Like the Cloud Mist Grand Array of the Yuehu Market, it also had qi-attracting array patterns as its foundation, just with a far greater number, which was why it gathered such mist.
Afterward, Xu Mingxian continued experimenting until he could quickly set up qi-attracting array formations.
Next was comprehending the Spirit Gathering Array patterns, connecting multiple qi-attracting array formations to exponentially increase the qi-gathering speed, as well as spirit-locking.
Gathering all spiritual qi within a certain range, preventing it from dispersing.
The more powerful the Spirit Gathering Array, the wider the spirit-gathering range it could form.
Time passed like flowing water.
Half a year of painstaking research.
Xu Mingxian finally used multiple pieces of spirit iron to set up the most rudimentary Spirit Gathering Array. He tried it himself and found it could only increase his cultivation speed by half a percentage.
"It's faster than I imagined. Could it be true as Father said, that I have outstanding talent in array Dao?"
"However, should I have someone else forge them or should I learn some rudimentary weapon refinement skills myself?"
Xu Mingxian hesitated for a long while before choosing to purchase weapon refinement texts.
He spent two spirit stones to buy a book called "True Explanation of Weapon Refinement Fundamentals."
Even if he couldn't learn it himself, he could leave it for clan descendants to study in the future.
The most basic weapon refinement methods weren't too difficult. Weapon dao was inherently the type that was easy to learn but difficult to master.
Unlike array Dao and pill Dao, which both had difficult entry points.
After spending over two months, Xu Mingxian could be considered a weapon refinement apprentice.
Additionally, before he knew it, Xu Mingxian's cultivation had reached seventh layer of Qi Refining.
The Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers talent made it as if he naturally carried a Spirit Gathering Array for cultivation speed, and combined with his true spiritual root aptitude, his speed was no slower than Xu Chuan's.
In fact, since Xu Chuan no longer had the essence of the hundred herbs from the medicine garden to enhance him, his speed had slowed somewhat compared to at the Jade Cold Pool.
Not long ago, he had just broken through to eight layer of Qi Refining. However, he still had the Heaven Rewards Diligence talent as support.
This talent continuously increased his cultivation speed as Xu Chuan trained tirelessly day and night.
Xu Chuan being able to reach where he was now could be said to be most critically due to this talent.
Xu Mingxian walked the array Dao path, Xu Chuan walked the pill Dao path.
Father and son continuously researched their own immortal cultivation paths and would inevitably go further and further.
One day, Xu Chuan arrived at the Hundred Refinements Weapon Workshop. The workshop master here was surnamed Wu, a cultivator at the peak of eight layer of Qi Refining. In terms of weapon refinement attainment, he was the highest in the entire Yuehu Market.
This person was a rogue cultivator who had settled in the Yuehu Market five or six years ago.
He had taken on three to five weapon refinement apprentices.
"Is senior here to purchase magical artifacts or to have them custom-made?"
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old second layer of Qi Refining cultivator saw Xu Chuan enter and greeted him with a smile.
"This humble one is looking for Workshop Master Wu. I wish to have magical artifacts custom-made."
"Please wait a moment, senior. I'll go find my master immediately."
The young cultivator turned and walked through a side passage into the back of the weapon workshop.
Shortly after, he returned with a gray-haired, sturdy old man in his seventies or eighties.
"You're the one wanting to custom-make magical artifacts? How should I address you?"
"This poor Daoist is Daoist Sansu."
"So Fellow Daoist is the renowned pill refinement master of the Zhou Clan's Pill Shop whose fame is rising rapidly. I've long admired your name. Please, sit."
The two sat down.
The young cultivator poured tea for them both, then stood quietly to the side.
"What magical artifact does Fellow Daoist Sansu wish to have custom-made? What grade?"
"A middle-grade magical artifact treasure bow with matching arrows. The treasure bow requires the strength of a peak grandmaster to draw it open, primarily gold-attribute."
Workshop Master Wu's eyelids lowered slightly, his dark pupils suddenly contracting as if pinched by fingers. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, "Just to draw it open requires such strength. Without at least late-stage grandmaster strength, one would likely not be able to sustain it."
"This magical artifact shouldn't be for Fellow Daoist's own use, correct?"
"I have a good friend skilled in archery. I wish to gift it to him."
"A middle-grade magical artifact as a gift, and archery-type at that. This is no small expenditure."
"A life-saving debt." Xu Chuan smiled lightly, speaking casually.
"I see. That's understandable then." Workshop Master Wu nodded, "But archery-type items are more difficult to refine than flying swords. The price won't be low."
"With Workshop Master Wu's weapon refinement attainment, a mere middle-grade magical artifact should be easily accomplished. Please quote a price. If it's truly unbearable, then this humble one can only give up."
Xu Chuan's meaning was clear. If Workshop Master Wu tried to extract excessive profits, he would have no choice but to abandon the idea.
In the Yuehu Market, perhaps only he alone could refine high-grade magical artifacts, but there were still several people who could refine middle-grade ones.
Workshop Master Wu pondered briefly before slowly saying, "Middle-grade magical artifacts range from eighty to one hundred twenty spirit stones. The treasure bow would be calculated at eighty spirit stones."
"Nine arrows, even if all are low-grade magical artifacts, would still be sixty to seventy spirit stones. Including materials and refinement fees, two hundred spirit stones cannot be avoided."
"Of course, if Fellow Daoist provides the materials, I'll calculate it as one hundred seventy spirit stones for you."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan fell silent.
"Archery-type magical artifacts have no finished products in the entire Yuehu Market. After all, immortal cultivators aren't skilled in strength-based methods." Workshop Master Wu added, "If you're willing to lower the grade, then it would be simple. The total would only be forty or fifty spirit stones."
After speaking, he took a shallow sip of tea, giving him time to consider.
After a long moment, Xu Chuan's hand brushed over his storage bag, and a small porcelain bottle flew out.
"Workshop Master Wu, take a look at this pill. What do you think its value is?"
Workshop Master Wu received the porcelain bottle. After pouring it out, it was a peculiar pill half gray and half white, but its pill fragrance was extremely rich. Smelling it actually caused his bottleneck to loosen slightly.
He immediately revealed a delighted expression, "What pill is this?"
Xu Chuan beckoned and collected the pill, lest its medicinal properties dissipate.
"Obtained from a certain cave dwelling. It was refined from an ancient pill formula and has the effect of breaking through late-stage Qi Refining bottlenecks. Moreover, its domineering efficacy surpasses current breakthrough pills by fifty to sixty percent."
"Is this true?!"
"This humble one wouldn't stoop to deceiving Workshop Master Wu."
Workshop Master Wu's gaze focused slightly, his fingertips lightly tapping the sandalwood table. After a moment he said, "If that's the case, this pill can be valued at sixty spirit stones."
Workshop Master Wu happened to be at the peak of eight layer of Qi Refining and had been stuck at this bottleneck for several years without breaking through. Otherwise, he absolutely wouldn't offer such a high price.
"It's still somewhat expensive." Xu Chuan thought secretly. He naturally wanted to have the middle-grade treasure bow forged.
After Xu Mingwei reached peak grandmaster realm, he would also convert to the immortal Dao.
Even if his true qi transformed and his realm couldn't reach ninth layer of Qi Refining, seventh or eight was still possible.
At that time, this middle-grade treasure bow in his hands would wield power comparable to a high-grade magical artifact.
It would be an important combat power for the Xu family to intimidate other Qi Refining families but two hundred spirit stones minus the sixty for this pill still required one hundred forty spirit stones.
For him at this time, it was an enormous expense.
Moreover, Xu Mingxian's side also needed spirit stone reserves for researching array formations.
"Could other magical power advancement pills be used to offset the cost?" Xu Chuan inquired.
Workshop Master Wu pondered for a moment, suddenly thinking of his grandson.
"That's right. Previously, Zhou Sen couldn't refine the Bone Strengthening Pill with three portions of materials. I wonder how capable this person is?"
"Magical power advancement pills are far inferior to that breakthrough pill from earlier. Wu doesn't lack them." Workshop Master Wu paused, then added, "However, if Fellow Daoist Sansu can accomplish one matter, I could reduce some of the spirit stones."
"What matter?"
Workshop Master Wu slapped his storage bag and took out a pill formula.
The pill formula flew before Xu Chuan. His divine sense swept over it, and in a moment, he had memorized all its contents.
"Bone Strengthening Pill?"