Hearing Yang Kai say that so many high-grade materials were at her disposal and that she could freely refine them into whatever she wanted, Yang Yan immediately perked up. A frightening gleam blazed in both her eyes. She vigorously rubbed the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, and declared, "I won't let you down! Not a single material that comes into my hands will go to waste!"
"I'll be watching."
"Where did you get so many materials? Your cultivation isn't even that high — there's no way you killed this many eighth-grade demon beasts." Yang Yan's curiosity was sparked once more.
"Picked them up," Yang Kai said casually, making something up on the spot.
It was technically picking them up. These items had all been obtained by hunting demon beasts alongside Gui Che and the others, originally belonging to several different people. It was just that after they died, Yang Kai had collected their spatial rings.
"Where can I pick some up? I want to go too..." Yang Yan looked thoroughly tempted, her eager eyes fixed on Yang Kai.
Following Yang Yan's instructions and carrying the list she had drawn up, Yang Kai made another trip to Tianyun City, purchasing a large quantity of minerals from within.
After all, artifact forging didn't require only parts from demon beasts — various minerals were essential supplies as well.
Once she had these minerals, Yang Yan immediately threw herself into the grand project of artifact forging. The stone chamber she occupied was completely sealed off, making it clear she had no intention of being disturbed.
Yang Kai could clearly sense powerful yang-attributed energy fluctuations emanating from her chamber every single day, but he did not pry into the specifics of her progress.
He only cared about results. The results alone would be enough to judge Yang Yan's true ability.
The materials he had taken out earlier were all ones Yang Kai considered useless to himself — things he could only sell. If Yang Yan could really forge them into artifacts, their value would certainly increase. Selling them later would bring more Saint Crystals. And if she destroyed some, it was no great loss; Yang Kai didn't lack those things anyway.
For an entire month, things passed peacefully without any disturbances from Yang Yan. Yang Kai spent this period in remarkable leisure. The formations on Dragon Cave Mountain worked around the clock, and now a faint mist had appeared above the entire mountain — a sign of spiritual energy gathering. Though still sparse, it already gave Dragon Cave Mountain the appearance of a spirit mountain.
Given more time, the spiritual energy here would only grow more abundant and more dense.
Wu Yi came by twice during this period, apparently unhappy with life in her clan. Each visit she didn't do much — just chatted with Yang Kai to lighten her mood.
A month later, while Yang Kai was sitting in meditation in his stone chamber, he suddenly heard the door of Yang Yan's sealed forging chamber burst open, followed by rapid footsteps pounding toward him.
He looked up to see Yang Yan standing in the doorway, her small face flushed red, clutching the hem of his wide black robe in both hands. She was panting, gazing at him with eyes full of excitement. Her entire expression screamed that she had not let him down.
"Can I come in?" Yang Yan poked her head in cautiously and asked uncertainly. Ever since the day she had barged in uninvited and infuriated Yang Kai — who had grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and tossed her out — she hadn't dared to enter this chamber freely.
Yang Kai nodded, unable to suppress a hint of anticipation as he asked, "You're done?"
Yang Yan smiled without a word and said mysteriously, "Close your eyes first. I have a surprise for you!"
What surprise was there if she'd already announced it? Yang Kai gave a bemused look but closed his eyes as she asked.
The next moment, his expression changed. Powerful energy fluctuations belonging to Saint King grade artifacts rippled through the stone chamber. He snapped his eyes open to find Yang Yan proudly pointing at several artifacts laid out neatly before her.
"The materials you provided. The minerals you bought — I didn't waste a thing. Everything is right here: four Saint King grade artifacts in total." Yang Yan sat cross-legged and, like a proud child showing off a prized treasure, picked up a spiked-mace-shaped artifact. "Let me introduce them. This one was forged from the teeth of an eighth-grade Thundercloud Leopard, combined with minerals. The minerals formed the body of the mace, and I also fused in the Thundercloud Leopard's skull. The teeth are incredibly hard and sharp, so I tempered them into the barbs on top. This kind of crude, brutal artifact suits a big brawny fellow — carrying this thing makes him look absolutely imposing. It's a low-grade Saint King artifact!"
With that, she handed the mace to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai took it and examined it carefully, nodding gently. It was clear that Yang Yan had squeezed every last bit of potential from the materials and crafted this artifact very well. As long as it found a suitable wielder, it would have no trouble displaying its full power.
"This dagger was refined from the single horn of a Scorching Fire Azure Flame Rhinoceros. It's not especially sharp, but the horn itself has some very unique properties — it's perfect for breaking through barrier-type seals. So its purpose isn't killing enemies; rather, it's an essential item for adventuring. I think plenty of people would want to buy it. Oh, and it's also a low-grade Saint King artifact." As she spoke, Yang Yan handed Yang Kai a dagger that shimmered with pale blue light.
She picked up another item and said, "This soft whip was forged primarily from the tentacles of a Diamond Dragon Beetle. This was the hardest one to make — one wrong move and the material would be ruined. Thank goodness it was my hand; if any other artificer had attempted it, you'd be crying right now. This one suits girls. Since you obtained those tentacles, you should already know how terrifying the Diamond Dragon Beetle is. Let me tell you — once this whip strikes, it doesn't just damage skin and flesh, but tendons and bones. A few hits and even bones could snap. This is a mid-grade Saint King artifact!"
Yang Kai took the whip from her hand and channeled his Zhenyuan into it, cracking it several times. The chamber instantly filled with overlapping shadows of the whip. Yang Yan's small face went pale — she was terrified that Yang Kai might accidentally strike her.
It was only when Yang Kai finally put the whip away that she excitedly picked up the last artifact, handling it with extreme care as though it were a piece of fine art. Her beautiful eyes shone with adoration.