Artifact Crafting

For immortal cultivators, so long as spiritual energy was abundant, nothing was an issue. Though the city on Duyan Island appeared crude and unrefined, mortal inhabitants and low-level cultivators were numerous, painting a picture of flourishing vitality. In the Demon Sea, few places could maintain enduring peace like Duyan Island. With abundant demon beast resources nearby, not only did the island's native residents thrive, but many outside cultivators also braved the perils of seafaring to come here. Qin Sang disembarked with Ran Luo and the others, easily locating his cave dwelling with Ran Luo's guidance. The cave dwelling Elder Zou had chosen was at the edge of the city near a barren mountain—a location selected with deliberate intent. This mountain was called Red Stone Mountain. Unlike other rocky hills, its stones glowed with a faint crimson hue due to a subterranean fire vein running through the mountain's core. The island master had excavated numerous fire chambers across the slopes, making it a prime site for both artifact crafting and pill refinement. With Ran Luo and Elder Zou busy reorganizing guild personnel, no one disturbed Qin Sang's quiet meditation. It was not until ten days later that Ran Luo came to his door. "Have you rested well, Daoist? If you have nothing else to attend to, how about we begin crafting magic tools now? The members of our guild stationed here have purchased many demon beast carcasses over this period, filling several storehouses to the brim. Elder Zou and the guild's alchemists have categorized the carcasses, setting aside parts that can be refined into spiritual pills like Fiend Demon Pills and Blood Bone Pills. More than half still remains, and we must trouble you to take action. Everything is ready up on Red Stone Mountain..." Qin Sang had long prepared himself, so he readily agreed. "Please lead the way, Fellow Daoist Ran." Crafting magic tools on Duyan Island naturally called for going to Red Stone Mountain. When producing tools and pills in bulk, a cultivator's core fire could never sustain such heavy consumption. Qin Sang had no wish to expose his Nine Nether demonic fire either, making earth fire all the more necessary as a cover. Leasing a fire chamber on the mountain was expensive, but the Qiongyu Guild was footing the bill. Naturally, he had no intention of saving the guild's money. Walking side by side, the two soon arrived at Red Stone Mountain. Ascending Red Stone Mountain, one could instantly sense the searing heat of earth fire pervading the surrounding air. If a mortal came up here, they would likely die of dehydration before long. Ran Luo led Qin Sang through various twists and turns, finally arriving before a cliff face halfway up the mountain. At the foot of the cliff face, an opening had been carved out, and several figures stood waiting in front of it. Elder Zou was among them. Two men stood behind Elder Zou. One was a white-bearded old man with a kindly, benevolent face and a perpetual smile. Upon seeing Qin Sang and Ran Luo, he nodded amiably toward them of his own accord. The other was a gaunt young man with a tight, expressionless face. Qin Sang keenly caught a hidden glint of hostility in the man's eyes as he looked over. Qin Sang's heart stirred, recalling their identities. Ran Luo had mentioned earlier that the white-bearded elder was the chief alchemist recruited by Elder Zou, while the gaunt young man was an artifact crafter. 'Standing in someone else's way, am I?' Qin Sang remarked inwardly, unbothered. He paid no heed to the gaunt youth's hostility. Artifact crafting was equally a craft where ability spoke for itself. If his skills were inferior, there would be nothing to say. But if his crafting attainments surpassed the gaunt young man's, he certainly wouldn't step aside from the position of chief artifact crafter. "The Daoist has arrived," Elder Zou said, stepping forward with his companions to welcome him. Stepping aside slightly, he said, "Allow me to introduce you. Elder Jia is an old friend of mine. He had planned to retire and enjoy his later years in peace, but I dragged him out to help. And this is Fellow Daoist Zhuo, who hails from the renowned Sword Cauldron Sect and enjoys quite a reputation throughout the Eastern Sea." Qin Sang cupped his hands. "This poor Daoist is Qingfeng. Greetings to both fellow Daoists." He had never heard of any Sword Cauldron Sect; it was likely a sect in the Canglang Sea famed for artifact crafting. The young man surnamed Zhuo maintained his composure, returning Qin Sang's greeting with an even expression before asking inquisitively, "May I ask which sect Daoist Qingfeng hails from? Elder Zou and Steward Ran speak of you with nothing but praise, so you must have unique insights into the path of artifact crafting. Perhaps your sect shares some history with our Sword Cauldron Sect." "This poor Daoist is a rogue cultivator. In the past, I obtained an artifact crafting manual purely by chance. I doubt it has any connection to your noble sect..." Qin Sang laughed it off with a casual brush-off, and the young man surnamed Zhuo pressed no further. Elder Zou retrieved a mustard seed bag and handed it to Qin Sang. "Please take a look, Daoist. With the spiritual materials and demon beast carcasses in this mustard seed bag, how many magic tools can be crafted?" Qin Sang swept his spiritual sense over it and found its contents exceptionally abundant. Beyond a variety of spiritual materials, there were numerous beast bones and pelts—among them, an intact spine that appeared to belong to a flood dragon. After inspecting everything one by one, Qin Sang pondered for a moment before answering, "With these materials, this poor Daoist should be able to forge five top-grade magic tools. Lower-grade tools are harder to estimate; it will depend on how much leftover material remains in the end." "Five?" Elder Zou and Elder Jia exchanged a glance, their eyes alight with pleasant surprise. The gaunt young man froze, his face filled with disbelief. At most, he would only dare attempt three top-grade magic tools to ensure a solid success rate. Unable to contain his shock, he blurted out, "Using only these materials, can you truly craft five top-grade magic tools? You aren't exaggerating, are you?" Qin Sang said with confidence, "If you fellow Daoists will wait a few days, won't you know once I have finished crafting them?" Elder Zou clapped his hands together. "Excellent! The fire chamber is already prepared for you, Daoist. No one will disturb you during this time. Should you need anything, simply instruct the staff below to see to it. Zou shall await your good news." A guard then stepped out from inside. Taking his leave of the group, Qin Sang followed the guard into the cave dwelling and casually chose a high-quality fire chamber. Watching Qin Sang enter the cave dwelling, Elder Zou smiled faintly and turned to Ran Luo. "For Daoist Qingfeng to be capable of crafting five top-grade magic tools, such skill is rare even across the entire Eastern Pole Alliance. It's a pity he cannot forge magic treasures, but even so, this is extraordinarily commendable. To have recruited him, Steward Ran deserves the greatest credit." "Earlier, Fellow Daoist Zhuo told me he could only guarantee three top-grade magic tools," Elder Jia chimed in. "Yet Fellow Daoist Qingfeng claimed five right off the bat, and with supreme confidence. It is unlikely to be an empty boast. Congratulations are indeed in order, Fellow Daoist Zou, on securing such talent." The gaunt young man remained silent throughout. If this man could truly back up his words, then he was simply outmatched, and he would not dare harbor any more grievances. At that moment, a middle-aged man who had been silently watching with a cool gaze stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice: "Elder Zou, I heard from Steward Ran that ever since the Witch God Continent, this person has worn a cloak and never shown his true face. Could he have caused trouble in the Inner Sea? If we don't look into his identity, I fear he might implicate us." Elder Zou shook his head. "We are merely engaging Daoist Qingfeng as an outer sea guest elder. Even if he committed some earth-shattering crime in the Inner Sea, what does that have to do with us? There is no need for concern. In a few days, after Daoist Qingfeng emerges from seclusion and his status as guest elder is finalized, this old man must visit other islands to inspect the guild's business. Affairs on Duyan Island have been largely sorted out; hereafter, internal affairs here will be presided over by Elder Jia, while external affairs will be headed by Steward Ran. I ask all of you fellow Daoists to assist them." Everyone assented one after another.