Two days later.
Cultivation Room.
Before Wu Tao lay the four spirit materials for artifact refining: Starfire Stone, Demon Silkworm Silk, Bairen Wood, and Heaven Spider Silk. According to the refining method for a First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe, Demon Silkworm Silk was the primary material, with the ratio of Bairen Wood and Heaven Spider Silk being:
58%:20%:22%.
Taking out a Qi Condensation Pill, Wu Tao swallowed it and circulated the Sanyang Technique. Only after restoring his essence, qi, and spirit to their peak state did he begin refining.
The materials for the magic robes he had refined before had been simple, so they had been relatively easy to refine.
The more types of spirit materials there were, the more the difficulty multiplied. Fusing different materials required precise control.
"Ah, I'm too poor right now. If I had an Artifact Refinement Technique, it would greatly improve my precision in flame control and refining techniques, making the process much easier."
Wu Tao muttered to himself.
Unfortunately, Artifact Refinement Techniques were an Artifact Refiner's exclusive skill, the very tool they relied on to make a living. They generally were not passed down except to descendants or master and disciple. Outside, secret arts like Artifact Refinement Techniques were exceedingly difficult to find.
You could not buy them even if you wanted to.
That was simply how it was.
Most Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners had no Artifact Refinement Techniques, so they generally could not go far down the path of artifact refinement.
As far as Wu Tao knew, in Five Spirits Cultivation City, Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners could at most reach Tier 1 Advanced. Breaking through to become a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner was impossible. Without an Artifact Refinement Technique, don't even dream of it!
If one became a Tier 2 Artifact Refiner, Five Spring Mountain's Azure Spirit Sect would surely sweep a couch clean in welcome, solemnly invite them into the sect, and enshrine them as an honored guest.
"I haven't even refined a first-rank intermediate magic robe yet. Talking about Tier 2 is far too early." A Tier 2 Artifact Refiner was even more sought-after than a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and even harder to become.
A rare species, indeed.
Casting aside the distractions in his heart, Wu Tao lit the Starfire Stone and began refining the Spirit-Absorbing Robe.
He first had to process the Bairen Wood and Heaven Spider Silk. The fibers within the Bairen Wood had to be refined out, while the Heaven Spider Silk came woven into web after web. After cultivators killed Heaven Spider demonic beasts and took their webs, those webs became Heaven Spider Silk.
A Heaven Spider Web resembled a bagua diagram. Every point where the threads joined was a dead knot refined by the Heaven Spider. Wu Tao needed to unravel those dead knots, turning them into strands of Heaven Spider Silk that could be used directly.
About an hour later, Wu Tao had processed two pieces of Bairen Wood and two jin of Heaven Spider Silk.
Each Spirit-Absorbing Robe did not require much, so the processed Bairen Wood fibers and Heaven Spider Silk could be used to refine many robes.
Next came the formal refining work.
The refining process was much the same as before. He merely had to refine the three spirit materials into the form of a magic robe according to their ratios, then inscribe the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction.
It sounded simple, but Wu Tao remained as steady as ever.
Half an hour later, as the final stroke of the restriction was completed, Wu Tao steadied his essence, qi, and spirit. He did not dare pause for even a breath as the three steps of fusion, refinement, and combination followed in rapid succession.
"Combine!"
He silently uttered the word in his heart, his hand movements acting almost in perfect sync. As the word "combine" fell in his heart, the complete Spirit-Absorbing Restriction instantly merged seamlessly with the magic robe, fully branding itself upon it.
Then spiritual light burst from the magic robe before withdrawing within. Only the spiritual charm unique to a Magic Tool manifested.
Wu Tao gently drew it over and stroked this First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe, his face filled with delight.
"I'm amazing. I refined it successfully on the first try, and without even triggering a Lucky Bonus. It seems that as long as it's a type of magic robe, the experience is always shared.
In a few months, once I have enough spirit stones, I'll buy a refining book for other Magic Tools. I can't spend my entire life refining only robe-type Magic Tools, can I?"
Wu Tao pondered as he touched the magic robe. With Bairen Wood fibers and Heaven Spider Silk added to it, the fabric felt softer, more delicate, and more elastic.
After refining it and testing it, it could indeed absorb twenty percent of spell damage.
Of course, when testing it, he was not foolish enough to attack with full force. He used only a tiny amount of spiritual power, too little to possibly harm himself, to cast the Fireball Technique. Otherwise, even if only eighty percent of the damage landed on him, it would still be quite unbearable.
But when cultivators fought to the death, if you absorbed twenty percent of their spell damage while they took your spell attack in full, the result would be entirely different.
After refining the First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Robe, life once again passed day by day in an orderly fashion.
Soon, it was time to set up a stall again.
Wu Tao brought his magic robes to Yi District to set up his stall. Before doing so, he visited Shopkeeper Yu's materials shop and sold him a Spirit-Absorbing Robe. Shopkeeper Yu praised the robe highly, saying that he would give it to his second nephew, who would surely like it.
This time, he had refined nine Small Spirit Shield Robes and six Spirit-Absorbing Robes.
As for Wind-Speed Magic Robes, Wu Tao no longer refined them, because they were not as worthwhile.
He priced the Spirit-Absorbing Robes at One Mid-Grade Spirit Stone and Two Low-Grade Spirit Stones. He had originally intended to price them at One Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, but he added two more Low-Grade Spirit Stones to leave customers a little room to haggle.
"Ah, I'm getting better and better at business," Wu Tao praised himself in his heart.
Though the Spirit-Absorbing Robe was not a purely defensive magic robe, its popularity was no less than that of the Small Spirit Light Magic Robe. Before long, Rogue Cultivators came to inquire about it.
In just half an hour, he had already sold two Spirit-Absorbing Robes.
Two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and Two Low-Grade Spirit Stones went into his account.
As for those extra Two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, some Rogue Cultivators were not good at haggling, while others were. Haggling was something that depended entirely on talent.
With one hour remaining before the market closed, Wu Tao had already sold all his magic robes.
On this trip to the Marketplace, he earned a total of nine hundred and eighty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, more than three hundred spirit stones more than when he had only refined Small Spirit Shield Robes.
With more money coming in, he could consider tempering his body a few more times each month, or save a little more spirit stones in preparation for buying a Storage Bag.
Tell me, what kind of cultivator always carried big and small bundles on their back? How lacking in style was that!
Just as he was packing up his stall to pay the tax, someone called out to him. "Hello, Fellow Daoist!"
The man was of average height, neither fat nor thin, and wore a Black Magic Robe. A courteous smile rested on his face. Wu Tao caught the scent of Starfire Stone flames on him and immediately knew that he was also an Artifact Refiner.
They say those in the same trade are enemies. Could it be that I've blocked his path to wealth, and he's looking to cause me trouble? Wu Tao sensed a trace of malice.
"Hello, Fellow Daoist. May I ask what business you have with me?" One did not strike a smiling face, so Wu Tao returned the smile. Besides, he still did not know what the other man intended.
When out in the world, adults could never go wrong by being polite.
Wu Zhongxing cupped his hands and said, "I am Wu Zhongxing. Like you, Fellow Daoist, I am an Artifact Refiner. I came this time hoping to speak with you."
"Li Mo!" Wu Tao politely gave his name, then asked, "What would Fellow Daoist Wu like to discuss with me?"
Perhaps hearing Wu Tao's suspicion in his tone, Wu Zhongxing immediately smiled. "Fellow Daoist Li, you and I are both Artifact Refiners, so naturally we should discuss the path of artifact refinement. You need not worry. I have not come to make things difficult for you. As fellow Rogue Cultivator Artifact Refiners, we ought to watch out for one another. I have a good opportunity that I wish to share with Fellow Daoist Li."
"Fellow Daoist Li, would you be willing to accompany me to Delightful Immortal Restaurant for tea and conversation?"
Spell battles were forbidden in the Marketplace, so Wu Tao was not particularly worried about safety.
As for the good opportunity Wu Zhongxing spoke of, he did not believe it would be any sort of good opportunity. In his heart, he remained on guard against Wu Zhongxing.
All the experiences of his previous life told him this: if someone had a profitable opportunity, why would they call you instead of their own friends and family? What gave you that right? The moment greed arose in you, you would be deceived and suffer a loss.
Still, there was no harm in listening. At worst, he could simply refuse.
Wu Tao nodded. Wu Zhongxing was overjoyed and gestured with his hand. "Fellow Daoist Li, please!"
Thanks to Book World Does Not Need Time for the 1,500 Origin Coin reward, and thanks to Mysterious Place Tūtu for the 500 Origin Coin reward. Please keep reading today, please vote, give me some motivation.
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