Chapter 87: Thunderwing Dragonflame Staff

This requirement was nothing short of a joke; the gap between a formal sorcerer and an apprentice was as great as the distance between the heavens and the earth. Even among formal sorcerers themselves, to obtain a complete soul would require capturing the opponent alive. Yet even if a sorcerer found themselves outmatched, the moment they realized they were about to be taken for soul alchemy, self-destruction was an effortless option. Therefore, this was a near-impossible task.

Given such an arduous demand for the main material, the resulting staff would be unremarkable at best, barely reaching the "excellent" grade. No wonder the system categorized it as a feedback for ordinary-grade alchemical weapons.

Though Qi Xiao had no intention of crafting this staff, it was an invaluable resource for research. After all, an item of the "excellent" grade belonged firmly to the realm of formal sorcerers. The blueprints alone comprised several thick stacks, filled with exquisite design concepts, material specifications, magical patterns, and formulas that left Qi Xiao dazzled.

Upon returning to the island at the heart of the lake, the evening glow in the sky had completely faded away. Qi Xiao still could not fathom what mysteries the sunset might have held that day.

Though curiosity lingered, it was not something meant for one of his level to probe. Qi Xiao returned to his room and, referencing the “Legendary Staff of the Guardian Wolfs,” began to draft the blueprints for the staff he intended to create.

Originally, Qi Xiao had only a rough sketch in mind, but after studying the blueprints of the excellent-grade staff, he found himself brimming with new ideas. He overturned his previous work and started anew, laboring late into the night.

When Qi Xiao finally finished his design, he calculated the time and realized that the nurturing process for the two main materials was nearly complete. He headed to the adjacent alchemical laboratory.

Within the nurturing chamber, the blue-violet glow of lightning-struck wood and the red radiance of fire dragon bone intertwined, forming a miniature vortex. As time passed, the two auras gradually merged, giving birth to a new hue—a deep crimson-purple.

During this confluence of energies, the relentless nurturing brought about a subtle balance between the lightning force of the wood and the fiery power of the dragon bone. They restrained and catalyzed each other, weaving a strange yet harmonious energy field.

The atmosphere in the laboratory was stifling, the air hot and heavy.

Qi Xiao opened the nurturing chamber, guiding the materials’ energies back into themselves. Intricate patterns began to emerge on their surfaces—these were the channels for energy flow, and the cornerstone of the staff’s design.

He placed the nurtured lightning wood and fire dragon bone on the alchemical table and, following his blueprints, began the precise work of cutting and shaping with his instruments.

The fire dragon bone was extraordinarily hard. Despite its age and exposure to the elements, it was far from something Qi Xiao could easily breach. Space-cutting techniques risked damaging the precious material.

He shaped the lightning wood into a staff about one and a half meters long, ensuring it could channel and amplify magical power while maintaining enough weight for destructive force in close combat, and balancing length and mass for swift handling.

Qi Xiao’s intention was to create a weapon adept both at melee and ranged attacks, its staff-like appearance a deliberate deception.

Most of the fire dragon bone was used as the staff’s core, strengthening its internal structure, providing a second conduit for magic, and serving as the primary source of fire-based energy.

The remaining bone, after careful cutting, was set in a ring at the staff’s head, where he inscribed a thunder-fire sigil. Four rune patterns representing “Thunder,” “Fire,” “Scorch,” and “Lightning” were closely interlocked, layered with precision.

Qi Xiao had learned this innovative and practical technique from the "Intermediate Guide to Magical Pattern Applications." He had practiced it extensively before engraving, and now, his movements were fluid, the lines flowing as though they had always belonged there.

Next, he re-forged lapis lazuli, blending it with several metals to craft a refined adornment for the staff’s head. At its apex, he inlaid an exceedingly rare Ember-Lightning Essence, which would serve as the staff’s external core.

With the main structure completed, the remaining tasks were simpler.

Qi Xiao added an insulating layer to the grip, mindful of his own lack of resistance to electricity, to prevent backlash and injury. He also reinforced the base with a piece of high-purity obsidian to counterbalance the staff and ensure it wasn’t top-heavy.

He inscribed a concealment rune on the obsidian, lest the dragon aura emanating from the staff become overwhelming. Even this alone could allow Qi Xiao to overpower most adversaries, but there was no need to display it at all times. For the wielder, it would be an immense burden.

The final step was to decorate the staff’s exterior. Qi Xiao selected simple runes in harmony with the staff’s nature, leaving most of the surface bare so as not to limit the staff’s potential for future upgrades with his current, modest skills.

At last, it was time to name the staff. Qi Xiao wished to preserve the elements of “thunder,” “fire,” and “dragon,” and, after some thought, christened it the “Thunderwing Dragonfire Staff.” Coincidentally, the two ends of dragon bone at the top resembled outstretched dragon wings.

Under the gentle alchemical lamp, Qi Xiao gazed at his newly finished masterpiece—the Thunderwing Dragonfire Staff. The staff emanated a solemn and mysterious aura, every inch of it harmonious, as if it had always been destined to take this form.

At the head, the Ember-Lightning Essence pulsed like a living heart, shimmering with crimson-purple light. The refined metalwork around it was as delicate as dragon scales, adding a sense of majesty and strength, while the magical patterns at the apex intertwined in elegant, natural lines.

The body of the staff was a seamless fusion of lightning-struck wood and fire dragon bone, their blue-violet and red veins entwined like lightning across a night sky or sunset clouds at the horizon. The grip, wrapped in insulated rubber, felt smooth yet firm, adorned with anti-slip grooves that were both practical and pleasing to the eye.

The obsidian base, deep as the night, anchored the staff and masked its formidable internal aura.

Satisfied, Qi Xiao infused his magic into the newly forged staff. The fire dragon bone, now merged with the lightning wood, seemed to have lost some of its former wildness; it barely resisted as his magic flowed through it.

As the creator, Qi Xiao could already sense its capabilities even without detailed testing. First and foremost were the basics—summoning thunder and fire.

Though it sounded simple, Qi Xiao had a hunch that even the most basic thunder and fire conjured by this staff would be so powerful that not even an advanced apprentice would dare withstand a direct hit.

Particularly in close combat, a swing of the staff would unleash a violent surge of electricity and flame at its tip, detonating upon striking an enemy with astonishing force. If he went all out, even a formal sorcerer would not escape unscathed without adequate protection.

The materials used for this staff were outrageously valuable. Much of its formidable power came not from Qi Xiao’s design or craftsmanship, but from the sheer strength of the components themselves.