Translator: AnubisTL
With spirit stones in one hand and the Black Furnace in the other, Li Qing finally possessed his first true Artifact Refining Furnace after settling the transaction.
Although the furnace's appearance left much to be desired—dark and sooty, as if smeared with coal dust—Li Qing was thoroughly satisfied.
Its primary virtues were its affordability and surprisingly robust defensive capabilities.
The two palm strikes he had delivered to the furnace's body earlier, employing a slight amount of his Vital Energy, had provided tangible feedback through his palm. The resulting vibrations gave him a newfound appreciation for its sturdiness.
"Fellow Daoist, is there anything else you require?" the female cultivator attending to Li Qing asked, her gaze softening as the deal closed, her smile gaining a touch of bewitching charm. "In addition to Magic Artifacts, our pavilion also offers a variety of Artifact Refining Spirit Materials. We even accept commissions to help you procure specific items."
Her figure-hugging qipao accentuated her graceful curves, transforming her into a luscious peach ripe for the picking.
Li Qing's gaze subtly bypassed her alluring red lips as he calmly inquired, "Do you have any spirit wood? Preferably aged between fifty and a hundred years."
The bewitching female cultivator pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Fellow Daoist, our pavilion only has a branch of seven-hundred-year-old Golden Jade Nanmu. It doesn't meet your requirements."
Seven-hundred-year-old Golden Jade Nanmu!
Hearing this, Li Qing's heart stirred once more. The value of such a material must be astronomical.
He knew of this spirit wood from ancient texts on spiritual materials. With a texture resembling both gold and jade, a specimen over five hundred years old could serve as the primary material for top-grade magical artifacts of the Wood or Metal dao.
If it surpassed a thousand years, even True Lords of the Core Formation Realm would covet it. Nurtured with special cultivation methods, it could become the core material for a cultivator's Natal Magic Treasure.
"How many spirit stones would this Golden Jade Nanmu cost?" Li Qing inquired cautiously.
The female cultivator couldn't help but giggle coquettishly, her body swaying with laughter like a flower in full bloom.
"Fellow Daoist, for treasures like this, our pavilion only accepts barter transactions. Though it's just a branch and not the main trunk, its value is equivalent to over half a Foundation Establishment Pill. In the hands of Foundation Establishment cultivators specializing in wood or metal attribute cultivation manuals, it could even be traded for a complete pill."
Hearing her words, Li Qing pursed his lips awkwardly and forced a dry laugh. "I was just asking out of curiosity. Even if I wanted to exchange spirit stones, I don't have that many on hand."
In truth, he had simply been curious. Using such a lavish material to cultivate a first-tier body refinement secret technique would indeed be an excessive waste.
His Precious Wood Body Refinement Manual had three layers. A spirit wood trunk around three hundred years old would be more than sufficient to complete all three layers. Anything older would be a waste.
"Is there anything else you require, Fellow Daoist?" The female cultivator's beautiful eyes shimmered with a captivating allure. Her every smile and glance radiated a bewitching charm that made one long to linger in her presence.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Qing decided that since he was already here, he might as well inquire about some artifact refinement materials. "Hmm, does your esteemed pavilion carry materials such as Spirit-Stabilizing Stones and Azure Water Silkworm Silk?"
These were precisely the materials listed in the Artifact Refinement Diagram for the Water Entangling Net, which Li Qing had obtained!
During his first visit to the Liu Clan's trade fair, Li Qing had stumbled upon a vendor selling Water-Condensing Sand. On a whim, he bought six pounds of the material for a total of one hundred and two spirit stones—enough to refine two Water Entangling Nets.
Li Qing now only needed Azure Water Silkworm Silk and a Spirit-Stabilizing Stone to begin refining his Mid-Grade Magic Tool, the Water Entangling Net!
With the Artifact Refinement Diagram, success was highly probable as long as he meticulously followed the steps.
"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. I'll check for you," the female cultivator in her black silk qipao said with a slight bow, her waist swaying like a water snake as she turned to leave.
A long while later, outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, a tall, slender young man emerged. He patted his storage pouch, a hint of heartache flickering in his eyes.
"Only the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion could get me to splurge like this," Li Qing muttered inwardly. "No other shop, not even one run by the Heavenly River Sect, would have seen me recklessly spend so many spirit stones in one go."
Li Qing quickened his pace as he left the area.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild was the largest and most reputable trading organization in the entire Azure Ridge Domain. It maintained absolute neutrality towards all factions, never divulging customer information.
The guild even employed multiple Core Formation Realm cultivators as honorary consultants, earning it the respect of even the Heavenly River Sect.
The fact that the Heavenly River Sect partnered with the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild for their triennial Heavenly River Market auction—a grand event in the Heavenly River Market—underscored the guild's immense power.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild's unwavering commitment to neutrality, refusing to involve itself in any factional disputes, had earned it the goodwill of all the cultivation sects.
Therefore, Li Qing's substantial purchase of 630 spirit stones at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion—an Artifact Refining Furnace and materials for two Water Entangling Nets—caused no ripples.
With his remaining spirit stones dwindling to less than a thousand, Li Qing returned to his inn, a pang of regret in his heart. He extended his stay by one more day, planning to leave Heavenly River Market after tomorrow and return to the Liu Clan to continue his quiet development.
The next day, instead of wandering through the market stalls in the plaza or searching for spirit wood in other districts, Li Qing headed to the Gathering Wind Pavilion, the largest and most luxurious tavern in Heavenly River Market. Even a single serving of Spirit Wine here cost at least ten spirit stones.
Li Qing's visit wasn't driven by indulgence, but by a desire to gather the latest intelligence from the cultivation world. Like ordinary people, many cultivators enjoyed drinking and discussing current events. The Gathering Wind Pavilion catered precisely to this social niche.
As Li Qing approached the tavern entrance, he immediately detected the clear, refreshing aroma of Spirit Wine. The mere whiff of it lifted his spirits considerably.
Instantly, Li Qing, his appetite for fine wine ignited by the alluring aroma, strode into the Gathering Wind Pavilion and casually settled at a corner table.
"Welcome, esteemed guest! What would you like to drink or eat?" A shop assistant with cultivation at the Early Qi Refining Realm approached with a servile smile.
Sensing the assistant's cultivation level, Li Qing thought to himself, "After all these days in Heavenly River Market, I've finally met someone weaker than me! This is a rare sight indeed!"
He took the menu and raised an eyebrow, surprised by the exotic names of several dishes. Several were made with demon beast meat! In the current cultivation world, demon beasts were incredibly rare. How could this restaurant possibly procure such ingredients? This was no ordinary establishment.
Li Qing had only tasted demon beast meat once before, from the Earth Rock Bear he and Fan Tong had slain together. As he recalled the flavor, he had to admit, it was truly remarkable.
His gaze lingered on the demon beast dishes:
Stewed Black Profound Turtle!
The Black Profound Turtle, a demon beast native to the Boundless Sea in the far western reaches of the Azure Ridge Domain.
And the White-Cut Snow Cloud Bird!
This delicacy was also quite special, a demon bird found only in the snow-capped mountains of the Azure Ridge Domain's southernmost tip.
After scanning the menu, Li Qing noticed that most of the demon beast dishes featured species with communal tendencies, their individual strength relatively weak.
Even so, he only dared to order a single portion of braised Black Profound Turtle for himself.
"Braised Black Profound Turtle, and a pot of Hundred Flowers Spirit Brew!"
Hundred Flowers Spirit Brew!
This spirit wine, crafted from a variety of spiritual flowers, boasted no extraordinary magical properties but was renowned for its exceptional flavor.
Soon, the steaming demon beast dish and a pot of the refreshing Hundred Flowers Spirit Brew arrived.
Li Qing eagerly sampled the gelatinous turtle meat. Its flavor was intensely rich and penetrating, and the texture beyond compare—chewy with a delightful bounce!
Thanks to the Gathering Wind Pavilion's Spirit Chef's meticulous preparation, the braised Black Profound Turtle had reached the pinnacle of savory perfection.
"Delicious! The chef's skill has reached a divine level!"
Immersed in the exquisite meal, Li Qing poured himself another cup of Hundred Flowers Spirit Brew. He took a delicate sip, and a sweet, fragrant wave washed over his palate. Instantly, he was utterly lost in the bliss of fine wine and gourmet food.
After a long while, if not for the boisterous chatter of the other cultivators in the Gathering Wind Pavilion, he might have lingered in his reverie indefinitely.
"Something major has happened! A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was critically injured in Daoist Ling Miao's cave abode. It seems they triggered some kind of Restriction!"
As soon as the words were spoken, every cultivator in the tavern turned to stare at the messenger.
Whoosh!
Feeling the sudden scrutiny, the cultivator shook his head and sighed. "Alas, even a Foundation Establishment Realm expert was gravely wounded. This cave abode must be truly extraordinary!"
Li Qing's ears perked up as he silently listened to the conversation.
The emergence of Daoist Ling Miao's cave abode was likely the most significant event to have occurred in the cultivation world in recent times.
(End of the Chapter)
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