Chapter 1750: Lu Dao's Request

Wang Changsheng was momentarily startled, but he quickly understood that Lu Dao had likely come for the Underworld Moon Water, something he had already anticipated. In the entire South Sea immortal cultivation world, the Divine Armament Palace possessed the most treasures. When it came to artifact refining skills, Lu Dao dared to claim he was second in the South Sea, and no one dared claim to be first.

Wang Changsheng also wished to consult Lu Dao on artifact refining techniques, particularly the methods for crafting Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasures. He hoped to eventually refine a Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure to serve as his family's treasured heirloom, as ordinary Spirit Treasures were somewhat inadequate.

"Qingshan, Fellow Daoist Lu from the Divine Armament Palace has arrived. Go greet him and escort him to the council hall," Wang Changsheng instructed Wang Qingshan. As Lu Dao was a Soul Transformation cultivator, it would be inappropriate to send Wang Mengfen; Wang Qingshan was the most suitable person for the task.

"Yes, Ninth Uncle," Wang Qingshan replied and left to fulfill the order.

After giving a few more instructions, Wang Changsheng dismissed his clansmen, allowing them to return to their duties.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan arrived at the council hall. Soon after, two streaks of light entered, revealing Lu Dao and Wang Qingshan.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, long time no see, and congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wang!" Fellow Daoist Lu said, clasping his fists in warm congratulations.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you are too kind," Wang Changsheng replied politely. "It should have been I who came to call on you."

"It makes no difference; it's all the same whoever visits whom," Lu Dao said dismissively.

A maid entered, placed fragrant tea on the table, and then withdrew.

Lu Dao took a sip of the spiritual tea. After a few pleasantries, he broached the main topic: "Fellow Daoist Wang, I've heard you possess a special artifact refining material known as Underworld Moon Water. I am quite interested in this material. Would you be willing to sell some to me? The price is negotiable."

As a fifth-tier artifact refiner, Lu Dao couldn't help but be tempted upon learning of an artifact refining material capable of destroying Spirit Treasures. If Underworld Moon Water could destroy Spirit Treasures even before being refined into a magical artifact, wouldn't it be even more potent once it was?

"Underworld Moon Water! I don't have much of this material myself!" Wang Changsheng said, a difficult expression on his face. "Besides, ordinary containers cannot hold Underworld Moon Water."

"Exactly!" Wang Ruyan chimed in, her face showing a look of lingering fear. "We went through several life-or-death situations just to get some Underworld Moon Water from the Buried Devil Ice Plains, one of the three most dangerous areas in the Heaven-Blue Realm. We nearly died at the hands of a fifth-tier demonic beast there."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan perfectly complemented each other, and in just a few words, they managed to increase the perceived value of the Underworld Moon Water. In the entire East Fence Realm, they were the only ones who could provide Underworld Moon Water. Wang Changsheng could not sell it in large quantities; not only would it expose the secret of the Azure Lotus Creation Cauldron, but if everyone possessed a powerful weapon crafted from Underworld Moon Water, then Underworld Moon Pearls would cease to be formidable. Scarcity, after all, drives value.

Without further ado, Lu Dao produced two exquisite blue jade boxes. As he opened their lids, a hazy blue glow unfurled. Each box contained a crystalline blue crystal, its surface shimmering gently like water, enveloped in a bluish aura.

"These are Lapis Lazuli Sea Crystals, a top-tier water-attribute material," Lu Dao explained slowly, his tone sincere. "This material only appears in large Lapis Lazuli stone veins, which take over ten thousand years to form. These two Lapis Lazuli Sea Crystals are sufficient for Fellow Daoist Wang to upgrade his Natal Artifact to a Spirit Treasure. Furthermore, I am willing to offer guidance on the key considerations for refining a set of Spirit Treasures. However, Fellow Daoist Wang would need to exchange some materials with me. What do you say?" He had traveled all this way to Qinglian Island for more than just the Underworld Moon Water, believing Wang Changsheng possessed many rare artifact refining materials, especially given that he had acquired the storage rings of two Soul Transformation cultivators.

"Lapis Lazuli Sea Crystals!" Wang Changsheng's eyes gleamed. Just as Lu Dao had stated, Lapis Lazuli Sea Crystal was a top-tier water-attribute material, only slightly inferior to Taiyin Divine Crystal. These two pieces were enough for him to upgrade his eighteen Sea-Stabilizing Beads into Spirit Treasures, provided his own artifact refining skill was sufficient.

"Very well, it's a deal. However, ordinary containers cannot hold Underworld Moon Water; a leak would be very troublesome," Wang Changsheng readily agreed. He indeed possessed many rare materials, so exchanging some with Lu Dao was not an issue.

"What kind of material is suitable for a container to hold Underworld Moon Water?" Lu Dao inquired politely. It wasn't arrogance; in the entire East Fence Realm, the Divine Armament Palace had amassed the greatest variety and quantity of artifact refining materials.

"Currently, containers crafted from ten-thousand-year Mysterious Jade are known to be capable of holding Underworld Moon Water." Wang Changsheng deliberately omitted mentioning Taiyin Divine Crystal; knowledge was priceless, and he wasn't about to casually reveal to Lu Dao that Taiyin Divine Crystal was an even more precious artifact refining material than ten-thousand-year Mysterious Jade.

"I happen to have a Snow Crystal Bottle, crafted primarily from ten-thousand-year Mysterious Jade," Lu Dao said with a confident smile. He flipped his palm, and a gleaming white jade bottle appeared in his hand. The instant it materialized, the room's temperature dropped sharply, as if plunging into a frigid pool.

The white jade bottle was crystal clear, radiating wisps of bone-chilling cold air, and its astonishing spiritual energy clearly marked it as a Spirit Treasure.

With a flick of his wrist, the Snow Crystal Bottle flew from his hand towards Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng extended his right hand and firmly grasped the Snow Crystal Bottle. A bone-chilling coldness surged into his body through his palm, but a blue cold energy materialized in his palm, insulating him from the chill emanating from the bottle.

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Lu Dao's eyes. The Snow Crystal Bottle, crafted primarily from ten-thousand-year Mysterious Jade and over a hundred other ice-attribute materials, would cause some discomfort even for a Soul Transformation cultivator touching it directly. It appeared Wang Changsheng must have refined some even more potent ice-attribute spiritual object.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please wait a moment; I'll be right back," Wang Changsheng said as he headed towards a side room, certainly not intending to reveal his Azure Lotus Creation Cauldron.

Lu Dao said nothing. Everyone had their secrets, and as long as he could obtain the Underworld Moon Water, nothing else mattered.

After a short while, Wang Changsheng emerged from the side room, wearing his Sea-Rending Gauntlets and holding the Snow Crystal Bottle. He returned the bottle to Lu Dao and accepted the two Lapis Lazuli Sea Crystals.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, this bottle contains fifty catties of Underworld Moon Water. Please be careful not to spill it," Wang Changsheng cautioned. He was so concerned that the Snow Crystal Bottle might not fully contain the Underworld Moon Water that he had specifically worn his Sea-Rending Gauntlets.

Observing Wang Changsheng's solemn demeanor, Lu Dao was surprised and grew even more curious about the Underworld Moon Water.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, could you provide a suitable place? I would like to test the power of the Underworld Moon Water," Lu Dao politely requested. Having traveled such a long distance, he naturally wanted to understand the properties of the Underworld Moon Water thoroughly.

Wang Changsheng nodded and led Lu Dao to an open space on Qinglian Peak.

Lu Dao took out the Snow Crystal Bottle, pulled out the stopper, and poured some Underworld Moon Water onto the ground. The ground visibly froze, and the resulting ice layer was black.

Both Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan quickly retreated, not daring to approach.

Lu Dao then retrieved a crimson banner, approximately ten feet long, from his spatial storage. A lifelike crimson flood dragon was embroidered on its surface, from which wisps of flame emanated, radiating strong fire spiritual energy fluctuations. It was clearly a Spirit Treasure.

He gave it a gentle shake, and rolling flames swept forth, striking the black ice. Strangely, the black ice showed no signs of melting; it remained completely unharmed.

After a moment's thought, Lu Dao put away the crimson banner and released a fully crimson humanoid puppet beast, directing it to walk towards the black ice. The moment the humanoid puppet beast touched the black ice, its body rapidly froze, and the ice layer spread swiftly.