Chapter 23: Father's Teaching

The "Compendium of Artifact Forging" actually contained straightforward information. It meticulously detailed hundreds of first-tier artifact forging materials, complete with text and illustrations, in addition to some fundamental knowledge about artifact forging.

Simply put, forging involves successively placing various materials into a forging furnace. Once melted into a molten state, the mixture is poured into corresponding molds. After cooling, a second refinement process takes place, during which spiritual patterns are inscribed using special materials.

Artifacts inscribed with one to three spirit patterns are low-grade spirit artifacts. Mid-grade spirit artifacts have four to six spirit patterns, and high-grade spirit artifacts have seven to nine. Spirit artifacts are commonly used weapons for Qi Refining stage cultivators, with prices ranging from several tens to several hundreds of spirit stones.

Above spirit artifacts are magic artifacts, which are commonly used weapons for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. Magic artifacts are not only expensive but also consume a significant amount of spiritual power. If a Qi Refining stage cultivator were to use a magic artifact in combat, their spiritual power would quickly deplete. Should they fail to defeat their enemy, they would become like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of their opponent.

Consequently, most Qi Refining stage cultivators use spirit artifacts. Only a very small number of Qi Refining cultivators with substantial financial resources and deep spiritual power would use magic artifacts.

The night passed quickly.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Liu Qing'er knocked on Wang Changsheng's door.

Wang Changsheng got up and opened the door, and Liu Qing'er set down his breakfast.

A bowl of lotus seed porridge and five pieces of green lotus cake, their fragrant aroma enticing.

"Sheng'er, this is your favorite lotus seed porridge and green lotus cake, still warm! Eat quickly!" Liu Qing'er gazed at Wang Changsheng with a smiling face, her eyes filled with doting affection.

"Mother, how many times have I told you? I can just go to the kitchen for breakfast myself; you don't need to bring it specially for me."

Liu Qing'er smiled slightly and said, "The kitchen isn't far, just a few steps. Eat quickly! It won't taste good when it's cold. Oh, and after breakfast, go to the study; your father wants to see you. I'm going to harvest spirit mulberry leaves; the spirit mulberry trees are growing exceptionally well this year. I'll be going with your eldest aunt and the others to the spirit mulberry garden to pick the leaves and probably won't be back until evening. There are still some steamed buns on the stove; if you get hungry, just heat them up and make do for a meal. I'll cook something delicious for you tonight."

"Understood, Mother, please go attend to your work!" Wang Changsheng readily agreed.

"Oh, and remember to memorize the contents of the 'Compendium of Artifact Forging.' I'll be testing you tonight, so no slacking off, or I won't let you off easily." Liu Qing'er reminded him before leaving.

After breakfast, Wang Changsheng went to the study.

Wang Mingyuan was busy, eating a steamed bun while flipping through a book.

"Father, Mother said you wanted to see me?" Wang Changsheng asked cautiously.

Wang Mingyuan finished his bun, looked up at Wang Changsheng, and said, "I heard from your Seventh Uncle that you discovered a spiritual vein. There are no outsiders here, so tell me the truth: when did you find that spiritual vein?"

"Three years ago, I stumbled upon it by accident," Wang Changsheng said softly, feeling a little uneasy. "However, that spiritual vein was too small, only about two zhang in size, and the spiritual energy was faint. It was barely enough for one person to cultivate, which is why I didn't report it."

"If you discovered it three years ago, why didn't you report it immediately?" Wang Mingyuan's expression hardened as he reprimanded him without ceremony. "As the Heavenly Master of Ping'an County, with a spiritual vein within the county, you should have reported it at once. To put it lightly, this is dereliction of duty; to put it seriously, this is embezzlement, prioritizing your own self-interest and disregarding family interests."

Wang Changsheng's expression grew tense; he dared not breathe, lowering his head.

Seeing Wang Changsheng's demeanor, Wang Mingyuan became exasperated and said in a deep voice, "Your father is speaking to you! Why are you hanging your head? Lift your head. Do you realize your mistake in this matter?"

"I know I was wrong, Father." Wang Changsheng looked up and answered honestly, feeling a hint of regret for having confessed to his father.

"To acknowledge and correct one's mistakes is the greatest virtue. Given your voluntary confession, I will overlook it this time. However, this type of incident must never happen a second time, otherwise, I will personally enforce the family rules and make an example of you. Do you understand?" Wang Mingyuan said sternly.

"I understand, Father."

Wang Changsheng didn't doubt his father's words. Knowing his father, he was fully capable of acting on such a threat.

Hearing Wang Changsheng's reply, Wang Mingyuan's expression softened. He said, "Just as the nation has its laws, a family has its rules. For your discovery of a Profound Gold ore vein, the family will reward you handsomely. However, the Profound Gold ore vein is currently our Wang family's top secret, and you must not disclose it to outsiders. There's nothing else for you here now; return to Ping'an County to preside over matters there. Report any issues via carrier pigeon."

"Yes, Father, I will take my leave." Wang Changsheng replied and turned to depart.

"Wait." Wang Mingyuan called out to Wang Changsheng and rose, walking towards him.

He took a white rice bag from his storage pouch and handed it to Wang Changsheng, saying, "This is two jin of first-tier, high-grade jade marrow spirit rice. Your eldest uncle bought it back for me from another market town; it will be beneficial for your cultivation. Take it with you! Although the spiritual energy in Ping'an County is faint, do not neglect your cultivation, understand?"

As Wang Changsheng took the rice bag, a strong wave of warmth spread through his body. He nodded and replied, "I understand, Father. From now on, if I discover anything, I will report it immediately."

"It's good that you understand. Everyone has their selfish desires, but for our Wang family to have stood strong for centuries, in addition to having Foundation Establishment cultivators presiding over it, the unity of our clansmen is indispensable. If every clansman only pursued their self-interest and disregarded the family's interests, our Wang family would have long ago fallen." Wang Mingyuan taught him earnestly.

"I will engrave Father's teachings in my heart," Wang Changsheng said solemnly.

Wang Mingyuan nodded with satisfaction and patted Wang Changsheng's shoulder, saying, "It's best that you understand. Remember, your surname is Wang. You should help your father, not cause trouble. Be careful on your journey. Oh, and there are still some steamed buns on the stove; take them to eat on the way. I'll talk to your mother about it."

Wang Changsheng acknowledged, then turned and left.

He took his dry provisions, put away the new clothes his mother had made, and walked down the mountain.

By this time, it was already bright daylight, and clansmen were successively leaving their residences and beginning their daily tasks.

Upon seeing Wang Changsheng, the clansmen greeted him one after another, and Wang Changsheng responded to each with a smile.

When Wang Changsheng reached the foot of Green Lotus Mountain, a white cloud descended from the sky, landing in front of him.

Standing on the white cloud was a round-faced youth in his early twenties. He appeared somewhat simple and honest, his face glistening with oil, layers of fat around his waist, and his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Oh, Ninth Brother, when did you get back?" The round-faced youth exclaimed with delight upon seeing Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and said, "I was ordered to rush back last night, and now I'm heading back to Ping'an County. Third Brother, aren't you working today?"

The round-faced man was named Wang Changxing, the son of Wang Changsheng's Fourth Uncle, and he ranked third among the "Chang" generation.

Wang Changxing possessed a five-spirit root. He was twenty-two years old, two months older than Wang Changge.

His aptitude was not good; despite years of cultivation, he was still only at the third level of Qi Refining and had started working early.