I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

In front of a fiery red palace, two escape lights approached together.

”Senior Brother Gu, this is the Celestial Craft Pavilion!”

”Within the Daoist School, there are many artifact refiners, but the ones with the most exquisite skills are in the Celestial Craft Pavilion.”

”This palace connects to the earth vein, capable of invoking tier three spirit fire, Earth Core Celestial Flame, sufficient for crafting artifacts, and is the most prosperous place in the Daoist School’s Fire Vein.”

”To be honest, after I broke through Foundation Establishment, I also took a position in the Celestial Craft Pavilion, occasionally taking on artifact refining tasks.”

”However, my breakthrough was too recent; currently, I can only forge low-grade spiritual artifacts. The artifact embryo you need, Senior Brother, is beyond my ability...”

Lvu Zijin pointed to the grand hall in front, a slight bitterness at the corner of his mouth.

Originally, hearing that Gu Yuan needed artifact refining, he was overjoyed, thinking that his years of hard study were finally useful.

But he didn’t expect that what Gu Yuan needed was an ”artifact embryo” beyond superior spiritual artifacts.

Such a thing was completely beyond his realm, he had no confidence in refining it, and could only refer Gu Yuan to others.

”Do not belittle yourself. Among the thousands of Qi Refining disciples in the Daoist School, your talent in artifact refining is the best. Given time, you will surely become a master in the craft.”

Gu Yuan spoke softly in comfort.

His cultivation advanced too quickly, with great strides, and it was not Lvu Zijin’s fault for not keeping up.

Hearing Gu Yuan’s comfort, Lvu Zijin felt a bit better, and while leading the way, he communicated softly:

”Senior Brother, there are only two who can be considered masters in artifact refining in the Celestial Craft Pavilion.”

”One hails from the Cyan Flame Peak, cultivating a tier two top-grade spirit flame, the Crossing Technique Cyan Flame.”

”The other comes from humble lineage, an apprentice under Elder Xuan, cultivating a tier two top-grade spirit flame, the Five Elements Flame.”

The Celestial Craft Pavilion is the most prosperous place in the Daoist School’s Fire Vein, greatly beneficial to the art of artifact refining, and any slightly talented artifact refiner would join.

This leads to a mix of origins in the Celestial Craft Pavilion, with members from noble families, humble lineage, and Seven Vein disciples.

”Let’s go with the one from humble lineage!”

Without much thought, Gu Yuan directly chose the one from humble lineage.

This artifact refining mission had a mysterious aspect, and he didn’t want Seven Vein disciples to know, to avoid unnecessary complications.

Lvu Zijin wasn’t surprised by Gu Yuan’s choice, but reminded him of Senior Brother Shenn’s usual conduct:

”Senior Brother Gu, although Senior Brother Shenn’s refining technique is exquisite, his fees are extravagant; you should be prepared.”

”It’s alright, I have my considerations.”

Gu Yuan waved his hand.

Hearing this, Lvu Zijin breathed a sigh of relief and immediately led Gu Yuan towards a side hall of the Celestial Craft Pavilion.

...

...

”Clang!”

”Clang!”

”Clang!”

Before even approaching the side hall, the sound of metal clashing came through, followed by a sudden blaze of fire in the hall, with spiritual light overflowing, accompanied by a clear sword cry.

”Middle-grade Spirit Sword!”

Feeling the fluctuations of spiritual light, Lvu Zijin showed an expression of envy on his face.

A middle-grade spirit sword is much more precious than ordinary spiritual artifacts, easily selling for fifty to sixty thousand spirit stones. Even just crafting it on commission could earn a crafting fee of over ten thousand spirit stones.

With such skill, why worry about cultivation resources?

”Thank you, Senior Brother Shenn!”

At this moment, from inside the side hall came an excited voice of thanks, and Gu Yuan and Lvu Zijin saw a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator coming out from the hall with great joy and a spirit sword in hand.

The hall door was open, vaguely revealing a burly, red-faced middle-aged man inside catching his breath.

His breath was deep and profound, having already cultivated to the realm of late-stage Foundation Establishment, only a step away from reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection.

”Senior Brother Shenn!”

Lvu Zijin quickly went forward, making a salute towards Shenn Futu.

Shenn Futu opened his eyes, with fiery redness burning within, and a scorching divine thought suddenly emerged, making the entire hall seem to stir into a sea of fire.

This person’s divine sense was formidable, almost reaching the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment.

”Junior Brother Lvu?”

Shenn Futu looked at Lvu Zijin, speaking in surprise.

Then he saw Gu Yuan behind him, with a look of realization in his eyes.

”Came for an important matter, Junior Brother Lvu?”

Shenn Futu squinted and smiled, though speaking to Lvu Zijin, his gaze stayed on Gu Yuan.

With a look as if sizing up a fat sheep.

”Senior Brother Shenn, I apologize for the intrusion!”

”Allow me to introduce you, this is Senior Brother Gu Yuan, here today for an important favor!”

Lvu Zijin reached out with clasped hands, introducing both parties.

”Junior Brother Gu, the Flowing Cloud Banquet champion, a name well-known!”

”Ten years ago, I heard you were transported to the Outer Realm, and I felt rather regretful, but your fortune is truly incredible, an idle worry on my part.”

Shenn Futu, feeling Gu Yuan’s mid-stage Foundation Establishment aura, couldn’t help but praise.

Meanwhile, his eyes brightened further.

”Senior Brother Shenn praises me too much. I’ve come today with some matters to bother Senior Brother.”

Gu Yuan reached out and made a salute, not lacking in etiquette.

”Speak, speak!”

”Junior Brother has broken through to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, surely needing suitable spiritual artifacts. Though not exceptionally talented, I do have some insight into artifact refining. Here is a price list; Junior Brother can review it...”

With a wave of his large sleeve, Shenn Futu directly took out a jade register emitting spiritual light.

”Low-grade spiritual artifact, crafting fee, ten thousand spirit stones.”

”Middle-grade spiritual artifact, crafting fee, twenty thousand spirit stones.”

”High-grade spiritual artifact, fee negotiable.”

”If spiritual materials are needed from my pavilion, prices are calculated separately!”

The jade register had few words, but the numbers on it were enough to deter a large crowd of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

A low-grade spiritual artifact generally costs just over ten thousand spirit stones.

A middle-grade spiritual artifact would fetch only tens of thousands of spirit stones, yet Shenn Futu’s crafting fee nearly equaled a finished spiritual artifact, and with the cost of spiritual materials, the price was almost double the market value outside.

For a high-grade spiritual artifact, the price wasn’t even listed, indicating that mere spirit stones might not suffice, requiring additional treasures.

”This price of yours, Senior Brother, is truly expensive.”

Gu Yuan glanced over it, shaking his head with a light smile.

”Haha, it’s a bit pricey, but I guarantee it’s worth every bit!”

Shenn Futu patted his chest with great confidence.

In the vast Daoist School, aside from his inexpensive master, he dared say no one could surpass his artifact refining technique.

He, Shenn Futu, is a signboard; those seeking his artifact refining must be prepared to pay more.

”The price being higher is not a problem; I’m just curious if Senior Brother is confident in crafting what I need?”

Gu Yuan raised his head, smiling faintly as he spoke.

”Haha, Junior Brother, at just mid-stage Foundation Establishment, you’re quite bold!”

”I’ve cultivated for over three hundred years and have refined countless spiritual artifacts, including ten high-grade ones, yet no one has ever questioned my capabilities!”

Shenn Futu’s face sank, a hint of coldness in his tone.

”I trust Senior Brother’s skills with high-grade spiritual artifacts, but what if it’s something half a level higher than a high-grade spiritual artifact?”

”Something half a level higher than a high-grade spiritual artifact?!”

Shenn Futu’s face showed surprise, looking at Gu Yuan with doubt.

Gu Yuan waved his hand, enveloping himself with mana to shield from external probing, and then took out a piece of glowing thunder stone.

”Six-Aperture Celestial Thunder Stone?!”