Divine Transcendence

"Senior, thank you for waiting. Here are two top-grade magical artifacts from our collection, one named 'Melting Fire Refiner' and the other 'Bewildering Heart Bell'. Please have a look."

The shopkeeper spoke as he opened the first jade box, revealing a copper kettle of deep red hue, from which flames occasionally burst forth, exploding into small fireworks in the air.

"This Melting Fire Refiner was crafted by an ancestor of our sect from millennium fire essence, engraved with the runes 'Scorch', 'Endless', 'Bone Cling', and 'Eternal Blaze'. It spews flames that cannot be extinguished; once they adhere, they cannot be removed."

After finishing the introduction, the shopkeeper opened the second jade box, which contained a small bell tied with pink silk ribbons.

"This Bewildering Heart Bell is a top-grade magical artifact acquired by our shop years ago at a high price, engraved with the runes 'Illusionary Sound', 'Dizziness', 'Delusion', and 'Blindness'. When used, it emits an extremely piercing bell sound that temporarily blinds the opponent and causes disorientation."

Yuan Ming listened to the shopkeeper's presentation, his brow slightly furrowed.

Although the two magical artifacts were powerful, the former did not discriminate between friend and foe, risking collateral damage, while the latter's effects could be completely replaced by his own illusions, making it rather superfluous.

Seeing Yuan Ming's frown, the shopkeeper gave a wry smile and said, "It seems neither of these artifacts catches Senior's eye. Unfortunately, our shop has no other top-grade magical artifacts. If Senior wishes to find a suitable one, you may have to try your luck at an auction."

Yuan Ming sighed. Auctions were known for their inflated prices, and even if he found a magical artifact to his liking, it was unlikely he could secure it for five thousand spirit stones.

Just then, Yuan Ming suddenly remembered something and asked, "What would be the price if I were to commission the crafting of a top-grade magical artifact here?"

"Crafting top-grade magical artifacts is quite difficult, and ordinary spiritual materials simply cannot withstand the engraving of four runes. If forced, the material might be destroyed and become unusable. If such a situation occurs, our shop cannot be held responsible. Please consider this carefully, Senior," the shopkeeper cautioned.

"What would be the success rate if I provided suitable spiritual materials?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"Only about ten to twenty percent," the shopkeeper replied.

Yuan Ming immediately shook his head. With such a low success rate, it was almost no different from throwing the spiritual materials into a lake.

In that case, rather than letting others gamble, he might as well refine it himself.

Yuan Ming no longer discussed the matter of crafting artifacts and instead purchased several books related to artifact refining and runes before leaving the Red Refinement Hall.

Back at his residence, he spent some time producing the listed spiritual incense.

After resting for a moment to regain some energy, he suddenly took out the Heaven-Stealing Cauldron, lit a stick of black incense, and placed it on top.

As the incense smoke curled up, Yuan Ming silently envisioned Sha Hao's appearance. Soon, the environment and objects before him blurred, and when they cleared, he found himself inside a stone room.

Sha Hao seemed to be healing his injuries, surrounded by ordinary stone furniture, with nothing particularly noteworthy.

The stone room had no windows, and even the door was tightly closed. Eager to ascertain Sha Hao's location, Yuan Ming immediately cast a soul imprint, compelling Sha Hao to leave the stone room.

However, no matter how he used the soul imprint, until the black incense burned out and the possession ended, Sha Hao showed no reaction.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming's brow furrowed.

He had specially made a high-quality black incense, using incense ash obtained from the Precious Spirit Sect, and the soul imprint he cast should have affected Sha Hao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Was it ineffective?

Or was it that the soul imprint had no effect on soul cultivators?

Yuan Ming pondered for a moment and decided to try again in seven days. If the soul imprint still had no effect, he would have to rely on patience, hoping to encounter Sha Hao leaving on his own during a possession.

Regardless, Sha Hao knew of his identity as a soul cultivator, and the longer he lived, the more likely Yuan Ming's cover would be blown.

Apart from possessing every seven days, he needed to think of other ways to locate Sha Hao.

The Four Symbols Tea House was situated on the eastern side of the city's lake.

The five-story building, painted in light blue with water wave patterns, faced the lake. Its main entrance was flanked by eight windows on each side, rising from the bottom to the top, constructed with intricately carved spiritual wood, inlaid with colored glaze and bright pearls that reflected the lake's image. From afar, the building's water patterns seemed to ripple, making it appear not as a structure on land but rather like a fairy pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Yuan Ming passed through the main entrance and immediately saw several coral rockeries and jade columns with seashells, the blue light and shadows filling every corner of the building. There were even phantom fish swimming among the corals, as if he had truly arrived at the Dragon Palace beneath the sea.

Surprised by the sight, Yuan Ming was admiring the scenery when a beautiful woman with dragon horns on her head approached.

"Greetings, Immortal." The woman bowed slightly, her white and blue dress fluttering like she was underwater.

"Your decorations are quite exquisite," Yuan Ming remarked, instantly recognizing that the horns on the woman's head were mere adornments. He was intrigued that even the maids were so immersed in their roles.

"Thank you for the compliment, Immortal. This month's illusion array theme is the Dragon Palace of the Sea. If you like it, you can cast a vote at the counter for one spirit stone," the maid said with a smile, offering the latest update.

"Oh? And what exactly is this vote for?" Yuan Ming asked curiously.

"Our establishment changes the theme monthly, and the specific arrangement is decided by the number of votes from the immortals," the maid explained calmly.

After hearing this, Yuan Ming smiled slightly. Casting a vote seemed to cost only one spirit stone, but in reality, the expenses would escalate with competition. Moreover, if one's favored scene became the theme, they would only have one month to enjoy it, so why wouldn't voters come more often?

"Immortal, please follow me. I will take you upstairs for some tea and rest," the maid said, gesturing for him to follow.

She led Yuan Ming to a small room, four feet square, with a wooden structure and only three walls. The left and right walls each featured a painting of fish playing in water, while the wall opposite the entrance depicted an unknown magical array with five indentations, seemingly for placing spirit stones.

The maid brought Yuan Ming into the room, then closed the wooden lattice door hidden at the entrance.

"Immortal, this is a spirit ladder specially crafted by a master for our establishment. You only need to place the corresponding number of spirit stones in the array to travel to different floors on your own."

Curious, Yuan Ming casually placed two spirit stones into the indentations.

Suddenly, he heard a "click" as the entire array lit up, and the spirit ladder began to ascend, reaching the second floor in no time.

However, during the operation of the spirit ladder, Yuan Ming noticed that the wall's array seemed to serve only a symbolic purpose. The spirit stones placed within were not consumed, and something else must be powering the ladder's movement.

Yuan Ming looked outside and surveyed the second floor, seeing that the occupants were all Qi refining cultivators, and the furnishings and decorations were not particularly luxurious. He immediately understood.

The so-called ability to reach corresponding floors by placing spirit stones was just a way to collect an entrance fee. The treatment for two spirit stones was clearly different from that for five.

Realizing this, Yuan Ming took out three more spirit stones and placed them in the array.

The spirit ladder slowly ascended, and the view at the entrance changed accordingly. Soon, Yuan Ming reached the fifth floor. Before even stepping out, he was greeted by the sound of drums, zithers, and flutes, accompanied by the fragrance of calming spiritual incense wafting into the spirit ladder.

The maid opened the door for Yuan Ming, who stepped out and glanced to the left, seeing a stage in the southeast corner with several girls in pearl-white dresses dancing to the music. Nearby, more men and women in similar attire played drums, zithers, or flutes, presenting an elegant sight and sound that was hard to interrupt.

Additionally, many maids carrying jade pitchers moved between the tables, serving tea and water, each with a gentle smile and graceful demeanor.

Whether they were maids, musicians, or dancers, all possessed cultivation, with the lowest being at the second level of Qi refining.

The room was filled with calming spiritual incense bought from Yuan Ming's store. Whenever the incense burned down to a quarter, a maid would immediately replace it to ensure the fragrance remained.

Some maids also carried trays filled with various fruits. Although Yuan Ming could not identify all of them, the spiritual energy emanating from them revealed that these fruits were no ordinary items.

Yuan Ming looked around and saw that the occupants here were all Foundation Establishment cultivators, some alone, some in groups of two or three, with diverse attire representing cultivators from the Great Jin, Zhao Country, sect disciples, and unaffiliated cultivators.

After observing for a moment, he approached a round table near the stage and greeted the five cultivators seated there with a smile.

"Would you gentlemen mind if I joined you for a cup of tea?"

"Not at all, not at all. Please, feel free," one of the male cultivators said with a welcoming gesture.

Yuan Ming nodded, seeing no objections from the others, and took a seat.

As soon as he sat down, a maid approached and placed a cup of tea before him.

Lifting the lid, Yuan Ming was greeted by a refreshing aroma. He took a sip and felt a warm sensation spread throughout his body, invigorating him.

The maid who served the tea was about to leave when a flirtatious male cultivator suddenly called out to her.

"Xiao Yun, did you like the painting I gave you last time?"

"Senior's gift is certainly cherished by Xiao Yun. However, I lack the artistic insight to grasp the profound meaning of Senior's masterpiece. I've placed it high up to prevent any damage. Please forgive me," the maid Xiao Yun replied with a graceful bow before speaking softly.

"It's just a painting; there's no deep meaning. As long as you like it, any treatment is fine. But what about my proposal to become dao companions? Have you thought it over?" the male cultivator asked with a smile, not minding her response.

"Senior is a Foundation Establishment cultivator; how could I possibly aspire to such heights? Please, do not jest any further," Xiao Yun said, shaking her head and bowing slightly to the flirtatious man before turning to leave.

Seeing this, the man's face showed a hint of disappointment, and a middle-aged male cultivator beside him laughed, "I didn't expect you, Yu Qingli, with your long-standing reputation in the romantic field, to also face rejection."