"Actually, I should be content. I've clearly improved, yet I'm still not satisfied. If I keep wanting to reap without sowing, I'll lose my motivation to cultivate." Lu Wu realized he felt somewhat disappointed, and alarm stirred in his heart.
For this sort of improvement to their Stars, others probably had to expend who knew how many Soul Remnants and Soul Essences to upgrade them one by one.
The price he had paid was already very small.
If even this failed to satisfy him, then over time, it might affect his motivation to cultivate.
Ever since he had gained control of magic, he had cultivated constantly.
Every cultivation session involved controlling his Stars and connecting them into a Star Path.
During this process, even when the connections formed a Star Path, he kept it under control and did not release the magic.
This sort of magical cultivation was actually all for the hope of achieving One Thought Star Track someday!
Little Fire had improved, and its aura had grown much stronger. At the Servant Advancement Stage, it was his strongest means of attack and trump card right now!
"Roar!!"
After discovering that its strength had improved, Little Fire knew through its soul imprint with Lu Wu that he had helped raise its cultivation, so it came over and nuzzled him.
Low growls kept rumbling from its mouth. It normally stayed inside his shadow and was terribly lonely.
"All right, all right. I'll take you outside for a stroll." Lu Wu took out his phone, preparing to message the refrigerated truck's driver.
Seeing Lu Wu agree, Little Fire immediately lowered its body, signaling for him to climb on.
Lu Wu did not mount it. Instead, he asked Little Fire, "You should have the Shadow Escape skill, right?"
"Roar, roar!"
After advancing to the Advancement Period, Little Fire seemed to have grown more intelligent as well. It nodded, but then shook its head.
Unable to make heads or tails of it, Lu Wu gave up on Shadow Escape.
He was in the outskirts now. He could take Little Fire near the Safe Zone, let it fight if it wanted to, and take it away if it looked outmatched.
Little Fire had originally been standing upright, but to move faster, it dropped onto all fours, and Lu Wu climbed onto its back.
After traveling a few kilometers, Lu Wu found that riding Little Fire was both very fast and very smooth.
Through the soul imprint he shared with Little Fire, Lu Wu could clearly sense its happiness. "I'll let you out to stretch your legs more often from now on."
The Wuyi Mountain Range stretched on endlessly, home to countless Demon Beast populations.
Rumor had it that deep within Mount Wuyi lay areas even Super Level Mages dared not enter, with several terrifying Demon Beast tribes occupying the depths of the Wuyi Mountain Range.
Hanging Coffin Swamp lay on the outskirts of the Wuyi Mountain Range, but it was still extremely dangerous, inhabited by Heavenly Horned Toad Demons.
The Heavenly Horned Toad Demon population reigned supreme in Hanging Coffin Swamp.
This was a vast plain, one of the very few stretches of flat ground in the Wuyi Mountain Range.
Swamps, wetlands, and lakes covered it, with aquatic plants and wild grasses everywhere.
There was no telling where Demon Beasts might be hiding.
It was early morning, and the sun had yet to rise. The breeze carried a slight chill.
Walking among the cautiously advancing party, Lu Wu glanced back at Mu Nujiao. "Be careful. Stay close to me."
"Okay." Mu Nujiao nodded.
School had actually started some time ago, but neither of them had returned.
Lu Wu was going to help Grandpa Shen refine a magic artifact. Grandpa Shen had not said exactly what kind of artifact it was; all Lu Wu knew at present was that Elder Luo had requested it.
Elder Luo was arranging all the materials and preparations.
While Grandpa Shen had been searching Rongcheng for someone who could melt Mystic Ice, Elder Luo had returned to the Imperial Capital to find a suitable candidate.
He had found one and summoned her here as well.
Their party numbered nearly ten, led by Elder Luo and Grandpa Shen. It included Uncle Jiang, Mu Nujiao, the university student Zu Yanzhi whom Elder Luo had found, as well as another Advanced Mage and several Intermediate Mages.
Lu Wu guessed that Grandpa Shen and Elder Luo were both Super Level Mages, and very likely extremely powerful ones.
Under normal circumstances, this party could have swaggered wherever it pleased.
Now, however, they were cautious and careful. Even when they encountered Servant-level Demons, they went around them whenever possible.
When a detour truly was impossible, they made sure to clean up thoroughly after killing them.
Not even a trace of blood scent was allowed to spread.
They were now very far beyond the Safe Zone.
In Hanging Coffin Swamp, Servant-level Demons were very weak compared with this party, but the smell of blood could draw an endless stream of Demon Beasts!
That was the most frightening thing.
If the Advanced Mages, or even Grandpa Shen and Elder Luo, used their auras to intimidate them, the weaker Demon Beasts would indeed not dare approach, but powerful Demon Beasts would sense it!
That would cause even more trouble.
After winding around one obstacle after another, the party finally reached a giant boulder in Hanging Coffin Swamp. Its exposed portion stretched several hundred meters long and nearly a hundred meters wide.
Several small huts built with Earth Element magic stood here, stocked with plenty of living supplies.
"Rest for a while, then get ready to begin." Shen Shitian looked at Lu Wu and Zu Yanzhi. "Someone will build your accommodations for you."
Those lodgings had been built when they first came here, and held plenty of living supplies.
Everyone chose one, but Lu Wu did not rest.
Walking over to Grandpa Shen's hut, Lu Wu found Elder Luo there as well. "Grandpa Shen, this place may be quiet, but it's still territory ruled by Demon Beasts. Why refine the magic artifact here?"
"You'll know once you start taking part in the refining." Shen Shitian gave a mysterious smile at his question.
Whatever kind of magic artifact or magic tool it was, even magic equipment, refining it was an extremely complicated process.
If everything went smoothly this time, it might take a month.
"Since you're here, Lu Wu, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." Luo Long looked at Lu Wu, hesitated for a moment, then spoke anyway.
"Please go ahead, Elder Luo. What is it?" Lu Wu noticed that Elder Luo looked at Grandpa Shen as he spoke, seemingly a little worried that Grandpa Shen would disagree.
And when Elder Luo spoke, Grandpa Shen did indeed frown.
Although Lu Wu did not know what this was about, he was still holding on to Elder Luo's Spirit-grade Stardust Magic Tool, after all.
Accepting someone's gifts left one's hands tied.
"After what happened at the Demon Beast Garden, I learned that Nangong Pei can melt Mystic Ice." Luo Long was actually deeply conflicted.
But some things simply had to be done.
His old friend was deeply conflicted about it, so he would be the one to speak.
"With the materials I have now, I can't afford even the slightest mistake."
"Don't worry, Elder Luo. As long as Nangong Pei doesn't ruin things for you, I have no objections." Knowing what Elder Luo meant, Lu Wu picked up the conversation.
"Lu Wu, with the two of us and Zu Yanzhi, we're confident we can refine it," Shen Shitian said with a sigh.
Nangong Pei had tripped Lu Wu up more than once, and his methods at the Demon Beast Garden had been particularly despicable.
Although the Demon Beast Garden's explanation was that Nangong Pei had not initially intended to take Lu Wu's life.
Shen Shitian still disliked Nangong Pei.
"As long as he doesn't pull any tricks, I have no objections," Lu Wu said, knowing Grandpa Shen was worried that he would mind.
Although no one had told him what kind of magic artifact they were refining, it was presumably extremely important.
He certainly had no fondness for Nangong Pei.
But so far, Nangong Pei had not caused him any great losses. As long as he honestly helped out, Lu Wu certainly had no objections.
After this matter was over, the two of them would have nothing to do with each other.
"Good lad! If we succeed this time, that Spirit-grade Stardust Magic Tool is yours," Luo Long said with a hearty laugh.
As he spoke, he habitually rubbed his bald head.
Once they had settled the matter, Luo Long sent someone back to bring Nangong Pei over. It seemed they had already been in contact, but since he had never mentioned it to Lu Wu, he had not brought Nangong Pei along.