Chapter 53: Sixth Uncle's Admonition

The book contained various methods for crafting spiritual artifacts, and even magical artifacts. Furthermore, it detailed techniques for making puppet beasts, ranging from first-tier to third-tier.

Wang Changsheng suppressed his excitement, feigning composure as he asked, "This book could be somewhat useful to me. How much are you asking for it?"

"Three hundred," Mu Yuxi said, holding up three fingers and looking at Wang Changsheng with anticipation. "This is a family heirloom; it's definitely worth that price."

"Three hundred? That's too expensive," Wang Changsheng frowned, beginning to haggle. "One hundred spirit stones would be more reasonable."

"Do you think we're ignorant, fellow daoist?" Mu Yuxi retorted. "This book lists dozens of methods for crafting spiritual and magical artifacts, and even includes techniques for making puppet beasts. If we knew how to craft artifacts, we wouldn't be selling it to you. At a hundred spirit stones, we might as well sell it to a bookstore."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and said meaningfully, "Unlike other items, the content of a classic can be copied. If a bookstore offered a good price, you would have sold it already. One hundred and twenty spirit stones, no more. How would I know if you've already copied the contents?"

Mu Yuxi and Mu Yuyan exchanged a private message. Then, Mu Yuxi spoke up, "Adding a Blue Cloud Shield would be more reasonable."

They had indeed copied some of the content, but to secure a high price, they had to sell the original to Wang Changsheng.

"Alright, I'll give you one," Wang Changsheng agreed, a hint of joy flashing deep in his eyes.

He led Mu Yuxi and her sister back to the stall, explained the situation to Wang Changxing, and handed a Blue Cloud Shield along with one hundred and twenty spirit stones to Mu Yuxi.

Mu Yuyan hesitated slightly, then said earnestly, "Fellow Daoist Wang, I have an impolite request that I hope you will grant."

"Go on!" Wang Changsheng replied.

"I hope you won't resell this book," she said. "Just keep it safe for yourself."

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and nodded in agreement. He certainly wouldn't sell it to others, though he could lend it to his Fifth Aunt and Eleventh Uncle. He suddenly remembered something and asked, puzzled, "By the way, how did you know my surname is Wang?"

Mu Yuyan hesitated for a moment, then explained via private message, "Did you forget? We sold you the artifact crafting furnace. While there are many stalls in the square, not many sell spiritual artifacts. You've been here for several days, consistently selling defensive spiritual artifacts. Many cultivators know about you. It's not difficult to find out your background if one pays attention."

Wang Changsheng suddenly understood, a secret sense of alarm rising within him. It seemed he needed to warn his Third Brother and Seventh Sister. The cultivators in Tianhe Market were a mixed bag. Wang Changxing had been running a stall here for several days, and it was entirely possible that he had already been targeted by someone with ulterior motives.

After Mu Yuxi and Mu Yuyan left, Wang Changsheng privately informed Wang Changxing and Wang Changyu about the matter.

Wang Changxing didn't take the matter to heart, saying indifferently, "What's there to be afraid of? We're not stealing or robbing. Are they going to attack and kill us just because we're selling a few spiritual artifacts? Besides, we're not rogue cultivators; we have a family backing us. I refuse to believe anyone would dare lay a hand on us."

Wang Changsheng considered this and agreed. There couldn't be that many evil cultivators in the world.

"Ninth Brother," Wang Changyu urged, "you should hurry and buy materials, then return to our residence to craft artifacts! While there are more people around these few days, we might be able to sell a few more Blue Cloud Shields."

Wang Changsheng nodded, then stood up and left. He spent over seven hundred spirit stones to buy more than forty sets of materials.

Upon returning to Baigu Pavilion, he was about to go back to his room to craft artifacts when Wang Mingzhan called him to the backyard. Wang Mingzhan casually cast a soundproofing barrier and asked seriously, "Changsheng, I'm asking you, are you and Changxue selling spiritual artifacts? Answer truthfully."

Wang Changsheng nodded and said, "Yes, Sixth Uncle."

"Are all the spiritual artifacts crafted by you?" Wang Mingzhan pressed.

"Yes, I crafted them," Wang Changsheng replied. "Why, Sixth Uncle, is there something wrong with us selling spiritual artifacts?"

Wang Changsheng was utterly confused. The clan rules didn't prohibit selling spiritual artifacts, and he couldn't understand what he had done wrong.

"You discovered the Black Gold Ore Vein," Wang Mingzhan said gravely. "Ninth Uncle and the others died tragically at the hands of villains protecting its secret. Third Brother, to keep the secret, didn't sell a single spiritual artifact in Ningzhou. Instead, he discreetly handled them in Xianyuan City. Now you're selling them privately, and if other families find out—if they connect this to the Black Gold Ore Vein—the family will be in serious trouble. Do you realize you've caused a huge problem?"

Wang Changsheng's heart seized. He said, somewhat incredulously, "Sixth Uncle, it can't be that serious, can it? I learned artifact crafting on my own and luckily succeeded. That's not strange, is it?"

"Foolishness! Your excuse is full of holes," Wang Mingzhan sternly replied. "Can artifact crafting be learned just by reading a few books? Without extensive practice, how would you be able to craft artifacts? One set of materials costs over ten spirit stones; you must have practiced dozens of times at least. That would be hundreds of spirit stones. Your talent is ordinary. Even if Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law doted on you, they couldn't possibly give you hundreds of spirit stones just for you to learn artifact crafting. Even if they did, by normal logic, hundreds of spirit stones would surely be used to buy spirit grains and pills to advance cultivation, not to learn artifact crafting. Were you 100% sure you would succeed? Where did that confidence come from? Anyone with a brain can see the problem.

"Furthermore, even if you miraculously became an artifact crafter and reached a profitable level, why wouldn't the family provide you with materials for crafting to gain greater profit? Instead, they let you craft artifacts outside to earn spirit stones? Clearly, our Wang family has more skilled artifact crafters, perhaps even more than one. Otherwise, why wouldn't they cultivate you? Remember, Third Brother is the family head, and you are his own son. If your artifact crafting is profitable, and the family doesn't provide you with materials for it, it simply doesn't make sense."

Faced with Wang Mingzhan's interrogation, Wang Changsheng's back was drenched in cold sweat, and a layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. As the saying goes, "Bystanders see the chess game best." With just a few words, Wang Mingzhan pointed out the pitfalls of the situation. He had thought he found a path to wealth, but he hadn't realized the magnitude of the trouble.

Wang Changsheng swallowed hard, saying nervously, "Sixth Uncle, what should I do? I didn't do it on purpose; I just wanted to earn some spirit stones."

Wang Mingzhan pondered for a moment, then said, "Stop crafting artifacts for now; I will handle this matter. Remember, if anyone asks, stick to this story: The family specifically purchased a batch of defensive magical artifacts from Xianyuan City for sale at this Tianhe Minor Gathering, and you are selling them under the family's orders. As for your purchase of crafting materials, say that you were drawn by the profits of artifact crafting and wanted to learn it yourselves. You must discuss this openly and frequently to confuse people and conceal the secret of the Black Gold Ore Vein as much as possible."

"Yes, Sixth Uncle, I understand," Wang Changsheng said. "But I just bought another forty sets of materials. My Second Sister and I put all our savings into it. What do you think?"

"Once you've crafted with these forty sets of materials, stop," Wang Mingzhan instructed. "I will acquire the completed spiritual artifacts in the family's name, at a price slightly higher than the market's acquisition price. This way, you'll still profit, and the family won't lose money. Remember, under no circumstances should you sell the crafted spiritual artifacts to weapon shops."

"Yes, Sixth Uncle, your nephew understands," Wang Changsheng affirmed.

Wang Changsheng let out a breath of relief and agreed. He had still oversimplified the problem; it was much safer to let the family handle the crafted spiritual artifacts.