An unexpected acquaintance

The next moment, Xing Ming was drawn to the rich vitality emanating from the Cloud-piercing Willow. Before long, he detected several familiar crafting methods in its aura.

"This is the artifact-refining technique unique to that place. No wonder it can radiate such rich vitality while keeping the spiritual essence within the treasure concealed as it ebbs and flows."

Artifact refiners and alchemists from many sects could make treasures or pills exude rich vitality, but that vitality would surge outward like a raging tide.

It felt pleasant upon first contact, but after a little time, too much of a good thing would make one's meridians begin to sting. Thus, particular care was generally taken during refinement to contain and harmonize the aura.

True masters would keep that rich vitality circulating within the treasure or pill, allowing it to seep out little by little, soothing the body and refreshing the mind.

Yet few masters could truly accomplish this. Usually, only high-tier master artifact refiners or alchemists could grasp such methods.

Xing Ming himself could do it, but he still could not refine a treasure on the level of the Cloud-piercing Willow. He reckoned he would have to reach the grandmaster level before that became possible.

In artifact refinement, he was already a high-tier master, not far from becoming a grandmaster. That sounded easy enough, but remaining trapped at this rank for the rest of his life would be nothing unusual.

Both alchemists and artifact refiners were honored with four ranks: practitioner, master, grandmaster, and sage.

Those who could refine first-, second-, or third-grade pills, spiritual artifacts, or magical artifacts were called practitioners;

those who could refine fourth- or fifth-grade pills, or low- and mid-tier magical treasures, were called masters;

those who could refine sixth- or seventh-grade pills, or high-tier magical treasures, were