Chapter 726: The time is ripe, ready to get started

Inside the Peach Blossom Land.

Chen Xun lay on a chair and suddenly looked at Black Bull, saying, "Bull, I've bought a shop in the city. You should go too."

"Moo~"

Black Bull nodded gently, exhaling a breath. A force of rule manifested within it, forming an avatar that stepped into the void and disappeared.

When it reappeared, it was already inside the shop.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar scene in the shop, it couldn't help but recall everything from the past.

Black Bull was overjoyed, running around with nostalgia in its eyes. It had always loved that feeling from the beginning.

"Let's get to work!"

"Moo!" Black Bull bellowed, its tail swaying energetically.

And so, a peculiar Refining Pavilion in the eyes of cultivators officially opened.

With Black Bull's array support, it first remodeled the interior of what appeared to be a mundane blacksmith's furnace, setting up a fire-gathering array using the power of the Five Elements.

The exterior of the furnace looked ordinary, but inside, with the array's support, spiritual qi was ignited, forming a terrifying spiritual flame with extremely high temperatures capable of melting most refining materials.

Their materials were limited, and the magical artifacts they crafted were of low grade, casually hung in the shop.

However, Chen Xun and Black Bull had roamed the world of immortals for many years, knowing a bit of everything. Crafting these low-grade magical artifacts was a breeze, and they were considered top quality among their peers, with very reasonable prices.

Gradually, the reputation of the blacksmith's shop spread, attracting cultivators from afar.

Chen Xun welcomed all who came, striving to meet their requests to the best of his ability. Every cultivator from the myriad clans who visited the shop left with gratitude and respect for Chen Xun and Black Bull.

They were also quite honest, never involving themselves in other matters, and the days of refining passed one by one.

A year later, on a sunny afternoon.

"Fellow Daoist Dongfang!"

A hearty voice rang out from outside the blacksmith's shop.

A Void Refinement realm cultivator, seemingly well-acquainted with Chen Xun, strode into the shop, greeting warmly.

Among the onlookers, some Qi cultivation or Foundation Establishment cultivators sensibly stepped back, making way.

Some disciples wearing the robes of Xuanji Sacred Land respectfully saluted, "Deacon Zhou!"

"Greetings, Deacon Zhou!"

"Hello, Deacon Zhou!"

...

The Void Refinement cultivator nodded slightly in acknowledgment, but his gaze remained fixed on Chen Xun.

This person was Zhou Xing, an outer sect deacon of Xuanji Sacred Land, in the mid-stage of Void Refinement, responsible for procuring magical artifacts for the sect's Outer Disciples.

Before meeting Chen Xun, those artifacts were mostly purchased from other Refining Pavilions.

After all, for the Sacred Land, being able to become their disciple meant having considerable talent, and they should spend most of their time on cultivation.

As the blacksmith's shop's reputation grew, Zhou Xing took notice and found that the artifacts crafted here were of excellent quality and affordable, gradually shifting his orders to this place.

Later, Chen Xun even helped him craft a top-grade magical treasure for the Void Refinement realm, and they became friends.

Every time Zhou Xing descended the mountain, whether or not he needed to procure artifacts, he would come to chat with Chen Xun.

Chen Xun and Black Bull also liked Zhou Xing very much.

Although his cultivation wasn't high, he was straightforward and righteous, clear about gratitude and grudges, and despite his somewhat rough nature, they enjoyed associating with such a person.

Upon hearing Zhou Xing's hearty voice, Chen Xun turned his head, smiling as he responded, "Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Black Bull also let out a "moo," wagging its tail as a greeting.

"Fellow Daoist Dongfang, I've come this time hoping you can help me craft a magical treasure for the Void Refinement realm."

"The materials and requirements are all in the storage ring. I've witnessed Fellow Daoist Dongfang's refining skills, and I'm confident you won't disappoint me!"

Zhou Xing laughed heartily, having obtained these materials with great difficulty after personally slaying a fierce beast.

Chen Xun smiled faintly, saying nothing more, as he took the storage ring and began examining it carefully.

Zhou Xing eagerly asked, "How long will it take Fellow Daoist Dongfang to craft it?"

"Come back in three months."

"Three months?!"

Hearing this, Zhou Xing's body shook, his eyes widening slightly.

This was a magical treasure for the Void Refinement realm. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take him over a decade to craft it himself...

But seeing Chen Xun's expression, he didn't seem to be joking. Zhou Xing took a deep breath and said seriously, "Fellow Daoist Dongfang, are you sure it will only take three months?"

"Certain."

"Great, great! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Dongfang."

Receiving a definite answer, Zhou Xing laughed heartily, in high spirits, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then turned to leave.

...

Flowers bloom and fall, spring passes and autumn comes, day and night alternate.

Time seemed like a gentle rain, passing silently.

Three months flew by in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Xing arrived on time, and when he received the treasure Chen Xun had crafted for him, he was astounded. The treasure's power was thirty percent higher than others of the same realm.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" Taking a deep breath, Zhou Xing bowed to Chen Xun, full of gratitude, then disappeared into the vast crowd.

Time passed quietly, and the lush trees outside the blacksmith's shop had shed their yellowing leaves, with even the breeze carrying a faint chill, except for the two evergreen Crane Spirit Trees.

Since that day when Zhou Xing left, he never returned, whether alive or dead, no one knew.

Gradually, winter arrived.

Snowflakes danced in the sky.

The winter in the Wild Heaven Region was even colder than in the Great World of Taiyi.

But regardless of the changing seasons, the one man and one bull inside the blacksmith's shop never rested.

They worked tirelessly day and night, refining artifacts.

It was already late at night.

The night sky was deep and dark as ink, with stars scattered across it, the Milky Way hanging above, illuminating the entire world.

Other shops in the market operated day and night, their business never stopping.

Unlike others, Chen Xun followed the routines of mortals, closing the shop doors promptly at nightfall.

Some cultivators who came by reputation could only leave disappointed, but a few were unwilling to leave, sitting cross-legged on the street, waiting.

They hoped to be the first to purchase a suitable magical artifact when the shop opened the next day.

Chen Xun paid no mind to this, as he didn't open the blacksmith's shop to earn spirit stones. The shop was filled with arrays set up by Black Bull, and those cultivators outside who refused to leave couldn't spy on anything.

"Bull, are you ready?"

"Moo!"

Inside the shop, a pile of materials was laid out in front of them. Black Bull stood beside Chen Xun, exhaling a breath, its eyes conveying a single message: ready!

These materials included Evil Marrow Crystals, Essence Flowers, the bones of ancient beasts, and Tianhang Jade Stone.

Indeed, these were all materials for crafting an immortal puppet, something they had longed for.

Having lived in the blacksmith's shop for over a decade, refining artifacts during the day, they would close the shop at night to study the art of immortal puppets together.

And today, they felt the time was right to begin.

Chen Xun took a deep breath, raising his hand to summon a pile of Evil Marrow Crystals, which floated in the void, enveloped by the power of the Five Elements Law.