Chapter 261: Chapter 230: Wide Imagination^

“Elder Xu, you’re here to pick martial methods as well. What a coincidence!”

A burly man who looked like a raging bear slowly walked towards Xu Mu.

The ground, inscribed with numerous formations, seemed to struggle under his weight, flickering with light continuously.

“It turns out to be Elder Ying Tianhong!” Xu Mu greeted him with a smile: “Are you also here to pick martial methods?”

“Not really, I’m merely here to look for some insights on crafting array artifacts!”

“Array artifacts? Friend, are you planning to become an array master?” Xu Mu asked, surprised.

Ying Tianhong was an inner-branch elder and a tier seven artifact refiner from the Artifact Refinery Division.

Frankly, the two were not very acquaintant. Ying Tianhong had merely congratulated Xu when he recently came out of his retreat and casually asked if he wanted artifacts crafted.

“Friend Xu, you joke. There’s a vast sea of hundreds varieties of cultivation arts, yet one might spend his whole life without any real achievement, let alone having the energy to learn other skills!

But crafting array artifacts, I can manage with my current skills no problem!

Lately, the demand for large-scale arrays in different forces has significantly increased. The market price has surged by fifty percent, and yet, supply still falls behind demand. I was merely thinking of taking this opportunity to make some extra cash.” Ying Tianhong laughed heartily.

Xu Mu’s eyes shimmered, he then asked: “Could this be due to the South Wasteland Demon Calamity?”

Ying Tianhong nodded: “Currently, the entire Tianyuan Continent is buzzing the most around the southern wasteland. As our region is relatively close, it’s only normal that we would be impacted! I heard your Pill Hall also seems to be in high demand recently, I’m rather envious of you!”

The Artifact Refining Division should have also been affected, and gotten a large number of orders.

But unluckily, the rival palace of Fairy Moon Palace, the Tianyang Palace which expertises in artifact crafting, is in the nearby region. Cultivators, regardless if crafting or buying artifacts, would always prioritize them.

On contrary, when it comes to formations, the Fairy Moon Palace has an absolute advantage. Whether it’s buying array artifacts, or hiring Array Masters to set up formations, they would always choose the Fairy Moon Palace.

In terms of earnings, the Formation Division is undoubtedly first, even the Pill Division could only rank second, and as for the Artifact Refining Division, they could probably rank only fourth or fifth.

Regarding Ying Tianhong’s words, Xu Mu only smiled and didn’t respond.

“Elder Xu, did you hear about the recent news from the Southern Wasteland?”

Ying Tianhong steered the conversation back to the Southern Wasteland.

“What news?” Xu Mu asked.

“The three nascent soul sects nearest to the demon calamity have already been extinguished not too long ago! Currently, the nascent soul sects in the Southern Wasteland area are uniting to combat the disaster! It’s hard to predict what will happen next!”

Ying Tianhong expressed a bit of worry.

“Oh, also! The cause of this demon calamity. It seems like it was instigated by a demonic sect called Tongyou Sect!”

“Tongyou Sect?”

Xu Mu frowned, as if it was his first time hearing of it.

“Yes! Exactly, it’s called Tongyou Sect! Initially, it was said to be just a small sect. Who knew how they stumbled upon a stroke of luck that their strength has improved so much!”

Sensitively changing the topic, Ying Tianhong said: “Friend Xu, are you really not thinking of crafting an artifact for self-defense? If the demon calamity continues to escalate, it won’t be so easy to craft an artifact then. Currently, various refining materials in the market have already risen by more than thirty percent! But since we are both in the same sect, if you ask me to refine one, I can give you a discount…”

Xu Mu was speechless.

I knew it, why would this guy be so enthusiastic.

All this talk and in the end, he just wanted to drum up some business.

Compared to concocting array artifacts to others, obviously crafting an artifact for Xu gains more profits, and also improves his own refining skills.

Unfortunately, even if Xu Mu thought about having him craft one, he didn’t have any materials.

Besides, his initial plan wasn’t to let others refine for him…

No wait, that could work too!

Xu Mu intended to refuse directly, but a change of thought made him hesitant.

He originally planned, after his other identity from the Sea Race obtained the Kun Peng feathers and spine, to personally perform the refinement.

But the current situation was, his Sea Race identity would have difficulty obtaining these two refining materials for a while, and even if he was lucky enough to get them, there’s no way to deliver them considering the conditions near the space rift.

No one knows when the demonic calamity will be resolved, and if it drags on for decades, even centuries, it would be too late.

The power of a Golden Core Stage cultivator can vary significantly depending on whether they possess a lifebound magic artifact or not. Many martial methods require the use of specific magic artifacts to unleash their full power. It’s the same with the Kun Peng Tun Tian Jue!

With the Tun Tian Pearl, his spiritual power can reach tens to hundreds of times that of an ordinary cultivator. Combined with the binding of the Kun Peng’s wings, he could drain his opponents to death.

His Kun Peng Tun Tian Jue has reached proficiency, comparable to the master realm of a tier seven martial method. However, in combat, it does not stand out —due to the lack of a lifebound magic artifact.

Seeing Xu Mu’s interest piqued, Ying Tianhong immediately upped the persuasion.

“Friend Xu, you’ve just advanced not long ago; now is the best time to nurture your magic artifact. As long as you develop a telepathic connection with it, your power will significantly increase. It’s much easier than cultivating skills and divine skills, it uses less spiritual power, and is way more powerful! Moreover…”

“Cough,cough!”

Xu Mu interrupted Ying Tianhong’s words, saying: “Friend Ying, it’s not that I don’t want to refine a lifebound magic artifact. It’s just that my martial method is rather unusual and the materials needed for a lifebound magic artifact are also unique. Even if I want to refine one, I can’t!”

“Haha! Elder Xu, you are joking! In our vast central region, as long as you’re willing to spend Spirit Stones, you can find any material!”

Ying Tianhong thought Xu Mu was deliberately making excuses.

“The materials I need are the feathers and spine bones of the roaming Kun Peng!”

“Pff!”

Ying Tianhong almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

The roaming Kun Peng is a True Spirit comparable to the Mahayana Realm. Even if all the cultivators of the entire Tianyuan Continent were added up, they would still not be enough for Kun Peng to swallow in one bite.

Are you trying to refine a seventh-order magic artifact? Or a quasi-iminortal artifact of tier twenty-four?

“Elder Xu, if you don’t want me to refine an artifact for you, just say so. Why use such an impossible task as an excuse.”

Ying Tianhong was somewhat displeased, feeling Xu Mu was making fun of him.

“Elder Ying, don’t be so hasty. I was talking about the ideal materials, if there are none, it can be replaced by a monster beast with the bloodline of the Kun Peng!” Xu Mu said with a smile.

“Oh! If it can be replaced, that would be easier to handle!”

Ying Tianhong stroked his chin in thought.

Xu Mu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, “Elder Ying, could you actually have a solution?”

He had spoken up initially, hoping for a miracle.

After all, anything related to True Spirit is not simple.

But looking at Ying Tianhong, it seemed promising.

“Forget about the materials from True Spirits. Even if there are any left on our continent, they would be treasured and hidden by those sacred lands! Even Nascent Souls might not be able to acquire them!”

Materials with True Spirit bloodline are similarly extremely expensive and rare. Whether they can be found or not entirely depends on luck!

However…”

“However what?”

“However, if you’re willing, I can find some similar materials for you, and help you refine a replica!”

Ying Tianhong’s tone was noticeably tinged with excitement.

II II

Xu Mu felt as if this old fellow was trying to empty his Spirit Stones.

But anyway!

This proposal did appeal to him.

Xu Mu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Ying Tianhong’s words felt like a hammer, instantly opening up his imagination.

Right! Why do I have to use materials with the bloodline of Kun Peng?

I can fully utilize the system to experiment and find alternatives, or even better materials than the True Spirit Kun Peng!