I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

However, the refining of artifacts is extremely difficult; not only does it require a large amount of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, but it also requires an Artifact Refining Master with extraordinary means.

Yet in the entire South Mountain Domain, there are few Artifact Refiners capable of crafting artifacts.

The deeper the cultivation, the harder it is to obtain protective treasures, which is why the technique of the Dharma Seal surpasses artifact refining and has become the mainstream method of the present age.

With a Dharma Seal, one only needs to find spiritual materials and comprehend Dao Patterns to refine it, seeking from oneself.

Moreover, as long as the Dao Patterns are comprehended and the spiritual materials are attained, the refinement is extremely quick; if not completed in an instant, then within a few days.

But artifacts are different, as their requirements for heat control and spiritual materials are higher than those for Dharma Seals, and it is one of the hundred arts of cultivation, requiring a lot of time to ponder.

Furthermore, the refining of artifacts takes a long time, with the furnace and fire often taking decades.

Cultivators are all after longevity; which Artifact Refining Master would tirelessly expend their lifespan, refining artifacts for you day by day?

Unless a great price is paid.

Therefore, artifacts are rare in the entire East Mountain Realm.

The Cyan Peak Daoist School where Gu Yuan resides is already a major sect, yet when he broke through to the Golden Core, Master Yunyang bestowed upon him only a stalk of Purple Sky Golden Thunder Bamboo for refining a Sword Pill.

However, the Purple Sky Golden Thunder Bamboo is even more precious than ordinary artifacts and is the key material for refining a High-grade Sword Pill.

Gu Yuan’s ability to slay the Black Water Infant Beast was not only due to his high Sword Dao cultivation but also because the material of the Sword Pill was crucial.

Upper-class Sword Pills are comparable to Upper-class Treasures, and the mortal body honed by the Black Water Infant Beast over hundreds of years could not resist their sharpness.

You can see a glimpse!

In the entire Cyan Peak Daoist School, only Master Xuan Guang has the ability to craft artifacts.

However, Master Xuan Guang is not one to settle for mediocrity, having rarely crafted artifacts for others over the years, except for a select few.

As for how many artifacts he himself possesses, it is unknown to ordinary people.

That is the trump card of an Artifact Refiner.

Additionally, Master Xuan Guang has obtained the Swaying Golden Lotus and is now in secluded cultivation and not seeing guests, so Gu Yuan cannot seek him even if he wishes to.

Hence, he only has two ways to acquire new artifacts.

One is the Moon Bamboo Market, and the other is the South Mountain Pavilion.

Both are professional brokers with channels beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Especially the latter, which can communicate with other domains and hosts a Treasure Assembly periodically, where numerous treasures emerge each time, making it a grand event in the South Mountain Domain.

Currently, this pavilion has been tamed by Master Yunyang through unknown means, showcasing its skills and opening a trade route for the Daoist School, yet it maintains a high degree of autonomy and is not an entity of the Daoist School; all its accounts and archives are privately owned.

The two entities merely cooperatively opened a trade route.

Gu Yuan, before arriving at the Moon Bamboo Market, had already visited the South Mountain Pavilion once.

However, artifacts being rare, though there were sales at the South Mountain Pavilion, they were not what Gu Yuan desired.

Helplessly, he turned to the Moon Bamboo Market.

Though the Moon Bamboo Market is not as large as the South Mountain Pavilion, it has stood firm for years with its own methodology.

Behind Master Moon Bamboo is a mysterious Artifact Refining Master with whom he has long cooperated.

At this moment, hearing Gu Yuan mention artifacts, Master Moon Bamboo took a sip of tea before slowly responding:

”Since I have agreed to the request of Fellow Daoist, naturally I have support, however, all the treasures you have stored with us have been accounted for, and what’s left is far from enough to exchange for a protective artifact...”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan merely chuckled: ”Why should Fellow Daoist hide it from me? Bring out the treasure for a view, and if it suits, I will make sure Fellow Daoist is satisfied!”

His collaboration with Master Moon Bamboo naturally rests on his own backing.

”Very well, but this artifact is freshly crafted and unseen by outsiders; if Fellow Daoist cannot afford to buy it, please do not leak the corresponding information, as a brand-new artifact possesses great potential as a trump card.”

Master Moon Bamboo nodded slowly but still gave a word of caution.

Golden Core Cultivators are not cabbages, aside from those like idle clouds and wild cranes hidden deep, the overt Golden Core in the South Mountain Domain are few in number, with means broadly known.

If one suddenly acquires a treasure, it might have marvelous effects during Magical Combat.

”Naturally!”

Gu Yuan nodded in agreement to this matter.

”Clap clap!”

Seeing this, Master Moon Bamboo smiled contentedly and then clapped his hands.

”Heave ho!”

”Heave ho!”

From outside the bamboo grove came the sound of shouting.

Gu Yuan turned his head to see outside the bamboo grove, four Silverback Apes were laboriously carrying a massive Golden Leaf towards him.

The four Silverback Apes, all with Earth Demon cultivation comparable to Foundation Establishment, had muscular bodies and towering statures, their Qi Power surging, yet they were struggling to carry the Golden Leaf, panting heavily.

”This is...”

Gu Yuan’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.

”This treasure is called the Ruyi True Leaf, crafted from the branches and leaves of the Tier Three Exotic Wood, Thousand-Year-Old Wishing Tree.”

”The Wishing Tree grows a leaf only every thousand years; the leaf is as large as a canopy, with naturally formed Dao Patterns, as hard as the Golden Core, most suitable for crafting defensive treasures.”

”My friend infused it with Earth Fire over sixty-some years to forge this Middle-grade Treasure!”

”Do not be deceived by its current weight; once refined, its size and heaviness are subject to one’s thoughts.”

”The greatest feature of this treasure is its sturdiness; even a Middle-grade Sword Pill cannot pierce through, capable of withstanding physical attacks from Middle-grade Great Demons.”

”Not only that, its patterns are mystical; ordinary techniques approaching within three feet will be fixed by the Gold Patterns, unable to come near.”

”However, if a technique is profound, this leaf may not be able to protect against it.”

”Simply put, this treasure is adept in defending against weapons and physical attacks, but not in technique defense, yet it is still among the upper-class of Middle-grade Treasures!”

”Does Fellow Daoist find satisfaction?”

Master Moon Bamboo pointed to the Golden Leaf, lifting her chin slightly in a show of slight pride.

Her Moon Bamboo Market, surviving for hundreds of years, relies on artifact transactions wide unseen in the outside world!

After all, not all forces possess their own dedicated Artifact Refining Masters!

”Surely a fine artifact!”

Gu Yuan praised without reservation.

To others, it might have minor flaws, but for him, it was just right and suited his purposes.

”It’s good that Fellow Daoist is pleased, although the rarity of a finished artifact should need no further remark from me, and Fellow Daoist should refrain from offering ordinary items for exchange.”

Master Moon Bamboo waved a hand to have the Silverback Apes move the Golden Leaf slightly away, then spoke to Gu Yuan.

She knew Gu Yuan was exceptionally talented, the only Golden Core in the Cyan Peak Daoist School in four hundred years.

She also understood that the Cyan Peak Daoist School was now energetically pursuing bold progress.

Yet, the value of artifacts is exceedingly high, and she wouldn’t easily let go.

If its value doesn’t match, she wouldn’t bring it out for trade, rather keeping it for her own use.

”Indeed, a remarkable treasure...” Gu Yuan sighed and then, gazing into Master Moon Bamboo’s eyes, inquired: ”Would Fellow Daoist like to advance further, reaching the mid-stage of Great Demon?”

Though Master Moon Bamboo has been at the Early-stage Great Demon Perfect Realm for over six hundred years, the Demon Race’s cultivation is more challenging than the Human Race’s, and after these six hundred years, she has reached only the Early Stage of Great Demon Perfect Realm.

But the lifespan of the Demon Race is longer than that of the Golden Core cultivators of the Human Race, granting Master Moon Bamboo further opportunities for advancement.

Yet, without a pivotal chance, this step, too, will be extremely demanding.

”Further advancement?”

”What does Fellow Daoist mean by this?”

Master Moon Bamboo’s heart was shaken, though her expression remained composed, merely asking plainly.

”I have a method, which might aid Fellow Daoist in taking another step!”

Gu Yuan’s voice grew deep as he brought forth a Dharma Seal, concealing some of its content, and handed it to Master Moon Bamboo.

A flow of spiritual light emerged upon the jade scroll, revealing several large characters.

Origin-Tracing Spirit Prayer Seal!

This seal can summon the Ancient Demon Spirit Qi hidden within the mountains and earth, transforming it into a mass of Returning Spirit Origin, significantly enhancing the roots and foundation of the demon race; if at the Early Stage of Great Demon Perfect Realm, there’s a high chance of advancing further.

Additionally, post Origin-Tracing Spirit transformation, the enhancement of the roots will considerably augment future cultivation.

It’s the Dharma Seal most aligned with the demon race!

Priceless!