The refining of low-grade Magical Artifacts is not much different from the basic Hundred Refinements artifacts; both involve melting and fusing Materials. Different Materials have characteristics such as hardness, sharpness, toughness, and harmony.
For Intermediate or Advanced Magical Artifacts, the primary Materials are not easily obtained metals, but rather parts of Yao Beasts or special Materials.
The Artifact Refiner merely makes slight adjustments to maintain and stabilize the primary material's characteristics, making it easier for the Cultivator to control.
For example, a Yao Beast's claws can be refined into an offensive Magical Artifact while maintaining their original sharpness; scales can be refined into defensive artifacts to keep their hardness and toughness; and wings can be refined into flying artifacts.
To put it simply, an Artifact Refiner is a material processor, low-level crude processing and high-level precision processing.
It sounds easy, but doing it proved to be quite complex.
An Artifact Refiner needs to be familiar with various Materials in the Cultivation World. After obtaining the primary refining material, they must consider which auxiliary Materials to add to fully activate the primary material's characteristics or even make them complement each other to reach a higher level.
Mu Fan's current understanding of refining Materials was pitifully low, but since he was only refining low-grade Magical Artifacts, he didn't need to worry about it for now.
With the System panel, he could see exactly how many points of Qi he was outputting, allowing him to maintain the flames perfectly. He followed the steps methodically, completing the material processing, Fusion, shaping, and finally, tempering.
Over a month later, Mu Fan had exhausted his Materials and obtained twenty-nine low-grade Magical Artifacts.
The quality of the artifacts was slightly better than what was recorded in the blueprints, clearly a credit to the Artifact Refining technique rewarded by the System.
He also discovered that through the continuous process of consuming and recovering Qi, the quality of his Qi had improved slightly. Though it wasn't much, it was a pleasant surprise.
"Artifact Refining lets me earn and refine at the same time… not bad."
"AFK cultivation is truly Heaven-Defying. It's just that the environment of Extreme Yin Island is poor. If I moved somewhere stable and stayed AFK for a hundred years… reaching the Nascent Soul Stage wouldn't be difficult."
"However… that's too idealistic."
"Cultivation techniques, Magic Treasures, Formations… if they don't keep up, it's all empty strength. Dying to someone weaker would be a joke."
Mu Fan took this batch of low-grade Magical Artifacts to the Exotic Treasure Pavilion. Lian'er immediately abandoned her previous customer and headed toward Mu Fan.
The woman in the blue dress, who had already stepped forward to receive him, maintained a smile as she continued to attend to him while gently holding Mu Fan's arm.
Lian'er didn't dare start a dispute and waste Mu Fan's time, so she could only hold Mu Fan's other arm.
And so, the two young beauties flanked Mu Fan as they headed toward the second floor.
The customer Lian'er had abandoned saw Mu Fan heading to the second floor and could only lower his head, acting as if nothing had happened.
The environment on the second floor was more elegant. Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and Talismans were each displayed on individual small round pedestals.
No customers were wandering around; instead, they sat peacefully in private booths, stating their requirements while being served by the pavilion's maids.
Lian'er asked a guard, "Which room is vacant? This is a distinguished guest specifically mentioned by Steward Li"
The young girl held her head high, looking somewhat triumphant, as if she shared in the honor.
The guard handed over a token: "heavens number five."
Lian'er took the token, her eyes shining. A Heaven-grade room! She had never been inside one before.
"Senior Brother, let's go to the room!" Lian'er looked at Mu Fan with admiration, her lips slightly parted in an expression that was quite flattering.
Mu Fan smiled faintly. "No rush. It's my first time here… I'll look around."
He was about to step toward the items displayed on the pedestals when he felt resistance. Lian'er, still holding his arm, began to persuade him:
"What is there to see here? Senior Brother should go sit in the Heaven-grade room and have some tea. Just state your needs, and Lian'er will bring them to you to pick at your leisure."
Mu Fan felt a slight wave of displeasure. 'You're making decisions for me now?'
With a colder tone, he said, "I'll decide for myself."
Lian'er had gotten a bit ahead of herself and didn't notice the change in Mu Fan's attitude. Her mind was filled only with Steward Li's words from over a month ago.
"Looking at the artifacts Junior Brother Mu refined, the quality is not bad. If his batch of low-grade artifacts are also successful, it will show he has talent for Artifact Refining."
"Lian'er, you must serve him well. An Artifact Refiner's status is different from an ordinary Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. Perhaps your Opportunity to escape your current situation lies with this person."
Lianer was still pulling Mu Fan's arm, wanting him to go to the private booth as soon as possible. Once Steward Li came to inspect the goods, she would soon be able to break free from her shackles!
Mu Fan didn't move and looked at her coldly.
Lianer's hands were jolted back by the muscles in Mu Fan's arm, and she stumbled back two steps.
The other woman in the blue dress lowered her head in terror, not daring to make any extra moves. She continued to hold his arm, but her posture was incredibly stiff.
Meeting Mu Fan's eyes, Lianer panicked instantly. With a thud, she knelt down firmly and pleaded in a weak voice:
"Senior Brother Mu, Lian'er knows she was wrong! Please…"
"Enough."
Mu Fan interrupted, not bothering to hear the rest.
Taking it upon herself to make decisions for him was one thing, but Mu Fan also disliked this lack of boundaries and her acting so presumptuously.
Mu Fan wasn't stupid; he could roughly guess that people like Lian'er were different from the members of Extreme Yin Island. Perhaps she wanted to use him to change her circumstances.
But Mu Fan was also unwilling, after all this was Extreme Yin Island.
He showed off his Artifact Refining skills as a protective charm; he didn't want to get involved in too many extra matters.
Mu Fan said nothing more and turned to walk toward the exhibit area.
Lianer's heart sank instantly, and she collapsed on the floor.
At that moment, the goat-bearded Steward Li walked over. From his angle, he could just see Lianer's profile and glimpse the dissatisfaction and resentment in her eyes.
Steward Li noted it silently and didn't act immediately. He simply waved his hand, signaling the second-floor guards to drag Lian'er away so she wouldn't disturb the guest.
Then, he stood quietly to the side, waiting for Mu Fan to finish browsing.
Mu Fan still hadn't given up, wanting to see if he could pick up any bargains. Unfortunately, the items in these small pedestals all had descriptions; they were placed here only after the Exotic Treasure Pavilion had tested their functions.
After a circuit, he found nothing.
Mu Fan thought to himself, "A pity… no shortcuts today."
He walked toward Steward Li and was led into the heaven character number five room.
Mu Fan waved his hand and brought out the low-grade Magical Artifacts. Twenty-nine artifacts covered the floor.
Steward Li called out, "Lan Xin, brew some tea for Junior Brother Mu."
He then began to inspect the artifacts one by one.
Mu Fan and Lan Xin sat down at the tea table. Whether this woman was frightened or just naturally this quiet, she began to brew tea in silence with a faint smile on her lips.
"Miss Lan Xin, what's your situation here?"
Lan Xin's movements paused slightly. She looked at Steward Li, but seeing that he didn't even raise his head and continued to inspect the artifacts as if he hadn't heard Mu Fan, she responded.
Like an outsider, Lan Xin explained with a calm face, "Strictly speaking, we are not members of Extreme Yin Island, but servants. We have received the grace of being given cultivation methods, but our status remains lowly."
"Sister Lian'er saw the hope of escaping her servant status, which is why she was a bit impatient."
Mu fan sat in thought
The source of Extreme Yin Island's Disciples, aside from some affiliated forces of the Demonic Path who joined voluntarily, the rest were all forcibly abducted.
They start as preparatory Disciples, then promote to formal Disciples through survival trials. Five years later, there is the Arena Trial. Every step forward is taken over the blood and bones of many others.
As Cruel and dangerous as it was, their status was ultimately that of sect members and Disciples, they were Cultivators.
People like Lan Xin, however, were servants. Their lives were not their own. They were given Cultivation Techniques merely for beauty and body shaping, the better to serve the Cultivators.
"I see… are you speaking for her?"
"No, Lan Xin is merely providing an objective description."
Mu Fan nodded slightly. "Then that's fine. I'm not interested in making things difficult."
Steward Li walked over with a smile and chimed in, "Junior Brother Mu is truly magnanimous."