Chapter 083
Chapter 83: Restlessness
Wang Jie continued conversing with Jiang Cai, extracting much information about the Celestial Refinement Masters. Naturally, he also added his own understanding of Star Refining techniques, speaking in an intentionally mystifying manner. His words, although incomprehensible to Jiang Cai, left him in awe, feeling as though they were profound yet beyond his grasp.
In just a few short days, Wang Jie managed to piece together a clearer picture of the Celestial Refinement Master and understood the intricacies of the Star Refining process, including the art of artifact forging and the creation of Star Artifacts.
Meanwhile, Jiang You Sheng listened quietly.
Jiang Cai relayed Wang Jie’s words exactly, “So why is Star Refining so special? Because when there is no Star Force in the heart, Star Force naturally exists. The heavens and earth possess spirits, and Star Force sometimes wanes…”
Jiang You Sheng had never heard such theories before, and he certainly hadn’t encountered many Celestial Refinement Masters.
The universe was vast, and Celestial Refinement Masters were rare.
“Tower Master, this Master speaks in such obscure terms. This small one does not understand,” Jiang Cai said.
Jiang You Sheng replied, “If you could understand, you would be a Celestial Refinement Master. Never mind, go serve the Master. It seems he is very pleased with you.”
“Understood.”
Wang Jie learned that most Celestial Refinement Masters expended their own Star Force when infusing materials with Star Force, and the process of replenishing it could take at least three days. He planned his schedule accordingly.
Jiang You Sheng brought him no fewer than twenty materials, which would take Wang Jie about two months to work through.
As for the Star Stones, the Celestial Refinement Master did not receive any payment in the form of Star Stones from the materials they worked on. Instead, the Star Force required for the process was drawn from the Star Stones provided by the client, which was an unwritten rule.
Wang Jie did not earn Star Stones from the Star Refining process, as the Star Force was drawn out and infused into the materials. However, the Star Stones given by Jiang You Sheng to replenish the Star Force would provide Wang Jie with a share—about twenty percent of the total price of all the Star Stones.
In total, Wang Jie spent forty days refining the materials, much faster than Jiang You Sheng had estimated. When he arrived at Wang Jie’s residence, he was immediately struck by the neatly arranged materials, all now infused with Star Force.
They had truly become materials fit for crafting Star Artifacts.
Jiang You Sheng bowed deeply to Wang Jie. “Master’s techniques are brilliant. This humble one admires you greatly.” He then took out a storage ring. “This small gift is but a token of respect. Please do not find it lacking.”
Wang Jie acknowledged with a calm, “Thank you.”
Jiang You Sheng instructed his men to carry the materials away. Then, he turned his gaze to Wang Jie, hesitating as though he wanted to say something.
“Tower Master, is there something else?”
Jiang You Sheng hesitated again before asking, “There is one question, I wonder if it is appropriate to ask.”
“Feel free to ask.”
“Master seems to practice Lock Force?” Jiang You Sheng ventured.
Wang Jie smiled faintly, “Is there a connection between Celestial Refinement Masters and Lock Force cultivation?”
Jiang You Sheng was taken aback. Was there no connection? How could one use Lock Force to infuse Star Force? He didn’t understand.
Wang Jie continued, “I was unfortunate in my early years, born into circumstances that did not allow me to receive Star Force cultivation methods. But even so, I can still act as a Celestial Refinement Master by using Lock Force to guide Star Force. Are you underestimating me, Tower Master?”
Jiang You Sheng hurriedly stood, “Master, please do not misunderstand. This humble one certainly had no such thoughts.”
Wang Jie’s voice remained calm, “I’m tired for today, Tower Master. Please, take your leave.”
Jiang You Sheng bowed again, “Master, rest well. I will come again in a few days to check on you.” Before leaving, he left behind another storage ring as an apology, then departed.
Wang Jie exhaled softly, having waited for Jiang You Sheng to ask this question. If he could fool Jiang You Sheng, he was confident he could deceive most others as well.
He had the confidence to deceive Jiang You Sheng because the status of a Celestial Refinement Master was even higher than he had imagined. The true value of a Celestial Refinement Master did not lie in the money they made refining for others, but in their ability to find a suitable Hundred Star Realm cultivator to attach themselves to.
Breaking Star Stage, Full Star, Wandering Star, and then the Hundred Star Realm—those were the stages.
A cultivator in the Hundred Star Realm could only break through to the next Star Refining Realm by finding suitable materials to refine into their body. The better the materials, the stronger they would become after their breakthrough. Every cultivator in the Hundred Star Realm longed for a Celestial Refinement Master who could refine all their materials.
That was where the Celestial Refinement Master’s true value lay.
Yan Fu Yu, after all, was only in the Wandering Star Realm.
Thus, whenever a Celestial Refinement Master appeared, it was easy for them to attract the attention of cultivators in the Hundred Star Realm. One word could change the course of an entire Star Link.
The more arrogant Wang Jie appeared, the more normal it seemed.
His gaze fell on two storage rings. One contained 100,000 Star Stones, and the other had a staggering 200,000 Star Stones—double the price of the refining materials. Jiang You Sheng was generous.
Next, it was time to take a walk.
He left his residence, and Jiang Cai hurriedly bowed.
“Take me out for a walk.”
Jiang Cai hesitated for a moment, then led the way.
Officially, after the Fourth Defense Line was attacked, all Puppet Masters were forbidden from leaving the Puppet Master Tower. But this rule didn’t apply to Celestial Refinement Masters.
After all, they were Celestial Refinement Masters.
The Tower Master had said before he left that all of this person’s requests should be fulfilled.
Wang Jie truly just wanted to stretch his legs, and after a brief walk, he returned.
“By the way, where is Bei Feng? It’s been a while since I saw him. I’d like to catch up.”
Jiang Cai immediately led the way, puzzled by what Wang Jie and Bei Feng could possibly have to talk about.
Bei Feng’s residence was not far from Wang Jie’s, and his status must have been high because of his cultivation.
Wang Jie’s arrival was unexpected to Bei Feng, but he welcomed him inside, both of them hidden within their respective puppets—each unable to see the other.
“Brother Bei Feng, it’s been a while. Are you comfortable here?” Wang Jie asked.
Bei Feng glanced at Wang Jie, surprised that this man was actually a Celestial Refinement Master. “Comfortable. By the way, last time, you didn’t tell me your real name.”
“My name is just a code. No need to mention it,” Wang Jie replied.
Bei Feng looked puzzled, but didn’t press the issue.
“Brother, where did you come from? What brings you here? I see you look weary. Could it be you have something on your mind?”
Wang Jie asked many questions, while Bei Feng answered patiently, his thoughts racing.
He had never expected to encounter someone like Wang Jie. It felt like an interrogation. Yet, faced with a Celestial Refinement Master, he could not avoid answering. Normally, one would show utmost respect to such a person.
Bei Feng gritted his teeth, but had no choice but to comply.
Wang Jie, as if unaware of Bei Feng’s frustration, smiled. “Ah, Brother, it seems we’re both in the Puppet Master Tower. We should gather more often. Let’s leave it for today, though. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Bei Feng was speechless but held back his irritation, still welcoming Wang Jie’s return.
The next day, Wang Jie indeed returned. This time, Jiang Cai did not accompany him, and the Puppet Master Tower allowed free movement within.
Wang Jie continued his visits to Bei Feng’s residence for six days in a row, with one simple goal—extracting as much information as possible. He was planning to return to the Silver Radiance Empire because Blue Star was there. If not for that, being a Celestial Refinement Master in the Seventh Star Chain wouldn’t be too bad.
Moreover, Frost Radiance Sect had treated him like a scapegoat, and this debt needed to be repaid.
After six days, Bei Feng had had enough. “At least tell me your name!” he exclaimed in frustration.
At that moment, representatives from the Eight Prison Berserk Clan arrived, requesting Wang Jie to infuse Star Force into weapons.
Wang Jie looked at the two Berserk Clan creatures before him, silent.
“Master, please feel free to state any demands,” they said.
Wang Jie lifted his gaze. “Demands? Not much, but I wonder how many weapons does the Berserk Clan need to refine?”
The Berserk Clan creatures exchanged glances, hesitant to speak.
Wang Jie smiled inwardly. He wasn’t afraid of too many requests; the more, the better. The more work, the more profit.
As for the war, he didn’t care.
Frost Radiance Sect’s master was already preparing for a major conflict, and some Star Artifacts wouldn’t change the tide of battle.
“One hundred items,” the Berserk Clan creatures said, nervously.
Wang Jie was shocked. “How many?” he asked, his voice rising.
The Berserk Clan creatures, now nervous, repeated, “One hundred items.”
Wang Jie fell silent.
Outside the courtyard, Bei Feng had just arrived and overheard the conversation. His face darkened. This was not good news. If the Eight Prison Berserk Clan obtained one hundred more Star Artifacts, the Frost Radiance Sect would suffer massive losses. But there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“That’s too much. I’ll be exhausted,” Wang Jie said, his tone mocking.
The Berserk Clan creatures responded, “We know, Master, and our clan has decided to offer double the price for the refinement. We hope this will ease the burden.”
Wang Jie sighed. “Do you know how much effort Star Refining costs? How much time it wastes? Have you ever seen a Celestial Refinement Master working like this? Are you going to stop cultivating yourself? Go back and let me think about it.”
The Berserk Clan creatures left in defeat.
Wang Jie smiled. This was going to be a profitable endeavor. He decided to go shopping.
Under Jiang Cai’s guidance, he made his way out of the Puppet Master Tower, stopping by a mission site on the way.
“Brother, Brother,” Bei Feng called, chasing after him.
Wang Jie turned back.
“Brother, are you heading out?”
“Yes,” Wang Jie replied.
“Can you take me along?”
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow. “Why do you want to go out, Brother Bei Feng?”
“I’m just feeling restless,” Bei Feng explained.
“Me too. Seems we’re alike, both fond of excitement,” Wang Jie smiled. “Shall we go together?”
“No,” Wang Jie replied seriously.
Bei Feng froze. “Why not?”
Wang Jie was very serious. “I don’t want to break the rules.” With that, he walked away.
Bei Feng stood there in a daze, staring after him.
Wang Jie stepped outside the Puppet Master Tower, feeling refreshed. Let them treat him as a scapegoat—he was curious to see how this would play out.