With Yi Tianyun's help, Rainy Day Tower's reputation soared. Customers flocked to the store, all eager to purchase the high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, and business was booming for a time. Yi Tianyun, seemingly tireless, continued to refine one high-grade Spiritual Artifact after another.
Whenever his Spiritual Power ran low, he would take a Recovery Elixir and be full of energy once more.
"Ngh..."
Yi Tianyun's body swayed, and he nearly collapsed. He was feeling mentally exhausted.
"Young Master Yi, are you all right?"
Zi Yuwei had been watching by his side the entire time. Aside from attending to some distinguished guests, she spent the rest of her time watching Yi Tianyun refine Spiritual Artifacts.
"I'm just a little dazed. It seems I've been doing Artifact Refining for too long..." Yi Tianyun said, shaking his head.
After refining six high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, he finally felt like he couldn't go on. He was mentally drained; he had refined far too many over the past few days. Even if his Spiritual Power could be replenished, his mental energy still required proper rest to recover.
"Young Master Yi, it looks like you need to get some proper rest. I'll have those distinguished guests come back another time. You really must rest. You've been doing nothing but Artifact Refining these past few days without a single break," Zi Yuwei urged.
Yi Tianyun nodded, then asked quizzically, "Has there been any movement from Celestial Phoenix Tower?"
"Nothing for now. They don't have nearly as many high-grade Spiritual Artifacts as we do. Forcing them to lower their prices and sell at a loss is simply impossible for them."
The moment Celestial Phoenix Tower was mentioned, Zi Yuwei became animated. "For so many years, our Celestial Rain Tower has been suppressed by Celestial Phoenix Tower to the point we could barely breathe. It's all thanks to your help this time, Young Master Yi. Otherwise, we really would have had no way to vent our frustrations."
"It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. There's no need for thanks."
Yi Tianyun gave a calm smile. 'I've gained a great deal from this as well. They provided plenty of materials, allowing me to raise my level and increase my Skill Level. Why wouldn't I be happy to do it?'
"Regardless, on behalf of Celestial Rain Tower, I thank you, Young Master Yi!"
Zi Yuwei said with a solemn expression, "If I may, could I invite you, Young Master Yi, to become an Honored Guest Elder of our Rainy Day Tower?"
"Becoming an Honored Guest Elder is fine, but I can't come here often. You need to be clear on that. If you think I'll be able to provide you with a steady supply of high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, you're expecting too much."
'I can't stay here forever. I just came down to buy a few things. If it weren't for the matter with Kong Shengfeng, I probably wouldn't have gone this hard.'
'I would have just stuck to a normal pace: purchase some materials, refine them successfully, sell the products, and then buy more materials with the profit.'
'That's how I would have slowly earned more money to help Merak Palace grow stronger. But I'm not doing this for Merak Palace—I'm doing it for my aunt!'
"I hadn't thought that far ahead. I simply wanted to make you an Honored Guest Elder, Young Master Yi. It would be enough if you just dropped by for a visit whenever you're free."
Zi Yuwei knew she couldn't be too forceful. 'As long as I can keep Yi Tianyun connected to us, there will be opportunities in the future.'
"Ding! Congratulations to Player 'Yi Tianyun' for completing the quest 'Help Rainy Day Tower Suppress Celestial Phoenix Tower.' Reward: 5,000 Experience Value, +100 Zi Yuwei Favorability, +10 Morality Value, five hundred taels of Gold!"
"Ding! Congratulations to Player 'Yi Tianyun' for breaking through to the Fourth Level of the Spirit Refining Stage!"
'I broke through just like that? It seems my intense Artifact Refining these past few days really paid off...'
Yi Tianyun was delighted. 'Cultivating by doing Artifact Refining here is so much faster than killing monsters.'
'The rewards are a bit low, though. It's nothing like killing monsters, which can drop a ton of items.'
"In that case, I'll go back to my room and rest for a while. I'll continue refining later."
Yi Tianyun nodded. He was feeling a bit light-headed, so after saying his goodbyes, he headed back to his room to rest.
'However, I plan to head back in a few days. There isn't much time left before the matter concerning the Celestial Sinking Ruins.'
When he returned to his room, he opened his attribute bar to check his current status.
Player: Yi Tianyun
Level: 14 (Fourth Level Spirit Refining Stage)
Experience Value: 3780/80000
Madness Value: 382 Points
Morality Value: 20 Points
Cultivation Technique: North Nether Divine Technique
Skills: Star Absorption Technique, Eagle Claw Technique, Falling Feather Sword Technique, Floating Cloud Step
Weapon: Frost Fist
Armor: Snow Wolf Battle Boots, Celestial God Armor
Divine Skill: Madness Mode, Luck Aura
'The experience needed to level up has increased quite a bit. The difficulty has multiplied, so it's not as easy to level up as before.'
'Still, it's relatively easy overall. At least it's better than those who train like mad and still can't break through.'
"Not bad. I just need to keep working hard..."
Yi Tianyun nodded, and just as he was about to rest,
a cold glint of light flashed behind him. Something came stabbing toward his back, incredibly fast and utterly silent.
"Ding! Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger!"
The system's alert sounded continuously, like an alarm, repeatedly warning him.
'An assassin?'
In the next instant, Yi Tianyun roared, "Celestial God Armor, full effect!"
The moment it activated, with a loud CLANG, Yi Tianyun felt a heavy impact on his back and was sent flying forward. But before he even hit the ground, he heard someone else get thrown back, slamming hard against the wall with a muffled groan.
"Who ambushed me!?"
Yi Tianyun was startled. 'It was so silent, I didn't sense a thing!'
'If the system hadn't warned me about the ambush, I really would have never known. I didn't expect the system to have an alarm function that can even warn me when someone is about to attack.'
When he turned to look, he saw a person dressed in black lying on the ground. Under the terrifying rebound force, his opponent had been directly thrown back and severely injured.
'Thank goodness for the Celestial God Armor. Otherwise, I'd really be dead.'
Yi Tianyun's gaze turned cold as he stared intently at the assassin.
Effect of Celestial God Armor: Possesses a damage reflection effect, capable of returning half of the opponent's power. However, it is limited to melee damage only!
"This... this power..."
The assassin struggled to his feet, finding the situation unbelievable. He didn't know what he had just stabbed, but the terrifying rebound force had instantly and severely injured him.
"Who sent you!"
Yi Tianyun advanced on the assassin with cold eyes, each step heavy and deliberate.
The assassin's eyes twitched. He suddenly sprang to his feet and charged toward Yi Tianyun, his speed far exceeding that of an ordinary Spirit Refining Stage expert! This assassin's cultivation had already reached the Third Level of the Spirit Refining Stage, which was quite astonishing.
"Frozen!"
In that instant, Yi Tianyun activated the effect of his Frost Fist, spending some of his Madness Value. A burst of frigid air shot out, freezing the charging assassin, who was left rigid in mid-air!
The assassin was instantly dumbfounded, realizing he couldn't move at all.
"I knew you'd try something like this. You'd rather die than confess, right? Fine... In that case, you can turn into experience for me!"
"Madness Mode, activate! Luck Aura, activate!"
After activating both skills, Yi Tianyun swung his fist, smashing it down with immense force. The entire Frost Fist shone with a brilliant light!
The immobilized assassin's eyes glowed with blue light, but he could only watch helplessly as Yi Tianyun's attack descended, unable to dodge, without even a chance to struggle.
BOOM!
A heavy punch smashed down, and with a thunderous roar, the assassin was obliterated by the ferocious blow!
"Ding! Successfully killed 'Assassin.' Obtained 8,000 Experience Value, Skill 'Stealth,' one Shadow Cloak, one thousand taels of Gold, one Crimson Dagger, and 300 Madness Value."
Seeing so much loot drop, Yi Tianyun's eyes lit up. 'This is a jackpot, a real jackpot! It's comparable to killing a boss, or maybe even better. This must be the effect of the Luck Aura. It actually dropped two pieces of Divine Armor!'