Passing Through (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Two quarters of an hour later.

Wu Tao and Jin Ke arrived at the entrance of the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall Assessment Branch on Fragrant Spring Road. Two long queues had formed. Every loose cultivator in line carried a strong scent of Starfire Stone.

The scent was so potent that one could tell they had been refining magic tools year-round.

He found a cultivator wearing the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall Branch Uniform and respectfully asked, "Esteemed sir, is this place recruiting loose cultivator artifact refiners?"

The cultivator who was asked looked at Wu Tao, seeing he was quite young, and said, "See those two long queues at the entrance? The ones on the left have First-Rank Intermediate Magic Tool Certificates. The ones on the right have reached the artifact refining level but haven't been assessed for a First-Rank Intermediate Magic Tool Certificate."

"Thank you."

Wu Tao said thankfully. Fortunately, he had asked in advance, otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome to queue in the wrong line.

He walked up to Jin Ke. Shopkeeper Yu had only asked Jin Ke to escort him this far, so he still needed to thank Jin Ke for accompanying him. "Senior Jin, this is Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall territory. No one should dare cause trouble here. If you have urgent matters, please attend to them. Looking at this situation, it won't be resolved anytime soon."

Jin Ke thought for a moment and said, "Alright. Be careful when Artifact Master Li finishes his assessment and you head back."

After seeing Jin Ke off, Wu Tao joined the queue on the right.

In total, the two queues combined had less than a hundred people.

Among the loose cultivator artifact refiners, First-Rank Junior Artifact Refiners were the most numerous. Intermediate artifact refining required higher talent, so even with the Artifact Refining Hall recruiting from the entire West Outer City, they might not be able to recruit even a hundred people.

Once a loose cultivator artifact refiner could refine a First-Rank Level 7 magic tool, they would live in the Inner City or join a slightly larger cultivation faction. Their lives would not be comparable to those of loose cultivator artifact refiners in the West Outer City.

First-Rank Level 6 and First-Rank Level 7, although only one level apart, were even more difficult to achieve than Foundation Establishment for a loose cultivator.

The primary reason was insufficient financial resources, making it extremely difficult to support a First-Rank Level 7 artifact refiner.

After queuing for about half an hour, they finally entered the Artifact Refining Hall. A cultivator from the Artifact Refining Hall led them into a large hall to wait. Someone then came to register the spiritual materials they required for artifact refining.

After the registration was complete, they waited for another half an hour. Wu Tao, along with nine other loose cultivator artifact refiners, entered an artifact refining room.

The artifact refining room had ten artifact refining slots, with Starfire Stones and spiritual materials placed on them.

"Li Mo, Artifact Refining Slot Number One."

"Zhou Jiong, Artifact Refining Slot Number Two."

After the artifact refiner announced the refining positions for the ten individuals, and once they had taken their places, he said, "The spiritual materials you require have been prepared. Now, within the time of one incense stick, if you cannot refine a First-Rank Intermediate Magic Tool, you will be deemed a failure."

Hearing it was one incense stick, the expressions of several loose cultivator artifact refiners changed slightly.

Loose cultivator artifact refiners did not have artifact refinement techniques and came from unconventional backgrounds. They usually did not have large quantities of spiritual materials to improve their proficiency when refining magic tools. The refining time of one incense stick was indeed pressing for them.

"Begin!" The Artifact Refining Hall wouldn't concern itself with such matters. As soon as the command was given, an incense stick was lit.

Wu Tao took a deep breath and looked around. The other nine artifact refiners had already lit their Starfire Stones and begun refining magic tools.

But he didn't, instead swallowing a Qi Condensation Pill to restore himself to peak condition. It took about ten minutes for his Essence, Qi, and Spirit to be fully replenished before he finally tossed the Starfire Stone into the Earth Pit.

The Artifact Refiner from the Artifact Refining Hall glanced over. Seeing Wu Tao's actions, his expression remained neutral, but inwardly he was full of praise.

Bairen Wood, Heaven Spider Silk, Demon Silkworm Silk... Wu Tao had a hundred percent success rate when refining the Spirit-Absorbing Robe. Perhaps it was due to his Primary Profession's settings; as he became more proficient, failure would no longer be a concern.

Normally, he could refine a Spirit-Absorbing Robe in less than the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, due to his practiced skill, much like the old man selling oil. However, under the scrutiny of many eyes, Wu Tao naturally chose to control his speed and keep a low profile, aiming for third place.

Methodically, after processing the Bairen Wood, Heaven Spider Silk, and Demon Silkworm Silk, Wu Tao began to initially shape the robe. Afterward, he would proceed to engrave the Spirit-Absorbing Restriction.

Sensing gazes fixed upon him, Wu Tao's Dantian trembled slightly. He squeezed out a few drops of sweat from his forehead, feigning a strenuous expression.

After the incident with Xie Tao and Fang Ming, Wu Tao understood the importance of appropriately hiding his true abilities when the character of others was unknown.

What if, by performing too well, the other party didn't admire him but became jealous?

Performing adequately was the best approach.

Time slowly passed. Only an inch of the incense stick remained unburnt when a gasp of surprise rang out. It was a Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner at Slot Number Seven, holding a successfully refined Magic Tool, exclaiming with uncontainable joy, "I succeeded, hahaha..."

As soon as his voice fell, only a moment later, another person successfully refined a Magic Tool.

The incense stick was nearing its end.

Wu Tao glanced sideways. The remaining seven Artifact Refiners all wore anxious expressions, their composure faltering. With their unstable minds, three Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners heard "sizzling" sounds as their restrictions broke, leading to failed refinements.

Seeing this, the other Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners hurriedly stabilized their minds, daring not to entertain stray thoughts.

"One incense stick, time..."

"Combine!"

"Present."

In the final moments, Wu Tao finally finished refining the Spirit-Absorbing Robe. He displayed a look of relief and lingering fear, holding the Spirit-Absorbing Robe with both hands and respectfully presenting it, "Sir, I have finished."

"Very good, three succeeded. Excellent. Those who didn't succeed, please leave. The three of you, follow me."

The three successful individuals followed the Artifact Refiner from the Artifact Refining Hall out of the Artifact Refining Room and into a hall resembling a conference room. Rows of long tables filled the hall, with over a dozen Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners seated, examining contracts in their hands.

"Two Junior Brothers, these three do not possess a First-Rank Intermediate Artifact Refiner Certificate, but they have just passed the First-Rank Level Four Artifact Refiner Assessment. The rest is up to you now."

"Understood, Senior Brother Zhang. Safe travels."

The Artifact Refiner surnamed Zhang said to Wu Tao and the other two, "You three, stay here and examine the recruitment contracts."

The two Artifact Refiners responsible for the recruitment contracts immediately produced three contracts and handed them to Wu Tao and the others. "Find a seat, review the contracts, and if there are no issues, sign your name and affix your palm print."

Wu Tao took a recruitment contract and found an empty seat. He began to read through it carefully, clause by clause.

After finishing the viewing, Wu Tao thought to himself: "This treatment is indeed not as profitable in spirit stones as working alone, but to preserve my life, it's acceptable."

The contract roughly stated:

If signed, I will go to the Inner City to work for the Artifact Refining Hall, refining artifacts. I need to refine for four hours a day, with one day off every seven days. Food and lodging are provided, and the pay is five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per month.

Generally, top Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners at the First-Rank Intermediate level, after accounting for failures, can earn about eight Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per month.

Wu Tao has profession bonuses and cannot be considered a regular Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner.

Then, during working hours, artifacts, talismans, pills, and spirit herbs will be provided to Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners at a discounted price.

After the war with the Ghost Dao Sect ends, the Artifact Refining Hall will offer a month of artifact refining knowledge lectures for all Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners, and will also present five First-Rank Advanced Artifact Refining Manuals for explanation.

In this era where artifact refining knowledge is monopolized, this point is undoubtedly incredibly attractive to Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners.

Finally, the First-Rank Intermediate Artifact Refiner Certificate issued will bear a new mark. With this mark, it signifies that you have contributed to the war effort of Five Spring Mountain, granting one year of tax exemption and one and a half years of half-price rent.

Wu Tao looked at the second clause, where pills, talismans, and artifacts could be obtained at a discount. He then abandoned the idea of waiting to buy life-saving talismans, as buying them at the Artifact Refining Hall in the Inner City would be more cost-effective.

"Five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones a month is too little for me, but the artifact refiners who answered the call here are mostly coming for the protection of Five Spring Mountain. Sigh, nowadays, safety is the most valuable thing."

Wu Tao no longer hesitated and directly signed his name and pressed his handprint.