"It's a newly customized Earth-Sealed Furnace," Lu Qing casually explained.
Ah, that made sense. Yu Ci nodded in understanding. Since Lu Qing was a master of artifact refinement, a good source of fire was indispensable for her work. In the Lichen Sect, even the soaring Uncle Lu De harnessed True Solar Fire with a Rune Array for artifact refinement purposes. Deep within the Northern Wasteland Strata, using Earth Fire was naturally the best option.
Yu Ci wasn't particularly concerned about this and began to discuss the intricacies of Flag Banner Talisman Patterns with Lu Qing in detail.
After talking for a while, he felt that mere diagrams weren't sufficiently illustrative. Deciding on a more direct approach, he traced with his fingers in the air, laying out the Talisman Fragmentation Form. Along the condensed lines of Divine Light, he explained each point one by one.
Lu Qing was quite the character. Midway through the conversation, she pulled out a bundle of ordinary silk as if by magic. Without a needle, her ten slender fingers seemed to possess a magnetic pull, weaving and threading through the air, sketching the silk thread into an emerging outline.
Observing her astonishingly deft skills, Yu Ci inwardly praised her and felt even more confident about the formation of his own flag banner.
However, at that moment, he realized a small oversight in his overall planning: "I should have constructed the Altar Main Body first, ensuring its central functions are complete before creating other magical instruments. But where should I look for the 'Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock' needed for the construction..."
This slight distraction didn't hinder their exchange. Yu Ci continued to speak and gesture, watching the embryonic form of the flag banner taking shape in Lu Qing's hands with great delight.
But just then, another sound echoed from next door, slightly muffled but seemingly stronger than the last.
Lu Qing stopped her work, her brow furrowing. As the place for her artifact refinement, the soundproofing of the rooms here was excellent. The recurrence of such noises was truly abnormal.
She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately her concerns got the better of her. Apologizing to Yu Ci, she cut short their conversation and went outside to investigate.
Yu Ci wasn't bothered. After speaking at length, he felt a bit thirsty and took a sip of tea to quench it, allowing himself a brief rest. He then picked up the unfinished piece that Lu Qing had been weaving to inspect the quality. Little did he know that not long after Lu Qing had stepped out, the Stone Gate swung open, and Wan Quan burst in with urgency:
"Senior, it's dangerous here; we should leave at once!"
"Hm?"
"It's like this—the place next door has run into some trouble..."
Wan Quan was a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, yet he took the time to carefully explain to Yu Ci. Indeed, the establishment next door had encountered a problem. The Red Tooth Store had just purchased a top-tier Earth-Sealed Furnace from the Random Heart Pavilion, capable of tapping into the Earth's Lung fire vents, effectively controlling the intensity of the Earth Fire, facilitating Artifact Refinement.
The furnace had arrived today, and its capabilities were yet to be tested. However, the level of skill displayed by the Cultivator who came to install the new furnace was abysmal. During the installation, he failed to properly seal the Earth Fire, causing the poisonous flames from the Earth's Lung to spill out. Had the Defensive Magic Array not activated in time, the eruption of Earth Fire could have blasted the Red Tooth Store straight into the sky!
Even someone as brave as Yu Ci broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing of the mishap, grinding his teeth involuntarily. Now, he was essentially sitting atop a volcano's mouth, where any slight disturbance could see him engulfed by rolling magma, leaving not even ashes behind. Such an end would leave him with eyes wide open in death, unaccepting of his fate.
His frustration was palpable, but Wan Quan's was even greater. Today's incident could be traced back to him. During his last visit to the Three Families Market, he had seen Shen Wan appear, leading him to suspect that the Random Heart Pavilion was planning a significant move. He sent a message urging his own store to make contact, and even after understanding the situation, he did not sever ties. The new Earth-Sealed Furnace was acquired against this backdrop, naturally at a considerable discount. But who could have anticipated that the Cultivator who came to install it would be so amateurish?
Wan Quan was seething with such resentment that he could hardly restrain himself from biting a chunk of flesh from that man.
Yu Ci pondered for a moment before rising to his feet and saying, "There's no rush to leave. If it's convenient, let's go take a look first."
Now that he found himself in need of others' help, even if he couldn’t offer assistance, making a gesture of goodwill was beneficial.
Turning left upon exiting the door led directly to the site of the incident, which was now encircled by seven or eight layers of defensive arrays. People bustled about anxiously; whether these arrays could withstand an eruption of earth fire was debatable, but at the very least, they offered some comfort to the onlookers.
As he pushed open the stone chamber's outer door, a dazzling red light assaulted his senses.
The first wave of earth fire had left the stone chamber in disarray, with its original furnishings toppled and strewn about. Most striking was the center of the chamber, where a massive stone platform had toppled over, revealing a crescent-shaped fissure beneath. The seductive glow of the earth fire seeped through this gap, its blue-grey smoke laden with the poisonous gases from the Earth's Lung. Thankfully, the surrounding defensive arrays confined it to a limited area, averting a greater disaster.
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What puzzled Yu Ci was that Lu Qing, the person in charge, showed no signs of anger.
Under normal circumstances, anyone experiencing such an unwarranted disaster in their home would struggle to remain composed. Yet, Lu Qing managed to do so. In contrast, Shen Liang, who stood tall and graceful before her, wore a look of embarrassment. He had volunteered to supervise the work, never anticipating such a blunder. But the most unfortunate was not him; it was the cultivator who had just installed the "Earth-Sealed Furnace." He had been struck by the earth fire and was now writhing on the ground, his life hanging by a thread.
Despite his pitiable state, the guard Shen could hardly wait to throttle him. Aware of the difficulties his clan sister was facing, he had traveled a great distance in a moment of fervor to offer his help. Who could have expected that this man's actions would turn their first business venture into a fiasco?
Yu Ci's gaze swept over the faces of those present before turning back to the crescent-shaped fissure in the center, observing it carefully.
Lu Qing noticed his entrance and, after a moment's contemplation, approached him and said, "This place isn't very safe. Perhaps you should go above..."
"Since I'm here, I can lend a hand."
Lu Qing wasn't one for pretense and nodded at his words: "Your expertise in talismans is profound and could be of great use here. I thank you in advance."
Yu Ci's lips curled into a faint smile, yet his mind was abuzz with thoughts.
Since their meeting, the person in charge of the Red Tooth Store had been somewhat aloof in their interactions, but still maintained a decorum fitting of their beauty. For some reason, though, they failed to leave a lasting impression on him. With eyes closed, he could only recall their alluring, long eyes that seemed oddly out of sync with their overall demeanor, and their mesmerizing needlework. Beyond that, everything about them was a blur. Simply put, he couldn't pin down their personality or preferences.
What a peculiar person!
Shifting his focus, Yu Ci strained his eyes to observe the eruption of the Earth Fire. Visually, the structure around the fissure appeared stable, and the Defensive Array was functioning normally. The problem, then, must lie within the tumultuous interior of the fissure itself...
At that moment, Lu Qing spoke to Wan Quan, "Go find the Complete Forbidden Array Diagram from back then, focusing on the Flaming Eye Passage, about forty zhang from the fissure..."
Spot on! Yu Ci turned back in surprise.
Considering the intense interference from the high-temperature flames within the fissure, which could distort any ordinary divine consciousness and render the Spirit completely ineffective, not to mention the uselessness of the Divine Chart under such conditions. Yu Ci was able to discern the details within because of the technique of "Inner and outer completion." Even without the support of the Divine Chart, he could project a Mental Image and exert a precise influence over a three-li radius, exploring details effortlessly.
But how did Lu Qing manage it, being merely a Golden Elixir Cultivator? Had she risked sending out her Yin Spirit? He hadn't sensed it, and sending a Yin Spirit through a region ravaged by Earth Fire was a deadly gamble.
Wan Quan, on the other hand, was not burdened with such thoughts. He responded promptly and dashed off to retrieve the records from the past.
"Is it the Sealing Talisman Scripts that are damaged?"
Yu Ci ventured the question, to which Lu Qing nodded and added, "There's no Adept in Talismanic Methods in The Neighborhood, so I'll have to ask for your assistance later to analyze the details."
Yu Ci readily agreed. In fact, he had already used his Mental Image to relay back a detailed account of the situation there. In terms of detail, it was far more vivid than the Forbidden Array Diagram of old.
But since Lu Qing had everything arranged, he was content to play the simpleton, not revealing the Forbidden Array Diagram until absolutely necessary. What followed was straightforward. When Lu Qing pointed out the problematic area, Yu Ci easily narrated the specific details, their cooperation seamless.
The repair, however, was Lu Qing's responsibility, and that was not something to be hastened.
Yu Ci's gaze swept over the area and landed on the unfortunate soul responsible for the installation, now truly on the brink of death, neglected by all. Leaving him to die there was not an option, so with a shake of his head, Yu Ci casually cast a Heavenly River Prayer Incantation and a Soul Restoring Star Fixing Curse.
This was purely a habit formed from extensive recent practice. The "Heavenly Flying Stars," thirty-six talismans, each a treasured legacy of the Shangqing Sect, weathered through numerous calamities. A pair of talismans cast, and the effect was immediate.
The man on the ground groaned and slowly opened his eyes.
At that moment, Yu Ci felt a gaze upon him and looked up to see Shen Liang. This Golden Elixir cultivator, who appeared even younger than himself, seemed quite astonished. His gaze shifted back and forth between Yu Ci and the man who had just awakened, not quite comprehending the potency of the two talismans.
Yu Ci chuckled inwardly. Back in Cliff City, he had witnessed the astuteness and formidable nature of Shen Wan. How had it come to pass that in just a few years, not only had her standing at the Random Heart Pavilion declined, but the caliber of her guards had also become so unreliable?
His thought was interrupted by a sudden sensation. Turning his head towards the entrance, he saw that the Earth Fire's glow was fading, yet it still sufficed to illuminate the face of the newcomer.
Shen Wan's gaze briefly met Yu Ci's, and in that fleeting moment, she appeared somewhat distracted.
He stroked his now considerable beard, allowing a slight smile to emerge, and nodded to the female cultivator. Then, calling out to Lu Qing, he walked out the door, brushing past Shen Wan in the process.
To Lu Qing, this seemed like an effort to alleviate the awkwardness in the Random Heart Pavilion. However, she suspected that Shen Wan could discern a deeper meaning in his actions.
※※※
It had been over half a month since Yu Ci returned from the Red Tooth Store. During this time, he had mostly kept to himself, maintaining a relatively simple routine.
He had conducted only one piece of business—a matter related to soul summoning and nothing more. According to Wan Quan, it was due to the rapid spread of information in Yin Cave City. The news of his discord with the Great Hammer Hall had traveled far and wide. Even the incident of Lord Hong naming him the "Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit" had leaked, becoming a source of amusement among their circles. At the same time, people were not willing to provoke trouble or give the Great Hammer Hall any leverage against them, so it was natural that the commissions dwindled.
Yu Ci saw the spread of gossip and rumors as having no direct impact on him. If anything, being labeled as the 'Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit' served as an excellent cover, a rather curious twist of fate; the only real downside was the loss of some commissions...
That was all!
Half an hour later, as Yu Ci perused the letter sent from the Three Families Market, he couldn't help but find his earlier attitude ironic.
The message on the letter was simple and straightforward: "The Mysterious Cave True Incense has arrived. The seller's asking price: forty thousand Dragon Palace Shells!"
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e