"Artifact Tribulation spiritual light! It's Artifact Tribulation spiritual light!"
Chen Taosheng exclaimed excitedly, leaning almost out of the window.
Long Haotian pushed him aside, his gaze fixed on the brilliant rosy clouds in the sky.
Where mountains and rivers seem to end, a village appears in the mist.
Just when he was about to give up, a master artifact refiner appeared.
Among magical artifacts, there is a special category that, during their forging process, touch upon the laws of heaven and earth, thus triggering an artifact tribulation.
As long as the artifact survives the tribulation, its quality can be elevated to a higher level.
The sign and symbol of successfully passing the artifact tribulation is the descent of rosy clouds from the heavens.
However, artifacts with such fortunes are extremely rare. Ninety-nine percent of artifact refiners on the Kyushu Continent can hardly forge an artifact that triggers an artifact tribulation in their lifetime.
Long Haotian himself did not expect to encounter such a master artifact refiner in a remote desolate city. He suddenly felt full of confidence for the upcoming secret realm expedition.
"Senior Brother Long, that direction seems to be the first shop we visited that day, called Wonderful Curiosities."
Wang Yi'an, with his keen mind, recognized the location of the rosy clouds after a moment's thought.
"It's actually that one." Long Haotian raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
At this moment, the innkeeper also saw the rosy clouds in the sky. Standing at the door, he marveled to a waiter, "It's Wonderful Curiosities. Could it be that Zhang Tianbao finally opened his eyes and suddenly comprehended his ancestor's inheritance?"
"Why does the innkeeper say that?" the waiter asked, confused.
"You're too young to know. The owner of Wonderful Curiosities, Zhang Tianbao, had a famous master artifact refiner among his ancestors."
"So that's how it is. Then Boss Zhang is going to strike it rich."
"Who said he isn't?"
"..."
The conversation between the innkeeper and the waiter, with no attempt to conceal their voices, was clearly heard by the three people upstairs.
Long Haotian and Wang Yi'an exchanged glances, both seeing the vexation in the other's eyes.
If they had known that Wonderful Curiosities had such a prominent ancestor, they should have been more humble in their attitude back then.
"Junior Brother Wang, you accompany me. Junior Brother Chen, you stay here."
Long Haotian decided to go directly to Wonderful Curiosities to ask the shopkeeper for the person.
"Senior Brother Long, let me go too."
Chen Tao, hearing that he was to be left behind alone, immediately expressed his displeasure.
Long Haotian's expression darkened, and he reprimanded, "What are you going for! Have you forgotten how you spoke to the shopkeeper of Wonderful Curiosities before! Do you want to cause more trouble!"
Chen Tao, recalling his behavior at the time, wished he could turn back time and swallow those words.
Long Haotian snorted coldly and left the inn with Wang Yi'an.
Chen Tao could only watch their retreating backs, and in his heart, he made another note against Wang Yi'an.
Wonderful Curiosities.
Zhang Tianbao stood dumbfounded in the backyard, tilting his head to bathe in the rosy light, his face in a daze.
The legendary artifact tribulation, he actually witnessed it today.
When the thunder struck, he thought a senior was testing a magical artifact and paid it no mind.
Only when the rosy light passed through the corridor and spilled into the shop did Zhang Tianbao realize what was happening, and he rushed out in a hurry.
The door to the artifact refining room remained tightly shut.
Zhang Tianbao rubbed his hands, pacing back and forth outside the artifact refining room, occasionally glancing towards it, eager to see the artifact that had triggered the tribulation.
"Brother Zhang, Brother Zhang!"
"Shopkeeper Zhang, Boss Zhang."
"..."
Zhang Tianbao heard someone calling him and yelped, cursing these people for being like dogs, arriving so quickly.
He cast a reluctant glance in the direction of the artifact refining room, put on a fake smile, and returned to the shop.
At this moment, several owners of nearby shops had already arrived in the previously empty shop.
They lit up when they saw Zhang Tianbao, greeting him warmly, probing about the rosy light in their words, with a hint of envy.
What kind of person was Zhang Tianbao, they knew him well. He didn't even know how to refine artifacts, let alone forge an artifact capable of triggering a tribulation.
What they truly wanted to inquire about was the artifact refiner who was currently in Wonderful Curiosities, hoping to befriend them.
If they could establish a connection with that person and obtain a couple of artifacts to be their shop's treasures, that would be even better.
Zhang Tianbao, being astute, understood the intentions of these seasoned businessmen. He immediately looked around and spoke vaguely, revealing no information about the artifact refiner.
A group of old foxes gathered, waiting to see who would crack first.
When Long Haotian arrived, he saw the deserted Wonderful Curiosities now bustling with people.
His brow furrowed, then relaxed, and he coughed lightly, his aura subtly revealing itself, "Shopkeeper Zhang."
Long Haotian's Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivation was not remarkable across the entire Kyushu Continent, but in the desolate city, he was already someone not to be trifled with, especially considering his youth.
The other shop owners, upon sensing his arrival, quickly made way, their eyes showing uncertainty and deepening their conviction that Zhang Tianbao had definitely hitched himself to a high branch.
"Gentlemen, I have something I wish to discuss with Shopkeeper Zhang privately. Would you mind stepping aside? I would be most grateful."
Long Haotian smiled faintly. While he was asking for their opinion, his tone carried an undeniable firmness.
The shop owners exchanged glances, and finally, they cupped their hands and left.
After they left, Wang Yi'an took the initiative to guard the door, preventing anyone from interrupting Long Haotian's conversation with Zhang Tianbao.
Seeing this, Zhang Tianbao thought the visitors were not here with good intentions and cautiously asked, "What does the guest wish to inquire about?"
Long Haotian looked directly at Zhang Tianbao and said word for word, "Shopkeeper, let's be direct. I wish to meet the master artifact refiner you have here. I hope you can introduce us. This will be your reward for your trouble."
Long Haotian, proud and arrogant, disdained dealing with a fallen shopkeeper and directly tossed out two high-grade spirit stones.
Zhang Tianbao's eyes went blank upon seeing the high-grade spirit stones spinning on the table. The feeling of being looked down upon dissipated considerably.
However, remembering that senior, Zhang Tianbao's restless hand retracted.
That senior seemed approachable, but Zhang Tianbao had a strong intuition that they were not a pushover.
For the sake of long-term planning, he shook his head and said tactfully, "Guest, that senior is currently refining an artifact, and I don't know when they will come out of seclusion. If you wish to find them, please come back in a few days."
Long Haotian understood the implication in Zhang Tianbao's words, "Is that master artifact refiner not from Wonderful Curiosities?"
"No."
Long Haotian's heart tensed. A guess suddenly arose in his mind: could this person also be targeting the secret realm?
Otherwise, why would it be such a coincidence that an artifact refiner was needed to open the secret realm, and a master artifact refiner happened to arrive in the desolate city?
The news of the secret realm was known only to a few elders of the sect and Senior Brother Bei, as well as their three brothers. It was impossible for it to have leaked.
Perhaps it was a coincidence.
Long Haotian temporarily suppressed this thought and said to Zhang Tianbao, "It's alright, I can wait here for this master artifact refiner to come out of seclusion."
The forced smile on Zhang Tianbao's face finally gave way.
This person intended to cling to him!
What was even more infuriating was that he was powerless to do anything about it.