Chapter 531: Exchanging Insights on Artifact Refining
By daylight, the small village bustled with activity, and Jiang Li’s group encountered more villagers.
Just as the ma’am had mentioned last night, the villagers were all discussing whether to establish connections with the outside world.
Compared to the outside world, this small village appeared quite backward, still unaware that the Nine Provinces had connected with several other worlds, let alone knowing that the prices of basic talismans had repeatedly dropped.
Over the past decade, the Nine Provinces had developed rapidly. While this didn’t significantly affect high-level cultivators, it noticeably impacted low-level cultivators and ordinary mortals. Staying secluded for just a few years meant being left behind by the times.
Jiang Li also discovered that the villagers’ cultivation methods had problems, showing slight differences from orthodox cultivation practices – this was a serious issue.
“It must be because they’ve been practicing on their own for too long, gradually deviating from the proper path.”
“And there’s what the ma’am mentioned yesterday about moving mountains…”
To move mountains required at least a Divine Transformation cultivator’s intervention, yet this small village clearly didn’t have anything worth a Divine Transformation cultivator’s attention.
Jiang Li pondered deeply. Since Yu Yin had chosen this place for the third challenge, she must have known about the village’s situation. Even so, she had limited the competition rules to the Foundation Establishment level – there must be some reason for this.
While thinking, Jiang Li crossed mountains and ridges, arriving outside the mountains to observe the external situation.
Outside the mountains stood a simple small town that didn’t even have Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“With the physical capabilities of the third level of Qi Refining, it takes over two hours to travel from the small village to outside the mountains. The round trip would require nearly six hours – that’s too time-consuming.”
Jiang Li and his two companions sought out the village chief again.
“Village Chief, I heard you’re considering establishing connections with the outside world?”
“We’re still discussing it. A few days ago, I gathered the villagers, and everyone argued intensely with various opinions. Some are curious about the outside world and want to explore, others feel we’ve lived here for generations and can be self-sufficient without needing to move. The most ridiculous suggestion was using the spirit of the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains to move Human Sovereign Jiang, hoping he would use his great powers to move the mountains for us. Complete nonsense.”
“Now some villagers believe Human Sovereign Jiang is omnipotent and that he would definitely help them if he saw their difficulties.”
The village chief sighed helplessly. Human Sovereign Jiang had been in power for over three hundred years. Even in this isolated village, some people had ventured out and heard legends about him. Combined with wishful thinking, some had started fantasizing about getting something for nothing.
“What’s your opinion, Village Chief?”
“I don’t know. To be honest, I ventured outside in my younger years and witnessed artifact refining techniques completely different from what you demonstrated last night. The outside world has undergone tremendous changes while we’ve remained stagnant. In a few more decades, the village and the outside world will truly become two separate worlds.”
“But the outside world is full of scams and deception. I worry that if we go out, our entire village might be tricked into mining in some mountain.”
“Could you tell me about the current situation outside?”
Jiang Li nodded: “Empress Yu Yin still reigns. Ten years ago, she reached the Tribulation Transcendence Stage and completely consolidated her control over the court. Since then, she has attempted to reform the Tianyuan Dynasty.”
The village chief seemed skeptical: “The Tianyuan Dynasty can change? The dynasty uses national fortune as its chessboard – the more intense the struggle, the stronger the national fortune becomes. That’s what created the current situation.”
Bai Hongtu explained: “Yu Yin says that previously, the Tianyuan Dynasty involved both open and hidden conflicts. Now she wants to reduce the frequency of covert struggles while increasing open competition, transforming malignant competition into benign competition. This way, the national fortune won’t be damaged, and the people will live better than before.”
“She didn’t do this earlier for two reasons: first, she didn’t have complete control over the Tianyuan Dynasty; second, she worried that changing national policies might damage the national fortune and consequently destroy her.”
“Now that she’s reached the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, the full power of the national fortune barely touches the edge of this stage. Even if the national fortune changes, it won’t significantly affect her.”
By this point, Jiang Li largely understood Yu Yin’s intention.
“If someone were willing to help you relocate outside the mountains and establish terraced fields for farming, how much could you pay?”
After moving outside, they would still need to find work to sustain their livelihoods.
The village chief looked troubled: “Our village is very poor. Even counting the precious animal pelts and spiritual herbs we hunt and gather in the mountains, we could only afford to hire Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
“That should be sufficient.”
Yu Yin’s intention was for the village to become self-reliant rather than constantly depending on others, which aligned with Jiang Li’s consistent philosophy.
“However, many villagers still don’t want to move out. Trying to persuade them individually would probably take too much time.”
Jiang Li found the Luban Sect Master, Tang Ben, and several dozen other artifact refiners.
Other refiners were also helping throughout the village. During their assistance, they too recognized that the key problem was relocating the village outside.
Once this issue was resolved, other minor problems would naturally solve themselves.
After Jiang Li exchanged a few words with them, they understood his meaning and began taking separate actions to persuade the villagers.
During this period, everyone exchanged ideas about how to refine simple spiritual treasures for moving, land reclamation, and farming.
Jiang Li watched their exchanges with envy.
The most top-tier artifact refiners from across the Nine Provinces presented their respective viewpoints, each containing commendable aspects. However, since nobody would yield to others, they couldn’t reach consensus.
Finally, Tang Ben, recognized as the foremost artifact refiner, took charge of the situation. He integrated the various opinions and refined farming tools that even ordinary mortals could use.
“These spiritual treasures can be widely promoted.” Tang Ben nodded, noting that these farming tools were even more convenient and effective than his own designs.
“I don’t have many master artifact refiners around me. I’ve always studied alone and never discussed with others. This feeling of free discussion is truly wonderful.”
“How about this – let’s agree on a fixed time to gather and discuss artifact refining issues together. As for the location, why not set it at the Luban Sect?” suggested the only refiner present who couldn’t actually refine artifacts.
“I think this method is feasible.” The Luban Sect Master was the first to agree.
“Excellent idea.” Bai Hongtu and Ji Zhi echoed their agreement.
Then came wave after wave of consent.
Three days later, the entire village relocated outside the mountains and settled in the small town.
Jiang Li had already investigated thoroughly – the area outside the mountains had sparse population but ample land, perfectly suitable for the village’s settlement.
Jiang Li, Bai Hongtu, and Ji Zhi helped settle the village and communicated with the town mayor. With the town’s population increasing, the mayor naturally agreed.
Originally, the mayor had considered extorting some money from the villagers, but Jiang Li subtly hinted that this small village had attracted Empress Yu Yin’s attention and even displayed a token allegedly bestowed by Yu Yin.
The token was forged, but the attention from Yu Yin was genuine.
Thus, the mayor didn’t dare make any rash moves.
Jiang Li also advised the villagers to be more cautious, think carefully before acting, and consult the village chief when encountering uncertain situations.
During this period, the artifact refiners used their newly invented simple spiritual treasures to help the village reclaim land.
As everything concluded, exactly five days had passed.
The competition ended.
“I never imagined you could actually guess my intention.” Yu Yin appeared and spoke with Jiang Li’s group of three.
Moving only required one Foundation Establishment artifact refiner, but that would take too long. Hence, Yu Yin had set the five-day limit, requiring all refiners to act together.
As for the future artifact refiners’ exchange meetings being held at the Luban Sect, this came as a pleasant surprise to Yu Yin.
“But since you all solved the same problem together in this third challenge, who should actually win?”
Jiang Li smiled: “Ultimately, this is an artifact refining competition. Naturally, whoever has the highest refining skill should win.”
Both Bai Hongtu and Ji Zhi felt they had overstepped and agreed that neither should take first place.
“Then based on contributions, let Tang Ben take first place.”