Chapter 39: Tang's Artifact Smithy

Master Tianji? It took him so long to get in touch. It seems he has just finished dealing with matters within his sect! I should return his call right away.

After reading the message, Tang Yi activated the communication function of the immortal stone jade pendant.

A flash of light crossed the jade pendant, and a screen of light gradually formed above it, displaying the image of Master Tianji. His complexion did not look too good!

"Immortal Friend Tang, you've finally replied!" Master Tianji's face immediately lit up with a smile upon seeing that it was Tang Yi.

"Oh, I am truly sorry, Master. I have been busy making a living and only just found some free time. As soon as I saw the video message you left, I contacted you immediately! However, I noticed your complexion didn't look quite right just now. Are you feeling unwell? Did something go wrong with your cultivation?" Tang Yi asked.

"Ah, it's nothing major. It's just that after I went missing for so long, some of the younger ones in the sect became restless. The Outer Domain is rather far, and coupled with the few teleportation arrays there, I only managed to return to the sect two years ago and have been reorganizing things ever since. That's why I haven't been able to contact Immortal Friend Tang. Now that things are almost settled, I would like to invite Immortal Friend Tang over to taste some fine tea at my humble abode," Master Tianji said.

"If there is fine tea, of course I must go. However, I checked the star map, and the Tianji Sect is quite a distance from where I am now. It requires crossing a stellar quadrant. I am currently in the Eastern Quadrant, while the Tianji Sect seems to be in the Northern Stellar Quadrant. Well, based on the star charts I've gathered so far, I would need to traverse at least fifty or sixty star belts. The journey might take quite a long time," Tang Yi analyzed.

"Let me see... Ah, it is indeed a bit far. But traveling through prosperous star regions, it should take at most two years. If Immortal Friend Tang has sufficient immortal stones, you can use the cross-domain teleportation array, and half a year will be enough. At most half a year—by then, the tea leaves will also have matured. I await Immortal Friend Tang's arrival. Ah, I have some urgent matters to attend to right now. Let's end it here for now, see you then." Master Tianji hurriedly ended the call.

"Just how urgent could it be?" Tang Yi sighed. However, Tang Yi had his own matters to attend to, so he didn't dwell on it.

In Ancient Ming City, gathered along Immortal Gathering Street, stood the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop. Occupying three storefronts, it was neither too large nor too small. Above the central double doors hung a plaque bearing five bold characters: Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop. Directly above that was a circular emblem with a large character in the center—Tang. The lower section featured a stylized design of a sword tilted at a forty-five-degree angle.

Inside the shop were display cabinets paired with small arrays radiating various colors, ornamentally highlighting each exhibit in a breathtaking manner. This was vastly different from other shops. Ordinary stores simply placed their goods uniformly on various shelves and considered it done.

The three storefronts of the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop were connected into one, featuring a large hall divided into several zones. The left display counter held various immortal artifacts designed for male immortals, while the right counter was dedicated to female immortals. In the Immortal World, garments and armor were strictly divided by gender; although anyone could wear them, no one typically did so under normal circumstances. Items like hairpins and coronets were similarly unused by male immortals.

The rear display counters held general-purpose immortal artifacts, such as rings, gloves, and weapons. In the very center stood a circular exhibition platform currently empty, leaving outsiders guessing as to its purpose.

Tang Yi had even hired four fairy maidens with exceptional appearances and eloquence, dressing them in custom work attire crafted by Tang Yi himself. This so-called work attire consisted of a complete set of superior third-grade immortal artifacts, including tops, bottoms, bracelets, headwear, and boots. Furthermore, Tang Yi had promised that as long as they worked here for a century, the work attire would become their personal property. The four fairy maidens, all at the late stage of Heavenly Immortals, were overjoyed. Not only would they receive a steady salary of immortal stones, but they would also obtain a complete set of premium immortal artifacts for free once the time was up—how could they not be thrilled?

On its opening day, the shop attracted a massive crowd of customers who came to watch and browse. Superior third-grade, superior second-grade, superior first-grade—every single item was at least of superior grade, and this was just on the first floor. The second floor housed top-grade immortal artifacts, and the third floor supposedly contained divine-grade immortal artifacts, though it was not yet open to the public.

Within a month of opening, the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop sold nearly three thousand superior immortal artifacts. Top-grade immortal artifacts, being much higher in price, accounted for less than a hundred sales. Such impressive sales figures were inextricably linked to Tang Yi's status as a level-six artifact refiner. On the opening day, Wei Changkong and Huang Yonghong had specifically traveled there to offer their congratulations. Wei Changkong was extremely famous within the Chilian star belt, holding the dual status of a level-seven artifact refiner and the branch president of the Chiyang Star Region's Forgers Alliance. With figures like these coming out to build momentum for Tang Yi, the resulting effect was self-evident.

There was more than one artifact shop on Immortal Gathering Street, but each focused on different specializations. In other words, the artifact refiners of each shop excelled in different areas; some were skilled at forging weapons, while others excelled at making garments and armor. As a result, the various shops on Immortal Gathering Street had coexisted peacefully. However, the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop suddenly encompassed everything from head to toe. This directly infringed upon the interests of the other shops, instantly offending everyone.

Although the people from the other artifact shops wanted to squeeze Tang Yi out, the quality of Tang Yi's forged items was faultless, and he was now affiliated with the Forgers Alliance. Anyone wishing to resort to underhanded tricks had to carefully consider whether they could bear the consequences of offending the Forgers Alliance.

Just as the people from these artifact shops felt utterly helpless, they discovered that all the items in the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop had increased in price—and the price had doubled overnight. For them, this price hike was undoubtedly good news. It turned out he wanted to target the high-end market. No wonder the grand opening had featured a month-long promotional celebration! Everyone thought along these lines. However, not long after—half a year later—the prices in the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop remained unchanged, yet its business had become even better and more thriving.

Through various inquiries, they discovered that the immortal artifacts crafted by the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop could be combined into complete sets, multiplying their power exponentially.

"So that's how it is. You, go to the Tang Family shop and buy three sets of those artifact collections back." As a core member of the Ouyang Clan, Ouyang Ming was a highly capable, ambitious, and bold individual. He was himself a level-five artifact refiner, and his cultivation realm had recently broken through to the late stage of Golden Immortals of the Nine Heavens. Ouyang Ming sent people to buy three sets with the intention of cracking and imitating them.

Unfortunately, Ouyang Ming lacked talent in array formations and was unable to comprehend the interlocking, overlapping arrays created by Tang Yi. Moreover, how could Tang Yi fail to take preventive measures against plagiarism and knockoffs? Therefore, after Ouyang Ming failed to crack the three sets he bought, they were reduced to a pile of scrap metal that no one would want even if given away. Just as Ouyang Ming, having reduced the last usable artifact into junk, was wondering where to dispose of the wreckage, his subordinates came to report that the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop had opened a dedicated counter specifically to recycle scrap immortal artifacts.

Tang Yi had simply been waiting for these people to attempt to crack the sets. In fact, there was another reason: ordinary people had no way to process scrap immortal artifacts and could only throw them away. But Tang Yi was different; he had the ability to separate the fused materials one by one. Thus, Tang Yi simultaneously operated a recycling business for old and broken immortal artifacts—a very promising and currently monopolized industry.

"It seems this Tang Yi is no ordinary person. To possess such capability while remaining relatively unknown, he is well worth cooperating with," Ouyang Ming thought to himself.

Consequently, Ouyang Ming personally visited the Tang Family's Artifact Forging Shop. After stating his purpose to the receptionist on the first floor, he was led up to the second floor by Cangmu to meet with Tang Yi.

"Oh, you wish to cooperate with me? How would you like to cooperate? Let's hear it!" Tang Yi said after listening to Ouyang Ming's proposal.