Chapter 131: Tier Two Artifact Master
Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Tier Two Artifact Master
With an invitation from Mo Zhaoli, Lin Changheng knew he had to make the trip.
It was also a good opportunity to visit the so-called Upper Sect and see what this Core Formation Sect, which held sway over an entire region, was really like.
When he was eighteen, it was confirmed that he had a Spirit Root and he was chosen as an immortal seedling. He had dreamed of joining an Immortal Dao Sect, but because he possessed a Mixed Spirit Root, he could only join a Qi Cultivation Clan and muddle along at the bottom of the Cultivation Realm.
Now, after thirty-four years of twists and turns, he was over fifty and finally had the chance to be invited to a sect to witness its "grandeur."
Lin Changheng couldn’t help but laugh.
His state of mind was completely different now.
He was much more carefree, free of attachments, and faced it all with a calm and detached air.
’But on second thought, this really is an opportunity.’
Lin Changheng’s mind raced. ’Now that Zhao Li is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the Xu Family knows about our relationship, maybe I can use her influence to break away.
It would save me from an ugly scene.’
As for the Xu Family, Lin Changheng wasn’t too worried. His confidence stemmed primarily from his own strength.
His Magical Power Cultivation was at the Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation, and his Body Refining Cultivation had reached the Third Layer of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood, which was equivalent to Tier One Late Stage.
Furthermore, he possessed the Tier Two Red Sky Demon Fire, which was comparable to Earth Fire, and had mastered two types of Dao Fruit Divine Power True Intent and three True Core Demon Techniques.
If it really came to a fight, a Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator would likely not fare well against him.
Facing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he could use the Earth Escape Demon Technique and still have a chance to flee.
He had plenty of confidence.
"No, it’s still not enough."
Lin Changheng’s brow furrowed suddenly, but he quickly made a decision.
He immediately turned and headed out the door.
As it happened, an autumn rain was drizzling down. Fine threads of rain splashed against the bluestone slabs, kicking up a hazy mist.
When Lin Changheng stepped out of his room, the damp air was immediately filled with the intermingled scents of medicinal herbs and dust.
On the Marketplace streets, Cultivators moved without hurry, walking through the curtain of rain under protective shields, techniques, and artifacts that shimmered with spiritual light of all colors.
Such a mystical scene was a rare sight outside the Cultivation Realm.
Lin Changheng plunged into the rain as well, a faint green glow rising around him. The raindrops vaporized into wisps of white steam before they could even touch his body.
Walking with a clear purpose, Lin Changheng soon reached the cave residence area in the innermost section of the Marketplace.
Many of the cave residences in this area had been offered at extremely favorable prices to Cultivators at the Middle Grade Realm or above with specialized Skills. This was a move by the Xu and Liu families to populate the Marketplace and attract customers.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
He stood before a cave residence and raised his hand to knock.
Before long, someone opened the door, revealing a young boy’s head. "You are?"
"I’ve come to request an artifact."
The unfamiliar Male Cultivator before him smiled slightly and cupped his hands. "Would you please announce me, young man?"
"Of course. Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist."
The large door closed, only to open again a short while later. It was the same boy. "Please come in, Fellow Daoist."
Lin Changheng, who was using Illusionary Transformation, had chosen not to wear his bamboo hat this time to avoid seeming secretive and insincere. He nodded with a smile. "Thank you for leading the way, young man."
The two soon arrived in the main hall of the cave residence.
The hall was furnished with simple, elegant antiquity. Several landscape scrolls with bold, powerful brushwork hung on the four walls. An old man with white hair and a youthful complexion sat upright at a rosewood desk, carefully reading a bamboo scroll.
Hearing footsteps, he slowly looked up, revealing a pair of eyes as clear as a deep pool, and gazed at the visitor.
"I greet you, Mr. Leng Tie."
Lin Changheng performed the formal greeting, his posture perfect—neither servile nor arrogant.
"You’re quite well-informed, young friend. I’ve only been here for half a month, and you’ve already found me."
Mr. Leng Tie stroked his beard and smiled, his expression benevolent but his words hinting at something more.
Lin Changheng smiled as well. "I have some connections with the Xu Family, so it was only natural that I would hear of your arrival. For a senior as distinguished as yourself, a Tier Two Refiner, to condescend to visit our Cyan Spirit District is truly a blessing for all the Cultivators here."
As he spoke, he took out and briefly displayed a token bearing the Xu Family’s insignia.
Mr. Leng Tie laughed heartily at his words. "You have a silver tongue, young friend, but..." He glanced nonchalantly at the token.
Then, with a light flick of his finger, he suddenly asked, "Are you aware of my rules, young friend?"
"The Three-No-Refinings." Lin Changheng looked the old man straight in the eye and gave a slight nod. "You do not refine artifacts that already have an owner, you do not refine items that defy the heavens, and..." He paused for a moment. "...you do not refine mediocre materials."
"As long as you know."
Mr. Leng Tie preferred dealing with intelligent people; it was less effort and saved a lot of trouble. "Tell me, then. What is it you want refined?"
"I wish to commission the refining of a consumable Attacking Spiritual Artifact..."
Lin Changheng already had a preliminary idea, which he described simply.
He wasn’t an Artifact Refiner, so he couldn’t be very precise. He could only give a rough description, leaving the specific implementation, design, and refining to the master.
"Oh?"
A flash of surprise crossed Mr. Leng Tie’s face. "I generally understand what you’re describing, Fellow Daoist, but to achieve such an effect, the required Spiritual Materials would be anything but ordinary. Common precious Spiritual Materials would be far from sufficient."
"I am naturally aware of that. Otherwise, I would not have dared to impose on you."
Lin Changheng swiped a hand over his Storage Bag, and a special, sealed container instantly appeared. He opened it and presented it to Mr. Leng Tie.
Seeing the man open the container himself to reveal its contents, Mr. Leng Tie’s eyebrows rose slightly, and he couldn’t help but nod. ’This person is quite thoughtful.’
But when he looked inside the special container, his attention was immediately captured by the chaotic purple lightning leaping within.
CRACKLE! SIZZLE! It jumped about wildly, its power contained within, crackling without end.
"Is this... Thunder Fiend?"
Mr. Leng Tie’s previous composure vanished, his rosy, baby-like face flashing with excitement.
"Correct. Is this sufficient for the refining?"
"Sufficient! More than sufficient! Of course it’s sufficient."
Watching the man’s excited and joyous expression as he tried to touch the lightning, even holding it up to the light for a closer look, Lin Changheng nodded to himself. ’I’ve found the right person.’
This Mr. Leng Tie was famous not only for being a Tier Two Artifact Refining Master, but also for being an Artifact Refiner who specialized in crafting strange items from strange materials.
It had even become his trademark, making him famous.
After a long while, Mr. Leng Tie, still wanting more, carefully sealed the Thunder Fiend away. Only then did he notice that Lin Changheng had been waiting patiently by his side, not once urging him.
His impression of Lin Changheng improved greatly. He immediately took out a brush and paper and began to describe his refining process and initial design concept.
Lin Changheng watched as he sketched a perfectly round, chicken-egg-sized sphere on the paper, annotating it with dense, tiny characters;
while a detailed description and exquisite theories filled his ears, making him marvel inwardly. ’He truly lives up to his name as a Tier Two Refiner.’
Not only were all of his ideas incorporated, but they were also significantly optimized, making the design more rational and its power even greater.
"What do you think, young friend?" Mr. Leng Tie asked with a beaming smile.
"Excellent. Coming to ask for your help, Mr. Leng Tie, was the best decision I could have made. Please proceed with this design."
Lin Changheng did not hold back his praise.
According to the old man, since it was a single-use consumable, there was no need to refine it into a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact. The cost would be too high, and it wouldn’t be worth it.
Refining it into a Tier One Upper Grade consumable Magical Artifact would be sufficient. Its power wouldn’t necessarily be low; if used properly, it could even injure a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Lin Changheng heard his reasoning and naturally agreed.
The main reason was that the price for refining a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact alone exceeded two thousand Spirit Stones. Adding the cost of Spiritual Materials and other things, it would require at least five to six thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones in total.
The number made Lin Changheng’s scalp tingle. The artifacts used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators were truly expensive. Converted to Middle Grade Spirit Stones, however, it was only fifty or sixty, a number comparable to the cost of a Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact.
Even so, the refining fee alone would be six hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
"Come back in a month to pick them up. I should be able to make about three of them."
Two hundred Spirit Stones each meant six hundred for three. Adding in some extra materials, the total came to just over seven hundred.
It was an acceptable price.
Lin Changheng nodded without hesitation.
’Artifact Refiners certainly know how to make money,’ he thought to himself.
In reality, however, Alchemists were even better at it. Right now, Lin Changheng could refine ten Upper Grade Pills in one batch, one of which would be a Masterpiece.
The total value could reach two hundred and ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
And it only took him five or six days.
Among those with Skills of the same tier, he was one of the best.
...
Lin Changheng signed a contract with Mr. Leng Tie, and only after watching Mr. Leng Tie apply a strand of his Magical Power Mark did he pay the two-hundred-Lower-Grade-Spirit-Stone deposit.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he took the contract and departed.
After seeing Lin Changheng out, the boy returned and asked Mr. Leng Tie in confusion, "Grandfather, didn’t you stop refining Upper Grade Spiritual Artifacts a long time ago?"
"Heh heh, that may be so, but this is Thunder Fiend! Your grandfather simply couldn’t refuse..."
"Besides, the strongest in the Xu Family is only at Early Stage Foundation Establishment. Even if they sent him, how many Spirit Stones could they possibly have? They’d be busy trying to refine a suitable Spiritual Artifact for themselves. Why would they commission a single-use one? If I had refused, I would have likely missed the chance to work with this treasure. What a terrible shame that would have been!"
"What’s more, a strong dragon can’t crush a local tyrant. It’s best to give some face to the masters of this marketplace. Building a good relationship will make it easier for us to live here long-term, wouldn’t it?"
Mr. Leng Tie chuckled and educated his grandson in a low voice.
"I understand, Grandfather."
"Mm, a teachable child."
At that moment, Mr. Leng Tie had lost all trace of his sagely, crane-haired, youthful-faced appearance, looking for all the world like a man well-versed in the ways of society.
...
「One month later.」
Lin Changheng returned at the appointed time and received a Jade Box.
Inside were three purple, egg-sized spheres.
They showed no sign of power, nor any trace of lightning. Everything was suppressed within, maintained in a delicate balance.
Lin Changheng could faintly sense a volcano waiting to erupt beneath a calm sea.
The method of use was also extremely simple.
One only needed to infuse it with Magical Power to break the internal balance. When thrown, it would then explode violently.
Unleashing a torrent of Thunder Fiend!
As for its power, Mr. Leng Tie had chuckled and said that the refining was a great success. A single bead, if an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator failed to dodge it, would leave them battered and bruised.
Two of them would surely inflict heavy injuries.
All three at once... and they would die full of regret!
Looking at Mr. Leng Tie’s slightly smug expression, Lin Changheng didn’t argue.
’He didn’t doubt the item’s power, but were Foundation Establishment Cultivators all fools? Would they just stand there and let you throw some unknown object at them?’