Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 316: Chapter 288: 3 Requests

”Tributor Chen, besides that, I have three matters I’d like to request your help with.”

Chen Yin unhurriedly got down to business.

Chen Che gave a slight nod, remaining silent as he waited for him to continue.

”First, I’d like to ask Tributor Chen to refine a batch of pills for me.”

With a wave of his hand, a list materialized and floated in mid-air. ”They are all Tier Three Low Grade,” Chen Yin said calmly. ”I will have all the necessary materials and Spirit Stones delivered. It shouldn’t take up too much of your time. You can just refine them for me whenever you have a free moment.”

”Alright.”

Chen Che glanced at the list and gave a slight nod.

’These pills are on the same level as the Yin Spirit Pill, so they shouldn’t be too difficult. Most are for recovery and healing, with a few being Tier One and Two Realm-breaking Elixirs.’

’He’s not just bringing me business; he’s also sponsoring my alchemy practice.’

”Second, I’d like to send Chen Xi here to learn how to refine the Yang God Pill from you.”

Chen Yin continued.

”Impossible!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Che shot him down.

”His Cultivation Realm is insufficient, and the Yang God Pill is far too difficult to refine. Forgive my bluntness, but even if you were to exhaust the entire wealth of the Great Chen Royal Family, he still might not succeed. Let him start with Tier Two Middle Grade and High Grade Elixirs. He shouldn’t try to run before he can walk.”

For a star student, tackling difficult problems is a way to achieve a breakthrough.

But for an average student, trying to learn things so far ahead of their level is just a case of overreaching.

”Thank you for your guidance, Tributor Chen. When I return, I will be sure to pass on your counsel and tell him to temper his ambitions.”

Far from being offended, Chen Yin nodded earnestly. Chen Che was a genius of the Alchemy Dao; he wasn’t foolish enough to let his own inexperience question an expert’s judgment.

”As for the third matter, I’d like to commission Chief Liang Yuan of your valley to forge two suits of Tier Three heavy armor for me.”

”Two suits of Tier Three heavy armor? That’s not my department.”

Chen Che was a little surprised, but nodded nonetheless. ”You can go and discuss the details with Liang Yuan in person.”

Despite his words, he still rose to his feet.

Chen Yin followed him.

Jinyun Valley was bustling with activity. Disciples sparred constantly, their movements disciplined and orderly. Clearly, they were all preparing for the upcoming grand competition within the valley.

Chen Yin looked around, making no effort to hide the envy in his gaze.

On the way, Chen Yin brought up a fourth matter.

”Xiao Chan went to see you?”

Chen Che raised an eyebrow.

”Indeed. He arrived a few days ago, still going by the name ’Hermit Fushan.’ He’s staying with me for the time being.”

Chen Yin wasn’t trying to hide it.

He had backed many prospects over the years and had even been prepared to place his bets on Sun Hao. Unfortunately, since Sun Hao had a falling out with Chen Che, he had abandoned that idea without a second thought.

Although Xiao Chan wasn’t as strong as Chen Che, his potential was considerable. He became particularly motivated after witnessing Ye Jiuming’s Soul-Calling Banner. This, however, didn’t mean he was willing to abandon his connection with Chen Che.

Thus, he was giving him a heads-up to prevent any misunderstandings from forming between them.

”With the war in Shuzhou still ongoing, he’s probably there to collect some souls to power his Soul-Calling Banner, isn’t he? My apologies for causing you trouble, Fellow Daoist Chen.”

After a moment’s thought, Chen Che understood the key to the matter.

The Soul-Calling Banner was unlike ordinary Magical Artifacts. Its power was primarily determined by the number and strength of the souls it contained.

A mortal’s soul is weak, but once you gather enough of them, you can use them to cultivate powerful Ghostly Creatures, much like the process of raising Gu insects.

”Far from causing trouble, he has actually helped me a great deal.”

Though Chen Yin’s mask hid his expression, the cheerful tone in his voice was unmistakable.

”During the war between the two states, quite a few Evil Cultivators have been fishing in troubled waters. They don’t just collect stray souls; they also secretly set up Grand Arrays to ambush and slaughter mortals. It’s been impossible to guard against them all. He, however, is much more experienced in dealing with their kind.”

”He’s only been there for a few days, but he’s already eliminated several notorious Evil Cultivators.”

Evil Cultivators are often recklessly audacious.

They don’t care if their targets are under the protection of a Golden Core True Master. They’ll slaughter a group of mortals, take their blood and souls, and vanish. By the time the army reacts, they’re long gone. How could you possibly hope to track them down in a world of countless people?

”I see.”

Chen Che nodded slightly.

’As someone who once took down the Evil Cultivator Alliance, his strength is naturally anything but ordinary. Besides, I’m happy to see him grow stronger.’

’His ambition is set on the Primordial Sect. The more chaotic the Sixteen States become, the safer Jinyun Valley will be.’

One walking behind the other, the two arrived before a grand and impressive estate. Even from a distance, they could feel a wave of heat rolling toward them, accompanied by the CLANG CLANG CLANG of hammering. Several of Liang Yuan’s fellow apprentices stood with their hands clasped behind their backs, periodically shouting out critiques:

”Your horse stance must be solid for your strikes to be steady!”

”You’re forging, not just banging on a pot! The force of every hammer strike must be uniform, without the slightest deviation from the one before it. Only then can you forge a superior Spiritual Artifact!”

”Even mortals have a saying about tempering steel a hundred times. A Cultivator’s weapon needs far more than that—at least a thousand refinements, maybe even ten thousand!”

After making an inquiry, the two passed directly through the main hall into the rear courtyard.

Behind the Forging Hall lay an enormous courtyard, nearly half a li in diameter. It was piled high with various metal ingots, and the surrounding grass and trees had long since withered away.

In the very center, a massive Array was inscribed on the ground.

Flames from burning Spirit Wood were gathered by the Array, generating an intense, scorching heat. Liang Yuan stood there, bare-chested, his Heavy Hammer rising and falling in a constant rhythm. On the anvil below, the rough form of a sword was gradually taking shape.

Several disciples stood around them, feeding firewood into the flames.

”Alright, you’re all dismissed.”

Sensing their arrival in the courtyard, Liang Yuan caught sight of them from the corner of his eye and lowered the Heavy Hammer in his hands.

”Fellow Daoist Liang, why don’t you use your True Essence to forge?” Chen Yin asked with curiosity.

”Everyone has their own method of Artifact Refining. I dare not forget the fundamentals my master taught me. I’m used to a steel hammer, and besides, this method also helps temper the body.”

Liang Yuan grinned. With a casual grab, he pulled a long robe over his shoulders before cupping his hands in salute.

”Greetings, Valley Master, Fellow Daoist Chen.”

Chen Che nodded slightly before replying, ”Fellow Daoist Chen has come looking specifically for you. He wants to commission you to forge two suits of Tier Three heavy armor.”

”I’m afraid I won’t be able to help.”

Liang Yuan paused, then shook his head. ”My skills are limited. Right now, I can only forge Tier Two High Grade Spiritual Artifacts, and my success rate isn’t even that high. Fellow Daoist Chen would probably not be satisfied with my work, and I’d likely just waste his materials.”

He was telling the truth.

The Red Dragon Lock Chain had required his master’s personal intervention, along with the combined efforts of several other Major Cultivators.

”Don’t sell yourself short, Fellow Daoist Liang. Take a look at my design first.”

Chen Yin handed him a scroll of blueprints.

”This is quite the undertaking...”

Liang Yuan was stunned after just one glance.

”A dragon?”

Chen Che glanced over, his expression turning thoughtful.

It was indeed a suit of heavy armor, but it wasn’t designed to be worn by Chen Yin himself. The entire suit was shaped like a dragon, looking exceptionally majestic and powerful. Chen Che immediately thought of the two Yin Dragon Skeletons Chen Yin had taken. ’Is he forging armor for them?’

”You’re Fellow Daoist Jia’s prized disciple. I’m sure this won’t be beyond your abilities.”

Chen Yin said, then paused for a moment before continuing.

”Besides, this type of heavy armor is less difficult to make than a Spiritual Artifact of the same tier. Wouldn’t you like to gain some valuable forging experience, Fellow Daoist Liang? If you’re willing to accept the commission, I’ll offer a flat rate: one hundred thousand Spirit Stones per suit, and I’ll provide all the materials!”

’One hundred thousand Spirit Stones?’

Liang Yuan considered it, glanced at Chen Che, and seeing no objection from him, finally agreed. ”Alright. But two suits of this heavy armor will take a very long time. Even with all my fellow apprentices helping, it’ll take at least a year and a half, maybe even longer.”

”I don’t know if Fellow Daoist Chen would mind the wait...”

Of course, ordinary armor wouldn’t take nearly this long.

But the suits Chen Yin wanted were too unique, and too massive—dozens of zhang long...

The scale armor alone would require nearly ten thousand individual plates. Fortunately, his fellow apprentices could help, and he could even have some of the other disciples in the valley assist with the simpler tasks. The year-and-a-half estimate was just to give himself some breathing room.

”Then I thank you, Fellow Daoist Liang. I’ll pay a deposit of fifty thousand Spirit Stones now, and I’ll have the remaining materials delivered within three days.”

Chen Yin was beyond excited.

Over the ensuing pleasantries, he added many more necessary details to the design. Chen Che sat to the side, sipping his tea leisurely, never once interjecting. He left the negotiations entirely up to Liang Yuan.

In the end.

The price for each suit of armor was settled at one hundred and twenty thousand.

This price was more than double the market rate for a suit of Tier Three Low Grade armor, and that was with the client providing all the materials.

However, given the unique nature of the armor, the price was reasonable enough.

After a bit more small talk, Chen Yin finally took his leave.

”Once this armor is forged, its Defense Power will be on par with a Tier Three Middle Grade artifact. At the same time, it will be a deadly weapon.”

Watching him depart from the valley, Liang Yuan remarked with a sigh, then asked, ”Valley Master, is the Great Chen Royal Family planning to make a move against someone?”

”Even you could see that?”

Catching Liang Yuan’s nod out of the corner of his eye, Chen Che gently patted his shoulder and grinned. ”But that’s none of our business. Just focus on forging his armor. We can’t very well turn down business that walks right up to our door, can we?”

Though that’s what he said, Chen Che’s gaze sharpened.

’After conquering Shuzhou, Chen Yin’s desire to achieve Core Formation is clearly getting the better of him.’

’But... is Thousand Eyes True Master someone you can just bypass so easily? If even the slightest thing goes wrong, the Great Chen Royal Family will likely be wiped from existence. All Thousand Eyes would have to do is prop up another Mortal Dynasty to take their place. For other mortals, such an opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance they’d never seek but would gladly take.’

’What’s a thousand-year gamble to them?’

’Perhaps.’

’And after serving Thousand Eyes for a millennium, they too would inevitably grow ambitious.’

...

Chen Yin had the materials delivered the very next day.

Liang Yuan posted a bounty of contribution points, attracting many disciples to help. Chen Che watched for a few moments before leaving. The truth was, the suit of heavy armor couldn’t possibly take shape in a short amount of time. For now, it was just a collection of scattered scales; only when every piece was forged could they be woven together into armor.

Generally speaking, it was tedious, repetitive work.

Established Artifact Refiners would never take on such a task themselves. They’d leave it all to their disciples, only overseeing the crucial steps. But Liang Yuan and his group forged with all their might, clearly unwilling to pass up the opportunity to craft Tier Three armor.

The ordinary disciples were even more eager to participate.

Just being able to take part was considered a great honor.