His face gave nothing away as he casually boosted Ji Jue into the middle axis of the Purification section. Unbeknownst to anyone, the scales tipped, and a massive pressure followed the flow of Circulation, targeting Ji Jue.

"Let's add a bit more pressure!"

Inside the furnace, the Fierce Flame rose vigorously.

The Superior process circulated, imparting its blessing and causing spiritual material to spew forth.

As time slipped away in silence, the profound alchemy and creation work of the craftsman was afoot—an unremarkable event to the onlooker. By seven or eight in the evening, Tong Hua finally drained his phone battery and, unable to stay any longer, left a note and departed.

The clear and distant clang of Sword Sound grew gradually more intense.

The sound lingered.

Within the strands of the resonating noise, everyone's scalp tingled, feeling as if an iron blade had been placed on their neck.

That very instant, the Circulation drastically changed.

The Melting Furnace shook.

A crack appeared alongside the clanging noise, like a Fierce beast trapped in chains lunging in its death throes—and behind the fissure, spiritual material burst out violently.

A piercing scream rang out.

A scalding jet grazed past Ji Jue and struck an apprentice, instantly igniting a fierce fire that charred vast swathes of skin.

Amidst the screams, the apprentice's maintained pivot point snapped, and the Spiritual Circuits started to collapse and fade away.

But then, they began to reconnect in the void, rejoining once more.

Zhou Chong's extended hand cracked open with wounds, and thick blood dripped from his fingertips. Before it could hit the ground, it completely evaporated, vanishing without a trace.

"Steady it!"

Zhou Chong bellowed with increased volume, but amidst the sharp rising noise of Sword Sound, the cracking kept resounding in the ears, and the hot Spiritual Jet erupted—a fog instantly filled the vast workshop.

The Circulation convulsed violently.

The Nine-Tiered structure, three on top and six at the bottom, struggled to contain the furnace's outburst of Fierce Flame and the power extracted through the blessing!

Impossible to integrate...

After numerous ascensions and purifications of countless materials, and the extraction and ascendancy of a vast trove of recorded events, ultimately, it was time for Integration. If the iron laws of Tian Yuan couldn't suppress the backlash within, the evolution inside the furnace would result in an unprecedented fireworks display for the Tong family.

Going skyward, alongside the works commissioned by Tong Zhiwu, would be Zhou Chong's tireless efforts and lifelong reputation!

The furnace was going to explode!

Unless Zhou Chong was ready to weep and hang himself at the association's entrance gate tomorrow, and cheerfully accept the annual 'Incompetence Award', even in death, he could not let the furnace precede him…

"Hold it steady!!!"

Zhou Chong roared.

The vast and raging flow of spiritual material surged from within him, forcibly taking control of many gradually collapsing Spiritual Circuits and reconstructing the Circulation with his own strength.

But within the high concentration of spiritual environment, an infinite spread of Fierce Flame, visions of tidal surges, and thunderbolts threatened to manifest, and if not careful, these Illusions would materialize from nothing…

None of it should have been so dire, but alas, there was too much intense material!

And there was the assistance of a tool-like figure like Ji Jue.

The more material fed in, the smoother the process, and the more invigorating the experience, so much so that progress exceeded all expectations, and too many events were integrated within the Flame Light.

Quality was elevated even higher!

So much so that the core of the furnace was the first to give way.

A catastrophic chain reaction ensued, the four sections and eight pillars detached, and the Circulation was endlessly tumultuous.

But amidst the great noise and chaos, a complex Matrix of lights suddenly arose from Zhou Chong, spreading out to Imprint the void.

Using himself as the vital main axis, once again, he brought all the turmoil back to stability.

Unexpectedly, amidst the turmoil and chaos, apart from the prepared contingency measures and plans, there was a critical node close at hand.

Right next to the Melting Furnace, within a stone's throw.

It stubbornly bore more than a third of the pressure, never releasing its grip.

Ji Jue!

The moment was fleetingly short, with no time to deliberate or hesitate, Zhou Chong made a snap decision, based on him and three other key pivot points, to restore stability.

In an instant, following the momentary tumult, order was reinstated.

The Circulation continued without pause.

Countless flashes moved like stars flowing from the sound, converging within the naked, cracked furnace. Tide Sound, thunder, earth-shaking echoes, and the immense noise of mountain collapse surged incessantly.

Water hues, flame light, smoke, and tide, images of downfall rushed forth, then vanished into thin air.

In the end, inch by inch, sword gleam emerged from the ashes.

It rose into the air like a soaring dragon.

From top to bottom, the triple Circulation shrank in an instant, and the myriad colors turned silent, forming multiple seals like a scabbard, and fell therein.

A heavy longsword fell from the sky.

Landing in Zhou Chong's hands.

As if everything naturally fell into place.

However, the hands holding the longsword trembled slightly, only now finding the time and opportunity to break into a cold sweat.

Choking coughs and gasps for breath were incessant around him.

After days of grueling toil, the dirt-covered apprentices were now exhausted, lying on the ground without the strength to move.

Only in front of the Melting Furnace, Ji Jue raised his wrist and wiped off the ash on his face.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness there wasn't an explosion.

Otherwise, they might have been blasted into outer space…

Turning his head, he saw Zhou Chong's impassive expression, staring at him.

"Why didn't you stop?"

In that fleeting moment, Ji Jue clearly had the chance to let go in time; otherwise, he would not have ended up in such a predicament.

At this moment, his hanging hands bore burnt palms and fingers dripping with fresh blood.

The cracks deep enough to expose bone.

"There was no way, anyone else would have stopped."

Ji Jue shrugged helplessly, "But Tong Zhiwu is pretty loyal to me. If I had let go, it would be tough to shift the blame and swindle money later, right?"

Zhou Chong remained silent, simply watching him.

He waved his hand.

A bottle flew from the void, landing in Ji Jue's hands.

"Treat yourself with the medicine."

The fist-sized bottle was mostly made of crystal-like material, with layered Spiritual Circuit seals preventing any leakage. Upon opening, a strand of greenish hue fell onto Ji Jue's hands. In an instant, the cracks closed, and blood and scars faded away.

Not a single mark was left.

Not just on the surface, even the tiny internal fissures healed instantly, invigorating Ji Jue's slightly weakened body due to the growth of his spirit.

A natural flush appeared on his somewhat pale complexion.

Most importantly, there was no sign of detrimental excessiveness – everything occurred naturally.

This was some good stuff, definitely a precious item from the master's collection.

Ji Jue clicked his tongue in amazement, and after carefully closing the bottle, he casually pocketed the remaining contents…

"…"

Zhou Chong looked on, expressionless, for a long time.

Until Ji Jue finally seemed to remember, smacking his head and making an "ah" sound.

Reluctantly, he fished the bottle out of his pocket and handed it back.

It was then snatched away.

Put away.

Every time I admire you, you manage to cause a scene!

How did Ye Xian's temper produce such a shameless apprentice?!

Yet, in front of the master, after things had gone south, this guy brazenly came over, batting his eyelashes and looking eagerly at what was in his hand.

The heavy longsword.

Let me see, let me have a look!

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