Rather, it was because He Song had not previously felt any heart-to-heart connection with the spirit artifacts he refined during artifact refinement.
Refining spirit artifacts requires absolute focus during the refinement process, with complete concentration on the artifact embryo at hand.
Simultaneously, sufficient emotion must be directed towards the artifact embryo.
In this manner, upon the complete formation of the artifact embryo.
a spirit artifact will naturally come into being.
Previously, during each spirit artifact refinement, He Song, while nearly fully focused, still experienced fluctuations in his thoughts.
Let alone generating emotions towards the artifact embryo.
Consequently, once formed, the artifact embryo naturally lacked spirituality.
Back when He Song first crafted an inferior spirit artifact, it was a blood-colored long saber.
It was crafted by He Song in imitation of the blood-colored long saber Meng Guan wielded at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment within True Lord Star Rock's cave dwelling.
During refinement, the image of Meng Guan wielding the blood-colored saber, instantly obliterating two golden-armored guards comparable in strength to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators, repeatedly flashed through He Song's mind.
At that time, He Song had only just consolidated his Golden Core cultivation.
He Song had even felt a hint of threat from that saber strike.
It was precisely because, while crafting the blood-colored saber, He Song's mind constantly replayed that scene.
He also developed a strong expectation for the artifact embryo he was crafting.
As this expectation deepened throughout the spirit artifact crafting process.
As this expectation lingered throughout the spirit artifact crafting process.
When this expectation remained fervent at the moment of the spirit artifact's birth.
A blood-colored saber of inferior spirit artifact grade naturally materialized in He Song's hand.
Upon grasping the inferior spirit artifact grade blood-colored saber, He Song was still contemplating.
If the blood-colored saber he crafted could, like Meng Guan's saber, pose a threat to Golden Core True Lords.
How wonderful that would be.
And when he sensed something amiss and looked at the blood-colored saber, he realized it was actually an inferior spirit artifact.
The conjecture of how to craft an inferior spirit artifact only then emerged in He Song's mind.
Once there is one, there will be a second.
He Song struck while the iron was hot, quickly beginning to experiment based on his conjecture.
And as He Song continued to experiment, successfully crafting inferior spirit artifacts one after another.
He Song naturally realized.
So, crafting spirit artifacts held such a hidden secret.
Realizing he had stumbled upon and comprehended spirit artifact refinement, He Song felt excitement, but quickly began searching True Lord Silver Moon's memories.
True Lord Silver Moon's memories were vast and complex.
But He Song's prior understanding of the Artifact Dao primarily stemmed from True Lord Silver Moon's memories.
Whether refining magic artifacts, flying boats, or now, spirit artifacts, all bore significant traces of True Lord Silver Moon's influence.
But despite several thorough searches, He Song couldn't find the method he had unintentionally grasped within True Lord Silver Moon's memories, leaving him slightly puzzled.
According to He Song's conjecture.
True Lord Silver Moon had been a powerful cultivator in the late Golden Core stage.
Furthermore, True Lord Silver Moon had not only achieved late Golden Core cultivation, but also successfully refined mid-grade spirit artifacts, demonstrating his Artifact Dao accomplishments far surpassed He Song's current level.
Under these circumstances, such a method was absent from True Lord Silver Moon's memories.
This situation naturally puzzled He Song.
But after reflection, He Song formed a conjecture.
When he previously cast Soul Searching Technique on True Lord Silver Moon's Golden Core, True Lord Silver Moon had already been dead for a significant period.
During this time, some of True Lord Silver Moon's memories would naturally have degraded.
Perhaps, the memories concerning this matter were completely fragmented by then, preventing He Song from retrieving them with Soul Searching Technique.
Such an explanation was plausible.
After all, many parts of True Lord Silver Moon's memories were already fragmented and incomplete.
He Song hadn't paid much attention previously, as it hadn't affected him.
But looking at it now, missing memories at crucial moments could cause considerable trouble.
For instance, this spirit artifact refinement matter.
Were it not for sheer luck, he would have wasted considerable time on this matter.
When that happened, he would ultimately suffer.
But He Song only sighed internally, without considering altering the timing of Soul Searching Technique application.
Soul Searching Technique, He Song would only cast while the target was still alive if his strength was overwhelmingly superior.
If the opponent posed any threat, even non-fatal, only capable of injury, He Song would never cast Soul Searching Technique before their death.
For anyone posing a threat or capable of injury, He Song would thoroughly verify their death before casting Soul Searching Technique.
This ensured his absolute safety.
While this approach might result in slightly incomplete memories, like True Lord Silver Moon's, possibly missing crucial details.
He Song wouldn't risk his life.
Even with incomplete memories, He Song wouldn't take risks.
Compared to his own life.
The incompleteness of another's memories was insignificant.
For example, the absence of crucial spirit artifact refinement memories in True Lord Silver Moon's memories wasn't a major issue.
At worst, if unable to break through, he could visit various Immortal Prefecture capitals and purchase an Artifact Dao text for clarification.
Spirit artifact refinement methods would surely be documented in Artifact Dao texts, negating He Song's need for continued independent comprehension.
However, this approach would consume considerable time and spirit stones.
But these were insignificant compared to He Song's safety.
What did they matter?
Having clarified this matter, He Song dismissed it, shaking his head and setting it aside.
He Song was now an artifact refiner capable of crafting inferior spirit artifacts.
Therefore, after successfully crafting several inferior spirit artifacts, he retrieved the inferior spirit artifact flying boat obtained from True Lord Silver Moon.
He Song hadn't used this inferior spirit artifact flying boat in a long time.
Primarily because it was True Lord Silver Moon's possession, and He Song's prior inability to alter its appearance made him worried about recognition.
He Song had been traveling within One Yang Sect's sphere of influence.
If True Lord Silver Moon's friends or descendants noticed anything amiss, He Song would face unpleasant consequences.
It was precisely for this reason that He Song waited until his skills broke through, allowing him to alter the inferior spirit artifact flying boat's appearance.
He immediately retrieved it and swiftly altered its appearance.
Once the inferior spirit artifact flying boat no longer resembled its original form, appearing as a completely different vessel.
He Song then contentedly stored the inferior spirit artifact flying boat.
From then on, He Song could operate the inferior spirit artifact flying boat without fear of being stopped and questioned about it.
Having altered the flying boat's appearance, it became entirely He Song's possession.
Besides this.
He Song also retrieved the three inferior spirit artifacts he possessed, using his skills to modify their appearances.
He Song possessed three inferior spirit artifacts.
One was the Purple Lightning Spirit Snake Seal, an inferior attack-type spirit artifact. Upon activation, a purple lightning spirit snake would emerge to fight for He Song, its main body also protecting He Song's safety.
Another was the Starfall Bead, an inferior defense-type spirit artifact. With a thought, it could transform into a silver shield, completely enveloping He Song and defending against attacks from all directions.
The last was the Green Jade Leaf, obtained from True Lord Dark Nether. Lacking offensive or defensive capabilities, it served only as a flying spirit artifact and could resist tracking secret techniques.
These three inferior spirit artifacts covered He Song's offense, defense, flight, and resistance to tracking secret techniques.
These three inferior spirit artifacts were invaluable to He Song.
Naturally, with his artifact refining skills improved, He Song altered their appearances to prevent recognition.
The Purple Lightning Spirit Snake Seal and Starfall Bead were both obtained from True Lord Silver Moon's storage pouch.
If He Song encountered True Lord Silver Moon's friends or descendants in future conflicts.
These two inferior spirit artifacts alone might provoke an attack.
He Song didn't want to be in combat and suddenly gain another enemy because his spirit energy was recognized.
Such an event would have unpredictable consequences.
As for the Green Jade Leaf, He Song had bought it from True Lord Dark Nether.
But He Song wanted no association with True Lord Dark Nether.
His cultivation was considerable, originally late Golden Core, perhaps now Golden Core Great Perfection.
He Song, currently only early Golden Core, couldn't afford to provoke such cultivators.
Therefore, the Green Jade Leaf purchased from him needed alteration.
Otherwise, if He Song encountered him and was recognized.
There might be further complications.
He Song hadn't directly offended him or had much interaction.
He even stayed in Cloud Prefecture capital for years to evade potential pursuit.
But secretly, He Song had emptied his cave dwelling.
The precious natal magic treasure crafting materials still lay quietly in He Song's storage pouch.
Although True Lord Dark Nether didn't know He Song was responsible, it was better safe than sorry.
For his safety, He Song ultimately decided to alter the Green Jade Leaf's appearance.
At least, True Lord Dark Nether should not recognize it as the Green Jade Leaf upon seeing it again.
He Song often altered his appearance when traveling, only revealing his true face and aura to acquaintances.
In such cases, even if True Lord Dark Nether encountered He Song, with He Song concealing his aura, recognition was unlikely.
And the only potential weakness, the Green Jade Leaf's appearance, had been completely altered by He Song.
Thus.
Even if True Lord Dark Nether encountered He Song, he likely wouldn't recognize him as the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator who bought the Green Jade Leaf.
In addition to these matters, over the past eight years, He Song had continuously learned details of the great war between One Yang Sect and God Locking Sect from Meng Guan and True Lord Luo Jing.
During his eight years of seclusion, the great war between God Locking Sect and One Yang Sect continued unabated.
Currently.
God Locking Sect and One Yang Sect were in a standoff outside Cloud Prefecture capital.
However, compared to eight years prior, the roles of offense and defense had reversed.
Eight years ago, when He Song first secluded himself, Cloud Prefecture capital was still held by One Yang Sect, and God Locking Sect was poised to attack.
At that time, God Locking Sect and One Yang Sect were in confrontation; beneath Cloud Prefecture capital, God Locking Sect cultivators' battle cries shook the heavens.
Within Cloud Prefecture capital, One Yang Sect cultivators also stood firm, determined to defend.
But now, their roles had subtly shifted.
One Yang Sect cultivators now stood beneath Cloud Prefecture capital, their battle cries resounding.
Within Cloud Prefecture capital, God Locking Sect cultivators, occupying the city, dared not slacken their vigilance.
Currently.
Eight years had passed.
Eight years was enough for many changes.
For instance.
Eight years prior, God Locking Sect cultivators, led by True Lord Heavenly Annihilation, forcibly occupied Cloud Prefecture capital, seizing control of the entire Cloud Prefecture.
Immediately after, True Lord Heavenly Annihilation led God Locking Sect cultivators southward, towards One Yang Sect's heartland.
Although One Yang Sect cultivators fought valiantly, lacking a true disciple capable of opposing True Lord Heavenly Annihilation, they were forced into a step-by-step retreat.
In the cultivation world, individual strength could sway the entire battle's direction.
Provided it was sufficient.
Strong enough to render opponents helpless.
Strong enough to instill immense fear.
Strong enough to...
True Lord Heavenly Annihilation, in the eyes of One Yang Sect cultivators at that time, was such a figure.
True disciple, terrifyingly so.
Below Nascent Soul, True Lord Heavenly Annihilation's combat prowess was nearly unparalleled.
Even with One Yang Sect cultivators' utmost efforts, they continued to retreat under True Lord Heavenly Annihilation's grasp.
God Locking Sect's Demon Dao disciples, under True Lord Heavenly Annihilation's command, relentlessly pushed into One Yang Sect's heartland.
This situation persisted for a very long time.
Until one day.
When True Lord Heavenly Annihilation conquered Bright Sun Prefecture, the second state capital, located south of Cloud Prefecture in One Yang Sect's heartland.
An unexpected event occurred.
(End of Chapter)