My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

Shen Yunjiao momentarily forgot about the Spiritual Food Banquet before her. Her eyes, filled with scrutiny and doubt, were fixed on Zhao Zuo’s face. She had always considered the man before her to be intelligent—someone who understood trade-offs and knew when to advance or retreat. To her surprise, however, he didn’t seem to be listening to her advice at all.

"Arrogant?"

On the other hand, Zhao Zuo knew Shen Yunjiao meant well, but he didn’t know how to prove he was qualified to aim for Perfect Foundation Establishment. ’I can’t just come out and admit I have a cheat, can I?’

"You haven’t listened to my advice," Shen Yunjiao said with conviction. She pointed with her chopsticks at the Spirit Dove in front of her, most of which was already gone, signaling for Zhao Zuo not to be polite and to eat some as well.

Zhao Zuo gave a slightly awkward smile. "I’m confident I can achieve Perfect Foundation Establishment."

This simple answer left Shen Yunjiao bewildered. She had known many Cultivators whose talent and background far surpassed Zhao Zuo’s, yet none of them possessed his level of confidence regarding Perfect Foundation Establishment.

That’s right, confidence. A powerful confidence that radiated from the very depths of his soul.

"Taoist Friend Zhao, have you always been this confident?" Shen Yunjiao asked, finding it a bit strange.

"Hahaha, time will prove everything."

"Then you’ll first have to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Moyun Sect. Only Inner Sect Disciples can exchange for the Body Nourishing Technique, and the Pill Medicines and medicinal baths that accelerate its Cultivation can only be obtained by a True Inheritor." Shen Yunjiao said this hoping to deflate Zhao Zuo’s confidence a bit and make him less blindly optimistic.

’Someone who couldn’t even become an Outer Sect Disciple in the past, how could he possibly become an Inner Sect Disciple now?’

"Thank you for pointing the way, Taoist Friend Shen," Zhao Zuo said gratefully.

Shen Yunjiao smiled and shook her head, not saying anything more. She didn’t like trying to persuade people; once she’d given her advice, she wouldn’t repeat it. She took a bite of a Golden Dumpling, and the juices from the filling trickled down the corner of her mouth. She quickly darted out her pink tongue to lick it clean.

Of course, having gotten the information he wanted, Zhao Zuo also picked up his chopsticks. But he only took small bites to savor the taste, not letting himself go and feasting. This was mainly because he could tell... Shen Yunjiao truly loved these Spirit Banquets, so he decided to let her have her fill.

Spirit Banquets did indeed provide Spiritual Power, but the amount was less than what could be gained from a two-hour meditation session. Unless one ate three Spirit Banquets a day, every day, there wasn’t much point.

"I have some information you might be interested in," Shen Yunjiao said.

"In the Market’s core residential area, there’s a second-rate Artifact Refiner who plans to take on an apprentice. He has the inheritance for drawing two Spirit Pattern Paths."

She had long since noticed that Zhao Zuo was interested in Artifact Refining, but she had never mentioned it before.

"Taking an apprentice? Or is he just looking for an excuse to earn some Spirit Stones?" Zhao Zuo asked doubtfully. This kind of situation was common in the Moyun Market. When Cultivators got old and their energy waned, earning Spirit Stones became increasingly difficult. But not wanting to give up their comfortable lives, they would sell off some of their inheritances under the guise of taking on an apprentice.

It would be fine if they had some real substance, but if you encountered the type of teacher who just gives you a book and makes up the rest, not only would your Spirit Stones be wasted, but you’d also lose a lot of time.

"A bit of both. But his inheritance is legitimate, and the prices are transparent and fair. Twenty Spirit Stones to buy the Spirit Pattern atlas, and thirty-five Spirit Stones for hands-on instruction," Shen Yunjiao explained.

"That price is quite reasonable."

Zhao Zuo’s fingers rubbed the sleeve of his left arm, a subconscious habit when he was thinking. He wasn’t ruling out the deal, but he could probably find a way to skip the step of formally becoming an apprentice. It was essentially a transaction where one party provided Spirit Stones and the other provided an inheritance; there was no need to get too deeply involved.

Besides, it was perfectly normal for Shen Yunjiao to have noticed his interest in Artifact Refining. After all, he hadn’t hidden it from her when he was reading *Artifact Refining Introduction*.

"You’re not collecting a commission fee, are you?" Zhao Zuo eyed Shen Yunjiao suspiciously.

"Of course! I get five Spirit Stones for every person I introduce!" Shen Yunjiao said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"You really are something else..." For a moment, Zhao Zuo couldn’t find the words to describe Shen Yunjiao, especially with how brazen she was about making money. It gave him the distinct impression of a crooked merchant.

"Well, aren’t you just amazing," Zhao Zuo remarked.

"Am I? I can be even more amazing, you know." Shen Yunjiao gave a flirtatious smile, her ample chest seeming ready to burst forth. Zhao Zuo kept his eyes straight ahead, as if he hadn’t noticed Shen Yunjiao’s casual seduction at all.

Over this period, Zhao Zuo had come to understand Shen Yunjiao a little. She often displayed her charms, engaging in casual seductions or tests. But if she ever felt the other person actually liked her or was getting lost in the thrill, she would immediately pull away.

Her actions were more like a test, which was why Zhao Zuo always pretended not to see anything...

"Taoist Friend Shen, I don’t want to get involved with him, but I need that inheritance. Is there a way?"

If the man were genuinely looking for an apprentice, Zhao Zuo might have considered visiting him with a gift. But this situation was not something he’d consider. Although the core area had a Guard Team, it wasn’t absolutely safe. It was possible this was a trap, using the pretense of accepting an apprentice to set up an ambush!

"I can buy it for you. It’ll just cost a handling fee," Shen Yunjiao said with a smile, rubbing her fingers together.

"How many Spirit Stones do you think is appropriate?" Although their relationship was already quite close, a deal was a deal. There was no need to bring feelings into it. The price should be what it should be, especially since Shen Yunjiao would be taking on some risk.

"Just give me three more as a token. I’ll get the commission fee from him."

"Three. That’s reasonable." Zhao Zuo didn’t try to haggle.

A flash of excitement suddenly lit up Shen Yunjiao’s eyes. It was just as she had initially guessed: Zhao Zuo disliked trouble and danger and would ask her to be the middleman. This way, she could earn two fees.

"Don’t worry, the selling price really is twenty Spirit Stones. Oh, right, you’ll also have to make a Heavenly Dao Oath."

A Heavenly Dao Oath was a vow made to the Heavenly Dao, using one’s own path of cultivation as collateral. Violating it would, at best, result in one’s Cultivation stagnating forever. At worst, one would immediately face a Celestial Tribulation and be turned to ash.

The Heavenly Dao truly existed in this world, like the creator of all rules.

"I understand," Zhao Zuo nodded. It was nothing more than a Heavenly Dao Oath not to pass the technique on to others. As the middleman, Shen Yunjiao would have to make a Heavenly Dao Oath as well.

This was equivalent to buying the right to cultivate the technique. Buying the right to pass it on would require far more Spirit Stones. Using *Artifact Refining Introduction* as an example, Zhao Zuo could read it himself, but he couldn’t lend or sell it to others. This was the restriction of the Heavenly Dao Oath.

But this oath was also somewhat subjective. If one accidentally lost the item, or if it was stolen, the oath wouldn’t be triggered, and there would be no repercussions.

However, if it was a conspiracy, the oath would certainly be triggered, perfectly proving the saying: man acts, and heaven watches.

"Right, Taoist Friend Shen, please be careful during the transaction," Zhao Zuo added.

"When I handle things, you can rest assured," Shen Yunjiao said, patting her chest in a gesture of guarantee.

"Taoist Friend Shen, are you going to the valley entrance tonight?"

"Going to the valley entrance" was code for scavenging Demon Beast corpses—freeloading off the True Inheritor Chief.

"Why? Are you planning to go?" Shen Yunjiao asked in return.

"No. I just feel like it’s a bit dangerous," Zhao Zuo said.

"I’ve never been to the valley entrance either."

The two of them exchanged a knowing smile and said no more.

This was the judgment of intelligent people. The safety of the valley entrance was entirely dependent on Chen Xiaorong. If she were to be held up... or defeated, or injured, then the people scavenging the Demon Beast corpses would naturally have to face hundreds of starving Demon Beasts.

Those who enjoyed the convenience and took the resources would naturally have to bear the price of Cause and Effect.

A surprise attack by hundreds of Demon Beasts was something that Qi Cultivation Cultivators could absolutely not withstand or fight against. If that day ever came, the Loose Cultivators would surely suffer devastating losses.

"Taoist Friend Zhao, do you still think Chen Xiaorong has a Foundation Establishment Pill?" Shen Yunjiao asked.

"Of course not. Since she’s already close to Perfect Foundation Establishment, she naturally wouldn’t need a Foundation Establishment Pill. That rumor must be false." Zhao Zuo shook his head. But hope could also make people blind, unable to distinguish between rumor and truth.

......