Xu Yuanzhen's smile was fleeting.

She waved her hand, passed by Lei Jun, and headed to the High Merit Pavilion first.

Her actions seemed casual, but as Lei Jun watched her departing figure, he knew this senior sister was not joking.

Once she sorted out the clues to the Celestial Master's Sword, she would probably indeed make a trip to Jiangzhou.

Xu Yuanzhen's thoughts couldn't have been simpler.

You, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, failed to ambush and assassinate our sect's disciples because of your lack of skill. Your people suffered such heavy casualties because we are skilled. But that doesn't mean you have already paid the price for setting up the ambush. The price should be that we, too, ambush and attack your people. As for who will live and who will die in the end, that will depend on everyone's own capability.

The recent battle between both sides at Poyang Lake, though not small in scale, was more like a tacitly agreed-upon skirmish—loud thunder but little rain.

But with Xu Yuanzhen returning and inserting herself like this, the situation might become unpredictable... Lei Jun thought.

That said, as nemeses for hundreds of years, Celestial Master Mansion and the Jiangzhou Lin Clan were no strangers to this.

Lei Jun shook his head lightly. Since Xu Yuanzhen's attention was temporarily focused on the clues for the Celestial Master's Sword, the situation should remain calm for a while longer.

He then continued to concentrate on his own cultivation and learning.

With the Yin Yang Sacred Body as his foundation and the assistance of a page from the Celestial Book, Lei Jun did not need to seek the treasure of the Northern Extreme Primordial Magnet. The Southern Extreme Cold Iron alone sufficed for his current needs.

His Second Law—the first stroke of the character "eight"—was already successfully drawn.

As for upgrading and refining the Talisman Brush, more research and trials were needed.

Lei Jun had already used up several Crow-quill Brushes and Azure-quill Brushes for practice and experiments, and he would continue to use up more and more. Nevertheless, there were results.

In his courtyard, Lei Jun began a ritual on the Altar.

On the top tier of the Three-tiered Dharma Altar, he moved continuously, circling its center.

In the center of the Altar stood an illusory palace—the Central Three Pure Ones Palace, formed from the condensation of Lei Jun's essence, energy, and spirit.

As Lei Jun circled the Three Pure Palace, specks of light like stardust, resembling a Star River, enveloped the Altar.

Empowered by the Star-stepping Spell, Lei Jun's Mana and thoughts were enhanced, as if he stood among an array of constellations, drawing the forces of the celestial heavens into himself.

Above the Three Pure Palace, an Azure-quill Brush floated in midair.

As Lei Jun walked continuously around the Three Pure Palace, he chanted under his breath.

One hand formed a spell seal before his chest, while the other continuously made flicking motions in the air.

As he circled, he kept pointing towards the Azure-quill Brush floating above the Three Pure Palace.

With each point, a flicker of azure light seemed to dance at his fingertips.

It was like an azure flame.

It was the light of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire, from the True Inheritance of Celestial Master Mansion.

Although the flame was illusory, a manifestation of Lei Jun's Mana rather than the actual Nine Abyss Earth Fire, the aura of Mana already held a hint of its essence.

As the illusory azure flames flickered, Lei Jun's Mana transformed into rune prohibitions that flew into the suspended Azure-quill Brush.

Similarly, intricate and complex light patterns began to emerge on the surface of the Azure-quill Brush.

Lei Jun was fully focused.

Deep within his Spiritual Soul, in the True One Altar Cave Heaven, the Dao Field was brightly lit, and Daoist Banners fluttered.

Within the first layer of the Altar, specks of azure flame could be seen turning into stardust, continuously fluttering and flowing out.

This dust, like azure smoke, passed through the Flying Bridge and circled above the Dao Field.

The flames of the Forty-Nine Lamps surrounding the Dao Field now seemed tinged with the azure hue of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire.

Thus, Lei Jun continuously drew upon the true essence of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire from the True One Altar Cave Heaven, integrating it into his Mana and meticulously refining the Talisman Brush.

As time passed, the light patterns on the surface of the Azure-quill Brush gradually diminished.

These Mana-imbued prohibitions merged with the Talisman Brush, penetrating deep within and restructuring themselves internally.

The instant all intricate light patterns vanished from the Talisman Brush's surface, Lei Jun, who had been circling the Three Pure Palace, abruptly halted.

He brought his hands together before his chest, forming a spell seal.

His Mana converged, forming a shimmering, illusory Spirit Talisman.

Then, Lei Jun pushed forward with both hands. The shimmering Spirit Talisman, held between his fingertips, seemed to sublimate into the air.

In response, the Talisman Brush flashed with light once more.

The Star River created by the Star-stepping Spell dispersed.

Lei Jun let out a long breath, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

His skill in refining Magic Artifacts had officially reached a new level, allowing him to truly grasp the fundamentals.

This Azure-quill Brush, limited by its original materials, still couldn't be considered exceptionally refined, but it was a significant improvement over its original state.

After a short rest to recover his Mana and rejuvenate his spirit, Lei Jun seriously reviewed his previous experience.

The next day, he went to the Treasure Pavilion to receive another batch of basic raw materials.

Then, taking the Azure-quill Brush as a blueprint, he began to refine it anew.

This time, by adding new materials, he aimed to further enhance its quality.

Well, that failed...

Lei Jun remained calm. He exchanged it for another basic Azure-quill Brush and continued his practice and adjustments.

After using up a few more Azure-quill Brushes and raw materials, Lei Jun finally succeeded in refining an upgraded version that met his initial satisfaction.

With the assistance of the Nine Abyss True Fire, it was almost comparable to Yuan Mobai's Vermilion Peak Pen.

However, because its original base material was inherently inferior, it was still somewhat lacking compared to the Vermilion Peak Pen.

But for Lei Jun, this already marked the initial achievement of his practice goals.

He tried a few more times, made further preparations, and continued to summarize his experiences.

Only when he felt confident did Lei Jun prepare to use the real Vermilion Peak Pen.

However, just before attempting to reforge the Vermilion Peak Pen, Lei Jun had a sudden flash of inspiration.

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