[Artifact Refinement Secret Realm]
In the past, Lu Yang might not have thought much of it.
However, after learning that Ming Feng was a second-generation disciple of the Saint Sect, hearing the name of this so-called [Artifact Refinement Secret Realm] inevitably set his imagination running wild.
The Refining Arts Secret Realm.
Lu Yang looked around. The familiar environment briefly made him think he had entered the [Sea of Bitterness]. In reality, Ming Feng was currently explaining it to him:
"The Artifact Refinement Secret Realm was created by the Dao Lord of the Star Palace, based on the Spiritual Power network formed by the Twenty-Eight Star Charts. With just a simple access-type artifact-formation, a cultivator can enter this secret realm that exists solely in illusion. Refining artifact-formations here won't waste a single shred of actual resources."
"Since you haven't paid for a membership, you are currently in an offline state."
"In this state, you can't communicate with others in the Artifact Refinement Secret Realm. Your privileges are also extremely low, rendering most functions unavailable to you."
As she spoke, Ming Feng entered as well.
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow in surprise. Unlike him, who only had a desolate, solitary island beneath his feet, Ming Feng was accompanied by an entire island nation! It was a super-massive island, easily over a hundred times larger than his.
Various facilities stood in great numbers across the island. Hordes of puppets transported equipment, tested artifact-formations, and maintained the infrastructure—a dizzying sight to behold.
Soon, Ming Feng's silhouette appeared at the edge of her island.
Rumble.
With a loud boom, the island nation behind Ming Feng merged with Lu Yang's solitary island, placing Lu Yang right at the border of her domain.
"Your island represents your level of authority within the Artifact Refinement Secret Realm."
"As the supreme researcher of the mother star, my authority is naturally at the absolute highest tier. For other researchers looking to upgrade their privileges, there are generally only two paths."
"Either pay up. The more money you spend, the higher your authority."
"Or complete artifact-formation projects issued by the mother star. The better your results and the more quotas you fulfill, the higher your authority will be upon settlement."
While explaining, Ming Feng led Lu Yang to the center of the island nation. There stood a massive steel structure, virtually identical to the research institute they were currently standing in out in the real world. The only difference was that everything here was a virtual construct created by the [Artifact Refinement Secret Realm].
"Here we are."
"This is how I normally study artifact-formations. I usually experiment here first. Only after confirming its feasibility do I formally begin refinement in reality."
After Ming Feng's explanation, Lu Yang generally understood.
As expected, the operating principle is very similar to the Refining Arts Secret Realm. The only difference is that one is used to refine Dao Arts and divine abilities, while the other is for refining Artifact.
However, looking at the tiers, the Refining Arts Secret Realm can edit an entire world, and the created objects can even be brought out of the secret realm—everything is completely real. But this Artifact Refinement Secret Realm falls short. Even though you can alter things at will, they are ultimately just illusions.
"Well?"
Seeing Lu Yang deep in thought, Ming Feng proactively suggested, "Since you want to refine a Star Chart, why not try your hand at refining some artifact-formations here first?"
"Here?"
Lu Yang frowned slightly and reached out with his senses. He could still connect with the Patriarch inside the Righteous Dao Banner, and the Patriarch could still see the outside world through his eyes.
However, if they communicated, there was a high chance they might be detected.
Realizing this, Lu Yang's brow furrowed tightly. In that case... I absolutely cannot utilize my 'innate talent' inside this Artifact Refinement Secret Realm!
"...I'll pass."
Lu Yang shook his head. "I have merely dabbled in the Dao of Artifact-Formations, achieving what is expected of my realm. Jumping straight into hands-on refining would be biting off more than I can chew."
"I should study first."
Hearing this, Ming Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Recognizing this before even starting shows your temperament is solid."
"I was planning to wait until you failed your refining attempt to ruthlessly scold you awake... It seems that won't be necessary. But don't worry. With your realm, you'll pick up foundational artifact-formations below the Golden Core stage instantly. As for the profound concepts at the Golden Core stage and above, it shouldn't be too hard for you given your talent."
"Then how should I study?" Lu Yang asked humbly.
Ming Feng immediately pulled up a virtual interface and dragged it in front of Lu Yang. "Here is the basic tutorial for Golden Core artifact-formations. Read it yourself."
Lu Yang instinctively scanned it with the [Immortal Nexus Survival Guide].
After confirming there were no issues, he cupped his hands. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."
Ming Feng remained noncommittal. Watching Lu Yang plunge his divine sense into the tutorial and disappear from his spot, her phoenix eyes finally curved into crescent moons with a smile.
"He's just an Unorthodox native in the end. Still too easy to fool. He just buys whatever I say... Someone, come! Immediately turn on all the Great Dao detection facilities. I'm going to use this guy to sense the location of the Dharma Body Dao within the [Sea of Bitterness]. While we're at it, examine his physical condition to uncover the secret behind his powerful Dharma Body."
Having issued the order, she discreetly glanced at Lu Yang in the real world.
Did he really think she was running a charity, fostering Unorthodox cultivators in her free time? If she were following the old Saint Sect style, she would have beaten this Unorthodox native out the door ages ago!
The real reason she let Lu Yang enter the [Artifact Refinement Secret Realm] was because it recorded the condition of anyone who entered. The moment Lu Yang stepped inside, he essentially leaked all of his personal intelligence.
You should be thanking me. At least I gave you actual benefits.
Compared to my master and my martial siblings, I'm considered quite honest. I'm not very good at deceiving people. Back in the day, Uncle-Master Heaven-Mending even said I didn't act like someone from the Saint Sect...
Meanwhile, Lu Yang was pondering matters in his own mind.
This Senior Sister Ming Feng doesn't really act like a Saint Sect disciple.
While fiddling with the Golden Core artifact-formation tutorial in front of him, Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh.
Her deception is so crude, yet she actually hands over real benefits.
Intentionally using this Artifact Refinement Secret Realm to tempt me... She definitely has designs on my Dharma Body. She wants to verify if what I said earlier was true or false, or maybe even use me to track down the Dharma Body Dao. It's a pity it's completely useless. My cultivation base in this lifetime was washed clean by [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes].
No matter how they investigated, he was clean.
With that in mind, Lu Yang comfortably started reading the Golden Core tutorial in his hands—or more accurately, he let Patriarch Nether Whisper read the Golden Core tutorial.
His main job was to act as the Patriarch's eyes.
"The Dao of Artifact-Formations combines formations and artifact, simultaneously raising the upper limits of both. It is also our crucial tool for analyzing heaven and earth."
Within the tutorial, Lu Yang arrived in a spacious, empty classroom.
At the very front of the classroom, a white-haired old man holding a book stood solemnly behind a podium. Lu Yang sat down below.
"So, what is the most important aspect of the Dao of Artifact-Formations?"
"Many might think it's talent, but that's incorrect... Yes, talent is undeniably important, but there is one thing that can perfectly replace its function."
"And that is cultivation base!"
"We are cultivators. The realm of our cultivation is the foundation of everything. Whether it's formations or spiritual treasure, without a sufficient cultivation base, you can't achieve anything."
"By the same logic, as long as your cultivation base is high enough, learning lower-tier material is incredibly easy. A Foundation Establishment cultivator learning Qi Refining artifact-formations, a Golden Core cultivator learning Foundation Establishment artifact-formations, or a Great Perfected Lord learning Golden Core artifact-formations—they can master it almost instantly. Therefore, no matter what you want to learn, you must first possess a sufficient realm!"
"Then, what is the ultimate goal of the Dao of Artifact-Formations?"
At this point, the old professor on the podium suddenly revealed a visible, fanatical zeal. "Every artifact-formation master should understand the answer to this question."
"The ultimate goal of the Dao of Artifact-Formations is to refine a [Sea of Bitterness] of our very own!"
"The water of infinite concepts, the place where Dao Fruits rise and fall, the interpreter of heaven and earth's rules, the convergence point of all phenomena and all things—the [Sea of Bitterness] is the greatest artifact-formation of them all!"