"Time really flew. In the blink of an eye, another month had passed. I heard that some mighty cultivators went into seclusion for hundreds or even thousands of years at a time. Truly, cultivation knew no passage of time!"
Wu Tao exclaimed as he opened his Personal Status to check the progress he had made over the past month.
[Name: Wu Tao] [Lifespan: 26/85] (Note: I forgot to add the two years of lifespan gained when I broke through to the third level earlier, so it has now been changed from 83 to 85.) [Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining] [Cultivation Technique: Three Yang Technique: Qi Refining Chapter (Third Level): 38%] [Spells: Fireball Technique Beginner (95%), Cleaning Spell Beginner (80%)] [Divine Ability: None] [Primary Profession: Artifact Refiner]: Mastered Restrictions: First-Order Level 1 Cooling Restriction, First-Rank Level 2 Wind-Speed Restriction, Tier 1 Level 1 Dust-Repelling Restriction, Tier 1 Level 1 Rain-Repelling Restriction, First-Rank Level 3 Small Spirit Light Shield Restriction, First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Restriction, First-Rank Level 4 Solidification Restriction, First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction (38%) [Secondary Profession · Body Cultivator: Dragon Spear Body Tempering Art: Tendon Refining (40%), Dragon Spear · Fire Sweep Proficient (48%), Dragon Spear · Wind and Thunder Proficient (50%)]
This past month, together with the previous ten days, added up to forty days.
As Tendon Refining advanced to forty percent, the Sanyang Technique absorbed Spiritual Power faster as well. It could now gain twelve points of progress each month, an increase of one point.
In forty days, he had gained sixteen points of progress.
At this rate, after another four months or so, he would be able to break through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.
It was cause for celebration.
Because he had spent the entire month practicing the inscription of the First-Rank Level 4 Solidification Restriction, the progress of his First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction had inevitably slowed. The Fire Sweep and Wind and Thunder forms of the Dragon Spear Technique had each improved by more than thirty percent as well, reaching forty-eight and fifty percent respectively.
When he came to the Inner City, he had prepared enough Qi Condensation Pills for half a year of cultivation and enough medicinal baths for three months. Only forty days had passed, so there was no rush to buy more.
Over the past month, he had visited the shops that the Artifact Refining Hall had opened to rogue cultivator artifact refiners. He discovered that their prices were indeed much cheaper than those outside, though they were not sold at prewar prices either.
With the two factions at war, prices were naturally affected.
For example, a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills had cost thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones before the war. Once war began, they had risen to more than sixty per bottle in West Outer City. When Wu Tao had gone to buy them back then, even though he had acted quickly, he could only purchase them at forty-eight per bottle.
But in the Artifact Refining Hall's shops, as long as they presented their Recruitment Contract with the Artifact Refining Hall, they could enjoy a discount. A bottle of Qi Condensation Pills cost only Forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Compared to postwar prices, that was indeed a bargain, and quite a substantial one at that.
After closing his Personal Status, Wu Tao left home and headed for the Artifact Refining Room. Today marked the one-month deadline he had agreed upon with Chen Shan. In truth, he had been able to completely inscribe the Solidification Restriction ten days ago.
He simply had not told Chen Shan, instead holding back until their agreed time.
The tree that stood out in the forest would be the first to be toppled by the wind.
Wu Tao understood that principle well enough.
"Senior Chen."
Upon arriving at the Artifact Refining Room, Wu Tao greeted Chen Shan. Chen Shan waved a hand and had him return to his refining station. They were about to begin smelting and extracting Black Essence Iron. Then Chen Shan quietly told him to come to his residence after work.
The day passed quickly.
After work, Wu Tao followed Chen Shan to his residence.
The moment they arrived, Chen Shan wasted no words. "Li Mo, have you completed the inscription of the First-Rank Level 4 Solidification Restriction?"
Wu Tao answered, "I did not fail your expectations. Last night, I gave it everything I had and finally managed to inscribe it in full."
Chen Shan waved his hand and took out a Formation Practice Board from his Storage Bag. "Empty words prove nothing. We artifact refiners must show the real deal with our hands."
Wu Tao picked up the Formation Practice Board, took a deep breath, and adjusted himself to his best condition. Only then did he circulate his spiritual power, turning it into a blade and brush as he began inscribing the Solidification Restriction onto the Formation Practice Board.
Chen Shan watched from the side.
Seeing that Wu Tao's spiritual power was steady and that every Restriction Rune flowed smoothly beneath his hand without the slightest hitch, Chen Shan watched as a complete First-Rank Level 4 Solidification Restriction soon emerged upon the Spirit Board. After its light flashed, it withdrew inward, leaving behind a faint Spiritual Charm.
"Not bad, not bad!" Chen Shan was greatly gratified, his face full of satisfaction. Li Mo's talent for artifact refinement was even better than he had imagined. Throughout the entire inscription process, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had remained stable, while his control over every stroke of spiritual power had been extremely precise.
Wu Tao let out a long breath of stale air, pretending to be relieved as he handed over the Spirit Board. "Please inspect it, Senior Chen."
Chen Shan accepted it and sent spiritual power into the board. It instantly coursed through the entire Solidification Restriction. "The whole thing flows smoothly, and the spiritual power circulates as one. Li Mo, you have done far better than I expected."
Wu Tao revealed a humble expression. "Senior Chen overpraises me."
"Ah... Li Mo, I know you keep a low profile in the way you conduct yourself, but there must be limits to modesty. To put it bluntly, your skill is only impressive among rogue cultivators. Compared to orthodox artifact refiners with inheritances from a sect like Five Spring Mountain, there is simply no comparison. So you need not think this is a case of a great tree drawing the wind." Chen Shan said.
Wu Tao hurriedly replied, "Senior Chen is absolutely right. I have learned from your instruction."
Chen Shan smiled. "Let us speak of business first. Tomorrow, I will be transferred to take charge of another Artifact Refining Room. I intend to bring you along. That Artifact Refining Room needs artifact refiners who understand the Solidification Restriction. If you go there, your monthly compensation will increase by Three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."
So this was the opportunity... Three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Still, an extra three stones was excellent. Wu Tao considered it, then said gratefully, "Many thanks for Senior Chen's support."
Chen Shan said, "All right, you may return now."
The next day.
Wu Tao followed Chen Shan to an Artifact Refining Room in another area. After becoming familiar with the refining work, he discovered that all he needed to do each day was inscribe Solidification Restrictions onto standardized Black Essence Iron Plates.
For the moment, Wu Tao did not know what these Black Essence Iron Plates were used for.
However, as he grew more familiar with Chen Shan, Wu Tao discovered that Chen Shan was a genuinely good man who truly treated him well. Wu Tao accordingly changed his attitude and treated Chen Shan with the same respect he would show an elder.
It was also Chen Shan who revealed to him that these Black Essence Iron Plates were used in a type of Flying Magic Tool, a magic tool Five Spring Mountain employed in warfare.
A First-Rank Level 4 Solidification Restriction?
Warfare?
Wu Tao was deeply puzzled. But he reasoned that Five Spring Mountain surely possessed more ingenious secrets for refining magical artifacts. Perhaps the Black Essence Iron Plate was merely one component of that magical artifact. That was not impossible.
Time slowly passed.
The battles between the two factions outside did not affect the artifact refiners.
Securely situated in the rear, cultivating with peace of mind—this was the life Wu Tao wanted.
In the blink of an eye, three and a half months had passed.
For the rogue cultivators of West Outer City, these three months had been difficult to endure. Rogue cultivators died every day, and beautiful Female Cultivators were seized every day. In chaotic times, Female Cultivators had become another kind of resource.
In truth, among the four words Wealth, Companions, Dharma, and Land in the Cultivation World, Female Cultivators really were one kind of cultivation resource, one means of continuing the cultivation bloodline.
The Female Cultivators among the rogue cultivators also wanted to form Dao Companions with disciples from great sects like Five Spring Mountain. Yet the disciples of Five Spring Mountain looked down on rogue Female Cultivators, believing that rogue cultivators had poor talent and that any descendants born from such unions would be inferior as well.
Rogue Female Cultivators who aimed too high while lacking the ability to match their ambitions looked down on Male Cultivators who were also rogue cultivators. Such situations were not uncommon among rogue cultivators.
Wu Tao also wanted to possess Wealth, Companions, Dharma, and Land. He knew it would be difficult, but there was still hope.
After three and a half months, Wu Tao's overall strength had improved tremendously. He opened his Personal Status.
[Name: Wu Tao] [Lifespan: 26/85] [Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining] [Cultivation Technique: Three Yang Technique: Qi Refining Chapter (Third Level): 98%] [Spells: Fireball Technique Beginner (95%), Cleaning Spell Beginner (90%)] [Divine Ability: None] [Primary Profession: Artifact Refiner]: Mastered Restrictions: First-Order Level 1 Cooling Restriction, First-Rank Level 2 Wind-Speed Restriction, Tier 1 Level 1 Dust-Repelling Restriction, Tier 1 Level 1 Rain-Repelling Restriction, First-Rank Level 3 Small Spirit Light Shield Restriction, First-Rank Level 4 Spirit-Absorbing Restriction, First-Rank Level 4 Solidification Restriction, First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Restriction [Secondary Profession · Body Cultivator: Dragon Spear Body Tempering Art: Bone Refining (5%), Dragon Spear · Fire Sweep Expert (20%), Dragon Spear · Wind and Thunder Expert (20%)]
As he looked over the lines of information, joy involuntarily appeared on Wu Tao's face.
"Three and a half months have passed. The war outside has not reached me, so I can cultivate with peace of mind. I have more than enough Qi Condensation Pills, and I am only two percent away from breaking through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining."
"The Tendon Refining stage is complete, and I have now entered the Bone Refining stage. However, Bone Refining is harder than Flesh Refining and Tendon Refining. The required medicinal herbs need greater age and larger doses. With my current wealth, I can only slow its progress."
"I have also inscribed the Spirit Wandering Restriction. But in this environment, I have no Artifact Refining Room to use for refinement, though I have enough Spirit Stones to buy the Spiritual Materials... Right, Senior Chen has a private Artifact Refining Room at his residence. Once I break through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, I will borrow it from Senior Chen and refine a pair of Spirit Wandering Boots."
"The Fire Sweep and Wind and Thunder forms of the Dragon Spear Technique have both reached the expert level, and their power has greatly increased."
I think I can do this.
Before you continue