Chapter Sixty-Five: The Sacrificial Vessel

Dozens of spatial pouches were simply stacked together, almost covering half the table. Their radiant brilliance dazzled, leaving the new clerks at Treasure Gathering Pavilion utterly spellbound.

Though these spatial pouches were merely of inferior grade, their sheer number represented a fortune if converted into talisman currency. Even after working at Treasure Gathering Pavilion for over a decade, none of them could hope to amass so many.

“Eliminating demons and evil spirits is too much praise; I merely uphold the orthodox way.”

Chen Heng raised his cup with a gentle smile, and the steward in purple hastily echoed his words. For a time, lavish compliments poured forth like a sudden storm, until even the steward found himself blushing in embarrassment and finally ceased.

“May I ask, fellow cultivator, are all these spatial pouches for sale? Rest assured, I, Hao Qingyan, will arrange everything perfectly and offer you a fine price!”

The steward's heart burned with excitement as he fixed his gaze on Chen Heng. If he secured this deal, the commission alone would be substantial, and with a few months' wages added, perhaps he could advance his cultivation in energy refinement.

“No rush; let us trouble but one master. I also have some miscellaneous items, which I’ll entrust to Steward Hao as well.”

With a casual gesture, Chen Heng released more than a dozen talisman tools, suspending them in mid-air, illuminating the room with light as clear as water.

“This…”

Even Hao Qingyan could not conceal his shock, a hint of wariness flickering in his eyes. So many spatial pouches and talisman tools? Was this not some demon cultivator intent on fencing stolen goods?

Yet the thought passed quickly, and Hao Qingyan cared little for the matter, with no intention of upholding any righteous path. What concern was some ancient evil to him? His monthly wage was but thirty talisman coins—who expected him to risk his life?

Should any reckless rogue attempt to rob Treasure Gathering Pavilion, his bottom line was simply to keep silent and refuse to lead the way, preserving his ties to the Pavilion. If such a rogue was willing to share the spoils, then he’d hardly call them a rogue—rather, they’d be his esteemed brother in righteousness!

While his thoughts whirled, Hao Qingyan wasted no time; channeling his gaze, he cast a dazzling purple light, scanning each suspended talisman tool, muttering as he did so.

“A Mountain-Bearing Staff, inferior-grade talisman, hmm? Nine Heavenly Treasure Seals? What a pity! The material won’t support another refinement. If it could endure a second shaping, this staff would be a mid-grade talisman tool and fetch ten times the price!”

---

As Hao Qingyan spoke, clerks at Treasure Gathering Pavilion were already recording his evaluations with pens and paper.

Anyone serving as steward here possessed some unique skill. Hao Qingyan’s radiant purple gaze was a specialized artifact-identifying technique, beloved by merchants in the market, able to discern the quality and restrictions of talisman tools.

The art of forging talisman tools and magical implements in the Celestial Capital was inherited from ancient times, with profound and subtle methods. In the greater world—and even in some distant lands—these secrets were never openly taught, passed only by word of mouth and never revealed to outsiders. Should such secrets leak, untold bloodshed would follow, heads rolling in torrents.

But here, these refining methods were common knowledge, available to all. Even the most crucial restrictions had been passed down by the Eight Sects and Six Schools after a world-wide teaching a million years ago.

In the Celestial Capital, artifact refinement prioritized shaping, followed by restrictions.

A crude blank must first undergo “shaping,” purging impurities, aligning energy flows, and regulating clarity before restrictions can be inscribed within. Yet if the blank is too inferior, even after shaping, only a few restrictions can be inscribed—three or five before the material reaches its limit. Forcing more would only destroy the tool.

Some blanks are so poor they cannot survive a single shaping. Shaping is meant to purge impurities and regulate clarity; if the entire blank is nothing but impurity, forget inscribing restrictions—after shaping, all that remains is a handful of ash, its form utterly obliterated!

Thus, the finer the blank, the more restrictions it may bear. Materials like Spirit Gold, Mi Luo Iron, and Yellow Essence are the treasures sought by all cultivators—priceless and unattainable.

Restrictions are divided into Heavenly Treasure, Spirit Treasure, and Divine Treasure types, each uniquely profound and passed down by the Eight Sects and Six Schools. None is superior or inferior.

When refining, a tool shaped once with ten restrictions is an inferior-grade talisman. Ten restrictions mark the peak of the inferior grade. At this stage, another shaping is required to inscribe further restrictions.

Shaped twice, with twenty restrictions, the tool becomes mid-grade. And so the process continues.

Each time a magical implement advances in grade, it must undergo shaping anew before ten more restrictions can be inscribed. The same holds true for talisman tools, magical implements, Dao implements, and even the legendary immortal artifacts.

---

It is said that when a magical implement awakens its true consciousness, it can stir the heavens for a thousand miles, devouring limitless spiritual energy. As for Dao implements and immortal weapons, their power is beyond reckoning.

…

At this moment.

Hao Qingyan finally finished examining all the talisman tools. He took out a handkerchief, wiped his sweating brow, and apologetically saluted Chen Heng. Without a word, he collapsed into a soft chair, gulped half a pot of tea, and only after some time did he recover.

“Forgive me, forgive me, this ‘Spirit-Sensing Eye’ technique is terribly taxing on my vital energy. Even at eighth level energy refinement, I can barely endure it—every use feels as though half my life is drained.”

He shook his head with a sigh, but his expression soon brightened.

“Are you getting impatient, fellow cultivator? Just a moment, just a moment—fine work takes time! These items are truly valuable, I—”

“No matter, I happen to have another question.”

“Oh? More talisman tools?” Hao Qingyan’s surprise and delight were evident.

“Not talisman tools, but Dao techniques.”

As he spoke, Chen Heng drew Hao Qingyan’s imprint into the One True Law Realm, smiling:

“Does your pavilion purchase Dao techniques or energy refinement arts?”

“I see, I see.”

Hao Qingyan nodded in sudden understanding, chuckling as he drove all the clerks out and closed the doors, adopting a solemn manner. When he had finished, he sat across from Chen Heng, silent for several moments before speaking in a low voice:

“Dao techniques—we do not accept them.”

Chen Heng’s eyes lifted slightly.

“Not just Dao techniques, but even energy refinement arts—we don’t buy them. Not just our shop, but the neighboring merchants as well.”

Hao Qingyan whispered,

“You may not know how much trouble those things have caused!”