A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 41: Chapter 40: Array Base and Array Map

This time, even Master Xuan Ji realized the benefits of employing Lin Le.

He frequently brought cultivators to shop here, so he was quite familiar with many shopkeepers. Upon hearing Master Xuan Ji’s request, the young man patted his chest and promised to find a satisfactory shop.

With Lin Le’s introduction, using the re-casting of the Vermilion Bird Jade Seal as a pretext, Lu Qian had detailed discussions with several shopkeepers.

From the raw materials for artifact refining to the crafting, storage, transportation, and sales, Lu Qian, an outsider to artifact refining, gained a basic understanding of the entire process and business model.

Finally, through Lin Le’s introduction, an artifact refining workshop agreed to offer a discount, willing to customize a Vermilion Bird Jade Seal for sixteen hundred Spirit Stones.

The artifact refiner explained: ”Your array base material is an entire piece of Fire Marrow Spiritual Jade, quite valuable. Moreover, this array base and array map are part of a complete set. Now that one array base is damaged, adding a new one to complete the set is as difficult as crafting a new set. I’ll even have to invite a fellow who understands the Five Elements Grand Array to help, which incurs additional costs.”

Master Xuan Ji was unhappy: ”I’m an array cultivator, why not consult me directly?”

The artifact refiner quickly replied: ”No, no, you don’t understand artifact refining; merely knowing array principles isn’t useful. This price is already very fair. I’m expediting it for you; you’ll have to leave the array map and other array bases with me for five days, then you can pick them up once refined.”

Reluctantly leaving such precious array map and bases was against every fiber of Master Xuan Ji’s being. But there was no other choice, so he signed the agreement and paid a deposit of six hundred Spirit Stones.

”Lu the Kid, my retirement savings are all spent here.” Master Xuan Ji lamented, ”When we reach the Xianyou Sect in Ningzhou with Li Zhenru’s remains, make sure to request extra Spirit Stones, okay?”

Lu Qian ignored him; repairing a single array base required sixteen hundred Spirit Stones. How much would the remaining four bases and array map be worth?

Yet he had no regrets giving them to Master Xuan Ji, as long as he could learn the arrays; what’s a little loss of worldly possessions?

With matters settled, Lu Qian asked, ”So, crafting array bases and maps requires knowledge of both arrays and artifact refining?”

The artifact refiner nodded, pointing at a nearby small building: ”See over there, Treasure Array Pavilion, it’s the largest array specialty store in the entire Fourth District. You can take a look.”

Lu Qian thanked the artifact refiner and went towards Treasure Array Pavilion with the others.

Master Xuan Ji gritted his teeth beside him: ”It’s this store; initially I thought specializing in arrays made it ideal. The first time I entered, they quoted twenty-five hundred Spirit Stones! Absolutely outrageous.”

The store looked unimpressive from the outside, but upon entering, Lu Qian sensed its extraordinary nature.

The few attendants here were all cultivators, at Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation or higher, a stark contrast from other shops broadly employing mortal attendants.

The shop’s large space displayed array maps and bases, shimmering with spiritual light in glass cabinets, overwhelming the group.

There were no other customers currently in the shop. A friendly attendant approached: ”Greetings, fellow Daoist, what array are you interested in? If you’re an array cultivator, we have Three Talents, Four Symbols, Five Elements, and Six Harmonies categories of array bases and maps. If you intend to buy for direct use, we have specialized array cultivators to record array transformations, enabling them to automatically operate once placed into a Spirit Vein, perfect for sect protection and site concealment...”

Just then, he noticed Master Xuan Ji behind Lu Qian, smiling: ”Ah, it’s you, fellow Daoist. Changed your mind about coming back to our store for re-casting, have you?”

Master Xuan Ji wore an exasperated expression: ”You gouging merchants! At such prices, even my savings aren’t enough, you’ve taken me for a fool!”

The attendant wasn’t annoyed, continuing with a smile: ”That’s not right, fellow Daoist; you get what you pay for. For array casting of bases and maps, there’s no better store than ours. We have nine contracted array forgers, seventeen array cultivators, ensuring precise and flawless crafting, just like new.”

Lu Qian coughed lightly, interrupting his sales pitch: ”We’ll discuss re-casting later; I’m interested in purchasing a set of array bases and maps. What Five Elements Grand Arrays do you have here?”

The attendant led him to a glass showcase: ”Please look, fellow Daoist, sorted by tier: Mid-Tier Magical Artifact Level, High-Tier Magical Artifact Level, and upstairs even Spiritual Artifact Level or Magical Treasure Level, though you won’t need those at the moment.”

”According to the material of the array bases and maps, we’ve also meticulously designed various base shapes. Take a look, fellow Daoist; there’s token type, command banner type, flying sword type, seal type, chess piece type...”

”Too flashy.” Master Xuan Ji was displeased, ”Array operation has nothing to do with base shape; these are just to deceive outsiders! Array mystery lies entirely with the array cultivator.”

Lu Qian glanced around; the price was displayed alongside each array.

A Five Elements Grand Array, a set of Mid-Tier Magical Artifact Level bases and maps, was priced between four thousand and five thousand Spirit Stones.

A set of High-Tier Magical Artifact Level, priced as high as nine thousand to ten thousand, truly daunting.

Were these bases and maps made by array forgers? They must understand both artifact refining and arrays. With prices so high, one wonders what profit the array forgers make?

”Such a vast selection, all top-quality.” Lu Qian observed the bases and maps, feigned admiration, ”Are all the array bases and maps in this store crafted by your array forgers?”

The attendant proudly nodded: ”That’s right; throughout Cangzhou, ours is the only one with such capability.”

”Your store is indeed grand.” Lu Qian said casually, ”Sustaining an array forger can be quite costly. At my hometown marketplace, crafting even one set of bases and maps requires paying an array forger a thousand Spirit Stones.”

The attendant was puzzled: ”That’s an unusual model at your hometown. In Cangzhou, we pay array forgers with commissions.”

Lu Qian extracted further information about varying commissions based on skill level before excusing himself to consider things, leaving with the others.

Once outside, Master Xuan Ji smirked and asked: ”How about it, Lu the Kid, can’t afford it, right?”

”It is indeed quite expensive.” Lu Qian laughed, ”Turns out you’re the wealthiest among us.”

”Prices here are somewhat inflated, but even at cheaper stores, a set of Mid-Tier Magical Artifact Level Five Elements Grand Array still costs over four thousand Spirit Stones. Mainly expensive due to rare materials and the difficulty of crafting sets.” Master Xuan Ji said smugly, then paused and shifted the topic, ”Lu the Kid, why don’t you become my disciple? I’ll gift you this set of command banner bases and maps.”

Lu Qian and Jiang Qingfeng both froze, stopping in their tracks.

Master Xuan Ji looked directly into Lu Qian’s eyes, his expression extremely serious: ”Why do you insist on not accepting a master? You’ve been hiding something with Miss Qingfeng from me, haven’t you? Even now, you won’t tell me?”