Yang Che returned to his Bronze Hall, sat cross-legged, holding a Spirit Stone in each hand, and meditated with a clear mind.

After a full month, Yang Che suddenly opened his eyes, and two purple-black ghostly lights flashed within them.

With a movement of his palm, a palm-sized, incomplete ancient sword appeared in his hand; it was Sword Four.

Upon closer inspection, there were several small nicks on the blade of this ancient sword, glinting with a sharp, chilling light.

The entire sword body exuded an ancient and weathered aura, as if it had endured countless battles, possessing a unique sense of supremacy and domineering disdain.

The hilt was entirely unadorned, with only a broken ring at its end, from which faint wisps of green and red Qi continuously overflowed.

After a brief thought, Yang Che's eyes, sharp as lightning, fixed on Sword Four as he spoke, enunciating each word: "Sword Four, I wish to refine you into my Lifebound Treasure. Are you willing?"

However, after waiting for a while, Sword Four showed no reaction.

Yang Che's expression gradually darkened, becoming increasingly solemn.

He couldn't help but recall the scene that day at Qing Jian Sect's Sword Four Peak, when the Old Ancestor, the Old Man, had him pull out this sword.

At that time, his entire magical power surged forth, but Sword Four remained motionless.

Later, he 'gently persuaded' it for a long time, but still received no response.

It wasn't until the Nine Heart Thunder Flame suddenly shot from his arm into Sword Four's body that he barely managed to pull out the sword.

Even before entering the blood coffin cavern beneath the river, Sword Four and the Nine Heart Thunder Flame had played a trick of 'inside-out collaboration'.

Now, thinking back, it was most likely Sword Four that instigated the Nine Heart Thunder Flame.

A dangerous, chilling glint appeared in Yang Che's eyes.

However, remembering that this sword had also helped him slay many powerful enemies, he patiently continued to ask: "Sword Four, I will ask one last time: are you willing to become my Lifebound Treasure?"

After waiting a while longer, Sword Four still showed no reaction.

Yang Che showed a hint of self-mockery, then let out a cold snort, killing intent bursting forth in his eyes.

First, with a thought, Flying Stealth was summoned from his Middle Dantian, instantly deploying the Tai Xuan Hidden Light Formation around his body.

Next, he spat out a mouthful of Dantian fire, directly enveloping Sword Four.

Sword Four, which had been completely still, finally reacted.

Sword Four flew up on its own, crashing around, trying to break free from the Dantian fire's embrace.

Without any hesitation, Yang Che formed hand seals, casting out streams of strange, pale golden runes that penetrated the Dantian fire and landed on Sword Four.

Upon contact with the pale golden runes, Sword Four struggled even more violently, its green and red light blazing, and a fierce aura rapidly diffused within the Bronze Hall.

Yang Che's expression remained unchanged, still extremely indifferent, as he continued to form seals and cast out pale golden runes.

Sword Four's speed suddenly became extremely fast, darting left and right, and its green and red light grew increasingly intense.

With a 'buzz', a piercing sound erupted.

Sword Four broke through the restraint of the pale golden runes and instantly flew out of the Dantian fire, actually stabbing directly towards Yang Che's glabella.

Yang Che's eyes narrowed, and he clenched his single hand tightly.

Just as Sword Four was about to reach one inch from Yang Che's glabella, it suddenly seemed to be frozen, unable to advance even a hair's breadth.

Sword Four suddenly began to tremble, and at some point, countless transparent threads had wrapped around its body.

These threads continued to tighten, seemingly causing Sword Four to become increasingly 'painful', and it trembled even more violently.

Yang Che snorted coldly again and took out the Supreme Talisman that could enhance Divine Sense.

Just then, the Nine Heart Thunder Flame suddenly surged out, transforming into a fiery giant, and gently pressed down on Yang Che's finger, which was about to activate the Talisman.

Shaking its head slightly, the Nine Heart Thunder Flame immediately transformed into a streak of light and drilled into Sword Four.

Yang Che's expression remained indifferent, almost without a ripple.

Soon, the Nine Heart Thunder Flame reappeared from Sword Four and directly drilled into Yang Che's Middle Dantian.

With a thought, Yang Che felt the Nine Heart Thunder Flame's disappointment, and even a hint of anger!

This disappointment and anger were naturally not directed at Yang Che, but at Sword Four by the Nine Heart Thunder Flame!

Besides disappointment and anger, the Nine Heart Thunder Flame also felt a hint of inexplicable sadness.

Just now, it had sensed its master's ruthless, cold killing intent, so it kindly drilled into Sword Four to persuade it, but unexpectedly, it was 'mocked' instead.

Each spirit has its own aspirations, and it couldn't directly explain to Sword Four how unique its master was.

More than that, it was a magical sense from the ethereal Dao.

Initially, like Sword Four, it had developed an instinctive arrogance and sense of detachment when faced with its master's weakness.

But later, as it accompanied its master along the path, personally witnessing its master overcome countless hardships and gradually reach his current cultivation and strength, it truly admired him.

Moreover, it had long understood deeply that its master was the kind of person who would treat you even better if you treated him well.

It was just that Sword Four didn't understand; it still felt good about itself, lingering in its once glorious Peak era.

If it weren't for a slight acquaintance from the ancient times, the Nine Heart Thunder Flame wouldn't want to have 'disquiet' in its heart; why would it risk greatly offending its master to go out and kindly persuade it?

However, the persuasion was fruitless, and Sword Four was still immersed in its self-satisfied feeling, thinking that its master had no means to deal with it!

The Nine Heart Thunder Flame shook its head.

Although in its current form, it seemed to have no head?

But in the end, the Nine Heart Thunder Flame still found inner peace.

All of this was the Nine Heart Thunder Flame's thoughts in an extremely short period, and it had no intention of concealing them, so Yang Che also clearly perceived them.

He chanted a spell under his breath, and the Supreme Talisman in his hand immediately shone with dazzling light.

Yang Che almost completely used up the remaining three uses of this Supreme Talisman all at once, without reservation!

His Divine Sense became more powerful than ever before!

Everything before his eyes seemed to become perfectly clear and transparent.

Immediately after, Yang Che directly used this powerful Divine Sense to forcibly invade the interior of Sword Four.

Inside Sword Four's sword body, a blurry, arrogant green and red figure, radiating pride from every inch, changed color for the first time upon discovering Yang Che's Divine Sense intrusion.

Astonishment, shock, disbelief, confusion, and other expressions all appeared on this green and red figure.

Yang Che also 'saw' this green and red figure for the first time.

However, his Divine Sense did not hesitate or pause; after invading the sword body, it instantly concentrated, mercilessly 'strangling' this green and red figure.

There was no chance for reconciliation.

In the fleeting moment before its disappearance, the green and red figure suddenly realized that the Nine Heart Thunder Flame was truly wise, and it was the real fool!

As the green and red figure disappeared, Yang Che's unprecedentedly powerful Divine Sense also vanished like smoke.

And what ultimately killed this green and red figure was that 'Supreme Talisman', the truly hidden trump card.

It could concentrate Divine Sense for a single attack.

He removed the Tai Xuan Hidden Light Formation and re-absorbed 'Flying Stealth' into his Middle Dantian for continued Dantian fire tempering and nourishment.

Yang Che couldn't help but smile in surprise when he discovered that the Nine Heart Thunder Flame had also voluntarily stepped forward to help, using the power of Lei Yan to temper Flying Stealth.

Then, Yang Che's gaze fell upon Sword Four in his hand.

At this moment, Sword Four was noticeably dimmer than before, but Yang Che had not the slightest regret about his recent decision.

Putting away Sword Four, he closed his eyes and began to meditate to recover, holding a Spirit Stone in each hand.

Seven days later.

Yang Che opened his eyes, quickly set up a 'Spirit Control Formation' in front of him, then took out Sword Four again and threw it into the formation.

He then spat out a mouthful of vital blood, directly enveloping Sword Four. With the aid of the Spirit Control Formation, the vital blood slowly merged into Sword Four. Yang Che quickly absorbed Sword Four into his Lower Dantian, where the black Dantian fire instantly enveloped Sword Four, beginning the long process of refining.

After completing all this, Yang Che, with another thought, brought the Nine Heart Thunder Flame into the Artifact Refining Room within the Void Illusion Magic Stone Space.

He took out the Blue Stone Magical Item he had once obtained and gave it to the Nine Heart Thunder Flame, instructing it to forcibly re-melt this Blue Stone Magical Item.