Chapter 52: Mu Yuxi and Mu Yuyan

Having seen the good results, Wang Changxing and Wang Changsheng discussed it and went to the Hundred Spirit Pavilion, planning to buy several sets of artifact refining materials to refine Azure Cloud Shields.

This time, because Lin Yuting was not present, the shopkeeper of the Hundred Spirit Pavilion refused to lower the price; one set of materials cost twenty-three spirit stones.

With no other choice, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing ran back to the square. They scoured the entire square but only managed to gather one set of materials.

This was not surprising. Rogue cultivators lacked resources; if they had materials, they would be eager to sell them immediately, rather than waiting for the Tianhe Small Fair.

To save spirit stones, Wang Changxing and Wang Changsheng visited every material shop in Tianhe Market. They pleaded tirelessly with the shopkeepers of numerous shops until one finally agreed to sell them ten sets of materials at a price of twenty-two spirit stones per set.

After buying these ten sets of materials, Wang Changxing and Wang Changsheng had no spirit stones left.

If the artifact refining failed, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing would lose their entire investment.

Back at their lodging, Wang Changsheng was not in a hurry to refine artifacts.

He had a good night's rest to fully recover his energy.

The next morning, Wang Changsheng and the others were having breakfast in the backyard.

Wang Mingzhan asked about Wang Changsheng and the others' activities. Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing had already agreed on a unified story, claiming they were just looking around. Wang Mingzhan had no suspicions; he only reminded them not to leave the market and to keep their eyes open so they wouldn't be fooled.

After breakfast, Wang Mingzhan gave a few more instructions, then went to the front desk to sell spirit grains.

"Third Brother, Ninth Brother, do you have any spare spirit stones? Could you lend me ten? I want to buy a spirit robe, but I'm still short ten spirit stones."

Wang Changyu finished the white porridge in her bowl, then spoke, a hint of anticipation in her beautiful eyes.

Wang Changxing looked troubled and apologized, "Sorry, Seventh Sister, I've spent all my spirit stones."

"Seventh Sister, I lent my spirit stones to someone else, and he promised to return them this afternoon. Once he returns them, I'll lend them to you immediately, how about that?"

Wang Changsheng fabricated an excuse.

"Lent to someone else? Ninth Brother? This is your first time in Tianhe Market, isn't it? Besides us, do you know anyone else? You mustn't let others trick you."

Wang Changxue's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she kindly reminded him.

"It was Cousin Ningxiang; Ninth Brother lent the spirit stones to Cousin Ningxiang."

Wang Changxing interjected to help.

Wang Changsheng quickly nodded, "Yes! Yes! I lent the spirit stones to Cousin Ningxiang."

Hearing this explanation, Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu suddenly understood. Zhao Ningxiang had visited the Wang family several times, and they knew her, so they didn't doubt what Wang Changxing said.

"Alright then! You don't need to rush Cousin Ningxiang to return the spirit stones; it's fine if I buy the spirit robe a bit later."

Wang Changyu thought of something and reminded him.

Wang Changsheng repeatedly agreed. After breakfast, he returned to his room to refine artifacts, while Wang Changxing and the others went about their own business.

This time, out of ten sets of materials, Wang Changsheng succeeded six times, refining six Azure Cloud Shields.

He put away the six Azure Cloud Shields and walked out, his face full of excitement.

When he arrived at the front desk, he saw Wang Changxing talking to Zhao Ningxiang.

"Oh, Cousin Ningxiang, why are you here?"

Zhao Ningxiang smiled sweetly and said, "I came to return your spirit stones! But Cousin Changxing said you were cultivating, so I gave the spirit stones to him. Cousin Changsheng, you must cultivate diligently. The Immortal Ascension Assembly is only a year away, and your cultivation level is too low to enter an immortal cultivation sect."

Wang Changsheng smiled in surprise. He hadn't expected Zhao Ningxiang was still concerned about joining an immortal cultivation sect.

"I also made plans to go shopping with Cousin Yujiao, so I'll be leaving now."

After Zhao Ningxiang left, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing greeted Wang Mingzhan and left the Hundred Grains Pavilion.

Upon reaching the square, Wang Changsheng took out the Azure Cloud Shields, placed them on the stall, and quietly waited.

An hour passed, but only two Azure Cloud Shields had been sold.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing were not in a hurry; they sat behind the stall, chatting while waiting for customers to arrive.

"Third Brother, Seventh Brother, why are you setting up a stall here? Where did you get these defensive spiritual artifacts?"

Wang Changyu's voice suddenly rang out.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing looked up and realized that Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu had come to their stall.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing exchanged glances. After a slight hesitation, Wang Changsheng told the truth to his two elder female cousins.

This was not some unspeakable secret; if Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu could also get involved, they could buy more materials and refine and sell more Azure Cloud Shields.

Learning that Wang Changsheng could refine low-grade defensive spiritual artifacts, Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu were both a little surprised.

"Second Sister, Seventh Sister, would you like to join us? Contribute spirit stones to buy a few more sets of materials, let Ninth Brother refine and sell them, and we can earn spirit stones together."

Wang Changxing suggested.

Both women were a little tempted. After a moment of thought, Wang Changxue spoke, "How will the profits be divided? It's better to settle accounts clearly among family; we should agree beforehand."

"After deducting costs, Ninth Brother gets forty percent, and the three of us each get twenty percent. However, we don't have many spirit stones on hand, so you'll need to contribute some to join. What do you think?"

Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu thought about it and agreed.

"Alright then, Seventh Sister and I will watch the stall here. Ninth Brother, you go with Second Sister to buy materials, then go back and refine artifacts. Once refined, have Second Sister bring them over."

The three of them had no objections. Wang Changyu stayed with Wang Changxing to watch the stall, while Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxue went to buy materials.

Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu pooled seventy-eight spirit stones, and together with the spirit stones from selling two Azure Cloud Shields, they had a total of one hundred seventy-seven spirit stones, which they used to buy eight sets of materials.

Back at their lodging, Wang Changsheng immediately set about refining artifacts.

Out of eight sets of materials, a total of five Azure Cloud Shields were refined, which were then given to Wang Changxue to sell in the square.

For the next five days, Wang Changsheng did not leave the Hundred Grains Pavilion. Aside from refining artifacts, he spent the rest of his time cultivating in his room.

Within these five days, he successively refined forty Azure Cloud Shields, all of which were taken by Wang Changxue to sell in the square.

Each time an Azure Cloud Shield was sold, Wang Changxing would record it for easy accounting later.

At noon that day, Wang Changsheng put away the seven refined Azure Cloud Shields and stepped out.

Through extensive practice, his artifact refining skill had improved; he now succeeded at least six times out of every ten sets of materials.

When he arrived at the front desk, Wang Changsheng didn't see Wang Changxue. He only found out by asking Wang Mingzhan that Wang Changxue had been sent by him to deliver something.

Wang Changsheng didn't mind and stepped towards the square.

Upon reaching the square, Wang Changsheng easily found Wang Changxing.

Four shields were displayed on the stall, and Wang Changxing was chatting with Wang Changyu.

"Oh, Ninth Brother, why are you here? Where's Second Sister?"

"Second Sister was sent by Sixth Uncle to deliver something, so I brought the items myself. By the way, why are there still four Azure Cloud Shields left?"

Wang Changxing sighed and explained, "Although our prices are relatively cheap, these aren't hot commodities. The previous sales were entirely due to the popularity of the Tianhe Small Fair. I estimate we'll be lucky to sell three more."

Wang Changsheng frowned and said, "If that's the case, why didn't you tell me? If I had known, I wouldn't have refined them. I just refined seven more."

"It's fine. Even if we can't sell them here, we can sell them to weapon shops. If worst comes to worst, we can keep them for ourselves. You can go buy more materials and refine as many as you can; we won't lose money anyway."

Wang Changyu said nonchalantly.

Wang Changsheng nodded, chatted briefly with Wang Changxing and Wang Changyu, handed them the seven Azure Cloud Shields, took a heavy storage bag, and left the square.

The storage bag contained over eight hundred spirit stones, which was the fruit of their hard work over the past few days.

Over eight hundred spirit stones was absolutely a huge sum for Wang Changsheng; he had never dared to imagine such a sum before. Even if he only took forty percent, it would still be over three hundred spirit stones.

He hadn't walked far when a man and a woman suddenly blocked his path.

Wang Changsheng raised an eyebrow and asked, "It's you two? What do the two of you fellow daoists want?"

The two were none other than the brother and sister who had sold him the artifact refining furnace.

The young man in blue bowed to Wang Changsheng with cupped fists and said sincerely, "We mean no harm. I am Mu Yuxi, and this is my sister, Mu Yuyan. May I be so bold as to ask, are you an artifact refiner, fellow daoist?"

"What if I am? What if I'm not?"

Wang Changsheng took a step back and watched the two of them with a wary expression.

"Fellow daoist, we have no other intentions. This is our ancestral text. We believe you will certainly be interested."

Mu Yuyan said as she took out a thick, yellowed ancient text from her sleeve. On the cover were six large golden characters that read "Mu Clan Artifact Refining Secret Manual."

Wang Changsheng opened the text, glanced through it casually, and a hint of surprise flashed deep within his eyes.