Chapter 482 - 246: Extradition Ship Contract, Dark Prison Aura_3

The elder’s voice was filled with severe scolding. Liou Yuan and Liou Hongjun exchanged a glance outside the Forging Room. Liou Hongjun chuckled awkwardly, "Mr. Taiyu is just like that, a bit temperamental, but his artifact refining skills are rarely matched on Five Extremes Mountain."

"Aside from the secluded ancestor Qiou Daozi, he is the most formidable, capable of crafting Foundation Establishment Magical Artifacts."

"He’s even a Peak Foundation Establishment Artifact Refiner." Liou Yuan’s eyes shimmered as the advantages of having a family background became apparent.

If it were a Foundation Establishment cultivator without a background, an Artifact Refiner of Taiyu’s level probably wouldn’t even bother to look.

Since Taiyu was currently reprimanding his disciple, Liou Yuan wasn’t in a hurry, patiently waiting outside the door.

Liou Yuan had heard that many skilled Artifact Refiners had eccentric temperaments, and offending them could ruin this artifact refining opportunity, making it difficult to find such a powerful refiner again.

Before long, Liou Yuan heard the voice of a man with a hearty tone responding dully to Taiyu from inside the Forging Room, "Master, you’re making it too difficult. Lingxing Iron is pinnacle refining material, and I’ve only been refining for a few years. It’s already quite impressive that I can forge it; you can’t demand that I avoid waste."

"Trash is trash, you’re my disciple, do you think you can compare to others?" Taiyu’s reprimands grew more intense.

Despite being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he seemed to sense someone approaching outside the Forging Room and, after venting his anger, instructed his disciple, "Continue refining. If you can’t ensure a success rate of over seventy percent, don’t think about leaving the Divine Craft Pavilion’s doors."

After saying this, Liou Yuan heard the Forging Room’s door being pushed open.

He and Liou Hongjun immediately turned their gaze, only to see a towering elder emerge from behind the door.

His silver hair entwined with gold-thread braids, wrinkles like ancient cauldron inscriptions etched around his eyes and brows.

The broad palms were covered in calluses, the lines in the palm repeatedly tempered by mysterious iron and Spirit Fire, emanating a warm jade-like hue.

Behind the stone door was the roaring furnace of the Forge Room, the elder’s silhouette seamlessly merged with the blazing red flames.

Liou Yuan’s eyes swept over the elder’s body, activating his Evil Eyes, revealing Taiyu’s Qi Mansion and cultivation level in full view.

A Late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm, with a Qi Mansion several times brighter than Liou Hongjun’s, an estimated Sixth-Grade Qi Mansion.

Pairing late-stage Foundation Establishment power with a Sixth-Grade Qi Mansion, combined with superior artifact refining skills, this elder named Taiyu held a sect position not beneath the five great elders of the Disciplinary Hall.

Liou Yuan saw Taiyu’s bright and piercing eyes glance casually at him and Liou Hongjun, saying in a voice betraying no emotion, "The chubby one’s here!"

He directly referred to Liou Hongjun as "chubby," yet the latter wasn’t a bit offended, even smiling and nodding in return.

Then Liou Yuan saw Taiyu looking at him, sizing him up with a smile, "This is Liou Family’s second son, Liou Yuan?"

Currently, Liou Zhen headed the Liou Family, and Liou Yuan was Liou Zhen’s younger brother. Calling him the second son of the Liou Family was appropriate.

"Liou Yuan greets Mr. Taiyu." Liou Yuan politely cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, his smile warm.

"Liou Hongjun has already informed me about your matter. Come inside for a detailed discussion," Taiyu nodded, subsequently inviting the two to enter the Forging Room.

As soon as they stepped inside, rolling heat waves came rushing at them.

The terrifying high temperatures emanated in waves from the spirit-fire-blazed forging furnace.

Fortunately, Liou Yuan had achieved minor success in Body Refining, feeling no discomfort.

Liou Hongjun, being a Foundation Establishment Artifact Refiner himself, was naturally unfazed.

However, as they entered the Forging Room, and Liou Yuan looked at the figure sweating profusely on the forging platform, he paused in surprise.

The robust young figure also paused upon seeing Liou Yuan, the large hammer he was wielding came to a halt mid-air.

This person’s complexion was dark, his stature robust and exuding a hearty aura, with features resembling Qiu Ming’s cousin, Qiu Can.

The two had some interactions in the Outer Sect, considered acquaintances.

When they first met, Liou Yuan was just a green novice freshly entered into the sect; meeting again, Liou Yuan was already a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, while Qiu Can seemed only to have reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, still forging at the Artifact Refining Pavilion.

Considering their previous interactions, alongside Qiu Ming’s connection, Liou Yuan hesitated for a moment before addressing, "Brother Qiu Can."

"I dare not, I dare not!" Qiu Can shook his head repeatedly, visibly nervous.

Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators and Qi Refining Realm cultivators belonged to different worlds; on Five Extremes Mountain, it was unprecedented for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to call a Qi Refining cultivator "brother," frightening Qiu Can into a pallor.

Through their words, it was already clear there lay a gap between them, not a personal grievance, but a chasm in cultivation levels, making Qiu Can hesitant to converse as he once did.

Even the gaze towards Liou Yuan was mostly respectful.

Liou Yuan did not know how to handle his relationship with Qiu Can, merely saying, "Carry on."

Then, accompanying Liou Hongjun, he followed Taiyu into the secret room at the back of the Forging Room.

Their conversation was naturally observed by Liou Hongjun and Taiyu.

Liou Hongjun’s chubby face grinned slyly, his thoughts unknown.

Taiyu, however, only cast a deep glance at his disciple without further comment.

As the stone door closed behind them in the secret room, the three sat down.

Liou Yuan’s mind still replayed the scene from his first meeting with Qiu Can.

At the time, he heard Qiu Can speak of his master and felt that his master must be a formidable figure. Sure enough, it was Taiyu, the top artifact refiner in the Foundation Establishment Realm on Five Extremes Mountain.

"Qiu Can is indeed fortunate."

Following Taiyu could only benefit Qiu Can; a strict teacher produces excellent disciples, after all.

On the other side, Taiyu had already begun questioning Liou Yuan about the grade of Foundation Establishment Magical Artifact he planned to forge.

Taiyu tapped his fingers on the stone table, expressionlessly addressing Liou Yuan, "Just to be clear, when I take action, it’s costly. Even if you’re Liou Zhen’s brother, the amount due must not be reduced by a single coin."

"Rest assured, Mr. Taiyu, I understand the rules." Liou Yuan responded, and then took out the refined materials he had prepared in his Storage Ring.

One item was a long crystal.

Its surface emitted gentle water-like light, as ripples of light flowed, it seemed numerous lively water patterns swirled within the crystal.

The very Luminous Illusion Crystal entrusted to Liou Yuan by Bu Moying from Qingxiao Sect, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment refining material.

This Luminous Illusion Crystal greatly suited Liou Yuan’s swordsmanship; using it for artifact refining would significantly enhance Liou Yuan’s Cyan Nether Sword Qi.

"Luminous Illusion Crystal!" Taiyu immediately recognized the crystal’s origin, his old face revealing a smile of intrigued fascination.