My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

By the sixth month, the days had grown rather hot, with only the mornings and evenings remaining refreshingly cool.

Inside the Earth Fire Chamber, Zhao Zuo had already finished his work for the day. On the other side, Liu Heng was meticulously sharpening and polishing, completing the final steps.

Recently, Zhao Zuo had ramped up the intensity of his Artifact Refining. While Liu Heng’s workload had increased, he hadn’t uttered a single complaint, and his own part of the work was always flawlessly done.

"Inner Sect Disciples get a perk allowing them to spend five hundred contribution points to commission a custom Upper-Grade Magical Artifact. You’re aware of that, right?" Zhao Zuo said casually, flicking a Cleaning Talisman over himself.

"I wonder, Younger Brother Zhao... what do you need from me?" Liu Heng asked, his hands never ceasing their work.

"If you want it, I’ll sell you the spot for ten thousand Spirit Stones."

Liu Heng froze for a moment. Then, his brow furrowed in a knot, his expression deeply conflicted.

This was an incredible opportunity for him. Upper-Grade Magical Artifacts typically sold for between ten thousand and thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Even if a custom artifact was on the weaker side of its class, it was still an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact. If this deal was real... he stood to make a massive profit!

However, Liu Heng couldn’t be sure if Zhao Zuo was just using this as a pretext to trick him out of the Spirit Stones he had saved up over the years. But then he remembered his life was firmly in the other man’s grasp, so he had no choice but to answer.

"I am willing to buy it, and I have ten thousand Spirit Stones on hand." Liu Heng sighed inwardly as his knitted brow instantly relaxed. He replied with deference.

He could only choose to submit.

"And the specifications for the custom Magical Artifact?" Zhao Zuo asked directly. He wasn’t worried about Liu Heng trying to cheat him; the man couldn’t afford the consequences.

"A long saber. Fire attribute. Its main features should be sturdiness and durability," Liu Heng answered at once.

"In two months, I’ll bring you the Upper-Grade Magical Artifact. Payment on delivery." Zhao Zuo had no intention of swindling Liu Heng. In his mind, Liu Heng had already paid for his past transgressions with his freedom, earning Zhao Zuo’s forgiveness. He no longer held a grudge over their former conflicts.

"This..." Hearing Zhao Zuo’s words, Liu Heng knew he was being serious.

Zhao Zuo had also inquired about the quality of these custom artifacts. While they were officially graded as Upper-Grade Magical Artifacts, their quality was far inferior to his upgraded Sky-Breaking Saber, and likely couldn’t even compare to the upgraded Black Flame Saber. To Zhao Zuo, it was of little use.

But selling an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion could bring unwanted trouble. More importantly, Liu Heng’s performance lately had been very satisfactory. To a degree, he was willing to earn some goodwill from the man to ensure he’d work even more diligently.

"I don’t want this Upper-Grade Magical Artifact to bring me any trouble," Zhao Zuo said.

’Trouble?’

Liu Heng secretly observed Zhao Zuo. After a few seconds, he thought, ’He really is cautious.’

’Avoiding anything potentially dangerous, even if there’s a huge profit to be made... a personality like that seems overly timid, even weak.’ But then Liu Heng thought of the mysteriously vanished Lin Hao, and he quickly dismissed the idea.

’Since he isn’t a coward, this must be his way of helping me.’ A powerful sense of gratitude washed over Liu Heng. At that moment, he suddenly felt that being Zhao Zuo’s servant wasn’t so bad. He would never have been in a position to buy an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact on his own.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I understand what you mean, sir," Liu Heng said with respectful gratitude, all thoughts of resistance gone from his heart.

"You should focus on your Cultivation. It’s not impossible that you could reach Foundation Establishment in the future," Zhao Zuo said, dangling a carrot.

"I will redouble my efforts in Cultivation and will not fail your kindness, Younger Brother Zhao!" If anyone else had said that, he wouldn’t have believed them. But coming from Zhao Zuo... he did.

After all, he was a veteran who had scraped by in the Outer Sect for seven or eight years. A nearly one-hundred-percent success rate inscribing Spirit Patterns was something he’d never seen in anyone else... That was why he chose to believe!

"Right, there’s something else I need your help with," Zhao Zuo said.

"At your command."

"I need you to sell the Lower-Grade Magical Artifacts I’ve refined recently, and then purchase several types of Artifact Refining materials for me."

Zhao Zuo listed the Artifact Refining materials needed to upgrade the Black Flame Saber, along with other materials for advancement. As he spoke, he emptied a large pile of Lower-Grade Magical Artifacts from his Storage Bag, all the while observing Liu Heng, watching to see if greed would flicker in his eyes.

"Understood." Liu Heng collected the Lower-Grade Magical Artifacts, unable to contain the wild joy blooming in his heart. ’I really did make the right bet!’ The Artifact Refining materials Zhao Zuo was asking him to buy were all extremely precious, the kind only used for refining Middle-Grade or Upper-Grade Magical Artifacts. ’This means... Zhao Zuo is already attempting to refine Middle-Grade Magical Artifacts!’

"It’s just... sir, why?" Liu Heng started to ask, but Zhao Zuo cut him off.

"Demon Cultivators have been spotted around the Moyun Market for the past few months."

Liu Heng truly hadn’t expected that to be the reason. ’He really is... incredibly cautious.’

"From now on, I’m entrusting you with selling the Magical Artifacts," Zhao Zuo said. In truth, he had considered going to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion himself to renew his Tributor Tier status, but the thought of the mysterious Zhou Wushuang made him hesitant.

Her appearance was too much of a coincidence. She had shown up at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion right around the same time the Demon Cultivators started appearing. And while her gaze was clear and pure, it made Zhao Zuo deeply uneasy.

"Younger Brother Zhao, I plan to sell this batch of Lower-Grade Magical Artifacts at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion," Liu Heng said.

"Don’t. Split them up and sell them at a few different shops. Don’t attract too much attention. Come back immediately after you’re done," Zhao Zuo countered.

"Why? The Spirit Treasure Pavilion has the best reputation, doesn’t it?" Liu Heng asked, confused.

In the past, whenever Liu Heng sold artifacts or bought Artifact Refining materials, he always chose the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Their quality and selection were both top-notch, and he had never encountered any issues.