My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

Inside the Earth Fire Chamber, it took Zhao Zuo a great deal of effort to finally set Liu Heng’s mind at ease.

After Liu Heng left, Zhao Zuo turned up the temperature of the Earth Fire Furnace. The Huayang Bead within his Dantian was passively activated, beginning to temper his entire body with an even more vigorous energy.

Unfortunately, he found it difficult to keep his mind calm. So, he simply stood his ground and began to ponder how to increase his odds of victory. This was a matter he had to think through carefully.

’First, just how much does a Demon Cultivator’s combat strength exceed that of a normal Cultivator?’

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’Second, if a Demon Cultivator’s combat strength is far greater than a normal Cultivator’s, how should I respond? If the poison isn’t as effective as I hope, what other methods can I use to strengthen myself?’

’Third, if this goes sideways for the two of us, how can we retreat safely?’

’Finally, and most critically, if the worst-case scenario comes to pass, do I have a way to turn things around in a situation of near-certain death?’

’The Soul-Shaking Bell? Or maybe the death-substitution effect of the Spring and Autumn Cicada Spirit Seal?’

But for this most critical question, Zhao Zuo found that he wasn’t very confident in his answer.

Although he was one of the Moyun Sect’s Inner Sect Disciples, that status was useless before a Demon Cultivator. With a flicker in his eyes, Zhao Zuo took out a few Cleaning Talismans to wash the sweat from his body, then left the Earth Fire Hall immediately.

Within a day, Liu Heng had spent three thousand Spirit Stones to acquire an exceptionally rare Mixed Poison. It was a concoction of venom from the Seven-Step Snake, a Demon Beast, and juice from Life-taking Grass. The combined toxicity was potent enough to threaten even a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm.

However, the application method was rather strict: it had to be applied to the surface of a Magical Artifact before battle, and it would completely evaporate and lose its effect within ten minutes.

This was already the most potent poison they could currently obtain; there were no other options.

Zhao Zuo gently pushed open the gate to his Cave Mansion, took out a few Fire Element Seeds, and placed them in Xiaohei’s daily feeding spot. This was a precaution in case any accidents occurred that would prevent him from feeding his pet on time.

Misty clouds swirled around the area, draping the entire mountain peak in a light veil. A rich floral fragrance permeated the pleasant air. Amidst this natural atmosphere, Spirit Beasts frolicked and dashed about, becoming streaks of shimmering afterimages.

Immortal Cranes danced gracefully among the clouds, like white petals scattering across the heavens.

Most of these Spirit Beasts were raised by Inner Sect Elders, while others were descendants of beasts left behind by previous generations of Moyun Sect masters. Naturally, these were all Spirit Beasts whose wildness had been tamed; they weren’t aggressive toward people, which was why they could be left to roam free.

Zhao Zuo walked without stopping, quickly returning to his residence in the core district of Moyun Workshop. He used the Token in his hand to open the courtyard gate. Inside, Shen Yunjiao was practicing her Swordsmanship.

From her techniques, Zhao Zuo sensed a chillingly sinister energy.

The scene was just like the last time they’d met. Zhao Zuo guessed that Shen Yunjiao knew he would be back and was deliberately waiting for him, sword in hand.

SWISH.

Shen Yunjiao brought her sword to rest and stood still, the aura emanating from her body receding with incredible speed.

"You’re back," Shen Yunjiao said.

"Here’s the rent for the next three months." Zhao Zuo dutifully took fifteen Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handed them to Shen Yunjiao.

"As long as you remembered the rent... that’s good." Shen Yunjiao flashed a charming smile and, without ceremony, put the Spirit Stones directly into her Storage Bag.

Zhao Zuo’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; he appeared completely calm and unruffled. He was maintaining a state of meditation, his mind like the surface of a mirror without a single ripple.

"You seem... different," Shen Yunjiao said. A single glance was all it took for her to keenly perceive the change in his disposition. He just stood there quietly... yet he seemed like an ethereal cloud, or a silent, withdrawn mountain peak.

"I’ve been practicing a new Cultivation Technique and had a few insights," Zhao Zuo replied softly.

’I don’t particularly like the transcendent Heart Realm that comes with the Sutra of Calming the Mind,’ he thought. But he found it difficult to master the fluctuations of this state of mind, and it was precisely for this reason that he had been unable to enter the state of Constant Calm.

"Looks like your harvest has been quite bountiful lately," Shen Yunjiao said, genuinely happy for Zhao Zuo.

"My progress is surely not as great as yours," Zhao Zuo said, quite relaxed. ’Ever since I came to this world, she was the first woman I met. Later, she became the only woman I interacted with on a regular basis.’

’Shen Yunjiao has become a very important part of my life. Because she’s here, I’m not completely alone. In the stories... the transmigrators who came before were mostly loners with no one to rely on. It’s just too lonely... That kind of path to Cultivation is not the path I want to follow.’

Zhao Zuo pulled himself from his thoughts and focused his gaze back on Shen Yunjiao.

"It’s nothing much. Let’s discuss the plan for tonight."

"Alright. First, I want to thank you for being willing to take this risk with me," Shen Yunjiao said seriously.

"Don’t thank me. You didn’t hesitate for a second when you helped me ambush Lin Hao," Zhao Zuo said.

"Then let’s skip the pleasantries," Shen Yunjiao said.

"The target goes out to hunt every night. I plan to assassinate him on his way home."

The targets of the hunt were, naturally, the Loose Cultivators within Moyun Workshop. Practitioners of the Blood Dao, a sect of the Demon Path, used the blood essence of Cultivators as a resource. Without a steady supply of blood essence, their cultivation speed would be drastically reduced—becoming even slower than that of a normal Cultivator. Thus, they could never stop.

Assassinating the target while he was relaxed on his way home... It was a good idea. Zhao Zuo fully approved of the plan she had laid out.