Chapter 224: The Heart of Making Friends

Volume Three

"Senior, are you interested in artifact crafting?" The short, stout youth hesitated for a long time before posing this question, which greatly astonished Han Li.

"What do you mean?" Han Li was a little puzzled.

"Don't tell me you want to teach me artifact crafting!" Han Li asked casually.

"Senior, you've guessed it! The only valuable thing I have to offer is my artifact crafting technique!" the youth said, somewhat dejectedly.

Han Li was speechless. He just wanted a few more sets of formation flags and disks; who wanted his artifact crafting techniques? Besides, who did this youth think he was? Was his artifact crafting technique that rare? In the cultivation world, there were countless cultivators who understood artifact crafting!

"However, due to ancestral teachings, I can only give you my compiled insights on artifact crafting; I cannot personally teach you this art!" the youth quickly added, stammering.

Han Li blinked, utterly speechless.

The youth saw that Han Li remained silent after hearing his suggestion, appearing unwilling. He immediately grew nervous and, forgetting to conceal his identity, hurriedly spoke the truth:

"My ancestor was formerly an artifact crafting elder of the Divine Weapon Sect, and his artifact crafting skills had long reached the pinnacle! My own artifact crafting technique was taught to me personally by my ancestor. By handing over these insights to you today, I am actually violating ancestral teachings! As for how much you can gain from them, it entirely depends on your own fortune! But I can guarantee that these are absolutely secret techniques that have never been circulated in the cultivation world!"

When Han Li heard that the youth was a descendant of a Divine Weapon Sect artifact crafting elder, he finally showed emotion.

Wasn't the Divine Weapon Sect one of the three major orthodox sects of Yuanwu Kingdom, alongside the Heavenly Star Sect and the Myriad Marvels Pavilion? Their artifact crafting techniques, along with the Heavenly Star Sect's formations and the Myriad Marvels Pavilion's talismans, were renowned in the cultivation world of several nearby nations.

From this perspective, the other party's artifact crafting insights were indeed extraordinary! Although he likely wouldn't learn them himself, keeping them could be a bargaining chip. He might find a use for them someday.

Han Li made up his mind, but he still opened his mouth to ask another question.

"Can this set of artifacts for the Five-Element Reversal Array really be improved further?"

"Absolutely! My friend's mastery of formations is already profound, and with my artifact crafting techniques, improving this set of array artifacts won't be a problem!" The youth saw Han Li's question, understood that he was likely agreeing, and immediately became overjoyed, patting his chest as he guaranteed.

Han Li nodded and said no more. Instead, he opened the lid of the box in his hand, and immediately a fragrant scent, rich with spiritual energy, filled the soundproof barrier. The youth sniffed a few times, then meticulously examined the contents with his eyes several times. His eyes lit up with joy, and he nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly and handed over the box.

Upon seeing it, the youth eagerly reached out to take it. But when he gripped a corner of the box and tried to pull it back, the box, containing the spiritual medicine, remained perfectly still, as if rooted in Han Li's hand! This made the youth freeze, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.

Han Li watched as the other party looked up at him, somewhat at a loss, and couldn't help but sigh.

It seemed this person was truly a young master from a prominent family who had never experienced hardship! How could he not understand such an obvious hint?

With no other choice, Han Li moved his lips and directly spelled it out for the other party:

"Shouldn't you also bring out that set of artifacts and the artifact crafting insights? That way, we can exchange money for goods. Wouldn't that be more appropriate?"

"Oh... Senior is right, I completely forgot in my haste!" The short, stout youth suddenly realized, his face flushing crimson as he released the box in his hand. He then fumbled through his storage pouch, pulling out a stack of items.

"Here are eighteen array disks and thirty-six array flags, forming the complete set of artifacts for the Five-Element Reversal Array. As long as you arrange them precisely according to the method described in this jade slip, the grand array will immediately take effect. And this book, 'Cloud Heaven's Core Arts,' contains my insights into artifact crafting over the past twenty years. I hope Senior will refrain from spreading it after reading, to avoid the Divine Weapon Sect seeking you out. Many of the artifact crafting methods within are secrets of the Divine Weapon Sect!" The youth explained in great detail, also giving Han Li a significant piece of advice.

Hearing this, Han Li felt a growing fondness for the youth! Another thought suddenly popped into his mind.

After a moment of hesitation, Han Li immediately tucked the box he held into the other party's embrace, then took the stack of items from the youth's hand.

Han Li's sudden, unusual action left the short, stout youth bewildered and somewhat at a loss.

"'Cloud Heaven's Core Arts'! Cloud Heaven is your given name, isn't it? What is your family name?" Han Li's initial coolness vanished. After receiving the items, he spoke to the youth with a pleasant demeanor.

"My surname is Qi, Qi Yunxiao! Does Senior have any other instructions?" The youth hesitated for a moment before speaking, unsure of Han Li's intention.

"Nothing, actually, I just wanted to tell you that although I've accepted your insights, I will seal them with a sealing technique and won't touch them for five years. If you can truly improve this set of artifacts for me within these five years, I will return the book to you untouched, without having turned a single page. What do you think?"

"Really? Then I thank you profusely, Senior, I am truly grateful beyond words! Please rest assured about improving the Five-Element Reversal Array artifacts! Even if my friend doesn't succeed in improving them, I will persuade him to personally set up a true grand array for you on site!" The youth was overjoyed upon hearing Han Li's words and hastily guaranteed.

Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly, picked up the book 'Cloud Heaven's Core Arts,' and placed it between his palms.

As Han Li chanted a low incantation, a series of silver runes suddenly emerged between his hands. After swirling over his palms for a moment, they drilled into the book and vanished. Simultaneously, 'Cloud Heaven's Core Arts' flashed with a silvery light, emitting a faint silver glow. The entire book suddenly seemed to turn metallic silver, impossible to open even a fraction.

"Alright, the seal is complete! Now, leave your spiritual power on the seal. That way, when I return it next year, you'll know whether I've broken the seal or not!" Han Li tossed the sealed book over, and the youth caught it with a mix of surprise and delight.

The youth paused with an open mouth, then stomped his foot and truly left his spiritual power on the seal. With a gaze that mixed gratitude and doubt, he then returned the book to Han Li.

At this moment, Han Li had the other party's mentality almost perfectly surmised. He knew it was impossible to gain the other party's trust immediately! However, when he truly returned the perfectly sealed book to the youth several years later, he would likely be able to form a connection with both the youth and his formation master friend.

Of course, whether the other party was truly worth befriending wholeheartedly would only be known after a long period of interaction!

Thus, Han Li put away the book, obtained a method to contact the youth, and then floated away without another word, leaving the place.

The youth remaining on the spot still looked disbelieving. A thousand-year-old spiritual medicine had been acquired so easily! He firmly squeezed the hard medicine box, his eyes revealing a mix of excitement and bewilderment.

Han Li, in a great mood, walked towards the artifact crafting shop.

Qi Yunxiao's artifact crafting technique and his friend's identity as a formation master were far more valuable than a mere book! If he could establish a connection with them, it would undoubtedly greatly benefit his future cultivation path! Han Li was absolutely certain of this.

Han Li finally returned to the shop that had accepted his business. The white-haired elder was anxiously awaiting his arrival.

When the shop owner saw that Han Li had indeed kept his word and reappeared, he immediately beamed, instructing the burly man to serve tea one moment and precious fruits the next. He personally accompanied Han Li to sit at the table, continuously addressing him as "Senior." Even someone as thick-skinned as Han Li felt his face subtly flush.

Next, in front of the elder, Han Li first took out the centipede carapaces. The elder's expression shifted; he immediately picked up a small piece and carefully touched it, examining it to identify it.

"This is the outer shell of a first-grade, high-level venomous insect-type demonic beast; it is indeed an excellent material for artifact crafting! Especially with demonic beasts becoming increasingly rare in the outside world, and venomous insect-type demonic beasts being even rarer to encounter." The wrinkles on the elder's face somewhat smoothed out as he spoke with a smile.

The materials the other party possessed were indeed as he had expected, not just some scrap metal or miscellaneous items, but rather the extremely rare, sturdy carapaces of venomous insect demonic beasts! These were excellent materials, highly suitable for crafting defensive artifacts like armor or shields.

As he estimated, even before refining, these insect carapaces could withstand a blow from a top-tier artifact without significant damage! If successfully refined, they could naturally easily become top-tier artifacts themselves.

The white-haired elder grew happier the more he looked, gleefully picking up the carapaces and preparing to leave. But Han Li stopped him!

"Shop owner, don't rush! There are still some materials I haven't taken out yet!" Seeing the elder's impatient demeanor, Han Li couldn't help but frown slightly, wondering if he had chosen the wrong artifact crafter!