"I wonder if you might be interested in artifact refining?" After hesitating for a long while, the short, stocky youth suddenly blurted out this question, catching Han Li completely off guard!
"What do you mean?" Han Li was somewhat confused.
"Surely you don't intend to teach me artifact refining!" Han Li asked casually, almost reflexively.
"You guessed it! The only thing I have of any value is my knowledge of artifact refining!" the youth said, a trace of melancholy in his voice.
Han Li was rendered speechless! He only wanted to get his hands on a few more sets of formation flags and formation disks — who wanted the youth's artifact refining techniques? Besides, who did this young man think he was? As if his artifact refining skills were some great treasure! Countless cultivators in the world understood artifact refining!
"However, due to ancestral rules, I can only hand over my compiled insights on artifact refining to you — I cannot personally instruct you in the art," the youth hastily added, stammering slightly.
Han Li blinked, even more at a loss for words.
Seeing that Han Li had fallen silent after hearing his proposal and seemed unwilling, the youth grew visibly anxious. He could no longer bother concealing his identity and hurriedly came clean:
"My grandfather was an Artifact Refining Elder of the Divine Weapon Sect, and his skill in artifact refining had long since reached the pinnacle! My own knowledge of artifact refining was passed down from his very hands. Handing over my insights on artifact refining to you today has already violated my ancestral instructions! As for how much benefit you can actually derive from them, that depends entirely on your own fortune! But I can guarantee — these are all closely guarded secrets that have never left the sect!"
When Han Li heard that the youth was a descendant of a Divine Weapon Sect Artifact Refining Elder, his expression finally changed.
Wasn't the Divine Weapon Sect one of the three great orthodox sects of the Yuanwu Kingdom, standing alongside the Heavenly Star Sect and the Wanmiao Temple? Their artifact refining techniques, the Heavenly Star Sect's formation arts, and the Wanmiao Temple's talisman mastery were all renowned throughout the cultivator communities of the surrounding nations.
In that case, the youth's insights on artifact refining were indeed no ordinary matter! Although Han Li would most likely never bother learning the craft himself, keeping them in hand would still be a bargaining chip. You never knew when they might prove useful.
Han Li made up his mind, but he still asked one more question.
"Can this set of formation tools for the Inverted Five Elements Array really be improved further?"
"Absolutely! My friend has already achieved a profound mastery of formation arts, and combined with my own artifact refining expertise, improving this set of formation tools shouldn't pose any significant problem!" The youth's spirits lifted immediately upon hearing this question, knowing that Han Li was most likely in agreement. He patted his chest and made his assurances.
Han Li nodded and said nothing more. However, he opened the lid of the box in his hand. Instantly, a medicinal fragrance rich with spiritual energy filled the soundproofing barrier. The youth took several shallow sniffs, then examined the contents closely with his eyes multiple times, his expression blooming with delight. He nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.
Han Li smiled faintly and extended the box toward him.
The youth eagerly reached out to take it. But when he gripped one corner of the box and tried to pull it back, the container of spiritual herbs might as well have taken root in Han Li's hand — it didn't budge even slightly! The youth froze, a look of surprise surfacing in his eyes.
When Han Li saw the youth lift his head and look toward him in bewilderment, he couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed this really was an overprotected young master from a noble family who had never weathered any storms! Had his rather obvious hint still not gotten through?
With no other choice, Han Li moved his lips and laid it out plainly:
"Shouldn't you be taking out your set of formation tools and your artifact refining insights as well? We exchange goods for payment, hand to hand — wouldn't that be the proper way to do this?"
"Oh… you're right, Senior! In my haste, I completely forgot!" The youth finally came to his senses, his face flushing crimson as he released the box and then fumbled in a hurry to pull a stack of items from the storage pouch inside his robes.
"Here are eighteen formation disks and thirty-six formation flags — the complete set of formation tools for the Inverted Five Elements Array. As long as you arrange them exactly as described in this jade slip, without the slightest deviation, the grand formation can be activated immediately. And this book, the Yunxiao Artisan's Compendium, contains over twenty years' worth of my insights on artifact refining. I hope that after reading it, you will refrain from sharing it with others, lest people from the Divine Weapon Sect come looking for you. Many of the refining methods described within are closely guarded secrets of the sect!" the youth explained in great detail, and even offered Han Li a rather significant word of caution.
Hearing these words, Han Li found himself growing quite favorable toward the youth! And an entirely different thought suddenly surfaced in his mind!