Yuan Ming did not refuse and, after accepting the storage bag passed to him by Pi Xiu, he consulted Pi Xiu about some issues he needed to be aware of after entering the Core Formation Stage. Pi Xiu, already inclined to form a good bond with Yuan Ming, did not skimp on offering guidance.

However, in their conversation, he would intentionally or unintentionally mention the benefits of joining the Spirit Talisman Sect, which made Yuan Ming somewhat bemused.

After talking for a while, Pi Xiu seemed to have received a sound transmission from someone and took the initiative to say goodbye. Before leaving, however, he left behind a few sound transmission talismans, obviously not giving up on recruiting Yuan Ming.

But Yuan Ming did not mind his persistence and, moreover, although he had declined the invitation, most of the Core Formation Cultivators in Spirit Wind City had chosen to become guest elders of the Spirit Talisman Sect. If Yuan Ming wanted to network, he still needed to go through Pi Xiu for introductions.

This was evident from the fact that after Yuan Ming emerged from seclusion, he received a sound transmission talisman only from Pi Xiu.

The Spirit Talisman Sect might not show malice toward Core Formation Cultivators who reject them, but those Loose Cultivators residing in Spirit Wind City, even those who choose not to join, still mostly consider the face of the Spirit Talisman Sect. Before the Sect acknowledged Yuan Ming's status, they would not rashly welcome him into their circles.

In the days that followed, Yuan Ming did not choose to cultivate bitterly in his cave mansion. Instead, by using Pi Xiu's introductions, he actively participated in large and small gatherings of Core Formation Cultivators, where he engaged in idle talks about Daoism and made many acquaintances among his peers, gradually broadening his perspectives.

Additionally, Yuan Ming sold some items he no longer needed, which he had obtained from Elder Hai and Elder Guo, at several trading meetings for Core Formation Cultivators, and in return, he acquired several rare items.

Of course, during this period, Yuan Ming also often inquired about information concerning the refining of magic treasures and met a few Core Formation Cultivators who specialized in the way of Artifact Refining. Although he heard some basic insights from them, after returning to his cave mansion, he learned a lot about the experience and techniques of refining magic treasures through the Black Incense possession from them.

As he had previously understood, the biggest difference between a magic treasure and a magic artifact is that the former is not inscribed with just one rune, but with a formation made up of at least five runes.

As long as a rune formation is formed and continuously nurtured with Pill Fire, allowing the rune formation and the materials to merge perfectly, a magic treasure is considered successfully refined.

Whether upgrading from top-grade magical tools to magic treasures or directly refining magic treasures, the number of runes composing a rune formation on it must be at least five, not limited to only five.

The number of runes inscribed on a magic treasure and the material of the magic treasure are closely linked—the higher the grade of the refining treasure materials, the more runes they can withstand.

The quality and power of a magic artifact are judged by the number of runes, but at the level of magic treasures, the number of runes in the rune formation continues to be the decisive factor in judging the power of a magic treasure.

A rune formation formed by six runes is far more powerful than one with five runes.

Of course, the power of a magic treasure is also greatly related to its nurturing in later stages. If well-nurtured, a five-rune magic treasure might not necessarily be weaker than one with six runes.

However, the foundation of a magic treasure with six runes is there, overwhelmingly exceeding one with five runes.

Since Yuan Ming considered the Soul Destroying Sword as his Lifebound Magical Treasure, he did not plan to refine it carelessly, he aimed to enhance its power to the maximum.

The main material of the Soul Destroying Sword was Nine Nether Iron, which, as a top-grade material for yin attribute magic treasures, had previously been used by others to refine powerful magic treasures with seven runes right from the start.

After learning this information and after much deliberation, Yuan Ming decided to follow in the footsteps of that renowned individual, attempting to add three more runes while elevating the Soul Destroying Sword to a magic treasure, forming a powerful seven-rune formation.

He was quite confident in this decision, first and foremost, in terms of Artifact Refining Skills. Yuan Ming had spent a year mastering various techniques of refining magic treasures, including some secret techniques from a guest elder of the Spirit Talisman Sect, through multiple possessions by Black Incense.

He also had several Artifact Refiners attempt to refine magic treasures while he was possessing them, noting down their experiences—both successes and failures. Although he had never personally crafted a magic treasure, his refinement experience was no less than those Core Formation Cultivators who specialized in Artifact Refining.

Moreover, his Divine Soul Power far exceeded that of ordinary Core Formation Cultivators; he could enter Stealing Heaven Tripod and, using the power of the White Jade Lotus Platform, enhance his Soul Power by tenfold, giving him a tremendous advantage in engraving runes.

The only issue was deciding which three runes to inscribe on the Soul Destroying Sword, Yuan Ming found this challenging.

He sat at the stone table in his cave mansion, where a jade scroll was placed, recording more than a dozen runes that he had collected during this time.

While the selection of runes for a magic treasure is stricter than for a magic artifact, it is not excessively stringent.

As long as the chosen runes do not conflict with the magic treasure's material and do not counteract each other, cultivators can freely select runes to compose the initial rune formation of the magic treasure.

However, the more similar the properties of the runes in the rune formation are, the more stable and powerful the rune formation becomes, and the greater its potential for future enhancement.

But if runes of the same attribute are selected, the magic treasure often has shortcomings. For example, a magic treasure of the Frost Attribute, if not supplemented with runes like "Swift" or "Gale," would move very slowly and struggle to catch up to enemies.

Therefore, when Artifact Refiners choose runes, they generally find it quite vexing, and most ultimately opt for a compromise.

However, Yuan Ming did not think so. Whether it was a Magic Treasure or a Magic Artifact, stability and potency were of utmost importance. Shortcomings in usage could be compensated for by other means. Sacrificing the power and potential of the Magic Treasure for the sake of temporary convenience was a very foolish act.

After gathering information secretly, Yuan Ming had figured out the four runes on the Soul Destroying Sword. They were "Soul Stabilizing," "Soul Suppressing," "Soul Devouring," and "Soul Blade," all of which were runes related to souls with a yin attribute.

Clearly, Xi Cangqiong's opinion on the runes of the Magic Treasure was the same as his.

The three runes Yuan Ming intended to add to the Soul Destroying Sword were also related to the Divine Soul, at the very least being yin attribute runes.

All the runes inside the Jade Scroll were related to the Divine Soul, except for the last three.

Yuan Ming's Divine Sense lingered on the last three exceedingly complex runes, which he had obtained from that piece of sword blade from the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

The three runes on the fragment were profoundly mysterious. While studying them, he often found himself entranced unwittingly. Even without activating them, he would frequently marvel at their exquisite strokes and mysterious spiritual charm.

To discern the effects of these three runes, Yuan Ming specifically sought out Artifact Refining Masters with whom he had good relations. He obtained from them a particular Formation used solely for testing rune effects.

This Formation could simulate the effects of the runes, though the displayed potency was slightly weaker than the actual effects of the runes. Also, since it was intended for testing, it could not be used in combat.

Through prolonged research and exploration in the Formation, Yuan Ming gradually inferred the effects of the three runes.

He named the first rune "Curse," which could remotely lock onto an enemy, executing an invisible curse attack. The struck enemy would feel chest tightness and nausea. Their Mana and Soul Power would become disordered, and in severe cases, there was even a risk of dispersion.

This kind of attack was very secretive. To execute it was like it descended from nowhere. Even Yuan Ming, as of now, could not detect it. Neither protective magic treasures nor Protection Magic could block it.

He named the second rune "Soul Extinguishing." Upon activation, this rune would release an invisible fluctuation that enveloped the surroundings, weakening all senses and Divine Sense of everyone except the holder.

The last was named "Frenzy Blood." This rune, upon hitting an opponent, would cause their blood to roil, quickening its flow. At the same time, it would make the enemy bloodthirsty and belligerent, affecting their sanity to a certain extent.

The three runes were overly complex. The Formation for testing the runes could not clearly analyze them, and Yuan Ming was unsure about their attributes. He could only judge from the effects, which seemed very similar to those of yin attribute runes.

Whether the other runes on the Soul Destroying Sword could accommodate three runes, or if they would affect the future potential of this sword, he had no assurance.

However, he was certain, these three runes were stronger than any he had seen before. If he could successfully engrave them, they would definitely be far more formidable than ordinary runes.

Yuan Ming's expression flickered indeterminately, and after a long time, he made up his mind to use these three runes!

If the engraving failed, or if successful but affected the potential of the Soul Destroying Sword, he could simply recollect materials and refine the treasure again.

Having achieved the Core Formation, he now had plenty of time.

These three runes were much more complex than ordinary ones, and he must practice a lot to fully master their drawing techniques.

Yuan Ming took out the materials for Drawing Talismans and started practicing over and over.

A year passed in a blink, and Yuan Ming finally mastered the drawing techniques of the three runes. He also gathered all the spiritual materials required to upgrade the Soul Destroying Sword. After several days of sitting in meditation and Breathing Control, he adjusted his condition to the optimal state and officially started refining.

Like when he formed his core, he activated all three Formations in the cave mansion, appointed Hua Zhi's Three Beasts to protect outside the Seclusion Room, and then took out the Stealing Heaven Tripod within the Seclusion Room, entering its mysterious space.

Prior to this, he had already moved all materials required for the refining of the Soul Destroying Sword and the refining furnace to this space, which now looked like an Artifact Refining Room.

Yuan Ming stepped to the altar, leapt up to sit on the Lotus Platform as before, with thousands of Desire Powers flowing into his Sea of Consciousness from the platform, instantly boosting his Divine Soul Power tremendously.

He acclimated to his now intense Divine Soul strength, then raised his hand and pointed. A Jade Box underneath the altar, containing the Nether Iron Gourd he had captured, flew straight into the refining furnace.

The Desire Power in the gourd was of no use to him, having been dispersed long ago.

Following this, Yuan Ming pinched a spell with both hands, and immediately a Spiritual Light flickered upon his body. Moments later, he opened his mouth and a light green Pill Fire spurted out, diving into the furnace.

The next instant, as Yuan Ming's hands manipulated the spell, several more spells struck the furnace. The patterns on the furnace's surface lit up, and the Pill Fire within surged, completely enveloping the Nether Iron Gourd, beginning the smelting process.

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