121: Reformation

Inside the main hall of Yongming Peak.

A Middle-aged Cultivator was handling affairs at his desk.

After receiving the gatekeeper Disciple's message, he put down what he was doing, stood up, and walked a short distance towards the hall entrance.

In just a moment, he saw Zhou Leren and Cao Dahua enter from outside the hall.

"Zhou Leren of the Zhou Family greets Sect Master Li."

Seeing the Middle-aged Cultivator, Zhou Leren cupped his hands in a bow to the Sect Head of the Artifact Refining Pavilion. The Fellow Daoist Cao had already told him during their journey, so upon seeing this person, he knew he was the Sect Head of the Artifact Refining Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, there's no need for such formality. I've long heard of Old Ancestor Mo's esteemed reputation and have admired him for a long time. If not for being tied up with mundane affairs, I would certainly have gone to pay him a visit."

"It is truly a fortunate event to have Fellow Daoist Zhou visit us this time."

Sect Master Li's tone was cordial and his voice gentle, instantly making a good impression.

Hearing Sect Master Li speak like this, Zhou Leren showed no expression on his face, but he lavishly praised the Artifact Refining Pavilion and Wanping City. The two exchanged pleasantries for quite some time.

The Fellow Daoist Cao, an Elder of the Artifact Refining Pavilion, was also present, accompanying them. The three chatted and laughed, and if an outsider were to see them, they would surely think they were close friends.

Yet, they did not know that the three had only met for the first time that day.

After a long while, Zhou Leren let out a sigh of relief in his heart, feeling a bit frustrated.

The art of dealing with people was truly unfathomable.

In this short time, he had exhausted all the social graces he had learned over his twenty-plus years. If it continued, he feared he would run out of things to say.

In contrast, Sect Head Li looked relaxed and spoke continuously, clearly at ease.

Fortunately, they finally got to the main topic.

Zhou Leren handed over the Storage Pouch containing parts of the Fierce Ape's sinews, bones, and flesh.

Sect Head Li accepted it with a smile, opened it, and swept his Divine Sense over it. The Qi of a third-rank Yao Beast shone brightly within his Divine Sense.

Subsequently, his smile became somewhat stiff.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, are the Materials you just mentioned the bones and blood of this third-rank Yao Beast?"

Sect Master Li had excellent self-control; in just a moment, his smile recovered somewhat.

"That's right."

Seeing Sect Master Li's reaction just now, Zhou Leren's lips curved into an imperceptible smile.

"This, this..."

Receiving Zhou Leren's affirmative answer, Sect Master Li paused slightly, sighing in his heart, "What a waste of heavenly treasures, what a waste!"

"Alas~"

"Alright, this matter is on our sect. We will certainly not disappoint Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Sect Master Li was helpless; although his heart ached, he could only agree.

Elder Cao, who was standing nearby, had been somewhat dazed after the Storage Pouch was opened.

"Third-rank Treasure Artifact Materials..."

"Truly wealthy!"

This was something every Artifact Refining Great Master desired.

Although he did not also Cultivate the Artifact Refining Legacy, as an Elder of the Artifact Refining Pavilion, he had a good understanding of these things through immersion, otherwise, he would not be stationed at the Treasure Artifact Pavilion in Wanping City.

He naturally possessed this much discernment.

"Sect Master Li, what is the remuneration, if I may ask?"

Zhou Leren quietly inquired. Asking someone to forge a Spiritual Artifact naturally required a price.

Hearing this, Sect Master Li was about to speak, but his heart stirred, and he slightly changed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I have an impolite request."

"Sect Master Li, please speak."

Zhou Leren was slightly surprised, feeling a bit confused, and gestured for Sect Master Li to speak directly.

"May I ask if you could part with a small amount of the beast bones for our sect?"

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, only a small amount will suffice, and it will not affect the refining of your Spiritual Artifact."

"In return, all the Spiritual Ore, profound iron, and other Treasure Artifact Materials you require subsequently will be provided by our sect."

"As for remuneration, you naturally won't need to pay anything further."

"What do you think, Fellow Daoist Zhou?"

Sect Master Li spoke without pause, suppressing his original words.

After speaking, he felt a little anxious, staring at Zhou Leren's reaction.

After all, this request was indeed a bit abrupt.

Beside him, Elder Cao was somewhat dumbfounded. Such a maneuver was actually possible.

"Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother. No wonder I failed in the competition for the Sect Head position back then."

"It seems it wasn't just because Senior Brother and the Grand Elder's Disciple became Dao Companions..."

Elder Cao felt a pang of emotion, as if enlightened, and a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes. It turned out he had misunderstood his Senior Brother all these years.

Senior Brother is indeed much stronger than I!

"I've learned, I've learned!"

Elder Cao felt that this trip was well worth it.

Zhou Leren pondered. Although Third Aunt had told him before he left that he could make all decisions on his own, he still hesitated a little at this moment.

"Alright, then I'll trouble Sect Master Li."

A moment later, Zhou Leren still agreed.

Sect Master Li was overjoyed.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, rest assured, I will personally invite someone to take action, and I will certainly not disappoint you!"

Subsequently, Sect Master Li discussed with Zhou Leren for a while longer, finalizing the amount of beast bones to be given.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, refining a Spiritual Artifact is not a task for a single day. You may rest here in our sect for a while."

"Additionally, in two months, our sect's auction will be held. If Fellow Daoist doesn't mind, you can also come and observe."

With the matter settled, Sect Master Li was in a rather good mood and said to Zhou Leren.

Then, he spoke to Elder Cao, who was beside him:

"Junior Brother Cao, please entertain Fellow Daoist Zhou here for a moment on my behalf. I'll be right back."

"Senior Brother, rest assured, go in peace. I will certainly not disappoint Senior Brother!"

Elder Cao said with a serious face, making a solemn promise.

However, no matter how Sect Master Li heard these words, he felt something was off, and he slightly regretted it in his heart. Was it a wrong decision to let this fellow entertain Fellow Daoist Zhou?

Sect Master Li fell into self-doubt, but the words had already been spoken, and there was no possibility of changing them.

Zhou Leren nodded at Sect Master Li without speaking, also noticing some clues in his heart.

According to Old Ancestor's words, this Fellow Daoist Cao's demeanor had changed somewhat after seeing Sect Master Li.

There must be something fishy... Zhou Leren secretly observed, his thoughts drifting.

Sect Master Li said no more and walked towards the outside of the hall.

However, after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked Zhou Leren:

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I still don't know what type of Spiritual Artifact Fellow Daoist requires?"

After chatting for so long, Zhou Leren knew very little about Artifact Refining. Sect Master Li, lost in thought, had overlooked this question.

It was only now, as Sect Master Li was about to find an Artifact Refining Great Master within the sect and ask him to take action, that he remembered this question.

Hearing this, Zhou Leren also came to a realization, and the images of various Magical Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts he had seen flashed through his mind.

Images rapidly scrolled in his mind, then focused on one item.

He softly said:

"A pagoda."

"The pagoda's name is Guizheng."

After speaking, Zhou Leren had some thoughts in his heart: "Guizheng guards the mound, never forgetting one's original intention."

"Guizheng Pagoda..."

Sect Master Li murmured softly, feeling that there was another meaning within it.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

With that, his figure flickered, a streak of light appeared, and he flew out of the main hall, leaving Yongming Peak.