Chapter 107: The Killing Spirit Inside the Relic!-From Servant to Saint: The Path to Enlightenment(The mountains rise high beneath a small, distant moon.)

“So many?”

Qi Lian’s gaze was filled with shock as she stared at the cultivator before her, whose cultivation level was identical to her own, her expression changing drastically.

Having reached the late stage of the Qi Refining realm, she had never seen such a vast quantity of magic tools—upper-grade or even top-grade—at once, this being her first encounter with so many.

After all, the Raging Tide Trading City was merely a minor market, backed by only a mid-stage Foundation Building power. Usually, the masters capable of forging such a multitude of artifacts had already been recruited by major cultivation families, immortal cities, or sects. The Raging Tide Trading City could only form agreements with cultivators of average refining skill, receiving meager resources in return.

As the person in charge of the Raging Tide Trading City, Qi Lian had long harbored a fervent wish: to aid her master and expand their humble market. Yet the refining masters regarded it with contempt, and despite her tireless efforts, she had reaped no rewards.

Unexpectedly, like planting a willow by chance that grew into shade, a cultivator appeared today bearing so many magic tools. Gazing at the spiritual radiance emanating from them, Qi Lian suspected they had been crafted by the man before her.

“Is this friend a refiner?”

Qi Lian’s voice trembled with excitement. If true, befriending him—even persuading him to settle permanently in the Raging Tide Trading City—might realize her dream of elevating their market.

“Indeed.”

Shen Yan nodded faintly, his expression unchanged as he replied, “Friend, please appraise these artifacts first and offer a suitable price.”

Once one has traversed the turbulent seas, they understand the value of water; absent the Witch Mountain, one cannot behold the clouds. Though Shen Yan had never associated with high-level cultivators, his experiences in the East Sea and life within an immortal city had taught him precisely how much value he held to a minor market.

Thus he expected no surprise at Qi Lian’s shifting attitude, yet he refused to surrender advantage simply because she was female. He stated plainly, “This is my first visit to the Raging Tide Trading City, and I hope you will not disappoint me.”

“Of course, of course.”

Qi Lian nodded vigorously. Hearing he was a newcomer, her hope swelled; as long as she secured his goodwill, even without permanent residence she might still obtain magic tools from him.

“These artifacts are of superior quality and all new. Our Raging Tide Trading City offers fifteen thousand spirit stones. What say you?”

After weighing the matter, Qi Lian spoke. In truth these items could scarcely fetch over twelve thousand spirit stones, yet for her the benefits were twofold: securing the cultivator’s favor and elevating the market’s reputation. Long ago a top-grade magic tool was beyond the reach of many cultivators, even those who exhausted their fortunes, while certain Qi Refining families desperately needed such tools to survive. Though these families were unremarkable in strength, they were regular partners of the Raging Tide Trading City. With these artifacts in hand she could win over loose-cultivator experts and several Qi Refining families, preserve ties with this refiner, and still profit several thousand spirit stones—hardly a loss.

“However, friend, this woman has a request: if you have further artifacts in the future, please continue supplying them to the Raging Tide Trading City. I guarantee we will offer you a price you find satisfactory.”

“Quite reasonable.”

Shen Yan inclined his head slightly before adding indifferently, “Should more artifacts appear later, I will naturally consider the Raging Tide Trading City.”

With that he accepted the spirit stones, turned, and departed without further word.

Qi Lian opened her mouth, eager to speak, yet found no suitable words. All she could do was hope he would indeed return with more.

After leaving the Raging Tide Trading City, Shen Yan returned directly to his secluded cave. Having judged his refining skill sufficient, he wasted no time preparing to upgrade his artifacts to lower-grade spirit tools.

For the next half month his focus remained entirely on refinement. At last he completed the task, elevating the desired artifacts to lower-grade spirit tool level.

First came the Shadow Boots, a top-grade magic tool vital to his very survival. The upgraded version far exceeded expectations; speed doubled, and even against a Foundation Building cultivator at full stage he felt no fear.

Next was the Profound Origin Heavy Water Shield, a top-grade artifact he himself had forged and nearly regarded as his life-bound treasure. Strengthened to lower-grade spirit tool level, its defensive capabilities surged dramatically; even the Green Spirit Sword could no longer shatter it completely.

The third upgrade was the South Bright Scarlet Fire Pearl, a top-grade item from the Zhao family that represented the pinnacle of his refining technique. Now at lower-grade spirit tool level, its power had increased by another order of magnitude; the flames bursting from within could incinerate a Foundation Building cultivator with ease.

As for the remaining artifacts, Shen Yan simply dismantled them, salvaged the usable materials, and then set out for the ruins of the Green Lotus Sword Sect.

The journey was not far. A single flying sword flight covered the distance in three days, and he soon stood before the ruins.

According to Xu Daoqing’s memories, he quickly located the sect’s former mountain gate. Compared to the awe-inspiring edifice recalled from memory, the broken hills before him held no trace of their former grandeur. The power of time had long since erased everything. Silently contemplating for a moment, he followed the Thousand Machines Pavilion’s intelligence and Xu Daoqing’s recollections toward the place where the Green Lotus Sword Sect had once nurtured its killing qi.

The killing qi resided in a bottomless valley, perpetually shrouded in darkness and black clouds that made it resemble a demonic realm.

“Indeed polluted,” he murmured. “Xu Daoqing’s valley was gloomy, yet nothing like this hellish place.”

Shaking his head, Shen Yan lifted the Profound Origin Heavy Water Shield and activated the Shadow Boots beneath his feet, descending toward the valley floor.

Cultivators were present among the ruins, but they were mostly Qi Refining disciples. Along the way he encountered no Foundation Building cultivators.

“Spies from various powers, then?”

According to the intelligence, the Green Lotus Evil Spirit of the Green Lotus Sword Sect had yet to coalesce, so only low-ranking Qi Refining disciples remained to watch and wait for the moment of condensation before competing for it. He had come early because he knew exactly how to accelerate the process.

The Green Lotus Evil Spirit was formed by blending the sect’s killing qi with the valley’s eerie aura; he himself could hasten its maturation.

Reaching an uninhabited spot, he erected a formation to isolate his presence, then took out spirit stones and began to nurture the killing qi.