Two Years

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Wang Changsheng and the other four had studied artifact refining for several months; it was time to see the results.

On this day, several Wang Family Clan Elders led by Wang Yaozong came to the Refining Chamber to watch Wang Changsheng and the other four refine artifacts. The two most outstanding would receive the lineage's full support.

Each person received ten sets of Refining Materials to forge Azure Moon Sabers and Azure Cloud Shields. The quantity and quality of the finished products would determine the selection.

Wang Mingmei was the first to begin refining. Her artifact-refining skills had always been the best among the five.

From ten sets of materials, she produced five finished artifacts: three Azure Moon Sabers and two Azure Cloud Shields. Four were of excellent quality, while one was flawed.

Wang Mingdong performed somewhat worse. He refined only three finished artifacts: two Azure Moon Sabers and one Azure Cloud Shield, with one of them being of excellent quality.

Wang Mingcan had previously been an artifact-refining apprentice, responsible for extracting ores and making talisman paper. He had extensive experience in artifact refining.

From ten sets of materials, he produced five finished artifacts: two Azure Moon Sabers and three Azure Cloud Shields, three of which were of excellent quality.

Wang Changhuan refined only three finished artifacts: two Azure Moon Sabers and one Azure Cloud Shield, with one being of excellent quality.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wang Changsheng began refining.

Preheating, adding the materials, extinguishing the fire, shaping, engraving Spirit Patterns—the entire process flowed like drifting clouds and running water.

He had practiced many times before and was quite experienced. Perhaps because Wang Mingmei and the other three had performed so well, Wang Changsheng became nervous and made mistakes in three attempts.

From ten sets of materials, he produced five finished artifacts: two Azure Moon Sabers and three Azure Cloud Shields, two of which were of excellent quality.

The result was obvious. Wang Changsheng had not been selected, while Wang Mingmei and Wang Mingcan were successfully chosen to become Artifact Refiners the lineage would focus on cultivating.

Wang Yaozong's gaze swept over Wang Mingmei and the other four before he said with a smile, "You have all worked hard. It is clear that you studied earnestly. Fifth Brother and Eleventh Brother performed the best. The lineage will spend considerable resources cultivating you two. I hope you continue to work hard."

"Seventh Uncle, Fifth Sister and Eleventh Brother will be in your care from today onward. Tell me whatever Refining Materials you need, and I'll send someone to purchase them."

Wang Mingyuan made this solemn promise to Wang Yaoxi.

Wang Yaoxi nodded and said, "Fifth Brother and Eleventh Brother both performed well, but Changsheng did well too. He is only one excellent-quality finished artifact behind Eleventh Brother. His artifact-refining skill has already reached the level of a First-Grade Lower-Rank Artifact Refiner. It would be such a pity to give up on him like this."

Wang Mingyuan revealed a troubled expression and said, "But the clan does not have the financial means to cultivate three Artifact Refiners. There are over a hundred people in our lineage, and our yearly expenses are no small matter. Supporting just two Artifact Refiners is already a struggle. We truly cannot cultivate three."

Wang Mingyuan also felt quite helpless. To speak from his heart, he hoped Wang Changsheng could become an Artifact Refiner. One did not know the price of firewood and rice until one managed a household; over a hundred people in the lineage needed food and drink, and their annual expenses were substantial. They truly lacked the means to support three Artifact Refiners at once.

Wang Yaozong pondered for a moment before saying, "Mingyuan and Seventh Brother both have valid points. Changsheng discovered the Profound Gold Mine and rendered such great merit, so he must be properly rewarded. How about this? Let him tend the newly reclaimed three mu of Tier 1 Spirit Fields. Give him an additional five jin of First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain each month. Once the lineage gets through its difficulties and has sufficient Spirit Stones, Changsheng can be cultivated as the third Artifact Refiner."

A jin of First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain sold for one or two Spirit Stones on the market. Five jin a month meant over a hundred Spirit Stones a year, no trifling sum.

If that truly happened, Wang Changsheng's cultivation speed would increase considerably.

"You have rendered great merit to the lineage, and this is what you deserve. However, do not be too conspicuous. The Profound Gold Mine is a secret of our clan and must not be leaked."

Wang Yaozong solemnly warned him.

Wang Changsheng repeatedly agreed.

He had worked hard to learn artifact refining, only to fail the selection. Wang Changsheng felt terrible and had no appetite for dinner.

Several knocks sounded at the door. Wang Mingyuan's voice suddenly rang out: "Sheng'er, open the door. Father has something to tell you."

Wang Changsheng opened the door and invited Wang Mingyuan inside.

He lowered his head without saying a word, looking dejected.

Wang Mingyuan sighed and comforted him, "Don't take it so hard. Your Fifth Aunt and Eleventh Uncle learned artifact refining in their early years. They paid out of their own pockets to study it. Artifact refining is our Wang Family's ancestral craft, so naturally they did not want to let it be lost. But the lineage's finances were tight, and we failed to cultivate a Tier 1 Artifact Refiner. If you had not discovered a Profound Gold Mine, the lineage would not have had enough Spirit Stones to cultivate even a Tier 1 Artifact Refiner."

Even after hearing this, Wang Changsheng still felt miserable. "No matter what, I wasn't selected. How many Spirit Stones can tending Spirit Fields earn in a year? It is far less profitable than artifact refining."

Becoming an Artifact Refiner cultivated by the lineage would also grant him more Cultivation Resources, which would benefit his future cultivation.

Wang Mingyuan took out fifty Spirit Stones and handed them to Wang Changsheng. "These are the Spirit Stones Father has saved up. Use them to buy materials and study artifact refining on your own. Your artifact-refining skill is already close to that of a First-Grade Lower-Rank Artifact Refiner. With more practice, you will certainly become one."

Warmth rose in Wang Changsheng's heart. Although Wang Mingyuan was the Family Head, his yearly stipend was not much. During Wang Changsheng's years stationed in Peaceful County, Wang Mingyuan had always bought Spirit Grain for him to consume, only sending it to him in Liu Qing'er's name.

"You have spent several years in Peaceful County, so your temperament should have grown steadier. So what if you were not selected? Cultivate diligently, save some Spirit Stones, and learn artifact refining. Once you master a skill, the road ahead will be easier to walk."

Wang Mingyuan patted Wang Changsheng's shoulder and encouraged him.

"Thank you, Father. Your son knows what to do."

Wang Changsheng nodded and said seriously.

"That's good. I still have matters to attend to, so go eat quickly."

Wang Changsheng agreed and personally saw Wang Mingyuan out. After Wang Mingyuan's counsel, he felt much better and had formed a clear plan for the future.

The newly reclaimed three mu of Tier 1 Spirit Fields were located halfway up Azure Lotus Mountain, where First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain was planted.

Wang Changsheng's task was simple. Every two days, he had to cast the Rainfall Art to water the three mu of Spirit Grain. He could use the rest of his time for cultivation.

The three mu of Spirit Fields had been built atop a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Vein, where spiritual energy was abundant.

Spring went and autumn came, and two years swiftly passed.

The three mu of Spirit Fields were a sea of gold. Every stalk of Spirit Grain hung heavy with plump rice kernels, and the air was thick with the fragrance of rice.

At dawn, the morning sun rose.

Inside a crude stone hut beside the Spirit Fields, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on a stone bed with his eyes closed. A great amount of Blue Light swirled around him.

After a while, the Blue Light streamed into his body. He opened his eyes, and a flash of brilliance shot from them.

He exhaled a breath of turbid air, his face filled with delight.

Five jin of First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain each month, two Spirit Stones for tending the Spirit Fields, and cultivation atop a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Vein.

In two years, he had successfully advanced to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

With the Profound Gold Mine, the Wang Family's days had become much easier. However, they publicly claimed that the Quarry was a Spirit Vein used to grow Spirit Grain.

To make this story convincing, the Spirit Tools refined by Wang Mingmei and Wang Mingcan were not sold in Ning Province, but taken to the City of Immortal Fate instead. In addition, they used Mystic Gold Ore to purchase large quantities of First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain and placed it in the Wang Family's shops for sale.

Because they purchased First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain in large quantities, they received discounted prices. Selling it on afterward also earned them a sum of Spirit Stones.

Outsiders did not know the Quarry's true situation. Seeing that the Wang Family had large quantities of First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain for sale, they naturally believed the Quarry truly was a Spirit Vein.

It was worth mentioning that the Song Family had replaced its Family Head with Song Zixian. Whenever Wang Mingyuan's Birthday Celebration came around, Song Zixian would send someone with congratulatory gifts.

Wang Changsheng also attended Zhao Yuhui's Birthday Celebration. In those two years, Zhao Ningxiang advanced another step and entered the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

At eighteen years old and already at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, Zhao Ningxiang's aptitude left many of her peers ashamed.

For some unknown reason, Zhao Ningxiang never again mentioned joining an Immortal Cultivation Sect to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng's Third Brother, Wang Changxing, had poor aptitude. At twenty-four, he was already considered old. Under Fourth Uncle Wang Mingliang's arrangements, Wang Changxing married Liu HuaiRen's youngest daughter from Pingyang Prefecture.

With the Wang and Liu Families joined by marriage, their relationship became even more solid. If the Song Family wanted to deal with the Wang Family again, the Liu Family would be the first to refuse.

After marrying, Wang Changxing became more mature. In the second year of his marriage, his wife Liu Leyun gave birth to a big, chubby son, delighting him beyond measure.

After having a son, Wang Changxing abandoned his habit of drinking and feasting extravagantly. He saved the Cultivation Resources the lineage distributed to him each month, intending to leave them for his son.

A newborn child's Spirit Root could not be determined at all. To test for a Spirit Root, one had to be at least five years old.

Wang Changxing's aptitude destined him not to travel far upon the immortal path. He desperately hoped his son's aptitude would surpass his own and let him walk farther down the road of cultivation. For this reason, he began saving Cultivation Resources for his son.

A transitional chapter, so I will not ramble. The protagonist is preparing to head out. I have something to do today and probably cannot update twice. Including today's owed update, I owe ten in total. I will begin repaying the debt next month.