Chapter 2084 — The Artificer?
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
As with alchemists, mending artifacts also consumed vast amounts of true qi and physical strength, and cultivating two mental methods at once was a most difficult matter for a cultivator. Never mind whether one could succeed in cultivating them—even if one did, one might not cultivate both to any considerable height!
Moreover, even if one cultivated them to a certain height, there was the danger of going mad from qi deviation. Thus even in ancient times, the status of artifact menders and artificers was highly revered; only those with the aptitude of geniuses and great divine powers could hold such posts.
If he could not practice alchemy, could he mend artifacts? Wei Zhao was rather interested in this "Fragmentary Scroll on the Way of Mending Artifacts." Only, Wei Zhao had never yet laid eyes on any divine weapon or sharp blade—he had not even seen a fine thing like a third-grade medicine cauldron. Learning this Way of Mending Artifacts—was it a waste of time, one wondered?
Be that as it may, since Wei Zhao had seen it and was interested, he would not let it slip easily. So he said, "Elder Han, might I make a copy?"
"Haha, of course, no problem!" Han Tianba said. "Make a copy and leave the copy with us, or take the original—either is fine."
"That will not be necessary." However thick-skinned Wei Zhao was, he could not bring himself to embezzle another's original; besides, there was no difference at all between the original and a copy. But there was no hurry to copy it now—the pressing matter was to help Han Xiaohu choose a martial technique. So Wei Zhao pointed at the second-to-last box and said, "Since that one has to do with artificers, how about this one?"
"This..." Han Tianba's expression turned slightly awkward, but he said, "This one... I am afraid it will not do either..."
"This one will not do either?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. "Could it be that this is not a martial technique either, but something else?"
"It is a martial technique, all right—only, not a normal martial technique..." Han Tianba nodded and said. He had looked through everything in this scripture pavilion and understood each item.
"Not a normal martial technique?" Wei Zhao asked in surprise. "What do you mean, not normal?"
"This martial technique, though it is the highest-grade martial technique in the ancient ruins, is a support-type martial technique!" Han Tianba said.
"A support-type martial technique?" Wei Zhao suddenly thought of that universal "martial technique" that went with the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art. Was that a support-type martial technique as well? And did the Hidden Han Family perhaps have similar good things?
"Indeed. From my own study and observation, this is a supply-type martial technique. It can replenish energy and true qi for one's companions nearby, but it completely consumes one's own strength and true qi. One might call it a martial technique that burns oneself to light the way for others!" Han Tianba said. "Though this martial technique may play a great role at a critical moment, in ordinary combat it is of no use at all. Who would cultivate, for no reason, a martial technique that sacrifices oneself to complete others? Unless it were a great ancient sect raising a batch of death-sworn disciples, specifically to expend their own true qi to aid their comrades when battling other sects..."
"Oh?" Hearing the effects of this martial technique, Wei Zhao was rather surprised. Why did it sound much like the Sun family's mental method? Or rather, somewhat similar to the Xuanyuan Dragon-Taming Art? But the difference was that this one was rather cruel and domineering, completely consuming one's own strength and true qi to complete others! So Wei Zhao asked, "Then, can the disciple who expends his strength not recover it?"