Inside Forge Peak Residence, beside the artifact refining furnace, Zhong Ningyao was laboriously manipulating the flas to refine a spiritual artifact.
Standing next to her, Yu'an, who was adding peach wood charcoal to the furnace, could not help but steal frequent glances at his senior martial sister.
With only a Qi Induction cultivation base, Zhong Ningyao relied on a Qi Refining technique to control the peach wood spirit fire, made possible only by the two protective spiritual artifacts she wore.
However, the design of these two spiritual artifacts was rather revealing, which deeply stirred Yu'an's youthful heart.
After a long while, sensing that the restrictions were complete, Zhong Ningyao shouted.
"It is done, extinguish the fire!"
Yu'an quickly began stuffing suppressing stones into the furnace to slow down the combustion of the peach wood charcoal.
Under Zhong Ningyao's control, the artifact refining furnace flew open, revealing two glowing red copper beads the size of a fist spinning rapidly inside.
Using a pair of tongs, Zhong Ningyao placed the two copper beads onto a stone platform. After checking them carefully, she said with a trace of relief.
"Not bad. One has six layers, and the other has five layers."
"Two artifacts from a single furnace! Congratulations, Senior Martial Sister, your progress in the artificing path has deepened once again!"
Even though it was Zhong Ningyao who had successfully refined two pieces in one go, Yu'an felt just as thrilled.
Casting a subtle glance at the foolish boy, Zhong Ningyao wiped away her sweat, put on her outer robe, and said.
"What progress? They are rely two low-grade spiritual artifacts. It just so happens there is one for you and one for Yulou. The five-layer one is for Yulou, and the six-layer one is for you. Consider it a reward for your hard work stoking the charcoal."
Yu'an's mind went completely dizzy with infatuation.
What? Of the two low-grade spiritual artifact Purple Copper Beads, Senior Martial Sister wants to give the one with six layers of restrictions? Does she like too?
Seeing Wang Yu'an standing there in a daze, Zhong Ningyao waved her hand in front of his face and instructed suspiciously.
"Why are you staring? Do not tell Yulou that your bead has six layers. I do not want him to think I am partial. Do you understand, Junior Brother Yu'an?"
Staring at his senior martial sister's fair, slender hand, Yu'an snapped out of his daydream and repeatedly promised, "I understand, I understand, Senior Martial Sister! I understand everything you say!"
Taking the Purple Copper Bead handed over by Senior Martial Sister Ningyao, Yu'an walked into the front hall.
Seeing Yulou still slacking off by reading a travelogue, he stepped forward and kicked Yulou's reclining chair, giving him quite a jolt.
Resting the travelogue on his chest, the reclining Yulou glared at Yu'an and asked dissatisfiedly, "What is it now?"
Yu'an proudly pulled out a Purple Copper Bead and shoved it into Yulou's hand.
"Look, a Purple Copper Bead with six layers of restrictions. Senior Martial Sister just refined two in one furnace, so we get one each."
Yulou paused for a mont, instantly figuring out the underlying context.
"Very good. Jiang Baobian takes the lion's share, Master takes a small cut, and in the end, we still get a taste of the soup. Our Wang Clan's Unity Fee was not paid in vain."
Leaning against the counter, Yu'an whispered his complaints to Yulou. "You have no idea. The blueprints Gao Jian brought over were already pitifully sparse, yet Master still managed to scrape a bit of purple copper from each firework spiritual artifact. That was how he saved up these two small pieces for Senior Martial Sister Ningyao to practice with. But if Master's thank-you gift is only this much, would it not be a loss for the Patriarch to have taken him to visit True Person Danri?"
Zhong Ningyao had thought she could use the six-layer restriction Purple Copper Bead to win over Yu'an, whose crush on her had already progressed from secret to obvious.
After all, Yulou was clearly the type who was difficult to control, possessing a deeply calculating mind.
Yu'an was different; he was recognized by everyone in the surrounding villages as an honest boy. However, she failed to understand the Wang Clan's education of its descendants, let alone the deep bond between the two brothers who had grown up and studied together in Clear Stream Market.
Not only did Yu'an give the bead with the higher number of restrictions to Yulou, but he also realized at a single glance that this thank-you gift was far too light.
What kind of good items were two low-grade spiritual artifacts? The Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman on Yu'an's person alone was worth enough to buy ten low-grade spiritual artifacts!
"It will not be a loss. The Patriarch never does business at a loss."
Yulou picked up his travelogue and resud reading.
Suddenly, the voice of a female cultivator echoed across the sky of Clear Stream Market.
"To facilitate our fellow Daoists in exchanging for their desired spiritual artifacts, elixirs, cultivation thods, and secret heritages, the Clear Stream Grand Assembly is hereby convened! The Red Lantern Illumination Sect's rit Hall branch is now open to all rogue cultivators, clans, and sects! Starting today, the branch will be stationed in Clear Stream Market, departing after a period of three months!"
The female cultivator's voice sounded very tender, as if coming from a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl, yet it was infused with imnse magical power, spreading across every corner of Clear Stream Market.
Slightly surprised, Yulou walked out of Forge Peak Residence and looked up at the red flying boat, the Golden Crow Driving Sun, in the sky.
"Bang! Bang!"
The disposable firework spiritual artifacts prepared by Jiang Baobian burst into the sky one after another. Even though it was dayti, the blooming colors were still breathtakingly beautiful.
In the sky, the Golden Crow Driving Sun flying boat held the center position. The Huang Clan's Hundred Treasures Workshop and the Immortal Alliance Emissary's carriage accompanied it on either side, while various flying spiritual tools from other clans, sects, and rchant chambers scattered around the periphery.
As the fireworks erupted among them, a performance costing over ten thousand spirit stones was indeed a magnificent sight.
Watching the splendid scene dissolve, Yu'an cursed under his breath, "That bastard Jiang Baobian!"
Over ten thousand spirit stones! Just like that, forcefully extorted by Jiang Baobian!
Under the brilliant sky, Yulou lowered his head and turned back into Forge Peak Residence.
"Endure. We must endure what ordinary people cannot, so that we can shoulder the responsibilities of the clan and walk a little further on the path of cultivation. High spirits and grand displays belong only to true Golden Core True Persons. Yu'an, do not speak so recklessly regardless of the occasion in the future!"
His elder brother's advice made perfect sense. Yu'an took it to heart, but he still felt a lingering tightness in his chest.
"Bah!"
Spitting in the direction of the Golden Crow Driving Sun to fully vent his frustration, Yu'an followed him back inside Forge Peak Residence.
Just you wait! The day I, Wang Yu'an, achieve immortality will be the day you all die!
Oh, the reckless spirit of youth. Yu'an did not yet understand that even if he were just a Purple Palace cultivator, Jiang Baobian would be nothing more than a dog or a pig to him. Why would he need to wait until immortality to seek vengeance?
In the afternoon, Wang Xianmao led the two young n into the Huang Clan's Hundred Treasures Workshop.
Upon entering, Yulou's first subconscious thought was of a magical hidden alleyway. The narrow walkway was packed with different shops on both sides. Although the crowd was not dense, most were cultivators who had at least reached the Qi Refining stage, making the place feel exceptionally vibrant.
"This Hundred Treasures Workshop is extraordinary. It contains an inner space within its modest exterior, existing as sothing between a spiritual artifact and a magic treasure. You can circulate your cultivation base slightly to feel it. Isn't the spiritual qi here even richer than in our clan grounds?"
Yulou closed his eyes to sense it for a few seconds, saying in surprise, "It is indeed very high."
Wang Xianmao explained with a tinge of envy, "The difference between a Purple Palace family and a Foundation Establishnt family is like an unbridgeable chasm. The Huang Clan possesses several of these Hundred Treasures Workshops."
The Huang Clan was a titan among rchant families in the Wunan Cultivation World, specializing heavily in the accumulation of wealth.
"So, Patriarch, did the Red Lantern Illumination Sect appoint soone from the Huang Clan as the sect master for the very reason I guessed?" Yulou asked in a low voice.
"Hahaha, co, let take you to the Huang Clan's artifact refining rooms. The refining facilities inside the Hundred Treasures Workshop are far superior to those at Forge Peak Residence."
The Patriarch spoke vaguely, evading Yulou's question.
Beside them, Yu'an had been observing the surroundings along the way, and the boy noticed a highly unusual place.
Outside a certain establishnt stood an elaborately carved red gateway featuring three large characters—Baili Pavilion.
Beneath the gateway, a crowd of eager male cultivators was gathered, making the area look incredibly lively.
Pointing at the beautiful gateway, Yu'an asked innocently, "Patriarch, why is it so crowded in front of that shop?"
Wang Xianmao glanced over, his eye twitching. He imdiately slapped Yu'an on the back of his head.
"Stop staring. There are female cultivators inside who practice Charm Arts, specifically looking to drain the yang energy of young lads like you!"
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