Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard”

Chapter 590: Mass Refining

Su Yuan calculated his profits.

The material costs totaled thirteen million Chaos Jade pieces, so his actual earnings were one hundred and eighty-seven million Chaos Jade pieces, a profit exceeding tenfold.

Although this paled in comparison to the profits from resource arbitrage.

This was money earned through craftsmanship; the sense of accomplishment was different, it was respectable, and it could even enhance his Chaos Great Dao—simply perfect.

Without another word, Su Yuan threw himself back into artifact refining.

With the experience from the first attempt, subsequent refinements became increasingly smooth and effortless.

One Chaos Dominator Artifact after another was produced, allowing Su Yuan to amass a fortune.

Occasionally, when a refinement turned out exceptionally well, producing some minor masterpieces, he wouldn't directly upload them to the Merit Points Exchange Mall. Instead, he would display them in his shop.

Just like that, a hundred Yuan Assemblies passed in the blink of an eye.

The final standard-issue Chaos Dominator Artifact from his hands was produced, and it turned out to be a piece of armor.

At the center of the armor was a refined Life Source Stone, exceptionally dazzling.

Su Yuan casually placed it on a shelf in his shop, then entered seclusion, sinking into the deepest level of cultivation to absorb the insights gained from this prolonged period of refining.

He had a premonition that after digesting this wave of insights, both his artifact refining proficiency and his comprehension of Chaos True Intent would take a significant leap forward.

The front lines.

The Sand Dunes Battle Group encountered a small group of Dominator-level Scavengers, and a skirmish immediately erupted.

As new members, Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing fought from a rearward position.

Their combat power was at the bottom of the battle group, so they could only provide support from the flanks, plugging gaps in the battle formation.

In the end, Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing joined forces, intercepting a Scavenger attempting to flee, holding it back until stronger members from the group arrived to pursue and eliminate it.

A burly man finished off that Scavenger and said to Zhou Hao and the other with a smile, "Well done! I'll note an extra minor merit for you two!"

Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing exchanged a glance, both revealing joy.

"Excellent! We've finally gathered enough Merit Points!" Zhou Hao said excitedly.

Zhai Xing beside him also sighed, "It was so difficult. To gather enough Merit Points to exchange for the cheapest Chaos Dominator Artifact, we've fought over a dozen battles. Even though we were just supporting, we were still risking our lives to earn this!"

"You two are doing well, have you saved up enough?" the middle-aged Dominator asked with a laugh.

"Yes, Brother Liu Shi!" Zhou Hao replied. "Brother, could you help us look for some weapons? Even standard-issue weapons have quality differences, right?"

"Naturally!"

Liu Shi laughed. "Let's go, back to the group first!"

The two followed Liu Shi back to the battle group's outpost.

Liu Shi opened the Merit Points Exchange Mall and found the exchange list for standard-issue weapons.

He explained, "Look at these standard-issue weapons. They are actually refined by individual Artificers. They may seem identical, but there are differences in quality. Usually, confident Artificers will imprint their unique mark on their weapons. You'll see!"

Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing checked and found it was indeed so. Some standard-issue weapons had no mark at all, while others bore special imprints.

"Of course, some marked weapons might have slightly inferior quality. You shouldn't choose blindly. Based on my experience, choosing the works of Master Plum Blossom or Master Luan Bird are both good options for standard-issue weapons."

Liu Shi opened the descriptions of several standard-issue weapons. Both Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing were very tempted.

Suddenly, Zhou Hao, with sharp eyes, caught a glimpse of an item with a familiar graphic mark flashing by.

Zhou Hao immediately locked onto that item.

It was unmistakably a war hammer, and on the hammerhead was a distinct seven-star emblem.

"This is..." Zhou Hao was stunned.

Zhai Xing followed his gaze and was also taken aback.

"Oh?" Liu Shi checked and said, "This is a weapon made by a new Artificer. Let me check his exclusive item exchange record. No one has exchanged for this Artificer's works yet. I suggest you don't choose it. As for newly promoted Artificers, their works... let's just say they are barely acceptable, not exactly poor."

Zhou Hao said, "I think this one looks good. It feels fated to me!"

Liu Shi raised an eyebrow. "That's not a wise choice. But I'm just offering a suggestion. If you insist on buying it, it's fine. After all, these are just transitional equipment. When you have more money, you can commission a master to craft a custom Chaos Dominator Artifact for you. That will significantly boost your combat power."

"Thank you for your help, Brother Liu Shi!"

Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing expressed their gratitude.

"Now that you have weapons, you can try facing the Scavengers head-on. Killing one ordinary Scavenger will be enough for you to exchange for better gear!"

Zhou Hao nodded.

In the Merit Points Exchange Mall, he exchanged for that pair of war hammers, directly deducting three hundred million Merit Points.

Zhai Xing, meanwhile, chose a long sword bearing the seven-star mark.

After the two selected their weapons.

The two weapons were transmitted to their hands via their tokens.

The two immediately began familiarizing themselves with their new weapons.

At that moment, another small team walked over.

A Chaos Dominator named Zhang Dao, who had a so-so relationship with Liu Shi, passed by with three newly joined Dominators.

"Liu Shi? These are your new recruits, right? The standard-issue weapons they just exchanged for don't look very reliable. How do you act as a veteran? You're really not up to the task!"

Liu Shi glanced at the weapons held by the three people behind Zhang Dao. The marks on them were Plum Blossom, Luan Bird, and Blackwood respectively—all works by famous Artifact Refining Masters.

Liu Shi said calmly, "Zhang Dao, the effectiveness of these standard-issue weapons doesn't differ much. What's the difference whether they're made by famous masters or not? Besides, I only offer suggestions. The newcomers have their own ideas. I don't force their choices. Unlike some people who draw a rigid framework for newcomers, robbing them of opportunities to think and gain experience."

Zhang Dao shook his head. "Liu Shi, your thinking is too irresponsible. As veterans, we should pass on our experience to newcomers. Your approach just makes newcomers repeat the same mistakes."

Liu Shi shook his head. "Without new attempts, how can we find better choices? Achieve greater accomplishments?"

Zhou Hao and Zhai Xing exchanged a glance, communicating via mental transmission.

'These two seem to have somewhat conflicting philosophies,' Zhou Hao said.

'I feel both have a point,' Zhai Xing said. 'I achieved the Chaos Dominator realm through innovation, not by following established rules.'

Zhou Hao said curiously, "Then I'm the one who walked the predetermined path. Junior Brother Zhai Xing, it seems our philosophies differ too!"

"That's perfectly normal." Zhai Xing didn't think much of it.

Zhang Dao sneered, "Since that's the case, why not let the newcomers spar? Test the effectiveness of their weapons. A competition will make it clear which path to choose!"

Liu Shi frowned. "Why go that far?"

Zhang Dao raised an eyebrow. "What? Realizing you were wrong?"

Liu Shi shook his head. "I'm not wrong. And why argue over such a thing?"

Zhang Dao snorted coldly. "In life-and-death battles, the difference is sometimes a hair's breadth. A slight gap in quality can sometimes mean the difference between life and death!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shi paused and said, "Very well. Let the newcomers spar with each other, gain a bit more combat experience."