Chapter 48: Purchasing the Refining Furnace

Wang Changsheng strolled around the square. The stalls were brimming with a dazzling array of goods, diverse in type, including many peculiar items.

Among them were talking crows, effervescent stones, and bamboo that recorded and played back sounds.

Wang Changsheng had a total of 120 spirit stones on him, accumulated through his painstaking efforts, which he was reluctant to spend easily.

His primary purpose for attending the Tianhe Minor Gathering was to gain experience and broaden his horizons.

"Oh, what's this?"

Wang Changsheng murmured softly and knelt down at a stall.

The stall had only a few items: some black ores, several spirit herbs, a variety of demon beast materials, and two wooden puppets.

One was a small monkey puppet, and the other a small horse puppet.

"What are these?" Wang Changsheng asked curiously, knowing that anything sold at these stalls was naturally no ordinary item.

"These are puppet beasts," a soft female voice responded, making the listener feel at ease. "These two low-grade, first-tier puppet beasts are crafted from 30-year-old hemlock wood. The monkey puppet is a combat puppet with the strength of a third-level Qi Condensation cultivator, while the horse puppet is an auxiliary puppet useful for travel. Both, however, require spirit stones to be activated."

Wang Changsheng looked up and saw that the stall owner was a young woman in her twenties.

The young woman wore a white *ruqun*, her skin as fair as snow, her face radiant like spring snow, and her eyes as clear as a pristine spring.

"Puppet beasts?"

Wang Changsheng picked up the small monkey puppet with interest and examined it. Puppet beasts were a special kind of item, originating from artifact refining but also distinct from it.

It was Wang Changsheng's first time seeing a puppet beast. He had heard that immortal cultivation sects or powerful cultivation clans used them to test the strength of their disciples.

"Using the small horse puppet for travel is quite wasteful," the white-skirted girl enthusiastically said, her clear eyes full of anticipation. "However, the small monkey puppet is an excellent choice; it's like having an extra fearless guard. Even a mid-grade spiritual artifact would find it difficult to destroy it. It's only 50 spirit stones. If you like it, fellow cultivator, I'll give you the small horse puppet as a free gift. What do you say?"

"No, I don't have that many spirit stones," Wang Changsheng tactfully refused. He didn't engage in combat with others, so he saw no need to buy a combat puppet, nor did he have so many spirit stones to waste.

"Then how about these two pieces of Profound Iron Ore? They're materials for refining spiritual artifacts," the white-skirted girl continued enthusiastically, though without exaggerating her goods' value, presenting them factually unlike some stall owners who would inflate their products as if not buying them would lead to lifelong regret. "Or these several ten-year-old Seven Star Flowers, essential for refining first-tier talismans. I also have two spider legs from a Quicksand Spider, usable for crafting blade and sword spiritual artifacts, and a handful of Twin-tailed Cat whiskers, suitable for refining talisman brushes. Which item interests you, fellow cultivator? The price is negotiable."

Wang Changsheng shook his head, politely stating, "No, I'm not interested in these things."

The white-skirted girl was not discouraged. "Fellow cultivator, what are you interested in?" she asked enthusiastically. "I have many friends; perhaps they have what you need, and the price will be negotiable."

Wang Changsheng felt a little uncomfortable with the white-skirted girl's enthusiasm. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I want to buy an artifact refining furnace, but I don't have many spirit stones."

His artifact refining skill barely met the standard of a first-tier artifact refiner. With diligent practice, he was sure to improve, but learning artifact refining required a significant expenditure of spirit stones. The family could not afford to cultivate three artifact refiners simultaneously, so Wang Changsheng intended to use his own spirit stones to fund his training.

Even with the Profound Gold mineral vein, the family's hundred-plus cultivators incurred significant monthly expenses. His aptitude wasn't outstanding, so the family wouldn't allocate too many resources to him, and it was unlikely he would discover another mineral vein.

Since the discovery of a Profound Gold mineral vein in Qingstone Town, the family had dispatched over a dozen cultivators, spending a year to search every inch of land in three counties, hoping to discover another vein. They found nothing.

Not only the Wang family, but the Chen and Huang families had also meticulously searched their controlled territories, finding nothing.

Under these circumstances, Wang Changsheng realized that if he wanted to establish his foundation, he would have to rely on himself. The family always encouraged its members to be self-reliant and strong, and Wang Mingyuan and Liu Qing'er also supported Wang Changsheng in funding his own artifact refining studies.

To refine artifacts, one must have an artifact refining furnace, and a good one is crucial for any refiner.

A low-grade artifact refining furnace cost 50 spirit stones, while a mid-grade one cost over a hundred. Wang Changsheng wished to purchase a mid-grade furnace, but lacking sufficient spirit stones, his best option was to buy a used one.

"An artifact refining furnace?" the girl exclaimed. "My brother happens to have a mid-grade one. It's used, but still about 70% new. If you're interested, fellow cultivator, I'll contact my brother right away and have him bring it over for you to inspect."

Wang Changsheng considered it, then agreed, figuring there was no harm in taking a look.

A hint of joy appeared on the white-skirted girl's face. She pulled a green parrot from her sleeve and instructed, "Xiao Qing, go find my brother quickly."

"Got it, got it," the green parrot squawked.

The green parrot flapped its wings and flew off in a certain direction.

The white-skirted girl, concerned Wang Changsheng might leave, started chatting with him.

Not long after, a burly young man in a blue shirt ran over, panting and with a fine sheen of sweat on his face.

"Brother, you're so slow!" the white-skirted girl complained. "You made this fellow cultivator wait so long."

"My apologies, fellow cultivator, for making you wait," the blue-shirted youth said, full of regret.

The siblings' earnestness made Wang Changsheng feel a sense of goodwill; to keep him as a customer, they dared not cause him the slightest dissatisfaction.

"Brother, don't you have a mid-grade artifact refining furnace?" she asked. "Have you sold it? If not, bring it out for this fellow cultivator to see."

The blue-shirted youth assented and took a red cauldron from his storage bag. A flame pattern was engraved on its surface.

"This Scarlet Flame Cauldron is a relic from my father," the blue-shirted youth said sincerely, gazing reluctantly at the red cauldron. "It's only been used a few times. Unfortunately, my sister and I don't understand artifact refining. If you find it suitable, fellow cultivator, it's 70 spirit stones."

Wang Changsheng lifted the cauldron lid and carefully inspected its interior.

To be honest, he really liked the Scarlet Flame Cauldron, but the price of 70 spirit stones was unacceptable to him.

He thought for a moment, then, with an apologetic expression, said, "I don't have that many spirit stones on me. I'll go back and borrow some; please wait a moment."

"No problem, fellow cultivator," the white-skirted girl readily agreed. "Hurry back; we'll wait for you right here."

Wang Changsheng walked back the way he came, found Wang Changxing, and explained the situation to him in detail.

Wang Changsheng didn't often buy things and wasn't skilled at bargaining. More importantly, his limited experience made him fear misjudging an item and being swindled out of his spirit stones, so he specifically sought Wang Changxing's help.

"An artifact refining furnace?" Wang Changxing asked curiously upon hearing Wang Changsheng wanted to buy one. "Ninth brother, are you going to learn artifact refining?"

The Profound Gold mineral vein was a secret of the Wang family, known only to a select few. Even fewer were aware of the family's plans to cultivate artifact refiners.

"I want to learn artifact refining, Third Brother," Wang Changsheng fabricated a plausible reason. "You know, my mother made me memorize artifact refining knowledge from a young age. Relying solely on the monthly resources from the family, I won't reach a very high cultivation level. I want to learn a skill, and since artifact refining is the family's traditional profession, with that basic understanding, I decided to learn it."

Wang Changxing suddenly understood, then frowned. "But you don't need to buy a mid-grade artifact refining furnace! A low-grade one would be fine. If you buy a mid-grade one, how many spirit stones will you have left for refining materials?"

"My mother said that to learn artifact refining, one should buy a good furnace, as it increases the success rate," Wang Changsheng replied.

"Alright then!" Wang Changxing said solemnly. "Take me to see it. Remember, you absolutely must not show any expression of liking it, nor should you speak. I'll handle the bargaining; I'm good at this."