Lu Changsheng waved his hand: “Go back and ask your master to come over. At the very least, they need to be a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster.”
“Se-Second-ranked…”
Yang Qianli was dumbfounded.
Lu Changsheng was merely requesting to forge an accessory; did it warrant calling upon a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster?
Second-ranked Refinement Grandmasters were as rare as phoenix feathers in the entire refinement world. Hiring them would incur monumental expenses.
“Inviting a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster… the payment for such a task won’t be cheap.”
“Money is not a concern. A first-ranked Refinement Grandmaster will do as well.”
Lu Changsheng calmly sipped his tea, patiently waiting for a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster to appear.
Yang Qianli was completely stunned.
A first-ranked Refinement Grandmaster?
Even in the Heavenly Fire Holy Land, there weren’t many of them!
What’s more, first-ranked Refinement Grandmasters were well-known figures dating back to ancient times. Inviting them to come out of retirement just to forge an accessory?
Seeing Lu Changsheng’s determined expression—clearly not intending to leave until he encountered a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster—Yang Qianli reluctantly said, “Holy Son, please wait for a moment.”
He returned to the grand hall of the Heavenly Fire Holy Land, explaining Lu Changsheng’s request to the Sect Leader and the assembled elders.
The elders looked at each other in dismay.
“It’s merely an accessory. Why bother us with it? Is this kid trying to mock us?”
“This kid even specifically demanded a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster. This is completely overblown.”
“What on earth is he trying to achieve?”
“If he’s deliberately mocking us, perhaps we should turn the tables on him. Raise the price astronomically and make him retreat in shame.”
The elders discussed heatedly, while the Sect Leader of Heavenly Fire Holy Land furrowed his brow deeper and deeper: “Make a decision quickly.”
“Sect Leader, since he insists on someone ranked as a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster, it looks like I’ll have to step forward personally.”
Elder Wu rolled up his sleeves, deciding that he would personally take on the task.
Yang Qianli let out a breath of relief.
His master, Elder Wu, was a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster of the Heavenly Fire Holy Land, respected by countless holy lands.
With Elder Wu personally stepping in, Lu Changsheng ought to be satisfied, shouldn’t he?
Not long after, an old man arrived at the side hall. He carried an immortal aura, his forehead broad and luminous, his spirit sharp and lively, with a golden flame flickering in his palm.
“Twenty-Grade Spirit Fire—Heavenly Dry Separation Fire?”
Lu Changsheng recognized the origin of the fire in Elder Wu’s palm.
A Twenty-Grade Spirit Fire was no ordinary flame.
The limits of a Refinement Grandmaster often depended on the spirit fire they controlled.
This Elder from Heavenly Fire Holy Land, who wielded the Heavenly Dry Separation Fire, undoubtedly possessed profound refinement skills and should indeed be a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster.
He deliberately displayed the Heavenly Dry Separation Fire, likely to send a warning to Lu Changsheng.
After all, from the perspective of Heavenly Fire Holy Land, Lu Changsheng’s specification to involve a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster for creating an accessory was a provocation in itself.
“You even recognize the Heavenly Dry Separation Fire. Not bad, you’ve got some discernment. I am Wu Ting’en, Elder of Heavenly Fire Holy Land and a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster. What kind of accessory are you looking to create that warrants calling upon myself?”
Elder Wu’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.
A dignified second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster, being asked to forge an accessory? It’s reputation-tarnishing to say the least.
It was akin to asking a five-star chef to prepare a simple fried egg and rice dish.
“I wish to forge a Jade Hairpin.”
“You brat…”
Elder Wu nearly laughed in anger.
A Jade Hairpin? That’s all you’re creating, and yet you deemed it necessary to summon a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster?
Even standard Dao Artifacts were beneath the concern of Wu Ting’en.
Much less a mere decorative Jade Hairpin.
“Although your request involves crafting something ordinary, since I am a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster, the payment required won’t be low at all—potentially tens of thousands of times the value of the hairpin itself.”
Elder Wu snorted. If Lu Changsheng wanted him to craft a Jade Hairpin, he would charge him as if he were crafting a Dao Artifact. That seemed reasonable enough, right?
Lu Changsheng hesitated slightly: “Forgive my honesty, but I can only offer payment in the form of treasures equal to the value of the Jade Hairpin itself.”
Elder Wu’s eyes widened.
The esteemed Holy Son of Tai Hua didn’t have greater wealth at his disposal?
A Jade Hairpin wasn’t worth much at all.
Only offering payment of equivalent value? Was he intentionally trying to tease Wu?
“Here are the materials for the Jade Hairpin.”
Being perceptive of Elder Wu’s odd expression, Lu Changsheng remained calm and unhurried as he presented a piece of jade.
As soon as the jade appeared, icy cold air flooded the hall. Frost rapidly crystallized on the beams and eaves.
When Elder Wu discerned the material in Lu Changsheng’s hand, his eyes widened further, practically overflowing with disbelief: “This is a twenty-first rank refinement material—Taiyin Cold Jade! One of the world’s supreme yin and supremely cold refining materials! How did you acquire such a treasure?”
“By chance, naturally.”
Of course, it was a reward from his system.
“Ah…”
Elder Wu felt a shiver run through his scalp.
He finally understood why Lu Changsheng had come to Heavenly Fire Holy Land demanding a second-ranked Refinement Grandmaster.
Yang Qianli was a mere half-step third-ranked Refinement Grandmaster, utterly incapable of handling the Taiyin Cold Jade!
If one couldn’t refine the material properly, how could a Jade Hairpin even be crafted?
Initially, the Refinement Grandmasters of Heavenly Fire Holy Land thought Lu Changsheng was deliberately trying to stump them, but now they realized they had judged him incorrectly.
“Are you certain you intend to fashion this Taiyin Cold Jade into merely a Jade Hairpin, rather than using it to create a Magical Treasure?”
Elder Wu stared covetously at the exceptional jade in Lu Changsheng’s hand.
Using twenty-first rank refinement material solely to carve a Jade Hairpin?
What a waste of heavenly resources!
“Correct.”
Lu Changsheng knew Xia Ningxue already possessed the Mo Xue Sword, the Slaughter Immortal Sword, and the Absolute Immortal Sword. She had no shortage of Magical Treasures, but a finely crafted accessory would better convey his sentiment.
“Very well.”
Elder Wu, though feeling it was a pity, had to comply with the client’s wishes.
In this situation, the client was akin to a god.
The client’s request dictated the course of action.
“I won’t ask for any additional payment. I only request the surplus material from the refining process be used as my remuneration. In addition, I will imbue the Jade Hairpin with mental defense properties—otherwise, it would indeed feel wasteful to merely create a decorative item.”
Elder Wu no longer dared underestimate Lu Changsheng.
Anyone capable of presenting twenty-first rank refinement material deserved respect.
Besides, should another chance to collaborate arise in the future, Lu Changsheng might pull out treasures of even higher quality.
Twenty-first rank refining materials were rare, even for second-ranked Refinement Grandmasters.
“Let’s proceed with that arrangement.”
Lu Changsheng was pleased to hear Elder Wu only requested leftover material—it spared him from any contentious negotiations.
Of the jade piece, three-fifths was earmarked for the Jade Hairpin, while the remaining two-fifths was granted to Elder Wu.
Elder Wu, however, practically struck gold.
Though he was merely receiving leftover scraps, these scraps were from the exceedingly rare Taiyin Cold Jade!
“I hope to receive the Jade Hairpin before the Guanghan Palace’s new Palace Master inauguration ceremony begins.”
“Rest assured. If this were a Magical Treasure, it wouldn’t be manageable within such a time frame, but for an accessory, the task is relatively simple. While you stay temporarily at our Heavenly Fire Holy Land, the Jade Hairpin will soon be completed.”
Elder Wu spoke with newfound courtesy, happily retreating to begin refining the Taiyin Cold Jade.
“What? Holy Son of Tai Hua wants to use Taiyin Cold Jade to create a Jade Hairpin?”
“That’s Taiyin Cold Jade!”
“The Holy Son of Tai Hua is truly extravagant, using such exceptional refinement materials for a mere Jade Hairpin to win his lady’s favor.”
“Unbelievable, it seems Elder Wu scored a huge fortune this time!”
The other elders, who had missed the opportunity to take on the task, beat their chests in regret and frustration.
Given Lu Changsheng’s flair for using Taiyin Cold Jade to forge a Jade Hairpin, how minimal could the remuneration have been?
Even if nothing else, the leftover material of Taiyin Cold Jade alone constituted a sizable reward.
“This young man certainly lives up to his reputation as the first-place holder of the Heavenly Court Tournament—a genius renowned across the Three Realms, with every action being extraordinary.”
The Sect Leader of Heavenly Fire Holy Land, who was worldly-wise, maintained his composure. Instead of being drawn solely to the Taiyin Cold Jade, his interest shifted toward Lu Changsheng himself.
For Lu Changsheng to possess such a treasure despite his background was indeed beyond his expectations.