Chapter 4310: Clue

Jinxiao City is teeming with hidden talents, home to skilled individuals of all kinds. Even diviners at the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage can be found there, not to mention immortal artifact refiners.

Wang Changsheng, capable of refining high-grade immortal artifacts, is only moderately well-known. Many Taiyi Golden Immortals can also achieve this feat, though their cultivation levels are generally higher than his.

"Fellow Daoist Wang's advantage is his youth. You are only at the early Taiyi Golden Immortal stage. While Fellow Daoist Xun and Fellow Daoist Yang can also refine high-grade immortal artifacts, they are at the late Taiyi Golden Immortal stage. They certainly couldn't refine high-grade immortal artifacts when they were at the early Taiyi Golden Immortal stage."

A burly man in a black shirt, whose face was full of rugged lines and whose body naturally bore demonic patterns, spoke. This was Luo Tianya, a demon with late Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation.

"Indeed, Fellow Daoist Wang is far more formidable than they are."

A red-faced monk in a green robe, wearing a string of green prayer beads around his neck, spoke. This was Monk Xuanku, a late Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Jinxiao City is a melting pot, home to a diverse mix of inhabitants including humans, demons, witches, Buddhist cultivators, and evil cultivators. Even Chaos Beasts can be found there, though they only possess Golden Immortal cultivation.

"You overpraise me, fellow Daoists," Wang Changsheng said modestly. "I am not as formidable as you describe."

"We are simply stating the facts," said Wu Jiaojiao with a smile. "If Fellow Daoist Wang lacked true ability, we wouldn't speak this way."

Luo Xueting sat down, and the five of them began to chat casually while sipping tea.

As they discussed the robbery of the Qinghe Business Alliance's goods, Wang Changsheng casually inquired, "Fellow Daoist Tan, have the culprits not been apprehended yet?"

"One culprit has been executed, but his accomplices have not yet been apprehended."

"Fellow Daoist Tan," Luo Xueting asked curiously, "what valuable item exactly was it that attracted multiple Taiyi Golden Immortals to attack your caravan?"

"It was a high-level aperture-opening secret technique," Tan Feng sighed. "It's a pity; if I had that technique, I could have mastered another law."

"I heard that Daoist Moyun also participated in the robbery," Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled. "Has he not been found yet?"

"No, there's no news of him yet. We are also looking for him."

"Could it be a secret technique for opening nine apertures? Many factions are searching for Daoist Moyun, so this aperture-opening secret technique must be extraordinary!" Luo Xueting said with a faint smile, taking a sip of immortal tea.

For tens of thousands of years, multiple factions have been searching for Daoist Moyun, which indicates that what he stole must be extremely important.

"It only allows for opening up to eight apertures," Tan Feng explained. "Those factions are likely searching for Daoist Moyun for the soul cultivation technique he possesses. After they succeeded in their endeavor, they had an internal conflict over dividing the spoils. Daoist Moyun, having mastered soul divine abilities, injured two of his companions and managed to escape."

"Could it be a high-level soul cultivation technique?" Wang Changsheng asked curiously. Daoist Moyun had entered the Qiankun Ruins, and the Old Ancestor of the Li family had obtained the first half of the *Heavenly Soul Tome* there. Could Daoist Moyun have acquired the second half?

"I'm not sure," Tan Feng replied. "I only know that he possesses soul divine abilities. Even if he doesn't have a soul cultivation technique, the eight-aperture-opening secret technique itself is enough to tempt many factions. If it were a nine-aperture-opening secret technique, even Da Luo Golden Immortals would intervene."

Taiyi Golden Immortals can open a maximum of nine apertures, but few can actually achieve this, primarily due to the scarcity of high-level aperture-opening secret techniques. Even with such a technique, success in opening the apertures is not guaranteed.

"I heard that the more apertures a Taiyi Golden Immortal opens, the higher their success rate of ascending to Da Luo Golden Immortal," Wang Changsheng said curiously, recalling what Fang Xiong had told him.

"It's not just a rumor; it's a fact," Luo Xueting stated. "Countless immortals have proven this through their own experiences. Besides the number of apertures opened, the strength of one's soul also affects the success rate of ascending to Da Luo Golden Immortal. The physical body is also a major factor; one must at least cultivate a peak true spirit body."

The five of them chatted for three hours, their conversation wide-ranging and covering myriad topics.

After their casual chat concluded, they began to exchange cultivation resources, which was the main event. However, Wang Changsheng, having already made numerous exchanges, wasn't interested in what they presented and thus made no further trades.

Less than half an hour later, the gathering concluded. Wang Changsheng and the other four sequentially left Luo Xueting's residence, returning to their respective homes.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, a moment," Tan Feng called out, stopping Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng stopped and asked, "Is there something you need, Fellow Daoist Tan?"

"I have a private matter to discuss with Fellow Daoist Wang," Tan Feng said politely. "Could we speak in private?"

"Let's discuss it at Qinghe Tower," Wang Changsheng suggested.

Tan Feng was overjoyed and eagerly led the way.

Upon entering Qinghe Tower, Wang Changsheng saw no other cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I'd like your help to upgrade an immortal artifact to a high-grade one," Tan Feng said. "I have all the materials ready."

Tan Feng took out a green storage bracelet and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng scanned it with his divine sense, nodded, and said, "I can help, but what will you offer as compensation?"

"Fellow Daoist Wang has been searching for Daoist Moyun," Tan Feng replied. "How about I provide you with some clues? Our Qinghe Alliance still has some influence in Jinxiao City, so it wasn't difficult to discover that you were looking for Daoist Moyun."

"Clues? That depends on what kind of clues they are," Wang Changsheng replied.

"Daoist Moyun was severely injured and won't recover quickly," Tan Feng explained. "After the incident, a vast net was cast outside, yet Daoist Moyun wasn't caught. There's a high probability he's hiding in Jinxiao City."

"Hiding in Jinxiao City!" Wang Changsheng pressed. "Fellow Daoist Tan, are you confident you can find his whereabouts?"

"Not yet," Tan Feng admitted. "He will definitely need a third-tier immortal elixir to heal, so you can start your search from that angle."

"So much time has passed," Wang Changsheng said with a frown. "He has probably already found a healing immortal elixir by now!"

"He was injured by the Law of Death," Tan Feng explained. "Ordinary healing immortal elixirs are useless; only those refined with the crystal core of a Taiyi Golden Immortal stage Chaos Beast would be effective. It's also possible he has already obtained a healing elixir. In that case, how about I add a crystal core from a Taiyi Golden Immortal stage Seven-Colored Chaos Beast?"

"Fellow Daoist Tan, you have that high-level aperture-opening secret technique, don't you?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"Only the first half," Tan Feng admitted.

"I want the cultivation method for the first half of that technique," Wang Changsheng said. "You can omit the seven-colored crystal core. If you get any news of this person, please inform me, Fellow Daoist Tan. How about that as compensation for one high-grade immortal artifact?"

Daoist Moyun might possess a high-level soul cultivation technique, and Wang Changsheng felt he must find this person.

A flicker of surprise crossed Tan Feng's eyes. He nodded and said, "No problem. Fellow Daoist Wang, you have great ambition."

"I merely wish to obtain the aperture-opening secret technique and the soul cultivation technique," Wang Changsheng explained. "At our stage, ordinary items hold no attraction for us."

This explanation was quite reasonable; many factions were indeed searching for Daoist Moyun precisely for the aperture-opening secret technique and the soul cultivation technique.

"That's true," Tan Feng agreed readily. "No problem."

Tan Feng agreed readily, took out a green jade slip, and handed it to Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng scanned it with his divine sense, nodded, and after chatting for a while, he left Qinghe Tower.