Malice (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Two days later.

Cultivation Room.

Before Wu Tao were the Starfire Stone, Demon Silkworm Silk, Bairen Wood, and Heaven Spider Silk—the four Spirit Materials for Artifact Refining. According to the refining method for the Tier 1 Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe, the Demon Silkworm Silk was the primary spirit material, with the Bairen Wood and Heaven Spider Silk in a ratio of:

58%:20%:22%.

Taking out a Qi Condensation Pill, Wu Tao swallowed it and circulated the Sanyang Technique, restoring his Essence, Qi, and Spirit to their optimal state before beginning the refining work.

Previously, the refining of robes involved simple spirit materials, making the process relatively easy.

The more types of spirit materials involved, the exponentially higher the refining difficulty. The fusion of spirit materials required precise control.

"Sigh, I'm too poor right now. If only I had an Artifact Refinement Technique, it would greatly improve the precision of fire control and refining methods, and reduce the difficulty of refining."

Wu Tao muttered.

Unfortunately, Artifact Refinement Techniques were the exclusive skills of artifact refiners, their means of livelihood. They were generally not passed down to descendants or disciples. Outside, secret arts like Artifact Refinement Techniques were very difficult to come by.

They couldn't be bought either.

It was to this extent.

Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners mostly lacked Artifact Refinement Techniques, hence they generally couldn't go far on the path of artifact refining.

As far as Wu Tao knew, in the Five Spirits Cultivation City, Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners could at most reach the Tier 1 Advanced level. Breaking through to become a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner was impossible; without an Artifact Refinement Technique, don't even think about it!

If one became a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, the Azure Spirit Sect on Five Spring Mountain would surely roll out the red carpet, grandly inviting you to join the sect and be revered.

"I haven't even refined a First-Rank Intermediate robe yet, so talking about Tier 2 is probably too early." Tier 2 Artifact Refiners were even more sought after and harder to become than Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

They were practically a rare species.

Discarding the distractions in his heart, Wu Tao ignited the Starfire Stone and began refining the Spirit-Absorbing Robe.

He first needed to process the Bairen Wood and Heaven Spider Silk. The Bairen Wood required its fibers to be extracted, while the Heaven Spider Silk formed into webs. Cultivators would kill Heavenly Spider demonic beasts and take their webs, which were the Heaven Spider Silk.

The Heavenly Spider Web resembled a Bagua diagram, with each junction of silk strands being a dead knot refined by the Heavenly Spider. What Wu Tao had to do was to unweave these dead knots, turning them into usable strands of Heaven Spider Silk.

About an hour later, Wu Tao had processed two Bairen Woods and two jin of Heaven Spider Silk.

Each Spirit-Absorbing Robe didn't require much, so these processed Bairen Wood fibers and Heaven Spider Silk could be used for refining many times.

Next was the formal refining work.

The refining work was similar to before, which was to refine the three spirit materials into the shape of a robe according to the ratio, then engrave the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction.

It sounded simple, but Wu Tao was still very cautious.

Half an hour later, as the last stroke of the restriction was completed, Wu Tao stabilized his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, not daring to pause. The three steps of fusion and integration followed closely.

"Integrate!"

He silently chanted in his heart, his hands moving almost in sync. As the word "Integrate" landed in his mind, the entire complete Spirit-Absorbing Restriction instantly merged seamlessly with the robe, perfectly imprinted on it.

Then, the robe emitted a brilliant spiritual light, which then retracted within, only the unique Spiritual Charm of a Magic Tool manifesting.

Wu Tao gently retrieved it and stroked the Tier 1 Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe, his face filled with joy.

"I'm really amazing. I succeeded in refining it on the first try, and without triggering the Lucky Bonus. It seems that experience is always transferable for robes.

In a few months, when I have enough Spirit Stones, I'll buy a book on refining other Magic Tools. I can't just refine robe-type Magic Tools my whole life."

Wu Tao mused, touching the robe. He felt that with the addition of Bairen Wood fiber and Heaven Spider Silk, the robe's texture was softer, more delicate, and more elastic.

He tested its refining effect and indeed, it could absorb twenty percent of spell damage.

Of course, when testing, he wasn't foolish enough to go all out. Instead, he used a minimal amount of Spiritual Power that couldn't possibly harm him to cast the Fireball Technique. Otherwise, even eighty percent of the damage would be considerable.

But when cultivators fight to the death, if you absorb twenty percent of their spell damage while they fully absorb your spell attacks, the outcome would be different.

After successfully refining the Tier 1 Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe, life returned to its orderly rhythm, day by day.

Soon, it was time to set up his stall again.

Wu Tao brought the robe to the Yi District to set up his stall. Before doing so, he went to Shopkeeper Yu's material shop and sold a Spirit-Absorbing Robe to him. Shopkeeper Yu highly praised the robe, saying he would give it to his second nephew, who would surely love it.

This time, he had refined nine Small Spirit Shield Robes and six Spirit-Absorbing Robes.

As for the Wind-Speed Magic Robe, Wu Tao no longer refined it because it wasn't cost-effective.

He priced the Spirit-Absorbing Robe at one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and two Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Originally, he had planned to price it at one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, but he added two Low-Grade Spirit Stones to give customers a little room to haggle.

"Sigh, I'm getting better and better at doing business," Wu Tao praised himself in his heart.

Although the Spirit-Absorbing Robe wasn't a purely defensive robe, its popularity was no less than that of the Small Spirit Light Magic Robe. In a short time, Loose Cultivators came to inquire.

Within half an hour, he had already sold two Spirit-Absorbing Robes.

His earnings were two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and two Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

As for the remaining two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, it was because some Loose Cultivators were not good at bargaining, while others were. Bargaining was entirely dependent on talent.

With one hour left until the market closed, Wu Tao had already sold all his robes.

On this trip to the Market, he earned a total of nine hundred and eighty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which was more than three hundred Spirit Stones compared to when he only refined Small Spirit Shield Robes.

With more money earned, he could consider strengthening his body more times each month, or save up more Spirit Stones to prepare for purchasing a Storage Bag.

You said, a cultivator, always carrying bags and bags on their back, how uncool is that!

Just as he was packing up his stall to pay taxes, someone called out to him: "Fellow Daoist, hello!"

This person was of average height, neither fat nor thin, dressed in a black magic robe, with a polite smile on his face. Wu Tao smelled the scent of flames from Starfire Stone on him, and immediately knew this person was also an artifact refiner.

'As the saying goes, rivals in the same trade are enemies. Did I block their path to wealth and they've come to cause trouble?' Wu Tao felt a hint of malice.

"Hello, Fellow Daoist. What business do you have with me?" You don't hit a smiling face. Wu Tao naturally responded with a smile, and besides, he didn't understand the other party's intentions yet.

When you're out and about, adults being polite is never wrong.

Wu Zhongxing cupped his fists and said: "My name is Wu Zhongxing. Like you, Fellow Daoist, I am an artifact refiner. I've come to invite you to have a chat."

"Li Mo!" Wu Tao politely announced his name, then asked: "May I ask what Fellow Daoist Wu wishes to discuss with me?"

As if sensing the suspicion in Wu Tao's tone, Wu Zhongxing immediately chuckled: "Fellow Daoist Li, we are both artifact refiners, so naturally we should discuss the Way of Artifact Refining. There's no need to worry, Fellow Daoist. I'm not here to cause trouble for you. As loose cultivator artifact refiners, we should help each other. I have a good opportunity I'd like to share with you."

"Fellow Daoist Li, would you be willing to accompany me to Delightful Immortal Restaurant for some tea and a chat?"

Fighting is forbidden in the market, so Wu Tao wasn't worried about safety.

As for the "good opportunity" Wu Zhongxing mentioned, he didn't think it would be anything good. He remained wary of Wu Zhongxing in his heart.

His past experiences had taught him that if someone had a chance to get rich, why would they call you instead of their friends and family? What makes you so special? Once you get greedy, you'll fall into a trap and suffer losses.

But, it wouldn't hurt to listen. At worst, he could just refuse.

Wu Tao nodded. Wu Zhongxing was overjoyed and gestured: "Fellow Daoist Li, please!"

Thanks to Book World Does Not Need Time for the 1500 Origin Coin reward, and thanks to Mysterious Place Tūtu for the 500 Origin Coin reward. Please continue reading today and vote for more chapters to give me some motivation.