NOVEL WEB Chapter 486: Artifact Refining
"Time Sands!?"
As he had spoken, the faces of the other Dao Lords changed simultaneously.
"Is it that kind of miraculous object that contains the essence of the Streaming Light Dao!?"
"Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord ventured out on this journey… and actually obtained such a treasure!?"
"Twenty grains of Time Sands, indeed a bold move, Dao Lord!"
One after another, the Dao Lords spoke up.
Even the gaze of the Supreme Purity Dao Lord, when looking at him, carried a hint of astonishment.
"I am the Void Dao Lord, and I am skilled at preserving my life. On my way back, which was two hundred years ago, I encountered a temporal-spatial turbulence. Thus, I took the risk to enter it, and fortunately, I gained something from it."
The Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord humbly explained.
Time Sands.
Alkaid was also very familiar with this treasure.
It belonged to a type of consumable miraculous object.
By drawing out the Power of Time contained within it and infusing oneself, a cultivator could instantly gain the Dao Lord-level insights of the Path of Time.
In such a state, understanding the Dao technique of the Path of Time could be accelerated tremendously.
Time Dao Technique!
That was one of the four Supreme Daos!
Given the level of this object, its value couldn't possibly be low or cheap.
Sixteen thousand years ago, in the history of the Northern Sea Star, a Dao Lord had once sold ten grains of Time Sands, each for billions.
This was because the amount was too small to sustain longer periods of insight, hence they were sold at a lower price.
Twenty grains of Time Sands, if auctioned together, their true value…
could definitely reach two to three hundred billion.
However, this was not the main point; the main point was that Time Sands could also be used as materials for forging Immortal Artifacts.
It was even a grade better in quality than Star Abyss and Return to Ruin Mysterious Crystal as materials for Time Immortal Artifacts.
Recently, when Alkaid was enhancing his Artifact Refining skills, he had wanted to find a top-tier Dao Artifact or a Semi-Immortal Artifact corresponding to the 'Time Torrent', and he had seen a piece named 'Time Stream' Immortal Artifact, whereby the main material was Time Sands.
Time Sands must be obtained.
Alkaid pondered, but his expression didn't reveal much.
His gaze lingered on the Time Sands for a moment, but soon moved away and turned to Pill Cauldron Dao Lord, "Dao Lord, how much of the materials do you still have left?"
Pill Cauldron Dao Lord quickly listed an inventory and transmitted it to Alkaid via Divine Sense.
After checking for a moment, Alkaid noted that these materials were enough to forge two top-tier Dao Artifacts, although some of the materials did not reach the Immortal Artifact grade and thus made the forging more challenging and less valuable.
But strictly speaking…
The rewards given by the Pill Cauldron Dao Lord summed up could also reach about one hundred billion.
Plus, if he could shave off some material from that top-tier Dao Artifact, gathering one hundred and fifty billion would not be out of the question.
Although it couldn't compare to the Time Sands, it wasn't too bad either.
At that moment, he straightforwardly said, "If the Dao Lord trusts me, I shall give it a try."
Seeing Alkaid seeming to take on Pill Cauldron Dao Lord's order, Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord got somewhat restless, "Wait a moment!"
He gritted his teeth and asked, "Does Alkaid Dao Lord intend to participate in this era's Dao Conflict?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, I will give it a try."
Alkaid frankly stated.
Upon hearing this, Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord felt even less hopeful.
If Alkaid participated in the Dao Conflict...
If he failed, that was somewhat better; he would have to stay in the Northern Sea Star for ten thousand years.
If he succeeded, he would ascend directly, and then whom would he find to forge artifacts?
Especially an Artifact Sage of the Void Path, who almost never forged for other Dao Lords of the Void Path.
At that moment, this Dao Lord bitterly smiled, "I am willing to offer thirty-two grains of Time Sands for Alkaid Dao Friend to forge a unique Dao Artifact for me."
"Thirty-two grains?"
At this number, not just Alkaid, but the other Dao Lords were inwardly shocked and deeply envious.
Thirty-two grains of Time Sands could perhaps be worth four hundred billion!?
If it were top-tier Dao Lords, that might be expected, but among ordinary Dao Lords, throughout the Northern Sea Star, there were probably only a few with such fortunes, and not one was without mastery over top-tier Artifact Refining, Formation, or Alchemical Techniques.
"A top-tier Dao Artifact might be worth one or two hundred billion, but thirty-two grains of Time Sands worth four hundred billion, an Artifact Refining material containing Immortal Artifact elements must be worth hundreds of billions, isn't it? Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord is actually willing to exchange materials worth five hundred billion for a top-tier Dao Artifact from me?"
Alkaid was somewhat surprised.
"The price of a top-tier Dao Artifact is indeed only worth one or two hundred billion, but a tailor-made top-tier Dao Artifact is worth more than that, two to three hundred billion would be more normal. However, that's not the main point. The main point is…"
Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord bitterly smiled, "We cannot avoid whether the other party might have left something behind in those Dao Artifacts."
"Back-up plans…"
Upon hearing this, Alkaid somewhat realized.
Some Artifact Sages indeed leave back-up plans in the Dao Artifacts they craft, to prevent others from using their forged artifacts against them.
As for the present Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord...
"Alkaid Dao Lord should be aware of the defense agreement signed among our Ten Great Immortal Paths, one of the most crucial clauses being not to directly or indirectly harm the signatories… and the restraining methods involve Causality, transgressors would forever lose hope of ascending to the Immortal Realm. Alkaid Dao Lord, with your outstanding talent, ascending to the Immortal Realm in the future is only a matter of time. With no conflicts of interest between us anymore, I trust that Alkaid Dao Lord would not jeopardize your path to the Immortal Realm for a mere 'possibility.'"
Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord explained.
Alkaid nodded after listening.
A mutual defense pact!
That was the reason why Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord had hoped he would help him craft a top-tier Dao Artifact.
With the agreement signed, there was sufficient trust between them, essentially making them allies.
Items ordered from an ally, as opposed to a stranger, naturally carried different levels of security risks.
Thus, it must be said that this Dao Lord was quite decisive in spending almost double the amount for this "safety."
"Since that is the case, I shall accept the task,"
Alkaid said and, upon seeing Pill Cauldron Dao Lord about to speak, he reassured, "Fellow Dao Lords need not worry. The Dao conflict is still seven to eight hundred years away, and during this time, I might be able to craft all the top-tier Dao Artifacts you desire."
Pill Cauldron Dao Lord and Qing Ya Dao Lord listened with bitter expressions.
But they couldn't really blame him for anything.
Thirty-two grains of Time Sands, after all.
The price was just too high.
If it were them, they would also choose Supreme Subtlety Dao Lord.
Considering that other competitors might emerge among the Ten Great Immortal Paths, Supreme Subtlety and Supreme Purity Dao Lords quickly decided, "We two will make a trip to the Yin Moon Sect right away, bringing the materials and compensation to Dao Lord Alkaid, and you can craft the Dao Artifacts whenever you have the time."
"Good."
Alkaid nodded.
He then reassured the other two Dao Lords, "Although the crafting time for top-tier Dao Artifacts is pressing, as the number of top-tier Dao Artifacts I craft increases, my artifact refining skills will also improve, and the speed of my refining will inevitably become faster. It's not improbable that I can craft your top-tier Dao Artifacts in the future as well."
He smiled and said, "After all, it took me only two hundred years to reach this step from when I started cultivating. Who can say what will happen in three to five hundred years?"
Pill Cauldron Dao Lord and Qing Ya Dao Lord felt somewhat better upon hearing this.
Although they didn't believe that Alkaid's enhancements in all aspects could continue to accelerate after becoming a Dao Lord, it was at least a hopeful idea.
There and then, the two men forced a smile and bowed, "Then we will wait for the day when Dao Lord Alkaid's artifact refining achievements reach new heights."
...
The efficiency of Supreme Purity and Supreme Subtlety Dao Lords was high.
Alkaid had not even had time to return to Heavenly Dao Sect from the Yin Moon Sect...
He hadn't had time to return from the Nine Cauldrons Sect when the two Dao Lords arrived, bringing with them Storage Treasures containing numerous refining materials.
When they learned that Su Yaoxue, who assisted Alkaid, was related to him, they eagerly offered spirit pills and medicines.
Less than half a day after the two Dao Lords left, Dao Lords Jun Tian and Emperor Hui also arrived.
Especially Emperor Hui Dao Lord, who brought with him many Array Masters from the Taiyi Immortal Sect.
Although their skills weren't high, merely at the eleventh or twelfth levels, their sheer numbers were advantageous.
With these people helping, Alkaid's renovation of the Yin Moon Sect's Mountain Protection Array would definitely progress much faster.
Meanwhile, Alkaid also learned the details of the Dao Technique practiced by Emperor Hui Dao Lord.
Rainbow Transforming Technique.
A movement technique within the Dao Techniques.
Its nature in the Streaming Light Dao was similar to that of Void Blink in the Great Void Path.
From this, it could be seen that this Dao Lord also valued "speed."
Alkaid searched within his mental "super-database" and quickly understood the many variations of this Dao Technique.
He then proceeded to arrange the formations while preparing to refine this top-tier Dao Artifact.
Not just this Rainbow Transforming Technique.
The "Great True Word Technique" of Dao Lord Jun Tian was likewise designed into a corresponding top-tier Dao Artifact by him.
Especially when Alkaid personally implemented the Great True Word Technique, Dao Lord Jun Tian was both surprised and delighted.
Since Alkaid had mastered this Dao Technique and even reached Perfection in it, the upcoming refining of the top-tier Dao Artifacts would naturally achieve a high degree of compatibility with him.
...
Thanks to the Array Masters brought by Emperor Hui Dao Lord, in just nine years, the Yin Moon Sect's formation was transformed into a completely new Ten Prisons Dragon Capturing Formation with strong defensive and binding powers.
As for offensive capabilities...
They now had Alkaid.
In the future, he would refine a Semi-Immortal Artifact skilled in slaughter that would complement this formation, enabling the Nine Cauldrons Sect to withstand Dao Lords.
As long as they could withstand Dao Lords, based on the relationships and sentiments among the Ten Great Immortal Paths, they could naturally invite other Dao Lords to help resolve crises.
After setting up the formation, Alkaid returned to Heavenly Dao Sect under the expectant eyes of Dao Lord Jun Tian.
In the Heavenly Dao Sect's Abandoned Heaven Valley, this Dao Lord was still keeping it for him, even without moving any of his belongings.
But outside of Abandoned Heaven Valley, this Dao Lord and Emperor Hui had teamed up to reorganize the power of the earth's veins once again.
It is said that during this process, Supreme Subtlety and Supreme Purity Dao Lords also lent a hand.
Furthermore, Mountain River Gate's Dao Lord Jin Mu, who practiced the Dao of the Thick Earth, also came over to lend support during the reorganization of the earth's veins.
This allowed Alkaid, upon returning to Abandoned Heaven Valley, to distinctly feel the enhancement of his refining efficiency in this region.
"Although my refining methods are somewhat different from other Integrated Artifact Sages, with this rearrangement, I can better harness the power of the earth, and even deeper, the Star Core power necessary for refining the required Dao Artifacts. All things considered, this can enhance my refining efficiency by at least 20%. Originally, upgrading the Limitless Sword to a Semi-Immortal Artifact would have taken a hundred years, but now it would only take eighty years,"
Alkaid said calmly as he took out his Limitless Sword and began refining it.
As for the top-tier Dao Artifacts of Emperor Hui and Jun Tian...
He would find some time to refine them casually.
With two to three hundred years to go, there was no hurry.