Fine-Quality Sword Artifacts

Chen Keshan sighed inwardly. Kou Xiang'er was merely at Qi Refinement Middle Stage, while the person impersonating Wu Feng was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Back then, after Elder Xu died, there had been no one in the entire Lower River Market who could stand against that person.

As long as he used some means to threaten Kou Xiang'er and force her to cooperate, would that not have been as easy as turning over one's hand?

Yet Chen Keshan did not refute him. He knew full well that Lin Yuanxiao was so eager to steer the matter toward Lin Wanrou's poor judgment of people and improper use of personnel because of the clan's internal strife.

As an outsider, he naturally wanted to stay as far away from such matters as possible.

Thus, he merely followed Lin Yuanxiao's lead and said:

"Master Steward, you are absolutely right.

How about this? You can return and investigate the lead concerning Lin Wanrou looking into Wu Feng's background.

I will further probe the situation and strive to find some other clues."

Lin Yuanxiao nodded in great satisfaction, feeling that Chen Keshan was both tactful and capable. He then departed aboard a flying shuttle.

He did not wish to remain in such a land barren of spiritual energy for even a moment. His body, accustomed to being nourished by spiritual energy, felt uncomfortable all over in a place like this.

Once Lin Yuanxiao had gone far away, the respectful expression on Chen Keshan's face instantly vanished, replaced by a grave look.

He raised his eyes toward Long Sun Mountain and thought:

"According to Lin Wanrou's testimony, she incited Ye Shaochen, the Mysterious Heaven Sect's gifted disciple, to attack and kill He Sheng. Yet He Sheng is now neither seen alive nor found dead. Whether he is truly dead remains uncertain.

"Furthermore, I heard that He Sheng possesses an ice-type talisman treasure, which matches the residual traces of a talisman-treasure-level method at the scene."

Chen Keshan had already thought of a certain possibility, but he immediately shook his head. After glancing once more in the direction of Long Sun Mountain, he left the market and headed north as well.

"The Silver Sand River is a sensitive region. For the Celestial Sea Commerce Association to establish a presence here was already a rash advance.

"Even Ye Shaochen, a Mysterious Heaven Sect prodigy, had his misgivings. He waited until he had left the Silver Sand River region before choosing Ten Thousand Stars Mountain as the place to strike.

"I am only a minor Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator. If I ignored such taboos and personally went to investigate the He Family on Long Sun Mountain, then stirred up a storm and drew demonic cultivators from across the sea of sand to cross the waters, I could not bear that enormous blame."

South of the Silver Sand River lay the Vast Sea Sandbar, stretching for thousands of miles. Beyond it was Chu Province, under the jurisdiction of the True Dao of Netherworld Communion.

Having weighed the crucial points, Chen Keshan understood that even if He Sheng really had done it, he could not investigate personally.

Moreover, Lin Yuanxiao had already set the direction of the investigation. If Chen Keshan rashly created another branch from the main stem, it would be no different from offending this disciple of the main branch.

"After I return, I need only subtly mention a few things to the elders of the Punishment Hall."

With that thought, Chen Keshan sped onward, muttering:

"The Southern Mountain Society gathering is about to begin. I need to get there early, though I wonder what benefits I can fish up this time."

Thinking of the Southern Mountain Society put Chen Keshan in a better mood.

No one liked playing the grandson. There was nothing he could do about bowing and scraping before the Lin Family, but the Southern Mountain Society was different. Say what needed saying, curse when cursing was called for, and if one truly felt dissatisfied, one could simply pull off a job in private.

With that thought, Chen Keshan's already heated heart drove him to increase his speed again as he shot straight toward Primordial Mist Immortal City.

"Condense!"

Within the rear hall of the Longevity Pool Water Palace,

He Sheng formed a hand seal toward a sword blank within a spiritual spring. The sword blank condensed a sharp edge and bloomed with a flash of icy blue radiance, while spiritual light shimmered across its blade.

Seeing that this Cold Moon Arc Light Sword had finished refining, He Sheng could not help letting out a light breath.

"This round of the Stacked Refining Method is finally complete."

With a wave of his hand, He Sheng drew the completed Cold Moon Arc Light Sword into his palm. The cold radiance along its edge remained condensed without dispersing. With the slightest urge of spiritual power, icy blue sword light seemed ready to spit forth.

"According to the records in the Heavenly Peak Mountain Artifact Refining Essentials, when a sword edge is born with a phenomenon and sword light lightly emerges, it is a sign of fine-quality workmanship.

"I never expected that this final Cold Moon Arc Light Sword would actually attain fine quality."

For the past half year, He Sheng had remained in the Water Palace cultivating diligently while carrying out another three rounds of the Stacked Refining Method.

He had already fully integrated the proficiency of a first-rank high-grade artifact refiner gained through cultivation with the Time-Reversing Water Clock, yet this was still his first time refining a fine-quality artifact.

Fine quality did not represent an artifact's rank, but rather described superior workmanship.

To be precise, artifact ranks were divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and supreme-grade.

These were distinguished by an artifact's power and spiritual power consumption.

The simplest principle was that the more spiritual power an artifact consumed, the greater its power naturally became.

Low-grade artifacts possessed the least power and naturally consumed the least spiritual power. They suited cultivators who had just entered Qi Refinement Middle Stage.

Mid-grade artifacts were more powerful and naturally consumed much more spiritual power. They suited cultivators on the verge of entering Qi Refinement Late Stage, as well as those who had only recently entered it, as regular artifacts.

High-grade artifacts went a step further. Only cultivators at Qi Refinement Great Perfection possessed enough spiritual power to use them as regular artifacts.

As for supreme-grade artifacts, those were things only Foundation Establishment cultivators could use.

Beyond rank, artifacts also had grades of workmanship. From highest to lowest, they were generally divided into fine quality, good quality, standard quality, inferior quality, and poor quality.

Most artifacts circulating on the market were of standard quality.

Fine-quality artifacts, on the other hand, possessed some particularly exceptional aspect and could even have unique effects. Their prices therefore far surpassed standard-quality artifacts, at the very least doubling them.

Having refined a fine-quality Cold Moon Arc Light Sword, He Sheng was in an excellent mood. After storing it away, he looked at the water clock in his palm.

[First-rank High-Grade Artifact Refiner: 661/3000]

(Total cultivation time: eight years, two months, twenty days)

"By this efficiency, another three-odd years should be enough to raise my artifact refining to the second rank."

As his thoughts turned, He Sheng looked toward the information displayed by another water droplet.

[Clear Billows Water Origin Art, Sixth Layer (Minor Accomplishment): 160/200]

(Total cultivation time: ten years, seven months, thirteen days)

"The cultivation results during the Stacked Refining Method have met expectations.

"There are only a few days left until the Southern Mountain Society gathering. It is time to set out."

With that thought, He Sheng immediately summoned the Green Snake.

"Greenie, I am heading out for a while. During this time, you must guard the entrance well."

"Rest assured, Immortal Master. Greenie will guard the entrance properly and will not open the Water Palace no matter who comes."

The Green Snake replied delightedly.

Over the past half year or so, it had been living quite comfortably, because He Sheng regularly gave it and the White Snake several spirit stones. Having cultivation resources regularly come in felt exceedingly good.

As it spoke, the Green Snake seemed to recall something and added:

"There is also some good news for you, Immortal Master. That Treasurelight Python should be ready to loosen its tongue."

"Oh?"

He Sheng was genuinely intrigued and could not help saying:

"Tell me in detail."

"These past few days, the Treasurelight Python has taken the initiative to ask my sister and me whether the Immortal Master can spare its life and let it return to the wilds?"

After enduring for more than half a year, the Treasure-Swallowing Snake was finally willing to speak. He Sheng was rather pleased.

He seriously considered the Treasure-Swallowing Snake's request.

To be honest, He Sheng had little interest in spirit pets that had previously belonged to someone else. It was not some matter of spiritual cleanliness, but because he felt they could not be properly tamed.

"I can naturally let it return to the wilds, but it must first help me accomplish one task."

He Sheng had specifically sought out this Treasure-Swallowing Snake in order to find the resources Ji Yunlai had hidden away. If this fellow could truly locate them, then sparing its life would be no issue.

Hearing this, the Green Snake seemed to think there was hope and immediately replied:

"Since the Immortal Master is willing to spare it, I think it will soon loosen its tongue. Perhaps by the time you return from this trip, there will be good news."

He Sheng nodded, praised the Green Snake a few times, and rewarded it with several spirit stones before turning into a streak of light and flying out of the Water Palace.