Four Floors

Wu Tao closed his Personal Status, the smug look on his face vanishing. He admonished himself internally that such thoughts were not to be entertained.

After a brief tidying up, Wu Tao headed to the Artifact Refining Room.

The Artifact Refining Room, responsible for engraving Solidification Restrictions, had twenty-five Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners. Twenty were First-Rank Level 5 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners, and the rest were First-Rank Level 4 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners.

Those twenty First-Rank Level 5 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners didn't seem to have as bright future prospects as the remaining five First-Rank Level 4 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners. They were First-Rank Level 4, yet doing the same work as the First-Rank Level 5s, so naturally, their future was more promising, and their artifact refining talent better.

Each person was required to engrave thirty Black Essence Iron Spirit Plates daily, with only ten allowed to be scrapped, meaning they had to successfully engrave twenty.

If they failed to complete the task for three consecutive days, they would be sent to the Iron Smelting pits. Not only would their treatment be worse, but the work would also be less easy and dignified.

Upon arriving at the Artifact Refining Room, Wu Tao greeted the Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners who were already there.

Three and a half months had passed, and all twenty-five of them were familiar with each other.

Furthermore, they knew Wu Tao had been brought in by the supervisor, Chen Shan, and since he wasn't a competitor, they were willing to interact with him.

"Li Mo, I have something to tell you?" Niu Xi, a First-Rank Level 4 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner, pulled Wu Tao aside and led him to a corner of the Artifact Refining Room, looking like he wanted to whisper something.

Wu Tao vaguely knew what he was going to say but still asked, "Fellow Daoist Niu, what is it that's so secretive?"

Niu Xi glanced at a female artifact refiner at a refining station in the distance of the Artifact Refining Room and said in a low voice, "It's about Qiao Ya. What do you think of Qiao Ya? I asked Qiao Ya, and she said if you're willing, you can become Dao Companions. Qiao Ya's artifact refining talent is also quite good. She's only in her early forties and is already a First-Rank Level 4 artifact refiner. If you two become Dao Companions, it would be extremely beneficial for your future development."

Wu Tao felt a headache coming on. He secretly looked at Qiao Ya. Qiao Ya was one of the five First-Rank Level 4 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners. She was forty-two this year, which for a cultivator was still the prime of youth. Moreover, Qiao Ya, true to her name, had a dignified and elegant personality. Although her appearance was ordinary, she had skills. She was definitely a suitable match for him.

However, he just didn't feel any spark with Qiao Ya.

Qiao Ya seemed to notice Wu Tao's gaze. She turned her head slightly, and their eyes met. Both of them tacitly withdrew their gazes. Wu Tao said to Niu Xi in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Niu, thank you for your trouble in arranging this, but I truly don't have any romantic feelings for Qiao Ya... I feel quite content being alone."

Niu Xi's expression turned serious. He offered sincere advice, "Li Mo, do you think Qiao Ya isn't beautiful enough? I'm telling you, when looking for a Dao Companion, you must find someone capable. It will be beneficial for your future development and for your descendants. If you like someone pretty but useless, what's the point?"

"Feelings can be cultivated. Why don't you try getting along with Qiao Ya first?"

Wu Tao nodded, "Fellow Daoist Niu, I agree with what you're saying, but I really don't have any intentions towards Qiao Ya. Right now, I only want to focus on refining artifacts. I haven't considered the matter of a Dao Companion yet."

"As for you suggesting I try, it wouldn't be like your situation with Zhang Rong, would it?"

Zhang Rong was also in this Artifact Refining Room. She was a First-Rank Level 5 Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner whose talent had basically reached its limit. She was nearly fifty, with a mature charm like a ripe peach. She was ten years older than Niu Xi. They hadn't become Dao Companions but had formed a temporary partnership. It was possible they would go their separate ways once the warfare ended.

Niu Xi said, "That's right! My situation with Zhang Rong is quite good. We each get what we need... Since you've made up your mind, I'll go tell Qiao Ya then. Don't go back on your word later... Men, when they get ambitious, they always need to resolve things..."

Wu Tao was speechless. He watched as Niu Xi walked over to Qiao Ya and whispered something to her. Qiao Ya looked crestfallen and turned to look at Wu Tao, her gaze filled with resentment.

Wu Tao opened his mouth, about to say something, when Chen Shan happened to walk in and called for everyone to prepare for their engraving work.

'Thank you, Senior Chen, for saving me...' Wu Tao cast a grateful glance at Chen Shan and then began to focus on engraving the Solidification Restriction on the Black Essence Iron.

The break for rest and meals in the middle is omitted.

When it was time to get off work, Chen Shan said, "Li Mo, come to the office with me."

Wu Tao quickly followed Chen Shan to the office. After Wu Tao closed the door, Chen Shan turned around and said to him with a solemn expression, "Li Mo, stay in the Artifact Refining Hall recently and don't go out anymore."

Wu Tao's heart stirred, and he asked, "Senior Chen, has the warfare changed again?"

Recently, there had only been the war between Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect. The battlefield had a huge influence, and a single move could affect the whole situation.

Chen Shan nodded, "True Persons have entered the fray."

True Persons... that is to say, Golden Core cultivators. In this Cultivation World, Foundation Establishment is Lesser True Person, Golden Core is True Person, and Nascent Soul is True Monarch. Before, it was only Lesser True Persons of Foundation Establishment who entered the fray. Now that Golden Core True Persons have entered, it means the warfare has escalated.

The destructive power of Golden Core cultivators was far beyond that of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"I understand, Senior Chen." Wu Tao did not forget to thank him, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Chen."

His level was still too low. It was difficult for him to obtain such insider information. Chen Shan, on the other hand, could communicate directly with the Artifact Refining Hall and obtain this important information.

Information could sometimes save lives.

Chen Shan said, "Several Foundation Establishment cultivators died on both sides, and they've gotten heated. It's not surprising that Golden Core True Persons have entered the fray."

'Foundation Establishment cultivators died?' Wu Tao's heart trembled. Fortunately, his profession was an Artifact Refiner, allowing him to stay safely in the rear. Otherwise, with his Qi Refining strength, he would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

"By the way, is that Niu Xi trying to matchmake you and Qiao Ya to become Dao Companions?" Chen Shan asked casually.

Upon hearing this, Wu Tao glanced at Chen Shan strangely, feeling like he was caught in a relationship by his homeroom teacher when he was studying. But why was Chen Shan inquiring about this? Did he really value him that much?

"It is true, but I politely declined. I believe I should focus wholeheartedly on artifact refining at the moment."

Chen Shan was satisfied. "Good, I'm relieved you made this decision. Alright, go back and cultivate."

Wu Tao bowed and took his leave. After coming out, he realized he had forgotten to ask Chen Shan to borrow the artifact refining room to refine the Spirit Wandering Boots. After thinking about it, he planned to refine them after breaking through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining anyway. It wouldn't be too late to tell Chen Shan then.

Three days later.

Today was a full day off, and Wu Tao planned to start breaking through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.

He placed the prayer mat on the bed, sat on it, cleared his mind, then took out the Qi Condensation Pill, swallowed it, and immediately circulated the Sanyang Technique to refine the pill in his stomach.

The spiritual power of the Qi Condensation Pill was slowly refined.

His Dantian became fuller and fuller.

After refining five Qi Condensation Pills in a row, his Dantian was completely full. Wu Tao knew that the opportunity to break through had arrived. With a thought, the spiritual power in his Dantian, which was about to overflow, was instantly moved and rushed towards the mysterious bottleneck.

As he silently chanted the word 'Break' in his heart, he heard a slight tremor in his Dantian, like a twilight drum and morning bell, resounding throughout his body. His Dantian suddenly expanded, and the originally full spiritual power instantly bottomed out.

Fourth Level of Qi Refining.

Success.

Wu Tao's face lit up with joy. Sensing the improvement in his strength after the breakthrough, he exclaimed happily, "Mid-Stage Qi Refining, it's truly not on the same level as Early-Stage Qi Refining."

He felt a significant increase in his power.

"Let's check my lifespan. Last time I broke through to the Third Level of Qi Refining, it increased by two years. This time, being Mid-Stage Qi Refining, it should be more, right?"

Lifespan is predetermined, but cultivation is about fighting against fate for longevity.

[Lifespan: 26/89]

[Realm: Fourth Level of Qi Refining]

[Cultivation Technique: Three Yang Technique: Qi Refining Chapter (Fourth Layer): 0%]

A brief explanation here: Wu Tao is currently using the alias Li Mo, so everyone addresses him as Li Mo. There was a misunderstanding earlier, so please don't say the name is written incorrectly anymore.