Level 4

After leaving Packhorse Street, Wu Tao was in high spirits. He could not help humming a little tune under his breath, feeling as though even his steps had become much lighter.

Since he needed to buy new artifact-refining materials, he detoured to the marketplace district and headed for Shopkeeper Yu's artifact materials store. Ever since Wu Tao had obtained the Five Spring Mountain Artifact Refiner Certificate, Shopkeeper Yu had seemed like a completely different person.

He spoke to him with exceptional politeness and respect, and whenever Wu Tao bought goods, he would always give him a discount.

A discount of one or two Low-Grade Spirit Stones today, another one or two tomorrow—over time, that was no small sum. Under Shopkeeper Yu's sugar-coated cannonballs, Wu Tao's slight dissatisfaction over the Filth Crystal deal had completely vanished.

This man was worth associating with!

Merchants chased profit, and Shopkeeper Yu was no exception. Even with discounts, he still made money; it was merely a question of making more or less.

Earning a little less in exchange for befriending a young and promising Artifact Refiner like Wu Tao was clearly an investment with long-term benefits.

Besides, Wu Tao had already settled on Shopkeeper Yu's store as his fixed supply channel. With business continuing for years to come, Shopkeeper Yu would ultimately make a fortune.

Sure enough, the instant Wu Tao's front foot crossed the threshold of the materials store, Shopkeeper Yu spotted him, immediately put down his work, and came over with a loud greeting:

"Artifact Master Li, you're here! Are you taking the same materials as before? I've already prepared them for you."

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

"Which two? Please tell me, Artifact Master Li."

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

A First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe could not be refined from Demon Silkworm Silk alone. Demon Silkworm Silk was the primary material, but it also required Bairen Wood fibers and Heaven Spider Silk.

Bairen Wood was said to remain unbroken through a hundred bendings. It could increase a magic robe's toughness and make it less prone to damage.

The Heaven Spider was a type of Demonic Beast. The silk it spun was extraordinarily elastic and also possessed absorption and adhesion properties. It perfectly complemented the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction, enhancing its ability to absorb Spiritual Power.

Though Shopkeeper Yu's materials store was not the largest in West Outer City, it could still rank among the top ten. Besides, Bairen Wood and Heaven Spider Silk were not high-grade materials, merely Tier 1 Intermediate Materials, so his store naturally carried them.

Demon Silkworm Silk was a Tier 1 Primary Material.

In that case?

A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Shopkeeper Yu's sea of consciousness. Could it be... that Artifact Master Li was already capable of refining Tier 1 Intermediate magic robes?

Ever since Wu Tao had started refining magic robes, he had always purchased supplies from him. Shopkeeper Yu had even bought a Tier 1 Level 3 Small Spirit Shield Robe from Wu Tao and given it to his nephew, who was in Early Qi Refining, for protection.

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

Though it was only a single type of magic robe, such progress was enough to reveal Wu Tao's artifact-refining talent.

For a Rogue Cultivator to produce such an artifact-refining genius—if he did not die young, he would surely be recruited by the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall. Then he would soar to the heavens in a single step, no longer a Rogue Cultivator but a distinguished disciple of an Immortal Dao Great Sect.

Shopkeeper Yu had built his business to this point because his mind was exceedingly quick. In an instant, he decided that he absolutely had to befriend this Li Mo. Perhaps he might even be able to forge a connection with Five Spring Mountain in the future; his prospects would then be boundless.

Once Li Mo entered Five Spring Mountain, if he latched onto Li Mo, would that not mean he had latched onto Five Spring Mountain itself?

How clever I am.

Right, the Filth Crystal transaction from before had surely left a knot in Li Mo's heart. He had to find an opportunity to untie that knot.

Otherwise, everything would be empty talk. They would merely be business partners.

Business partners saw only profit, not friendship. Once they were no longer part of the same chain of interests, they would have nothing to do with each other.

Thus, Shopkeeper Yu's smile became even broader as he said, "I have them. How much do you need, Artifact Master Li?"

Wu Tao was suspicious. Shopkeeper Yu had suddenly become several degrees happier. Could it be that his wife had given birth? That would indeed be something worth celebrating.

Shaking off the thought, he said, "Two pieces of Bairen Wood and two jin of Heaven Spider Silk."

Shopkeeper Yu immediately sent one of the rogue cultivators employed by the store to fetch them. Then, as if casually chatting, he said, "The Small Spirit Shield Robe refined by Fellow Daoist Li truly is a fine product. My nephew said it felt excellent in use—quick to activate, with smooth, unbroken Spiritual Power. That robe even saved his life... Oh, right. If Artifact Master Li refines any new magic robes in the future, please let Yu know. I have many relatives, and I have nephews and nieces in Early Qi Refining. Magic robes would make perfect gifts for them."

"Oh, right. Artifact Master Li needs new materials—could it be that you have refined a new magic robe?"

Having chatted to this point, asking that question was only natural, as smooth as water flowing into a channel. Shopkeeper Yu's grasp of conversational timing was exceptionally precise.

Hearing this, Wu Tao smiled. "I am only preparing the materials first. Whether I can succeed is still uncertain. If I do succeed, I will certainly inform Shopkeeper Yu."

He had yet to complete the inscription of the Restriction. Whether the Spirit-Absorbing Robe could be refined would still require some time.

Before long, the materials were ready.

The Starfire Stone and Demon Silkworm Silk cost one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Bairen Wood cost ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones per piece—it was only a slender little length of silvery wood—while Heaven Spider Silk was even more expensive, at fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones per jin.

Once Spiritual Materials reached Tier 1 Intermediate, their prices rose severalfold with every minor level increase.

As costs increased, the prices of Magic Tools also rose.

This time, Shopkeeper Yu gave Wu Tao a five-Spirit-Stone discount, a greater discount than before. Wu Tao thanked him sincerely and said that their cooperation had been very pleasant.

After returning home, Wu Tao set the Spiritual Materials aside, took out the Formation Practice Board, and checked the progress of the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction.

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

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

Sitting cross-legged on his Prayer Mat, Wu Tao saw that winter had arrived and snow was falling outside. He had specially made himself a fluffy Prayer Mat with mink fur mixed into it. It was soft and warm to sit on.

Though he cultivated immortality and practiced body tempering now, making cold almost negligible to him, he still followed his heart.

Cultivating immortality was, after all, about cultivating the heart.

After adjusting himself to his peak state, Wu Tao began circulating the Sanyang Technique. Spiritual Power transformed into a knife and brush as he inscribed the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction onto the Spirit Board.

The Spirit-Absorbing Restriction was extremely complex, but Wu Tao's hand was steady. A single line twisted and looped, outlining one wondrous rune after another. The line could not break; if it did, it meant the Restriction was incomplete.

A Restriction was, in essence, a rune formed from one continuous line. Only when it was one uninterrupted line could a Magic Tool function in seamless continuity after being refined. Artifact refining and Talismans alike emphasized completing the work in one stroke.

Formation Masters and Alchemists, however, were different.

Wu Tao had never encountered knowledge in those areas, so he could not say exactly how they differed.

On the first day, Wu Tao raised the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction's progress to ninety-seven percent.

On the second day, Wu Tao raised the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction's progress to ninety-nine percent.

On the third day, Wu Tao's face was neither sorrowful nor joyful, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit full to the brim. He casually took out a Spirit Board and circulated the Sanyang Technique, turning Spiritual Power into a knife and brush. A line appeared upon the Spirit Board, then seemed to come alive, moving across the board at an even pace.

"Complete!"

Wu Tao's gaze sharpened. With a turn of his wrist, he made the closing gesture. The final stroke connected head to tail, and in an instant, a complete First-Rank Level 4 Restriction manifested on the Spirit Board. Its light flared brightly, then vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a faint Spiritual Charm that lingered around it.

The First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Restriction had succeeded.

"I'll rest for two days, then begin refining the Spirit-Absorbing Robe." Wu Tao set down the Spirit Board and said joyfully.