What Shui Miao needed now was simply more materials for forging artifacts.
He claimed his craftsmanship wasn’t very refined, but in reality, this was just a setup for later hoarding more forging materials for himself.
Poor Master Hu and his daughter thought they had struck gold.
After finalizing the transaction, Shui Miao settled down in the Xiaoyao Palace.
Master Hu went out to handle the matter of purchasing a fairy mountain from the Celestial Court, while Hu San Niang busied herself collecting forging materials to supply Shui Miao.
It wasn’t long before Hu San Niang returned.
She brought Shui Miao a large quantity of forging materials, including dragon blood for quenching, truly providing everything imaginable.
“Big brother, recently we don’t know what’s going on, but the Tianmo Sect from the Wild Lands has suddenly become rampant, deceiving and plundering forging materials and crystals everywhere. Our Hu family has suffered significant losses too. Here’s what we can give you for now, and once we get more, we’ll bring them right away,” Hu San Niang said while showing Shui Miao to the best room. To hide his identity, Shui Miao had agreed with her to use the nickname “big brother” to avoid suspicion.
Shui Miao nodded indifferently, “No problem, but I have two questions to clarify. First, what kind of artifacts do you need? And in this Celestial Realm, what kind of artifact is the most sought-after?”
“Protective artifacts. With the Celestial War approaching, protective artifacts are currently the most popular, selling for twice the usual price. But if you’re asking for the most sought-after, it would probably be the legendary time-related artifacts that can accelerate movement speed. Big brother, you can forge those, right?” Hu San Niang was very shrewd; she had always suspected that Shui Miao wasn’t a Celestial Emperor but instead had some powerful time-related artifact.
Shui Miao touched his nose, “I can forge the basic ones, capable of adding a little speed. The one I use was given to me by my master.”
“No problem at all! As long as it adds even a little speed, the price will go way up,” Hu San Niang immediately became excited. “Even an ordinary time-related artifact, as long as it’s a time-related artifact, can sell for an astronomical price.”
Shui Miao couldn’t help but feel intrigued, “Astronomical price? What kind of price?”
“To put it this way, if you can forge a time-related artifact that increases speed by double, the cost of the best fairy mountain in the Ninth Heaven would be covered. If you can do it, big brother, we’ll take only ten percent, and you can have ninety. We just want to recoup our costs,” Hu San Niang was trying to flatter Shui Miao, enticing him to forge more so they could make profits through high volume sales with small margins.
Shui Miao nodded, “Very well, I can handle a time-related artifact that increases speed by double. I don’t need a 90-10 split either; since the materials are yours, let’s go with a 60-40 split.”
“…”
Upon hearing this, Hu San Niang was instantly stunned with excitement—this was going to be a huge profit!
Shui Miao had ulterior motives. Seeing Hu San Niang’s interest, he changed the topic, “However, to forge a time-related artifact, there’s one material that’s extremely difficult to obtain. I’m afraid even you won’t be able to get it.”
“What material? Big brother, tell me,” Hu San Niang thought to herself that their Hu family was the top merchant in the Ninth Heaven, with plenty of money, and there seemed to be no material they couldn’t obtain.
“Hehe, this material is quite difficult to obtain,” Shui Miao shook his head with a smile. “San Niang, have you ever heard of the Nuwa Stone?”
“N-Nuwa Stone…”
Hu San Niang was immediately stunned, “That’s something legendary—I’ve never even seen it!”
“Exactly, it’s difficult. Forget it, I’ll just forge some protective artifacts,” Shui Miao waved his hand lightly, indicating Hu San Niang to leave.
Suddenly thinking of something, Hu San Niang hurriedly said, “How about Tianyuan Stones? They are the most expensive materials available on the market.”
“Well… I just arrived in the Celestial Realm not long ago, so I’m not very clear. Buy some back for me to try forging.”
Shui Miao’s mind raced—if it was the most expensive material on the market, it definitely wouldn’t be bad in effect.
“Great, we have some stored in our warehouse already. I’ll go get them right away.”
Hu San Niang hurried off.
Hearing this, Shui Miao’s mind stirred—there are already some stored in the warehouse?
If that’s the case, Hu San Niang is holding back the treasures and keeping a watchful eye on me!
No good—I need to think of a way to gain more benefits.
At that moment, Shui Miao conveyed the situation outside through his mind to He’er and Lian’er.
Lian’er immediately responded, “Big brother, you mustn’t underestimate Master Hu. Their family once produced a Celestial Emperor, and their financial resources are vast. They definitely haven’t given you all the materials, just a tiny fraction.”
“That’s right. The Hu family ancestors were once rulers of the Fifth Heaven. After their ancestor’s demise, they deliberately staged a show of being raided by the Demon Emperor, pretending to decline, and then retreated to the Ninth Heaven. Our Tianmo Sect has been watching the Hu family for a long time. Their financial resources are indeed formidable. Besides the Nuwa Stone, the most precious Tianyuan Stones—they have a great many of them.” He’er, being the senior disciple of the Tianmo Matriarch, knew many secrets and naturally had a thorough understanding of the Hu family.
“I see!”
Shui Miao’s mind turned, already having a plan.
It wasn’t long before Hu San Niang returned. She gave Shui Miao a Tianyuan Stone about one meter in diameter and claimed it was all they had.
Shui Miao didn’t ask many questions and immediately accepted the Tianyuan Stone, entering the Time Tower to start forging the artifacts.
To gain the Hu family’s trust, Shui Miao simultaneously forged three time-related protective artifacts.
To prevent these artifacts from being used against him in the future, Shui Miao deliberately sabotaged the formations slightly, leaving some hidden flaws as contingencies.
Of course, these time-related artifact formations were meticulously designed by Shui Miao, making them difficult for ordinary people to imitate or detect.
As for the speed enhancement, Shui Miao strictly controlled it to just double.
After exiting the Time Tower, Shui Miao quenched the three time-related protective artifacts, resulting in three top-grade artifacts.
Inside the Time Tower, many materials were still being smelted, and only a small portion of the Tianyuan Stone had been used, leaving a lot remaining.
Shui Miao planned to accumulate enough Tianyuan Stones and then use them to forge a complete set of artifacts based on the ones he currently possessed.
“San Niang, the artifacts have been completed.”
Shui Miao spread his divine sense, signaling Hu San Niang to come in.
Hu San Niang hurried into the room. Seeing the three protective time-related artifacts, she immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Heavens above, big brother, you’re truly a genius! You’ve actually fused protective artifacts with time-related talismans. This way I can sell them for an even higher price. You’ve just made enough to buy three fairy mountains!”
Hu San Niang was so excited she didn’t think much and blurted out the truth.
“It’s nothing really. My master once passed down to me an extremely grand and complex time formation, which can forge artifacts that increase speed tenfold,” Shui Miao thought for a moment, then suddenly sighed, “But forging that artifact requires Nuwa Stone. I just used Tianyuan Stone and found its effect quite good too—at least it can forge artifacts that increase speed threefold. However, even more Tianyuan Stones will be needed. If there were enough Tianyuan Stones… sigh!”
Shui Miao shook his head again.
Time-related artifacts that increase speed had never been heard of in the Celestial Realm.
Hu San Niang had originally planned to sell these three artifacts for an astronomical price, but she never expected Shui Miao could forge time-related artifacts that tripled speed. What did that mean? Whoever possessed it would be invincible!
Her thoughts racing, Hu San Niang couldn’t help but eagerly ask, “Big brother, tell me, exactly how many Tianyuan Stones would you need?”
“That formation is extremely grand and complex. I estimate at least ten times the amount you just gave me.”
Shui Miao made an outrageous demand to test Hu San Niang’s limits.
Hu San Niang didn’t refuse outright but instead thought to herself—ten times was indeed too much, but with her family’s financial resources, it was still manageable. If they could really obtain a time-related artifact that triples time speed, the Hu family would undoubtedly be like having another Celestial Emperor, gaining a secret trump card. With that, their chances of survival during the upcoming Celestial War would significantly increase!
“Alright! I’ll do it. I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.”
After a moment of consideration, Hu San Niang agreed decisively.
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