Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 109

“The old man can refine top-grade magical artifacts?”

Han Li’s question was filled with doubt, as it seemed truly unexpected. He had assumed that the person who crafted magical artifacts was a separate expert, not the old man.

Such a question was natural. How could a top-grade magical artifact be the same as a mid-grade or high-grade one? Like when making Foundation Establishment pills, it was an item that could only be made by refining it with Innate True Fire or Earth Fire.

There was no way he, who was only at the Qi Refining stage, could use Innate True Fire, and it didn’t seem like there was Earth Fire here, so he couldn’t understand how they could refine it.

“Since you are a first-time customer at Elder Xu’s shop, it’s understandable that you might misunderstand. Elder Xu comes from a family that has been refining magical artifacts for generations, so when it comes to refining magical artifacts, I’m certain he’s no less skilled than the Refiners of famous sects. Moreover, Elder Xu’s family has been raising a Fire Crow, a demonic beast of the early-stage, for hundreds of years, and the flames that the demonic beast emits are more powerful than Innate Earth Fire, so they can create top-grade magical artifacts.”

The middle-aged man, who had been silently listening, spoke up, adding praise for the man called Elder Xu as he explained.

“The flames emitted by a demonic beast? How come I’ve only ever heard of Innate True Fire and Earth Fire before?”

Han Li’s brow furrowed.

“Haha! Using a demonic beast’s flames to make magical artifacts or even refine pills requires a special secret method. Famous sects don’t officially recognize it, and they tend to reject it rather than accept it. If our family hadn’t accidentally obtained a demonic beast like the Fire Crow, we wouldn’t have researched this refining method.”

The old man continued the middle-aged man’s explanation, resolving Han Li’s doubts. He understood what the other was saying, but he couldn’t fully believe it without seeing it with his own eyes.

“Does the guest wish to commission the refining of a top-grade magical artifact?”

The old man asked, seeing Han Li’s troubled expression, just in case.

“If I provide sufficient materials, what are the chances of successfully creating a top-grade magical artifact?”

“It depends on the quality of the materials and the guest’s requirements. If it’s ordinary materials with general requirements, you can expect a success rate of one in three. However, for top-grade magical artifacts with such a high failure rate, we cannot compensate for the materials even if the refining fails. The principle of double compensation only applies to mid-grade and high-grade magical artifacts. If it were otherwise, we would have closed the shop already due to compensation.”

As Han Li inquired about specific details, the old man was secretly pleased, but on the surface, he explained seriously.

For a magical artifact refining expert who had reached a certain level of skill, the most lacking thing was high-grade materials.

The process of making a top-grade magical artifact with high-grade materials was like cultivation that raised his level.

The man wearing the bamboo hat seemed young from his voice, but he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so the materials he could obtain would definitely be extraordinary. The old man’s expectations were gradually increasing.

“I have materials suitable for making a top-grade magical artifact, so I’ll commission it once. However, I must be able to observe the refining process. I will absolutely not interfere with the refining, and if you succeed in making the magical artifact, I will pay a portion of the materials as compensation.”

After a moment of silence, he seemed to have made a decision and presented his conditions. He had rare black dragon parts, and if he could make magical artifacts directly with them instead of increasing his spirit stones, it would be the best of both worlds.

“Of course, you can observe! Do you want to start refining now? This old man is ready to start anytime!”

The old man was excited to hear that the man was really going to commission the refining of a top-grade magical artifact.

“I still have things to buy, so I’ll come back after I’m done.”

Han Li shook his head, seeing his excited expression.

“Very well. Then I will see you out.”

Although he was eager to start immediately, the old man still acted with discretion.

He left the shop without hesitation after finishing his business, and when he was some distance away, the middle-aged man’s voice rang out from behind him.

“Please wait a moment!”

Han Li hesitated for a moment, then stopped and waited for the middle-aged man who was running after him.

“What is it?”

He asked coldly to the middle-aged man who was looking at him with a smile. Who would be in a good mood if someone stopped them for no reason when they were busy?

“This junior has something to ask. Could you tell me what you are looking for? I’ve lived here in Wangziling for a long time, so I know the market situation very well.”

Han Li looked him over as if surprised. Then, he smiled and asked,

“So you’re a tout [a person who solicits business or custom, typically in an aggressive or persistent manner].”

“You noticed? But I only occasionally bring customers, I’m not a tout tied to one place, so please rest assured.”

“Whether you’re a tout or not doesn’t matter, but what I’m looking for are flags or discs containing formations, so it seems better to go to the Star Dust Pavilion. It doesn’t seem like I need your help.”

Han Li’s expression seemed indifferent.

At Han Li’s words, the middle-aged man paused for a moment, but then smiled.

“It’s a good thing you told me in advance. Otherwise, you would have made a wasted trip. It’s true that the Heavenly Star Sect is famous for its formations, but there’s no guarantee that the Star Dust Pavilion sells great items that live up to that reputation. The Star Dust Pavilion has many magical artifacts related to formations, but they are just items that are traded among other cultivation families or cultivators, and there aren’t many good ones. The Heavenly Star Sect is a sect based on outstanding formations, so would they easily release items containing their true essence? Other sects might quickly research the flaws in their formations.”

As the man explained, he glanced at Han Li.

“Judging by your tone, it seems you know where I can find what I want!”

It was truly unexpected, but Han Li still asked in a calm tone. Having finally elicited a reaction, the middle-aged man rolled his eyes around, looked around, and then lowered his voice to explain.

“If you trust me, I can introduce you to a secret shop. The items there are of unknown origin, but you can find rare, top-grade items. You will definitely find something you like.”

“A secret shop?”

His voice was still calm, but in reality, he was quite surprised. He had only heard rumors about the existence of secret shops. If what the man said was true, it would be a new sight to see.

“Hehe. So you know about it. Then there’s no need for unnecessary explanations. There’s a monthly auction that’s about to start in about an hour, so if you wish, I can take you there.”

He had already read the curiosity about the secret shop in Han Li’s tone. The middle-aged man in scholar’s robes finally sensed that he had caught a customer.

“It’s not far, is it?”

“No, it’s right here in this market. Would you like to go?”

The man was already in a good mood, thinking about the spirit stones he would get from bringing a customer to the secret shop.

“Let’s go.”

“This way, please!”

In the end, Han Li, who had let out a light sigh, decided to go with the flow, and the excited man quickly led the way.

Following the man through winding alleys, they saw a secluded house. It was old and had no particular markings, so it looked very ordinary.

When he knocked on the wooden door in rhythm, a plain-looking woman in her thirties opened it.

“Madam Jang, this is a new guest I’ve brought. He’s thinking of participating in this auction.”

Wangziling finished the introduction before the woman could say anything. Madam Jang frowned at Wangziling, but then smiled when she realized that Han Li was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Yes, you should bring people like this! The last one you brought didn’t have a single coin! Guest, please come in.”

Her cultivation was only at the Qi Refining stage, but the woman treated Han Li as just a customer without any fear.

“Then I’ll be on my way!”

Wangziling’s face turned red at the woman’s words, and he quickly left. Han Li watched the man’s retreating figure, then followed the woman into a small room.

Inside the room, there were miscellaneous pills and materials for making magical artifacts, making it look like a very ordinary shop. As Han Li looked around, the woman closed the door and returned.

“Guest, please follow me.”

She went to one side of the room and touched the floor, and a yellow light appeared, revealing an underground passage. The woman who had called Han Li began to descend the stairs. Han Li, with a slightly hardened expression, also followed her with a cautious gaze.

The passage leading underground was not very long, and after walking a little further, a large stone door appeared. On either side of it stood men in black, all wearing demonic masks that covered their faces.

Han Li’s gaze wavered as he looked at them. Unexpectedly, both of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators like Han Li.

Moreover, one of them had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, which increased his wariness of the power behind this secret shop.

The woman acted as if she hadn’t seen them and pushed open the stone door. The men in black also did not speak or stop her.

Once inside the stone chamber, a magnificent and splendid hall was revealed, surprising Han Li once again.

The jade-decorated walls and the ornate lamps hanging high reminded him of a wealthy family in the mortal world. It was truly a moment that made him curious about the identity of the owner who ran this secret shop.

The hall was circular, with a diameter of several tens of feet, and there were rows of wooden chairs arranged in eight lines, where cultivators in various attire were sitting.

In front of them, there was an empty table, and next to it, three chairs made of sandalwood were prepared.

When the woman appeared with Han Li, those sitting in the chairs looked over the new arrival. And within those gazes, Han Li couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

Unexpectedly, many of the cultivators gathered here were at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher. Now he understood the woman’s ordinary attitude. Here, he was just an ordinary customer.

“The auction will begin soon, so I’ll be on my way.”

The woman seemed to say something as she turned her head, then left Han Li alone and went somewhere.

Unable to do anything else, Han Li silently found a seat in the corner amidst the gazes of the other cultivators. He also looked at the others, and most of them were covering their faces with masks or bamboo hats.

There were quite a few people in the hall, but they were all silent, making it very quiet. This created a strange sense of tension. Han Li also sat quietly, lost in thought. He wondered if anyone he knew was here, and he also wanted to know what was being prepared behind the wooden door visible behind the table.

After a full hour, the wooden door opened, and three people appeared. All three of them were completely covered, like the men in black in front of the stone door, and they even wore masks, completely concealing their identities. The man on the right spoke first.

“Fellow cultivators, thank you for participating in our shop’s auction. This time, we have a variety of people, from long-time regulars to new guests. We welcome everyone equally.”

The man on the left continued.

“This auction will be like the previous ones. You can announce the desired price by stating the number of spirit stones. If you lack spirit stones, you can also use items of equal value, but the specific value of the items will be jointly determined by the three of us. The person who bids the highest price will take the auctioned item.”

His voice was grating like metal, and anyone could tell that it was a disguised voice.

“Finally, after our shop’s auction ends, a free trade will begin for everyone. Those who have items to exchange can freely come forward and trade. Now, let the auction begin!”

The clear voice of the man standing in the middle echoed through the hall. At the same time, the three men’s bodies flashed, and they instantly sat down on the sandalwood chairs.

Then, a tall and thin middle-aged man walked out from behind the wooden door. He looked intelligent just by his face. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

“I will be in charge of conducting this auction. Let’s look at the items right away! The first item we will see is the top-grade magical artifact, the Fire Cloud Sword…”

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