Chapter 1557: Chapter 577: Luo Chen, Secure This Item for Me!

Does Luo Chen have a talent for Tool Casting?

In fact, he has a bit of it.

After he obtained the Alchemy Method of the Qingdan Valley’s Hun Yuan Cauldron, he once intended to personally undertake the Artifact Refining process.

Therefore, he spent some time learning the basics of Tool Casting from Duan Feng.

The Tool Casting technique of Duan Feng originated from the Duan Family.

The Tool Casting inheritance of the Duan Family was obtained from a cultivator in Tian Fan City during the Open War era.

Although they did not grasp the essence, the basic theory was still very authentic.

Under the guidance of Duan Feng, Luo Chen comprehended the so-called Path of Tool Casting.

To cast tools, one must first master the properties of various ores and their corresponding handling methods, secondly the control of the flames, and lastly, and most importantly, the mastery of Array patterns.

Each of these three aspects is not too difficult; with a little delving into them, one can grasp the basics.

Even the most talent-demanding Path of Array is not difficult for a Golden Core Cultivator when it comes to Low Order Arrays.

However, when the three are combined, the difficulty increases exponentially, by several or even dozens of times.

When Luo Chen first sought guidance, under the instruction of Duan Feng, he tried to craft some basic Magic Tools. But due to the urgency of the warfare preparation in the Xiao Yue Mountain Range, he ultimately failed to successfully create even a single Lower Grade Magic Tool.

Nonetheless, even so, Duan Feng once praised that Luo Chen did have a certain talent for Tool Casting.

The reason for this, aside from Duan Feng’s “compliment,” was Luo Chen’s genuine understanding of the properties of various ores.

Because the Pill Refinement process does not solely utilize herbaceous medicinal ingredients.

Many times, Pill Refinement also requires the use of minerals.

Take, for example, the Jade Marrow Pill that Luo Chen made in the early stage, the main ingredient was Wan Jade, and later when concocting the Jade Dew Pill, one of the three main ingredients was Blue Smoke Jade, and so on.

In order to advance his Pill Refinement skills, Luo Chen always maintained a notable recognition of various ore materials.

The Blue Smoke Jade, a Second Order ore, only requires the extraction of “Jade Smoke” during the pill concoction process. However, when used for crafting Magic Tools, the Jade Smoke becomes a useless substance, affecting the stability of the Magic Tool.

If one reverses its application, then understanding this ore’s properties becomes easily manageable.

Moreover, Luo Chen has been reading various books in his spare time over the past hundred years–Cultivation Techniques, experiences of seas and mountains, customs and traditions, a myriad of plants and minerals, proficient in everything, never rejecting any new knowledge.

It can be said that understanding the characteristics of various ore materials is not a difficult task for him.

Especially since he does not wish to become a Tool Casting Master himself; if he’s only targeting the understanding of ore materials required for a certain Magic Item, he could just spend some extra time focusing on that specifically.

Of course, proficiencies related to the Tool Casting Method are also required to be mastered.

Luo Chen has never worried about things related to proficiency!

As for the second aspect, the control of flames in Tool Casting.

For the average person, it might be extremely difficult.

But for Luo Chen, it is the easiest task–when it comes to controlling the flames, he is second to none, with few among his peers daring to claim they are better.

Whether through years of Pill Refinement, the practice of Fire Type techniques, or his subsequent cultivation of the “Tianhuang Nirvana Sutra,” his manipulation of flames has reached an unusually high level.

It could be said that the biggest factor constraining Luo Chen’s Tool Casting is the mastery of Arrays.

And this problem is not just a constraint for Luo Chen alone, but it also constrains many Low Order Tool Casting Crafters.

Nothing else but because the Path of Array is indeed too complex.

From understanding Feng Shui geography to the engraving of array patterns and prohibitions, all have an impact on the power of an Array.

Those without a talent for Array Paths simply cannot go far.

Therefore, many Low Order Tool Casting Crafters would invite familiar Array Masters to help them engrave Arrays on the preliminarily shaped Magic Tools during the crafting process.

And not just Low Order Tool Casting Crafters!

Even some top Tool Casting Masters, when encountering Arrays they are not proficient in, would invite others to assist.

For example, when Tian Yezi was crafting the Hun Yuan Cauldron for Luo Chen, he once invited Han Zhan and Qing Shuang Demon Emperor to participate in the engraving of the Array. Although there was an intention to probe into the space Array of the Qing Shuang Demon Emperor, it was also because Tian Yezi was not proficient in space Arrays.

The relationship between Tool Casting Crafters and Array Masters is roughly equivalent to the relations between Pill Masters and spiritual plant masters or Herb Harvesters, even more close-knit!

In the face of the constraining factor of Arrays, Luo Chen initially did not have much confidence.

Even with the teachings of Min Longyu and Fu Jiusheng, he barely reached the Beginner level, and the Arrays he set up were not anything spectacular.

However, after arriving at the North Sea, he consciously sought Han Zhan’s guidance.

In conjunction with the Proficiency Panel.

After nearly two decades, his mastery of Array, even if it can’t be considered comprehensive, has also seen Minor Accomplishment.

He could easily employ First Order and Second Order Arrays, and with adequate preparation, even a Third Order Formation could be reluctantly established.

He himself feels that with his current accumulations, personally crafting a Defense Magic Item for himself should not be too difficult.

This is one of the reasons he has the confidence not to rely on others and to create it himself.

After all, weapons crafted by oneself fit the best!

However, as Luo Chen delved deeper into the Alchemy Method recorded on the Iron Sheet, his brows knit tighter and tighter, almost tangling together.

Han Zhan, who had been paying close attention to Luo Chen’s progress, naturally noticed his unintentional changes in expression.

When Luo Chen put down the Iron Sheet to rest, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

Luo Chen counter-asked with an uncertain expression, “Senior, do you know the Artifact Refining methods from before Ancient Times?”