Qi Xiuyuan led Jiang Hao into the Taoist temple. They immediately saw a middle-aged Daoist, who smiled and greeted Qi Xiuyuan upon seeing him. "Xiuyuan, what brings you here? Did your magic sword break and need repairs, or have you gathered good materials and want to trade for a better one?"
Qi Xiuyuan smiled and pointed at Jiang Hao as he introduced him. "This is my friend Jiang Hao. Master instructed me to show him around. He is very interested in seeing how magic artifacts are refined. Where is Uncle Kaiyang?"
The middle-aged Daoist looked at Jiang Hao and nodded with a smile in greeting. "Master is refining artifacts inside. Go on in."
The two entered the inner room. Jiang Hao saw no iron furnace or forging table, only a white-haired Daoist in green robes carefully examining a bell-shaped magic artifact in his hand. Jiang Hao could see through the Old Daoist's cultivation; it was just a little stronger than his own, likely at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.
"Greetings, Uncle Kaiyang!" Qi Xiuyuan bowed, and Jiang Hao followed suit.
The Old Daoist looked at Qi Xiuyuan and Jiang Hao. After Qi Xiuyuan introduced Jiang Hao's background, the Old Daoist examined him and gave a slight nod. "So you are the independent cultivator who saved Xiuyuan and Sichun. It is truly rare for someone so young to possess such cultivation."
Jiang Hao thought to himself that this man knew about him too. The head of Laoshan must have passed word down the line.
"Jiang Hao greets Daoist Priest Kaiyang."
"No need for such formalities. It is exceedingly rare for one so young to have such cultivation. Do you understand artifact refinement?" the Old Daoist asked.
"I do not. I have never come into contact with it."
The Old Daoist