Yan Chihuo said, "Are you truly seeking instruction in artifact refining, Fellow Daoist, or are you using that as an excuse to seize and kill me when the chance arises?"
Yuan Yangzi laughed heartily. "Since that is the case, I shall speak plainly. I originally intended to capture you, Fellow Daoist, and force you to reveal your artifact-refining arts. But since you possess such means and could escape with ease, I will sincerely seek your instruction instead."
Yan Chihuo snorted. "At least you're straightforward."
Yuan Yangzi laughed. "In the cultivation world, the strong are revered while the weak fend for themselves. That is the norm. Why must Fellow Daoist take it so much to heart?"
Seeing that Yan Chihuo did not answer, he continued, "You could leave, yet you remain here discussing artifact refining at length. Surely you did not come merely to chat with me?"
Yan Chihuo said, "Very well. Seeing that you too are obsessed with artifact refining, I shall explain a little. Whether it is the lowest-grade Talisman Artifact or the most supreme Xuantian Spirit Treasure, its power is determined by no more than four factors: attributes, materials, functions, and restrictions. Attributes and materials are determined by the spirit materials themselves. Functions are the purpose of the treasure, decided by the refining method you employ. Restrictions are what effectively organize attributes, materials, and functions together."
Yuan Yangzi said, "This is the most basic common knowledge of artifact refining."
Yan Chihuo said, "And it is precisely this most basic common knowledge that you have misunderstood. You believe that since restrictions must effectively organize attributes, materials, and functions, a breakthrough in restrictions would allow different Magic Treasures to merge into one, correct?"
Yuan Yangzi nodded.
Yan Chihuo said, "Your mistake is that restrictions actually only combine any two of