In front of the courtyard.
Having disguised his appearance, Qin Sang had just delivered his calling card. Standing before the gate with his hands clasped behind his back, he surveyed the surrounding grounds.
He saw lush, verdant groves and heard birds chirping amid fragrant blossoms. Anywhere in the world, this would be considered a rare and splendid cave dwelling.
This was the estate of Master Qi.
Before long, a Daoist boy hurried out, bowed, and said, "Senior Mingyue, my master requests your presence."
"Thank you, young Daoist."
Qin Sang offered a genial smile, voiced his thanks, and followed the boy into the reception hall.
The boy served fragrant tea and spirit fruit. "Please wait a moment, Senior. My master still has a few matters to tend to and will be here shortly."
Qin Sang nodded. "Take your time, young Daoist."
Once the boy departed, Qin Sang sipped the fragrant tea and fell into quiet contemplation.
His visit to Master Qi was not to commission the crafting of a magic treasure. Qin Sang had two objectives.
The first was to seek guidance on the art of artifact refinement.
Ever since his natal spirit sword, the Wandering Sword, had merged with the true spirit of the charred wood, he had not dared to use it, constantly waiting for the sword to nurture spirituality. While in the Storm Realm, Qin Sang had received some pointers and ancient texts, but there was little practical experience available for reference.
The second was to ask this master to appraise the three damaged treasures and determine their origins.
Qin Sang mused that the three damaged treasures likely originated from the Immortal Palace, so their grade was certainly not low. Bringing all three out at once would inevitably invite suspicion, and stirring up unnecessary trouble was the last thing he wanted.
With Qin Sang's current strength, he did not dread the local factions of Jushan Diocese as much as he did the Dao Court; his only concern was whether certain factions were colluding with the Dao Court.
It would do no harm to bring out just one first to test the waters.
Qin Sang extended his divine sense into the Qianjun Ring, and the three damaged treasures came into view: a sword, a drum, and a scroll.
What Qin Sang valued most was the Chengying Sword. After all, he was something of a sword cultivator himself, and the sword appeared to be the most intact. The more he prized it, the more cautious he had to be.
The damaged drum had a tear across its drumhead, seemingly repairable if the hole could only be restored.
As for the scroll, it depicted a boundless expanse of water. The water flowed without ceasing, murmuring with the soft sound of running currents to this very day, the treasure bearing an anomaly of its own accord.
When he had first obtained this treasure, Qin Sang could not discern much about it, judging merely by its exterior that it might be the most precious of the three.
Now, with his cultivation having reached unprecedented heights, looking upon this treasure again brought Qin Sang a different realization: he suspected the scroll was actually the most severely damaged.
Just then, Qin Sang sensed someone approaching the hall. He withdrew his divine sense, stood up, and looked toward the doorway. Catching sight of the newcomer, he could not help but freeze.
Someone so heedless of conventional appearances was truly a rare sight!
The newcomer was a rotund Daoist with a disheveled hair bun and a hurried demeanor. The Daoist robe he wore was a magic treasure with self-cleaning properties, looking brand new save for a gaping tear across his ribs.
Taken together with his attire, his plump physique seemed somewhat less bizarre.
Qin Sang could hardly imagine how a Daoist of Nascent Soul cultivation could let himself fall into such a state.
Certain alchemists who tested medicine on their own flesh or demonic cultivators might indeed end up looking neither human nor ghost.
This fat Daoist was none other than the Master Qi he sought.
This man possessed profound attainments in the craft of artifact refinement; the pseudo-spirit treasures that had previously appeared at the Jushan Guild's auctions had come from his hands.
Yet when Qin Sang saw through Master Qi's cultivation, doubts involuntarily welled in his mind.
*Never judge a book by its cover,*
Qin Sang told himself, though he could not help wondering whether this man would live up to his expectations.
"Daoist Mingyue?"
Master Qi strode into the hall, bringing a gust of wind with him. Narrowing his eyes into slits, he appraised Qin Sang and let out an "Ah." "I thought some old fellow was using a pseudonym to amuse himself at my expense. I didn't expect you to look so entirely unfamiliar, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang saluted. "This poor Daoist rarely visited Star Island Immortal Lake in the past. After breaking through, I traveled abroad and wished to craft a handy magic treasure, which led me to pay Master a visit."
"So you have only recently broken through... Please, have a seat."
Realization dawned upon Master Qi.
Given Master Qi's fame, there was no shortage of Real Persons of Shengxuan rank coming to call, yet not everyone was granted an audience with the man himself.
Had Qin Sang not revealed the aura of the late Nascent Soul stage, Master Qi would not have invited him inside so readily.
"What sort of magic treasure do you intend to refine, Fellow Daoist?" Master Qi was indeed single-mindedly devoted to artifact refinement, completely bypassing inquiries into Qin Sang's background to cut straight to the chase.
Qin Sang was an artifact refiner as well. Through his questions, he discreetly probed the man's mastery of the craft, gradually discarding his initial skepticism.
This man truly lived up to his reputation; occasionally, a mere sentence or two would bring sudden clarity to Qin Sang.
After conversing for a time, Master Qi's brow furrowed. "You do not seem to have a clear idea yet, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang's earlier inquiries had ranged far and wide. Had Master Qi not found those questions intriguing, he would have grown thoroughly impatient by now.
"That is precisely why I came to consult Master."
Qin Sang smiled. "This poor Daoist will be staying in Huzhong City for some time, so there is no rush. Besides that, I also obtained an object that I would like to seek Master's guidance upon."
With that, the Qianjun Ring flashed, and a wooden box appeared in Qin Sang's hand. He unsealed the restrictions.
"This poor Daoist obtained this treasure by chance and has kept it for many years without ever fathoming its secrets. I invite Master to appraise it."
Master Qi knew this had to be Qin Sang's true purpose. Somewhat surprised, his curiosity was thoroughly piqued, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the wooden box.
From their earlier exchange, Master Qi had discerned that Qin Sang was by no means ignorant of artifact refinement.
Those questions had likely been a test of his skill. What sort of treasure could warrant such prudence from this man?
*Clack!*
The wooden box opened, and the sound of running water immediately resonated through the hall.
Promptly, a scroll flew out of the box and hovered in midair. Its shape was irregular, having five corners.
The entire surface was covered in flowing water, as though a section had been cleaved straight from a river, showing neither source nor end.
*Splash! Splash! Splash!*
The sound of rushing currents echoed within the hall.
"This is..."
Master Qi stared fixedly at the scroll, his expression somewhat entranced. He snapped his head toward Qin Sang and asked urgently, "May this poor Daoist hold it to inspect it closely?"
He knew the rules of the trade and did not inquire about the treasure's origins.
"Of course."
Qin Sang nodded, feeling a surge of anticipation. It seemed this man truly recognized something.
Master Qi raised his right hand, and the scroll flew toward him of its own accord.
Qin Sang's eyes flickered; he sensed the man casting some sort of secret art, an invisible ripple enveloping the scroll.
The moment the scroll settled into Master Qi's palm, streaks of white light shot from his hand, quickly coalescing into a mass of white mist that engulfed the scroll within.
Paying no heed to the stranger beside him, Master Qi closed his eyes in utter absorption, sinking his entire mind into the white mist.
Qin Sang raised his cup of spirit tea to savor it, quietly watching Master Qi's maneuvers.
Master Qi formed several hand seals in succession and then sat cross-legged, unmoving. The white mist and scroll hovered before him, the mist curling and unfurling as the scroll drifted in and out of sight, rising and falling.
After a time, Master Qi altered his seals again, causing the scroll to roll up like a scroll at times and spread flat at others.
Qin Sang gradually made sense of what he saw. The mist possessed a bizarre power, and Master Qi was attempting to direct this power into the scroll—undoubtedly an exquisitely subtle secret art of artifact refinement.
Regrettably, the seemingly gentle currents repeatedly foiled Master Qi's efforts. No matter how many times he changed his seals, he was repelled by the flowing water.
Yet Master Qi did not come away entirely empty-handed. The mist gradually converged toward the scroll's edges, forming a ring of fog.
From then on, the shifts within the mist grew increasingly minute.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Master Qi suddenly let out a long breath and recalled his mind.
Qin Sang's heart stirred. Earlier, Master Qi had exhausted his methods without bringing about any change in the scroll. Could he have failed?
"Did Master discern anything?" Qin Sang asked impatiently.
Master Qi pondered, "This poor Daoist lacks absolute certainty, but..."
Pausing, Master Qi abruptly changed the subject and asked Qin Sang, "Do you know, Fellow Daoist, what changes occur after a magic treasure nurtures a spirit embryo, ascends to a spirit treasure, and continues to advance in rank?"
Qin Sang naturally understood. The spirit embryo Master Qi referred to corresponded to his own understanding of spirituality; once spirituality was born, it naturally nurtured an artifact spirit.
"The birth of an artifact spirit?"
"That is only one path."
Master Qi nodded. "This poor Daoist had the fortune of reading an ancient record, which stated that after achieving the status of a spirit treasure, one may choose to assist it in nurturing an artifact spirit, categorized into Xiantian and Houtian."
Qin Sang pricked up his ears and listened intently. These were secrets concerning ranks above spirit treasures.
Even though he possessed only a single spirit treasure in his hands.
Having broached the topic, Master Qi simply explained in detail, "The distinction between Xiantian and Houtian depends on the origin of the treasure and its artifact spirit. Those crafted by cultivators are known as Houtian spirit-nurturing treasures, or simply Houtian spirit treasures. Legend has it that there are spirit treasures born naturally into this world, possessing innate embryo spirits whose artifact spirits are nurtured by heaven and earth; these are known as Xiantian embryo-spirit treasures, or Xiantian spirit treasures. As for what other differences exist between Xiantian and Houtian spirit treasures, that is beyond what this poor Daoist can know..."
Master Qi continued, "Apart from these, there is another branch known as true treasures."
"True treasures?"
Qin Sang wore a thoughtful expression.
"Indeed. It is said that at the very instant an artifact spirit is about to take form, one can employ immense divine abilities to forcibly interrupt the process and thoroughly refine the spirit embryo into the spirit treasure itself. By doing so, one achieves a true treasure."
At this point, Master Qi revealed a look of marvel. "When I first learned of this secret, this poor Daoist was shocked for a long time, thinking it a reckless waste of divine gifts. Yet according to that ancient text, true treasures are in no way inferior to Houtian spirit treasures, and in certain aspects they may even prove superior. Above spirit treasures, Xiantian spirit treasures, Houtian spirit treasures, and true treasures are said to each possess their own merits..."
As for the exact differences among the three supreme treasures, Master Qi could not say, for he had not reached that realm after all.
Qin Sang understood as well. The Dao sects likely preserved relevant records and inheritances within their walls, but Master Qi was not an initiate of the Dao sects and had no right to view them.
Qin Sang quickly settled his thoughts and looked at the scroll in astonishment. "Could it be that this poor Daoist stumbled upon a grand stroke of fortune, and this is one of those three supreme treasures?"
"It is most likely a true treasure fragment..."
Master Qi hesitated. "When whole, it was probably something like a spirit scroll, a banner, or a cloud raiment."
"A true treasure fragment?"
A flash of disappointment flickered deep within Qin Sang's eyes. He had assumed it was a damaged true treasure; a damaged true treasure and a true treasure fragment were two entirely different concepts.
He stared at the scroll, not expecting this item to carry such an astonishing background. It seemed the Wuxiang Immortal Sect had explored the Immortal Palace very deeply back then.
In the cloud pool of the Langhuan Jade Pavilion, the scroll, the Chengying Sword, and the broken drum had been the three most conspicuous treasures.
*Could the other two also be true treasures?*
Qin Sang's heart grew fervent, and he looked toward Master Qi with feigned excitement. "Does Master have any way to repair this treasure?"
Master Qi offered a bitter smile. "Fellow Daoist thinks too highly of this poor Daoist. Not to mention a true treasure fragment, even faced with a slightly damaged true treasure, I would be utterly helpless. To tell you the truth, my lifelong ambition is merely to forge a single spirit treasure."
At this moment, Master Qi, who had been hesitating as if wanting to speak, could finally restrain himself no longer. Forgetting all professional decorum, he asked in quick succession, "Can you tell me, Fellow Daoist, where you obtained this treasure?"
"Well..."
Qin Sang hesitated for a moment before replying, "This poor Daoist was traveling in the depths of the Nie Plains once and found it by chance. Seeing that it held some profound mystery, I brought it back. I never imagined its background would be so staggering."
This was a pretext he had prepared long ago.
The Nie Plains and the Nie Sea were perilous and mysterious; plenty of cultivators had obtained fortuitous encounters there.
Master Qi harbored no doubts, musing thoughtfully, "You may have come across a place where Great Real Persons of the Dao sects or even the legendary True Monarchs did battle. Only figures such as them possess the power to forge and shatter true treasures."
Qin Sang took the scroll back into his hands, examining it front and back, and sighed softly. "In that case, not only can this treasure not be repaired, but hoping to re-refine it for other purposes is pure fantasy."
"This poor Daoist is indeed incapable of it. If you can enlist the aid of a senior expert of the Dao sects, Fellow Daoist, they might be able to point you toward a clear path," Master Qi said, shaking his head repeatedly.
Visiting Daoist experts was something Qin Sang would certainly do in the future.
Now that it was known to be a true treasure fragment, the risk of inviting covetous eyes was far smaller.
Qin Sang mused to himself and turned his palm, preparing to stow the scroll away.
Master Qi grew anxious. "Wait, Fellow Daoist!"
"Does Master have further business?" A smile touched the corners of Qin Sang's lips.
In the cultivation world, those who threw themselves wholeheartedly into auxiliary crafts were just like those who single-mindedly pursued the immortal Dao—both were fanatics.
He could use Witch Clan pill recipes to hook Master Lingxu, and he could just as well use a true treasure fragment to hook this Master Qi.
This method never failed; he had no fear of the man refusing the bait.
Sure enough, Master Qi rubbed his hands together and asked gingerly, "Since you will be staying in Huzhong City for some time, Fellow Daoist, might you lend this treasure to this poor Daoist to inspect? Although I cannot re-refine it, contemplating and comprehending it would prove immensely beneficial to me... I would be eternally grateful to you, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang feigned hesitation and said, "This poor Daoist would be glad to see Master's divine abilities advance; it is truly a blessing for us cultivators of Jushan Diocese."
Master Qi's face immediately lit up with joy.
Unexpectedly, Qin Sang's tone shifted. "However..."
Beneath Master Qi's apprehensive gaze, Qin Sang continued in an unhurried manner, "To be frank, this poor Daoist also takes a keen interest in the art of artifact refinement. Alas, lacking a renowned master, my knowledge and skills are shallow. When Master contemplates this treasure, might you permit this poor Daoist to observe at your side and provide a few brief explanations? Furthermore, this poor Daoist intends to take on a disciple and has long admired the prestigious sects of Star Island Immortal Lake. I wish to secure the qualification for register conferment for my disciple; when the time comes, could Master make an introduction on our behalf?"
To Master Qi, only the first condition posed a dilemma.
The sects of Star Island Immortal Lake had all sought to recruit Master Qi and shared some measure of friendship with him; securing a qualification for register conferment was by no means difficult.
Yet Qin Sang's request was far more than simply sharing his insights. Contemplating a true treasure required the aid of specialized Daoist arts, and explaining the intricate principles would inevitably touch upon the core secrets of Master Qi's lineage—hardly different from instructing a personal disciple.
This was brazenly stealing his craft in broad daylight.
And yet, the temptation of a true treasure was simply too immense!
In the end, Master Qi could not withstand the lure. "We shall do as you say, Fellow Daoist! But let us agree beforehand: I cannot guarantee how much you will ultimately comprehend."
"That will depend on whether this poor Daoist's aptitude is high or low."
Smiling, Qin Sang handed the scroll over.
Chapter 1773