The two continued to chat and laugh, and Wan Renlang seemed to inadvertently mention some large-scale trade activities recently held by the Chamber of Commerce.
His words were full of pride in the Chamber of Commerce's strength, and he also revealed that the Chamber of Commerce was actively seeking cooperation with top Artifact Refiners, hoping to use this opportunity to further cooperate with Li Mu.
Li Mu smiled and agreed, but did not give a clear response.
He was not yet sure if the spiritual essence gained from consuming the medicine king ginseng would allow his Artifact Refining Skill and Array Formation Skill to advance to the seventh rank.
If not, then his Artifact Refining Skill would not be able to upgrade, and refining a seven-rank dao tool would be out of the question.
Li Mu recalled the scene of the Painting World Treasure Mansion advancing to an eighth-rank Grotto-Heaven Supreme Treasure, and the process of Myriad Swords Mountain undergoing its Dao Artifact Tribulation and advancing to a seven-rank dao tool.
The Heavenly Dao Artifact Essence they possessed and the power and profoundness they displayed made him certain that a seven-rank dao tool was beyond his current reach.
Li Mu responded humbly, then changed the subject, asking with concern, “Chief Manager Wan, besides inquiring about the Dao of Artifact Refining, do you have any other matters for Li?”
“Of course.”
A hint of disappointment flashed in Wan Renlang’s eyes as he took over, smiling and gesturing, “Great Master Li, your grand gesture this time has made many Fellow Daoists eager to inquire about you, hoping to conduct another face-to-face transaction with you and acquire a desirable high-grade Spirit Treasure from you.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu smiled knowingly.
This was exactly what he had hoped for.
He had displayed a large number of high-grade Spirit Treasures at the trade fair because he wanted to acquire so many seventh-rank spiritual items and rare sixth-rank spiritual items.
“Chief Manager Wan, you haven’t disclosed my information to them.
If they wish to obtain high-grade Spirit Treasures, they can commission me for Artifact Refining.
The remuneration for Artifact Refining commissions remains unchanged: one seventh-rank spiritual item, or five portions of sixth-rank spiritual materials.”
“Without Great Master’s permission, Li would not presume to reveal Great Master Li’s identity,” Wan Renlang explained, then said joyfully, “Great Master Li, it would be excellent if you could accept Artifact Refining commissions when you have time.
I will go inform them now; I imagine they will gladly agree.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Renlang was about to rise to arrange the matter, but he was stopped by Li Mu.
“Chief Manager Wan, wait a moment, Li has one more matter.”
Li Mu pondered for a moment, then gestured, “Next, Li plans to go to a Secret Realm, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to refine artifacts for a period of time.
However, Li is quite interested in the seventh-rank spiritual items and sixth-rank spiritual materials in the hands of those Fellow Daoists.
I wonder if Chief Manager Wan could arrange for them to trade items first?
Li is willing to exchange a batch of high-grade Spirit Treasures for their spiritual materials.
As for the Artifact Refining commissions, we can continue them after I return, how about that?”
“All high-grade Spirit Treasures?”
Wan Renlang’s eyes widened, looking at Li Mu with a hint of disbelief.
It should be known that high-grade Spirit Treasures are extremely precious in the Cultivator world, and each one is enough to cause a huge stir.
Li Mu actually still had a batch of high-grade Spirit Treasures to exchange for spiritual items.
This grand gesture was truly astonishing.
“Great Master Li, are you sure you want to use high-grade Spirit Treasures to exchange for spiritual materials?
How will the exchange rate be?”
Wan Renlang asked with concern.
“One high-grade Spirit Treasure for two seventh-rank spiritual materials, or ten portions of sixth-rank spiritual materials, Chief Manager Wan, how is this price?”
Li Mu asked with a smile.
“Uh! This price is double the previous transaction.
I’m afraid those Fellow Daoists might have objections!”
Wan Renlang frowned, speaking with some hesitation.
Previously, at the trade fair, Li Mu had only exchanged one sixth-rank high-grade Spirit Treasure for one seventh-rank spiritual item.
Now, with an additional price increase, Wan Renlang immediately had concerns.
“Previously, due to the rules of the trade fair, Li was overly eager and exchanged those desired spiritual materials at a lower price.
This situation naturally cannot continue.
Moreover, the remaining high-grade Spirit Treasures that Li possesses are all treasured items.
Once they see the quality of the Spirit Treasures, they will certainly not refuse!”
Li Mu smiled slightly, speaking with full confidence.
Upon hearing this, Wan Renlang couldn’t help but nod, agreeing with Li Mu’s statement.
He accepted Artifact Refining commissions, and the remuneration alone was one seventh-rank spiritual item or five portions of sixth-rank spiritual materials.
Artifact Refining not only required providing spiritual materials for refining but also had the possibility of failure.
A ready-made high-grade Spirit Treasure at this price was not at all excessive.
Wan Renlang also knew the rarity and value of high-grade Spirit Treasures.
If Li Mu was truly willing to exchange spiritual materials at such a price, it would undoubtedly be a huge temptation for those Cultivators who possessed spiritual materials.
“Great Master Li, I will have my subordinates convey your wishes and see the reactions of those Cultivators,” Wan Renlang nodded and agreed.
Thus, Wan Renlang looked at Wang Wenbao and had him convey Li Mu’s proposal to those high-level Cultivators who possessed spiritual materials.
As expected, the quality of the high-grade Spirit Treasures provided by Li Mu, their luster and power, shook those high-level Cultivators, and the vast majority agreed to the offer and were willing to proceed with the transaction.
Subsequently, Wanbao Pavilion temporarily held a private trade fair, allowing Li Mu to conduct face-to-face transactions with those high-level Cultivators, exchanging several high-grade Spirit Treasures for a large amount of seventh-rank spiritual materials and sixth-rank spiritual materials.
After the transaction, Li Mu was naturally very happy to have obtained a large amount of high-grade spiritual materials, and the high-level Cultivators were also overjoyed to have met a Grandmaster Refiner.
Wanbao Pavilion reaped a bountiful harvest from this transaction, not only gaining a generous commission but also successfully taking on numerous Artifact Refining commissions.
As the Grand Manager of the Chamber of Commerce, Chief Manager Wan’s gratitude towards Li Mu was already overflowing, and at the same time, Li Mu also had the potential to advance another rank in the Artifact Refining Domain, thus he valued him even more.
Time flew by, and three days passed in a blink of an eye.
Li Mu and Xue’er boarded the Earth Element Spirit Ship, preparing to head to the Extreme Northern Ice Field, escorted by the high-ranking members of Wanbao Pavilion.
In addition to the Earth Element Spirit Ship, Wanbao Pavilion also dispatched two sixth-rank thunder spiritual ships to escort them.
These two thunder spiritual ships were of the same rank as the Earth Element Spirit Ship, both sixth-rank, and their power was astonishing.
Their presence not only provided strong protection for Li Mu’s journey but also highlighted the importance Wanbao Pavilion placed on his trip.
“Chief Manager Wan, thank you for your hospitality, we will meet again another day.”
Li Mu stood on the deck of the Earth Element Spirit Ship, cupping his hands in farewell to the departing Wan Renlang.
Wan Renlang also smiled broadly, cupping his hands in return, “Great Master Li, you are too kind.
You are a Guest Elder of my Wanbao Pavilion, and this trip is for the Chamber of Commerce.
The journey to the Extreme Northern Ice Field is long and the risks are unknown.
May you have a smooth journey and return safely.”
As the Earth Element Spirit Ship slowly started, Wan Renlang and the high-ranking members of Wanbao Pavilion waved goodbye, while Li Mu, with Xue’er, embarked on their journey to the Extreme Northern Ice Field.
The Earth Element Spirit Ship drew a graceful arc in the sky, rapidly disappearing into the distant horizon, while the two escorting sixth-rank thunder spiritual ships, riding the thunder, followed closely behind, like loyal guardians, keeping close company.
All the way North!
The three spiritual ships turned into black dots in the sky, disappearing in a blink of an eye.
Inside the Earth Element Spirit Ship, the cabin was spacious and quiet.
Li Mu placed Xue’er into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, then sat alone at the table, surrounded by a faint Spiritual Qi that calmed his mind.
With a gentle wave of his hand, he activated the isolation formation within the cabin, cutting himself off from the outside world’s clamor.
Li Mu finally had time to tally his gains from Wanbao City this time.
With a thought of his Divine Sense, Li Mu slowly took out a stone bead from the nine storage spiritual pearl.
The gray stone bead was only the size of a fist, and its surface spiritual light was dim, appearing unremarkable.
However, with its appearance, the atmosphere within the entire cabin seemed to undergo a subtle change.
Just then, the Beast-Taming Bag in Li Mu’s embrace suddenly stirred, a faint rustling sound emanated, and then, a small white worm wriggled out from the Beast-Taming Bag.
“Chirp chirp!”
Xiao Bai emerged from Li Mu’s embrace, its dark, round eyes staring intently at the small stone bead, as if it couldn’t wait to pounce on it.
Seeing this, Li Mu smiled slightly, and his Divine Sense, like an invisible shackle, timely restrained Xiao Bai.
“Xiao Bai, don’t move around, I’ll give you other food, you can’t eat this.”
Li Mu soothed with a smile, taking out a soul gathering bottle from the nine storage spiritual pearl, which contained the essence soul of a sixth-rank Yao Beast.
Upon hearing this, although Xiao Bai still had reluctance in its eyes, it finally stopped moving and obediently accepted the food Li Mu offered, beginning to eat.
However, its dark, round eyes continued to stare at the small stone bead, as if the object contained within held a fatal attraction for it.
Li Mu’s gaze fell upon the stone bead, and a hint of solemnity flashed across his face.
Something that could make a sixth-rank Gu Spirit – Xiao Bai – so excited was naturally no ordinary item.
This item was called a soul world pearl, refined from a seventh-rank crystal world stone and a wisp of Chaos Qi.
Its surface was unremarkable and its spiritual light dim, but within it was another Universe.
This Chaos Pearl actually contained a remnant soul of a Combined Body Realm Cultivator.
Under the Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, the true attributes of the stone bead clearly appeared in Li Mu’s eyes.
【soul world pearl (Sealed)】
【Rank: Seven-rank Dao Artifact (Degraded)】
【Characteristics: Chaos Qi, Spirit Pearl Soul Domain, Pearl Contains Universe, Inner Radiance, Impervious to All Laws】
【Status: Erosion of Years, Remnant Soul Lingering, Spiritual Nature Self-Sealed.】
【The soul world pearl, refined from a seventh-rank crystal world stone, a wisp of Chaos Qi, and Yellow Springs Soul Water.
This pearl has experienced ten thousand Years, its spiritual nature gradually fading, self-sealing its spirit, and degrading to a fifth-rank spiritual item.
Within it, a remnant soul of a Combined Body Realm Cultivator is nourished.
Using an eighth-rank Heavenly Pure Divine Water, or several wisps of Chaos Qi, and Heavenly Fire for re-refining, this pearl can break its Seal and be reborn.】
Looking at the attribute description of the spiritual pearl before him, Li Mu frowned and pondered for a moment, then immersed his Divine Sense into it, exploring the Dao Artifact formations, Dao Artifact patterns, and so on, to glimpse its refining method.
Having encountered a seven-rank dao tool, and a rare soul-attributed dao tool at that, Li Mu naturally wanted to thoroughly explore its details and refining method.
Within the pearl, the Dao Artifact formations were intricate, and the Dao Artifact patterns intertwined, as if it were a microscopic Universe, containing endless mysteries.
Li Mu’s Divine Sense shuttled through it, carefully observing every detail, attempting to understand the function and principle of these Dao Artifact formations and Dao Artifact patterns.
However, he was unable to delve deeper into it.
However, the deeper he explored, Li Mu discovered that the refining method of this spiritual pearl was extremely complex, far exceeding his capabilities.
Not only was the Artifact Refining skill superb, but the Artifact Refiner also had an extremely profound understanding of the Dao of Artifacts, the essence of Heavenly Dao, and soul-attributed power.
Li Mu couldn’t help but sigh in his heart, the Artifact Refiner who refined this pearl must have been an extraordinary individual.
Li Mu temporarily had no way to re-refine this pearl.
Although he possessed Heavenly Fire, he lacked other suitable spiritual items for unsealing.
What bothered him even more was that a remnant soul of a Combined Body Realm expert was still hidden within this pearl.
Combined Body Realm Cultivators are extremely rare existences in the cultivation world.
Their cultivation and power are second only to Dao Lords, and they are the Peak that countless Cultivators look up to.
Even after ten thousand Years of slumber, the remnant soul of a Combined Body Realm expert still retains powerful strength and must not be underestimated.
Before determining the situation of this remnant soul and without absolute certainty, Li Mu would never release it.
Otherwise, once it lost control, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Just then, the stone bead suddenly emitted a faint, ethereal spiritual light.
The light was soft and mysterious, as if possessing some kind of magic, attracting Li Mu’s mind.
He subconsciously looked over, only to see some complex patterns slowly flowing within the stone bead, emitting an indescribable aura.
Li Mu’s mind couldn’t help but immerse itself within, entering a profound world, seeing a tall and majestic figure, able to perceive its existence, and able to sense its emotional fluctuations.
“Chirp chirp!”
Just as Li Mu was immersed in the soul world pearl, Xiao Bai called out to Li Mu, and a powerful Soul Power pulled Li Mu back.
Li Mu suddenly awoke, a look of fear on his face, clearly understanding what had just happened.
Although this soul world pearl had already self-sealed, the remnant soul of the Combined Body Realm expert within the pearl seemed to have been awakened by his Divine Sense, activating a powerful Soul Power, attempting to pull his Divine Sense into it to communicate with him.
Xiao Bai discovered this situation and timely intervened to wake him up, stopping the other party’s action.
“Thank you, Xiao Bai!”
Li Mu looked at Xiao Bai with gratitude, feeling incredibly fortunate in his heart.
If it weren’t for Xiao Bai’s timely discovery and awakening, he might have fallen under the control of that Combined Body Realm expert’s remnant soul, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.
“Chirp chirp, chirp chirp!”
Xiao Bai understood Li Mu’s gratitude, chirped happily twice, then jumped onto Li Mu’s shoulder, rubbing its tiny head against his cheek, its dark, round eyes filled with concern and dependence for Li Mu.
At the same time, it nudged the soul world pearl and chirped twice at Li Mu in a spoiled manner.
“Oh! You want this spiritual pearl, it’s useful to you?”
Li Mu and Xiao Bai were connected by heart, and he immediately understood its meaning.
Xiao Bai not only had its eyes on the remnant soul of that Combined Body Realm expert, but also on the attributes of the soul world pearl, and even hoped that Li Mu could awaken the Dao Artifact spirit of this soul pearl to assist its growth.
“Xiao Bai, this soul world pearl Seals the remnant soul of a Combined Body Realm expert, which is very dangerous.
Only if you can ensure it won’t harm you, can I give this soul pearl to you.”
Li Mu’s tone carried a hint of seriousness.
The remnant soul of a Combined Body Realm expert was no trifling matter; a slight carelessness could lead to disaster.
“Chirp chirp”
Xiao Bai stopped acting spoiled, straightened its body, and stared at Li Mu with its dark, round eyes, as if trying to convey some information.
Xiao Bai’s voice revealed a kind of determination, extending a small tentacle to point at itself, and then at the soul world pearl, seemingly telling Li Mu that it had the ability to deal with the remnant soul of that Combined Body Realm expert.
Li Mu looked at Xiao Bai’s confident little demeanor and couldn’t help but laugh dumbfounded.
Only then did he remember that Xiao Bai was a rare sixth-rank Gu Spirit, naturally restraining soul bodies.
Even the soul body of a Combined Body Realm expert would be restrained by Xiao Bai, so he had been overthinking it.
“Alright then! Since this item is useful to you, take it!
When there’s an opportunity, I’ll help you re-refine it.”
Li Mu smiled and nodded, handing the soul world pearl in his hand to Xiao Bai.
“Chirp chirp!”
Xiao Bai chirped happily, excitedly opening its mouth wide and swallowing the soul world pearl in one gulp.
(End of this chapter)
