribe nearly half of its inscribed patterns and restrictions.

Naturally, it was still in the state of a mere artifact embryo, with the internal artifact array present only as a rough framework, far from complete.

However, judging by the materials used for this purple-gold gourd, they were anything but ordinary. Even before completion, the precious artifact was already emitting a light of seven-colored glaze, subtly resonating with heaven and earth.

“Is this the Five Elements Kǎnlí Stone?”

Zong Shou identified it with a slight scrutiny and raised an eyebrow in surprise. In his memory, though this was an acquired object, it was a heavenly-grade rare treasure, even more precious than the innate Zǐchén Xuánjīn Qì (Purple Essence Profound Gold Qi).

Earth engenders metal; this stone had no other major advantage. Its sole use was to nurture the innate Geng Metal Qi.

Many major sects were collecting and storing it, using the nurtured Geng Metal Qi for artifact forging.

It was naturally far inferior in sharpness to the innate Purple Essence Profound Gold Qi, yet it was still quite formidable. The metal Qi nurtured by the Five Elements Kǎnlí Stone was equivalent to a mid-grade Earth-tier metal-attribute rare treasure.

And forging such a purple-gold gourd would require at least one Five Elements Kǎnlí Stone equivalent to two millstones in size.

He truly wondered where Shen Yuexuan had obtained such a thing.

The moment Zong Shou laid eyes on it, he knew the artifact was being made for him, and now he was at a loss for words to express his gratitude.

Such a large piece of Five Elements Kǎnlí Stone was worth even more than the Nine Apertures Origin-Nourishing Stone.

Shen Yuexuan, having turned back, saw his expression and smiled: “This is one of the treasures preserved by my Mohist school from ten thousand years ago, a heavenly-grade rare treasure that this subject sought from a senior member of the Mohist sect. While this object is undoubtedly precious, if it were not for Your Majesty, we would not dare bring it to light. The people of my Mohist school in the Cloud Realm are still like mice crossing the street, living in constant fear. Therefore, Your Majesty is more than worthy of receiving it. If Your Majesty truly wishes to express gratitude, then in the future, please look after our Mohist school a little—”

Zong Shou thought this was an ‘investment’ in him? Yet the Mohist school was truly audacious.

Before the Heavenly Square World faced imminent peril, they still dared to forge an artifact with such a divine object here.

But after Shen Yuexuan’s explanation, his previous sentiment of ‘no reward without merit’ gradually faded.

Once the army of the Dark World Demon Court was repelled, he would naturally be able to repay the Mohist school in the future.

Putting the matter aside, Zong Shou continued to observe the embryo in the furnace: “Then are you struggling with the artifact array?”

No matter how strong Shen Yuexuan’s talent in array Dao might be, it was impossible to completely memorize the entirety of the Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart in just half a day.

The many laws and truths contained within were a burden too heavy for even a God-realm expert to bear!

However, the solution to this matter was simple enough: imitate the original Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart and trace its structure.

In fact, if the quality of this artifact embryo were not slightly lacking, it could even have fully integrated the entire chart into itself to become the array, thus achieving the true Supreme Immortal Slaying Gourd.

The Immortal Slaying blade Qi nurtured by that artifact would likely far surpass that of a standalone Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart.

“It is not that simple!”

Shen Yuexuan shook his head, his expression exceedingly solemn: “Forging the Immortal Slaying Gourd is not difficult, but I have pondered this carefully recently. To complete the artifact array, to nurture true Immortal Slaying Flying Daggers, and make it a genuine artifact of offense and slaughter, I fear no flame in this world, no forging technique, can accomplish it. It must incorporate countless murderous and malevolent auras, requiring the blood essence of a million cultivators for its sacrifice and refinement.”

Zong Shou’s mind trembled slightly, recalling that his own Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart also required the battlefield to accelerate the gestation of its Immortal Slaying Flying Daggers.

It was therefore not surprising that the Immortal Slaying Gourd required malevolent killing intent and the blood essence of millions of cultivators.

The Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger was inherently a vicious weapon, and when combined with the Six Gods Saber Control Art, it was the foremost offensive treasure in the world.

Though the Immortal Slaying Gourd might not equal the Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart, judging by the size of the purple-gold gourd, it could nurture at least one hundred and eight strands of Immortal Slaying blade Qi, equivalent to low-grade Immortal Weapons.

If this artifact were successfully forged, he would never again worry about the source of flying daggers—

He could even merge twelve strands of blade Qi for unified use to amplify its power. The might of a single strike would then be hardly inferior to the true Supreme Immortal Slaying Chart.

For him, such a top-tier Immortal Treasure was almost as crucial as a Divine Treasure. Its forging method must certainly be beyond that of ordinary Immortal Artifacts.

Then, Zong Shou relaxed slightly. At any other time, these conditions would be considered harsh.

However, here in the Heavenly Square World, obtaining the necessary murderous auras and blood essence to forge this item was not a concern. The war against the Dark World Demon Court was raging; the deaths and injuries over these next few months were bound to be countless.

If it wasn’t the source of killing intent and blood essence that was the problem, then what was troubling Shen Yuexuan?

Shen Yuexuan hesitated for a moment longer before speaking again: “About several months ago, upon entering the Tomb of the First Qin Emperor, I had a sudden premonition in my heart, which has become increasingly distinct since. I surmise that around the time this artifact is completed, it will also be the time for Yuexuan to face his Tribulation—”

“Tribulation?”

Zong Shou was momentarily stunned. Was Shen Yuexuan about to undergo the Saint Realm Tribulation? But given his cultivation base, he should have entered the Saint tier long ago.

Then he immediately understood: Alchemists seek the Dao through elixirs; Artifact Masters observe the Dao through artifacts.

Shen Yuexuan believed the process of forging the Immortal Slaying Gourd would allow him to observe and deduce the path to his own enlightenment.

However, the price was that when the Immortal Slaying Gourd was completed, the associated risk would be immense.

If Shen Yuexuan failed his Tribulation, this Immortal Slaying Gourd would inevitably be destroyed along with him.

Even if Shen Yuexuan successfully passed the ordeal, the Tribulation upon the artifact’s completion would far surpass that of an ordinary item. It was inherently a vicious weapon, thus spurned by Heaven and Earth.

This was the reason for Shen Yuexuan’s hesitation and distress—

“If the materials for this gourd were my own, it would be one thing. But the Five Elements Kǎnlí Stone was a gift from my Mohist seniors. I truly dare not risk acting without authorization. Therefore, recently, I have been contemplating a complete solution—”

Zong Shou let out a wry laugh: “I wondered what the matter was; it turns out it’s about this Five Elements Kǎnlí Stone. This stone was never mine to begin with, and the Immortal Slaying Gourd is not an immediate necessity for me. If I can truly exchange this gourd for a capable aide, it is a huge gain. Even if this artifact is destroyed, couldn’t you forge another one for me in the future, Minister Shen?”

Shen Yuexuan smiled wryly as if he had expected Zong Shou to say this, offering no reply.

Zong Shou truly did not care much about the material, and continued to ask: “I wonder, how much of the Two Extremes Dragon-Gathering Array did you manage to record back then?”

The restriction array capable of complementing the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men could naturally be none other than the Two Extremes Dragon-Gathering Array. However, this array was vast, and Shen Yuexuan alone could never replicate it. But if Xu Fu and Ming Rixuan were added, the situation would be different.

However, as soon as his words fell, both men looked with solemn expressions toward the outside of the Artifact Inquiry Tower—