Translator: AnubisTL
Without spirit stones, one could barely move in the Heavenly River Market. But with enough, almost anything could be bought here—including information.
After inquiring far and wide, Li Qing finally obtained so details about yesterday’s down-on-his-luck stall owner from a veteran cultivator who had been stationed at the market for decades.
Of course, this information ca at a price.
Li Qing handed two spirit stones to the toothless old cultivator. The man snatched them, rubbed them on his tattered robes, and grinned.
"Heh heh, Little Brother, the person you’re asking about must be the sole surviving scion of the ng Clan, right?"
"His na is ng Fan. He was once a mber of a prominent cultivation family, but their Foundation Establishnt Realm expert perished in a major battle over a decade ago."
"A clan without a Foundation Establishnt Realm cultivator to oversee it faces dire consequences."
"As fate would have it, the ng Clan had an old feud with the Shi Clan of dicine King Ridge. Their family was eventually destroyed, leaving ng Fan as the sole survivor."
"That young man, ng Fan, has been holed up in Heavenly River Market day and night, selling ancient texts and secret techniques from his clan to make a living."
"Naturally, ng Fan couldn’t easily let go of the bitter grudge against those who destroyed his clan. For years, he’s been searching for an artifact refiner to repair his family’s damaged top-grade magical artifact. It’s hardly a secret in the market."
So that’s the story!
After hearing this explanation, many of Li Qing’s questions were finally answered.
No wonder the texts and secret techniques the stallholder had been selling yesterday seed beyond the reach of an ordinary rogue cultivator. There was a hidden backstory after all.
"After all these years, hasn’t the sole survivor of the ng Clan found a single artifact refiner willing to help him?" Li Qing asked casually.
The Toothless Old Man shook his head vigorously. "The Shi Clan of dicine King Ridge has approached every reputable artifact refiner in the market, using various thods to dissuade them from helping him."
"As for the other refiners he’s found over the years, I doubt any of them have the skill to do it."
Li Qing remained silent for a mont before deciding to bury the matter in his heart.
To repair a top-grade magical artifact, one would need at least the ability to refine high-grade magical artifacts. Fortunately, Li Qing didn’t need to concern himself with such matters for the ti being.
He was rely at the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm and had never publicly displayed his Artifact Refinent Technique. The Shi Clan would have no reason to target him.
After so many years, they had likely forgotten about ng Fan entirely.
Next, Li Qing wanted to inquire about spirit wood.
"Old Zhang, I’d like to buy so spirit wood or seeds. Do you know where I can find them in Heavenly River Market?"
The toothless old man chuckled and held up a single finger, hinting at another spirit stone.
With a sigh, Li Qing reluctantly handed over another spirit stone.
The old man’s face lit up instantly as he pocketed the stone. "Spirit wood is indeed rare," he said. "Especially mature specins—most of them are cultivated within the Spiritual Veins of major clans."
"But it’s not entirely extinct. Every three years, Heavenly River Market hosts a grand auction that even Foundation Establishnt cultivators attend."
"The auction at Heavenly River Market has everything, even Foundation Establishnt Pills. You’re bound to find the spirit wood you’re looking for there."
"Otherwise, your only options are to try your luck at the shops of so major clans or the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. The Liu Clan and Shi Clan both cultivate spirit wood in their Clan Territories, and they occasionally sell branches or seeds."
The Heavenly River Market auction?
It must be organized by the Heavenly River Sect. It would be odd for such a prosperous market not to have one.
Li Qing nodded. "Old Zhang, how long until the next auction?"
"I’ll tell you that for free: the last one ended just over six months ago," the toothless old man replied.
With that, Li Qing had no more questions.
His trip to Heavenly River Market had already been quite fruitful. He planned to stay another two or three days before returning to the Liu Clan to continue accumulating spirit stones.
---
Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!
Li Qing couldn’t help but feel a slight shock as he gazed at the grand building before him, its na emblazoned in gilded characters.
In the cultivation world, the nas of shops were closely tied to the power of the forces behind them. This wasn’t like advertising in his previous life, where flashy nas were all the rage. In this world, daring to adopt such an imposing na without sufficient backing was a risky proposition.
"Ten Thousand Treasures rchant Guild... So this is their territory," Li Qing murmured. Even a novice cultivator like himself, barely out of the beginner’s stage, had heard of this guild, a testant to its imnse power.
"Rumor has it that the Ten Thousand Treasures rchant Guild operates throughout the entire Azure Ridge Domain. Even major Immortal Path sects like the Heavenly River Sect wouldn’t dare antagonize them lightly. Truly impressive."
Li Qing sighed inwardly before stepping inside. He wasn’t planning to buy anything specific; this visit was purely to broaden his horizons and gain experience. Of course, if he stumbled upon sothing reasonably priced that he truly desired, he wouldn’t hesitate to make a purchase.
As he entered, he was greeted by a dazzling display of gold and jade splendor. The walls seed to be crafted from pure gold, their reflected light so intense it almost stung his eyes.
At the far end of the hall stood a long crystal table, behind which stood a female cultivator with exquisite features and a graceful figure. On either side, golden staircases led to the second floor, each step appearing to be paved with gold bricks.
Even Li Qing, a Grandmaster of the Martial Dao who had once single-handedly infiltrated an Imperial Palace, couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place in such opulent surroundings. A faint yet formidable aura emanated from the second floor, just beyond his line of sight.
A Foundation Establishnt cultivator!
The Ten Thousand Treasures rchant Guild had stationed a Foundation Establishnt Realm cultivator here to oversee operations—a true testant to their power!
After circling the hall twice, Li Qing finally understood why the guild had deployed such a powerful guardian. Three irregularly shaped crystals, each radiating a unique, multi-hued luster, hung prominently at the top of one wall. They were Crystal Cores from Second-Tier Demonic Beasts—primary ingredients for refining Foundation Establishnt Pills!
Hiss!
Li Qing couldn’t help but gasp. How could such treasures be relegated to the first floor? What wonders might the second floor hold?
Could there be inner cores from Third-Tier Demonic Beasts up there?
Li Qing was beginning to feel overwheld by the sheer power of the Ten Thousand Treasures rchant Guild. He couldn’t bear to imagine what lay beyond.
After wandering alone for a while and browsing the other goods, Li Qing finally managed to calm his nerves. Fortunately, not every item was as precious as a Second-Tier Demonic Beast’s Crystal Core; many were within his financial reach.
It was then that the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion finally sent a female cultivator to attend to him.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist. May I assist you with anything?"
Li Qing was examining several ancient-looking Pill Refining Cauldrons. Maintaining a composed deanor, he nodded. "I’d like to see your Artifact Refining Furnaces."
Pill Refining Cauldrons for alchemy and Artifact Refining Furnaces for artifact refinent were common knowledge in the cultivation world.
Yet, despite his years as a blacksmith and his current status as a Mid Qi Refining Realm cultivator, Li Qing still relied on ordinary forges to slt spiritual materials. Many spiritual materials in the cultivation world required special flas for proper fusion and casting.
Examples of these flas include the widely known Earthfire, the Innate True Fire that Foundation Establishnt Realm cultivators can manipulate, the Demon Fire spewed by fire-attribute demon beasts, and even the mystical flas born from the very fabric of heaven and earth.
These flas share a crucial characteristic: their extre temperatures, which ordinary forges simply cannot withstand.
This necessitates forges of a quality comparable to Magic Artifacts—only such sturdy vessels can endure the scorching heat.
As Li Qing’s strength grew, his Artifact Refinent Technique beca increasingly refined. Consequently, the level of Magic Artifacts he could craft rose, requiring ever-higher-grade forges.
He recalled the forge that had accompanied him from the mortal world to the cultivation realm, now riddled with cracks. If he used it a few more tis, he feared it might explode.
The female cultivator imdiately led Li Qing to the section of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion where Artifact Refining Furnaces were stored.
"This furnace is called the Purple Heart Furnace," she explained. "It was crafted by one of our pavilion’s Refining Grandmasters using Purple Heart Copper refined from the finest ores of the Purple Vein Copper Mine."
Li Qing reached out and touched the forge. Its design was simple and ancient, with faint spirit patterns shimring within the furnace chamber.
"How many spirit stones for this Purple Heart Furnace?" Li Qing asked tentatively.
The tall female cultivator quoted a price that left him speechless.
"Eight hundred and sixty spirit stones. This Purple Heart Furnace isn’t just for refining Magic Artifacts; it’s also a Mid-Grade Magic Tool in its own right, suitable for combat!"
"Furthermore, the furnace can ignite flas using spiritual energy and grants artifact refiners superior control over the fire!"
"What do you think, Fellow Daoist? This price is exceptionally fair!"
So expensive! Li Qing thought, startled. It’s more expensive than many Mid-Grade Magic Tools!
Though he could afford it, he secretly wondered if such a luxurious forge was truly necessary for his needs.
"Ahem, let’s take a look at the other forges," Li Qing said, coughing slightly and feigning financial constraints.
The female cultivator maintained her professional deanor. With a gentle smile, she patiently began introducing the remaining furnaces.
"Mountain Suppressing Furnace: six hundred and twenty spirit stones."
"Li Fire Furnace..."
As expected of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, even their artifact refinent forges ca in such a variety, and none of them were cheap.
Finally, sensing Li Qing’s limited spirit stones, the tall, graceful female cultivator swayed her hips and led him to the last forge.
"This is the Black Furnace," she explained. "It was once used by one of our pavilion’s artifact refiners. It can withstand the burning heat of Innate True Fire and most other flas, but it has no offensive capabilities—it’s just an ordinary artifact refining furnace."
"However, its strength lies in its durability. Though it lacks dao patterns, it can withstand attacks from Mid-Grade Magic Tools."
"As for its material, it’s likely a combination of spirit materials fused together."
"If you choose this one, Fellow Daoist, we can offer a discount. You can take it for 370 spirit stones."
The female cultivator smiled brightly at Li Qing, awaiting his decision.
Li Qing’s gaze remained fixed on the pitch-black forge. He could faintly see a thick layer of dust accumulated inside.
So it’s second-hand! No wonder it’s so cheap!
Li Qing figured the Black Furnace’s lack of special abilities was precisely why it had sat unsold at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion for so many years.
After a mont’s contemplation, Li Qing found himself growing fond of the plain, unremarkable furnace.
"Alright, I’ll take it!" he declared.
As he spoke, Li Qing patted the furnace’s exterior, sending another cloud of dust cascading down.
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [IR] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c270. [ 4/6.6k].
🎁All [2] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [700 ] Chapters and [1.42M ] Words.
User Comments
0 comments from readers