Path to Heaven

With a flash of his hand, the splintered bony straw of the Elder Mind Devouring Bug appeared. “I heard this thing can be made into a offensive artifact, I wonder if I can trouble Master Murong to refine this?”

“This is the tongue of a Mind Devouring Bug!” Murong Chen immediately gasped with one look.

Wei Suo unconsciously grinned. Obviously this Murong Chen had great eyesight, he could instantly recognize it. Still, Wei Suo felt it resembled more of a straw instead of a ‘tongue’.

“It actually is an Elder Mind Devouring Bug’s tongue!” Murong Chen picked up the sharp bone as he examined it, once again gasping in astonishment.

Wei suo remained calm. “Can it be forged into an offensive artifact?”

“Yes, if the forging succeeds, it should become a top notch invisible weapon.” Murong Chen seemed to be rather enthusiastic, even he himself rarely encountered such fine material. “Moreover, this Mind Devouring Bug was an elder, its bone density is even tougher than ordinary essence metal. After refining, it should have the offensive capability higher than a half-spirit weapon artifact.”

“Half-spirit artifact? If it was my old master forging it, he would’ve at least refined out an authentic spirit artifact.” The old man snobbishly spoke into Wei Suo’s ears.

Yet Wei Suo ignored the old man. Of course, for a peak expert blacksmith, he could even forge a genuine spirit artifact out of ordinary materials. But where could he find such an expert; even if he found one, with that person’s status, he wouldn’t even refine for Wei Suo. Even if he gave Wei Suo face, his price would definitely be exuberantly shocking.

To Wei Suo now, it was more than enough. Storing up good objects just for the sake of a tiny stroke of luck in the future wasn’t Wei Suo’s style. If he could constantly upgrade his strength, who knows, he may very well find an even better object.

“Alright. Since Master Murong feels that it can be refined, then I’ll entrust this to you.” Wei Suo very heartily nodded his head. “May I ask what is your refining fees, and when will it be done?”

Murong Chen pondered for a moment before replying. “This thing isn’t like essence metal. It cannot be reforged if it spoils. Hence, the forging process will require much caution, I probably need at least 20 days. As for the refining fees… my usual charges are 50 spiritual stones per day, so this artifact will require 1000 spiritual stones.”

“A thousand low quality spiritual stones?” Wei Suo swallowed his saliva.

Time wasn’t a problem anyway, he was still planning to go into close door cultivation for a period of time to refine such a massive amount of pellets. He planned to close himself up until breaking through to the Heavenly Circuit stage. Still, a thousand spiritual stones fee caused him to feel a heartache. No wonder a half-spirit artifact cost at least over 2000 low quality spiritual stones. It wasn’t just the material, even the fees for the blacksmith was astonishing. Anyway, Wei Suo hadn’t learned how to forge artifacts; thus, he had to bear with the heartache. Wei Suo nodded. “Alright, then we’ll follow according to your plans.”

“Brother Li, do you have other parts of the Mind Devouring Bug?” Murong Chen unconsciously released such a statement, before realizing his words weren’t professional. “Forgive my imprudence, old habits of mine. After seeing such an elder Mind Devouring Bug, if I had its other material parts, I should be able to forge out great artifacts.”

“Oh?” Wei Suo laughed, and immediately retrieved the entire Mind Devouring Bug. “Let’s hear Master Murong’s suggestion.”

“You really have the entire Mind Devouring Bug?! It is actually much older than the other 2 from the Golden Jade Pavilion auction!” Murong Chen was really amazed as he distractedly gazed at the Mind Devouring Bug. It was like looking at his own treasure; after flipping it around to examine, his eyes had a fiery passion within it. “If you let me choose, I will forge the entire Mind Devouring Bug into a magic robe. One that can offer concealment, as well as protection.”

“Then I’ll listen to Master Murong’s advice, let’s forge this into a magic robe.” Wei Suo smiled gleefully. A concealment robe, and a concealment-type weapon. This was the most lethal and optimal combination for assassinations.

“Good! Brother Li, do you want to watch this one in action? If you want, I can start now.” Murong Chen was feeling extremely eager upon the prospect of refining such amazing materials.

Wei Suo shook his head. “That isn’t necessary, how long will you take for the robe?”

“It will also take roughly 20 days, which one do you want me to forge first?” Murong Chen asked.

Wei Suo hesitated slightly before determining a weapon would be better. Because even with a concealment robe, he would still have to appear when attacking the enemy. A concealed weapon would be more malicious in an ambush. Hence, Wei Suo replied, “The weapon first would be good.”

“Alright. Does brother Li need me to send someone to deliver it to you?”

“That’s fine, I’ll collect it myself.” Wei Suo wasn’t willing to allow people from the Nine Peaks to know more about him.

“Alright. But let me just explain some of our policy here.” Murong Chen continued. “It’s not a 100% guarantee that the forging would be successful. If the weapon spoils, I won’t accept forging fees and I’ll compensate the price of it. For this Mind Devouring Bug’s tongue, I’ll compensate a thousand low quality spiritual stones. And 2000 spiritual stones for the robe if it fails. I will also return the entire spoilt artifact to you.”

“That’s fine.” Wei Suo nodded in agreement. He had already extracted the demon pellet and magic pearl, this 3000 low quality spiritual stones guarantor fee was indeed justifiable. Murong Chen had to shoulder a portion of the risk; if his refinement process went wrong, he would have to pay an expensive price.

“That’s why I love to work with such a straightforward person like brother Li. If brother Li has any excellent materials in the future, this one would be glad to offer you the best services.” Murong Chen laughed as he spoke. “Brother Li, do you have any other requests?”

The old man suddenly exclaimed into his ears. “Ask him if he as a specific map of Duanlong* Cliff.” Wei Suo immediately voiced out. “I still have something that requires Master Murong’s help.”

(TN: Duanlong in english is Breaking dragon. So it would be breaking dragon cliff.”

“Duanlong Cliff, what’s that?” Wei Suo was slightly confused, but he maintained his composure. “I want to ask Master Murong, do you have a specific map of Duanlong Cliff?”

“Why do you need to go to Duanlong Cliff? I don’t have it now, but I can help you get it.” Murong Chen shook his head. “And what else do you need my help with?’

“Just this last thing.” Wei Suo produced that broadsword from Liu Sanbao.

“Hmm, this is a broadsword refined with essence metal.” Reaching over to examine this ordinary looking broadsword, he waved it around and observed. “Brother Li, what do you want me to do for you? If you want me to forge this broadsword into a flying sword, I won’t be able to assist you with it. I don’t know any fire controlling techniques, a furnace alone wouldn’t be able to melt this. It requires a formation technique.”

“Don’t need for that.” Wei Suo casted a mysterious smile. “I just need master Murong to alter its shape, so others wouldn’t be able to recognize it. Best if it looks as ordinarily as possible, better if it looks like garbage.”

“Make it ordinary?” Murong Chen was stunned, droplets of sweat formed on his forehead. This broadsword looked extremely ordinary already, to make it even more ordinary looking? Recalling the concealment robe and artifact, and now this broadsword disguised as an ordinary trash. Murong Chen became stifled. This was simply too shoddy, and too suspicious.

Wei Suo thought that Murong Chen didn’t understand him, and further explained. “For example, adding some rust or damaged marks.”

Murong Chen smiled bitterly. “Since brother Li wants it this way, it isn’t difficult. It doesn’t require any fees as well.”

“Since that’s the case, then many thanks Master Murong.” Wei Suo laughed with satisfaction. It didn’t matter if this sword looked shady, most importantly was that Liu Sanbao’s friends couldn’t recognize it.

Such an outrageous cultivator like Liu Sanbao, his friends would certainly be the same.

……

After half an hour later, Wei Suo strode out of the Nine Peaks shop with an agonizing expression.

He had bought a total of 70 Golden Spirit Pellets, 65 Cyan Beetle Demon Pellets, 5 Bloodlotus Stems and 5 Nightfall Fruits.

Coupling the previous 23 Cyan Beetle Demon Pellets, 6 Golden Spirit Pellets and 2 Fire-earth Dragon Heads, his pouch really took a heavy blow. He was only left with roughly 28,500 low quality spiritual stones. Factoring the remaining downpayment of the 30 Golden Spirit Pellets and 135 Cyan Beetle Demon Pellets, along with the first batch of materials for his Nurturing Demon Liquid, Wei Suo was only left with 23100 plus low quality spiritual stones.

What terrorized Wei Suo was that the old man’s addiction had been induced. Laughing hysterically beside his ears. “Let’s take a look over there…there’s more happening over there. Perhaps there are better things to buy.”

“You aren’t done yet?”

Hearing Wei Suo’s attempt to restrain him, the old man snorted. “What are you worried about, there’s still so much spiritual stones.”

“Fine.” Wei Suo remembered about the Bloodlotus Stem and the Nightfall Fruit. He helplessly headed over to the most happening region of this city’s northern night market. On the way, he couldn’t resist asking out, “What are the Bloodlotus Stems and Nightfall Fruits for? What did you mean by, ‘it earn tens of thousand of spiritual stones, or it can earn nothing’?”