My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Purchasing Materials

The soft bedding still held a faint, sweet scent. Zhao Zuo rummaged for a moment and found the Storage Bag, as well as the Scroll detailing the Sharpness Spirit Patterns. He carefully smoothed the bedding back out, then returned the envelope in his hand to its original spot.

It was as if he didn’t want to disturb the tranquility of the room. He had thought Shen Yunjiao would only be a passing traveler on his Cultivation path, but that letter had changed his mind.

He took the stairs back to his own bedroom to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao.

"Heavenly Dao above, I, Zhao Zuo, swear on my own Dao path that I will never willingly reveal the method for inscribing the Sharpness Spirit Patterns to anyone. If I violate this oath, may my body perish and my Dao be extinguished."

After swearing the Heavenly Dao Oath, Zhao Zuo gazed out the window at the pitch-black world outside and couldn’t help but sigh softly. Because of the Sharpness Spirit Patterns, he owed Shen Yunjiao twenty-three Spirit Stones, a debt he figured he could no longer repay.

Zhao Zuo didn’t start studying the Sharpness Spirit Patterns right away. Instead, he began to sit in meditation, absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. Once he reached his peak state, he took out a Purifying Spirit Pill, tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed.

Six hours later, the pill’s medicinal power was fully refined. The amount of Mana in Zhao Zuo’s body had increased further, equivalent to about one-fifth of the required progress. Zhao Zuo silently estimated his current progress in his mind.

’Come on out, my attribute panel!’

[Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer: 26/100]

The transparent panel didn’t respond to his call at all. That progress bar was his own estimation. His Cultivation during this period had completely exhausted his supply of Purifying Spirit Pills. Combined with the need to buy materials to upgrade his Clear Heart Jade Pendant, he would have to make another trip to the Moyun Workshop tomorrow.

As for the Storage Bag Shen Yunjiao had left behind, he had no intention of opening it. On one hand, he believed that as long as he kept improving his Artifact Refining proficiency, earning Spirit Stones wouldn’t be difficult. On the other hand, there was a stubbornness hidden deep in his heart.

’A gentleman loves wealth,’ Zhao Zuo believed, ’but he must acquire it through righteous means. Taking ill-gotten gains would damage one’s own fortune.’

Whether it was from Artifact Refining, smithing, hunting Demon Beasts, exploring ruins, or even killing and looting Tribulation Cultivators, any Spirit Stones gained through those means were wealth he had earned through his own efforts. They rightfully belonged to him.

But the Storage Bag from Shen Yunjiao, in his eyes, was wealth that didn’t belong to him. He hadn’t put in any effort for it; it was like a pie falling from the sky.

「The next day」

Zhao Zuo woke up early. After a simple breakfast, he changed into the Taoist Robe stained with rust and traces of metal.

At the same time, he adjusted his face and aura to what he imagined a veteran Artifact Refiner should look like. Although he appeared somewhat disheveled, his expression held a faint hint of arrogance.

After leaving the residential area, Zhao Zuo walked along a road not covered by an Array. The snow was melting, making parts of the path muddy.

Only then did Zhao Zuo realize that, without him noticing, the cold winter was on its last legs.

The Moyun Sect’s Outer Sect disciple assessment was in March. He was very confident. ’I’m finally going to start plotting my own path to Foundation Establishment. I just hope that with the help of numerous Magical Artifacts, the process will be a bit easier.’

A few more headless corpses had appeared outside the Moyun Workshop. Clearly, some poor souls had lost their right to live this winter because they couldn’t afford the rent. Don’t be fooled by Qian Kaiyun’s usually amiable appearance; anyone who failed to pay rent would see his ruthless side.

The inside of the Moyun Workshop was as bustling as ever. Even though he had intentionally woken up very early, the street stall area was already packed shoulder to shoulder, with not a single empty spot in sight.

Just as he always did, Zhao Zuo scanned the goods in the stall area. His targets were ordinary-looking Magical Artifacts or Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects that lacked internal Spirit Pattern Paths and thus couldn’t resonate with Mana. Ultimately, he only had one chance to successfully find a hidden treasure.

The Hidden Blade Giant Sword had only been sold to him because that person was wealthy and extravagant. Although Zhao Zuo didn’t know the man’s identity, anyone who could disregard several hundred Spirit Stones must have been from the Moyun Sect up on the mountain.

Zhao Zuo first went to various shops, repeatedly changing his appearance, and sold all the Magical Artifacts he had accumulated, earning a total of 1,152 Spirit Stones.

He found a shop that sold Artifact Refining materials and walked inside.

Behind the counter stood a shop assistant in white robes, looking to be about eighteen years old. He was leaning against the counter, the dark circles under his eyes obvious. He seemed completely drained and drowsy, and he carried the scent of rouge and powder.

Zhao Zuo immediately recognized it as the same kind of rouge and powder used by the Female Cultivators of the Qunfang Pavilion. Most of those women practiced the Absorption Technique. While it could make a man feel ecstatic, as if ascending to immortality, it was actually extremely draining to the body.

KNOCK KNOCK.

"Four taels of Gathering Spirit Jade Heart. How many Spirit Stones?" Zhao Zuo reached out and tapped the counter with his middle and index fingers, startling the white-robed assistant from his doze.

"Ah! My apologies, sir. I was up a bit late last night. Please don’t take offense." The white-robed assistant snapped awake and bowed nervously to apologize. A Loose Cultivator who could spend several hundred Spirit Stones at once was considered a major customer. If he were to file a complaint, the assistant would very likely lose this secure job.

"It’s fine." Zhao Zuo waved his hand. ’Looking like that... he definitely didn’t sleep at all last night,’ he thought. ’He probably thinks visiting a few more times is a sure-fire profit since it’s "free," not realizing that excessively draining his body could even damage his foundation.’

"Four taels of Gathering Spirit Jade Heart, two hundred and seventy Spirit Stones," the white-robed assistant said.

A flash of pleasure crossed Zhao Zuo’s face. From what he had gathered, the price of Gathering Spirit Jade Heart was typically between 270 and 300 Spirit Stones. Getting it at this low price was clearly a form of compensation from the assistant.

"I’ll take it." Zhao Zuo counted out the Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and placed them on the counter. After the white-robed assistant had counted the stones, Zhao Zuo received his Gathering Spirit Jade Heart as he had hoped.

Now, only one final material was needed to upgrade the Clear Heart Jade Pendant: Soul Nourishing Jade.

This was also the most expensive material. A piece large enough to meet the upgrade’s requirements would cost at least 800 Spirit Stones. For such a large transaction, Zhao Zuo ultimately decided to go to the most reputable place... the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

Zhao Zuo walked into the Spirit Treasure Pavilion with a light step, skillfully found an unoccupied counter, and waited patiently. Before long, Qing Ci approached from a distance. Her willow-like waist was slender, her figure graceful, and the two dimples on her face were exceptionally charming.

"What might you be looking to purchase today, sir?" Qing Ci asked.

Zhao Zuo cleared his throat, deliberately putting on a somewhat hoarse voice.

"Soul Nourishing Jade, one tael."

"Based on the recent price for Soul Nourishing Jade, one tael will be eight hundred and thirty Spirit Stones." Upon hearing his request, the smile on Qing Ci’s face grew noticeably brighter, and she even subconsciously leaned forward, closer to Zhao Zuo.

"No problem," Zhao Zuo nodded.

After subtracting the Spirit Stones for the Gathering Spirit Jade Heart, his entire fortune was nine hundred Spirit Stones, enough to pay for the Soul Nourishing Jade.

"And add two Purifying Spirit Pills," Zhao Zuo said with a grand wave of his hand, his tone quite magnanimous.

Although he wasn’t yet qualified to buy out the entire Spirit Treasure Pavilion, he was no longer the destitute Loose Cultivator he had been at the beginning, forced to pinch every single Spirit Stone.

Qing Ci suddenly froze. After a few seconds, she spoke.

"Sir, the Steward has asked me to inquire if you would be willing to cooperate with the Spirit Treasure Pavilion?"

.......

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