Artificing Compendium

"Big Brother advanced to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer?" Wang Changsheng was somewhat surprised, unable to stop a look of envy from appearing on his face.

Qi Refining had nine levels in total. Among the Wang Family's Chang Generation, all clan members were below the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, while those with poorer aptitude remained at the Second Level of Qi Refining.

Wang Changfeng was the eldest son of Wang Changsheng's First Uncle, Wang Mingzhi. Twenty-five this year, his Fire Spirit Root had a sensitivity of seventy-five. His aptitude was even better than Wang Mingzhong's, making him the foremost among the Wang Family's younger generation. This was also the primary reason Wang Mingzhong had gone out to work. After all, Wang Changfeng was still young and had a greater chance of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Among a Cultivator's Spirit Roots, one would hold the advantage. Sensitivity referred to the strength with which a Cultivator sensed spiritual qi of a particular attribute. The Spirit Root with the highest sensitivity was called the Primary Spirit Root. Generally speaking, Cultivators chose cultivation arts corresponding to the attribute of their Primary Spirit Root. The higher the sensitivity of the Primary Spirit Root, the more spiritual qi of that corresponding attribute they absorbed, and the faster their cultivation progressed. No matter how many types of Spirit Roots a Cultivator possessed, the combined sensitivity of all their Spirit Roots totaled one hundred.

Wang Changsheng's Water Spirit Root had a sensitivity of only sixty. Among the Chang Generation, that was considered fairly good, but compared with Wang Changfeng, it was still worlds apart.

Because of his excellent aptitude, Wang Changfeng did not need to go out and work. He only needed to cultivate at his residence. Even though the Lineage's expenses now exceeded its income, the resources supplied to Wang Changfeng had not only not decreased, but increased instead.

Wang Yaozong was already advanced in years. The Wang Family absolutely had to produce a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Without one to hold the fort, the Wang Family would be like a child carrying gold through a market, drawing countless covetous eyes.

So long as Wang Changfeng advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Wang Family's peace could be secured for two hundred years.

No matter how bitter or difficult things became for the Lineage, Wang Changfeng's cultivation resources could not be reduced. This was the shared understanding of Wang Mingyuan and the Clan Elders.

"Yes! The Heavenly Dao rewards diligence. Sheng'er, although your aptitude cannot compare to Changfeng's, you must work even harder than him. Once your term is over, I'll have your father transfer you back to Azure Lotus Mountain. You have suffered in Peaceful County for four years; it is time for you to return to Azure Lotus Mountain and cultivate. On top of that, you rendered great merit this time by discovering a Profound Gold Mine. Transferring you back to Azure Lotus Mountain would be fully justified. Even your father would not object."

"Mother, as long as I am contributing to the Lineage, it makes no difference where I work. We should not make things difficult for Father."

"What is there to make difficult? Your father is the Family Head and must keep the scales level. When there is hard work, he sends his own son forward; when there is something good, he pushes his own son aside. How can that be? Oh, right, have you read the Artificing Compendium Mother gave you?"

Wang Changsheng felt somewhat guilty and stammered, "I read some of it, but the contents are rather complicated. I couldn't understand them."

Three years ago, when Wang Changsheng left Azure Lotus Mountain, Liu Qing'er had given him an Artificing Compendium and instructed him to memorize its contents thoroughly.

The Artificing Compendium was a book on Artifact Refining. It introduced several hundred types of Tier 1 Refining Materials as well as fundamental Artifact Refining knowledge.

Wang Changsheng had read it for a time at first, but as time passed, he tossed the book into his Storage Pouch and never opened it again.

He already had trouble maintaining his own cultivation. He wished he could split one Spirit Stone into two to spend. How could he have spare Spirit Stones to study Artifact Refining?

At the beginning of the Wang Family's establishment, there had been a First Grade High Rank Artifact Refiner capable of refining more than a dozen First-Grade Spirit Tools. But later, the Lineage grew increasingly impoverished and could no longer produce enough Spirit Stones to train Artifact Refiners.

It was not that Wang Mingyuan had never considered training Artifact Refiners, but the cost was simply too great. Tier 1 Refining Materials were not especially expensive, yet training an Artifact Refiner required hundreds or thousands of refining attempts. If one was unlucky, even after spending several thousand Spirit Stones, an Artifact Refining Apprentice might not necessarily manage to refine a single Low-grade Spirit Tool.

This was also the reality of survival for small cultivation lineages. The four most sought-after professions in the Cultivation World were Talisman Masters, Artifact Refiners, Alchemists, and Formation Masters. It was already quite good if a disciple of a small cultivation lineage understood even one of them. Most small cultivation lineages made their living by selling Spirit Grain and raw materials, barely sustaining the operation of their lineages.

Besides the Wang Family, Changping Prefecture also had the Huang and Chen Families, two small cultivation lineages. The strongest, the Chen Family, operated a Spirit Talisman Hall specializing in Tier 1 Spirit Talismans. Its business was quite good, leaving the Wang and Huang Families green with envy.

Ten years ago, the Huang Family discovered a small Mystic Iron Mine, and its circumstances improved somewhat. However, it still failed to train an Artifact Refiner. As for the specific reason, outsiders did not know.

The Chen, Huang, and Wang Families jointly established a small Market. The Market had a Weapon Shop, but the Spirit Tools it sold were all purchased from larger markets. It earned a little on the price difference. The prices were not high, but the quality was merely average.

All three families had seen the gap in the weapon industry and wanted to swallow this great cake whole. At present, however, the wealthy Chen Family had the greatest chance of training an Artifact Refiner.

The Wang Family had also seen this business opportunity, but unfortunately, it had the heart but lacked the strength. Liu Qing'er, however, had always kept this matter in mind. She had always felt that the Wang Family would sooner or later train its own Artifact Refiner. Thus, ever since Wang Changsheng entered the Lecture Hall and began learning cultivation knowledge, Liu Qing'er had deliberately instilled Artifact Refining knowledge in him, hoping that he could become an Artifact Refiner in the future and receive the Lineage's full support.

Wang Changsheng had difficulty even maintaining his own cultivation. How could he have the inclination or financial means to study the art of Artifact Refining?

Upon hearing Wang Changsheng's answer, Liu Qing'er raised her delicate brows and was about to rebuke him. But when she thought of how her son had spent three years in the mortal world, lacking proper clothing and food, the words at her lips were swallowed back down.

"Over the next few days, carefully read through the Artificing Compendium once. Mother wants you to be able to recite it backward and forward. If there is anything you do not understand, Mother will explain it to you. Do you understand?" Liu Qing'er instructed solemnly.

"I understand, Mother," Wang Changsheng obediently agreed.

Not long after, the meal was ready.

A steaming bowl of noodles, a layer of oil floating atop the broth, two large steamed buns, and a plate of Purple Bamboo Shoot Stir-fried with Meat filled the air with an enticing fragrance.

Wang Changsheng took a light sniff, an intoxicated expression appearing on his face. Smiling, he said, "It smells so good! It has been so long since I last ate Mother's cooking."

"As long as you like it, Mother will cook for you every day. Eat quickly! The noodles won't taste good once they get cold." Hearing her son's praise, Liu Qing'er immediately beamed with joy.

"There is so much food; I can't possibly finish it all. I'm not as good an eater as a Mountain-Pushing Beast. Mother, you should eat too!"

Liu Qing'er shook her head, her eyes full of indulgent affection. "Mother has already eaten. Mother isn't hungry. You eat!"

At Wang Changsheng's insistence, Liu Qing'er brought over a small bowl and scooped some noodles into it. She refused to take any more.

"It's so fragrant! Mother's... cooking is still the best," Wang Changsheng said indistinctly as he ate the noodles.

Watching Wang Changsheng feast heartily, Liu Qing'er's face revealed a trace of happiness.

Wang Changsheng enjoyed this meal greatly, and Liu Qing'er did as well.

After eating and drinking his fill, Wang Changsheng returned to his residence, bathed and changed clothes, put on the garments his mother had made, then took out a blue book. Written across its cover were the four words: "Artificing Compendium."

The Song Family was changed to the Chen Family to distinguish it from the Song Family of Pingyang Prefecture.