The next stop was still within the mountains of Taoyuan, about seven li from Mount Xingde, nestled deep in a canyon.

“To the northwest is Mount Wulei, and to the southeast is Mount Wangyue. This valley runs east; it’s the main road to Dongting Lake...” Standing at the mouth of the valley, Lord Xingde pointed out the landscape to Liu Xiaolou as he spoke.

Just then, a few people appeared on each of the two mountains. They were making their way down the trails heading east, getting ready to leave Taoyuan. When they saw Lord Xingde and Liu Xiaolou, one of them called out, “You guys get kicked out by the Qingyu Sect too?”

Lord Xingde kept a cold silence, but Liu Xiaolou answered, “You all were, too?”

As more people gathered, the complaints began to pour out.

“Damn it! May everyone in the Qingyu Sect rot in hell!”

“What did we ever do to them? We’re just trying to survive here, and they won’t even allow that?”

“The Zhou clan got raided; not by us! I heard about it after the fact and rushed over, hoping to grab a share. But by the time I got there, it was already picked clean. So now what? Didn’t get a thing, and still got blamed like it was my fault. What a joke!”

“Taoyuan won’t let us live. Where else can we even go?”

“Where else? Back to where we came from, I guess.”

“Back? Brother, there’s nothing waiting for me back home. No way I’m going; there’s no life for me there.”

“Well then, you’re more than welcome. I’m from Heishan. Come to Heishan, brother. We can figure something out together…”

“Heishan?”

“North Cliff, up in Heishan.”

“North Cliff? Do you know the Thousand-Faced Butcher?”

“Well now, what do you know; small world! Brother Tu is my sworn brother. Not blood, sure, but closer than real family…”

“Family, my ass! That loudmouth maniac? You’re getting jumped right now!”

“Hey, hey.... what’s going on? Brothers, let’s talk this out—ah, damn—!”

“Go ask that butcher yourself! But first, we beat you down to vent some steam, then drag your sorry ass back to North Cliff and make him give my sister back!”

At the mouth of the valley, blades clashed with flying swords. Water arrows tangled with fireballs. In an instant, chaos exploded like a pot boiling over.

Liu Xiaolou quickly grabbed Lord Xingde and slipped away into the valley. As they disappeared into the foliage, Lord  Xingde glanced back and sneered, “Bunch of rogue cultivators.”

Liu Xiaolou rolled his eyes. Isn’t this totally normal though? he thought.

The valley path was rough, overgrown with trees and tangled vines. Liu Xiaolou led the way, cutting through with his sword, until they reached an area filled with scattered rocks.

Lord Xingde pointed to a large boulder. “Move that.”

Once the stone was pushed aside, a narrow hole was revealed underneath.

“What kind of mine is this?” Liu Xiaolou asked, curious.

“It’s not a mine,” Lord Xingde said as he leapt down. “It’s an ancient tomb.”

Climbing down into the underground chamber, he lit a firestarter. In front of them stretched a burial corridor, about thirty feet long. At the far end, the corridor opened into a stone chamber, and in the center of that chamber sat a stone coffin.

“When I found this place, all the burial goods had already been looted. Not even the bones were left; just this mercury inside the coffin. I guess the grave robbers couldn’t take it with them,” said Lord Xingde.

Liu Xiaolou stepped closer and peered into the coffin. Inside was a thick pool of silvery liquid. He dipped his sword into it, gently stirring the surface. Ripples spread out across the shimmering layer; it really was mercury.

“I’ve heard mercury can preserve a body from decay. So that’s true?”

“It is. But it takes a massive amount. Most people couldn’t get their hands on this much. The tomb’s owner must’ve been a wealthy and powerful figure in his time.”

“Looks like we lucked out, then.”

“Mercury helps concentrate spiritual energy and keeps it from dissipating. It’s an essential material for refining magical tools. But don’t overdo it. What matters is that it’s light and evenly balanced. Most artificers think the more mercury you add, the better it’ll lock in the spiritual essence; but that’s a big mistake. Too much, and the tool loses its agility. You end up with something heavy and clumsy.”

Another tip for refining magical tools. Liu Xiaolou made sure to commit it to memory.

Lord Xingde pulled out a small bamboo tube and had Liu Xiaolou collect a sample of mercury from the coffin.

After that, the two of them spent the rest of the day foraging around the surrounding mountains, gathering things like realgar and saltpeter. By the time they were done, night had already fallen.

But instead of returning to the temple, Lord Xingde took advantage of the night and left Taoyuan with Liu Xiaolou, heading east. Now and then, they would veer off course to explore some remote mountain or secluded ravine in search of useful materials.

Lord Xingde explained to Liu Xiaolou that while the ingredients for refining magical tools could vary wildly, there was a core set that almost every artifact required. And that's the “Five Metals and Eight Stones.”

The Five Metals were gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin.

The Eight Stones were cinnabar, realgar, mica, azurite, sulfur, rock salt, orpiment, and saltpeter.

Each metal and each stone came in different grades and types, and their effects could vary drastically. The quality of the materials used directly influences the unique characteristics of the magical tools forged from them.

Judging that quality meant examining things like color, hardness, weight, and purity. And ultimately, they were classified under the Five Elements

Because in the end, Lord Xingde said, refining magical tools was all about refining the Five Elements.

They walked and talked through the night, Liu Xiaolou listening closely and asking questions now and then. Without even realizing it, he learned straight through until dawn.

The art of refining was vast and deep. Even Lord Xingde admitted that everything he was sharing now only touched on the path of formation disks within the field of artifact refining. But even this much left Liu Xiaolou’s head spinning. He understood the what, but not the why. It was clearly not something one could grasp overnight. This would take time. Lots of repetition and practice.

As he studied, Liu Xiaolou began to understand Lord Xingde’s intentions. Passing down his own refining techniques must have been Lord Xingde’s way of repaying a debt. That thought filled Liu Xiaolou with joy and made him even more determined to learn everything he could.

Fortunately, the Three Mysteries Sect had a technique for refining Bewildering Fragrance Tendons, and Liu Xiaolou had spent years training in it. Many of the core principles overlapped, so he picked things up quickly, and his sharp understanding left a strong impression on Lord Xingde.

Before they knew it, the scenery changed; shimmering green waters stretched out endlessly ahead. Dozens of fishing boats had their sails raised, casting nets across the surface. They had arrived at Dongting Lake.

In the middle of the lake sat a large island, though you couldn’t see it from shore. Dongting was simply too vast. That hidden island at the heart of the lake was Junshan. One of the great blessed lands of the world, and home to the Qingyu Sect. Liu Xiaolou gazed toward the lake’s center, full of longing.

They followed the southern shoreline for some time, tracing a wide arc, then veered away from the water and traveled another twenty-some li northwest. There, nestled among the hills, stood a manor with layered eaves and heavy tiled roofs.

Lord Xingde stopped. Instead of approaching, he led Liu Xiaolou into a nearby patch of forest, where they sat and pulled out some dry rations to eat.

“You were watching that estate just now, weren’t you?” Liu Xiaolou asked.

Lord Xingde nodded. “That’s the Zhou family’s manor.”

Liu Xiaolou was surprised. “The same Zhou family that got raided a few days ago? It doesn’t look nearly as wealthy as the Zhang family estate down in southern Xiang.”

Lord Xingde said, “You’re talking about Zhang Xianbai’s Jinping Manor? The Zhou family estate has far deeper foundations. The cultivators living there aren’t even in the same league. Aside from Zhang Xianbai himself, Jinping Manor doesn’t have any real talent. But in this generation of the Zhou family, there are three top-level experts. Two of them have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage and are inner disciples of the Qingyu Sect.”

Liu Xiaolou glanced at Lord Xingde. “Senior… the injury you’re carrying. Is it... ” he cautiously asked.

Lord Xingde nodded. “Yes. I was wounded right here.”

Liu Xiaolou lit up. “Then you got the Hero’s Post too! Or wait… were you the one who sent it out? Senior, are you connected with Boss Wang somehow\...?”

Lord Xingde blinked. “Hero’s Post? Boss who?”

He didn’t seem to be faking, so Liu Xiaolou quickly changed the subject. “You’ve said before the Zhou family’s no good, so why come here? Unless… they’ve got some rare refining treasure? Are you thinking of pulling a repeat of what those  heroes.... er, I mean, those bandits did the other day and hitting the manor again?”

Lord Xingde shook his head. “This wasn’t planned. I just happened to pass by while collecting materials in the area. That said… since we’re here, I do need a favor. Go into the manor and draw out Lady Zhou Qiniang for me.”

Liu Xiaolou looked surprised, then grinned. “Ah, I see. Don’t worry, this is kind of my specialty. This Lady Zhou Qiniang… does she have any cultivation? How strong is she?”