This woman is Lian San Yue? How wonderfully coincidental! Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of fate and the unpredictability of destiny. He had actually seen Lian San Yue before—in the fragments of memory preserved by Pang Zhixing. Yet, upon reflection, the smartphone capable of sending text-based curses—Pang's very tool for assassinating colleagues—had to remain a secret. A typical spiritual traveler, with limited means of acquiring such tools, would naturally rely on a few established sources. Among these, Wan Bao Wu, known for its extensive variety of items, exceptional reputation, and reliable service, stood out as the ideal choice. "Are you here to make a purchase, gather intelligence, or simply stroll through the black market?" the woman behind the counter lifted her gaze, calmly exhaling a steady stream of white mist. Her voice was languid and graceful, perfectly complementing the act of puffing her smoke—just like the affluent ladies of the old days who enjoyed smoking opium while reclining on their couches, speaking in a relaxed, melodious tone. Zhang Yuanqing said nothing, removed his backpack, pulled open the zipper, and took out three boxes of limited-edition Cuban cigars. He placed the three boxes on the counter surface and smiled, "A small token." "Wow, it's you!" Lian San Yue brightened at the sight of the three boxes, "Li Chunfeng said you're good at making connections—indeed, this gift has truly touched my sister's heart." The word "Wow" brought a vivid and clear image to Zhang Yuanqing's mind—the owner of Longmen Inn. As for Lian San Yue having recognized his identity, it was no surprise—by presenting the cigars, he had already signaled his status. Otherwise, why ask Li Chunfeng what she liked? Before Zhang Yuanqing could speak, she leaned back lazily, holding her cigarette, her eyes half-closed, and smiled, "It seems you know me?" Zhang Yuanqing replied truthfully, "I've seen you in Pang Zhi's memories—he once used that phone to assassinate me." "Women," said she, clearing her ash with a gentle "ah," "Li Chunfeng mentioned you wanted a close-combat weapon, of the top-tier from a Saint Realm cultivator, is that correct?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded. In its place stood a bustling marketplace, though instead of fresh produce, the stalls were filled with all sorts of goods—ranging from antiques to household appliances, from appliances to daily necessities. "Self-contained space," said Zhang Yuanqing. "This is the internal space of the foreign night-shift occupation guild, or a stage illusion created by a sorcerer." "Neither," replied Lian San-yue, casually playing with a cigar. "This is the realm I've established—more precisely, it's a guild's quest zone." Ah, a guild quest zone—my perspective has been too narrow. I hadn't realized Lian San-yue's level was as high as I'd imagined. Zhang Yuanqing said nothing further. Surveying the scene, he saw that between the stalls ran a network of corridors, bustling with activity—there were at least thirty or forty people moving in and out. Some wore Monkey King masks, others wore Power Rangers masks, some draped in cloaks, dancing in a lively, chaotic rhythm. The number of Realm Wanderers was neither small nor large—adding together guests and stallholders, there were well over a hundred people present. The number exceeds the total staff count of the official branches in remote areas. What truly astonishes Zhang Yuanqing is that among forty or fifty stalls, filled with an array of goods—many of which appear to be props—how many props are there? How has it come to this? A small Wanhao House now boasts so many props? Have props become the everyday, affordable items on the roadside? "So many props and materials?" he asks, his eyes fixed on Lian San Yue's graceful and radiant face, unable to believe. Upon hearing this, Lian San Yue lifts a corner of her mouth. "You're welcome to wander around at your leisure." It's still early; the props aren't urgent. Zhang Yuanqing nods and walks forward, stopping in front of a stall. After a careful inspection, he selects a prop—a golden seal about the size of a palm. It rests on a yellow silk cloth, with a square base and a lifelike golden dragon standing upright on top. Curious, he reaches out to take it, but the stall owner gently pushes him away. "Only after you make a purchase can you see its attributes." The stall owner is a middle-aged man with a slender face, "Without knowing the attributes, how could I know whether to buy it?" Zhang Yuanqing scoffed. "What kind of item is this?" "This is an exceptional item I found in the Tang Dynasty quest—Emperor Taizong's Imperial Seal of Sovereignty!" The vendor raised his chin, confident. "You won't be able to take it unless you're willing to pay five million." When Zhang Yuanqing heard the words "Tang Dynasty" and "exceptional," he was genuinely impressed. But as the vendor continued, he quickly sensed something was off. He questioned, "Is the Imperial Seal made of gold?" The vendor blinked, momentarily stunned. The atmosphere grew silent for a few seconds. Then Zhang Yuanqing seemed to grasp it, turned, and walked away. "Alright, then—Emperor Taizong's Imperial Seal, you keep it for your family." The vendor hurried to call out, "Forget it—here's a clearance price: take it for fifty thousand!" But the original Primordial Celestial Sovereign had been indifferent just a moment ago. Now, the Primordial Celestial Sovereign was simply out of reach. "Sir, may I take a look at this vase?" " "500—give it or not? This isn't even a material, let alone a prop. This is just some junk you pick up casually in the quest instance." "Wrong! This is a vase used by the Kangxi Emperor." "You're impressive—have you even visited the Qing Dynasty quest instances?" "...Master, how much for this golden platter?" "A platter used by Emperor Gaozu of Han. Not a material, not a prop—just a piece of antique. One-off price: six million." "Did the Han Dynasty already have screw fasteners back then? Take good care of it—this kind of precious antique can't afford to be damaged." ... The vendors here usually have only a few materials, then pile on a heap of ordinary items to make up numbers—each one ends up deceiving at least one customer. Neither the vendors nor the guests can conceal their presence or aura. After a full circuit, he noticed there were quite a few saints among them. Even with a cigar halfway burned in her mouth, Lian San-yue maintained an air of grace that was far from coarse—she admired, murmuring, "Many first-time visitors to my place end up being deceived. You're quite sharp—sharpness is simply the fundamental quality of a genius." With that, she moved gracefully forward, crossing the black market. Zhang Yuanqing followed behind, observing the profile of the artisan. Lian San-yue had an exceptionally well-proportioned figure—slim where she should be, plump where she needed to be—and her walk was particularly elegant, with a fluid, poised grace. To him, she seemed more like a seasoned innkeeper from the countryside, always smiling, lacking the commanding dignity and reserve of a true master. But Zhang Yuanqing knew that this woman was far more dangerous than any of the Five Elements Monastery's elders. Most of the elders were inclined toward the orthodox side; she was different—she embodied chaos and neutrality. After passing through the bustling marketplace, he followed Lian San Yue to a stadium, where the square arena was empty, with no spectators present. "The stadium operates every weekend, so feel free to come and watch the life-or-death matches. If you're short on funds, you can always step up and compete yourself," Lian San Yue said casually. "Very profitable?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "Win a match and you receive a two-million reward; all the deceased's equipment becomes yours. The rule is simple—only one person can survive," Lian San Yue said, blowing smoke rings into the air with a smile. "When the Prime Origin Celestial Sovereign comes to fight here, I'm sure there will be a large crowd placing bets." As they walked through the stadium, they paused at a wooden door. Lian San Yue turned the handle with a soft "click," and as the door opened, a piercing wail filled the air: "Give it back to me! Return my props—you miserable creature!... What's going on? Did I just step into a wolf's den? I checked their faces before we came—everything had been going well! Zhang Yuanqing peered inside. There, two strong men were carrying a man in a mask. The masked man was crying out desperately, repeating over and over: "Return my props! Return my props!" Lian San Yue lounged against the doorframe, one arm crossed over her chest, the other gently holding her cigar, smiling calmly. "Agreed to lose? What's there to cry about—doesn't act like a man. As per usual, we'll seal the furnace—one million a day." The masked man wailed, "I've already sold everything I own—I'm sealing your mother's furnace!" Lian San Yue smiled and waved her hand, sending the two strong men to carry the masked man out. As the cries faded into the distance, she looked at Zhang Yuanqing with a smile that was half-serious, half-playful, and said, "Go in!" Inside the room, the space was uncluttered—no furniture except for a three-legged bronze furnace standing at the center, two meters tall. The elliptical furnace body was carved with flames, resembling Laojun's alchemical furnace. Standing beside it was an iron hammer, half a meter high. Zhang Yuanqing had cast three successive glances toward it, and the latter chuckled lightly, "It's my storehouse treasure." He nodded slightly, indicating that Zhang Yuanqing should examine the item's properties. Approaching, Zhang Yuanqing stopped beside the bronze furnace, placed his palm on the furnace's belly, and after a few seconds, the item information appeared: 【Name: Hundred-Refined Melting Furnace】 【Type: Boiler】 【Function: Item Forging】 【Description: An ancient furnace passed down through the ages, which once sank to the ocean floor during a great disaster—only to be rediscovered later. It was the specialized furnace used by ancient masters for crafting artifacts. Countless renowned weapons and tools have been It can also produce any and every tool imaginable, including rules. [Note 1: When using it, you must sacrifice tools or materials.] [Note 2: 4%] "Tools of the rule type?" Zhang Yuanqing exhaled, his voice sharp—only rules could counter rules. "Moreover, it's a top-tier tool of the rule category," Li San-yue corrected, arms folded, with a smile. "It can craft exactly the tools you desire, and the furnace itself is free to use. However, to activate the furnace, you need to purchase firestones from me—one stone costs fifty thousand." "Additionally, the tools or materials you sacrifice must be provided by you, or you can buy them from me." Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows, asking, "Will it definitely succeed?" Most tools sacrificed will be lost—should it fail, it would be a real loss. "Have you seen Note 2? It requires energy accumulation. The more tools you sacrifice, the greater the accumulated energy. Once it reaches 100%, it will definitely produce a tool that meets your expectations." "Lian San Yue said, 'The higher the quality of the sacrificial items, the greater the energy accumulated. Yet sometimes, a regular item can boost energy by 50%, while at other times, the same item only contributes 1%. I once saw a fortunate individual who refined two ordinary items from the Transcendent Realm into a top-tier Transcendent Realm item. That's why so many people come here to take a chance—just like the one we just saw.' Zhang Yuan thought to himself: 'The Realm of Spirit truly lives up to its reputation as a "game"—the enhancement of items may be late, but it's finally here. And that masked man just now—he's nothing but a refined dog.' 'What does "sealing the furnace" mean?' he asked, pondering. 'The furnace maintains its energy for seven days before resetting to zero. Sealing the furnace means that, even if you've exhausted your resources without success, I will not allow anyone else to use it during the next seven days—so you won't end up being the one who serves others.' Lian San Yue smiled with a touch of amusement. 'Have you decided yet? Shall we take a chance?' Zhang Yuan fell into thoughtful contemplation. I have quite a few items that I no longer use. Rather than letting them gather dust or selling them, I'd like to take a gamble—perhaps just one or two of these could be refined into a top-tier item. Heh, I've never had a refinement level exceeding 10 before. For the rest of my life, I'd probably just be a mediocre refiner. Maybe I should just give up then? Still, I do lack a top-tier melee item. My output isn't sufficient—despite being able to sneak in and strike from a distance, I can't penetrate the armor of defenders with high defense. And I do have a lucky necklace. "The furnace can only hold one item or material at a time, and each time you start it, you need a piece of firestone. While melting, you place your palm against the furnace and silently recite the type of item you desire. If you don't do so, it will randomly produce an item." After saying this, she spread her palms open, now holding a dark red stone in her hand. Zhang Yuanqing first took out the "Lucky Necklace" and put it on before receiving the stone. Then he leapt onto the furnace's roof, lifted the lid, and tossed the firestone inside. After a moment's thought, he removed his "Blood-Soaked Blade"—a piece of equipment he had carried for a long time but now no longer matches the current level—and placed it into the furnace. He then closed the lid, jumped down, and pressed his palm against the furnace, silently reciting, "I want a top-tier item from the Saint stage, specifically a melee weapon." Soon, the furnace warmed up, steam rose from the vents on the lid, and a series of clanging sounds echoed from within, as though someone were forging metal inside. After about fifteen seconds, the sounds faded, the steam disappeared, and the furnace Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the item's attributes: [Note 2: 5%] How could a transcendental-level item only accumulate 1% of energy? Zhang Yuanqing's face darkened. "Go on!" This time, he invested the "Perceiver" spectacles. Once everything settled, he hurried to check the item's attributes: [Note 2: 7%] "Again!" Zhang Yuanqing remained undaunted. The Beast-Speaker. [Note 2: 15%] The Swordcraft Master. [Note 2: 24%] The Hypnotic Box. [Note 2: 38%] With two transcendental-level items and three items of sage-tier quality, he had accumulated 34% of energy. Zhang Yuanqing opened his inventory. His remaining items included the Yin-Yang Robe, Hou-Tu Boots, Perfect Human Skin, Great Luo Star Disk, Mountain God's Staff, Unyielding Protector Mirror, Slide-Step Shoes, Wind-Bringer Gloves, and the Little Red Cap. He also wore the Transformation Ring and the Lucky Necklace. All these items had specific purposes and could not be sacrificed. He remained silent, silent, until suddenly his expression turned fierce. He grabbed the large iron hammer at hand and slammed it hard against the bronze furnace: "Damn it, damn it, damn it... what kind of ancient artifact is this? It's clearly made by penguins! You give me back my props! You give me back my props!!" Lian San Yue didn't intervene; instead, she watched with a satisfied, almost delighted air. "Looks like you've finally grasped the proper way to use the hammer." After a series of vigorous strikes, Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and turned to the strikingly beautiful woman in the leather vest, saying: "I want to purchase props and materials." Subsequently, he spent seventy million to buy three mid-tier props of Saint Realm quality from Lian San Yue, along with a large quantity of spiritually enriched materials. He then spent five million to acquire ten fire stones. The furnace's energy reached 85%. "Excellent—85% now," Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. Laughing, laughing—then suddenly his face twisted as he swung the hammer hard, hammering furiously at the furnace: "You damn it! You damn it! Today, I'm going to wipe you out, even Jesus won't save you!!" At this rate, no matter how much he sacrificed, he wouldn't reach 100%. Tears were nearly streaming down his face. When Lian San walked up to the furnace, placed her palm on its belly, and reviewed the energy reserves, she frowned. "That doesn't make sense... So many props and materials poured in—there's a good chance of producing a Sovereign-tier item. I've never seen someone so unlucky as you." She looked pityingly at Yuan Shi Tian Zun. "Nonsense! I've even got a lucky pendant on—add a fire stone, and I'm going to sacrifice this very thing!" Zhang Yuanqing, eyes glistening, tore off the pendant. The lucky pendant... Lian San raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Ah, now I understand. Congratulations!" Zhang Yuanqing blinked. "What do you mean?" "Lian San Yue exhaled, 'Sometimes, high costs can also be a blessing.' Zhang Yuanqing listened intently and immediately calmed down, pondering for a few seconds before understanding her meaning. Thanks to the blessing of the lucky necklace, the furnace's energy accumulates very slowly—this is not bad fortune, but rather a blessing. The hundred-refining furnace is nurturing a masterpiece among masterpieces. Lian San Yue took a deep draw from her cigar, releasing a steady stream of white smoke, and said, 'If you still have funds, continue. If you no longer do, I recommend you seal the furnace.' Zhang Yuanqing, who had been frustrated, now felt delighted and quickly weighed the options. His funds were down to just over ten million. He could afford at most one decent Saint Realm artifact—nothing more. He couldn’t sustain the energy level to 100%. It would be better to keep the money and seal the furnace instead. The artifacts he gave to Guan Ya and the others would surely be returned, and it would be too embarrassing to have them go back empty-handed. Zhang Yuanqing bent down, cradling the little quirky kid in his arms, gently stroking his head: "Son, for dad's sake, give it your all from now on and take on an extra shift as a 007."