Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 448: Chapter 417: Secretly Learning from Each Other

This Third-rank Casting Master had the appearance of a wandering old Daoist, withered and gaunt, leaning on a Deer Head Walking Stick. He must have been wearing a Magical Artifact that concealed his aura and Qi and Blood, for he looked just like an old farmer at death’s door.

If Yu Yunko hadn’t made the introduction, Chen Che might not have realized that this man was also a Golden Core True Master, even if they were face to face.

But the moment Jia Chaoyuan saw him, his face paled in shock.

”Venerable Master?”

”You know each other?” Chen Che asked, puzzled.

Jia Chaoyuan quickly explained, ”Reporting to the Valley Master, the Venerable Master is the one who guided me. If not for him, I would never have been able to set foot on the path of Cultivation in this life.”

”I merely pointed the way. The hard work of Cultivation was all your own,” the old man said, also somewhat surprised.

He had been traveling abroad when he received the Valley Master’s message and rushed to Jinyun Valley, never expecting to run into an old acquaintance.

After the two of them explained, everyone understood the reason behind their connection:

A hundred years ago, Jia Chaoyuan was just an ordinary hunter in the mountains. The Court was tyrannical, and its harsh taxes and heavy levies left people struggling to survive. Just then, his elderly mother fell gravely ill. With nowhere else to turn, he heard rumors of an Immortal in the mountains who had been forging a blade for thirteen years, so he went up the mountain to seek an audience.

The man took pity on him and bestowed upon him an Immortal Pill, which saved his mother’s life. At that time, the man happened to be in need of a Fire-Burning Boy. Seeing that Jia Chaoyuan had a pure heart, he took him in as a Registered Disciple.

Later, when the blade was complete, the old Daoist left.

But at that time, the Yu Family had long since sealed off their mountain. He had been forging the blade outside and could not reveal his identity, so they parted ways then and there.

”Foolish child, what a pity about your arm...”

The wandering old Daoist, named Yu Qian, looked at Jia Chaoyuan’s empty sleeve, a trace of pain in his eyes. ”If it hadn’t been severed, your forging skill could have reached an even higher level. But now, your progress has come to a halt.”

”I never imagined the Venerable Master was part of the Yu Clan,” Jia Chaoyuan couldn’t help but sigh. He then called Liang Yuan over. ”Though it is a shame, I have passed on all of my skills to Liang Yuan. Liang Yuan, come and greet your grandmaster.”

”Greetings, Grandmaster,” Liang Yuan said respectfully.

Chen Che hadn’t expected the three of them to have such a connection. Although it was a surprise, it wasn’t a bad thing. It would now be perfectly logical for Jia Chaoyuan and his disciple to observe Yu Qian’s Artifact Casting.

He immediately invited Yu Qian into the inner hall, where the man sized up the Flood Dragon Head’s eyeballs.

”They’re this big?”

Yu Qian was startled when he saw the flood dragon eyes. Even the two smaller eyeballs from the left head were as large as a room.

”This is a Fierce Beast we encountered when we went out to sea. We were fortunate enough to sever two of its heads. Elder, please take a look and see what kind of Magical Artifacts these can be forged into.”

Yu Yunko didn’t hide anything.

This was the back mountain of Jinyun Valley, and everyone present could be trusted.

”These two flood dragon pupils can be refined into a reconnaissance-type Magical Artifact, one that can see through illusions. Of course, that’s not their only potential function, but if a Magical Artifact has too many functions, its effects will be diluted, and it won’t be able to specialize in any one thing.”

Leaning on his walking stick, Yu Qian circled the flood dragon pupils.

”As for the two larger pupils from the middle head, they contain a great deal of Spiritual Qi. It would be too wasteful to refine them into reconnaissance Magical Artifacts. I haven’t decided what to make of them yet. They could be used for offensive purposes or for something related to the Divine Soul.”

”The Armor of the Mudskipper Shrimp can be refined into a suit of armor, and its Claw Clamps can be refined into Slaughter Weapons. The sharp teeth of the Flood Dragon Head can also be used to forge Flying Swords, bladed weapons, and the like.”

As expected of a Forging Master from one of the Established Sects.

After examining the items and considering their properties, he immediately knew what kind of Magical Artifacts to create.

Of course, this was just the initial planning. Just like with Alchemy, they still needed to prepare some other Materials.

”Cyan Profound Iron Essence, Refined Copper... Jinyun Valley’s Anomalous Copper Ore can be used as a substitute. Black Radiant Gold, Quenching Liquid Stone, Essence of Water...”

Yu Qian listed a large pile of required Materials.

Liang Yuan, standing to the side, immediately took out a brush and noted down what his grandmaster required. Listening to the list of Materials, Chen Che couldn’t help but feel a bit dizzy. All these items added up to a value of at least a million Spirit Stones.

And that was without even factoring in Yu Qian’s labor fees.

”Otherwise, why do you think Yu Qian has been traveling all this time?” Yu Yunko couldn’t help but sigh to herself.

Normally, a Tier Three Artifact Refiner would be enough to support the operations of an entire clan. But the Yu Clan’s situation was special; they didn’t dare reveal too much. That was why this Golden Core True Master wasn’t even on the Star-Picking Sect’s official roster and naturally couldn’t appear openly within the clan.

And since the clan couldn’t afford to support him, he could only travel abroad under an alias all year round, taking on some private jobs.

Chen Che secretly shook his head.

If it weren’t for this Artifact Casting project, he probably would never have known the Yu Family resorted to such measures.

It seemed the Yu Clan’s fear of the Star-Picking Sect was like that of a mortal facing a pack of tigers and wolves empty-handed. Not only had they confined themselves, but they were also desperately hiding the number and Cultivation of their clan members. Without a deeper understanding, one would never know the true depth of their foundation.

’Since he travels abroad, I wonder if I can get him to stay in the Valley for three to five years to teach Jia Chaoyuan and Liang Yuan.’

Chen Che thought to himself. When it came to talented people, he would naturally never turn anyone away.

However, that wasn’t the most important matter. After Yu Qian finished listing the Materials, Chen Che took out his Sword Pill and said, ”Fellow Daoist Yu, a senior once told me that my Sword Pill is missing its core. I wonder if you know how I might complete it?”

”This Sword Pill...”

Yu Qian tossed aside his walking stick and studied it carefully for a moment, the astonishment in his eyes impossible to hide. After a while, he let out a long sigh, his face full of regret.

”Forgive my incompetence! The ingenuity of your Sword Pill, Valley Master, is far beyond my understanding. From what I can tell, it’s already flawless. I can’t see what it could possibly be missing. Since a senior told you it was incomplete, why don’t you go and ask that senior for guidance?”

”It was just a chance encounter. I’ve been searching for him tirelessly but to no avail. Besides, he wasn’t a Forging Master, so he didn’t say much.”

Putting away the Sword Pill, Chen Che also felt a twinge of regret.

He had thought the man would be able to see something, but he hadn’t expected him to be powerless as well. ’But doesn’t this also indirectly prove that this Sword Pill is even more ingenious than I imagined?’

”What I’m about to say may not be correct, Valley Master Chen. You can take it or leave it.”

Yu Qian deliberated for a moment before continuing, ”To complete a Magical Artifact of this type, you naturally need to use an item of the same lineage.”

”Of the same lineage? You mean I should use a sword-type Magical Artifact?”

Chen Che was lost in thought.

Back then, the old academy head had drawn upon his True Essence, temporarily filling the core by Condensing Qi into a Sword.

’Does that mean all I need to do is place a sword inside?’

”Of course, it can’t be an ordinary Magical Artifact. If you place a common sword inside the Sword Pill, it would be crushed by the Sword Pill’s Sword Qi in moments. Even if it could barely withstand it, that wouldn’t be enough, as it would be impossible to fully unleash the Sword Pill’s power.”

Yu Qian stated honestly, ”My advice on this matter is based solely on my several hundred years of experience in Artifact Refining. I dare not say more, lest I mislead the Valley Master.”

”Thank you for the information, Fellow Daoist. If I can complete the Sword Pill one day, I will be sure to reward you handsomely.”

Chen Che cupped his hands in thanks. As the saying goes, anyone who is an expert is a teacher, and he never acted overly proud in such matters.

”I don’t deserve such praise.”

Yu Qian quickly returned the gesture.

Next, Chen Che asked about the time required for the forging.

Yu Qian stated that with all the Materials ready, it would still take him at least twenty to thirty years by himself. After all, he couldn’t just do nothing but refine these few Magical Artifacts for two or three decades.

”In that case, I’ll have Jia Chaoyuan and his disciple, Liang Yuan, assist you. During this time, Jinyun Valley will provide all of your cultivation resources until the Artifact Forging is complete.”

After some consideration, Chen Che decided to take the opportunity to make his request.

Yu Qian was tempted but didn’t agree immediately. Instead, he turned to cast an inquiring look at Yu Yunko. With seven or eight, maybe even ten Spiritual Artifacts to make, they would be helping him day and night. It would be impossible for him to hide all his techniques.

It was called ”assisting,” but it was really a chance to learn his secrets.

”I’m prepared to send twenty disciples from our clan to study in the Pill Hall. What do you think?”

Unexpectedly, not only did Yu Yunko agree decisively, but she also made a request of her own. ”Rest assured, Valley Master, this is a private matter and nothing more. These disciples are all of a suitable age. They will only study in the Pill Hall and will not participate in any other affairs in the Valley.”

”The day the Magical Artifacts are forged, they will leave.”

”Good!”

At this point, Chen Che had no reason to refuse and agreed on the spot.