67: Business is booming! The Five Elements Sect's "big client"!

"Boss! We want to buy a hundred swords! We want the hardest ones! The heaviest ones!"

The lead Disciple of the Five Elements Sect slapped the counter, his spirit soaring. They had been truly beaten into fear recently; the standard-issue Flying Swords provided by the Sect were like noodles under that Gu Yang's fists, snapping upon contact. Having heard that this "Rock Hard" Magical Artifact shop could forge swords that wouldn't break, they specially organized a group to come and purchase.

Gu Yang wore an iron mask that covered half of his face, a flicker of hard-to-detect playfulness flashing in his eyes.

"Welcome, welcome! For the immortal masters of the Five Elements Sect to grace my humble shop is truly an honor!"

He rubbed his large hands, which were covered in iron filings, and enthusiastically went to greet them.

"You want a hundred, right? No problem! I'll give you a twenty percent discount! Consider it my support for eliminating demons and defending the Dao!"

"The boss is straightforward!" The lead Disciple was overjoyed. Although this boss looked rugged, he was actually quite a good person.

Gu Yang turned and went into the backyard, picking up pieces of fine iron and beginning to "hand-rub" them.

But during the rubbing process, he quietly injected a trace of his internal "Five Elements Chaotic Strength" deep into the sword bodies. This strength usually lay dormant and could even increase the sturdiness of the Magical Artifacts. But as soon as it encountered the same source as Gu Yang's original Five Elements Great Millstone... Heh heh.

These indestructible Magical Artifacts would instantly turn into a pile of scrap iron and might even backlash against the wielder's wrist!

"Using my swords to cut me? In your dreams."

Gu Yang snickered inwardly while rubbing the swords.

After completing this deal, Gu Yang tearfully earned thirty thousand Spirit Stones from the Five Elements Sect.

But this was only the beginning.

Because the reputation of "Rock Hard" Magical Artifacts was so good, orders from the Five Elements Sect flew in like snowflakes.

Even a Golden Core Elder of the Five Elements Sect passing through the area personally visited to custom-order a Top-Grade Magical Artifact level "Black Iron Heart-Protecting Mirror."

"Boss, this old man's heart-protecting mirror must be thick enough! Hard enough! It should ideally be able to block a strike from a Nascent Soul!" the Elder said with great earnestness.

"Elder, rest assured! When I do things, you can be at ease!"

Gu Yang patted his chest in guarantee. Then he added double the "Chaotic Strength" into the heart-protecting mirror.

From this single order, Gu Yang earned a hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Looking at the heavy bag of Spirit Stones in his hand, Gu Yang was filled with emotion:

"I take your money to buy meat to nourish my body, and in the end, I use the weapons you bought to screw your people over."

"I really am a business Genius."

However, if one often walks by the river, one's shoes are bound to get wet.

As Gu Yang's output grew larger, his unique "physical Artifact Refining" technique finally caught the attention of those with observant eyes.

On this day, an old man wearing the robes of a Star Palace Guest Elder came to the shop. He picked up a freshly forged broadsword, examined it carefully for a long time, and his expression gradually became solemn.

"This blade... has no traces of fire refining; it was formed entirely by being forced into shape by sheer physical strength."

"Furthermore, the internal texture contains extremely profound fluctuations of the Five Elements Law, endless and revolving..."

The old man suddenly looked up, staring at Gu Yang, who was striking iron (actually kneading it).

"This kind of control over the Five Elements power is definitely not something a Qi Refinement Stage apprentice can achieve! This technique... how does it look a bit like that madman who caused a ruckus in the Star Palace and swallowed taiyi essence gold raw?"

The old man backed out without showing any emotion and immediately called for the Star Palace Law Enforcement Squad.

"Open up! Routine inspection!"

A squad of fully armed Law Enforcement Cultivators rushed into the shop, holding the latest "Delusion-Breaking Mirrors" and "Spirit-Measuring Disks."

"Officers, what's wrong? I'm just a Law-abiding citizen striking iron."

Gu Yang immediately stopped his work, hunching his body and pretending to be a simple, honest man who hadn't seen much of the world.

The Law Enforcement captain looked at him coldly: "Cut the nonsense! Measure his spirit!"

He pressed the Spirit-Measuring Disk against Gu Yang.

Gu Yang's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface. The Five Elements Primordial Body within him was already at Perfection, and his Five Elements Qi was perfectly restrained, forming a closed cycle. Unless he actively erupted, outsiders could not see his depth at all.

Buzz—

The Spirit-Measuring Disk lit up with a faint yellow light.

[Extraordinary bone structure, vigorous blood and qi. Determination: Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator (Disguised).]

Gu Yang deliberately leaked a trace of Earth-attribute aura, disguising himself as an ordinary Body Cultivator.

"Just a Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator?"

The Law Enforcement captain frowned and used the Delusion-Breaking Mirror on him but found no traces of a disguise (Gu Yang had directly altered his bone structure, not used an illusion).

"It seems we made a mistake."

The captain waved his hand, "Withdraw! To the next shop!"

Watching the retreating backs of the Law Enforcement Squad, Gu Yang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"That was close."

"It seems I can't stay here any longer. If I stay, it's only a matter of time before I'm exposed."

He looked at the five hundred thousand Spirit Stones he had saved over the past half month.

"Although it's still far from the Top-Grade Spirit Stones needed for that 'Ancient Teleportation Array,' it's time to pull in the net."

The next day, the "Rock Hard Magical Artifact Shop" put up a huge notice:

[Customer Appreciation! This shop is now accepting 'Material Customization'!]

[As long as you provide high-tier Ores (such as Deep Sea Black Iron, Star Sand, etc.), this shop will forge Top-Grade Magical Artifacts for you for free! There is even a chance to forge Pseudo-Magic Treasures!]

[Limited to three days only! Don't miss out!]

As soon as this news came out, the low-level Cultivator circles of the entire Heavenly Star Island went wild.

Free forging?! This was a pie falling from the sky!

Greedy Cultivators one after another brought out the rare Ores they had cherished for years, scrambling to deliver them to the shop, fearing they would miss out on a spot if they were late.

Gu Yang accepted everyone, smiling as he took all the Materials and issued "pickup vouchers."

"Rest assured, everyone! In three days, pick up your goods with your tickets!"

However.

On the night of the third day, under a dark moon and high winds.

Gu Yang swept away all the Spirit Stones and all the rare Ores (Materials) in the shop, not even sparing the blacksmith furnace used for show.

He activated his Sea God Physique and silently dove into the vast ocean, vanishing without a trace.

The next morning.

When the expectant Cultivators came with their vouchers to pick up their goods, they only saw an empty shop.

And a note stuck to the door panel:

"The world is so big, I want to go see it. Don't miss me. — Your dear Boss Gu."

All the Cultivators in the city: ???

The Five Elements Sect Elder: ???

"Boss Gu! Give me back my hard-earned money!!!"

One after another, shrill wails of grief resounded over Heavenly Star Island.