Wanderer Bugui looked at Li Xue and the others with a half-smile, his voice trailing off eerily. "I have a bit of a misunderstanding with these two youngsters. Might we have a word in private?"
*In your dreams!* Li Xue thought, her eyes blazing with fury. One look at him was enough to know he harbored ill intentions. If she weren't so outmatched in strength, she would have loved to punch his head in.
Li Lin, however, remained composed, his face dark with contemplation. A wicked cultivator like this had to be dealt with today; otherwise, the future consequences would be endless. As long as the man harbored even a shred of suspicion, he would find a way to confirm it—unless his mother and he never stepped foot outside the Yuxuan Sect again.
Hei Yan’s expression was even more somber. He mused to himself: *Tianxi Wood is a material for divine artifacts. Is this wicked cultivator searching for it to refine a divine tool? No, that’s impossible; only gods can refine divine artifacts. Could he be trying to refine a Five Elements treasure as well?*
Li Lin caught Li Xue’s eye and gave her a subtle look. Li Xue nodded, silently entrusting the matter to her son.
"Seniors," Li Lin said, bowing deeply. "This junior was fortunate enough to obtain some spirit wine from the Golden Ape King. I would be honored if you both would grace us by sampling it."
Cangyu Shenjun saw right through Li Lin’s intentions and chuckled. "Very well, I shall have a taste!" With a flicker of movement, he appeared inside the second-floor private room.
Wanderer Bugui grinned, revealing a few teeth, and leaped into the room as well.
Chi Ze had already prepared two cups and filled them. Cangyu Shenjun took a sip and praised, "Not bad, not bad at all. It truly lives up to its reputation!"
Wanderer Bugui took a drink but couldn't truly appreciate the nuances. He spoke with growing impatience, "Little brat, now it’s time to tell me what you were hiding."
Li Xue felt a wave of disdain. *Truly uncultured. Look at Cangyu Shenjun—now that is the bearing of a true Lord.*
"Tianxi Wood," Li Lin said flatly.
Wanderer Bugui bolted upright, his eyes locked onto Li Lin with a death stare. "If you dare lie to me, I will make sure you—!" He started to bark a threat but suddenly remembered another Shenjun was present and that the item was still in the boy's hands. He quickly softened his tone. "Whatever you want in exchange, as long as it is within my power, we can trade!"
Li Lin didn't want to waste words. "First, I want a map of the star domains beyond our borders, including detailed descriptions."
At this, Wanderer Bugui’s expression shifted. He had traveled through quite a few star domains; the boy had certainly asked the right person. He glanced at the junior’s cultivation level—traveling the outer domains was no easy feat—and he actually began to feel a sliver of admiration for Li Lin.
"Second, I need certain refining materials." Li Lin handed over a jade slip containing the list of missing materials for the Five Elements treasures.
"Third—" Li Lin began, but Wanderer Bugui glared at him. "You brat, why can't you say it all at once? Why so many conditions?"
Li Lin curled his lip and continued, "Just those two for now. However, Senior must swear an oath never to trouble us again."
Wanderer Bugui was stunned. Forcing a Soul Transformation cultivator to swear an oath? Was this kid's head screwed on right? To even dare suggest such a thing... did he already know the true use of Tianxi Wood?
Now, Wanderer Bugui began to observe the group in earnest. Though he acted on whim and possessed a wicked streak, he was a meticulous man.
Upon closer inspection, he realized two of them were transformed spirit beasts. If he wasn't mistaken, one of them carried the aura of the Black Wolf tribe. No wonder these kids were so bold as to bargain with him; they already knew what the Tianxi Wood was for.
Cangyu Shenjun was also startled, his gaze lingering on Li Lin with newfound depth. However, as a Soul Transformation cultivator, he remained perfectly composed.
"Fine! It's a deal!" Wanderer Bugui agreed readily, nearly causing Cangyu Shenjun to choke on his wine. This wicked cultivator was truly eccentric to agree to such terms.
Wanderer Bugui scanned the jade slip, pondering for a moment. "I happen to have Nether Snow Crystal and Spirit Profound Jade. As for Kun Thunder Earth and Heavenly Dust Crystal, I can tell you where to find them. However, I have never even heard of a Purple Crow Feather."
Li Xue and the others were overjoyed. Li Lin had only hoped that Wanderer Bugui might have heard of these materials and could provide a general direction. He hadn't expected the man to actually possess two of them. It was a massive windfall, especially since their public inquiries over the past few months had yielded nothing.
Only after Wanderer Bugui swore the oath to never act against them did Li Xue reluctantly produce one of the earrings.
A sharp light flashed in Wanderer Bugui’s eyes as he snatched it into his hand. He examined it carefully, confirming it was indeed Tianxi Wood. He then chuckled, "Little girl, my apologies for taking your token of love in exchange!"
Li Xue felt her chest tighten with indignation, nearly coughing up blood from the sheer annoyance. Li Lin and Hei Yan both shuddered. A "token of love" from Dongfang Shou? The very thought sent a chill of disgust through them.
Wanderer Bugui laughed heartily, finding great satisfaction in the children's irritation. He turned, grabbing the captive Core Formation cultivator from the Tie family to leave. Suddenly, feeling as though he had gained far too much from the deal and feeling a rare pang of guilt, he tossed a jade slip to Li Lin.
"These are some of my insights into artifact refining. Little brats, if you ever travel the outer domains and reach the Fangyuan Star Domain, you may come find me!"
The moment Cangyu Shenjun heard "Fangyuan Star Domain," he lost his composure. The cultivators of the Fangyuan Star Domain were famous for their artifact refining; they were all at the Grandmaster level. He had even heard that an Eight-Tribulation Loose Immortal presided over that region.
If Wanderer Bugui came from the Fangyuan Star Domain, he was undoubtedly a Grandmaster Artificer. If he were merely a Master, a Soul Transformation cultivator would be too embarrassed to offer his refining insights as a gift.
"Friend Bugui, since fate has brought you to the Yuxuan Sect, I hope you will grace us with your presence for a longer stay. You are most welcome!" Cangyu Shenjun hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay.
Wanderer Bugui snorted. Who was it that wanted to kick him out just a moment ago? Did they think he enjoyed staying on this third-rate cultivation planet? It didn't even have a single Loose Immortal. If it weren't for the search for Tianxi Wood, he wouldn't have spared this place a second glance as he passed by.
The one even more anxious than Cangyu Shenjun was Hei Yan. From the fact that Bugui was looking for Tianxi Wood and the insights he gave Li Lin, Hei Yan guessed the man must be a Grandmaster Artificer.
If Li Xue’s Five Elements treasures could be guided by a Grandmaster Artificer, the success rate would be enormous, and their power would be extraordinary. Hei Yan calculated how to keep the man there. A spark of inspiration hit him, and he spoke up:
"The refining methods for Primordial Five Elements treasures—would Senior be interested?"
Wanderer Bugui, who was about to take flight, froze mid-motion. He turned and gave Hei Yan a deep, searching look. "Truly from the Primordial Era? If you lie to me, I will make sure you—" He started to threaten again, remembered his oath, and settled for: "I will make sure your human transformation is hideous!"
The group couldn't help but roll their eyes. Did he think spirit beasts actually enjoyed turning into humans?
Hei Yan, however, was elated. "The reason my Mistress is collecting Five Elements materials is to refine Five Elements treasures. If we can receive Senior’s guidance, I am willing to offer the Primordial refining methods with both hands!"
***
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Ascended Without Me: Cultivating with a Genius Son | Chapter 108 | The Grandmaster Artificer | Novela.app | Novela.app
