Father's Teachings

The contents recorded in the Artificing Compendium were actually not very complex, detailing several hundred types of Tier 1 Refining Materials with text and illustrations. In addition, there was some basic knowledge of artifact refining.

Simply put, artifact refining was nothing more than putting various materials into an artificing furnace one after another, burning them into iron juice, and pouring them into corresponding molds. After cooling, a second refinement was performed, using special materials to engrave spirit patterns.

Engraving one to three spirit patterns yielded a low-grade spirit tool, mid-grade spirit tools possessed four to six spirit patterns, and high-grade spirit tools had seven to nine spirit patterns. Spirit tools were weapons commonly used by cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage, and their prices ranged from dozens to hundreds of spirit stones.

Above spirit tools were Dharma artifacts, which were weapons commonly used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Not only were Dharma artifacts expensive, but they also consumed a tremendous amount of magical power. If a cultivator in the Qi Refining Stage used a Dharma artifact to fight enemies, their magical power would be quickly depleted. If they failed to kill the enemy, they would be reduced to fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of the enemy.

Therefore, the overwhelming majority of cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage used spirit tools. Only a tiny fraction of cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage with abundant financial resources and profound magical power would use Dharma artifacts.

One night quickly passed.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was growing bright, Liu Qing'er knocked on Wang Changsheng's door.

Wang Changsheng got up to open the door, and Liu Qing'er put down the breakfast.

A bowl of lotus seed porridge and five pieces of azure lotus cake gave off an enticing fragrance that made one's appetite open up.

Sheng'er, this is your favorite lotus seed porridge and azure lotus cake, and they're still hot! Hurry up and eat them! Liu Qing'er gazed at Wang Changsheng with a face full of smiles, her eyes brimming with doting affection.

"Mother, how many times have I told you? I can just go to the kitchen to eat breakfast myself. You don't need to specially bring it over for me."

Liu Qing'er smiled slightly and said, "The kitchen isn't far from here; it's just a few steps away. Hurry up and eat it! It won't taste good if it gets cold. That's right, go to the study after you finish breakfast. Your father has something to discuss with you. Mother is going to pick spirit mulberry leaves. The growth of the spirit mulberry trees is particularly good this year, so Mother is going to the spirit mulberry garden with your first aunt and the others to pick spirit mulberry leaves, and I estimate I won't be back until evening. There are still some steamed buns on the stove. If you get hungry, heat up the buns and make do with a simple meal. Mother will make you something delicious in the evening."

"Understood, Mother, go do your work!" Wang Changsheng agreed in one breath.

"That's right, remember to memorize the contents of the Artificing Compendium. Mother will test you tonight, and you aren't allowed to slack off, or Mother won't spare you." Liu Qing'er gave a parting instruction and then left.

After finishing breakfast, Wang Changsheng arrived at the study.

Wang Mingyuan was eating a steamed bun while perusing a book, appearing extremely busy.

"Father, I heard Mother say you were looking for me?" Wang Changsheng asked cautiously.

Wang Mingyuan finished his steamed bun, raised his head to look at Wang Changsheng, and said, "I heard seventh brother say that you discovered a spirit vein. There are no outsiders here, so give me the honest truth. When was that streak of a spirit vein discovered?"

"It was accidentally discovered three years ago, but that spirit vein is too small, only two zhang in size, and the spiritual Qi is thin, making it somewhat difficult to even support one person's cultivation. That's why your son didn't report it," Wang Changsheng said softly, feeling somewhat apprehensive in his heart.

"Since it was discovered three years ago, why didn't you report it immediately? As the celestial master of Peaceful County, with a spirit vein inside Peaceful County, you should have reported it immediately. To put it lightly, this is dereliction of duty; to put it heavily, this is embezzlement, caring only for one's own selfish interests while ignoring the lineage's interests." Wang Mingyuan's expression congealed as he rebuked him unceremoniously.

Wang Changsheng's expression grew tense. Not daring to even draw a loud breath, he lowered his head.

Seeing Wang Changsheng in this state, anger welled up inside Wang Mingyuan, and he said in a deep voice, "I am talking to you, Father! What are you lowering your head for? Lift your head up. Do you know you were wrong in this matter?"

"Your son knows he was wrong." Wang Changsheng raised his head and answered honestly, feeling some regret in his heart for confessing to his father.

"Knowing one's errors and being able to reform is the greatest of virtues. In view of your initiative to confess, we'll let it go this time. However, this sort of matter is absolutely not permitted a second time, or else your father will personally enforce the family rules and punish you according to the law. Do you understand?" Wang Mingyuan said sternly.

"Your son understands."

Wang Changsheng didn't doubt his father's words. Based on his understanding of his father, his father really would do such a thing.

Hearing Wang Changsheng's reply, Wang Mingyuan's expression softened as he said, "The country has its laws, and the family has its rules. This time you discovered a Profound Gold Mine, and the lineage will generously reward you. However, the Profound Gold Mine is currently our Wang family's top secret, so you must not leak it to outsiders. There's nothing else for you right now, so go back to Peaceful County and hold down the fort! If anything comes up, report it via carrier pigeon."

"Understood, your son takes his leave." Wang Changsheng acknowledged the command and turned to leave.

"Wait." Wang Mingyuan called out to Wang Changsheng and walked over toward him.

He retrieved a white rice sack from his storage pouch, handed it to Wang Changsheng, and said, "This is two pounds of First Grade High Rank Jade Marrow Spirit Rice, which your father had your first uncle buy back from another market. It is beneficial for your cultivation, so take it with you! Although the spiritual Qi in Peaceful County is thin, do not slack off in your cultivation under any circumstances, understand?"

Taking the bag of rice, a strong warmth coursed through Wang Changsheng's entire body, and he nodded in agreement, "Your son understands. If I discover anything in the future, your son will report it immediately."

"As long as you understand. Everyone has selfish desires, but for our Wang family to stand tall for hundreds of years without falling, besides having Foundation Establishment Cultivators holding down the fort, the unity of the clansmen is also indispensable. If every clansman cared only for their own selfish interests and ignored the lineage's interests, our Wang family would have perished long ago." Wang Mingyuan instructed earnestly.

"Your son will engrave Father's teachings upon his heart," Wang Changsheng said solemnly.

Wang Mingyuan nodded in satisfaction, patted Wang Changsheng's shoulder, and said, "It is best that you understand. Remember, your surname is Wang. You must help your father, not add to his troubles. Be careful on the road. Right, there are still some steamed buns on the stove; take them with you to eat on the way. As for your mother, I will speak with her."

Wang Changsheng gave an acknowledgment and turned to leave.

He packed his dry rations, gathered the new clothes his mother had made, and walked down the mountain.

By this time, the sky was already fully bright, and the clansmen were successively stepping out of their dwellings, beginning to busy themselves.

Seeing Wang Changsheng, the clansmen greeted him one after another, and Wang Changsheng smiled and responded to each of them.

When Wang Changsheng reached the foot of Azure Lotus Mountain, a white cloud descended from the sky and landed right in front of him.

Standing upon the white cloud was a round-faced youth in his early twenties. The round-faced youth looked rather honest and thick-skinned, his face greasy, the fat around his waist piled up in layers, and his eyes narrowed into a pair of thin slits.

"Oh, ninth brother, when did you get back?" The round-faced youth said joyfully upon seeing Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng smiled slightly and said, "I was ordered to rush back last night, and now I'm heading back to Peaceful County. Third brother, don't you have work to do today?"

The round-faced man was named Wang Changxing. He was the son of Wang Changsheng's fourth uncle, ranking third in the "Chang" generation.

Wang Changxing possessed five spiritual roots and was twenty-two this year, two months older than Wang Changge.

His aptitude was not good, and after cultivating for many years, he was still only at the Third Layer of the Qi Refining Stage, having come out to work at an early age.