Zhangzuo Dajiu and Elder Bi were equally astonished.
“There were a dozen or so Fifth-Rank Refiners, over a hundred Fourth-Rank Refiners, and countless Third-Rank Refiners. Alas, it declined later, and we moved to the Lower Road of Lingwu Avenue. We dared not call ourselves Spirit Artifact Sect anymore, instead using the ordinary Refining Spirit Sect. Refining Spirit, Cultivating Spiritual Qi—this name is as bland as plain water…”
Niu Jinshui sighed with every sentence he spoke. “Now, there isn't even a Fourth-Rank Refiner in the Sect. This gold mine is right in front of us. We want to exploit it quickly, but we don’t have enough Artifact Refiners.”
Qian Duoduo, Zhangzuo Dajiu, and Elder Bi listened quietly, not daring to interrupt.
“We must not forget our roots; we need to re-establish the Sect through Artifact Refining,” Niu Jinshui’s tone became firm. He turned around and announced to Tang Honggong and Elder Bi, “From today onwards, any Disciple applying for Outer Sect promotion must pass the first volume of the Encyclopedia of Weapon Refining to be admitted. Those applying for Inner Sect promotion must pass the first three volumes to be admitted. The monthly Cultivation fees for Artifact Refiners will be increased by fifty percent.”
The Sect Leader thought for a moment, then added, “Additionally, the Sect's Heroic Talent Battle will be held in two months. This year’s competition theme will be Artifact Refining. All Five Immortal Mountains should prepare well; the Sect will provide generous rewards.”
Zhangzuo Dajiu and Elder Bi looked solemn and nodded repeatedly.
Past the refining area was the mining area. There were several hundred people here, some wielding pickaxes to dig, others pushing carts to transport Ore. The Ore was divided into two piles: one of gold Ore, and one of spiritual copper Ore.
“Sect Leader, as you instructed, all prisoners from the Jail are mining Ore at the front. Their wages are doubled, and their meals are plentiful, but they are not allowed to leave the cave,” Elder Bi quietly explained from the side.
The Sect Leader nodded, “We still lack manpower. We can recruit some from various Families; under heavy rewards, there will surely be brave men.”
Just then, a familiar voice echoed from ahead.
“Push harder! Haven’t you eaten?”
—It sounded like Jin Buque.
Following the sound, Qian Duoduo looked over. It was indeed him.
Jin Buque, dressed in an orange robe, had a rope strapped over his shoulder, pulling a single-wheeled mining cart, his head bowed. The cart was piled high with golden gold Ore. Behind the cart were Jin Buyong and Gongsun Zheng, both pushing with all their might, heads lowered.
“Pull with some strength! You’re at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, did you achieve that by taking pills…?” Gongsun Zheng retorted, unconvinced.
“Are you looking for a beating? Do you believe I’ll whip you, kid?” Jin Buque cursed, pulling harder with his hands, and the mining cart rolled forward a few feet.
“Forget it. You’re not the Young Clan Chief of the Jin Family anymore, so stop acting high and mighty with me. Elder Bi strictly forbids private fights. If you dare to hit me, then you’re asking for death. Humph, that life of yours was left to you by Jin Buhuan.” Gongsun Zheng continued to provoke him.
Jin Buque suddenly turned around and roared at Gongsun Zheng, “Don’t mention him to me! Don’t you dare mention him! If you do, I won’t be able to sleep at night—”
Feeling someone ahead, Jin Buque stopped pulling the cart. He looked up and saw Qian Duoduo and the others. He immediately spotted Qian Duoduo, and his eyes filled with terror, his whole body trembling. Jin Buyong and Gongsun Zheng looked up from behind the cart, glanced at them, then quickly lowered their heads, burying their faces deeply.
One drop, two drops, three drops… Sweat, like dewdrops, appeared on Jin Buque’s forehead and neck, then dripped onto the ground. After a long while, Jin Buque’s throat moved a few times, and he finally spoke: “Greetings, Sect Leader; greetings, Palace Lord; greetings, Elder; greetings, Bu Huan—brother.”
Suddenly, he bowed his head, exerted all his strength, pulled the mining cart, bypassed Qian Duoduo and the others, and walked into the distance.
Jin Buque disappeared behind the tall pile of gold Ore. At the same time, Qian Duoduo’s fear of this good brother also vanished.
Now, to Qian Duoduo, he no longer posed any threat.
To be honest, Qian Duoduo didn’t harbor much hatred towards him. He was like a village dog, guarding his territory, biting anyone who might threaten him. If he hadn’t relentlessly pursued Qian Duoduo to the point of death, Qian Duoduo wouldn’t have run so fast, and perhaps Qian Duoduo would still be rotting in Jail, contentedly gnawing on a Spirit Chicken leg every day.
It’s just that if Jin Buhuan were to wake up, he wondered if he would be satisfied with Qian Duoduo’s choice.
...
Upon returning from the Phoenix Mountains, Huang Guiren ran over, “Junior Brother, there have been big changes in the Sect.”
“What changes?”
“Come with me, and you’ll know.” Huang Guiren first led Qian Duoduo to the Artificer Hall.
The display and equipment areas of the Artificer Hall were packed with people, making it almost impossible to move.
In the innermost area, Elder Tian Shu, in a green robe, wiped the sweat from his forehead while excitedly distributing Jade Slips one by one, “This Disciple, you are studying so diligently, your Artifact Refining talent is truly commendable. Here is the first volume of the Encyclopedia of Weapon Refining, it’s yours!”
The other Elders in the Artificer Hall were saying and doing the same things, making the Disciples who were visiting the Artificer Hall for the first time incredibly excited.
Qian Duoduo and the other went to Wanjin Pavilion. It was even more alarming here.
Beneath the first Golden Pillar of Wanjin Pavilion, long queues had formed in front of every Wood House. These were all grey-robed Disciples who had come to be assessed, each queue stretching for hundreds of people, turning seven or eight corners, and still growing longer. To prevent cutting in line, Wanjin Pavilion had even dispatched people to maintain order. Beside the Golden Pillar, new Golden Pillars and Wood Houses were being built in haste. By estimation, the number of the first three Golden Pillars and Wood Houses would at least double.
“Artifact Refining craze! Let’s go back.” Qian Duoduo shook his head, pulling Huang Guiren, who also wanted to queue for the assessment, back.
Clearly, the Sect Leader’s new regulations were already common knowledge within the Sect.
“Junior Brother, the Cultivation fee for becoming an Artifact Refiner has increased by fifty percent. Just let me try, just one try.” Huang Guiren also wanted to join the queue, looking back every few steps.
“Have you studied it? Why are you so eager to take the test?”
“You read the Encyclopedia of Weapon Refining all day, I’ve practically memorized it just by smelling it. Besides, I Cultivate spiritual plants, raise Spirit Beasts and Spirit Birds every day, so my foundation is absolutely solid.” Huang Guiren always had his twisted logic.
“That sounds somewhat reasonable.”
Huang Guiren took out three Jade Slips from his Storage Pouch, “Junior Brother, take a look. These are all written by myself.”
Qian Duoduo read them with his Spiritual Awareness—the Jade Slips recorded the entire process of Cultivating spiritual plants and raising Spirit Beasts and Spirit Birds in Purple Gold Manor. What water to use, what fertilizer to apply, what food to feed, every minute change in the spiritual plants, Spirit Beasts, and Spirit Birds was clear as day.
Especially the mating process of the Golden Ox and Golden Tiger was recorded in extreme detail, even including the sounds at night.
A good memory is no match for a bad pen. In Huang Guiren’s records, there were also many things Qian Duoduo had said and done.
“Not bad, Huang Guiren, with this foundation, let alone the first volume, you could pass the first three volumes. However, there are too many people now; come at night when there are fewer. Listen to me, I have experience.” Qian Duoduo flipped through it, feeling pleased. Huang Guiren was attentive to everything, which was indeed a great advantage.
Huang Guiren proudly put away the Jade Slips and nodded.
“The Artifact Refining craze is greatly beneficial to our Purple Gold Manor,” Qian Duoduo asked Huang Guiren, “What will happen in the Sect when there are more Artifact Refiners?”
“Needless to say, the Sect will have more Magic Treasures, and they will be more Advanced.”
“Does refining Magic Treasures require equipment?”
“Yes. And a cauldron too.”
“The cauldron has nothing to do with us. But equipment does. Think about it—” Qian Duoduo was on the verge of giving the answer.
“Are you saying…” Huang Guiren slapped his thigh and jumped up, “When they refine artifacts, whether they succeed or not, they will need equipment. And our vast manor specializes in producing equipment.”
“And it’s excellent equipment.”
“That’s right, anything produced by our Purple Gold Manor is good.” Huang Guiren understood.
“However, if this continues, our manor will have a new worry.” Qian Duoduo deliberately frowned.
“What worry?”