Above Destiny

Chapter 396: Bad News from the Artisan Circle

From the chaotic era to the present, over the years, the craftsmen's skills and concepts have kept pace with the times, but at the same time, there are often some dross.

Just as engineers like to burn incense and offer pig heads in the computer room to pray for the safety of the server, all kinds of metaphysical rituals with no reason or basis have also become popular among craftsmen, which can be regarded as expressing good wishes.

Bathing and fasting are still common, and wearing red shorts to ward off evil spirits and increase the success rate is also considered to be a theory... However, if Ji Jue's story were to spread, it would probably add another epic touch to the ashes and dregs and amazing wisdom.

After all, there aren’t many tough guys who would consecrate a new furnace themselves right after getting it!

Not to mention the weird methods in the evil alchemy, there is a secret inheritance and skill of swordsmiths dying in the furnace in the Ye family's inheritance, but it only blocked the progress of Chunjun. Ji Jue didn't need to stew himself in an iron pot.

But he had no choice...

There is no free lunch in the world, and there is even less so for embers.

All the classes you skipped will eventually have to be made up.

All shortcuts that take detours will eventually lead to a long road ahead when you return to the right path.

When he found that his experience bar was stuck at 99% of the fifth level, he knew that there was a problem...

It’s the same problem as Crucible of Blood, Unquenchable Firewood was completed too quickly!
From start to finish, it took less than two months at most, and even if we ignore the part of the Desert Sea Rally, it would be even faster.

Thanks to the revitalization of the Coast Automobile Factory, the spread of fluid plastic steel and the massive amount of money behind it, he completed the journey that others would take five or six years to complete in just over a month.

As a result, even though the blessing had come, his transformation progress had not kept up, and he was dragged down...

You know, after large workpieces come out of the steel-making furnace, they have to be left on flat ground to be exposed to the wind and sun for three to five years to eliminate internal stress.

Not to mention it involves the balance between the matrix, body, soul and blessings.

According to the normal process - when the inextinguishable fire of the embers in the blood of the furnace ignites, rises, breaks through obstacles, connects the soul and the body, and undergoes a subtle transformation in the flow of each other.

The whole process involves the four essences of alchemy: ascension, purification, transformation and integration.

His body and soul should have gradually merged into one during the transformation period, becoming a precisely integrated whole. However, the blessing of the Eternal Firewood was completed too quickly, and the balance was broken...

It's like a game character's level has gone up, but the training level is not enough.

The progress of physical improvement lags far behind that of the soul.

It looks like everything is going well, but in fact if we leave it alone and continue to move forward without any further advance, there will definitely be endless troubles.

But if we talk about problems, there are no problems.

If your level of practice is not enough, just practice more. If you don't have enough time, just spend more time. Transformation is a slow and subtle process. Just leave it alone and lie down and wait. If one month doesn't work, three to five months will definitely show results. After one or two years, it will definitely be completed.

But the problem is... Ji Jue simply doesn't have the time to do that.

Just lie down and do nothing for a year or two?

Isn't that too evil?!

Brother, just take a holiday once in a while. Even if you don't want to be a lazy guy, you can't fall to the level of a salted fish.

In response to this, Ji Jue chose to step on the accelerator.

Since you are pursuing excitement, follow through to the end.

accelerate!
After dozens or even hundreds of repeated calculations and attempts over the past month, Ji Jue finally found a solution - if the progress of transformation is not enough, then catalyze the transformation!
Then let me ask you, then let me ask you! If you can't get good at it, why don't you join the Nine Dragons Pulling Coffin? !

Anyway, the three-piece set of transformation of the embers, Blood of the Furnace, Eternal Firewood, and Divine Spirit, are essentially the process of the craftsman becoming a creation, gradually receiving the refining and creation of the embers, and finally transcending the mortal world, right?
The embers have already started, why can't I just stand by and help?
You craftsmen can only lie down and wait for Brother Yujin to move on his own, but I, out of pity for him, can only jump up and kick!

Since the problem is that the body cannot keep up with the progress of the soul's transformation, then why don't I use the effect of the Unquenchable Firewood to directly add some powerful ingredients to speed up the progress?
It just so happens that what we in fluid alchemy are best at is to enhance the inner spirit and reversely drive the outer form - when the spirituality is improved, the material properties will naturally rise under close integration.

The same theory applies to the relationship between the soul and the body.

The theory is possible, and it is very likely, so what are you waiting for?
Are we waiting for bad news from the artisan circle?

Let’s practice!
After gritting his teeth and spending the largest sum of money in his life, Ji Jue finally walked into the Xihe furnace, ready for the next low-temperature slow-roasted BBQ.

Under external pressure, through the theory of fluid alchemy and the blessing of the unquenchable firewood, he forced his body and soul to combine and improve, thereby accelerating the qualitative change.

"Let's get started, Isis."

As he spoke, spiritual circuits emerged from the darkness, spreading in all directions. The invisible force of gravity pulled him, and he slowly rose from the huge furnace.

Then, countless spiritual circuits gathered and suddenly penetrated into Ji Jue's body.

Just as he had imagined, the smooth operation was connected to the non-attack matrix that gradually lit up and spread on Ji Jue's hands. From then on, the inside and the outside were united.

Leave the refining and creation outside the body to Isis, and leave the maintenance and catalysis inside the body to yourself.

The external Xihe furnace and the internal non-attack matrix work together to balance the pressure, control the temperature, and maintain the pressure at just the right critical point through close cooperation with each other.

Just like tempering.

As long as this state can be maintained, the transformation speed of the Eternal Firewood will be able to reach hundreds or thousands of times higher than normal.

In an instant, it was as if I had fallen into hell.

The moment the faint flame emerged from the void, violent high heat burst out from the blood in the furnace. The high temperature from the outside world and the high temperature of the blood converged without distinction, and Ji Jue's perception seemed to expand from within his body, from his narrow body, along the connection between the matrix and the spiritual circuit, throughout the entire furnace.

For the first time, he fell into the furnace as a creature.

It feels so new.

But unexpectedly, there was no fear or anxiety. Instead, it was like returning home, filled with an unprecedented peace and tranquility.

"Are you there, Isis?"

"I'm here."

From the perception of the soul, countless points of light rose and flowed, surrounding him like the Milky Way, bright and shining, so gorgeous.

Like a hug.

So careful and so gentle.

"I'm here, sir."

She said, “I am right here with you.”

"Come on then." Ji Jue laughed, "Let me see your limits!"

"As you wish, sir."

Amid the surging and spreading of the flames, Isis's voice remained gentle: "But even so, I still need to remind you..."

"What?" Ji Jue was puzzled.

At that moment, in the dazzling glitter of countless stars, there emerged an undisguised chill and cruelty, just like a beauty restraining her smile and looking coldly at him:

"…You asked for this!"

boom! ! !
Amid the dull thunder of the furnace running at full power, shimmering flames suddenly burst out and exploded!

In the gradually rising temperature, a sharp and slender spiritual jet appeared from the void. Under the control of the spirit of the workshop, it penetrated Ji Jue's body like a sharp blade!

Following the connection between the spiritual circuit and the matrix, breaking through the barrier between the body and the soul, forcibly piercing through the two that were about to merge, followed by the second, third, and fourth paths...

Countless jets of spiritual essence were like scalpels and long needles, tearing the flesh and ravaging the bones. Without causing irreparable damage, they wandered through the flesh and began to catalyze slowly and cruelly.

It's like being tortured to death.

Let Ji Jue roar, wail, cry and groan.

From beginning to end, never wavered!
It was as if Ji Jue had never said stop from the beginning to the end...

In an hour that seemed eternal, the temperature of the furnace cycled back and forth, testing Ji Jue's limits through repeated tests and driving the circulation of the furnace's blood.

The faint light of the unquenchable firewood flickered, flowing between flesh and blood and soul, from slow to fast, and in the end, it was like thousands of tiny rivers, faintly outlining a complex cycle, connecting the two into one.

Until the flames died down, the furnace door slowly opened.

In the darkness, there was a muffled sound of footsteps, as if stumbling forward, one step at a time, and then again into the light of day...

It was like a corpse walking out of hell.

With a burning flame.

Covered by the raging flames, it was pitch black and it was difficult to make out Ji Jue's appearance. Under his broken skin, the blood from the furnace slowly seeped out, fueling the fire.

And in those opened eyes, flames rose.

He looked even thinner than before he came in, like a dried skeleton, a completely different person.

At this moment, he raised his shriveled hands, stared down, and clenched them silently. The sound of metal friction came from between his fingers.

Then, all the flames went out, and the gray-black color quickly peeled off from the skin, as if shedding the skin, revealing large areas of burns and broken marks.

But soon, the burn marks began to fade rapidly.

The crack closed, leaving only a faint trace of blood.

Next to the furnace, the calf that was lying and sleeping tilted its head in confusion, looking at him carefully, as if sniffing him, and soon stretched out its tongue and licked Ji Jue's face.

Mm, it’s crispy and has a slight smell of scum. It must be my master.

It withdrew its gaze and continued to lie back down.

"How does it feel, sir?" Isis asked.

"Well, it's refreshing like streaking."

Ji Jue moved his body and stretched out his hands to peel off the carbonized skin bit by bit, revealing the flesh and blood underneath. The flesh and blood were wriggling slightly, as if growing, and gradually recovering at a slow but visible speed.

Then, before he could continue speaking, he involuntarily bent down and opened his mouth.

"vomit--"

A large amount of residual grease and undecomposed iron sand clots were vomited out along with blood and gastric juice, looking very embarrassed. But Ji Jue took a look and nodded with satisfaction: "It's OK, most of it has been digested, and the proportions can be adjusted next time."

"It looks like everything is normal."

Isis asked, "How was the harvest?"

"Just as expected."

Ji Jue laughed, raised his hands and collided them together. Suddenly, the sound of metal colliding became clearer, louder and buzzing!
After such a massive addition of ingredients and catalysis, the speed of flesh and blood transformation was greatly increased, and under Ji Jue's coordination and promotion, the progress in some areas was close to completion.

After dispelling the insignificant drowsiness and fatigue and using the pre-prepared healing potion, the tingling in the body gradually dissipated.

After all, catalysis is not incineration. The key is the subtle control of temperature and progress. With the cooperation of Ji Jue and Isis, everything will come naturally.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, medium rare!

It's tender and juicy at this time.

After taking a breath, Ji Jue couldn't wait to feel the effects. Although the fatigue and pain were still there, his body felt incredibly light, and his reaction speed and balance had improved qualitatively.

With simple drills, even without the aid of the Deus Ex Machina's control, he could easily reproduce many of the moves he had learned from his teacher through beatings.

It already looks like what it is.

Moreover, with every move of his hands and feet, he could easily produce a sound that broke through the air...

If you really want to test the progress, you have to show some explosive stuff.

He waved at the mechanical arm, signaling Isis to come over. Then, he held his breath, spread his arms, and exposed the vital parts on his chest.

"..."

People often laugh when they are extremely speechless, but unfortunately, Isis didn't want to laugh at all.

Instead, he controlled the mercury robotic arm to raise and aim.

The revolver was cocked.

He mercilessly fired six bullets at Ji Jue's throat, heart, liver and other vital parts. Amid the roar, sparks flew, and the bullets had already embedded into the skin that suddenly turned iron-gray.

blocked!
Although it couldn't be completely blocked.

Under the impact of the bullet, Ji Jue staggered back two steps, lowered his head, looked at the bullet that was embedded in the skin and stuck on the outer layer, reached out, and pulled out the deformed and hot bullets one by one.

The hardened skin underneath was revealed. A hint of steel could be seen faintly, which was the metal component that had been integrated into Ji Jue's body. Under the hasty physical strengthening, the soft skin had hardened into a structure similar to a ceramic bulletproof plate.

The effect is remarkable.

Of course, the effect will be even better if you can prepare in advance.

In just less than a second, the position of the gun muzzle is determined through vision and perception, and then the physical interference and hardness enhancement effects are applied. By the time the bullet hits, the collision has occurred.

The efficiency and speed of physical interference have been improved by more than a little bit compared to the past.

It’s as if one’s own body is a perfect material.

At this moment, on the cracked part and the raised skin, one could vaguely see tiny flashes like crystals - the understanding he once gained from Minerva was applied by Ji Jue to the catalysis of his body, enhancing its physical properties and load-bearing capacity.

This kind of change, which goes beyond the scope of biology and medicine, is exactly the transformation that the Chosen One experiences when they transform their status.

However, there is still room for improvement, and more than a little...

Not only the body, but also the consciousness and one's own skills.

Ji Jue was deep in thought and tapped his skin. Suddenly, a piece of dead skin fell off again, bringing waves of stinging pain.

He pushed too hard.

The blessing of the Unquenchable Firewood, following the Blood of the Furnace, enhanced and strengthened alchemy, allowing his manipulation of physical properties to far surpass that of the past. The gentle and careful actions in his mind caused huge waves in actual operations.

Not only the body but also Ji Jue's consciousness needs time to adjust and adapt.

"Would you like to continue, sir?" Isis asked.

"Next week, too much is as bad as too little. I still need some time to adapt and observe."

Ji Jue waved his arms and turned his wrists, feeling the changes in his body: "A few more times, it should be done."

The spiritual essence flows and circulates within the body without any hindrance.

Flesh, blood, nerves, bones, lymph, internal organs, fascia and connective tissue, everything seemed to be brand new and different from the past.

More importantly, it is one's own vital points.

It still exists, but it is not as crucial as it once was.

Even if the heart is broken at this moment, Ji Jue can forcibly close the crack again through physical interference. The non-attack on both hands has already climbed up from the elbows of the upper arms to the shoulders, along the spine and chest, and spread out in an intricate way. It can be foreseen that in the future it will spread throughout the body.

Now, even if his head was chopped off and his body was gone, his head could still survive for another half an hour.

And when the upgrade and strengthening of the Eternal Firewood is gradually completed, and the body and soul are strengthened to the limit, the divine spirit will bring about the final qualitative change. By then, Ji Jue, who has entered the stage of rebirth, will no longer have any vital points.

Look at Jianyuan in the distance, my family members.

——Even though the body is riddled with holes and has long been hollowed out by all kinds of destruction and curses, it is still intact and can continue to move as usual by putting on a layer of skin.

Even if you can't achieve that level, you don't have to worry about being taken away by a burst of attacks from a large group of the same level or the white deer after getting close to them.

Well, at least it can still struggle back a few times.

"Congratulations, sir."

Isis congratulated him for the first time. “However, there is one more thing I must remind you of.”

"Ok?"

Ji Jue was shocked and subconsciously nervous: "Are you going to hurt me again?!"

"Don't worry, not this time."

Isis comforted him, “But, I wonder if you have noticed that you have been running naked for more than half an hour from now on.

Indeed, I have captured a lot of rare images and materials, but it is inevitable that seeing too much will hurt your eyes, so, can you please put on your clothes now?"

The spirit of the workshop sighed: "It's hard enough to be a slave who works endlessly. I really don't want to bear the stigma of my master being a pervert."

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Ji Jue finally reacted.

"You seem to be enjoying it. I'm not sure if my reminder is helpful."

"so……"

Ji Jue covered his face and sighed, "Where did you throw my clothes?"

"Oh, sorry, I think I took it to clean it." Issi replied without any apology: "As your diligent servant, this is what I should do."

Ji Jue glared: "Where are the others!"

"The others have been washed, too. They are all washed." Isis said regretfully, "Unfortunately, today is cleaning day."

"I didn't know there was a cleaning day!"

"Because I just decided this. Sorry, I haven't had time to inform you yet."

"..."

Ji Jue didn't want to talk anymore.

Silently, he stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the rising stars above the furnace in front of him. After a long time, Isis finally couldn't stand his look anymore and sighed softly:
"Well, there are still a few things that haven't been cleaned yet."

As he spoke, the robotic arm started moving, handing over two new sets of clothes, still hot from drying.

Ji Jue finally got rid of his naked running state, sat in front of the dining table that was already filled with high-calorie food, and began to eat hard.

I feel like this is the episode where the Mouth of the Ancients thing is most useful.

After the catalysis is completed, although the condition is restored through therapeutic drugs, the many hidden injuries remaining in the body still need time to repair. Similarly, the new tissues and the transformed body also need more nutrition and calorie supplements.

Besides, after tasting the bitterness, you always need something sweet to balance it out.

Ji Jue indulged his appetite without hesitation and started to read the news on his phone. Many trivial matters flashed by, but he received a notice from the association.

The review of fluid plastic steel has been completed, and the association has issued a notice - officially prohibiting craftsman Ji Jue from selling and circulating it through channels not specified by the association. However, since there have been no regulations before, and the alchemy content involved is not high, there is no order for recycling or fines, only a warning.

This was also within Ji Jue's expectations.

Lift it high and put it down gently.

But unexpectedly, the punishment was too light, with not even a fine.

Moreover, it was only prohibited from being circulated in the regular market, and it was not prohibited from being sold through the Security Bureau, Huangji or the Tianping Chamber of Commerce. In other words, it could still be used on a large scale in war vehicles, tanks or armored vehicles through qualified buyers such as the Federation, the military or the Haichao Group.

But Ji Jue is no longer allowed to sell the results they are involved in directly to ordinary people.

Just drink a glass and a half of wine as punishment and the matter is over.

At the same time, there was a congratulatory letter and another warning letter.

The former is good news.

Good news from the craftsman circle...

Congratulations! The results uploaded by Ji Jue were sold out.

Again!
The paper he submitted a few months ago, "Twin Blades: Ex-wife and Stepmother, a Combination and Utilization of the Blessing of the Large Group and the White Deer", was given a C-level evaluation by the jury - it improved and innovated the old technology and had certain highlights - and was passed.

After it was officially launched on the association’s patent database, sales exploded. In just the first week of uploading, it climbed to sixth place in the sales ranking of patents in recent years!
You have to know that this is the cumulative sales list for several consecutive years!
A total of 7,600 copies were sold!
The reason why it sold so well was, on the one hand, because Ji Jue's price was too cheap... only five points of contribution value. If you sell a few works through the association's channels, you can accumulate the contribution points that come with it.

On the other hand, the demand for this thing... does exist.

And it’s not small!

Let me ask you, who doesn’t have a few enemies these days? And who doesn’t want his enemies to die at the hands of his ex-wife and stepmother?

It’s so satisfying just thinking about it!

Moreover, it is really not that difficult to do. Once you have all the blessings, you can just copy Ji Jue's paper. All you need is hands, and the effect will just be a little bit higher.

It is not difficult to copy it.

Rather than buying technology, it would be more accurate to say that people are buying the name - if I don't buy it, without the endorsement and approval of the association, how can the enemy on the other side admit that he has his ex-wife and stepmother in his hands?

Even with Ji Jue taking the lead, other craftsmen began to innovate in their ideas, and new designs such as godfather, biological mother, mistress, and filial son began to emerge like snowflakes.

Then there is no more then.

Everyone ran head-on into the rectification movement that Director Gustav had just launched. No one was able to pass it and instead received a warning, including Ji Jue.

He was caught and made an example of.

Although the contribution points he earned from the sales would not be deducted, in order to prevent the spread of bad practices among the association and craftsmen, his ex-wife and stepmother have been banned from being sold.

Until Ji Jue changes the name of this crappy thing, it will never be put on the shelves again!

What followed were countless private messages, with almost all buyers sending requests or warnings - no name changes allowed!

No changes allowed!
If you change your name, wouldn't the joy of revenge on the other side be reduced by half? !
Some craftsmen have already received orders and paid for the materials themselves. If you change the name and people don't buy it, what will they do? Why keep such a mess as an ex-wife or stepmother? Are you going to use it yourself?

In response to this, Ji Jue patiently responded to each of the questions and comforted them.

Don't worry, I'm a real man and I stick to my words. I won't sell this paper and I won't change my name, all for the sake of my fans and family members.

However, I have put in so much effort, and my latest achievement is now on the shelves. Don’t you have to support me?
Then, another link was posted.

A brand new thesis, "A Brief Discussion on Six Methods of Dealing with Impurities and Contamination in Blood Sacrifice Weapons During the Spiritual Purification Stage."

Price: 5000!

Five thousand? Are you crazy because of poverty? Kill me and see if you can get five thousand!

The colleagues who received the news didn’t even have time to curse before they were blinded by the golden rating at the top of the page...

A-level? A-level! A-level, what the hell!!!

what the hell!

Is the jury crazy too? Or am I the one who should be crazy?

According to the evaluation rules of the internal jury of Taiyi Ring - it has major breakthroughs and innovations in old technologies or has proposed new directions and fields, and has made heavyweight pioneering achievements!
The brand-new blessing sequence proposed by Master Zhou Zhong last year was only rated A+. Although the two directions are completely different and cannot be generalized, isn't it a bit sensational that a novice craftsman who has only obtained his craftsman license for no more than four months has produced an A-level result?
You know, the last person who got an A-level achievement assessment before passing the craftsman review period was... oh, it was his teacher, Ye Xian.

That's okay.

This time, no one dared to complain about the price which was no different from robbery.

Over the years, the price of Grade A has always been this high, or even higher. If you can't afford it, think carefully about whether you have worked hard on alchemy and whether it is your own problem.

While being shocked and bewildered, some colleagues who were determined to make a sprint could not help but feel a chill in their hearts...

There may not be six or seven A-level achievement assessments in a whole year, but whether it is according to the association's practice or in view of the reward for newcomers and external demonstration, when the ten gold ribbon qualifications are assessed at the end of this year, there will definitely be one named Ji!

And there will be absolutely no accidents, unless ten different craftsmen come up with ten different new blessing sequences in a row this year...

Hehe, if that's really the case, the retiring Deron would probably wake up laughing in his dreams - Oh my god, in my hands, the association will return to its golden age!

With this probability, it is better to hope that Ji Jue suddenly goes crazy and becomes possessed and joins Yousui.

The opening move is so damn scary!
Just like that, after earning the first wave of attention and popularity with gimmicks, Ji Jue decisively put out the real work and threw the bomb he had prepared for a long time into the association's fish pond.

From a professional perspective, it received unanimous praise from more than 30 masters of the association’s jury!
Easy to use, love to use, enjoy using!
Give me more!
If Heaven had not given birth to you, Ji Jue, the blood sacrifice would have lasted forever like a long night!
Fluid Alchemy's uniqueness in purification is not in vain. Even if it is just a marginal application technique that does not involve the essential theory, it still has extremely strong cost-effectiveness and convenience compared to other technologies in the same series.

After all, although blood sacrifice is simple, the most troublesome thing is the residual resentment and backlash of violence. Ji Jue was able to combine ancient alchemy, innovate from the perspectives of replacement and precipitation, and greatly improve the cost-effectiveness, further lowering the precarious moral bottom line of the craftsmen.

It is said that even the people of Yousui have secretly climbed over the wall to learn from Yujin's advanced experience...

Leaving aside the rumors, everyone within the association, from the masters to the apprentices, all the factions and clans have reached a rare consensus on this matter - Ji Jue, that bastard, is an expert at murder and arson!

He is worthy of being the direct descendant of Chao Sheng, and he is even better than his master!
The disciple is better than the master!
Stay away from him from now on...

In just a few months, Ji Jue stayed in Xinquan without moving. Apart from improving his basic skills and various shortcomings and fighting to the death with Chunjun, he also worked hard to improve his reputation in the association.

It was so successful that everyone in the association hated it...

Facts have proved that gold will always shine, while dogs are hated everywhere.

(End of this chapter)