Bian Weiyin's thoughts also swiftly returned to reason, "Help me try it?"

Shi Chun glanced at the light blue mist slowly descending from the sky, "Do you know the detailed refining process of the immobilization charm?"

Bian Weiyin said, "The entire refining process, basically, is completed by disciples from various levels of the Sect through a division of labor, and I know most of it. The only part that no one besides my grandfather and father knows about is a secretive and exclusive secret; that's exactly what I am missing."

Shi Chun asked, "Can you demonstrate the entire refining process for me?"

Bian Weiyin replied, "As I've said, I can't demonstrate the entire process completely."

Shi Chun suggested, "Demonstrate the refining process as much as you know, and just tell me where it's incomplete."

Bian Weiyin was dubious, "Would that really find the missing refining secret method?"

She wasn't very convinced. Given that most of the refining process had passed through many hands, it should have been leaked long ago. With all the incidents of espionage, moles, and leaks that Wukang Mountain had endured, it was impossible to count them on one hand. If it were so easy to figure out from the refining process, the refining secret method wouldn't have remained a secret until now.

Shi Chun insisted, "Let's give it a try."

Bian Weiyin saw no need but, considering the persistence in his gaze, and somewhat expecting the abilities he had displayed at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, she hesitated for a moment and then decided it didn't matter. She might as well treat it as a game they were playing together. So she nodded and said, "Let's start now."

She pointed to the Yulan Bamboo laid out everywhere, "This step is called 'picking the dark,' which is the second step of inner refining. The first step is to acquire Yulan Bamboo, either by gathering it yourself or purchasing it. As long as the Yulan Bamboo is dried, that's fine. The first step doesn't need to be demonstrated to you, does it?"

Shi Chun replied, "If it's merely procuring Yulan Bamboo and nothing else, then indeed there's no need to demonstrate."

Bian Weiyin continued to explain, "The refining of the immobilization charm is divided into External Refining and Inner Refining. External Refining refers to the process of refining the paper for the charms, while Inner Refining refers to the process of refining the internal power within the talisman. Inner Refining's first step is acquisition, the second step is picking the dark, the third step is burning the dark, the fourth step is purifying the dark, and the fifth step is merging the dark; there are just these five steps in total.

Currently, we are in the second step, picking the dark, which is of indeterminate duration and mainly depends on how long the peculiar colors persist in the sky. If it lasts long, every hour requires turning over the spread out Yulan Bamboo. To see the third step, burning the dark, you need to wait until the second step is complete."

Shi Chun mentally calculated and then inquired, "Which part contains the closely-guarded secret?"

Bian Weiyin replied, "In the External Refining. External Refining has six steps: the first is Gathering Immortal, the second is Brewing Immortal, the third is Forging Immortal, the fourth is Sealing Immortal, the fifth is Immersing Immortal, and the sixth is Merging Immortal. While Inner Refining depends on the weather and is crucial, its process is relatively simple. On the contrary, the steps of External Refining are more complex, and the duration spans nearly half a month. The secret lies in the fifth step, Immersing Immortal."

Hearing the process would take half a month, Shi Chun grimaced. He did not have half a month to spare to simply watch. He suggested, "External Refining is so cumbersome, so let's not bother with the demonstration of the process. Just roughly explain it to me."

Bian Weiyin smiled and broadly explained, "The first Gathering Immortal also means acquisition, which is to purchase a vine called 'tiger fairy yellow.' The second step, Brewing Immortal, involves stripping the bark of 'tiger fairy yellow,' smashing it into pulp, and soaking it in a prepared medicinal solution to obtain the fibrous coating, similar to papermaking. The third step, Forging Immortal, is to dry and shape the obtained fibrous coating into the form of a charm paper. The fourth step, Sealing Immortal, involves structuring and grading the charm papers. The fifth step, Immersing Immortal, is to soak the charm papers again in a medicinal solution. When the wet papers are retrieved, they are distributed according to grades to various places to complete the talismans of different levels, which brings us to the sixth step, Merging Immortal. Merging Immortal and merging the dark are the same process. After the talismans dry, the charm is successfully refined."

Shi Chun pondered and said, "So you mean to say, the medicine water soaked during the fifth step of Immersing Immortal contains the secret?"

Bian Weiyin nodded affirmatively, "Correct, usually only my grandfather and father handle this step personally, not letting any outsiders touch it. I have attempted various trials myself, and I am certain that the missing link lies in the preparation of this medicine water, where the key refining secret method is hidden."

Shi Chun asked, "Does that mean the fifth step of Immersing Immortal has a dedicated refining secret location?"

Bian Weiyin answered, "The refining takes place within the Sect's Forbidden Land, where no one is allowed to enter without permission. Furthermore, since my grandfather usually stays in seclusion within the Forbidden Land, it's impossible for others to sneak in."

Shi Chun did not expect the refining process to be so complicated, mainly due to the long time span. He was starting to lose confidence but still tried to ask, "When will the fifth step of refining commence?"

Bian Weiyin slightly tilted her double chin toward the spread Yulan Bamboo to indicate, "Once this second step of picking the dark is completed, the fifth step of soaking Immersing Immortal will begin over there."

Shi Chun was startled, "Isn't External Refining supposed to take half a month?"

Bian Weiyin confirmed, "Half a month is correct, most of the time is spent on the first four steps. A lot of unfinished charm papers are stored after the fourth step of Sealing Immortal. Then it depends on the weather. Once Inner Refining can begin, the fifth step of External Refining follows because the soaking time can't be too long. It can only last about an hour, and once retrieved, they must go on to the next step while still wet; once they dry, it's no longer feasible."

Shi Chun's eyes sparked slightly, "So you're saying, once the Picking the Dark step is finished, someone who sneaks into the Forbidden Land's refining secret location could uncover the secret of the refining process?"

Bian Weiyin nodded in affirmation, "That's the theory. However, it's not realistic; sneaking in unnoticed is impossible. Strong-arming one's way in to seize the secret is futile, for the Royal Court does not recognize it. Without laying claim to this place's spirit veins, having the refining secret method alone is empty. This is why the Bian family has managed to protect the refining secret method for so many years."

Shi Chun suddenly looked down, as his right eye's superpower revealed that the faintly blue-glowing mist finally came to rest before him. The mist falling on the damp Yulan Bamboo clung to it, while on the roof tiles it treated it as if nothing and just passed straight through, continuing to drift toward the ground. The stone walls could not catch it, but Wukang Mountain's earth could hold it.

Regarding those materials that lurked between illusion and reality, Shi Chun let out a light "huh." He bent over to pick a piece of Yulan Bamboo, waved it gently in his hand, and lightly stirred the continuously falling light blue mist. Anything it touched clung to the Yulan Bamboo.

Before long, the Yulan Bamboo in his hands had become covered in a faint blue light, visible only to his right eye with its special ability, yet the weight in his hand hadn't increased in the slightest.

He brought it close to his right eye for a closer look. After observing in a still state for a while, he could vaguely make out that the so-called mist consisted of tiny micro-particles. He could feel that these were the very things that unleashed the power of the immobilization charm, but he did not know exactly how to harness such power.

Bian Weiyin watched him for a time but ultimately felt that she couldn't understand his actions at all. She asked, "What are you looking at?"

Shi Chun shook his head slightly, tossing the Yulan Bamboo onto the tiles. Looking over the spread of Yulan Bamboo, they were all stained with a layer of pale blue - the whole peak of Wukang Mountain was covered with a layer shimmering like frost or snow in pale blue – it was quite beautiful.

He withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and asked, "After the Elemental Collection is over, can you take me near the Forbidden Land to have a look?"

Bian Weiyin replied, "Are you joking? I can't even get in myself, how could I take you there?"

Shi Chun insisted, "I don't need to enter, just to look around nearby, just nearby the Forbidden Land."

Bian Weiyin frowned, "What exactly are you up to?"

Shi Chun replied, "I want to find the answer for you before I leave."

Women naturally have a taste for sweet talk, and upon hearing it was for her, Bian Weiyin grudgingly agreed, saying, "Alright, but only nearby, don't mess around, okay?"

Shi Chun responded, "To mess around, I'd have to be bold enough. If I dared to mess around, would I need you to take me there?"

Bian Weiyin gave him a glance, vaguely aware that many eyes were turning their way. She quickly jumped down and motioned for Shi Chun to come inside the house.

With the celestial anomaly overhead, not knowing how long it would persist, the two of them weren't idle. Shi Chun wanted to understand how the pale blue mist could transform into the power of the talisman, and Bian Weiyin demonstrated the basics of inner refining for him.

She plucked a piece of Yulan Bamboo from outside, found a brazier, and set fire to the bamboo, burning it entirely to ash, indicating that it had to be burnt to complete ash, which apparently was this so-called third step of "Burning the Dark."

The so-called "Purifying the Dark" was even easier to comprehend – using a special Magic Artifact to sweep the ashes clean was all it took.

The conditions here were limited but through Bian Weiyin's demonstrations and explanations, Shi Chun understood. In the end, it was all about collecting the micro blue particles that descended from the sky.

He felt that the fourth step of "Purifying the Dark" was somewhat redundant.

Because as he watched the fire burn, the pale blue substance attached to the Yulan Bamboo detached, falling through the brazier, passing through the tiles, and settling into the ground, a material between illusion and reality.

It seemed that the Magic Artifacts used in "Burning the Dark" and "Purifying the Dark" were indeed special, otherwise they wouldn't be able to catch such a substance.

If the right method were employed during the third step, the burning alone should collect the pure micro blue material, eliminating the need for a secondary separation from the ashes.

These are findings he could only acknowledge silently, letting the people of Wukang Mountain follow their own traditions.

As for the fifth step of "Integrating the Dark," he listened to the explanation and easily understood. He could see that it involved merging the pale blue substance with the talisman paper.

Yet the current pale blue substance possessed no magical power akin to the immobilization charm. That is to say, its power only manifested after integrating with the talisman paper.

It seemed the talisman paper indeed held secret intricacies, and the fifth step of External Refining was indeed critical.

An hour passed, and with busy sounds rising from outside, Bian Weiyin called him out to help, where the shifting figures were swiftly turning over the spread-out Yulan Bamboo.

Shi Chun understood what this step in the refining process meant – the other side of the bamboo, which the micro blue particles had yet to adhere to, had a role to play as well.

He was curious whether the creator of the immobilization charm refining method could also see these phenomena? Thinking of the seemingly redundant step of "Purifying the Dark," he grew somewhat doubtful.

Suddenly, a breeze arose, rustling the leaves of the Yulan Bamboo, yet it had no effect whatsoever on the pale blue mist falling from the sky, which seemed light and drifting but was impervious to the wind's influence.

This scene, however, caused a slight stirring in Shi Chun's heart, prompting him to drop what he was doing and quickly leave.

Bian Weiyin shouted, "Where are you going?"

Shi Chun did not respond, leaving the courtyard. He tiptoed around, being careful not to step on the spread-out Yulan Bamboo, and made his way to the edge of the mountain. Peering down the slope on the cliff face, he indeed found a thick deposit of the pale blue substance at the base of the slope.

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