Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

[Artifact Refining Secret Realm].

If this had happened earlier, Lü Yang might not have thought much of it.

However, after learning that Mingfeng was a second-generation Holy Sect Disciple, hearing about this so-called [Artifact Refining Secret Realm] caused his imagination to run wild.

"The Simulation Realm?" he wondered.

Lü Yang looked around. The familiar environment made him momentarily think he had entered the [Sea of Suffering]. In the Current World, Mingfeng began to explain it to him.

"The [Artifact Refining Secret Realm] was created by the Star Palace Daoist Lord, based on the Mana Network formed by the Twenty-Eight Star Map. A Cultivator only needs a simple access array artifact to enter this Secret Realm, which exists solely in illusion. Forging an array artifact here won’t waste the slightest bit of resources.

"Since you haven’t paid for a membership, you are currently still offline.

"In this state, you cannot communicate with anyone else who has entered the [Artifact Refining Secret Realm]. Your authority is also very low, meaning you can’t use most of its functions."

As she spoke, Mingfeng also entered.

Lü Yang raised his eyebrows in surprise. Unlike him, who only had a desolate, solitary island beneath his feet, Mingfeng appeared alongside an entire island nation—an ultra-massive island over a hundred times larger than his.

Various facilities stood tall across the island. Large groups of puppets were busy transporting equipment, testing array artifacts, and maintaining the infrastructure—a truly dazzling spectacle.

Soon, Mingfeng’s figure appeared at the edge of the island.

RUMBLE!

With a loud crash, the island nation behind Mingfeng merged with the solitary island beneath Lü Yang’s feet, placing him right on the outskirts of her island nation.

"The island represents your authority within the [Artifact Refining Secret Realm].

"As the top researcher of the mother star, my authority is naturally at the highest level. For other researchers looking to elevate their authority, there are generally only two paths.

"Either pay Money. The more Money you give, the higher your authority.

"Or complete array artifact projects issued by the mother star. The better the project is completed and the more quotas you meet, the higher your authority will naturally be during settlement."

Explaining this, Mingfeng led Lü Yang to the center of the island nation. A massive steel building stood there, almost identical to the research institute they occupied in the Current World. The only difference was that everything here was a virtual item generated by the [Artifact Refining Secret Realm].

"This is the place.

"This is how I usually research array artifacts. I typically conduct experiments here first. Only after ensuring it’s feasible do I officially begin Artifact Refining in reality."

After Mingfeng’s explanation, Lü Yang generally understood.

"It really operates on a very similar principle to the Simulation Realm," he thought. "The only difference is that one is used to forge Magic and Abilities, while this one is for forging Artifacts.

"However, judging by the tiers, the Simulation Realm can apply settings to the entire world, and the things created can even be brought out of the Secret Realm—everything is completely real. This Artifact Refining Secret Realm falls a bit short in comparison. Although things can be changed at will, it is still fundamentally made of illusions."

"What do you think?"

Seeing Lü Yang deep in thought, Mingfeng took the initiative to suggest, "Since you want to refine a Star Map, why don’t you try your hand at refining an array artifact here first?"

"Here?"

Lü Yang frowned slightly. He reached out with his senses... He could still contact the progenitor inside the Righteous Banner, and the progenitor could also see the outside world through his eyes.

However, if they were to communicate, they might be detected.

At this thought, Lü Yang’s frown deepened. "In that case... I absolutely cannot utilize my innate Talent Skill within the [Artifact Refining Secret Realm]!"

"...I’ll pass."

Lü Yang shook his head. "I’ve only dabbled slightly in the Array Treasure Dao, which matches the level of achievement I should have at my Realm. Jumping straight into hands-on work would be running before I can walk.

"I should study first."

Hearing this, Mingfeng immediately nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. The fact that you realized this before you even started refining shows there’s no issue with your temperament.

"I originally planned to wait until you failed the refinement to strictly scold you awake... It seems that won’t be necessary. But you don’t need to worry either. With your Realm, basic array artifacts below the Golden Core level can essentially be learned at a glance. As for the profound content above the Golden Core level, with your talent, it shouldn’t be difficult either."

"Then how should I study?" Lü Yang asked humbly.

At his words, Mingfeng directly pulled up a virtual interface and dragged it in front of him. "Here is a basic tutorial for Golden Core array artifacts. Take a look yourself."

Lü Yang subconsciously scanned it with the [Immortal Core Survival Guide].

Only after confirming there were no issues did he cup his hands. "Thank you, Daoist."

Mingfeng was noncommittal. Watching Lü Yang plunge his spiritual perception into the tutorial and disappear from his spot, her phoenix eyes finally curved into smiling crescents.

"He’s an Outer Dao Cultivator in the end, far too easy to fool. He just accepts whatever I say... Men, immediately turn on all Great Dao detection facilities! I want to use this guy to sense the location of the Dao of Arcane Body in the [Sea of Suffering], and conveniently examine his physical condition to uncover the secret behind the power of his Dharma Body."

After saying this, she cast a quiet glance at Lü Yang in the Current World.

Did he really think she ran Kai Shan Hall, with nothing better to do than uplift Outer Dao Cultivators? If she were acting in the Stain Sect’s former style, an Outer Dao Cultivator would have been beaten out the door long ago!

The primary reason she let Lü Yang enter the [Artifact Refining Secret Realm] was because it could record the state of all who entered. As long as Lü Yang was inside, almost all of his personal intelligence would be exposed.

"Thank me," she thought. "At least I gave you some benefits.

"Compared to my master and all my fellow disciples, I’m considered quite honest. I’m not very good at deceiving people. Back in the day, Master Bu Tian even said I wasn’t like the Stain Sect..."

At the same time, Lü Yang was deep in thought.

"Mingfeng doesn’t seem much like a Holy Sect Disciple," he mused.

As Lü Yang toyed with the Golden Core array artifact tutorial in front of him, he couldn’t help but sigh. "It’s one thing to be sloppy at deception, but actually giving out real benefits?

"She’s deliberately using this [Artifact Refining Secret Realm] to tempt me. In all likelihood, she has designs on my Dharma Body and wants to verify if what I said earlier was true. She might even be trying to use me to search for the Dao of Arcane Body. Unfortunately for her, it’s totally useless. My Cultivation in this life has been completely washed over by the [Centome]..."

No matter how she investigated, he was squeaky clean.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang peacefully started reading the Golden Core tutorial in his hands... Or to be precise, he let Progenitor Tingyou read the Golden Core tutorial. He mainly served as the progenitor’s eyes.

......

"The Array Treasure Dao combines Arrays and Artifacts, simultaneously raising the upper limits of both. It is also a crucial tool for us to analyze Heaven and Earth."

Inside the tutorial, Lü Yang had arrived in a spacious, empty classroom.

At the very front of the classroom, a white-haired old man stood at the podium holding a book. His expression was stern as Lü Yang sat below.

"So, what is the most important aspect of the Array Treasure Dao?

"Many people might think it is talent, but that is incorrect... Yes, talent is certainly important, but there is one thing that can perfectly substitute its function.

"And that is Cultivation!

"We are Cultivators. The Cultivation Realm is the foundation of everything. Whether it is Arrays or Artifacts, without sufficient Cultivation, you can accomplish nothing.

"By the same logic, as long as your Cultivation is high enough, learning lower-tier material becomes incredibly easy. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator learning Qi Refining array artifacts, a Golden Core learning Foundation Establishment array artifacts, and a Great Perfected Lord learning Golden Core array artifacts—all essentially learn it at a glance. Therefore, no matter what you wish to learn, you first need a sufficient Realm!

"So then, what is the ultimate goal of the Array Treasure Dao?"

Speaking of this, a visible fanaticism suddenly appeared on the old professor’s face on the podium. "Every Array Treasure Master should understand this question.

"The ultimate goal of the Array Treasure Dao is to create a [Sea of Suffering] of our very own!

"With waters of infinite imagery, the place where Fruits rise and fall, the interpretation of the rules of Heaven and Earth, the convergence point of All Phenomena and myriad things—the [Sea of Suffering] is precisely the greatest array artifact!"