CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 157: HUNDRED REFINING SECT

Outside the array, Shen Wang looked back at the hidden Ninth Peak.

"From now on, this is my new home, and no one can drive me away!"

He muttered to himself, his expression determined.

"Next, I must make this place as solid as a fortress; not even a Golden Core Zhenren or a Nascent Soul Cultivator should think of easily breaking in!"

More arrays! He needed more arrays, stronger arrays.

Over the past half month, he had integrated several sets of arrays into the natural array here.

It’s not enough.

The area here is vast; the arrays he previously used were all small-scale, covering a range of a few hundred meters at best, but as the range increases, the power of the array decreases.

He either needs to acquire a large-scale array or buy more small-scale arrays.

There are various other things too; anything that can enhance the protective capabilities of this new home, he wants!

He donned a set of clothes and covered his face with a cloak, pointed at the ground, and with a clang, a white light shot out from Shen Wang’s sleeve, transforming into a flying sword to support his feet.

Swoosh!

Shen Wang took to sword flight, soaring into the sky, swiftly departing into the distance.

"I haven’t noticed Profound Thunder Zhenren and his followers coming after me during this time, they must have lost my trail; they’ll likely keep a secret watch on nearby markets. Would they target me for buying so many arrays at the Lingxi Sect Market before?"

Shen Wang’s eyes shifted, changing direction, avoiding the Lingxi Sect Market.

He’d rather travel a bit further than expose his whereabouts again.

The Void Sect’s region is too vast, and before securing this place like a fortress, he still needs some time.

"Buying arrays is too costly; it’s better to buy array blueprints and craft the arrays myself, this way is safest!"

Shen Wang contemplated a safer method; however, array blueprints are even more precious and difficult to obtain.

After all, with a set of array blueprints, one can mass-produce arrays, and most importantly, if the blueprints are leaked, others can easily break the array.

Therefore, such things are closely guarded secrets, and buying them is difficult. Low-level arrays are fine, but the high-level arrays he needs are unlikely to be readily available through normal channels.

"I want top-grade arrays, even top-grade arrays of the highest caliber. If I craft them myself, I can save at least half the cost, I cannot give up on this approach."

Shen Wang recalled the situation of nearby provinces, thought for a moment, and chose to head east.

Jin Province, east of Xi Province, is rich in minerals and has a highly developed refining industry; many artifact refining families have emerged there.

The weapons of this province are renowned throughout the Sun and Moon Dynasty.

Whether it’s for magical treasures or arrays, all require various metal materials.

In the cultivation realm, Jin Province is therefore a major producer of magical treasures, puppets, and arrays.

Within lies the major sect, Hundred Refining Sect, famous for both puppetry and magical treasures, with significant achievements in arrays as well.

If acquiring array blueprints in Xi Province proves difficult, Jin Province should be much easier, and the related materials are likely to be cheaper too.

The distance to Jin Province extends beyond three thousand miles, and Shen Wang spent half a day in high-altitude sword flight before reaching the bustling Jinzhou City.

The gathering places of cultivators typically avoid human cities, and generally only cultivators can enter.

Guided by the fluctuations of arrays, Shen Wang arrived at a mountainous region. As he approached, the void suddenly became heavy, and he was directly forced to land by a powerful force.

"There’s actually a no-fly array here, far more formidable than that of the Lingxi Sect Market."

He looked surprised in the distance, as a burly man carrying a hammer walked by, chuckling, "First time here, brother? The market here is in the same range as the Hundred Refining Sect, with the sect’s no-fly array covering it, making it much safer than other places."

Shen Wang observed this talkative, quite hospitable strong man.

Standing eight feet tall, his skin was of a bronze hue, bare-chested, carrying an iron hammer as tall as a person, its head the size of a large brain, exuding a powerful aura.

Judging by his cultivation, this man had the strength of a grandmaster.

As for how to distinguish between Qi cultivation and martial arts practitioners, it’s simple: by the amount of spiritual power contained within their aura and the state of their vitality.

Qi Cultivation cultivators possess a spirit root, and even when involved in body refinement, they mostly engulf spiritual Qi for cultivation; naturally, their strength and vitality contain considerable spiritual power.

Martial practitioners lack a spirit root, absorbing little spiritual Qi from the start of their cultivation. Even when reaching the Innate level, their absorption rate of spiritual Qi is very low; they mostly use flesh and herbs rich in spiritual power for cultivation, making a noticeable difference, discernible at a glance.

He clasped his fist, "Thank you for the clarification, are you from the Hundred Refining Sect?"

"Correct, I am Huang Yushan, a steward of the Artifact Refining Pavilion in the Hundred Refining Sect. Are you here to buy magical artifacts? If so, I can make some recommendations."

Huang Yushan revealed his intention to strike up a conversation, intending to sell Shen Wang something.

"I’m not buying magical artifacts for now; I’m looking to buy arrays, preferably with array maps."

Shen Wang shook his head.

"I can introduce you to the Array Refining Pavilion for the arrays, but buying array maps might be difficult."

Huang Yushan glanced at Shen Wang, "If you really want them, you should check out the Array Refining Pavilion."

"Thank you, but where is the Array Refining Pavilion?"

It was Shen Wang’s first time here, and he was completely unfamiliar with the place.

"It’s right ahead in Hundred Refinements City. Our sect’s outer and inner pavilions are integrated to facilitate the selling of all sorts of items by the sect’s disciples and elders."

Huang Yushan chuckled, "Our usual task isn’t fighting and killing, but refining various things and selling them for profit."

"Oh, so it’s a streamlined process from raw materials to finished products."

Shen Wang laughed.

"Exactly, streamlined, and here you’re sure to find what you’re looking for."

Huang Yushan patted his chest, guaranteeing it.

As they spoke, they arrived at the imposing city ahead.

The mountain towered thousands of feet high, not steep, resembling Huang Yushan himself—big-bellied, burly, his entire body fiery red, like a melting furnace.

The city walls stood a hundred feet high, situated on a slope of a hot, steaming mountain, with the words ’Hundred Refinements City’ in dark red lettering at the front, glowing like rising flames.

From behind the city, the sound of hammering echoed, and visible to the eye were many furnaces within the mountain spewing flames.

"This is Hundred Refinement Mountain and Hundred Refinements City, where over a hundred furnaces of various sizes are arrayed for artifact refining, array refining, alchemy, and more. These furnaces connect to the Fire of the Earth’s Core, and the central Earth Core Melting Furnace, a towering ten-thousand-foot structure, can refine awe-inspiring Spiritual Artifacts!"

Huang Yushan spoke with pride.

"Your sect can refine Spiritual Artifacts, that’s remarkable."

Shen Wang praised; after all, Spiritual Artifacts are legendary things, a significant level above magical treasures, reaching the spirit tier of legends!

"Heh, so I told you, you’ll find what you need here for sure."

Huang Yushan didn’t elaborate further, guiding Shen Wang into the city, arriving at a tall pavilion made of metal and wood.

The pavilion, like most city structures, was exquisitely built, rising ten zhang, separated into seven levels, with the words ’Array Refining Pavilion’ written on it.

Not far away was the even taller Artifact Refining Pavilion, with ten times the foot traffic, even more bustling.

"Our sect divides into sub-pavilions like the Artifact Refining Pavilion, Array Refining Pavilion, Alchemy Pavilion, based on our inheritances and product categories. Whatever you want, just go to the corresponding pavilion."

Huang Yushan said, then shouted loudly, "Old Li, come out and greet the guest."