Chapter 390: Chapter 375: Favored by Heaven [Extra Chapter for Mu Mu’s generous reward]
After creating the magical artifact "Primordial Yang Shield," Zhouyang did not receive the legendary "Celestial Favor."
The reason is simple: currently, only he knows the method of crafting this artifact, and he has not taught it to others to replicate.
In simpler terms, he has only comprehended the Tao but has not spread it.
Only by being an agent of Heaven and spreading the Tao can one be granted "Celestial Favor."
Therefore, after refining the first "Primordial Yang Shield," Zhouyang immediately summoned Liu Xuanxuan, the most talented artifact refiner in the Zhou family, to Qianyang Cave.
Liu Xuanxuan joined the Zhou family at the age of twenty-one and is now thirty-eight.
Because she hasn’t undergone Foundation Establishment to extend her lifespan, the once slightly immature girl has now grown into a charming and confident woman.
She wears a scarlet spider silk dress, woven from the silk of the "Flame-devouring Spiders" bred by the Zhou family. This material has excellent fire resistance, allowing her to save magical power when refining artifacts in the Earth Fire Chamber.
Moreover, the jade bracelet on her hand, the golden hairpin on her head, and the jade pendant on her ears are all artifacts she has refined herself, each a top-grade artifact of the same tier, both exquisite and practical.
As the chief artifact refiner and vice hall master of the Zhou family’s Hundred Arts Hall, she has impressed all her peers in the Zhou family with her outstanding artifact refining skills. The aura of confidence she carries is fostered by continuous success.
However, in front of Zhouyang, a Supreme Elder of the Zhou family, a Purple Mansion Cultivator, and a Tier Four Refining Master, Liu Xuanxuan did not dare to show any pride and respectfully bowed upon entering, saying, "Junior Liu Xuanxuan greets the Supreme Elder."
"We’re all family; no need for formalities."
"I have here a method for refining a new-type artifact. Xuanxuan, take it and study it carefully to see if you can refine it."
"If there’s anything unclear, feel free to come to me for guidance."
With a gentle smile, Zhouyang waved his sleeve and tossed the method for crafting the "Primordial Yang Shield" and a storage bag full of materials in front of Liu Xuanxuan, softly stating his reason for calling her over.
Upon hearing that she was called for this matter, Liu Xuanxuan was momentarily surprised, but quickly recovered and happily accepted the jade scroll and storage bag, responding loudly, "Junior will obey and do my utmost to accomplish this task."
Being able to seek guidance from Zhouyang anytime on artifact refining is what she has longed for.
Zhou Guangxiang had already relayed Zhouyang’s words to her: as long as she can refine a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact during her Qi Cultivation Stage, the Zhou family will ensure her successful Foundation Establishment!
What a tempting offer this is!
By now, Liu Xuanxuan is no longer the naive girl who was deeply engrossed in artifact refining without extrication. She has a clear understanding of what Foundation Establishment means, the significance, and benefits it entails.
Although currently only a Tier Two High-grade Refiner, she enjoys various conveniences and benefits within the Zhou family. If she successfully establishes a foundation, given her talent in refining, she will certainly have a place in the Zhou family’s future.
"May the Supreme Elder discern clearly, lately I’ve encountered some confusions and difficulties in refining, and I humbly seek the Supreme Elder’s guidance."
Seizing the rare opportunity, Liu Xuanxuan didn’t hold back and immediately explained all the challenges and doubts she faced in artifact refining to Zhouyang.
Having just successfully created a magical artifact, Zhouyang was in a good mood, and since he needed Liu Xuanxuan’s assistance to obtain the "Celestial Favor," he naturally answered all her inquiries, teaching with great care.
He taught earnestly, and Liu Xuanxuan learned quickly; many problems were solved at Zhouyang’s prompt, proving her title of artifact refining genius to be true.
"This girl is remarkable; her talent in refining is quite comparable to mine in the past. It’s a pity her spirit root talent is slightly lacking. If she shared the same Top-grade Spiritual Root Talent as I did back then, Fellow Daoist Zhou, whether you take her as a concubine or a disciple, you’d essentially be getting a Tier Five Refining Master for free in the future!"
In Qianyang Cave, as Zhouyang watched Liu Xuanxuan gracefully exit the cave dwelling, lost in thought, Xu Song, who had been hiding in a corner of the cave, suddenly appeared, exclaiming words that left Zhouyang speechless.
"What nonsense is this!"
Though Liu Xuanxuan is not unattractive and her talent in refining is excellent, how could he possibly be interested in a woman who is over a hundred years his junior and only at the Qi Cultivation Stage?
Moreover, devoted to his cultivation, he hasn’t even consummated his relationship with his legitimate Dao Companion yet, let alone have the inclination to indulge elsewhere.
He glanced at Xu Song with a weird expression and chuckled dryly, saying, "Ahem, Elder Xu, have you started yearning for carnal desires since losing your physical body?"
Then, a smile flashed in his eyes as he said with a grin, "Isn’t it true that ghost cultivators can also engage in dual cultivation using the Divine Communication Skill? If you’re truly lonely, I can arrange for some female ghost concubines to entertain you!"
Xu Song didn’t mind his teasing and instead gave a sly look, murmuring, "Hmm, I wouldn’t mind dual cultivating with female ghosts, but can you find a female ghost equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Stage? In this Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, it’s hard to come by people, let alone ghosts!"
Zhouyang chuckled at his words, saying, "Heh heh, Elder, you’re mistaken. Once you decipher that body refining divine technique and create the artifacts I need, I promise I’ll find you a perfect cultivation spot for your practice."
"Oh, do you know where there’s a Land of Yin and Evil?"
Elder Xu Song’s ghostly eyes lit up, filled with delight as he gazed at Zhouyang.
"Indeed." Zhouyang smiled and nodded.
"Good, then you young rascal wait and see, in no more than half a year, I promise to decode that body refining divine technique!"
Xu Song gritted his teeth and made the promise immediately.
In the following time, Zhouyang continued to have people collect various low-tier artifact refining materials while focusing on the selection of Zhou Family’s Martial Hall cultivators and recruitment of Guest Elders, also waiting for good news from Liu Xuanxuan.
According to Zhouyang’s opinion, the recruitment of Martial Hall cultivators should prioritize quality over quantity; cultivation can be reasonably relaxed, but they must possess the determination and courage to fight and kill, and have a certain combat talent.
The cultivation level may be low, but the Zhou Family has plenty of spirit pills to help improve cultivation. However, if one possesses cultivation without a fighting spirit, like Xiao Ying who has no talent in magical combat, joining the Martial Hall would only cause harm to oneself and others.
Among the hundreds of cultivators in the Zhou Family, along with external relatives and guest elders, Zhouyang plans to recruit only thirty-six people, divided into three small teams.
Quality is more important than quantity, and Zhouyang, having participated in numerous large-scale cultivator battles, has a profound understanding of this.
If all thirty-six members of the Zhou Family Martial Hall meet his requirements, equipped with the magical artifacts he provides, these thirty-six Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators will exhibit combat strength on the battlefield comparable to ten times that of disorganized loose cultivators.
This is the difference between a regular army and a ragtag.
Three months passed, and Zhou Guangxiang, who had entered seclusion for a breakthrough, successfully advanced to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment and emerged to resume clan affairs.
After dozens of failures, Liu Xuanxuan finally succeeded in refining the "Primordial Yang Shield" artifact.
It was late at night when Liu Xuanxuan refined the "Primordial Yang Shield" in the communal Earth Fire Chamber at Red Tiger Mountain. Zhouyang, situated in Qianyang Cave, felt a sudden enlightenment, entering a state of epiphany.
This epiphany was somewhat similar to the "Divine Traveling Heaven and Earth" state after a Foundation Establishment cultivator opened the Purple Mansion. The difference was that in this state, Zhouyang was more easily able to comprehend the broader principles related to artifact refining skills.
Through this epiphany, he not only greatly improved his own artifact refining skills but also felt that achieving Tier Four High-grade Refiner was merely a matter of time. He also made some refinements to the method of refining the "Primordial Yang Shield" artifact.
The improved "Primordial Yang Shield" artifact, although unable to save on material costs, was easier to successfully refine.
After having Liu Xuanxuan attempt the improved refining method, Zhouyang found that with Liu Xuanxuan’s refining skills, she could achieve a fifty percent success rate.
And if Zhouyang himself were to refine it, the success rate would be almost certain!
Although refining it himself would save a lot on material costs, Zhouyang still entrusted Liu Xuanxuan with the task of refining the "Primordial Yang Shield" artifact.
The reason was simple; he, being a dignified Purple Mansion cultivator, valued his time and decided it was beneath his status to specifically allocate time to refining Tier Two High-Grade artifacts.
Moreover, while he could certainly succeed in refining the "Primordial Yang Shield," it wouldn’t elevate his artifact refining skills in any way.
Allowing Liu Xuanxuan to refine the "Primordial Yang Shield," despite wasting some materials, would help her continue to polish her artifact refining skills and gain valuable experience needed for her future breakthrough to a Tier Three Refiner.
Given Zhou Family’s current financial situation, this bit of waste was endurable.
Two months later, Xiao Ying, who had been in seclusion for nearly a year, finally recovered and emerged from the Seclusion Chamber.
"Little Wei’Er, this is your Master’s wife, Xiao Ying, quickly come and greet your Master’s wife."
In Qianyang Cave, after Xiao Ying’s emergence, Zhouyang specially transmitted his voice to have his newly accepted disciple, Lu Xuewei, come and greet her Master’s wife, also intending to hand over the task of training Lu Xuewei to Xiao Ying.
Because he would be busy with many matters in the upcoming period, he had little time to teach this disciple, and the disciple had only recently been introduced to cultivation a few years ago, so someone needed to teach her.
Having lived in the Zhou Family for over a year, Lu Xuewei had fully enjoyed the benefits of being Zhouyang’s disciple. Hearing Zhouyang’s words, her sharp mind quickly had her moving forward obediently, kowtowing and saying, "Xuewei greets Master’s wife, wishing Master’s wife eternal youth and immortal blessings."
"Wei’Er is so sweet, from now on you shall stay by Master’s wife’s side, Master’s wife will make lots of delicious food for you."
Xiao Ying, with beautiful eyes sparkling, looked at the adorably pretty and lovable Lu Xuewei, feeling very joyous at having such a disciple. She quickly helped Lu Xuewei up and took out some candied fruit she had made from spirit fruits and stuffed them into Lu Xuewei’s hands.
These candied fruits not only tasted delicious but also contained a good amount of spiritual qi; just one taste made Lu Xuewei quickly fall in love with this type of food, and just as quickly made her love Xiao Ying, her beautiful and kind Master’s wife.
Zhouyang watched the two beauties, one large and one small, quickly bond, inwardly sighing that "all women are foodies," then smilingly allowed them to play as they wished while he entered the closed cultivation chamber.
It turned out that after nearly half a year’s expedited decoding, Xu Song finally completely decoded the "Silver Talisman Text" that Zhouyang had extracted from the Tier Six Beast-Faced Dragon Cauldron.
ps: Trustworthy author, reputation guaranteed, thanks to the book friend "Mu Mu’s Rebar" for a reward of ten thousand Starting Point Coins, extra Chapter presented!