Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

Ji An pressed his lips tightly together, beginning to recall what Transforming Essence Divine Mud actually was.

He snorted softly and spoke:

"Friend, don’t try to fool me. Transforming Essence Divine Mud is a Tier Three material, famous alongside the Fire-elemental Spiritual Object, Phoenix Stone.

Adding Transforming Essence Divine Mud to a Tier Two top-quality spiritual artifact, the cost isn’t something that can be covered by just over 200 top-grade Spirit Stones."

Transforming Essence Divine Mud isn’t a natural Spiritual Object but a material made by cultivators imitating the Tier Four Top-Grade Material, Living Earth. It’s an unmistakably Tier Three Spiritual Material.

If the other party adds this to Spirit Armor, then the refining cost would not seem so expensive because the material’s proportionate cost is higher.

"Friend, I wouldn’t joke about my reputation, because the amount of Transforming Essence Divine Mud added is very small, so the cost isn’t exorbitant.

Perhaps you didn’t hear my modifier clearly — it’s just a small pinch!"

Guu Tai’s eyes turned wild with enthusiasm, and after taking a deep breath, he said:

"My wish is to refine a Magical Treasure, but my cultivation isn’t at the Golden Core Level, so refining a Magical Treasure is a luxury.

However, there’s an exception. Refining an Earth Element Treasure doesn’t require as strict cultivation, and in my lifetime, I might be able to refine an Earth Element Treasure."

There’s one thing he didn’t mention. He mastered the technique of refining Transforming Essence Divine Mud, and the cost isn’t high, just time-consuming.

Moreover, Celestial Soaring Armor is his specialty among Spiritual Artifacts, and he has an initial plan to upgrade the Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Armor to become a Magical Treasure!

Currently, this plan is still being refined, and if it’s perfected someday, he would be one of the only two Artifact Refiners in the Northern Land capable of refining Magical Treasures.

Ji An looked at the other’s eyes, bright as stars, and clapped his hands, saying:

"Such courage, my friend. I wish you success soon."

"Many people think I’m daydreaming, although they haven’t explicitly said so; I can sense it.

You’re one of the few to offer genuine encouragement. Thank you!"

Guu Tai recovered from his fervent state, solemnly cupped his hands, deciding in his heart to add an extra pinch of Transforming Essence Divine Mud to the other’s Spirit Armor.

Ji An laughed heartily, saying:

"Every dream deserves respect. What if it comes true!"

The other’s aspiration is an advanced need for self-value realization; all Ji An can do is offer blessing.

"Once the Spirit Armor refining is complete, I’ll send someone to notify you to pick it up."

"Alright."

Ji An perceived the other’s underlying intention of seeing him off and rose to say farewell.

...

Leaving the Artifact Refining Shop, Ji An sighed quietly.

Only when money is needed does one regret its scarcity. If he were to commission both the leg armor and the face armor, the stockpile of top-grade Spirit Stones he had wouldn’t suffice.

Currently, he has 236 top-grade Spirit Stones left, and after paying the balance for the chest armor, it barely covers ordering one trouser leg!

Unless absolutely necessary, his materials can’t be sold off, because the material supply is insufficient, and the method of earning Spirit Stones by drawing Talismans has been cut off. He needs to find another way to earn Spirit Stones.

Had he stayed in the Sect, it wouldn’t be so grim!

Not counting the abundant Spirit Plant yields on Red Flame Peak, with his reputation, he could borrow one or two hundred top-grade Spirit Stones even as a debt.

Material things are expensive away from home, people become cheap away from home; though worlds vary, many truths are universal.

As Ji An walked, pondering, he moved slowly, contrasting starkly with the hurried pace of those around him.

When he stopped to look up, the signboard of "Spirit Pill Pavilion" hung high.

’Subconsciously, is my strategy Alchemy?’

Ji An chuckled bitterly, his past life was one of toil, having cultivated for years here, yet his essence remains unchanged.

"No wonder I didn’t become wealthy in my past life!"

He shook his head, striding into the shop.

This life has surpassed his previous one; owning the Stone Turtle and Little World, he’s a genuine landlord, having passive income.

Zhu Hanshan, seeing his entrance, hurriedly greeted him warmly:

"Senior, you’ve arrived! Please, upstairs to the seat of honor."

The two of them reached the VIP room, and after some pleasantries, Ji An straightforwardly said:

"Friend, have there been any complete set of Pill materials for sale recently?"

"Senior, none for the types you’re adept at refining."

Ji An keenly noticed the unspoken meaning in the other’s words, and a smile appeared on his face:

"So, there are complete sets of Pill materials for the types I’m not adept at refining then?"

"To be honest, Senior, there are indeed, but I can’t hand them over to you.

We have the materials for several batches of Nourishing Yuan Pill that need to be refined into Pills to supply to the auction house."

Zhu Hanshan shook his head, if the other person fouled up, he as the shopkeeper couldn’t shoulder the responsibility; he could only seek a previously collaborated Alchemist for refining.

Ji An furrowed his brow, forming a famous paradox.

Getting a job requires relevant work experience; fresh graduates lack experience, hence struggle to find employment; without a job, one can’t accumulate experience.

Not refining means never having experience; without experience, refining opportunities are denied.

Pills like Nourishing Yuan Pill, used to breakthrough Great Realm, certainly wouldn’t be entrusted to him for refining.

He wore a stern expression, silent.

Zhu Hanshan cautiously explained:

"Senior, I can’t decide on such Pills, apologies."

Ji An waved his hand, "I understand, speaking of which, sending Pills to the auction house inevitably incurs commission, losing a portion of profit.

I can offer to purchase the materials at a premium, you could report this."

"I can try, but it might not succeed."

Zhu Hanshan first cautioned, not a possibility that won’t succeed, but certainty that it won’t.

A few years of cooperation have led both parties to know each other well; the shop isn’t keen on establishing tightly-knit relationships with an inevitably departing cultivator from the outer province, lest in the end it’s all for naught.

Ji An placed his hand on the table, gently tapping with his fingers, speaking in a deep tone:

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