Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Xunuo began to contemplate the acquisition of magical artifacts again, particularly regarding Defensive Artifacts.
In fact, Xunuo's Attacking Artifacts were also lacking. The two sharpest and most powerful Flying Swords had been destroyed. Although Xunuo still possessed a Water Attribute Flying Sword, it was not compatible with Xunuo's Cultivation Method and thus lacked the power generated by the Gold and Fire Attribute Flying Swords. It was far inferior to the Heavenly Shadow Spike, which unleashed five strikes simultaneously.
Xunuo then recalled the materials obtained from the Ironclad Mountain Beast. The materials from this beast were top-notch for crafting armor or shields. However, there was a critical flaw: they provided poor defense against Thunder Law. To refine them into a Defensive Artifact, special materials that offered protection against Thunder Law would need to be added. Such materials were extremely rare. Xunuo decided to refine the remaining medicinal power within and set out on a journey to seek them.
In the following days, Xunuo focused on mastering the Vine Binding Shield Technique and Dan Jue. Refining the residual medicinal power was a lengthy process that occurred naturally during the practice of spells.
Thus, Xunuo entered seclusion for three months. During this time, two significant events took place in Spirit Lake. One was Wang Lizun advancing to Foundation Stage Eleven Layers, and the other was Xiang Youhe reaching Foundation Stage Ten Layers. This completely altered the power dynamics among the cultivators surrounding Spirit Lake, shifting from a tripartite balance to a dominant single force.
Once Wang Lizun stabilized his realm, his first action was to invite Xiang Youhe over to visit Xunuo. Wang Lizun had long harbored resentment over Xunuo monopolizing the Ironclad Mountain Beast's refining materials. Previously, being at the same Tenth Layer had made it difficult for him to assert dominance, especially since Huang Lunxiong and Xiang Youhe had sided with Xunuo at that time.
Although Xunuo made some concessions, they did not benefit Wang Lizun at all. Under pressure from others, Wang Lizun had to endure and step back. Now, accompanied by Xiang Youhe, he aimed to leverage their combined strength to pressure Xunuo into making concessions and handing over some materials.
At present, only Xunuo and Xiang Youhe remained as Tenth Layer Cultivators around Spirit Lake; Huang Lunxiong had been missing for over a year. Wang Lizun believed that coming together with Xiang Youhe would be enough to force Xunuo to yield. However, he did not intend to completely sever ties.
Although Xunuo's magical power realm might not match his own, his spells were profound. Wang Lizun did not have complete confidence in overpowering his opponent. If he inadvertently frightened Xunuo away and then revealed this Spirit Land in desperation, it would truly be a loss for him. Therefore, Wang Lizun and Xiang Youhe's visit did not start with demands but rather an exchange of cultivation insights.
After demonstrating his profound magical abilities as an Eleventh Layer Grandmaster, Wang Lizun casually suggested that Xunuo should part with some of the Ironclad Mountain Beast's refining materials.
Xunuo was preparing to use these materials to craft a Defensive Artifact and certainly would not give them away. He declined but feared that Wang Lizun might persist without end. With a faint smile, he said, "Friend Wang is also preparing to refine artifacts and urgently needs refining materials; I understand this deeply. However, I have a companion who is quite impatient; if you can persuade him, I will naturally comply with your request."
Wang Lizun turned around to look at the empty cave and called out loudly, "Please let Lu Daoyou's companion come out for a meeting."
Xunuo tapped his storage bag. With a swish, a three-foot-long sword appeared above his head—its pale blue hue resembling water and nearly transparent.
Wang Lizun immediately broke into a cold sweat and nearly fled in panic, cursing inwardly: This is too damn persuasive.
For Xiang Youhe, observing a Flying Sword Artifact up close was a first. Accompanying Wang Lizun without any threatening words meant he felt no pressure.
As he examined the Flying Sword closely, he exclaimed in admiration: "Lu Daoyou's Flying Sword is undoubtedly top quality. The water essence is abundant and unmatched; it feels like facing a deep lake abyss. Unfortunately, it does not match Lu Daoyou's Spiritual Root and cannot unleash its full power. Otherwise, at this distance, I would be under immense water pressure that would make it difficult even to mobilize my magical power."
Xunuo had possessed this Flying Sword for some time but had never used it in battle; he knew little about it. Aware that Xiang Youhe was a Water Spirit Root Practitioner, he realized that Xiang Youhe's understanding of the sword surpassed his own. Eagerly, Xunuo sought Xiang Youhe's guidance on it.
Xiang Youhe shared everything he knew in detail. Although the Flying Sword Artifact was considered a low-level magical tool, this particular Flying Sword was exceptional in both materials and crafting techniques, making it rare and beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Loose Cultivator. Among low-level magical tools, it could be regarded as a top-tier item.
Xunuo had attempted to activate this artifact before but did not feel any extraordinary power from the sword. He thought that perhaps this was due to his Spiritual Root being incompatible with it, even somewhat conflicting, which suppressed the artifact's power.
Wang Lizun observed Xunuo and Xiang Youhe chatting comfortably, feeling as if he were invisible. This realization eased his mind. Wang Lizun's strongest means were merely a few Intermediate Talismans. In front of the Flying Sword, he had little leverage; he knew that while he lacked the capital to turn hostile, the other party did not.
Seeing that Xunuo did not bring up the matter again, Wang Lizun understood that he needed to seize this opportunity to turn hostility into friendship. With a sheepish smile, he said, "Since Lu Daoyou cannot fully utilize this sword's power, why not exchange it for a more suitable magical tool?"
Xunuo turned to Wang Lizun with suspicion and asked, "Magical tools are already hard to come by; even if it's not suitable for me, where would I find someone to exchange with?"
Wang Lizun replied with a smile, "While magical tools are rare here, there is a large magical tool trading Market further north in Youzhou. It’s convenient for both trading and exchanging. Moreover, there are several high-level Refiners at this Market. However, their refining fees are exorbitant and must be settled with Mid-Grade Spirit Stones—something we Loose Cultivators cannot afford."
Xunuo's eyes flickered as he revealed an object from his palm. "Is this what you mean?"
Wang Lizun took a glance and used his Divine Sense to inspect it before saying, "Indeed, but this Mid-Grade Spirit Stone has lost a significant amount of spiritual energy and is no longer suitable for trading."
Xunuo nodded slightly. This Mid-Grade Spirit Stone was the one that allowed him to quickly replenish his mana. He had only known it was rich in spiritual energy; today he learned that it was called a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.
Seeing that Wang Lizun seemed knowledgeable about this topic, Xunuo continued to ask questions. He learned that spirit stones were divided into three grades: low, medium, and high. The ones Xunuo usually encountered were Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with distinctions among middle and upper grades.
The spiritual energy contained in a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone far exceeded that of a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, with prices differing by hundreds of times. In other words, one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. However, this did not mean that the spiritual energy within one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone was a hundred times greater than that of a Low-Grade Spirit Stone; rather, it was the purity of the spiritual energy in the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone that surpassed that of the Low-Grade Spirit Stone significantly. It could almost be exchanged for mana without needing refinement—that was the true value of the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.
Similarly, High-Grade Spirit Stones were valued at a hundred times more than Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. However, High-Grade Spirit Stones belonged exclusively to Cultivation Sects and were rarely seen even among Cultivation Families.
In the Yohuan Realm, finding a high-level Refiner to craft a magical tool required at least ten or more Mid-Grade Spirit Stones; special requests would incur even higher fees.
However, exchanging magical tools was much simpler. Cultivators could privately exchange among themselves or trade with merchants within the Market. This depended on the levels of the magical tools being exchanged and required specific negotiations.
Nevertheless, very few Loose Cultivators purchased finished magical tools from Shops because the prices were prohibitively high—so high that even selling a kidney wouldn't suffice. Thus, collecting Refining Materials and hiring Refiners became the only way for Loose Cultivators to obtain magical tools.
Yet Xunuo thought to himself: The refining costs of over ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones would deter ninety-nine percent of Loose Cultivators.
Finally, Wang Lizun awkwardly mentioned something that made Xunuo feel quite disheartened: within Youzhou's vicinity around the magical tool trading Market, there were more robbers targeting Loose Cultivators than there were Loose Cultivators heading to refine tools.
Xunuo let out a bitter laugh at Wang Lizun's well-intentioned warning but remained speechless. He had no intention of suppressing him; he simply wanted to scare him off so that he wouldn't harbor any ill thoughts.
Xunuo then inquired about another matter: how to erase the Blood Sacrifice Mark on the artifact. As soon as Xunuo spoke, Wang Lizun and Xiang Youhe exchanged glances, both thinking simultaneously: We've encountered a tough character.
Xunuo's courage to ask this question stemmed from the belief that they were all in the same boat, bound by mutual interests, and it was unlikely anyone would betray the group for minor gains.
Wang Lizun cleared his throat and spoke with a more respectful tone, "Lu Daoyou, it is well known that among cultivators of the same level, there has never been a precedent for forcibly erasing another's Blood Sacrifice Mark. It is said that there exists a Super Cultivation Sect that can gradually weaken the Blood Sacrifice Mark left on an artifact within an independent space created by their sect until it is completely erased. However, if one possesses such power, there would be no need for such time-consuming methods; they could simply erase it forcefully. This method is not something we Loose Cultivators can emulate."
Upon hearing this, Xunuo suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing he had overlooked this crucial point.
The two men observed Xunuo's reaction, thinking he was frustrated by his inability to remove the Blood Sacrifice Mark from his artifact. They remained silent, wary of saying anything that might provoke this Killing God. Little did they know that Xunuo was actually pleased.
After chatting for a while longer, Xunuo politely issued a dismissal, stating that he was a practitioner focused on his cultivation and should not be disturbed unless there was something important.
Wang Lizun felt as if he had received a pardon and hurriedly took his leave, fearing Xunuo might say something else.
Once outside Xunuo's cave, the two made their way directly to Lake Heart Island without exchanging a word. It wasn't until they reached the island that they let out a sigh of relief. Both Wang Lizun and Long Robe were drenched in cold sweat.
They murmured to each other, convinced that Xunuo must be an Evil Cultivator hiding from enemies. The slight display of power they had witnessed was beyond what they could handle. Fortunately, from Xunuo's tone, it seemed he had no intention of silencing them or claiming this place for himself. They decided to keep this secret and avoid disturbing him further to prevent any displeasure.
Once the two left, Xunuo took out the Boundary Stone and instantly entered the Boundary Space.
Comment 0 Comment Count