Chapter 480

Wang Yu’s other reason for coming to Hanlan Market was to find materials to forge a suitable second-rank artifact for Bai Li, a second-rank spirit beast that had just advanced.

Just as human Foundation Establishment cultivators can nurture a single artifact within their spiritual consciousness to gradually enhance its power.

Most second-rank or higher spirit beasts with awakened intelligence can naturally swallow external objects into their bodies, slowly refining them into artifact cores using their own demonic energy, then gradually condensing inscriptions onto the object to internally forge a personal artifact suited to themselves.

This internal forging process among high-rank spirit beasts typically takes an extremely long time—decades, even centuries—but once nurtured, the artifact is inherently compatible with the beast.

Unlike human Foundation Establishment cultivators, who can wield multiple artifacts simultaneously alongside their personal one, second-rank spirit beasts can usually nurture only one object within their bodies at a time, and typically can control only one artifact; thus, they treasure their internal artifacts and rarely expel them for combat.

In ordinary battles, second-rank spirit beasts mostly rely on their powerful bodies and innate abilities, for if their personal artifact is destroyed, they must find new external material to nurture anew—a process whose length is obvious.

For human cultivators, damaged artifacts are far simpler to replace: they merely need to find an artifact crafter for repairs, or simply buy a new one.

As spirit beasts with masters, they differ from wild beasts: they need not select external materials themselves; by simply swallowing the artifact core chosen by their master, they save most of the time normally spent on internal forging, making the process far easier than if they forged it themselves.

This was precisely why Wang Yu immediately planned to forge a second-rank artifact core for Bai Li the moment he saw it advance.

A hermit or a cultivator from a small sect might struggle to choose an appropriate artifact core for a spirit beast.

But as a true disciple of the Four Symbols Sect, Wang Yu had long since mastered all relevant knowledge on the subject.

Bai Li, this mutated Ironhead Crocodile, possesses control over wind, rain, ice, and thunder; thus, the artifact core forged for it must be one capable of multi-attribute manipulation and transformation—not the crude, heavy, single-attribute personal artifacts most beasts use.

So the moment he entered this new artifact shop and saw that nearly all materials and artifacts on display were first-rank, he immediately released a faint Foundation Establishment aura toward a cloth-clad giant who rushed forward and asked coolly:

“Do you have any second-rank spirit wood or beast hides of water, wind, or ice attributes? Thunder attribute would be even better.”

“Welcome, Elder! You jest—how could my humble shop possibly possess second-rank materials of wind, ice, or thunder? Especially thunder attribute, a high-rank material that suppresses spirit beasts—once it appears, it’s snatched up instantly.”

“However, our shop does have one piece of second-rank water-attribute beast hide—large in area, remarkably intact, and bearing some innate spiritual patterns, seemingly matching your needs. Would you care to take a look?” The giant, startled upon seeing Wang Yu enter, quickly stepped forward, but his face darkened upon hearing the requested materials; after bowing respectfully, he spoke cautiously.

“Bring it out first.” Wang Yu said coolly.

“Elder, please wait a moment.” The cloth-clad giant, energized by the request, immediately walked toward a display counter.

Moments later, he retrieved a wooden box from a shelf behind the counter and placed it on a nearby square table.

“Elder, please observe: this is the complete hide of a second-rank Water Arrow Rat, though it bears a fatal wound from its killing.” As he spoke, he opened the box and took out a rolled, fluffy blue hide, slowly unrolling it on the table.

A shimmering blue glow radiated from the hide—undoubtedly second-rank, brimming with spiritual vitality.

Wang Yu walked over, glanced once, and saw clearly a long, thin slit at the center of the blue hide, as if carved by a blade or sword.

Yet in a corner of the hide’s edge lay a large patch of pale green spiritual patterns.

“Second-rank Great Wind Technique—seems incomplete.”

Wang Yu’s mastery of spiritual patterns ran deep; his spiritual sense swept over the green patterns in an instant, instantly recognizing the technique they represented, his expression one of profound surprise.

According to his knowledge, Water Arrow Rats could only manipulate water-attribute techniques—how, then, did their hide bear wind-attribute innate patterns?

“Elder, your eyes are sharp. This second-rank rat hide, so intact, was originally a rare treasure—but this particular beast was a mutated Water Arrow Rat, possessing some wind control ability, and had developed wind-attribute innate patterns on its abdomen.”

“Thus, this hide now possesses both water and wind attributes. Earlier, you mentioned needing water and wind hide materials—this second-rank rat hide was clearly made for you.” The giant beamed as he explained.

“Dual-attribute hides are indeed rare, but you must know that for artifact forging, the more mixed the attributes, the harder it is to forge—single-attribute materials are often more valuable.”

“Though this second-rank hide is in decent condition, its fur has dulled, and its spiritual vitality has significantly faded—it’s been sitting in your shop for a long time, hasn’t it?” Wang Yu studied the blue hide again, his tone expressionless.

“Elder, your insight is piercing. This dual-attribute hide has been stockpiled in our shop for years, but such a well-preserved second-rank hide is truly rare. As long as you don’t let us lose money, I’m willing to sell it to you—provided you’ll favor my business in the future.” The cloth-clad giant, seeing Wang Yu had directly identified the hide’s flaw, no longer concealed anything and spoke respectfully.

“Cost price? That’s negotiable.” Wang Yu stroked his chin, thoughtful.

An incense stick later, Wang Yu exited the artifact shop, a wooden box now in his storage bag.

Next, he visited several more shops, eventually spending over ten thousand spirit stones at another inconspicuous artifact store to purchase a half-segment of translucent, ice-like spirit wood, along with other auxiliary forging materials.

Only then did Wang Yu finish purchasing forging materials and turn toward shops selling cultivation techniques, secret arts, and even miscellaneous books.

To his disappointment, the cultivation techniques and secret arts on offer in these shops were overwhelmingly aimed at Qi Refinement cultivators; those involving Foundation Establishment were exceedingly rare, and most he already owned. Yet some miscellaneous texts held unique insights, covering every aspect of the Eastern Wilderness—if read thoroughly, they would greatly deepen his understanding of the entire region.

Wang Yu made no pretense; he spent a modest amount of spirit stones to buy every single miscellaneous book in these shops, planning to later input them all into his system to enrich its data.

The next morning, beneath a crimson sunrise.

A bone boat flew out of the market, heading straight toward the Mi Mountain Sect.

Onboard, two figures stood faintly visible—one in yellow robes, one in blue—Wang Yu and the surnamed Yan youth.

…

More than ten days later.

Among the mountains, a long caravan trudged slowly along a rugged mountain path.

The caravan consisted entirely of massive vehicles, each the size of a house, covered in thick oilcloth, their bases constructed of heavy wood—crude and rugged, yet remarkably sturdy.

Before these massive vehicles, thick ropes pulled forward strange beasts with long double horns, manes along their necks, bodies resembling both oxen and horses.

The guards escorting the entire caravan were human warriors clad in various leather armors, carrying diverse weapons.

Each warrior was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, yet emitted no spiritual energy whatsoever—they were clearly ordinary mortals.

Yet the most striking feature of the caravan were the few vehicles left uncovered, each bearing a massive crossbow carriage.

The metal strings of the crossbows were fully drawn by mechanisms, each loaded with metal bolts as thick as an arm, angled toward the flanks.

Beside each crossbow stood two mortal guards, vigilantly watching all around.

Suddenly, a long cry echoed from one mountain peak.

Then, continuous cries rose from the peak’s heights; countless trees trembled, and dark shapes leapt and rolled between them, surging down toward the caravan on the path.