Chapter 137 - 119: Inner Sect Elder

Chapter 137: Chapter 119: Inner Sect Elder

Inside the Scripture Pavilion, Zhao Zuo set down his book and stretched his back. He was startled to find a white-haired old man standing not far away, smiling warmly at him.

"Senior, may I ask what brings you to me?"

Zhao Zuo quickly stood up and asked respectfully. He couldn’t gauge the man’s Cultivation, nor had he even been able to sense his presence. The last time that had happened was when he faced Chen Xiaorong. This man was, in all likelihood, a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse.

"I am an Inner Sect Elder from the Earth Fire Hall. My surname is Wang."

Elder Wang looked quite old, his face covered in wrinkles, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. He had a gaunt figure and wore a plain Taoist Robe with colorful, intricate patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar. A long, light-blue cord was tied around his waist, and he perpetually wore a faint smile.

"I’ve heard that you have a talent for Artifact Refining. Would you be willing to become my disciple?" Elder Wang asked with a smile, his expression full of kindness.

For some reason, Zhao Zuo saw a shadow of Xue Liang in the elder, and his guard instinctively went up.

An ordinary Outer Sect disciple, upon seeing a high-and-mighty Inner Sect Elder being so amiable and approachable, would have likely agreed to become his disciple without a second thought. But Zhao Zuo found Elder Wang’s enthusiasm suspicious and didn’t immediately accept.

"And what would it cost to become your disciple?" Zhao Zuo inquired.

"Hm, good. You’re a sharp kid. It’s just five hundred Spirit Stones a month," Elder Wang replied.

Considering his current earning rate, Zhao Zuo could indeed afford five hundred Spirit Stones. If he could genuinely receive the elder’s teachings, it wouldn’t be too expensive. After all, having a guide would help him avoid many of the pitfalls of learning on his own.

Zhao Zuo decided he needed to learn more before agreeing to become the elder’s disciple. The master-disciple relationship was a significant bond in this world; one had to be cautious before forging it.

"If I become your disciple, will I be able to learn how to refine Middle Grade Magical Artifacts?"

"Well, of course... but Middle Grade Magical Artifacts are a separate price. Six hundred Spirit Stones for one lesson, and each lesson is four hours long. Quality guaranteed." Elder Wang seemed rather pleased. He loved disciples like Zhao Zuo who thought so highly of themselves—they were like thriving leeks, just waiting to be harvested.

"I’ll need to think about it. After all, six hundred Spirit Stones is a huge expense for me." Zhao Zuo didn’t agree right away, but he didn’t outright refuse either. He let a flicker of interest show on his face; he didn’t want to risk offending an Inner Sect Elder, so a direct refusal was out of the question.

’They called it a master-disciple relationship, but in reality, it’s a purely transactional exchange.’

Zhao Zuo didn’t mind such an arrangement, but he still needed to consider it more carefully.

"When you’ve made up your mind, use this Sound Transmission Talisman to contact me."

"And don’t you worry, my reputation for integrity is well-known."

Elder Wang was confident the young man would seek him out. No one who walked the Path of Artifact Refining could refuse the allure of higher-level knowledge and techniques; it was a trait common to all who sought to learn.

"Alright, I understand." Zhao Zuo reached out and took the Sound Transmission Talisman.

A Sound Transmission Talisman was like a single-use Communication Jade, but its effective range was much shorter, and thus it was cheaper, costing only two Spirit Stones apiece.

After Elder Wang left, the smile remained on Zhao Zuo’s face, but inwardly, he was already mulling over whether he should make this deal with the elder.

After all, he had been in the Moyun Sect for too short a time and knew very little about its key figures.

However, Liu Heng was a seasoned old-timer who had been knocking around the Moyun Sect for years. This was the perfect time to ask him. At that moment, Zhao Zuo was more certain than ever that sparing Liu Heng had been the right choice.

「The next day, in an Outer Sect Earth Fire Forging Chamber.」

Liu Heng was melting Spirit Iron, preparing to pour it into a mold.

Nearby, Zhao Zuo sat with his eyes closed, his breathing long and even, his aura steady and strong. After some simple tests, he was finally confident enough to entrust the three steps of casting, fine-tuning, and sharpening to Liu Heng. Zhao Zuo himself only needed to handle the engraving of the Spirit Patterns. Having worked together a few times, the two had developed a good rapport.

Liu Heng also practiced a Body Refining Technique. The Moyun Sect’s Fire Refining Body was a technique particularly suited for those with a Fire-Series Spiritual Root. It granted resistance to high temperatures; it was said that at the Great Success stage, a cultivator could dip their hands into molten gold without being harmed.

Even after nearly five or six years of arduous practice, Liu Heng had only reached the Third Layer. The physical enhancement it provided was far inferior to the Golden Body Technique, but for simple smithing... it was more than enough.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

Zhao Zuo opened his eyes, picked up his Spirit Pen, and loaded it with ink.

He walked over to the mold on the Earth Fire Furnace, his right hand a blur. Like dragons and snakes dancing in unison, silvery lines appeared in the air, weaving themselves into a complex pattern.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power converged on the Spirit Pattern for Controlling Objects, and a faint Spiritual Light began to glow.

Mana surged through Zhao Zuo’s meridians like a tidal wave. It coalesced into a ball of energy that abruptly slammed the floating Spirit Pattern down into the Lower Grade Magical Artifact’s rough blank inside the mold.

As a flash of Golden Light entered Zhao Zuo’s mind, the forging of the Lower Grade Magical Artifact was complete.

With Liu Heng’s assistance, Zhao Zuo’s Artifact Refining efficiency had improved even more. By spending eight hours a day, he could forge over a dozen Lower Grade Magical Artifacts. After subtracting the cost of materials, his daily profit was around one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, which was equivalent to earning the value of a Middle Grade Magical Artifact each month.

Eight hours later, Zhao Zuo stood aside to rest while Liu Heng polished and sharpened the last few rough blanks. It would likely take him another half an hour or so to finish.