After listening to Hu Miao's words, Ye Yunfei immediately shifted his gaze to the Little Black Mirror.
At first glance, he was startled. He felt his Soul Body was about to be pulled out of his physical form and drawn into its depths.
"No way! Even with my current realm and strength, this mirror can affect me like this? That means its power is truly terrifying!" Ye Yunfei was deeply shocked.
"It's too scary! I feel like my Soul Body is about to be devoured by this mirror. And this is its power without even being activated. How much more frightening will it become when it's formally activated?" The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm's gaze fell upon the Little Black Mirror. It exclaimed in shock and took several steps back, its voice filled with alarm.
"This mirror is indeed extraordinary," Ye Yunfei said, his expression turning serious. Immediately, he conjured an energy hand to pick up the small mirror from a distance, then began to channel a steady stream of his own Soul Force Energy into it.
"It's devouring my Soul Force Energy!" Ye Yunfei was startled.
However, Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy was immensely powerful. Losing a small amount like this wouldn't cause any real loss. With a thought, he consciously directed even more of his Soul Force Energy to sense and infuse into the small mirror. To Ye Yunfei's shock, the Little Black Mirror continued to devour his energy incessantly.
"It seems this treasure tool needs to consume Soul Force Energy. You should directly offer it some Soul Soup or Soul Stones for it to devour. I suspect that once it has replenished enough Soul Force Energy, it will stop. By then, perhaps you can refine it," Hun Lao suggested, observing how Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy was being ceaselessly devoured by the small mirror.
"Alright," Ye Yunfei nodded, withdrawing his Soul Force Energy. He then took out two jars of Soul Soup, along with a large pile of black Soul Power Energy Crystals—some of Heavenly God grade, and others of Sovereign God grade. Knowing that the Little Black Mirror's grade was certainly high, Ye Yunfei was not stingy, offering high-grade resources. With a wave of his sleeve, he sent all of it onto the small mirror.
Boom...!
The Little Black Mirror immediately unleashed a powerful devouring force, beginning to consume the Soul Soup and the Soul Power Energy Crystals.
"So it does need Soul Force Energy," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Moments later, all the Soul Soup and Soul Power Energy Crystals Ye Yunfei had provided were completely devoured.
Next, Ye Yunfei released his Soul Force Energy again to probe the small mirror. This time, the Little Black Mirror finally stopped devouring his energy.
"I'll try refining it now," Ye Yunfei said, his interest in the Little Black Mirror thoroughly piqued. He decided to refine it immediately.
He put away all the other items, sat down cross-legged, and began to attempt refining the Little Black Mirror.
"Get out!"
Suddenly, a voice that sounded somewhat childish emanated from within the Little Black Mirror.
"Does the Soul Power imprint of this mirror's previous owner still remain inside? Does that mean this is still an owned item?" Ye Yunfei was surprised upon hearing the voice.
"Is this treasure tool already claimed? It doesn't seem like it! There's an aura of long years upon it. Judging by the laws of time, it hasn't been used for a very long time. Why would the Soul Power imprint of its previous owner still remain?" Hun Lao couldn't help but interject after hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
"You're not even qualified to be my master!"
At that moment, another voice came from within the Little Black Mirror, seemingly tinged with a hint of disdain.
"Master..." Hearing that voice left Ye Yunfei momentarily stunned.
This didn't sound like the Soul Power imprint left behind by a previous owner. Ye Yunfei immediately reported the situation to Hun Lao.
"It says you're not worthy to be its master?" Hun Lao was greatly shocked as well upon hearing Ye Yunfei's description.
"Could this be the legendary treasure tool that has developed its own intelligence? To my knowledge, very few such artifacts circulate in the world anymore," Hun Lao thought for a while before exclaiming in astonishment.
"A treasure tool that has developed its own intelligence?" Ye Yunfei was equally shocked upon hearing Hun Lao's words.
"In ancient times, many high-grade treasure tools would automatically develop their own intelligence. Any treasure tool that developed intelligence would possess self-awareness. They could even absorb the essence of heaven and earth on their own, continuously self-improving. In essence, they were equivalent to living beings with consciousness. However, such treasure tools were exceedingly rare. Later, for reasons unknown and as time passed, treasure tools capable of developing intelligence became fewer and fewer in the world. I suspect that in modern times, they have become even rarer. Who would have thought we encountered one!" Hun Lao continued his explanation.
"Then how does one refine a treasure tool that has already developed intelligence?" Hearing Hun Lao's words, Ye Yunfei grew even more interested in this Little Black Mirror.
"Refinement is not the right term for a treasure tool with developed intelligence. You need to subdue it. Use your Soul Force Energy to overcome it, then forcibly imprint your own Soul Power mark upon that consciousness. That is how you gain control over it."
"I understand. It's similar to the world essence of Canghuang Realm from the past. I could only refine it after subduing it first," Ye Yunfei nodded, suddenly reminded of the Canghuang Origin from before, and roughly grasped the principle.
"Precisely. The situation with the intelligence born from a treasure tool is similar to that of the Canghuang Origin. However, the intelligence here is estimated to be of a much higher grade, likely at a divine level," Hun Lao affirmed with a nod.
"Alright. I'll start by subduing it first, then refine it," Ye Yunfei declared.
For the rest of the time, Ye Yunfei continuously released his Soul Force Energy while simultaneously employing various Soul Force Martial Arts, preparing to deal with the consciousness within the Little Black Mirror.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy extended into the Little Black Mirror, and soon after, he indeed found a clump of Soul Force Energy that possessed consciousness. Ye Yunfei understood that this clump should be the intelligence born from the Little Black Mirror.
Ye Yunfei launched various attacks against this clump of energy.
"Damn you! Get out!" The energy clump, feeling Ye Yunfei's multiple attacks, became enraged. The entire Little Black Mirror erupted with formidable treasure tool power, continuously bombarding Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy, trying to force both his energy and his attacks out of the mirror.
However, as a Godking and a practitioner of many powerful Soul Force Martial Arts, his strength proved formidable. The intelligence simply could not expel Ye Yunfei from the Little Black Mirror. With a divinely majestic level soul power backing him, coupled with mastery over numerous formidable Soul Force Martial Arts, Ye Yunfei stubbornly remained within the Little Black Mirror.