Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens

After more than a month of continuous artifact forging, hundreds of orders had all been completed. Less than three months after Zhou Yang took over Jade Spring Tower, he had transformed the once utterly ordinary shop into the best-performing store in Golden Sand Market.

Thanks to the enormous flow of customers brought by this large-scale artifact forging effort, more than half of the pills, artifacts, and spirit talismans the shop had accumulated were sold in one stroke. The sales revenue of just a few months surpassed the combined revenue of the previous ten years.

Zhou Yang himself had also steadily earned nearly two thousand low-grade spirit stones from this grand artifact-forging endeavor, and his purse had swollen at once.

He was not someone who favored one over another. While he ate meat, he also let his clansmen Zhou Yu and Zhou Xiong, who worked as clerks at Jade Spring Tower, drink some soup. With a grand stroke of the pen, he directly gave each of them a bonus of one hundred spirit stones as a reward for all their running about these days.

He did not even need to pay the money himself; it could simply be deducted from Jade Spring Tower's operating income. With the shop's sales figures over the past few months laid out in plain sight, no one in the Lineage could raise any objection.

Another two months passed, and just as Zhou Yang had predicted, the custom artifact business throughout Golden Sand Market rapidly declined as the market approached saturation. Even sales of finished artifacts plummeted in a straight line.

This slump was expected to last quite a long time before recovering. After all, artifacts were not one-use consumables like pills and spirit talismans. As long as cultivators regularly nourished and refined certain high-grade artifacts with spiritual power, it was not impossible for them to be passed down for generations and used for thousands of years.

But that was no longer Zhou Yang's concern. In any case, he and Jade Spring Tower had already earned enough spirit stones from this campaign. Even if they sold not a single artifact over the next ten years, they would still be profiting.

Ever since he discovered that cultivating in the Underground Fire Room helped him break through cultivation barriers, he spent twenty days there every month. He did not forge artifacts either; he merely released the earthfire to burn an empty furnace, then practiced spells beside it.

This truly proved effective. After two or three months of cultivating in the Underground Fire Room, the cultivation barrier trapping Zhou Yang grew weaker and weaker, until only a thin layer remained.

At that point, Zhou Yang had a feeling that as long as he went out and found a place rich in spiritual energy to cultivate in seclusion for a few days, he would definitely break through that thin barrier and enter Qi Refining Layer Nine.

Moved by this realization, he immediately left the Underground Fire Room and prepared to return to Jade Spring Tower to cultivate in seclusion and break through.

But just as he returned outside Jade Spring Tower, he heard his clansman Zhou Xiong arguing with a customer inside.

"I'm telling you, Fellow Daoist, we run an honest business, and I do not want to curse anyone. If you truly believe the thing in your hand is a treasure, then you can take it to another shop and see whether they are willing to trade a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact for that broken rock of yours!"

"A broken rock? Watch how you speak, brat! This is Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, which even earthfire cannot refine. It is at least a Tier 4 Spiritual Item! Trading a Tier 4 Spiritual Item for one Tier 2 High-grade Artifact means you people are making a killing, understand?"

"Hehe, you think any harder rock you find is a Tier 4 Spiritual Item? Would a Tier 4 Spiritual Item not emit even the slightest spiritual aura? Who are you trying to fool? I'm telling you, if you do not leave now, do not blame me for throwing you out!"

"Throw me out? What can a puny Qi Refining Layer Four cultivator like you possibly do? I will not lower myself to the level of an ignorant shop boy like you. Go get your shopkeeper. I heard he is a Second-tier High-grade Artifact Forger. Once he comes and takes a look, he will surely know every word I said is true!"

Standing outside the door, Zhou Yang's face flashed with curiosity when he heard this. He immediately moved his feet and strode into the building.

The moment he entered, he saw Zhou Xiong glaring at a burly middle-aged man. The two stood locked in confrontation, while the middle-aged man held a head-sized black ore in his right hand.

This burly middle-aged man was at Qi Refining Layer Eight. No wonder Zhou Xiong, despite being on his own turf, had been made to lose face so badly and was unable to step down.

When Zhou Xiong saw Zhou Yang enter, it was as if he had found someone to back him up. His momentum immediately surged as he pointed angrily at the burly middle-aged man. "Ninth Brother, you came at just the right time. This fellow brought over a broken rock with no spiritual aura fluctuations and insisted it is some Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens. He even wants to use this broken rock to trade for that Fire Cloud Banner artifact you consigned to the shop!"

The Fire Cloud Banner was the crimson banner artifact Zhou Yang had obtained after killing sand bandits in the sea of sand. This artifact was a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact, and its forging methods were quite refined, giving him much inspiration in artifact forging.

However, he already had enough artifacts at hand. Thus, after thoroughly studying this artifact, he had put it up for sale in the shop along with the other artifacts and spiritual items seized from the sand bandits. By now, most of the other artifacts and spiritual items had been sold, while this item remained unsold due to its relatively high price.

Therefore, after hearing Zhou Xiong's words, Zhou Yang immediately cupped his hands toward the burly middle-aged man and said, "I am Zhou Yang, the shopkeeper of Jade Spring Tower. May I ask whether what my clansman said is true? Could Fellow Daoist let me examine the spiritual item in your hand?"

"You are Master Zhou Yang of Jade Spring Tower? You do look as young as the rumors say. I just wonder whether you are really as capable as the rumors claim. Do not let it turn out that you are all fame and no substance!"

The burly middle-aged man's thick brows and large eyes twitched as he looked Zhou Yang up and down with a face full of suspicion. While shouting these words, he extended his hand and passed the black ore to Zhou Yang.

The moment Zhou Xiong saw this, he immediately jumped up and shouted, "Ninth Brother, look at him! He is far too rude. Do not let him bluff you. We shopkeepers have seen plenty of tricks like this. I would wager that this broken rock of his has passed through the hands of artifact forgers at other shops no fewer than ten times. If it were truly a treasure, someone would have taken it long ago. Would it still be our turn?"

"Rest assured, Thirteenth Brother. I know what I am doing. Go attend to the other customers first."

Zhou Yang gave his clansman a reassuring look and smiled faintly as he took the black ore from the burly middle-aged man and began examining it carefully.

He had read all the artifact-forging manuals collected by the Zhou Lineage and had also studied the Record of Heavenly Treasures given to him by his father, Zhou Xuanhao. He knew no fewer than a thousand kinds of ores and spiritual items. Yet no matter how he examined this black ore, even using methods such as washing it with spiritual power and probing it with divine sense, he could not match it to any spiritual item in his memories.

The only thing he could confirm was that this stone, which emitted no spiritual aura fluctuations whatsoever, was indeed extremely hard. The burly middle-aged man was likely not lying when he said that even earthfire could not refine it.

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

Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens all came from the Upper Realm and was at least Tier 5. The spiritual aura fluctuations it emitted could be sensed even from hundreds of miles away. How could it be like this black ore, which possessed no spiritual aura fluctuations at all?

Of course, although this black ore was not Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, it certainly was not the broken rock Zhou Xiong called it either. Based solely on its hardness and heat resistance, which even earthfire could not overcome, it was definitely no ordinary mortal object.

Zhou Xiong himself presumably knew this as well. The reason he called the black ore a broken rock was likely not only because he was angered by the burly middle-aged man's lion opening its jaws, but also because he wanted to drive down the price.

If they could acquire this black ore cheaply and bring it back to the Lineage for the Old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan, to examine, then perhaps, with the Old Clan Leader's knowledge, he might recognize its origins.

But Zhou Yang knew that since the burly middle-aged man dared to open his mouth like a lion and demand a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact in exchange for this ore, he definitely would not sell this strange treasure cheaply.

Thus, he continued staring wide-eyed at the ore on the surface, as though identifying its origins, while inwardly calculating the lowest price the burly middle-aged man could accept.

After pondering for a while, he came to a decision.

A flash of regret appeared in his eyes as he looked at the burly middle-aged man, who watched him with a tense expression. "Fellow Daoist, please forgive my poor eyesight, but I truly cannot make out anything special about this ore of yours."

After saying that, he extended his hand and returned the ore to the other man.

The burly middle-aged man's face immediately sank. He could not help letting out a heavy snort. "Hmph! It seems you too are someone with an undeserved reputation. You cannot even recognize Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, yet you dare call yourself an Artifact Forging Master!"

"Say whatever you like, Fellow Daoist. In any event, it is impossible for you to trade this unknown ore for a Tier 2 High-grade Artifact. Not to mention that my Fire Cloud Banner is a superior piece even among Tier 2 High-grade Artifacts. I will not sell it for less than eight hundred spirit stones." Zhou Yang smiled faintly, unmoved by the provocation.

"What unknown ore? This is clearly Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens! Do not spout nonsense just because you cannot recognize it!" The flesh on the burly middle-aged man's face trembled as he protested with a furious roar.

"Yes, yes, we do not know good goods, and we have delayed your time earning spirit stones. Since you insist this is Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens, honored guest, why not take it to the Yellow Sand Sect's or the Chen Lineage's shops to sell? A treasure like Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens is more than a small Lineage like ours can bear. You should go back where you came from!"

At some point, Zhou Xiong had come over again. With a strange, mocking expression, he ridiculed the burly middle-aged man relentlessly, his eyes brimming with resentment.

In his eyes, this man had seen Jade Spring Tower's recent booming business and deliberately come to cause trouble by making false claims. Zhou Yang had just given him a hundred-spirit-stone bonus because the shop's sales had increased greatly, so naturally he loathed anyone who wanted to stir up trouble and ruin their business.

"You..." The burly middle-aged man pointed at Zhou Xiong, his face burning with shame and rage as he wanted to curse him out. But Zhou Yang's suddenly sharp gaze and imposing presence beside him made him swallow the words that had reached his lips.

He had, of course, visited the Yellow Sand Sect's and the Chen Lineage's shops. But the clerks at those two shops were not as easy to bully as Zhou Xiong. After both the appraiser and artifact forger in the shops denied that the black ore was a spiritual item, they had unceremoniously driven him out. Yet he did not even dare let out a fart.

After releasing his aura to intimidate the burly middle-aged man, Zhou Yang's expression also darkened. He looked at him solemnly and said, "Fellow Daoist, I respect you as a real man, and I know cultivation is not easy for Rogue Cultivators. If you truly like that Fire Cloud Banner artifact, then I am willing to make a friend of you. I will take this 'Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens' at the price of a Tier 2 Mid-grade artifact. Add another five hundred spirit stones, and you may take that artifact away!"

When the burly middle-aged man heard this, interest immediately appeared in his eyes. He studied Zhou Yang's expression once more, hesitation flashing across his face. In the end, he nodded. "Fine. Since the shopkeeper has put it this way, I, Zhong Quan, will make a friend of you. We will do as you say!"

In truth, Zhong Quan, the burly middle-aged man, also knew that the black ore in his hands looked nothing like the legendary Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens. But he had discovered this item within a "heavenly pit" in the sea of sand. At the time, he had searched the entire heavenly pit and found only this ore that met the standard of a treasure, which was why he had concluded that it was Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens.

Yet over the years, he had visited every shop in the market. No matter how he exhausted his tongue trying to persuade them, no one had been willing to purchase this ore at the price of Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens. By now, even he no longer regarded it as Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens.

The reason he still kept insisting it was Exotic Gold from Beyond the Heavens was merely because he was unwilling to accept that all the time and effort he had wasted running around over the years had been for nothing. It was also an item obtained through a fortuitous encounter, so he was reluctant to sell it cheaply.

Before Zhou Yang, even when others had offered prices for the black ore out of curiosity or a desire to gamble, they had offered at most fifty spirit stones. Naturally, he had been unwilling to sell such a treasure at such a cheap price.

Now that Zhou Yang was willing to purchase it at the price of a Tier 2 Mid-grade artifact, although he still felt somewhat unwilling and distressed, wondering whether Zhou Yang had discovered something, he did not dare gamble any longer.

If he missed this opportunity, then at least in Golden Sand Market, he would not find anyone willing to offer more than Zhou Yang. Once word of today's events spread, the people laughing at him would likely increase tenfold, even a hundredfold. No matter how thick his skin was, he could not withstand that!

And after he agreed, it was as if he had set down some obsession. A subtle change occurred in his state of mind, and the Qi Refining Layer Nine bottleneck that had troubled him for years actually showed signs of loosening.

This discovery delighted him beyond measure. He quickly took out five hundred spirit stones on the spot and handed them, along with the black ore, to Zhou Yang. After taking the Fire Cloud Banner artifact that had stirred his heart so deeply, he hurriedly bid Zhou Yang farewell and left Jade Spring Tower, returning home to prepare for a breakthrough.

When Zhou Xiong saw this, he could not help cursing again. "That fellow truly has no manners. He ran the moment he got the better end of the deal. Only because Ninth Brother is so easy to talk to did he get away with it. If it had been Seventh Uncle instead, he would have driven this troublemaker out long ago. How could he have allowed him to run wild here?"

"Enough, Thirteenth Brother. Say less. I came back to give you a few instructions. I will be cultivating in seclusion in the rear courtyard to break through to Qi Refining Layer Nine. Even if the sky falls, do not disturb me."

Zhou Yang waved his hand, stopping Zhou Xiong's tirade. After giving a few instructions, he put the spirit stones and black ore given by Zhong Quan into his Storage Bag and headed directly to the seclusion chamber in Jade Spring Tower's rear courtyard.

This chapter is four thousand words. The question raised in the previous single chapter has also been settled. The overall direction has not changed, while minor adjustments were made according to readers' suggestions. Please continue reading patiently. Please vote with recommendation tickets and invest in the new book.