Translator: AnubisTL

The Golden Jade Garment!

This defensive magic treasure was exceedingly rare even in the cultivation world.

In this realm where offense reigned supreme and defense was often neglected, few cultivators invested resources in defensive artifacts.

As the saying went, "The best defense is a strong offense." Most cultivators believed in refining powerful magic treasures to decisively eliminate their enemies.

This explained Li Qing's astonishment at encountering a defensive artifact.

Despite his surprise, he couldn't deny the Golden Jade Garment's formidable and comprehensive defensive capabilities.

Once worn, it could withstand not only physical attacks but also many spells and divine abilities without sustaining the slightest damage.

Most crucially, the Golden Jade Garment also protected the divine soul!

From the fleshly body and mana to the divine soul, this artifact offered comprehensive protection across all three realms of existence.

Seeing this, even Li Qing's heart stirred with longing. This was undoubtedly a peerless defensive magic treasure. Refining such an artifact would greatly enhance one's life safety.

"Impressive," Li Qing murmured, genuinely impressed. "The Zhao Family truly lives up to its reputation as a cultivation clan with a thousand-year inheritance. Your foundation is astonishingly deep."

Beside him, Patriarch Zhao Tianxiong chuckled dryly. "This is an artifact refinement diagram left by our ancestor," he explained. "Unfortunately, we descendants have proven incapable of replicating his success. No one after him has managed to achieve core formation."

As he spoke, a hint of reluctance flickered in Zhao Tianxiong's eyes.

If not for his deep concern for his children's lives, he would never have revealed such a foundational treasure to an outsider.

This was a legacy left by a core formation true lord to his clan—a resource that dwindled with each use. Even the Zhao Family, with its formidable foundation, couldn't sustain such depletion indefinitely.

Li Qing, however, showed no hesitation. He meticulously studied the refinement diagram, memorizing every step, detail, and even the intricate dao patterns that needed to be inscribed.

Replicating a magic artifact with even a fraction of the power of a true magic treasure was no simple task.

Even with Li Qing's extensive experience in artifact refinement, success was far from guaranteed.

Seeing Li Qing's contemplative expression, Zhao Tianxiong asked anxiously, "Senior Li, what do you think?"

"Hmm, this is quite challenging," Li Qing replied slowly, stroking his chin. "It involves altering the fundamental principles of the spirit materials. To refine it into a top-grade magical artifact, even the dao patterns would need to be modified accordingly. It's unlikely I could refine it in a short time."

"I'll need some time to thoroughly investigate this. It could take anywhere from six months to three years!"

Zhao Tianxiong's face fell. Six months at the very least? With the war escalating, the Ghost Sword Sect would be deploying all available personnel to the front lines within three or four months. By the time Li Qing devised a concrete plan, it would be too late.

"Senior Li, six months is far too long," Zhao Tianxiong pleaded. "Is there any way to shorten the timeframe? My unworthy son will likely be vying for the Taiyi Sect's spirit gold veins in just three or four months."

Desperate, Zhao Tianxiong had already shown Li Qing the artifact refinement diagram as a sign of sincerity. He couldn't possibly seek another artificer now, could he?

Even if Li Qing hadn't gotten the artifact refinement diagram for free, could Zhao Tianxiong guarantee that another artificer could replicate the Golden Jade Garment within three or four months?

That was far from certain!

Li Qing was a core formation realm artificer, and his refinement skills were undoubtedly exceptional.

Although Zhao Tianxiong didn't understand the art of artifact refinement, he knew that replicating a magic treasure was no simple task, involving numerous complex factors.

Li Qing frowned slightly, understanding Zhao Tianxiong's urgency. He began considering alternative solutions.

"Hmm, Patriarch Zhao, if I could attempt to refine a complete Golden Jade Garment myself, gaining a deeper understanding of this magic treasure's mysteries, I might be able to significantly shorten the time required."

Only by personally refining it once could he truly grasp its essence!

Zhao Tianxiong fell silent at this suggestion.

The Golden Jade Garment's comprehensive defensive capabilities stemmed primarily from its materials.

Refining this magic treasure required only two main ingredients, with no auxiliary materials needed!

Main Ingredients for Refining the Golden Jade Garment: Golden Silkworm Silk, Warm Sun Jade Marrow!

Both materials were exceptional spirit materials. While they couldn't compare to the Primordial Chaos Stone Li Qing used to refine his natal magic treasure, they were far superior to ordinary spirit materials.

After all, these were spirit materials for refining a magic treasure—how could they be ordinary?

The Warm Sun Jade Marrow, in particular, was a rare substance found deep within underground jade veins. A single Earth Vein might not even yield a single portion of this precious marrow.

The Golden Silkworm Silk was equally extraordinary.

These Golden Silkworms were no ordinary silkworms found in the mortal world. As the primary material for refining a defensive magic treasure, they possessed extraordinary qualities.

Indeed, these Golden Silkworms were a type of rare insect!

Ranked ninety-sixth in the Records of the World's Extraordinary Insects!

Golden Silkworms are spirit silkworms that feed on various spirit golds. Their silk is incomparably sharp, making it an ideal choice for refining magic treasures.

Moreover, these rare silkworms possess another peculiar trait: once they consume a sufficient variety of spirit golds, they will spontaneously spin a cocoon and begin their metamorphosis.

After breaking free from its cocoon, the Golden Silkworm would transform into a Six-Winged Golden Moth!

This Six-Winged Golden Moth was another extraordinary insect of heaven and earth, ranking thirty-second in the Records of the World's Extraordinary Insects—a remarkably high position!

Once, an old monster in the nascent soul realm had raised Golden Silkworms, even squandering his entire fortune to acquire various spirit gold to feed them, all in the hopes of nurturing a Six-Winged Golden Moth.

Tragically, despite exhausting his entire nascent soul realm fortune, he failed to cultivate a single Six-Winged Golden Moth.

This was because the conditions for the Golden Silkworm's cocoon formation were exceedingly stringent, and only through such demanding circumstances could the powerful Six-Winged Golden Moth be born.

This explains why many rare insects listed in the Records of the World's Extraordinary Insects have long since vanished from the world, with even finding a single specimen being a stroke of extraordinary luck.

Returning his gaze to Li Qing's cave abode, Zhao Tianxiong's smile turned bitter. He shook his head and said, "Senior Li, these two spirit materials are not easy to find. Both Golden Silkworm Silk and Warm Sun Jade Marrow are items of immense value."

Li Qing smiled faintly. "While that's true, I do possess some treasures of my own. Perhaps I can find someone willing to trade?"

"So, Fellow Daoist Zhao, why don't you return and wait for news? Who knows, someone might just happen to have these rare items."

Li Qing's plan was simple. Since the Zhao Family's ancestor had left behind an artifact refinement diagram, he reasoned that this benevolent core formation true lord might have also bequeathed the two rare spiritual materials to his descendants.

After all, inheritance was paramount in the cultivation world.

The Zhao Family's first Clan Head had considered everything carefully. He hadn't left valuable finished magic treasures to his descendants, fearing they would attract unwanted attention and bring disaster upon his lineage. Instead, he left only the artifact refinement diagram, and perhaps even some of the spiritual materials needed for refining magic treasures. This way, future generations might successfully achieve core formation and acquire natal magic treasures, avoiding the fate of becoming the weakest tier of rogue core formation cultivators.

The essence of a cultivation clan's inheritance lay in its enduring vitality.

Li Qing understood this perfectly.

As expected, Zhao Tianxiong gritted his teeth, as if steeling himself for a difficult decision. He finally spoke:

"Senior Li, to be frank, my Zhao Family does possess a Warm Sun Jade Marrow!"

"However, this Warm Sun Jade Marrow is an ancestral heirloom of immense value."

His meaning was clear: he wanted to gauge what price Li Qing was willing to pay for the Warm Sun Jade Marrow.

Suppressing his inner elation, Li Qing didn't immediately respond. Instead, he continued:

"But even with the Warm Sun Jade Marrow, I can't begin refining the Golden Jade Garment."

It wasn't greed; Li Qing simply knew Zhao Tianxiong's deep concern for his son. This was the inherent limitation of cultivation clans: they always prioritized their descendants and family above all else. Once a clan produced a talented heir, they would spare no expense to nurture them, hoping they would revitalize the family's future.

Li Qing decided to test the waters, wondering if the Zhao Family still possessed any Golden Silkworm Silk, another extremely rare material. If they did, he wouldn't mind paying a fair price to acquire it.

However, Zhao Tianxiong revealed an even more shocking truth.

"Our family once possessed Golden Silkworm Silk, but over three centuries ago, we offended a powerful figure from the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty, nearly severing our inheritance."

"To appease the master's wrath, the Clan Head at the time offered a portion of the Golden Silkworm Silk to a royal marquis of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty, securing temporary protection. As a result, the Zhao Family no longer possesses any Golden Silkworm Silk."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Tianxiong added, "However... I might know where to find Golden Silkworms."

Li Qing's mouth fell open, momentarily speechless.

(End of the Chapter)

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