Chapter 539 73: Leaving
SIZZLE…
Nourished and corroded by Qi Blood, mysterious runes gradually surfaced on the hard Spiritual Ore.
The runes sank deep into the Spiritual Ore, merging with it.
As time passed, the Spiritual Ore softened and warped, transforming into lines that flowed into the Bright Armor.
The different Spiritual Ores intertwined within the Bright Armor like blood vessels in a human body, connecting and running throughout.
Under the nourishment of Qi Blood, the Spiritual Ores, each with its own distinct properties, gradually fused into one.
A suit of gleaming, golden armor began to take shape.
WHOOSH...
Zhu Ju let out a long, turbid breath and paused his work.
'Fifth Grade!'
'With my skills and experience, I should be able to refine the Bright Armor one more time to raise it to the Third Grade.'
'After the Third Grade, I'll be powerless to improve it further.'
Forging a Third-Grade Qi Blood Divine Weapon didn't require an exceptionally high Cultivation. However, the materials it consumed were extraordinarily expensive, far beyond what he could currently gather. It was a luxury he couldn't hope for anytime soon.
"Go!"
With a light push of his hand, the half-finished Bright Armor floated in mid-air before gently descending into the searing Earth Evil True Flame.
Only with the aid of the True Flame could the Spiritual Ores and runes truly integrate into the armor.
As for Zhu Ju, he took out the remaining Kui Ox Essence Blood. He drew out a single strand with his finger and swallowed it, slowly beginning the Refinement process.
As his Refinement continued and his strength grew, a single strand of Essence Blood was no longer much of a strain.
CRACK…
At a certain moment—
BOOM!
A violent surge of Qi erupted from within Zhu Ju, instantly sweeping through the Quiet Chamber.
His scorching Qi Blood was like a furnace, causing the air to ripple and even making the Earth Evil True Flame falter for a moment.
"Upper Eighth Grade!"
Feeling the surging Qi Blood within him, a smile touched Zhu Ju's lips.
His Cultivation was indeed at the upper Eighth Grade, but thanks to the Kui Ox Essence Blood further enhancing the foundation of his Physical Body and the overflow from his Venerable Immortal Bone, his current physical strength was no less than a middle Seventh Grade.
If he went all out and used a Secret Technique, he should be able to break through the limits of the Seventh Grade for a short period.
The Sixth Grade!
SWISH!
An object drifted in from outside the door, landing on a nearby table.
***
Habitable areas on Fire Ape Island were few, but because it possessed the only Fire Vein in the entire Island of Continuous Mountains, many Alchemists and Artifact Refiners had gathered here.
Professionals of this kind, provided they achieved any success, were typically quite well-off. This naturally attracted Taverns and shops to build establishments here.
Gradually, a bustling small town formed at the foot of the mountain.
"Young Master Zhu."
The gray-haired Han Chong, seated across from him, spoke with a faint smile.
"This is Fire Ape Island's specialty, the Flat Jade Fish. It contains both Water and Fire Spiritual Qi and has the miraculous effect of nourishing the Physical Body."
"You should try some."
"Mm." Zhu Ju picked up his chopsticks and nodded in praise. "The meat is succulent and melts in your mouth. It's truly a delicacy. But I imagine it must be quite valuable, right?"
"Haha…" Han Chong laughed heartily. "I'm glad you like it, Young Master Zhu. It's just a Spirit Fish; I can still afford to treat you to one."
"The Island of Continuous Mountains serves as a crossroads between the East Sea and the mainland. It's rich in Spiritual Materials and resources, and home to many Martial Arts experts. If one has a skill to rely on, not only can they live without worry, but they can also have a promising future."
"Elder Han, please speak your mind," Zhu Ju said, putting down his chopsticks.
"I am all ears."
"Then I'll be direct." Han Chong stroked his beard, then took a pair of fist guards from his storage pouch. "This pair of Thunderstrike Fist Armor—you forged them, didn't you, Young Master Zhu?"
Though called armor, they were more like gloves, as they were extremely thin and didn't hinder the movement of the finger joints.
"That's right."
Zhu Ju nodded. "I was a bit short on funds some time ago, so I took on an Artifact Refining job to pay the monthly rent on the island."
"Such exquisite Artifact Refining techniques," Han Chong sighed softly. "Although it's only an Eighth-Grade Qi Blood Divine Weapon, the level of detail is simply breathtaking."
"However…"
"There's something you may not know, Young Master Zhu. To take on Artifact Refining business on the Island of Continuous Mountains, you must be registered with the Artifact Refining Guild. Otherwise, it's considered 'taking private work,' which will lead to a boycott from all the Artifact Refiners in the entire guild."
"Oh?" Zhu Ju rubbed his chin. "I've never heard of such a rule. I was truly unaware."
"Ignorance is no sin." Han Chong waved his hand with a smile. "Since your arrival on the Island of Continuous Mountains, Young Master Zhu, you've been in seclusion on Fire Ape Island. It's perfectly understandable that you wouldn't know."
He had clearly inquired about Zhu Ju's situation beforehand.
"If you want to make a living through Artifact Refining on the Island of Continuous Mountains, it's exceedingly difficult. Not only do you need to be registered with the guild, but you also have to give them a cut of your profits from every job. However, there is a way."
"The Hu Island Li Family is one of the top ten families on the Island of Continuous Mountains, and they are currently recruiting Artifact Refiners. I can give you an introduction, Young Master Zhu."
"Well…" Zhu Ju seemed lost in thought. After a pause, he said, "I have no plans to affiliate myself with a Noble Family for the time being. But if I do, I will certainly inform Elder Han first."
"Very well, that's fine too." Han Chong nodded, not pressing the issue.
"Come!"
"Eat, drink!"
「At dusk.」
Reeking of alcohol, Zhu Ju returned to his Quiet Chamber. As the stone door sealed shut, the drunken look on his face vanished instantly.
'Wherever there are people, there are politics and power struggles. That saying is truly not wrong. How difficult it is to pursue Cultivation in peace.'
The Island of Continuous Mountains was actually a good place for him, with all sorts of resources.
If he could take on Artifact Refining work to earn Primordial Crystals while also using the resources here to advance his Cultivation, it would be perfect.
Unfortunately, judging by the recent string of visitors, the path of a Loose Cultivator was not viable on the Island of Continuous Mountains.
One had to align with a Noble Family or a powerful clan.
"Forget it!"
Shaking his head, Zhu Ju turned his gaze to the Bright Armor being forged in the earth-fire.
'Once the Bright Armor is finished and I've absorbed all the Kui Ox Essence Blood, I should head back to Taiyuan Prefecture to recuperate for a while.'
'It won't be too late to return once my Cultivation truly reaches the Sixth Grade.'
With his methods and trump cards, once he recovered his Sixth-Grade Cultivation, his strength would be no less than that of a Fifth Grade.
At that point, he would have the means to establish himself even on the Island of Continuous Mountains.
「In the blink of an eye.」
Several more months passed.
*
*
*
The East Sea was vast and boundless.
As the great sun sank in the west, light retreated, and endless darkness shrouded everything. One couldn't see their hand in front of their face.
Only the Island of Continuous Mountains still emanated a faint glow.
「In a certain courtyard.」
"The Island of Continuous Mountains!"
A corpulent woman, who had been gorging herself, lifted her head and looked toward the brightly lit mountain peak, where sounds of laughter and merriment echoed. She couldn't help but grin.
"What a wonderful place. Wouldn't it be great if it fell into the hands of our Demon Race?"
"Hmph…" Across from her, a middle-aged man with a gloomy face curled his lip at her words. "Even if the Demon Race took the Island of Continuous Mountains, it wouldn't be this prosperous. It would just be a complete mess."
"Demons don't know how to govern."
"That's true," the woman shrugged, surprisingly not denying it. She simply flicked her long tongue and said,
"But…"
"The Island of Continuous Mountains originally belonged to our Demon Race anyway."
"Heh!"
"The corruption in the Divine Dynasty's upper echelons is even worse than our Demon Race's. The turmoil in the Nine Provinces over the past hundred years is unprecedented. Imperial authority can't even penetrate the County Governments; every region is run by century-old clans and Noble Families. Common people have no chance to rise. A great change is imminent…"
"Who is it?"
"Princess," a person appeared at the door and bowed. "Someone from the Qii Family is here to borrow a flying Demon. An Artifact Refiner they had their eyes on has escaped."
"Heh…" The corpulent woman sneered upon hearing this. "The Human Race is best at scheming and killing each other. Go to the back courtyard and fetch them a Peng Bird."
"Yes!"
The servant acknowledged the order and withdrew.