Free Web NovelChapter 145: Chapter 137: Artifact Refining Truth
「One month later.」
「At the foot of Dragon Head Peak.」
Things were different now. The once sparsely populated marketplace was now bustling with people, its liveliness rivaling the Xiao Family’s Marketplace.
It might have even surpassed it.
Sect Disciples set up stalls one after another, selling the spoils they had obtained from exterminating bandits during this period.
Spiritual Medicine, Poisonous Gu, Cultivation Techniques...
Everything one could wish for was available.
The sounds of hawking and peddling were endless.
Even the taverns and teahouses were full of customers.
The miserable looks of the past were gone from the faces of the Bright Void Sect disciples. Each one of them had gleaming eyes and was filled with fighting spirit.
"Did you hear? Elder Su of the Celestial Sword Lineage fought one against three. He was besieged by three Dao Foundation Cultivators from the Evil Dao, but not only did he not lose, he actually killed two of them. Only one managed to escape with his life by relying on a Secret Technique."
"And the Vice Sect Leader! He used Sword Control to single-handedly fight the White Bone Daoist, who’s been famous for centuries, and didn’t lose any ground at all."
"..."
"What a pity!"
"Our Dragon Head Lineage has no Dao Foundation Cultivators. This time, the Celestial Sword and Flying Phoenix lineages have stolen all the glory."
"Don’t say that. We’re all Bright Void Sect disciples. Besides, our Dragon Head Lineage used to be the core."
"Right! Right!"
"SCREECH!"
A streak of white light shot across the sky and landed amidst the crowd.
"What’s that?"
"A Sect message," one person explained.
"It must be an urgent matter for this senior brother. Hmm... I don’t recognize this Inner Sect Brother!"
"His name is Zhu Ju," a person next to him said.
"Don’t be fooled by Senior Brother Zhu’s plain appearance. He’s a cultivation prodigy. He broke through to One Acupoint in his early twenties and has achieved Minor Achievement in Earth Evil True Body."
"I heard his performance in the battle to exterminate the Five Poison Sect was quite brilliant."
"It’s him!"
Zhu Ju’s reputation had gradually begun to spread throughout the Dragon Head Lineage. Hearing this, many people cast curious glances his way.
But by this point, he had already left.
「The great hall.」
Ning Ruxue and Xiao Bufan were also there.
There were also a few other familiar Inner Sect Disciples, none of them too old, all part of a group with outstanding potential.
The group of people waited outside the hall’s entrance.
"Junior Sister."
Zhu Ju, arriving last, asked curiously,
"Why did Senior Sister Pei summon us?"
"I don’t know if it’s good news or bad news." Ning Ruxue shrugged and sighed.
"Senior Brother, do you remember a few months ago when I mentioned a Foundation Establishment Pill was sold at the Xiao Family’s Marketplace?"
"I do." Zhu Ju’s eyes shifted slightly.
"Don’t tell me... they found that Foundation Establishment Pill?" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
"That’s right!" Ning Ruxue nodded.
"It was found. It was in the hands of the Five Poison Sect’s eldest disciple. That man was planning to use the Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, but before he could even take it, he was killed by Elder Feng. The Elixir ended up in our hands."
"That’s a good thing." Zhu Ju understood, but then he quickly realized something. If that were all, there would be no need to summon them.
"Was there a complication?"
"Yes," Ning Ruxue sighed.
"The Sect Leader used the excuse that no one in the Dragon Head Lineage could use the Foundation Establishment Pill right now and gave it to the Celestial Sword Lineage."
?
’Why does that sound so familiar?’
Zhu Ju asked, "Was Elder Feng willing?"
"What does it matter if he wasn’t?" an Inner Sect Disciple sighed.
"Even Senior Sister Pei, who has the most hope of achieving the Dao Foundation, will need ten years to reach Nine Acupoints Perfection. She can’t take the Foundation Establishment Pill within the next ten years."
"An innocent man is blameless, but his treasure is his crime."
"If we kept the Foundation Establishment Pill here, people would be coveting it constantly. It’s better to hand it over to the Sect to deal with. At least we can get some benefits in exchange."
"That’s right!" Xiao Bufan added.
"It’s a shame, but it’s actually a good thing for us. Since the Celestial Sword Lineage got the Foundation Establishment Pill, they’ll give us some compensation."
"Inheritances!"
"We Inner Sect Disciples can choose one inheritance from the Celestial Sword Lineage that is never taught to outsiders."
"Yes." Ning Ruxue’s eyes lit up.
"I heard that many of the inheritances offered this time are secret teachings. Usually, only the Core True Inheritance disciples of the Celestial Sword Lineage have access to them—not even their own Inner Sect Disciples can learn them."
"Hmph!" The fiery-tempered Brother Zhang Yan snorted coldly.
"Our Dragon Head Lineage has plenty of inheritances! We don’t need one or two of theirs, especially since we’re forbidden from passing them on."
"The Qi Brothers with their Innate Dao Body, the Foundation Establishment Pill..."
"They should have all been ours!"
"All the good things are given to the Celestial Sword and Flying Phoenix lineages. When will our Dragon Head Lineage ever be able to stand tall again?"
Everyone fell silent.
"Sigh!"
Xiao Bufan sighed softly.
"Without a Dao Foundation Cultivator to hold down the fort, there are some things we just can’t hold onto. It seems the law of the jungle doesn’t just apply to the Ten Thousand Mountains."
If the Dragon Head Lineage had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, would things have come to this?
"DONG..."
A bell chimed.
Everyone cleared their minds of distracting thoughts and entered the great hall in an orderly fashion.
"Senior Sister!"
"Greetings, Senior Sister Pei!"
"..."
"Mm." Pei Jingque stood at the head of the hall with a cold expression, her gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"You should all be aware of the situation. The Cultivation Techniques offered by the Celestial Sword Lineage this time are quite extraordinary. You should choose carefully."
"Senior Sister," Zhang Yan stepped forward.
"Can’t we just not give them the Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Brother Qian has already reached Nine Acupoints Perfection and is waiting to use a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through. This is the Sect’s decision." Pei Jingque softened her voice.
"There’s no need to be angry."
"The Sect’s gains have been quite substantial these past few days. It might not be impossible to gather the materials to refine another Foundation Establishment Pill."
"Besides, the Celestial Sword Lineage has promised that when I reach Nine Acupoints Perfection, they will definitely find a way to return a Foundation Establishment Pill."
’Find a way?’
’That means they might not be able to deliver.’
Although everyone was inwardly indignant, since Pei Jingque herself hadn’t expressed any dissatisfaction, they couldn’t say anything either.
"SWOOSH!"
A screen of light appeared.
Dozens of Cultivation Techniques appeared before their eyes.
The Celestial Sword Lineage didn’t offer many Methods this time, but just as Pei Jingque had said, every single one was extraordinary.
Especially the Sword Formulas.
The Bright Void Sect originated from the number one Immortal Sect in Dazhou, the Jade Void Sect.
The Celestial Sword Lineage was also of the orthodox Jade Void lineage, so it was no exaggeration to say their Sword Formulas were the best in Dazhou.
Cloud Mist Sword Technique!
Red Talisman Nine Revolutions Sword Technique!
...
Each Cultivation Technique had a detailed description below it.
’In the Otherworld, Sword Control primarily uses the Divine Soul. The Divine Soul controls the direction while Magical Power provides the propulsion. Though weaker, it’s much more agile.’
’It’s different here.’
’The Main World’s Sword Control Method primarily uses True Qi. Even changing direction is done by forcing it with True Qi’s Barbaric Power, with the Divine Soul only serving as an aid. It’s powerful but lacks agility.’
’My Five Elements Sword Technique has the advantages of both worlds and still has a lot of untapped potential. There’s no need to find another Sword Control Method. It would be time-consuming and laborious, and it might not even be more powerful.’
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Zhu Ju’s gaze swept past the Sword Control Methods and moved toward the Methods listed after them.
Lightweight Skill!
Forbidden Technique!
...
Artifact Refining Method!
Hm?
Zhu Ju’s eyes twitched as his gaze fell upon the ’Artifact Refining Truth’.
The Celestial Sword Lineage focused on swords, so it was only natural for them to have Sword Refining Methods. It was perfectly normal to have such a Method as an inheritance.
However, the ’Artifact Refining Truth’ wasn’t limited to refining Flying Swords; it could also be used to refine other Magical Artifacts, and even Magical Treasures.
’Magical Treasures?’
Zhu Ju’s heart stirred.
As far as he knew, Magical Treasures were an advanced form of Magical Artifacts. They were extremely rare and hard to come by; even some Dao Foundation Cultivators didn’t necessarily possess one. Yet the Artifact Refining Truth could actually create them.
Truly worthy of being a top-tier inheritance from the Celestial Sword Lineage!
Swords, beads, mirrors, banners...
All sorts of types were included.
At the same time, it also listed several rather special Magical Artifacts.
"The Soul-Shocking Bell!"
As he stared at one of the Magical Artifacts, Zhu Ju’s pupils contracted slightly. Then, with a flick of his finger, he selected that method.
*
*
*
For this transmission of techniques, the Celestial Sword Lineage had copied the Cultivation Techniques onto a Jade Scroll. Only the person who performed a blood-binding ritual could view the Methods within.
Zhu Ju returned to his courtyard holding the Jade Scroll. He sent his Divine Thought into it, eagerly searching for the refining method for the Soul-Shocking Bell.
The Soul-Shocking Bell was a special Magical Artifact that targeted the Divine Soul.
Although it wasn’t the Three Professions Purification Bell, it should similarly help enhance the effects of the Celestial Dragon Eight Sounds.
If it could.
Then its importance to Zhu Ju was self-evident.
"Spirit Jade Bell Embryo, Purifying Heart Dew, Soul-Suppressing Runes..."
"The other items are rare, but not hard to obtain if I spend some Spirit Stones. But this Spirit Jade Bell Embryo..."
Zhu Ju’s brows knitted together tightly.
"This seems to be something used by Dao Foundation Cultivators."
Items used by Dao Foundation Cultivators were not only expensive but also extremely scarce. Ordinary Innate Realm cultivators were not even qualified to come into contact with them.
Let alone a One Acupoint Innate cultivator like him!
Shaking his head, Zhu Ju shifted his gaze downward, landing on the refining methods for various Flying Swords and Flying Sabers.
Besides the Soul-Shocking Bell, there was another item he needed to refine.
The Five-Pointed Flying Saber!
This set of Magical Artifacts had lost most of its Spirituality. Nurturing it back to its original state would take a significant amount of time; it would be better to just re-refine it directly.
After being re-refined, its power could be even greater.
......
「The next day.」
「The marketplace at the foot of the mountain.」
"Junior Sister Ning."
Zhu Ju looked at Ning Ruxue, who was walking beside him, and asked curiously,
"You just broke through not long ago. Aren’t you going to continue your seclusion to stabilize your Cultivation?"
"Blindly training isn’t a good method." Ning Ruxue shook her head, glanced at Zhu Ju, and after a pause, said,
"Maybe it’s suitable for you, Senior Brother, but it’s definitely not for me."
"Oh, right!"
"The Sect is planning to build a Marketplace for our Bright Void Sect near Feifeng Mountain, modeled after the Xiao Family’s Marketplace. Have you heard about this, Senior Brother?"
"I’ve heard a little about it," Zhu Ju nodded.
"I’m planning to buy a shop in the Marketplace." Ning Ruxue bit her lip.
"It’s sure to make a fortune!"
’Flipping property?’
’Going into business?’
’Theoretically, though, the idea could work.’
’With the reputation the Bright Void Sect has just built, if they established a Marketplace, it would surely attract many cultivators.’
’Even if it only relied on Sect Disciples, with proper management, it should be able to sustain its business operations.’
"Do you have enough Spirit Stones, Junior Sister?"
"I have some savings, but not a lot," Ning Ruxue shook her head.
"When the time comes, could you lend me some, Senior Brother?"
"We’ll see when the time comes," Zhu Ju said noncommittally, then asked,
"Where’s that shop you mentioned that sells Refining Materials?"
"We’re here."
Ning Ruxue pointed forward.
"This is the place."
Treasure Pavilion!
"The Xiao Family’s Treasure Pavilion." Zhu Ju was taken aback.
"They’ve even opened a branch here?"
"The Xiao Family are business people. They go wherever there’s money to be made," Ning Ruxue said with a smile.
"The Sect has reaped great rewards from wiping out numerous Evil Dao practitioners recently. Every last one of the Disciples is rich."
"How could the Treasure Pavilion miss such an opportunity?"
"True enough," Zhu Ju agreed. As he stepped into the Treasure Pavilion, a familiar face greeted him warmly.
"Fellow Daoist Zhu, I’ve heard so much about you."
"Elder Mo."
Zhu Ju cupped his hands in greeting.
This time, he hadn’t hidden his appearance. After sitting down, he got straight to the point.
"I want five taels of Star Meteorite Iron."
"Star Meteorite Iron?" Elder Mo’s expression flickered.
"Done!"
"The market price for Star Meteorite Iron is forty Spirit Stones per tael. This old man can give you a discount, Fellow Daoist Zhu."
"One hundred and eighty Spirit Stones for five taels."
He paused for a moment, then continued,
"This item needs to be brought over from the warehouse. Fellow Daoist will have to wait a few days."
The corner of Zhu Ju’s mouth twitched, feeling the painful sting of the expense once more.
’Nothing ventured, nothing gained!’
Gritting his teeth, he nodded heavily.
"One hundred and eighty Spirit Stones is no problem. When can I get the Star Meteorite Iron?"
"Three days at the earliest, no more than seven days at the latest," Elder Mo said with a smile.
"I definitely won’t keep you waiting long, Fellow Daoist."
