Level Four

Emerging from Packhorse Street, Wu Tao was in high spirits, humming a little tune under his breath, his steps feeling much lighter.

Needing to purchase new artifact refining materials, he changed course towards the market area, heading to Shopkeeper Yu's material shop. Ever since Wu Tao obtained his Artifact Refiner Certificate from Five Spring Mountain, Shopkeeper Yu had completely transformed.

He was extremely polite and respectful when speaking to Wu Tao, and he always offered discounts when Wu Tao bought materials.

One day it was a discount of one or two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, the next day another one or two Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Over time, this added up to a considerable sum. Under Shopkeeper Yu's "sugar-coated bullets," Wu Tao's previous dissatisfaction regarding the Filth Crystal transaction completely vanished.

This man is worth befriending!

Merchants are driven by profit, and Shopkeeper Yu was no exception. Even with discounts, he was still making money; it was just a matter of how much.

Earning a little less now to foster a good relationship with Wu Tao, a promising young artifact refiner, was clearly a long-term, beneficial investment.

Moreover, Wu Tao had a fixed channel for purchasing materials with Shopkeeper Yu, ensuring long-term business. In the end, Shopkeeper Yu would profit greatly.

As if on cue, the moment Wu Tao stepped through the threshold of the material shop, Shopkeeper Yu saw him, immediately put down his work, and hurried over, calling out loudly:

"Artifact Master Li, you're here. Are you still getting the same materials? I've already prepared them for you."

Wu Tao shook his head. "I need the previous materials, but I also need two more."

"Which two, Artifact Master Li, please tell me."

Wu Tao said, "Bairen Wood, Heaven Spider Silk."

The Tier 1 Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe wasn't made solely from Demon Silkworm Silk. The main material was Demon Silkworm Silk, but it also required the addition of Bairen Wood fibers and Heaven Spider Silk.

Bairen Wood, known for its hundred-fold resilience and resistance to breaking, could increase the robe's toughness and make it less prone to damage.

Heaven Spiders were a type of demonic beast. The silk they produced was extremely elastic and had adhesive properties, which perfectly complemented the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction, enhancing its ability to absorb Spiritual Power.

Although Shopkeeper Yu's material shop wasn't the largest in the West Outer City, it ranked within the top ten. Furthermore, Bairen Wood and Heaven Spider Silk weren't high-level materials; they were only Tier 1 Intermediate Materials, so he naturally had them in stock.

Demon Silkworm Silk was a Tier 1 Primary Material.

Thinking about this... a flash of inspiration struck Shopkeeper Yu's mind. Could it be... Artifact Master Li could already refine Tier 1 Intermediate robes?

Ever since Wu Tao started refining robes, he had been purchasing materials from Shopkeeper Yu. Additionally, Shopkeeper Yu had bought a Tier 1 Level 3 Small Spirit Shield Robe from Wu Tao as a defensive item for his nephew, who was in the early stages of Qi Refining.

In just over half a year, he could refine Tier 1 Intermediate robes?

Even if it was just a single type of robe, this speed of progress demonstrated Wu Tao's artifact refining talent.

For a Loose Cultivator to produce such an artifact refining genius, if he didn't meet an untimely end, he would undoubtedly be recruited by the Five Spring Mountain Artifact Refining Hall. In the future, he would soar to the heavens, no longer a Loose Cultivator but a disciple of a noble Immortal Dao Great Sect.

Shopkeeper Yu, with his sharp business acumen, had an incredibly agile mind. He instantly decided that he must foster a good relationship with this Li Mo. Who knew, perhaps in the future, he could connect with Five Spring Mountain, and his future would be limitless.

When Li Mo entered Five Spring Mountain, he had latched onto Li Mo, which was akin to latching onto Five Spring Mountain itself!

Clever me.

Right, regarding the Filth Crystal transaction earlier, it must have left a knot in Li Mo's heart. I need to find an opportunity to untie it.

Otherwise, all our previous efforts would be in vain, and we'd merely be business partners.

Business partners only see profit, not friendship. Once we're no longer on the same benefit chain, we'll have nothing to do with each other.

Thus, Shopkeeper Yu's smile deepened. "Yes, we do. How much does Artifact Master Li need?"

Wu Tao was suspicious. Why had Shopkeeper Yu suddenly become so much happier? Did his wife just give birth? That would indeed be cause for joy.

Dispelling the thought, he said, "I need two pieces of Bairen Wood and two jin of Heaven Spider Silk."

Shopkeeper Yu immediately sent a hired Loose Cultivator from the shop to fetch them. While waiting, he casually chatted, "Fellow Daoist Li's Small Spirit Shield Robes are truly exquisite. My nephew said the experience was excellent – quick to activate, with continuous Spiritual Power flow. This robe even saved his life... Oh, right. In the future, when Artifact Master Li refines new robes, please let Shopkeeper Yu know. I have many relatives, and it's perfect for gifting to my nephews and grand-nephews in the early Qi Refining stage."

"By the way, Artifact Master Li needs new materials. Have you refined a new robe?"

The conversation had reached this point, and asking this question was natural and inevitable. Shopkeeper Yu had timed his words perfectly.

Wu Tao chuckled upon hearing this. "I'm just preparing the materials in advance. Whether it's successful or not is still uncertain. If it is, I will definitely inform Shopkeeper Yu."

He hadn't finished engraving the restriction yet, and it would take some time to see if the Spirit-Absorbing Robe could be refined.

Soon, the materials were ready.

The Starfire Stone and Demon Silkworm Silk cost one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The Bairen Wood was ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones per piece, just a small silver piece of wood. The Heaven Spider Silk was more expensive, fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones per jin.

Once spirit materials reached the First-Rank Intermediate level, the price would multiply several times with each small increase in rank.

Increased costs meant increased prices for magic tools.

This time, Shopkeeper Yu gave Wu Tao a discount of five Spirit Stones, a greater concession than before. Wu Tao expressed his sincere gratitude, stating that the cooperation was very pleasant.

Returning home, Wu Tao set the spirit materials aside and took out the Formation Practice Board, glancing at the progress of the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction.

First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Restriction (95%)

This First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Restriction was purchased a month and a half ago. After a month and a half of practice, the progress had reached ninety-five percent. It seemed that as his strength increased, everything was accelerating.

Sitting on the prayer mat, as it was winter and snow was falling outside, Wu Tao had specially made a fluffy prayer mat, adding mink fur. It was soft and warm to sit on.

Although he was now cultivating both his cultivation and body, the cold was almost negligible to him, but he still followed his heart.

Cultivation was about the heart.

Adjusting his state to its peak, Wu Tao began to circulate the Sanyang Technique. Spiritual Power transformed into a brush, engraving the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction on the spirit board.

The Spirit-Absorbing Restriction was extremely complex, but Wu Tao's hands were steady. One line wound back and forth, sketching out marvelous runes. The line could not break; if it did, the restriction would be incomplete.

A restriction, as it were, was composed of runes formed by a single line. Only with a single line, when refined into a Magic Tool and operated, would it be continuous. Both artifact refining and talismans emphasized completing them in one stroke.

However, Formation Masters and Alchemists were different.

Wu Tao had no prior knowledge of this, so he couldn't explain exactly how they were different.

On the first day, Wu Tao advanced the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction to ninety-seven percent completion.

On the second day, Wu Tao advanced the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction to ninety-nine percent completion.

On the third day, Wu Tao's expression was neither joyful nor sorrowful. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit were complete. He casually took out a Spirit Board. The Sanyang Technique circulated, and Spiritual Power acted as a knife and brush. A single line appeared on the Spirit Board, and then, as if alive, the line moved evenly across the board.

"Done!"

Wu Tao's gaze fixed. He flicked his wrist, making a finishing gesture. The last stroke connected the beginning and end. Instantly, a complete Tier 1 Level 4 Restriction manifested on the Spirit Board, shining brightly before quickly extinguishing, transforming into a faint Spiritual Charm that lingered.

Tier 1 Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Restriction, successful.

"After resting for two days, I will begin refining the Spirit-Absorbing Robe," Wu Tao said with joy, putting down the Spirit Board.