Artifact Refiner Wan Jinrong is a Nascent Soul Daoist Master Human Race behind the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. The reason he took on the task of accompanying a Merchant Flying Ship was to refine Spiritual Artifacts in different styles and hone his skills.

The success of refining Spiritual Artifacts and Magical Treasures is influenced by many factors, including the amount of Spiritual contained within.

The higher the tier of materials, the more spirituality they inherently possess; the artisan’s expertise is also crucial, as skillful engraving of Dharma Prohibition Artifact Patterns and material compatibility increases the Spiritual of the refined object.

The materials selected for refining the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner were not the finest and were only average.

As an Artifact Refiner, he had professional ethics, and while he was dedicated during the refining process, he didn’t achieve meticulous perfection.

The systematic refining of Spiritual Artifacts did not greatly contribute to honing one’s craft.

Therefore, based on his judgment, the inherent spirituality of the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner was still far from producing spirit sounds.

Currently, the Spiritual Artifact emits a dragon’s roar, largely due to the owner’s blood sacrifice.

Chao Origin Stage Cultivators who open the Five Elements Divine Mansion have stronger spirituality in their blood with deeper understanding of the corresponding Power of the Five Elements.

Clearly, the client who ordered this customized Spiritual Artifact had an astonishing comprehension of the Power of Wood Element.

Wan Jinrong’s mind surged with thoughts, yet his hands moved swiftly. After a compliment, he promptly returned the Spiritual Artifact to the Artifact Refining Furnace.

Moments later, the refinement of the Spiritual Artifact completed, and it flew out of the furnace.

The cyan banner unfurled with green light rippling through the Artifact Refining Room, as if one were amidst blooming outdoors in spring warmth.

It flew around Ji An, like a playful butterfly.

"This is the first time I’ve seen such a spiritually profound Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact immediately after refining. I am Wan Jinrong, may I know how to address you, Fellow Daoist?"

Wan Jinrong had a subtle smile, his tone gentle.

If other Artifact Refiners saw him now, they’d be puzzled. Is this the same aloof Master Wan?!

"Fellow Daoist Wan, I am Ji An."

Ji An cupped his hands, puzzled at the change in attitude of this usually unyielding Artifact Refiner.

However, one doesn’t hit a smiling face. Besides, he was very satisfied with the refined Spiritual Artifact and wouldn’t assume an arrogant stance.

He linked with the Spiritual Artifact’s naive consciousness, hearing another dragon’s roar in his Sea of Consciousness.

Resounding and bright, filled with masculine energy, akin to thunderous bursts of spring, the Divine Intent of burgeoning nature flashed instantly in his Sea of Consciousness.

The Wood Element Divine Mansion’s radiance shimmered within his chest and abdomen; two Wood Element Dao Seeds seemed like lit bulbs, autonomously glowing from the acupoints.

The Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner quickly shrank, landing on his palm, merging into his skin, and flowed along the Immortal Vein into his Dantian.

The Spiritual Artifact nestled in the cyan flame of the Primordial Life Fire, which suddenly brightened, the red flame more vivid, and the Earth-Departing Flame Banner joyously swimming.

Another phoenix’s cry echoed in Ji An’s Sea of Consciousness.

Dragon’s roar and phoenix’s cry, auspicious harmony of dragon and phoenix.

Wan Jinrong’s smile persisted, "Fellow Daoist, why not come to the neighboring pavilion for a chat? I have some treasured Spirit Tea I’d like you to taste, would you?"

"It is indeed a wish, dare not ask."

Ji An nodded slightly, curious about Wan Jinrong’s intentions.

...

The two moved to the pavilion, seated as host and guest. Wan Jinrong instructed the maid to brew tea, then spoke:

"Fellow Daoist, did you practice the Wood Element Technique during Foundation Establishment Stage?"

"How do you know?"

Ji An smiled, wondering why this individual bluntly asked such a secretive question, given their mere commission relationship.

"During cultivator’s blood sacrifice of Spiritual Artifacts, the higher Spiritual within the essence blood more easily awakens Spiritual Artifact’s spirituality.

Today, seeing the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner’s spirituality surpass other artifacts, I suspect Fellow Daoist has reached a high level of understanding of Wood Element Technique Divine Intent, hence my query."

Ji An understood Wan Jinrong’s point, but he still had doubts, so he said:

"As Chao Origin Stage Cultivators, we open the Five Elements Divine Mansion and deeply grasp the Five Elements. Why does Fellow Daoist think I practiced Wood Element Technique during Foundation Establishment Stage?"

His words effectively acknowledged this, as Daoist Sect orthodox Chao Origin Stage Cultivators should be versed in all Five Elements; otherwise, the opportunity to refine a Golden Core wouldn’t exist. He wanted to know the basis of Wan Jinrong’s judgment.

Wan Jinrong smiled reservedly, explaining:

"Opening a Divine Mansion doesn’t require profound comprehension of the Five Elements. Practical small techniques and grasping Five Elements Mutual Generation constitute true understanding of the Power of the Five Elements.

I have a Secret Technique to discern Fellow Daoist’s lacking comprehension of Five Elements Mutual Generation, then why is the Wood Element’s spirituality so abundant in your essence blood? Only selecting the Wood Element Technique during Foundation Establishment Stage could achieve this."

In his impression, the Western Continent is barren, various forces with incomplete techniques and poor heritage. Yet, those who grow and achieve recognition despite this harsh environment are incredibly gifted.

Thus, he favors associating with such cultivators, as they likely seek the more prosperous Central Continent for further advancement in the cultivation journey.

Establishing good relations with such cultivators now would pave the way for deeper connections, potentially becoming networking ties.

Even if they do not venture to the Central Province, he wouldn’t lose much, no more than a wasted cup of Spirit Tea.

Ji An’s thoughts whirled swiftly; with this logic, refining the other two Five Elements Banners in the future would directly start at a high point.

He cupped his hands politely, smiling:

"I’ve never heard such a theory, thank you for explaining, Fellow Daoist."

The beautiful maid served Spirit Tea, placing the teacups on the table before slowly exiting the room.

Wan Jinrong pointed to a lidded teacup and said:

"Fellow Daoist Ji, this is a Tier Two Top-Grade Spirit Tea, Phoenix Dance Danxia Tea, please give it a taste."

Ji smiled and nodded, lifted the tea cup, and opened the lid. The fragrant aroma wafted into his nose.

Inhaling it into his body, he unexpectedly felt the gold patterns on the surface of the Fire Element Divine Mansion radiating with spirit light.

He saw the tea was orange-red, with a bright color, and the fragrance was enthusiastic like fire. The rising steam was red, resembling flowing smoke and clouds.

"Forgive my ignorance, but I do not know what kind of Spirit Tea this is, please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist."

He had never had the chance to taste top-grade Spirit Tea, and could only determine that this was a Fire Element Spirit Tea.

Wan Jinrong picked up the teacup, gently blew on it, took a small sip, and closed his eyes slightly, a look of lingering taste appeared on his face.

"This tea is made by frying leaves from the Phoenix Perch Wood. It can accelerate the transformation of Fire Spirit Power and temporarily increase comprehension of the Power of Fire Element.

After consumption, practicing Fire Element Techniques can yield twice the result with half the effort.

For Alchemists and Artifact Refiners, long-term drinking will have unexpected benefits."

Ji An slightly raised an eyebrow; this was the first spiritual object he encountered that could increase comprehension.

Phoenix Perch Wood is not a Treasure Plant, but it can be cultivated to Tier Three. It is said that Central Continent Divine Wood Sect has a Tier Three Upper Grade Phoenix Perch Wood, but he doesn’t know if it’s true.

He picked up the teacup and took a small sip. The Spirit Tea went down his throat, and he immediately felt a returning sweetness, the aroma spreading between his lips and teeth.

It was like swallowing a ball of fire, as Fire Spiritual Qi rose from his abdomen.

The two Fire Dao Seeds in the acupoints lit up with radiance, and the Fire Element Divine Mansion automatically activated to absorb the scattered Power of Fire Element.

In the Dantian, the Primordial Life Fire flickered, and amidst the red layers of flames, the Earth-Departing Flame Banner danced freely like a flame spirit.

When the flavor of the Spirit Tea faded, Ji An gave a self-mocking smile and said:

"The Central Continent is rich and abundant, incomparable to the Western Continent. When the time is right, I will surely travel to the Central Continent to see what the most prosperous continent in the Cultivation Realm looks like."

He did not expect the effect of top-grade Spirit Tea to be so good, feeling a noticeable increase in the total amount of Magical Power.

"Haha, I felt a strong affinity with Fellow Daoist from the start.

Someday, if you come to the Central Continent, you can find me at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion has branches in all the Great Immortal Cities of Central Continent. You just have to contact the shopkeeper of any branch, and you will find me."

Saying this, he took out a jade token and handed it over, saying:

"This jade token is my token, you can use it as a reference."

Ji An was slightly taken aback but accepted the jade token, saying:

"What virtues and abilities do I possess to deserve such regard from you, Fellow Daoist?"

There is no baseless goodwill in the world, and he couldn’t understand what Wan Jinrong sought, so he directly asked, curious about his answer.

Wan Jinrong did not hide his true thoughts and said:

"I am interested in befriending cultivators with a bright future. We can walk further on the path of cultivation together in the future."

’I know my future is promising, but how do you know my future is promising?’

Ji An remained cautious, storing the jade token in the Void Realm space, "When I head to the Central Continent in the future, I will surely visit."

The two chatted for a while longer before Ji An bid farewell and left.

...

Golden Puppet Pavilion.

Fang Shiping furrowed his brows slightly, recalling the past from thirty years ago when the cultivators from the Golden Spirit Sect came to sell top-grade Cyan Dragon Wood.

At that time, Yun Feihua Shibo said that there must be something miraculous in the growth area of the Cyan Dragon Wood.

He also mentioned that Western Continent cultivators would not be able to discern such insights, and finding the growth area of Spirit Wood could earn extra profit.

Now, it’s confirmed that all these Cyan Dragon Woods are cultivated within the Golden Spirit Sect.

If there were truly spiritual objects in the Spirit Wood’s growth area, they would have been discovered by the Golden Spirit Sect. And even if not discovered, they wouldn’t have obtained them.

He shook his head, giving a long sigh, thinking:

’What kind of treasure could continuously cultivate Cyan Dragon Woods with such strong spirituality!’

From start to finish, he never considered that ’Spirit Wood was cultivated through legitimate means.’

Even the cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect couldn’t guarantee to consecutively cultivate spiritual Cyan Dragon Woods, let alone a small sect in the Western Continent.

Ji An walked into the Golden Puppet Pavilion and happened to hear the sigh, so he stepped forward and clasped his hands, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Fang, with such a flourishing business, why do you sigh?"

Fang Shiping came to his senses, "Oh, it’s Fellow Daoist Ji. A major deal wasn’t closed, and the profit slipped away, of course, it makes one sigh."

He had a deep impression of Ji An, a cultivator who lavishly spent seventy top-grade Spirit Stones to buy a puppet, a rarity even in the Central Continent, fully demonstrating the other’s wealth.

As a shop, customers like this are adored immensely, wishing every visiting customer were like this daily.

"Fellow Daoist, please come inside. Let’s have a good chat over tea instead of wine."

Ji An waved his hand, "Not in a hurry. I’m looking to purchase a Tier Two Top-Grade Defensive-Type Puppet."