Chapter 525 - 478: Deeply Grieved

Chapter 525: Chapter 478: Deeply Grieved

"For someone in the mere Foundation Establishment Realm to possess such a large piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold is no different than a child parading a treasure through the streets."

"And yet, despite all that, he not only managed to get what he wanted but also successfully escaped the pursuit of a Golden Core cultivator."

"Even I am humbled by comparison..."

"You’re an interesting one."

Qing Ling covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled. "But his methods are indeed extraordinary."

"According to the intelligence my family has gathered, this Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator is an orthodox Immortal Dao Cultivator who practices both Dharma and Body Cultivation. His physique and Magical Power far surpass his peers, and the Cultivation Technique he uses must also be exceptional."

As she spoke, Qing Ling swiped her hand through the air. A projection materialized, appearing to be a surveillance recording from within the Marketplace. The streets were bustling with people coming and going. A man in black robes with a sturdy build and an ordinary face appeared in the image. Behind him, a tall figure shrouded in a black cloak followed his every move.

As Qing Ling slowly narrated, the projection flickered through a series of scenes. It showed the man being hunted, engaging in a Battle within the Marketplace, the Puppet he controlled, the Spiritual Artifacts he wielded, and even the Magic Techniques he used—all were clearly recorded in the projection.

Finally, the man escaped the Marketplace, leaving the range of its surveillance recordings. The projection then froze on the last frame.

Qing Ling looked at Chu Mu. "The Puppet this man commands is incredibly powerful; it held its own against two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Bazhou Alliance. The several Spiritual Artifacts he uses are also all quite extraordinary..."

"Your skills in both Artifact Refining and Puppetry are top-tier. Did you notice anything unusual?"

Chu Mu shook his head. "This man is clearly not a Vast Sea Cultivator. He most likely came from Great Chu. Given how the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortal flourish in Great Chu, it’s difficult to trace his origins."

Qing Ling nodded. "He must be a Great Chu Cultivator. My family checked the entry and exit registration records of all the Marketplaces, and there was no trace of him."

"If he were a native Vast Sea Cultivator, it would be impossible for him to have left no trace at all."

Chu Mu subtly changed the subject. "Is your Chen Family also interested in this man?"

Qing Ling retorted, "And are you not interested in him?"

"Profit stirs the heart. I am no saint, so how could I not be interested?"

Chu Mu laughed heartily, making no attempt to hide his feelings. But deep within his eyes, as he looked at the projection, he couldn’t conceal a strange expression.

’How could I fail to notice the clues in those techniques?’

’That Puppet was Tier Two Upper Grade. I had refined it myself, using the skeleton of a Tier Three Dark Fierce Ape as its core. It could be called the absolute pinnacle among Tier Two Puppets, powerful enough to contend with a Fake Pill Cultivator.’

’Those two Spiritual Artifacts were also my personal creations. With my skills, anything that passed through my hands could hardly be considered an ordinary item!’

’In the Treasure Vault of the True Understanding Main Pavilion, there were still many treasures I had personally refined. A good number of them were Tier Two and Tier Three, serving as the pavilion’s signature treasures.’

’Their main purpose was to be brought out when needed, to acquire or trade for treasures that, for me, were considered a great windfall.’

’That young man had originally traded a piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold at the True Understanding Main Pavilion for these very Upper Grade treasures that I had personally refined.’

For some reason, Chu Mu found himself at a loss for words.

’I didn’t even have to think to know that this person must have been meticulously, bit by bit, exchanging the treasures he carried for the resources he needed for his Cultivation.’

’The exchange at the True Understanding Pavilion had been one such case, and clearly, so was this business in Bazhou.’

’And as for the Bazhou affair, although I don’t know the reason, the young man had taken out such a large piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold. It was undoubtedly another exchange for something he needed.’

But...

’Since he’d already had one mutually satisfactory transaction with the True Understanding Pavilion, and the Pavilion had maintained its good reputation... ’

’The business should have continued...’

Although he roughly understood the man’s apprehensions, Chu Mu couldn’t help but feel a pang of deep regret.

’That windfall had truly slipped right through my fingers.’

’If only the man had chosen to trade with the True Understanding Pavilion again, things would never have escalated to the point where countless Cultivators were now coveting his treasures.’

’As for me, Chu Mu, I at least have some principles.’

’When a windfall is delivered to my doorstep, I’m not so shameless as to resort to robbery.’

’A fair trade that makes everyone happy—wouldn’t that have been wonderful?’

"The True Understanding Pavilion’s reputation still isn’t solid enough..."

Chu Mu rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

’If the True Understanding Pavilion is to continue, perhaps I should pay more attention to this aspect. If the Pavilion’s reputation had been solid enough, that piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold, a treasure of immense rarity, might not have slipped past me.’

"Sir?"

Qing Ling called out softly, not knowing why Chu Mu had suddenly become so lost in thought.

"I just had a flash of inspiration regarding the Refining Treasure and got a bit carried away. Please don’t mind me, Fairy."

Chu Mu said, looking slightly apologetic.

"In that case, I won’t disturb you any longer."

"I also need to return to my Cave Mansion to pack. For the time being, I’ll be staying here in your home, so I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion."

"The honor is all mine, Fairy."

Chu Mu laughed. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qing Ling gracefully departed.

Only after she had vanished from his sight did the smile on Chu Mu’s face slowly fade.

He glanced at the projection, which had not yet dissipated. With a flick of his sleeve, he shattered it.

He contemplated for a moment, and after a short while, he seemed to have made a decision.

A moment later, he took a step and returned to the stone pavilion. As he sat down, the Jade Scroll recording the details of Qing Ling’s Lifebound Treasure was once again in his hand.

Related design concepts and inspiration flooded his mind. Under the effect of his Spiritual Radiance Blessing, countless thoughts and ideas concerning the Lifebound Treasure erupted.

’The payment for this treasure refining job has not yet been set. But for an Artifact Refiner like me, the greatest reward from Artifact Refining was never the final payment. It’s the surplus Spiritual Materials left over from the refining process.’

’This treasure for Qing Ling is my own design, tailored to a Half-human, Half-Flood Dragon. The Magical Treasure’s quality and potential will naturally both be Upper Grade.’

’The Spiritual Materials and Objects required for refining the treasure will, of course, all be exceptionally rare and precious.’

’The surplus Spiritual Materials from this treasure... perhaps they could be used for... ’

Amid the burst of inspiration, this particular thought also emerged.

Chu Mu mulled it over for a moment before suppressing the thought, focusing on the treasure’s design with undivided attention.

Time trickled by, moment by moment, under his undivided focus.

「In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.」

Qing Ling arrived as promised and moved into the rear courtyard of the True Understanding Pavilion.

After Qing Ling moved in, Chu Mu’s daily life became even more structured.

He spent his days either thinking alone or seeking out Qing Ling to discuss the matter of Refining Treasure. In this way, time passed quickly.

Sunrises and sunsets came and went, and several months drifted by.

The time and energy required for this Lifebound Treasure had undoubtedly far exceeded Chu Mu’s expectations.

Just designing the Magical Treasure’s Artifact Formula alone, counting from when he was still on the Demon Suppression Islands, had taken nearly a year in total.

It wasn’t until the peak of summer that the design for this Lifebound Treasure was finally complete...

...