Chapter 605: Public Recruitment

“Void Black Mud?” Venerable Huocheng looked at Dongbo Xueying with confusion.

“I need to obtain a Solar Star Core Stone, and there’s no other way but to refine and condense it from Void Black Mud,” Dongbo Xueying explained. “As for the Void Black Mud, I was hoping you could help me with it, Brother Huocheng.”

Venerable Huocheng frowned. “Void Black Mud is a trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning! But to ultimately refine and condense it, the Void Black Mud is just the most basic material—you’ll also need twelve rare auxiliary ingredients. Moreover, you’ll have to ask an expert to painstakingly refine each portion…”

“But what other options are there? Is there anyone willing to trade a Solar Star Core Stone?” Dongbo Xueying said helplessly.

“Hmm.”

Venerable Huocheng nodded.

A Solar Star Core Stone could only be obtained either through arduous refinement or directly from the Solar Star Core—the most terrifying and dangerous place, where even a Dominator would be reduced to ashes in an instant. The Solar Star Core Stone was extremely precious; a fragment the size of a fingernail would be enough to make many mighty figures willing to trade all their treasures for it. It was far more valuable than a pocket-dimension treasure. That was why Patriarch Redflame had spoken with some embarrassment—he truly had no means to obtain one himself, and only Dongbo Xueying’s intervention offered a glimmer of hope.

“I haven’t heard of anyone willing to trade. I did have one myself, but unfortunately, after my true body perished, it was lost long ago,” Venerable Huocheng said. “Forget about trading—even if someone were willing, the price would be outrageously high.”

“True,” Dongbo Xueying agreed.

“The refinement process has three challenges: first, obtaining enough Void Black Mud; second, gathering the twelve rare ingredients; and third, finding an expert to perform the refinement,” Venerable Huocheng explained. “Among these, the Void Black Mud is relatively the easiest, the twelve ingredients are slightly more troublesome, and finding a skilled refiner is the most difficult.”

Dongbo Xueying smiled. “We’ll tackle them one by one.”

“Leave the Void Black Mud to me. How much do you need?” Venerable Huocheng asked.

“At least ten million jin of Void Black Mud,” Dongbo Xueying replied. Ten million jin of Void Black Mud could refine and condense into a single jin of Solar Star Core Stone—barely the size of a fingernail.

“I’ll get you twenty million jin!” Venerable Huocheng declared generously.

“Thank you,” Dongbo Xueying said with a smile.

“Between brothers, no need for thanks. For me, it’s a simple task,” Venerable Huocheng said warmly.

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

The best way to obtain Void Black Mud was to directly enter the fourth layer of the Solar Star—the Void Black Mud Layer, where the substance was abundant beyond measure. In terms of danger, the Void Black Mud Layer was generally survivable only for Dominators, who could withstand the flames that naturally arose within the mud.

However, among the top-tier Venerables, there were some who could also enter the Solar Star’s Void Black Mud Layer.

For example, Lord Qingjun could do it.

And among the top-tier Venerables, Venerable Huocheng—the most skilled in fire—could also manage it! For him, entering the Void Black Mud Layer was as easy as returning home, so gathering twenty million jin would only require a bit more time.

“Collecting the twelve rare ingredients might be a bit more troublesome,” Venerable Huocheng said. “But finding a skilled refiner will be the real challenge. Aside from Bloodblade the Divine Emperor and Empress Qianhe, only the ‘Star Lord Lianjun’—the most adept at refinement—knows how to perform the condensation. The process is extremely tedious and requires undivided attention; the slightest lapse would result in failure. Asking a Dominator to do it would be nearly impossible. The only alternative is to seek out Star Lord Lianjun, but she is the sole Venerable under Empress Qianhe’s tutelage. The Empress dotes on her, and she spends most of her time crafting artifacts, rarely venturing out. She is quite indifferent to other cultivators, so persuading her will be difficult.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

This was indeed the biggest obstacle.

Asking his master?

Although his master treated him well, no matter how much favor he enjoyed, he couldn’t take advantage of it by making endless demands. That would only breed resentment—overstepping boundaries was inherently excessive.

Among mighty figures, fair exchange was the norm.

To gain something, one had to offer something in return.

“I’ll pay a visit to Star Lord Lianjun when the time comes,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Everything can be negotiated properly.”

“Good. First, gather the twelve rare ingredients. Once you have them, go see Star Lord Lianjun,” Venerable Huocheng advised. “I’ll set off for the Solar Star tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Brother,” Dongbo Xueying said gratefully.

…

That evening.

Under the witness of Dongbo Xueying, Yu Jingqiu, Sovereign Moxue, Patriarch Redflame, City Lord Baisha, and others, Dongbo Qingyao formally became Venerable Huocheng’s disciple.

“Hahaha! I’ve taken two disciples before, but back then, I lacked patience in teaching them, and neither reached the level of a mighty figure before their deaths,” Venerable Huocheng said, seated as he watched Dongbo Qingyao kowtow in formal apprenticeship. “After being imprisoned on the Lakeheart Island for countless years, my patience has been tempered. Qingyao, you are now my only disciple. You must strive to become a mighty figure—so that both your master and your father can hold their heads high.”

“Yes, Master,” Dongbo Qingyao replied promptly.

“Good. As your master, I have no grand gifts for you, but here is a treasure I once obtained from an ancient cave abode. Take it for protection.” With that, Venerable Huocheng tossed out a crimson pearl. Dongbo Qingyao caught it, and as soon as she attempted to refine it, the pearl transformed into a hazy red light that enveloped her body, forming a fiery red robe.

Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu watched with joy from the side. The path of cultivation was inherently arduous, and though they were powerful now, the future was uncertain. Seeing their daughter apprenticed to a formidable master brought them immense satisfaction.

Sovereign Moxue chuckled heartily.

Even Dongbo Yu, who had been somewhat despondent lately, managed a smile.

…

The next day, Venerable Huocheng—freshly a master—quietly departed for the Solar Star.

Meanwhile, Dongbo Xueying began gathering the rare ingredients through the Bloodblade Tavern. The tavern’s intelligence network was formidable, and soon, seven of the twelve ingredients were secured. The remaining five… there was no choice but to spread the word openly, announcing his search for them. Any mighty figure hearing of these five ingredients would likely deduce that Dongbo Xueying was planning to refine a Solar Star Core Stone.

But Dongbo Xueying wasn’t afraid. At his current strength, he had no fear of anyone trying to seize it.

In fact, he even publicly declared—he was going to the Solar Star to cultivate and needed a Solar Star Core Stone! Was anyone willing to trade?

The message spread.

As expected, no one was willing to trade a Solar Star Core Stone.

However, the five rare ingredients gradually began to surface. One mighty figure arrived and declared generously, “This Five-Colored Phoenix Bloodstone is a mere trifle—consider it a gift to the Divine Emperor.”

The ingredients were of limited value.

Though others claimed not to care, Dongbo Xueying still offered items of equivalent worth in exchange. Taking others’ treasures without reciprocation would tarnish his reputation—who would dare trade with him in the future?

Back when Dongbo Xueying was weak, gathering something like “Ashen Demon Bone” had been a struggle. Now, collecting even rarer ingredients was far quicker—such was the difference status made! His current power and prestige meant mighty figures were eager to trade, unconcerned about the minor ingredients. What they valued was forging connections. After all, familiarity would make it easier to seek Dongbo Xueying’s aid in the future.

…

Time passed.

Venerable Huocheng returned from the Solar Star after just a month, bringing back a full twenty million jin of Void Black Mud.

But Dongbo Xueying’s search for the twelve rare ingredients hit a snag—he had only gathered ten. The remaining two remained elusive.