Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens

For over a month, Zhou Yang worked tirelessly on artifact forging, completing hundreds of orders. In less than three months since taking over the Jade Spring Tower, he had transformed the once ordinary shop into the most prosperous business in the Golden Sand Market.

Thanks to the massive customer traffic generated by this large-scale artifact forging event, a significant portion of the shop's existing inventory of pills, artifacts, and talismans was sold. In just a few short months, the sales revenue surpassed that of the previous ten years combined.

Zhou Yang himself also reaped substantial rewards from this artifact forging endeavor, steadily accumulating nearly two thousand low-grade spirit stones, making his wallet considerably heavier.

He wasn't one to play favorites. While he enjoyed the fruits of his labor, he also ensured his clan brothers, Zhou Yu and Zhou Xiong, who worked as shop assistants at the Jade Spring Tower, got a taste of the success. With a generous wave of his hand, he awarded them each a one-hundred spirit stone bonus, a reward for their hard work and dedication during this busy period.

This money didn't come out of his personal funds; it was directly deducted from the Jade Spring Tower's operating revenue. Given the shop's impressive sales figures over the past few months, no one in the family could possibly raise any objections.

Another two months passed, and as Zhou Yang had anticipated, the artifact customization business in the entire Golden Sand Market began to decline rapidly due to market saturation. Even the sales of finished artifacts saw a sharp downward trend.

This sluggish market condition was expected to persist for a considerable time before any recovery. After all, artifacts were not like pills or talismans, which were consumable items. High-grade artifacts, when frequently nurtured and refined by cultivators with their mana, could even be passed down through generations and used for over a thousand years.

However, this downturn was no longer Zhou Yang's concern. He and the Jade Spring Tower had already earned a substantial amount of spirit stones from this event. Even if they sold no artifacts for the next ten years, they would still be profitable.

Since discovering that cultivating in the Underground Fire Room aided his breakthrough of cultivation barriers, Zhou Yang began spending twenty days each month there. He wouldn't forge artifacts; instead, he would release the underground fire to heat the empty furnace and then practice spells nearby.

This method proved effective. After two to three months of cultivation in the Underground Fire Room, the cultivation barrier that had been holding Zhou Yang back grew progressively weaker, until only a thin layer remained.

At this point, Zhou Yang felt that as soon as he left the room and found a place rich in spiritual qi to enter secluded cultivation for a few days, he would surely be able to break through this final thin barrier and advance to Qi Refining Layer Nine.

With this intuition, he immediately left the Underground Fire Room, preparing to return to the Jade Spring Tower to enter secluded cultivation for his breakthrough.

However, as soon as he arrived outside the Jade Spring Tower, he heard the sound of his clan brother Zhou Xiong arguing with a customer inside.

"Listen here, fellow Daoist. We open our doors for business, and I don't want to be rude. If you truly believe what you have is a treasure, you're welcome to sell it elsewhere and see if anyone is willing to trade a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact for this piece of junk!"

"Junk? How dare you speak to me like that, boy? This is Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens that even underground fire cannot refine! It's a spiritual item of at least Tier 4! Trading a Tier 4 spiritual item for just one of your Tier 2 High-grade Artifacts? You're making a fortune, don't you understand?"

"Heh heh, do you think any hard rock you find is automatically a Tier 4 spiritual item? Would a Tier 4 spiritual item not emit even a trace of spiritual qi? Are you trying to fool me? Let me tell you, if you don't leave now, don't blame me for being impolite and kicking you out!"

"Impolite? How can you, a mere Qi Refining Layer Four cultivator, be impolite? I won't stoop to your level, you ignorant brat. Go find your shopkeeper. I heard he's a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact Forger. Once he examines it, he'll surely know that everything I've said is true!"

Hearing this from outside the door, Zhou Yang's eyes flickered with curiosity. He immediately quickened his pace and strode into the building.

Upon entering, he saw his clan brother Zhou Xiong glaring at a burly middle-aged man. The middle-aged man held a roughly head-sized piece of pitch-black ore in his right hand.

This burly middle-aged man was at Qi Refining Layer Eight cultivation. It was no wonder Zhou Xiong, even on his own turf, was being cornered and embarrassed.

Seeing Zhou Yang enter, Zhou Xiong seemed to find support and his demeanor strengthened. With a face full of indignation, he pointed at the burly middle-aged man and said, "Ninth Brother, you've arrived at the perfect time! This fellow brought a piece of junk that doesn't even fluctuate with spiritual qi, insisting it's Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens. He even wants to trade this piece of junk for the Fire Cloud Banner artifact you have on consignment in the shop!"

The Fire Cloud Banner was the crimson flag artifact Zhou Yang had obtained after killing sand bandits in the desert. This artifact was a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact, and its forging technique was quite remarkable, providing him with considerable inspiration for artifact forging.

However, he already had enough artifacts for his own use. After thoroughly studying this artifact, he had put it up for sale in the shop along with other artifacts and spiritual items confiscated from the sand bandits. Most of the other artifacts and spiritual items had already been sold, leaving only this one, which had not sold due to its high price.

Therefore, upon hearing Zhou Xiong's words, Zhou Yang immediately cupped his hands towards the burly middle-aged man and said, "I am Zhou Yang, the proprietor of the Jade Spring Tower. Is what my clan brother said true? May I have a look at the spiritual item in your hand?"

"You are Master Zhou Yang of the Jade Spring Tower? You look as young as the legends say. I just hope you're as capable as the legends claim and not just all talk!"

The burly middle-aged man's thick eyebrows and large eyes twitched, and he scrutinized Zhou Yang with a face full of suspicion. As he spoke, he extended his hand, offering the piece of pitch-black ore to Zhou Yang.

Seeing this, Zhou Xiong immediately jumped up and shouted, "Ninth Brother, look! This guy is so rude! Don't be fooled by him. We shopkeepers have seen this trick many times. I bet this piece of junk in his hand has already been examined by artifact forgers in at least ten other shops. If it were truly a treasure, someone would have bought it long ago, and it would have come to us?"

"Thirteenth Brother, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. You go attend to other customers first."

Zhou Yang gave his clan brother a reassuring look, smiled slightly, and took the pitch-black ore from the burly middle-aged man, examining it carefully.

He had diligently studied all the artifact forging classics in the Zhou Family's collection and had also read the "Record of Heavenly Treasures" given to him by his father, Zhou Xuanhao. He was familiar with over a thousand types of ores and spiritual items. However, no matter how he looked at this pitch-black ore, or how he used methods like mana refinement and divine sense penetration analysis, he couldn't match it with any spiritual item in his memory.

The only thing he could confirm was that this stone, which showed no fluctuation of spiritual qi, was indeed very hard. The burly middle-aged man's claim that even underground fire couldn't refine it was likely not a lie.

However, Zhou Yang absolutely did not believe the burly middle-aged man's claim that this pitch-black ore was Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens.

Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens originated from the upper realms and was at least Tier 5 in grade. Its emitted spiritual qi fluctuations could be detected from hundreds of miles away. How could it be like this pitch-black ore, showing no spiritual qi fluctuation at all?

Of course, even though the pitch-black ore was not Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, it was certainly not the "junk" Zhou Xiong described. Judging by its hardness and heat resistance, which even underground fire couldn't overcome, it was definitely not an ordinary mortal object.

Zhou Xiong likely knew this himself. The reason he called the pitch-black ore "junk" was probably not only due to his anger at the burly middle-aged man's exorbitant price but also a tactic to drive down the price.

If they could acquire this pitch-black ore at a lower price and bring it back to the family for the Old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan, to examine, perhaps the Old Clan Leader's knowledge could identify its origin.

However, Zhou Yang knew that since the burly middle-aged man dared to ask for a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact in exchange for this ore, he would certainly not sell this rare treasure at a low price.

Therefore, while outwardly appearing to be scrutinizing the ore with wide eyes, as if trying to identify its origin, he was actually contemplating the lowest price the burly middle-aged man would accept.

After pondering for a while, he had a plan.

A look of regret flashed in his eyes as he looked at the burly middle-aged man, who was watching him with a nervous expression, and said, "Fellow Daoist, please forgive my poor eyesight. I truly cannot discern anything special about your ore."

With that, he extended his hand, returning the ore to the man.

The burly middle-aged man's face immediately darkened upon hearing this, and he let out a cold snort: "Hmph, it seems you're also all talk and no substance. You can't even recognize Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, yet you dare call yourself an Artifact Master!"

"Say whatever you wish, Fellow Daoist. In any case, it's impossible for you to exchange this unknown ore for a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact. Moreover, my Fire Cloud Banner is considered a top-quality item even among Tier 2 High-grade Artifacts, and it won't be sold for less than eight hundred spirit stones," Zhou Yang replied with a slight smile, unfazed by the provocation.

"What unknown ore? This is clearly Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens! If you don't recognize it, don't spout nonsense!" The burly middle-aged man's face twitched with anger, and he roared in protest.

"Yes, we don't recognize it and have wasted your precious time trying to earn spirit stones. Since you insist it's Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, why don't you go sell it at the Yellow Sand Sect or the Chen Family's shops? Our Zhou Family, being a small family, is not worthy of such a treasure as Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens. You should just go back where you came from!"

At some point, Zhou Xiong had returned and was now looking at the burly middle-aged man with a sarcastic and resentful expression, spewing taunts.

In his opinion, this man was clearly trying to cause trouble and extort them, seeing how well the Jade Spring Tower had been doing recently. Having just received a one-hundred spirit stone bonus from Zhou Yang due to the shop's increased sales, he naturally harbored intense hatred for anyone trying to disrupt their business.

"You..." The burly middle-aged man pointed at Zhou Xiong, his face flushed with shame and anger, wanting to curse him. However, the sudden sharp and imposing gaze and aura from Zhou Yang beside him made him swallow the words back into his throat.

He had indeed visited the shops of the Yellow Sand Sect and the Chen Family. However, the shop assistants there were not as easily bullied as Zhou Xiong. After the appraisers and artifact forgers in both shops denied the black ore being a spiritual item, they had unceremoniously kicked him out. Yet, he hadn't dared to utter a single word of protest.

After intimidating the burly middle-aged man with his aura, Zhou Yang's expression turned stern. He looked at him and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, I respect you as a man, and I understand that it's not easy for rogue cultivators to practice their arts. If you genuinely like that Fire Cloud Banner artifact, I am willing to befriend you and purchase your 'Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens' at the price of a Tier 2 Mid-grade Artifact. You can then take that artifact for an additional five hundred spirit stones!"

When Zhou Yang said this, the burly middle-aged man's eyes immediately showed a moved expression. He looked at Zhou Yang's face again, then hesitated for a moment before finally nodding and saying, "Alright, since the shopkeeper has said so, I, Zhong Quan, will be your friend and do as you say!"

In fact, the burly middle-aged man Zhong Quan also knew that the black ore in his hand did not resemble the legendary "Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens" at all. It was just that he had found this item in a "sinkhole" in the sand sea. At that time, he searched the entire "sinkhole" and only found this ore that met the standards of a treasure, which was why he was convinced it was "Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens."

However, over the years, he had visited every shop in the market town. Despite his eloquent explanations, no one was willing to purchase this ore at the price of "Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens." As a result, he no longer considered it "Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens" himself.

The only reason he still insisted it was "Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens" was his unwillingness to accept the wasted time and effort over the years. Coupled with the fact that it was an item obtained by chance, he was unwilling to sell it cheaply.

Before Zhou Yang, even if others had made offers for this black ore out of curiosity or a desire to gamble, they had only offered at most fifty Spirit Stones. He was naturally unwilling to sell this treasure so cheaply.

Now that Zhou Yang was willing to purchase it for the price of a Tier 2 Mid-grade Artifact, even though he still felt some reluctance and discomfort, suspecting that Zhou Yang might have seen something, he dared not gamble any further.

If he missed this opportunity, at least in the Golden Sand Market, he wouldn't find anyone who would offer a higher price than Zhou Yang. Once today's events spread, those who mocked him would likely increase tenfold or a hundredfold. Even with thick skin, he couldn't withstand that!

And ever since he agreed, it was as if a certain obsession had been lifted, and a subtle change occurred in his entire state of mind. The bottleneck of Qi Refining Layer Nine that had troubled him for many years actually showed signs of loosening.

This discovery delighted him. He immediately took out five hundred Spirit Stones and the pitch-black ore, handing them both to Zhou Yang. He took the "Fire Cloud Banner" artifact that had captivated him, then hurriedly bid farewell to Zhou Yang and left the Jade Spring Tower to go home and prepare for his breakthrough.

When Zhou Xiong saw this scene, he couldn't help but curse, "This guy is truly ill-mannered, running off after getting a good deal. If it were Seventh Uncle, he would have already driven away such a troublemaker, not allowing him to run wild here!"

"Alright, Thirteenth Brother, you should say less. I'm back because I wanted to tell you a few things. I'm going into seclusion in the backyard to break through to Qi Refining Layer Nine. No matter how big the matter, do not disturb me."

Zhou Yang waved his hand, stopping Zhou Xiong's scolding. After giving a few instructions, he put the Spirit Stones and the pitch-black ore given by the burly middle-aged man Zhong Quan into his Storage Bag and went directly to the secluded cultivation room in the backyard of the Jade Spring Tower to begin his closed-door cultivation.

This chapter is four thousand words. The question asked in the single chapter earlier has been confirmed. The overall direction has not changed, but the minor directions have been slightly adjusted according to the suggestions of book friends. Please read patiently. Seeking recommendation tickets, seeking investment in new books.