The reason Dao Artifacts were difficult to replicate was not merely because their materials were hard to find, though that was also a very important factor. The most fundamental reason was that an Emperor had engraved their own Dao upon it, making it their life-bound Dao Artifact.
Thus, true Dao Artifact pill cauldrons were exceedingly rare. Pseudo Dao Artifacts were more common instead. Many factions secretly refined Pseudo Dao Artifact-grade pill cauldrons, after all, because many supreme-grade medicinal pills could only be successfully refined with supreme-grade pill cauldrons.
Just as Ye Xiwen needed a Dao Artifact-grade pill cauldron to refine the Taiyi Gathering Yuan Pill. Otherwise, it would be utterly impossible for him to succeed.
To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.
Ye Xiwen nodded slightly. Although he had ultimately failed to obtain a Dao Artifact-grade pill cauldron, this would do for now.
"Though this may be somewhat presumptuous, I must remind you, sir, that Pseudo Dao Artifact-grade pill cauldrons are a relatively rare type of Dao Artifact. Their price may nearly rival that of an ordinary Dao Artifact!" Elder Chen carefully glanced at Ye Xiwen as he spoke, choosing his words as cautiously as possible, afraid that one careless remark would anger Ye Xiwen.
This was, to some extent, questioning Ye Xiwen's financial means. If he encountered someone with a bad temper, they might turn hostile on the spot.
Ye Xiwen had no intention of becoming angry. He merely nodded and said, "Mm, I understand. How much?"
"As far as I know, our Heavenly Commerce Alliance does indeed have an unsold Pseudo Dao Artifact pill cauldron. Based on its listed price, it would cost eighty Third Grade Dragon Veins, or one flawed Second Grade Dragon Vein!" Elder Chen said as he looked at Ye Xiwen.