“Li Dage, you’ve finished your seclusion already? Has your Cultivation broken through?”
Xue'er, who was organizing ingredients, sensed a familiar aura and immediately put down what she was doing, turning to look at Li Mu, asking in surprise.
“Yes, I’ve finished,” Li Mu replied with a slight smile, “I’ve already broken through the Bottleneck of my Cultivation and reached a new Realm.”
Xue'er’s eyes lit up slightly. She walked over to Li Mu and carefully examined him, finding that Li Mu’s aura was even more profound than before, like a bottomless ocean, making it impossible for others to discern his true strength. However, the Cultivation aura he displayed was that of a Soul Transformation Late Stage. She vaguely felt that something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint what it was.
“Li Dage! You haven’t advanced to the Void Refining Realm yet! Don’t be discouraged, you…” Xue'er looked at Li Mu and quickly tried to comfort him.
Before Xue'er could finish her sentence, Li Mu smiled slightly, dispelled his breath concealment Cultivation Technique, the Reversal Yuan Breath Concealment Art, and revealed his Void Refining Middle Stage Cultivation.
Xue'er’s eyes instantly widened, her face showing an expression of disbelief. She gasped in a low voice, “Void Refining Middle Stage! Li Dage, you… how did you do it? You were clearly only Soul Transformation Middle Stage before your seclusion! This, this…”
Seeing Xue'er’s shocked expression, Li Mu laughed heartily and reactivated his breath concealment Cultivation Technique, the Reversal Yuan Breath Concealment Art, returning his Cultivation aura to Soul Transformation Late Stage.
“Xue'er, the ancient Cultivation Technique I Cultivate focuses more on the tempering of the Concept. Daily farming and Artifact Refining are also part of my Cultivation,” Li Mu explained with a smile, looking at Xue'er. “During seclusion, with the help of those Spiritual Plants, as I comprehended the deeper Concepts within the Cultivation Technique, my Cultivation naturally broke through.”
Xue'er listened intently. She had never heard of such a unique Cultivation method. However, as a member of the Heavenly Fox Clan, Xue'er was skilled in emotional perception. When Li Mu said this, she vaguely sensed that he was hiding something.
“So that’s how it is!” Xue'er had complete faith in Li Mu and was unwilling to delve deeper into the hidden meaning of his words. She chose to believe Li Mu, feigning sudden enlightenment, and sincerely praised him, “Li Dage, your Cultivation method is truly unique, no wonder you could Break through so quickly! I need to work hard too!”
Li Mu nodded with satisfaction, smiling, “Xue'er, your Aptitude is outstanding, and your Heavenly Talent is extraordinary. As long as you are willing to work hard, your future achievements will surely be limitless.”
Xue'er nodded, sharing a smile with Li Mu. The atmosphere became relaxed as they chatted about Sect trivialities and discussed preparations for going out.
Not long after, Li Mu appeared beside the Spiritual Field where the Yan Yuan Spirit Grass and Mou Xing Spirit Grass were planted. He carefully examined the growth of the two sixth-rank Spiritual Plants, a satisfied smile on his face.
Under the Talent Divine Power - Identify Myriad Spirits, all the attribute information of the two sixth-rank Spiritual Materials appeared in Li Mu’s eyes.
【Yan Yuan Spirit Grass (Growth Stage)】
【Rank: Sixth-Rank Spiritual Plant】
【Characteristics: Increases Yuan and Lifespan, moistens Divine Soul, eliminates Five Declines, refines vitality, purifies spirit and strengthens body.】
【Status: Insufficient Years power, slightly slow growth.】
【Yan Yuan Spirit Grass, a sixth-rank Spiritual Plant, seventy Years old. Growth requirements: Needs to be planted in Spiritual Land with vigorous vitality, abundant Spiritual Qi, and Years power. It matures in one hundred Years, flowers in fifty Years, and bears Yan Yuan Longevity Fruit in fifty Years. The hundred-year-old Yan Yuan Longevity Fruit has the effect of increasing Lifespan and is the main Materials for refining Longevity Pills and Longevity Wine.】
【Mou Xing Spirit Grass (Growth Stage)】
【Rank: Sixth-Rank Spiritual Plant】
【Characteristics: Gathers star source and solidifies soul, gathers star source, refines Divine Soul, star origin affinity.】
【Status: Star light abundant, bathed in starlight, rapid growth.】
【Mou Xing Spirit Grass, a sixth-rank Spiritual Plant, one hundred and ten Years old. Growth requirements: Needs to be planted in a place with abundant star source and ample Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. It needs to grow alongside Star Splendor Crystal to aid its growth. It matures in one hundred and fifty Years, flowers in sixty Years, and bears Mou Xing Spirit Fruit in sixty Years. The sixty-year-old Mou Xing Spirit Fruit has the effect of strengthening the Divine Soul and is the main Materials for refining Spirit Gathering Pills and Heavenly Star Pills.】
The Spiritual Plant attribute of Yan Yuan Spirit Grass was to increase Lifespan, and the Spiritual Plant attribute of Mou Xing Spirit Grass was to increase star source. One directly increased longevity, while the other could be used to enhance the Divine Sense Cultivation Technique - Star Cloud Visualization Art-Star God Chapter.
It was precisely because the Mou Xing Spirit Grass had not yet matured that the Star Cloud Visualization Art-Star God Chapter could not continue to improve, which was why Li Mu had temporarily delayed the idea of refining the seven Soul Transformation Clones and condensing them into a Void Refining Domain.
Fortunately, under the effect of the Star Drawing Array, the growth rate of the Mou Xing Spirit Grass was acceptable. In about forty more Years, it could be harvested on a large scale, and Li Mu could afford to wait that long.
Li Mu’s figure flickered and disappeared from the spot.
Soon, Li Mu’s figure reappeared at the original spot, accompanied by his Golden Yuan Clone.
“You take care of these two Spiritual Plants first. I’m taking them to a few extreme regions, which will take some time,” Li Mu instructed his Golden Yuan Clone.
The Golden Yuan Clone silently obeyed, unable to defy Li Mu’s will. He already knew his main body’s true Cultivation and his upcoming plans. He was preparing to take six Soul Transformation Clones to several extreme Spiritual Lands to care for Spiritual Plants, as they were still needed for the time being. As he was closest to the Extreme Gold Secret Realm, he was left here to care for the sixth-rank Spiritual Plants.
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu rose into the air and flew on his sword towards the Xuantian Sword Sect - Sword Asking Peak, to take the teleportation array.
Watching Li Mu leave, the Golden Yuan Clone inspected the Spiritual Field, then skillfully cast a Rain Summoning Art to water the Spiritual Field with spiritual rain. Usually, when the main body was out, this Spiritual Field was taken care of by their seven Clones in rotation.
Not long after, Li Mu’s figure appeared at the teleportation array in the Extreme North Spirit Domain, Ice Nether Spirit Valley outpost.
“Greetings, Elder Li.”
The two Soul Transformation Cultivators guarding the teleportation array, upon seeing Li Mu, bowed and greeted him in unison.
Li Mu nodded, quickly left, and flew out of the Ice Nether Spirit Valley on his sword, speeding towards the Extreme Yin Secret Realm.
…
Subsequently, for a period of time, Li Mu traveled by teleportation array or piloted the Earth Element Spirit Ship, appearing successively in the Extreme North Spirit Domain, Nether Water Sea Domain, East Illusion Sea Region, and Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain, at several extreme locations. He left several Soul Transformation Clones in the Spiritual Fields of the corresponding extreme regions to care for the Spiritual Plants, saving him the trouble of frequent inspections and care.
By the time Li Mu returned to the Central Plains Spirit Domain and arrived back at the Seven Profound Sect, more than a year had already passed.
After sending his golden origin Clone into the Extreme Gold Secret Realm, Li Mu completely relaxed. In his daily life, he either tended to the Spiritual Field, refined Pills or Artifacts in the Treasure Mansion, supervised Xue'er’s Cultivation, or prepared for noob’s Undergoing Tribulation. Occasionally, he would control a Puppet body to patrol the Sect and participate in Sect activities. His days passed uneventfully and quite leisurely.
One day, as Li Mu was concentrating on refining a batch of Spirit Pills in the Treasure Mansion, he sensed something that his Puppet avatar couldn't resolve.
Li Mu frowned, quickly finished refining the Spirit Pills, and with a flash of his figure, left the Painting World Treasure Mansion, quietly appearing in his seclusion chamber.
Seeing the Puppet avatar flying towards him, Li Mu’s thought stirred slightly. He put the Puppet avatar into his Treasure Mansion and walked directly towards the Sect Leader's Mansion main hall.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall was a bit awkward. Wang Wenbao, the manager of the Wanbao Pavilion, and Fang Shixin, Elder Fang, were chatting desultorily, their gazes fixed on the outside of the hall, awaiting Li Mu’s appearance.
Hearing footsteps, Wang Wenbao’s spirits immediately lifted, and he turned to look towards the door.
Only to see Li Mu appearing at the entrance of the main hall. He was dressed in a green robe, with an ethereal temperament, like a banished immortal who had stepped out of a painting.
Wang Wenbao immediately stood up to greet him, followed closely by Fang Shixin.
Wang Wenbao’s face was wreathed in smiles as he enthusiastically stepped forward: “Great Master Li, how have you considered it?”
Li Mu glanced at Wang Wenbao, not responding. He strode forward and walked to the gift box Wang Wenbao had sent, reaching out to take out the two jade tokens from the box.
Under the Talent Divine Power - Identify Myriad Spirits, the identical attributes of the two jade tokens appeared in Li Mu’s eyes.
【Sky Puppet Spirit Token (One-eighth)】
【Rank: seven-rank dao tool Spirit Treasure】
【Characteristics: Control Sky Puppet, Puppet Space, Puppet Heart Palace, Myriad Puppet Deception, Control Puppet Spirit, Thousandfold Divine Puppet】
【Status: Incomplete artifact, missing artifact spirit, closed Puppet Palace.】
【The seven-rank Sky Puppet Dao Artifact — eight-faced suppressing puppet token — crafted from numerous Heaven-mandated and life-and-death Spiritual Materials such as seventh-rank Spiritual Rhinoceros Jade Crystal, seventh-rank Chaos Beast Emperor Bone, seventh-rank Reincarnation Spiritual Spring, and eighth-rank Salo Soul. This Spirit Token contains the Sky Puppet Heart Palace. Fully passing the Heart Palace - Divine Sense refinement can grant access to the Saint-rank Puppet Dao Legacy Cultivation Technique — “The Heavenly Puppet Crafting Dao Scripture”. By consuming Divine Sense power, this artifact can be used to control myriad Puppets. However, this artifact is a Puppet-controlling artifact with bizarre Dao principles, and its long period of dormancy has given it a certain mind-bewildering Chaos. Use with caution.】
“Great Master Li, are you satisfied with these two jade tokens as a Meeting Gift? Our pavilion is currently making every effort to search for the whereabouts of the remaining jade tokens,” Wang Wenbao said, seeing that Li Mu didn't respond immediately, feeling a bit anxious. He showed a concerned smile and asked ingratiatingly.
“You’ve worked hard!” Li Mu said noncommittally, nodding. He unceremoniously put the two Sky Puppet Spirit Tokens into his storage ring.
“It’s nothing! It’s nothing! Great Master Li, I wonder if you have any free time? Our Wanbao Pavilion’s centennial Auction is still lacking a few major finale items. I would like to ask Great Master Li for your assistance.” Wang Wenbao, seeing Li Mu express satisfaction with the jade tokens, felt a great weight lift from his heart. His smile became even brighter as he seized the opportunity to continue questioning Li Mu, his tone filled with anticipation and flattery.
“Refining Dao Weapons is not easy, and you want three at once. Isn’t Wanbao Pavilion’s appetite a bit too big?!” Li Mu glanced at Wang Wenbao, saying unhappily.
Wang Wenbao’s heart tightened at Li Mu’s glance, but he immediately realized that Li Mu saying this didn't mean a complete refusal; there was still a chance to negotiate.
So, Wang Wenbao put on an even more fawning smile and explained, “Great Master Li, you’ve misunderstood. Wanbao Pavilion naturally knows the difficulty of refining Dao Weapons and understands your hard work. But this Auction is of extraordinary significance to Wanbao Pavilion; we hope to use this opportunity to showcase our strength. Your Artifact Refining skill is superb, and every Dao Weapon you refine is a masterpiece. If we are fortunate enough to receive your help, this Auction will surely go down in history.”
Wang Wenbao paused, and seeing that Li Mu did not interrupt him, he continued excitedly, “Of course, our Wanbao Pavilion will never let you contribute for nothing. In addition to the previously promised remuneration, we are also willing to provide you with three times the Artifact Refining Spiritual Materials. If the three Dao Weapons are successfully refined, all remaining Spiritual Materials will belong to you. Furthermore, if the Dao Weapons are successfully refined and achieve excellent results at the Auction, we will also pay you a considerable commission.”
Seeing that Li Mu was still thinking and had not refused, Wang Wenbao’s heart rejoiced, and he continued to introduce the grandeur of this Auction in detail: “Great Master Li, this centennial Auction of Wanbao Pavilion is the biggest event in this domain. At that time, high-level Cultivators, Sect Masters, and ancient aristocratic families from the Five Seas and Four Domains will all gather to participate in this grand Auction.
“In this Auction, in addition to the many high-level Spiritual Objects, rare medicinal Materials, mysterious Treasure Artifacts, etc., prepared by our Wanbao Pavilion, there are also items sent by these high-level Cultivators. Every item is a rare treasure in the world, even containing Dao Concept, and there will also be extraterrestrial Spiritual Objects appearing…”
At this point, Wang Wenbao’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued to look at Li Mu, “Great Master Li, if the Dao Weapons you refine can appear at the Auction, they will surely cause a frenzy. I believe your Dao Weapons will become the most dazzling existence at this Auction.”
“Moreover, Great Master Li, you should know that such a grand event is not only a platform for trading Spiritual Objects but also an excellent opportunity to collect high-level Spiritual Materials. High-level Cultivators from the Five Seas and Four Domains will bring their treasured collections to exchange. If you participate, you will surely gain some rare Materials that are difficult to find on ordinary days, which will undoubtedly be of great help to your future Artifact Refining path.”
After speaking, Wang Wenbao stared closely at Li Mu, awaiting his response.
As an Artifact Refining Great Master capable of refining Seven-Order Dao Weapons, Li Mu would surely understand the importance of this Auction and the immense benefits of participating in it. Wang Wenbao greatly anticipated that he would agree to his request, not only to gain immense benefits for himself but also to add luster to Wanbao Pavilion’s Auction.
Li Mu was persuaded by Wang Wenbao. At present, he was worried about noob’s True Spirit Thunder Tribulation. Ever since it swallowed the Undying Demon Lord’s Divine Soul, it had fallen into a long period of slumber. When it woke up, its Cultivation would certainly increase further, and the time for its True Spirit Thunder Tribulation was getting closer.
However, noob was a sixth-rank Gu Spirit, with unique Soul Power Divine Abilities, but its body was very delicate. The True Spirit Thunder Tribulation would likely cause fatal damage to it.
Li Mu was very clear that without sufficient preparation and Heaven-Defying means, noob would very likely not be able to successfully Undergo Tribulation, and might even perish in the Lightning Tribulation.
Li Mu took a deep breath, looked at Wang Wenbao, and nodded, “Yes, I can refine three Dao Weapons for Wanbao Pavilion as finale items. However, let me be clear, if anything I need appears at this Auction, Wanbao Pavilion must inform me in advance and help me secure it with all efforts.”
“No problem, I accept on behalf of the Chief Manager. Great Master Li, please rest assured, our Wanbao Pavilion has abundant resources and channels in terms of Spiritual Materials, and we will do our utmost to assist you in finding the Spiritual Materials you need,” Wang Wenbao replied, overjoyed and without hesitation.
After speaking, Wang Wenbao unburdened handed the storage ring containing the high-level Artifact Refining Spiritual Materials for refining Dao Weapons to Li Mu, showing great trust in him.
Li Mu took the storage ring and immediately scanned it with his Divine Sense. He was instantly shocked by the quantity and quality of the various seventh-rank Artifact Refining Spiritual Materials in the storage ring. With so many high-grade Artifact Refining Materials of such excellent quality, he couldn’t help but feel admiration for Wanbao Pavilion’s foundation and strength.
In the following days, Li Mu began to get busy. (End of Chapter)
