Chapter 1221 Black Iron

The "Meteor Valley" in the western ninja world is perpetually shrouded in purple-black meteorite dust. Deep within the valley lies a "star core vein" containing the ninja world's rare "star core black iron." This metal, formed from meteorite impacts, not only absorbs chakra but can also carry the energy of tailed beasts. It is the "core material for summoning beast synthesis" that Shangguan Mo has been searching for three years. At this moment, clad in his smelting uniform, stained with mineral dust, he strikes a block of glowing blue star core black iron with his "refining hammer." Sparks splash onto the surrounding tailed beast chakra vessels, where the green chakra of the Seven-Tails surges restlessly.

"We're just one last piece of black iron away from completing the ingredients for the 'Meteoric Shell.'" Shangguan Mo wiped the sweat from his face, his eyes gleaming with paranoia. His summoned beast, the Black Iron Scorpion, had had its shell shattered by Iwagakure's Dust Release in a recent battle. To evolve it, it needed to incorporate a material capable of withstanding Kage-level attacks—and combining the star-core black iron with the Seven-Tails' life force was the only method he had found in ancient texts.

Just as he'd stuffed the last piece of star-core black iron into his backpack, the valley suddenly shook violently. A massive "meteor beast" burst from the ground, its skin coated in star-core black iron fragments, and its mouth spewed meteor fire capable of melting steel. "You want to steal my black iron?" Shangguan Mo sneered, raising his hand and hurling several soul-refining runes. The runes attached themselves to the black iron fragments, instantly converging into a massive iron sword, which he slashed at the beast.

The beast roared, swatting the iron sword away with its claws. Meteorite fire lashed toward Shangguan Mo. He didn't dodge, but instead opened the tailed beast's chakra reservoir. The green Seven-Tails chakra flowed down his arm, merging with the Refining Spirit Rune to form a green light shield. "Power of the Seven-Tails, Refining Spirit Shield!" The moment the light shield blocked the meteorite fire, Shangguan Mo seized the opportunity to plunge the Refining Spirit Hammer into the beast's eye. Fragments of the star core black iron passed through the wound and entered the beast's body, causing a violent explosion.

Returning to the Soul Refining Pavilion with sufficient Star Core Black Iron, Shangguan Mo immediately set up the Soul Refining Formation. At the center of the formation sat the Seven-Tails Chakra Container, surrounded by Star Core Black Iron fragments, and at the center sat the remains of the Black Iron Scorpion's shell. He took a deep breath and channeled his own chakra into the center. The green chakra of the tailed beasts and the blue Black Iron energy began to fuse, and the remains of the Black Iron Scorpion's shell gradually rose, its cracks beginning to heal.

"It's almost done!" Shangguan Mo's eyes flashed with ecstasy, but just as the fusion was about to be completed, the chakra of the center of the formation suddenly became disordered - the life energy of the seven-tailed beast was too violent, and the star core black iron could not fully bear it. New cracks began to appear in the remaining shell of the black iron scorpion, and green chakra even overflowed along the cracks, burning the ground.

"I can't fail!" Shangguan Mo bit his tongue hard and sprayed his blood essence into the spirit refining array. The blood essence and chakra merged into a red rune, forcibly suppressing the raging energy of the tailed beast. He quickly formed hand seals with his hands and chanted the ancient spirit refining spell: "With my blood, I draw the power of the tailed beast; with the star core as my bones, I forge the soul of the spirit beast - spirit refining? Merge!"

The moment the red rune merged with the remains of the Black Iron Scorpion's shell, a blinding light erupted from the center of the formation. The green tailed beast's chakra completely merged with the blue Black Iron energy. The cracks in the shell not only healed, but also sprouted sharp Black Iron spikes. The scorpion's tail transformed into a massive blade capable of spewing meteorite fire. As the light faded, a massive scorpion, its entire body coated in star-core Black Iron, its tail entwined with green chakra, appeared at the center of the spirit refining formation—it was none other than the newly summoned beast, the "Meteoric Black Scorpion."