After over a month of continuous artifact refining, hundreds of orders were all completed. In less than three months since Zhouyang took over the "Jade Spring Tower," he turned this originally ordinary shop into the best business in Jinsha Marketplace.
Thanks to the massive customer flow brought by this grand artifact refining event, the shop's stock of numerous elixirs, magical artifacts, and spirit talismans were sold out by more than half, and in just a few short months, the sales exceeded the total sales of the past ten years combined.
Zhouyang himself also gained nearly two thousand lower-grade spirit stones steadily from this grand artifact refining, and his pockets suddenly bulged.
He wasn't someone who favored one over the other. While he enjoyed the profits, he also shared a portion with his clan brothers, Zhou Yu and Zhou Xiong, who were working as clerks in "Jade Spring Tower," giving them a generous bonus of a hundred spirit stones each as a reward for their busy days.
This money did not have to come out of his own pocket; it was directly deducted from the operating income of "Jade Spring Tower." Given the store's sales over these months, no one in the clan could object to this.
Two more months passed, and just as Zhouyang had anticipated, the entire Jinsha Marketplace's magical artifact customization business rapidly declined due to market saturation, even resulting in a sharp drop in the sales of ready-made magical artifacts.
This downturn was expected to last a long time before recovery, as magical artifacts, unlike elixirs or spirit talismans, are not consumables. Some high-tier spiritual artifacts, as long as nurtured by cultivators' magical power, could be handed down for generations, used for thousands of years.
However, this was no longer Zhouyang's concern as he and "Jade Spring Tower" had already profited enough from this event to last for the next decade, even if no magical artifacts were sold.
And since discovering that practicing in the Earth Fire Chamber helped him breakthrough his cultivation barrier, he spent twenty days each month inside, not refining artifacts but just letting the earth fire burn in an empty furnace and practicing magic beside it.
This indeed proved effective, and through two to three months of training in the Earth Fire Chamber, the barrier in Zhouyang's cultivation gradually weakened, until only a thin layer remained.
At this moment, Zhouyang felt that if he went to a place with rich spiritual qi and secluded himself for a few days, he would undoubtedly break through this thin layer and enter the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation.
Feeling this, he immediately left the Earth Fire Chamber, preparing to return to "Jade Spring Tower" for seclusion to achieve a breakthrough.
But as soon as he reached outside "Jade Spring Tower," he heard the sound of his cousin, Zhou Xiong, arguing with a customer inside.
"I say, Daoist friend, we're opening our doors to do business. I don't want to curse you. If you really think what you have is a treasure, you can try selling it elsewhere to see if anyone is willing to exchange a Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifact for your broken stone!"
"Broken stone? Kid, how dare you speak like that? This is Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold that even earth fire can't refine, at least a Tier Four or higher spiritual object! You're getting a great deal if you exchange just a Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifact for a Tier Four spiritual object, don't you understand?"
"Hehe, you think just any hard stone is a Tier Four spiritual object? A Tier Four spiritual object that doesn't emit any spiritual qi? Who are you trying to fool! I'm warning you, if you don't leave, don't blame me for throwing you out unceremoniously!"
"Unceremoniously? You, a mere Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator, how exactly do you plan to do that? I won't stoop to the level of a little brat who can't recognize goods. Go get your shopkeeper; I hear he's a Tier Two High-Grade Refiner, and would certainly know my words are true upon seeing this."
Zhouyang, standing outside, caught a flash of curiosity on his face and immediately stepped inside the building.
Upon entering, he saw his cousin Zhou Xiong staring down a burly middle-aged man holding a head-sized pitch-black stone in his right hand.
This burly middle-aged man had the cultivation of an Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation, no wonder Zhou Xiong, even on his home turf, was having a difficult time.
Seeing Zhouyang enter, Zhou Xiong seemed to find someone to back him up, his momentum surging as he angrily pointed at the burly man and said, "Brother Nine, you came just in time. This guy brought over a stone without any spiritual qi fluctuations, claiming it's Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold, and wants to exchange it for your 'Fire Cloud Banner' artifact consigned in the shop!"
"Fire Cloud Banner" was the Red Banner Spiritual Artifact Zhouyang had obtained after defeating sand bandits in the Desert Sea. This artifact was a Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, and its refining techniques were quite extraordinary, giving him considerable insights into artifact refining.
However, he had enough magical artifacts, so after thoroughly studying it, he placed it along with other artifacts and spiritual objects acquired from the sand bandits for sale in the shop. Now, most of the other items had been sold, leaving this one unsold due to its high price.
After hearing Zhou Xiong's words, Zhouyang immediately cupped his hands towards the burly man and said, "I am Zhouyang, the shopkeeper of this 'Jade Spring Tower.' May I know if my cousin's words are true? Would you be willing to let me inspect the spiritual object in your hand?"
"You're the Zhouyang of 'Jade Spring Tower'? You do look as young as the legends say, but whether you're as skilled remains to be seen. Let's hope it's not all name with no substance!"
The burly man's thick eyebrows twitched, his face full of doubt as he looked Zhouyang up and down. As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and handed the pitch-black stone to Zhouyang.
Seeing this, Zhou Xiong immediately jumped up and shouted, "Brother Nine, see how rude he is, don't be fooled. We've seen this trick many times running a shop. I'll bet his so-called treasure has already been evaluated by other refiners in other stores at least ten times. If it were truly a treasure, it would have been bought long ago, not still available here!"
"No worries, Thirteenth Brother. I know what I'm doing. Go ahead and attend to the other customers."
Zhouyang gave his cousin a reassuring look, smiled slightly, and took the pitch-black stone from the burly middle-aged man, beginning to examine it closely.
He had studied all the artifact refining classics collected by the Zhou Family and the "Record of Wondrous Treasures of Heaven and Earth" given by his father, Zhou Xuanhao, knowing over a thousand types of mineral and spiritual objects. Yet, even with thorough inspection and using techniques like the infusion of magical power and divine sense analysis, he couldn't match this stone with any he knew.
The only certainty was that this stone, with no spiritual qi emanation, was indeed very hard. The burly middle-aged man might not be lying when he said that even earth fire couldn't refine it.
However, the burly middle-aged man claimed that this black mineral was Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold, but Zhouyang was absolutely skeptical.
That Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold comes from the Upper Realm, and its grade is at least Tier Five or higher. The spiritual qi fluctuations it emits can be sensed from over a hundred miles away; how could it be like this black mineral with no fluctuations at all?
Of course, while this black mineral might not be Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold, it certainly isn't the broken stone Zhou Xiong described either. Its hardness and heat resistance alone, which even earth fire cannot refine, indicate it's definitely no ordinary mortal object.
Surely Zhou Xiong knows this as well, which is why he called it a broken stone. His intention is likely to lower the price out of annoyance at the burly man's exorbitant demands.
If Zhouyang could acquire this black mineral at a lower price and take it back to the clan for the old clan leader, Zhou Minghan, to inspect, maybe the old clan leader's insight could reveal its origins.
However, Zhouyang knew that since the burly man dared to demand an exchange of the mineral for a Tier Two High-grade Spiritual Artifact, he certainly wouldn't sell this exotic treasure cheaply.
So, he continued to appear focused, examining the mineral as if trying to discern its origins. But in reality, he was contemplating what the burly man's bottom price might be.
After pondering for a while, he made a calculation in his mind.
There was a flash of regret in his eyes as he looked at the burly man, visibly anxious, and said, "Friend, forgive my poor vision. I truly can't see any significance in this mineral."
Saying this, he reached out his hand and handed the mineral back to the man.
The burly man's face immediately fell, and he couldn't help but snort coldly, "Hmph, looks like you're another famous faker! Even dare call yourself an Artifact Refining Master without recognizing Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold!"
"Say what you will, friend, but wanting to exchange this unknown mineral for a Tier Two High-grade Spiritual Artifact is definitely impossible. Not to mention that my [Fire Cloud Banner] is a fine piece even among such artifacts, and won't be sold for less than eight hundred Spirit Stones." Zhouyang smiled lightly, unfazed.
"What do you mean unknown mineral? This is obviously Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold! Don't speak nonsense just because you can't recognize it!" The burly man's face twitched with anger and he loudly protested.
"Indeed, we do not recognize treasures and have wasted your time to earn Spirit Stones. Sir, if you're so sure this is Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold, why don't you sell it to Yellow Sand Sect and the Chen Family's store? Such treasures are beyond our small Zhou Family; you'd better go back where you came from!"
Unknown when Zhou Xiong had arrived, he looked at the man with a sneering attitude, filled with resentment.
In his view, the man had come to cause trouble because "Jade Spring Tower" had been thriving recently, and having recently received a hundred Spirit Stones bonus from Zhouyang due to increased sales, he was naturally disgusted with anyone trying to disrupt their business.
"You..." The burly man was torn between shame and anger, intending to curse Zhou Xiong, but Zhouyang's suddenly fierce eyes and presence forced him to swallow his words.
He had indeed been to Yellow Sand Sect and the Chen Family's store, but neither clerks were as easy to bully as Zhou Xiong. After the store's treasure appraiser and artifact refiner both denied the black mineral as a spiritual object, they ruthlessly kicked him out, and he dared not utter a peep.
Zhouyang, having intimidated the man with his aura, also frowned and said deeply, "Friend, I respect you as a bold man and know the hardships of loose cultivators. If you truly like the [Fire Cloud Banner] Artifact, I'm willing to make your acquaintance. I'll buy your 'Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold' at the price of a Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, and you add five hundred Spirit Stones to take away the artifact."
Upon hearing Zhouyang's offer, the burly man showed a hint of interest. After glancing at Zhouyang again, he hesitated for a moment but finally nodded and said, "Alright, since the shopkeeper offers, I, Zhong Quan, will befriend you and accept."
The burly man Zhong Quan knew that the black mineral he held bore no resemblance to the legendary "Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold." He had discovered it in a "Celestial Pit" in the Desert Sea after searching every corner, finding only this mineral met the treasure criteria, which led him to believe it was "Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold."
Despite years of attempts, he failed to convince any marketplace stores to purchase the mineral at such a price, causing him to doubt its true value as "Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold."
His insistence on calling it "Extraterrestrial Marvelous Gold" stemmed from a reluctance to easily part with something obtained through chance after running around for years.
Previously, others who were curious or gambling offered up to fifty Spirit Stones for the mineral, an amount he refused to sell for.
Now with Zhouyang offering the price of a Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, even with lingering reluctance and suspicions about Zhouyang's insight, he dared not gamble further.
If he missed this chance, he wouldn't find a higher offer in Jinsha Marketplace, and if today's events spread, those who ridiculed him would grow tenfold, hundredfold, and even a thick skin couldn't withstand that!
Once he agreed, he seemed to release some longstanding fixation, and a subtle shift occurred within, loosening the barrier at his Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation stage.
The discovery filled him with joy, and he quickly handed over five hundred Spirit Stones alongside the black mineral to Zhouyang, taking away the [Fire Cloud Banner] artifact he desired before leaving "Jade Spring Tower" to prepare for his breakthrough.
Watching this, Zhou Xiong couldn't help but curse, "That rascal has no manners; profiting before hightailing it! If Seventh Uncle were here, he'd have long banished such troublemaking scoundrels, not letting them go wild here!"
"Enough, Thirteenth Brother, hold your tongue. I've returned to tell you something. I will be breaking through to Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation in the backyard seclusion chamber, and for heaven's sake, don't disturb me for anything!"
Zhouyang waved his hand, halting Zhou Xiong's curses. After instructing a few words, he stored the Spirit Stones and the black mineral from the burly Zhong Quan into his storage bag and headed directly to the "Jade Spring Tower" backyard's seclusion chamber.