Chapter 112: Contempt

  "Why, Master? You said this was the most likely place to find Golden Thread Iron, so why aren't you letting me look?" It's clear that Ling Xing is somewhat unhappy with his master's arrangement.

  "Yes, this is the most likely place to produce 'Golden Threaded Mystical Iron', but it has already been produced and taken away. What's the use of us being here now? It would be better to report this matter to the alliance." The old man's words made Ling Xing's face change color instantly, with a feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears.

  "Why, Master? How did you find out that the 'Golden Threaded Iron' was taken by someone else first? Maybe it's still hidden somewhere and we just haven't found it yet." Ling Xing's voice was shaking slightly, she didn't want this to be true, she wanted it to be a joke between her master and herself, so there was a hint of self-consolation in her tone.

  "Alas, Ling Xing, perhaps you and this 'Golden Threaded Iron' really don't have a fate. Since you don't believe it, come take a look, look at this indented area, examine it carefully, see if there's anything different about it." The old man seemed to want his disciple to give up, specially making space for her to carefully observe the indented part.

  "Huh, Master, you're really joking with me. Look at that circle of golden metal, isn't it the 'Golden Threaded Mystical Iron'?" Ling Xing's voice was filled with unspeakable joy and excitement.

  "Alas." The old man sighed heavily at the sound of Ling Xing's voice and then spoke with a bitter tone.

  Ling Xing, whatever cannot be forced, do not comfort yourself. The golden thing is not 'Golden Threaded Mystical Iron', but rather the part that remains after 'Golden Threaded Mystical Iron' has been collected and comes into contact with ordinary Mystical Iron in the air. Its only connection to 'Golden Threaded Mystical Iron' is that its appearance proves that 'Golden Threaded Mystical Iron' has already been taken away. Master says this, do you understand? Be more open-minded, whatever cannot be forced.

  "But Master, according to the records above, I can only refine this one piece of immortal equipment at this stage. There's no 'Golden Threaded Mystic Iron'! How am I supposed to refine it? And how can I surpass Murong Yunrui?" Ling Xing said, then covered her face and ran out crying.

  "Ah, Ling Yu, go and persuade her, I have some matters to attend to here." said the old man.

  Ling Xing's master, from the storage ring, a crystal-like Yuanqi came out, waving his hand, this round and transparent treasure flew to the top of the mine, a soft light flew out from the crystal, slowly sprinkling in this not-too-spacious mine.

  The old man retrieved the crystal and flew away.

  Sun Ming is currently wandering around on a planet called Tianhua Star in the Xianxia realm. This Tianhua Star is a very famous commercial star, known for having everything you can think of and being able to buy anything you want. Sun Ming came here to buy some foundation-establishing elixirs to take back with him. After all, he needs these things to recruit new disciples. Although he himself has a slight understanding of alchemy, it's all based on the teachings of his master, Yun Zhongzi. Who knows if his body's constitution has changed after so many years? Ordinary people can't withstand such powerful medicinal effects. If they were Xianxia practitioners, that would be fine, but ordinary people establishing their foundation need to buy pre-made elixirs.

  Sun Ming strolled around. Although there were many places selling tonics, only a few could catch his eye. Suddenly, he discovered an interesting place called the Alchemist's Guild Branch Institute.

  Pavilions and kiosks. Golden and jade brilliance. Giving people a kind of illusion. As if it's not a separate courtyard, but a palace-like place. Sun Ming walked in with quick steps.

  The bustling crowd makes the magnificent main hall of Jinbi look so out of place. Countless cultivators with hopeful eyes hope to obtain a suitable magic treasure from here, but how many can truly fulfill their wishes?

  As expected, a dispute broke out in front of the counter. Judging from the situation, it seemed that everyone was already used to such things. Their faces were expressionless. The magnificent hall was so dazzling that Sun Ming's heart skipped a beat. If the Instrument Spirit Sect was still around, would these cultivators be so humble and low-key for just one or two convenient treasures?

  Thinking of this, Sun Ming couldn't help but walk over to where the dispute had occurred.

  "Must it really require so many materials?" a cultivator in the Tribulation period asked with a look of difficulty, his tone filled with pleading and hope.

  "Alright, it can't be any less than this. This is the rule set by our Instrument Repair Union. The material for refining instruments is part of the cost, and you haven't even gathered enough crystal stones, let alone only gathering half a set of materials. This is far from what we require. Since you know the rules, don't waste my time here." A slightly impatient voice came from an instrument spirit who was about to transcend, seemingly not taking the person in front of him seriously as a soon-to-be high-ranking cultivator.

  A beggar-like person who has gotten food, with a look of disgust on his face that is beyond words.

  "But I really can't find it, and soon I'll be facing the Tribulation. If I don't find those materials to cultivate this treasure, I'll have no choice but to disperse my cultivation base and become a loose immortal." This cultivator's face showed difficulty, clearly he was unable to gather those things, and for crossing the Heavenly Tribulation, most of the required treasures were mid-grade spiritual artifacts or above, otherwise they would be useless. Without using a treasure to cross the Tribulation, unless one is an extraordinary master, it's simply a fool's dream.

  They say that some cultivators have a majestic aura, and the heavenly tribulation will disperse. This is purely nonsense. The cultivation world is also a very realistic world. Compared to the wealth and power of the mortal world, cultivators pursue magical treasures even more. After all, having one more magical treasure means having an extra chance of winning in battle, and having an extra thread of hope when crossing the heavenly tribulation.

  "What are you doing here? If you don't have anything, then quickly get out of the way and don't bother the next person. Honestly, how can cultivators in the tribulation period be so poor nowadays? They can't even gather enough materials to refine a single spiritual artifact-level treasure. It's really a decline of the times." The cultivator from the Artifact Refining Union waved his hand as if shooing away a beggar, gesturing for the other cultivator to leave while continuously speaking these sarcastic words.

  "This is how your Equipment Repair Alliance does business? It's really an eye-opener for me, I'm so fed up with this kind of rubbish. A bunch of trash like you can actually form a 'Equipment Repair Alliance'? Have all the alchemists in the world gone extinct or something? Letting you guys make fools of yourselves here." As soon as Sun Ming's voice fell, the originally noisy hall suddenly quieted down, and everyone's eyes gathered on Sun Ming.

  "I don't know who you are, why do you speak to our Qiwu Union with such disrespect." The Qi Wuhui period's repairer of the Qiwu Union asked cautiously. After all, there are only two kinds of people who can speak like this here: one is deeply hidden and has a huge influence, in short, they don't put us in their eyes at all; the other is to pretend to be tough, bluffing you, in short, pretending to be number one. However, Sun Mingxian's demeanor made the Qiwu Union's repairers think that he belonged to the former, the deeply hidden type.

  "What kind of person am I? I've even forgotten what kind of person I am. I didn't expect that after being in seclusion for a while, the Spiritual Realm would change so much. Even cats and dogs can refine equipment now, and there's an Equipment Refining Union - to me, it's just a union of trash. Sun Ming cursed loudly, his heart feeling incredibly relieved, like he had been thirsty for a long time and was suddenly given a glass of cold boiled water. The comfort was really hard to put into words."

  "I remember before I went into seclusion, there was a sect called Qiling Sect that only charged a small fee for refining equipment, and they never cheated anyone, young or old. The things they refined were all top-notch, with very few defective products. Why are you all refining equipment here? Don't you know about that great place? Although it's a bit far away and the transportation cost is higher, everything has its own value. I think you're all foolish, blinded by your own ignorance!" Sun Ming, disguised as Ming Xin Zhenren, spoke with such conviction that he seemed like someone who had indeed been in seclusion for a long time.

  "Senior, you don't know that the Qiling Sect has been destroyed." The oppressed and almost collapsed Transcending Tribulation stage cultivator said with a pained expression.

  "Damn it, if the Qilingshen wasn't destroyed by the alliance of Shengmeng and Qixiulian, who would be stupid enough to come here to refine instruments? I've been thinking about why the Qilingshen was destroyed for so many years, and now I finally understand - it's because of the jealousy of the Qixiulian. Maybe Shengmeng framed the Qilingshen for colluding with the Wuzong, all because of that damned Qixiulian." This cultivator from the Xiuzhen world had clearly had enough of the Qixiulian's nonsense and was now cursing them loudly, covering them in a torrent of abuse.

  "This monk, please mind your words. If you continue to speak out of turn like this, both of you will become objects of our Instrument Refining Union's rejection. We will no longer refine any magical instruments for you." The disciple of the Instrument Refining Union said with a self-satisfied tone, his petty and arrogant attitude on full display.

  "Threaten me?" Sun Ming laughed, his smile was so radiant, the laughter was filled with ridicule towards the Instrument Repair Alliance. The laughter made the arrogant Instrument Spirit Sect disciple feel uneasy and fearful.

  "Whatever, I've had enough of your Equipment Repair Union's nonsense. Threaten me? Who's afraid of you? You're just a bunch of good-for-nothings." The cultivator who had transcended the tribulation period spoke in a clear and powerful tone, his gaze making the equipment repair union cultivator dare not meet his eyes.

  "Who says only the trash of the Equipment Refining Union can refine equipment?"