Artifact Chapter 53: Purple Furnace

Chapter 53: Purple Furnace

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Lu Ming clenched his fists tightly, forcing himself to calm down as his expression returned to normal. Looking up, he smiled faintly at Shen Shuyan and said, “Jing Mo and I are each other’s only family. After being apart for ten whole years, we now cherish our time together more, so it’s true that we’re closer than most brothers.”

Shen Shuyan’s eyes flickered briefly before he smiled and replied, “That makes sense.”

Lu Ming couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Shuyan’s sharp gaze, like an eagle soaring in the sky, could see through all truths. A vague unease crept into his heart, so he quickly changed the subject. “Do you know why Master called Jing Mo over?”

Shen Shuyan’s expression returned to normal as he explained, “Jing Mo took first place in the trial tournament, so the rewards must follow tradition. He’s being allowed to open the treasure vault and choose an item. Master called him for this matter.”

Understanding dawned on Lu Ming, and after a few more words with Shen Shuyan, he left.

Lu Ming had already obtained the blueprint for the Purple Furnace, and finding Fu Shu was now just a matter of time. He spent a day gathering the materials listed on the blueprint and brought them into his private space to craft the artifact. After about a month, the furnace was fully completed. Gazing at the finished product, faintly glowing with a purple light, Lu Ming smiled in satisfaction. He placed the Purple Furnace into his spatial ring and left the space feeling at ease.

As 233 sent Lu Ming out of the space, he opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a pair of dark eyes, deep as the night sky.

Those eyes carried so many emotions that Lu Ming, caught off guard, found himself momentarily dazed. The owner of the eyes clearly hadn’t expected Lu Ming to wake up so soon, and a trace of panic flashed across his face before he quickly regained his composure. Standing up slowly, he smiled faintly and said, “Brother, you’re awake?”

Lu Ming rubbed his tired eyes, stretched lazily, and asked in a hoarse voice, “What time is it?”

Jing Mo replied, “Just past the hour of You.”

As Lu Ming got out of bed, he realized he was a little hungry. Although he hadn’t felt hunger during the month he spent crafting in the space, working through the nights had left him mentally and physically drained. He now craved a hearty meal to replenish his energy.

Jing Mo, seemingly reading his mind, said softly, “Brother, I’ve already prepared food. I didn’t bring it to your room earlier to avoid disturbing you. Come with me to Xingyue Tower for dinner.”

Lu Ming licked his lips and swallowed, obediently following Jing Mo toward Xingyue Tower.

Before long, they arrived. Seeing the table filled with steaming dishes, Lu Ming’s appetite surged. He immediately began eating with gusto. Jing Mo watched his brother devour the food with amusement, occasionally handing him tea but otherwise not interrupting.

After finishing his meal, Lu Ming patted his full stomach and let out a contented burp. Feeling more grounded, he remembered he had something important to discuss with Jing Mo. “Xiao Mo, I need to leave Kunlai for a while.”

Jing Mo paused mid-sip of tea and asked, “Why?”

Lu Ming nodded, his eyes lighting up. “Fu Shu is still alive. I have to find her.”

Jing Mo glanced at Lu Ming, smiling faintly. “That’s good to hear.”

Lu Ming smiled back, his expression tinged with relief. “I’m just glad you and Fu Shu are both safe. I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise.”

Jing Mo didn’t respond, but his grip on the teacup tightened. Half-jokingly, he asked, “In your heart, who’s more important—me or Fu Shu?”

Lu Ming froze for a moment, puzzled by the question. He gave Jing Mo a surprised look before laughing heartily. “You and Fu Shu are both family. You’re equally important to me.”

Though he had expected this answer, hearing it from Lu Ming’s mouth still made Jing Mo feel as if a heavy stone had pressed against his chest, leaving him breathless. He stared at Lu Ming in a daze, suddenly realizing that his years of admiration and affection seemed insignificant to the other. In Lu Ming’s heart, he wasn’t the only one; there were others who held just as much space.

Lu Ming grew nervous at Jing Mo’s sudden shift in mood, unsure of what he had said to upset him. Feeling uneasy, Lu Ming looked at him and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Jing Mo closed his eyes, and after a moment, he opened them again. His eyes were as they always were, with no difference, but he smiled faintly and said, “It’s nothing. Are you about to go find Fu Shu, Brother?”

Lu Ming let out a sigh of relief, then said, “Yes, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Jing Mo lowered his eyelids and spoke in a deep voice, “I can’t go with you this time, Brother.”

Lu Ming had originally planned to go with Jing Mo, but hearing that he couldn’t go made him feel somewhat disappointed. He asked, “Is there something preventing you from going?”

Jing Mo nodded and replied, “Since my promotion, the spiritual energy in my body has been stagnating. I need to go into seclusion soon to clear it up. If I delay it further, it might cause complications.”

Lu Ming was surprised. “Why is that?”

Jing Mo shook his head and said, “I’m not sure of the exact reason. It might be because I forced the breakthrough last time, and my body couldn’t bear it, which caused the blockage in my energy.”

Lu Ming thought for a moment, then pulled out a small cloth bag from his spatial ring and handed it to Jing Mo. “This is a Spirit Purification Pill. It should help you.”

Jing Mo didn’t say much, just took the bag and placed it into his spatial ring. He then whispered, “Brother, the cultivation world has been quite unstable recently. If you run into any danger, you must notify me. I… will come find you soon.”

Lu Ming patted his shoulder and said, “Focus on your cultivation. Don’t rush it. Clear your energy before you come to me. If your body feels off, remember to ask your master and Shen Shuyan for help. Don’t try to handle it alone.”

Jing Mo nodded, his gaze deep as if reflecting the still waters of the night. The originally bright moonlight was suddenly blocked by thick clouds, and not a single ray of light came through. The earth grew dark, only the occasional flicker of fireflies on the Xingyue Tower illuminated his face.

For some reason, Lu Ming felt a heavy feeling in his heart. He sensed that tonight, Jing Mo seemed unusual, but he couldn’t pinpoint why. He wanted to say something but felt that if he spoke, certain things would be irreversible. His lips moved slightly but then closed again, and he said nothing.

At that moment, Jing Mo suddenly reached out, pulling Lu Ming into his embrace. His arm tightly circled around his waist, his voice low and husky. “Brother.”

Warm breath brushed against his ear, and the quiet Xingyue Tower seemed to only have the two of them breathing in the air. Lu Ming’s heart trembled as if he was enchanted. His body, once stiff, began to relax, letting Jing Mo hold him. A familiar heat surged within him, instantly igniting every inch of his skin, causing his body’s temperature to rise uncontrollably, nearly burning his reason away.

The heat seemed to spread, and Jing Mo’s breathing grew faster. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Brother…”

Lu Ming’s eyes were hazy, his cheeks tinged with pink, making him look almost drunk. Jing Mo’s hand slowly slid down his waist, inching closer to his hips.

The searing heat from his palm seeped through the thin fabric, clearly transmitting to every nerve in Lu Ming’s body, making him involuntarily feel the heat spreading through him.

Lu Ming leaned into Jing Mo’s embrace, and a faint moan escaped his lips. But the next second, he suddenly snapped out of it, hurriedly pushing Jing Mo away. He glanced at Jing Mo in panic before turning and running out of the Xingyue Tower, as if fleeing.

Jing Mo didn’t pursue him, only watching the retreating figure with dark eyes, murmuring as if to himself, “Brother, the next time we meet, I won’t let you leave me even a step. No one else will ever be more important to you than me.”

Lu Ming’s chest heaved violently as he returned to his room after leaving the Xingyue Tower, his mind feeling somewhat dazed. The poison inside him was always uncontrollable, and it could flare up at any time, leaving him feeling extremely insecure. Especially when he saw Jing Mo, his body seemed to automatically find a way to release his tension, making the poison easier to trigger. If it hadn’t been for his strong willpower just now, he didn’t know what he would have done.

“Master, I have a way to suppress the demon poison inside you.” 233, who had somehow emerged from the spatial ring, spoke up.

Lu Ming was thrilled. “You really have a way?”

233 said proudly, “Don’t underestimate my abilities, Master. I’ve been quietly researching a remedy for the demon poison in the space. Unfortunately, this remedy only works for three months, after which we’ll just have to take it one step at a time.”

Lu Ming sighed and replied, “Having something is better than nothing. At least for the next three months, I can search for Fu Shu with peace of mind.”

233 adjusted its little horn with its paw and asked, “Are we leaving tomorrow?”

Lu Ming paused for a moment, then said, “Let’s leave now.”

233 was surprised. “In such a hurry?”

Lu Ming felt uneasy as he responded, “It’s getting late; things could get troublesome.”

“Could it be that you’re trying to avoid Jing Mo?” 233 scoffed.

Lu Ming’s thoughts were exposed, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his eyes. He shot a cold glance at it and said, “If you don’t speak, no one will take you for a mute.”

233 seemed to nod uncertainly, then didn’t say anything more, retreating back into the space to sleep. That night, Lu Ming quickly left Kunlai Mountain. When Jing Mo returned to his room, he instinctively released his spiritual energy to search for Lu Ming’s presence but found nothing. However, there was a light blue butterfly perched on his desk, fluttering its wings as it slowly ascended, leaving behind a trail of golden powder that swirled and gathered in the air, eventually forming a line of golden characters.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Jing Mo pressed his lips together, walking slowly toward the butterfly, reaching out to catch it. But the butterfly, sensing someone approaching, quickly fluttered its wings and flew out the window.

Jing Mo’s expression darkened as he silently watched the butterfly fly away. He remained still for a long while before turning his gaze away. He pulled out an old book from his robes, a book he had found by chance earlier when exploring the treasure vault.

The book had been placed in an inconspicuous corner, but Jing Mo had felt an inexplicable pull urging him to take it. Despite his curiosity, he followed his instincts and brought it with him.

The pages of the book were tinged with a faint yellow, the edges worn and damaged, appearing quite old, as if it had been there for a very long time. Jing Mo slowly flipped through it, his eyes suddenly drawn to one particular page. He studied it carefully, where the words “Heavenly Mirror Divine Artifact” were written in large, bold characters.

Furrowing his brows, Jing Mo continued to examine the steps for creating the artifact. The more he read, the tighter his frown became, and his expression grew increasingly serious as he studied the diagram for crafting the Heavenly Mirror Divine Artifact. After a while, he closed the book and carefully placed it into his ring space.

“Heavenly Mirror Divine Artifact… does it really have the power to see into the future?” Jing Mo murmured to himself.

 

 

 

 

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