My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

Chapter 500: Artifact Master Prodigy, Clearance Sale

Chen Xianwei forced a smile, his expression not matching his words. “You’re celebrating too soon. Who’s to say I won’t take on a disciple in the future who awakens their Heart Flame within ten days?”

He had no hope for Qi Yuan. Expecting results from a madman was as futile as expecting a clever specter.

“Forget the future—why not focus on teaching your current student first?

If you can’t teach your first student properly, how will you manage a second one?”

Wu Zhen laughed as he spoke, then turned and left.

Chen Xianwei watched Wu Zhen leave, his face darkening. He looked up at the sky, frowning.

“Why is there only one sun? It’s so unpleasant to look at. If there were another one, it’d be easier on the eyes,” he muttered before heading toward Qi Yuan’s courtyard.

The vast Shen Estate was more of a sprawling manor than a traditional residence.

With the presence of extraordinary powers, labor in this world was significantly more advanced, making the architecture grander and more imposing.

Passing through elegant courtyards, Chen Xianwei arrived at Qi Yuan’s area.

“Young Master, today I’m here to teach you how to forge artifacts.”

Perhaps due to Wu Zhen’s mocking earlier, Chen Xianwei decided to stop storytelling and officially begin teaching Qi Yuan artifact crafting.

“Master Chen, why not stick to storytelling? I’m more interested in your tales,” Qi Yuan said bluntly.

“Sigh.” Chen Xianwei sighed heavily.

As expected, a madman doesn’t really want to craft artifacts—he just wants to hear stories.

I’ll have to humor him like a child.

With this thought, Chen Xianwei felt his future was bleak. He couldn’t imagine how long it would take to teach Qi Yuan.

Thinking about Wu Zhen’s sarcastic remarks and the promises made by the family head, Chen Xianwei couldn’t help but ask, “I heard you went to the Artifact Hall to fetch some materials?”

“Indeed, about that—Master Chen, I’d like to ask for your advice.”

“Oh? Feel free to ask.”

“Do you know if there’s a place in Fengshan County where I can sell artifacts? Like a marketplace or a stall?” Qi Yuan asked.

He had crafted some artifacts, but they were unconventional and incompatible with Ning Kingdom’s mainstream styles.

Most shops that purchased artifacts accepted only standardized designs.

Chen Xianwei was momentarily stunned. “In the west of the city, there’s a ghost market that opens at Xu Hour (7 pm to 9 pm) every evening.

The ghost market is a chaotic mix of people from all walks of life.

You’ll find various artifacts for sale there, even some forbidden items.

If you’re looking to buy or sell artifacts, the ghost market is a good place to go.

However, it’s not very safe. If you decide to go, take a weapon master with you for protection.”

“Thank you, Master Chen. Please continue the lesson,” Qi Yuan said.

Chen Xianwei nodded and resumed his lecture, though his tone remained lackluster.

Qi Yuan, on the other hand, listened attentively and with great interest.

About half an hour later, Chen Xianwei concluded the lesson.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And remember, awakening the Heart Flame requires peak mental and physical condition.

If I’m not present, don’t attempt it on your own—you might burn yourself,” Chen Xianwei warned.

“Don’t worry, Master Chen. I’m not foolish. Besides, I have decent talent for artifact crafting,” Qi Yuan said confidently, patting his chest.

He almost blurted out the famous phrase: No one understands artifact crafting better than I do.

“I’ve already awakened my Heart Flame,” Qi Yuan said nonchalantly. “I’ve even crafted a few artifacts and plan to sell them at the ghost market.”

“You’ve awakened your Heart Flame?” Chen Xianwei’s eyes widened. “Wait… you’ve crafted artifacts?”

He was stunned, unable to process what he was hearing.

Heart Flame awakened?
Artifacts crafted?
Each revelation was more shocking than the last.

“Master Chen, take a look at this,” Qi Yuan said, extending his hand.

With a whoosh, a wisp of white flame ignited and burned brightly in midair.

“This… this is the Heart Flame!” Chen Xianwei exclaimed, his mind racing. “When did you awaken it?”

“The first day you gave me the Basics of Artifact Crafting manual, I practiced with it that night and awakened my Heart Flame,” Qi Yuan replied truthfully.

“That night?” Chen Xianwei swallowed hard.

A madman wouldn’t lie.

Which meant Qi Yuan had awakened his Heart Flame in a single day?

And it was thanks to the Basics of Artifact Crafting manual.

It was as if a child had learned basic multiplication tables and then gone on to ace advanced calculus—a feat that defied logic.

Moreover, Qi Yuan’s Heart Flame was white, an unusual color.

Typically, Heart Flames were orange or red.

Only artifact masters with rare talents displayed unique flame colors.

Qi Yuan’s white Heart Flame exuded both intense heat and a chilling aura, a combination that was anything but ordinary.

“You… were born for artifact crafting!” Chen Xianwei couldn’t help but exclaim.

Awakening the Heart Flame so quickly was a sign of extraordinary talent—a natural artifact master.

With proper guidance, Qi Yuan could potentially become an earth-level artifact master, or even aspire to reach the heaven-level.

“Show me the artifacts you’ve crafted,” Chen Xianwei said, regaining his composure.

He resolved to shape this raw talent carefully, offering suggestions to refine Qi Yuan’s work.

“Master Chen, take a look.” Qi Yuan held out an oddly shaped artifact.

Chen Xianwei studied it closely, growing increasingly confused. “What… is this?”

The artifact’s design was peculiar—part weapon, part wooden rod.

And yet, it didn’t emit any aura that indicated its grade.

But then again, it was Qi Yuan’s first attempt. Expecting a graded artifact would’ve been unrealistic.

“This is a selfie stick,” Qi Yuan explained matter-of-factly.

On his first day crafting, Qi Yuan had created several artifacts.

The drone, which he intended to use for his divine theatrics, couldn’t be shown to Chen Xianwei.

If Chen Xianwei saw the drone, how could Qi Yuan continue pretending to be a deity?

After all, if people learned their “God” was just a son-in-law, where would his divine majesty go?

There’s a saying: Mystery begets reverence; exposure begets mockery.

The drone’s mystery lay in this world’s ignorance of its mechanics, making Qi Yuan appear godlike.

The selfie stick, on the other hand, was made from leftover materials.

Thinking about how Canary often liked taking selfies, Qi Yuan had crafted it as a gift.

“What’s this artifact’s purpose?” Chen Xianwei asked awkwardly.

As a xuan-grade artifact master, Chen Xianwei could usually discern the purpose of an ungraded artifact at a glance.

Materials, forging techniques, spirit infusion—all of it would normally be clear to him.

But he had no idea how this artifact was crafted.

“It’s for taking selfies. I plan to give it to my wife,” Qi Yuan said.

To the young mistress?
Chen Xianwei tactfully avoided further questions.

“Do you know other forging techniques?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, quite a few,” Qi Yuan replied.

During his time in the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Qi Yuan had learned many techniques from the Heavenly Clan, including spirit infusion and inscription methods.

These skills allowed him to craft artifacts and enhance their functionality.

“I see.” Chen Xianwei didn’t press further, recalling the family head’s comment about Qi Yuan’s father being a mysterious artifact master.

It seemed Qi Yuan’s knowledge stemmed from his father’s legacy.

He offered a warning: “Young Master, keep your crafting methods a secret, especially the techniques you use.

For artifact masters, forging techniques are their lifeblood and highly valuable.”

“Understood,” Qi Yuan agreed after some thought.

---

Two hours later, Chen Xianwei left the courtyard with a tense expression.

In the main hall, Shen Wanshan sat in the head seat. Hearing Chen Xianwei’s report, his expression shifted.

“It seems he has great talent for artifact crafting. Sigh.”

Shen Wanshan sighed, leaving it unclear whether he was pleased or regretful.

“His talent is extraordinary. Within twenty years, he could undoubtedly become an earth-level artifact master!” Chen Xianwei said confidently, his eyes gleaming.

He himself had little hope of becoming an earth-level artifact master. But if he nurtured one, even Wu Zhen would have to show him respect.

“Does he possess forging methods you can’t identify?” Shen Wanshan asked hesitantly.

“Yes.”

“This must remain a secret. Teach him new forging methods and claim you taught him everything he knows,” Shen Wanshan instructed solemnly.

“Understood!” Chen Xianwei nodded immediately.

Seeing Shen Wanshan pouring tea, Chen Xianwei tactfully excused himself.

“Sigh… after Brother Qi’s passing, many eyes are on Qi Yuan. But for what? His forging methods, or something else?” Shen Wanshan murmured, his face clouded with worry.

The Shen family was powerful—one of the most prominent noble clans in Ning Kingdom. Yet Shen Wanshan had found no clues about the secret forces monitoring Qi Yuan. The matter seemed unfathomably deep.

Now that Qi Yuan had displayed exceptional talent for crafting, Shen Wanshan couldn’t decide whether to feel relieved or concerned.

---

At 7 PM that evening, darkness enveloped Fengshan County.

Most commoners had already returned home, leaving the streets empty.

Lacking entertainment, many poor families resorted to procreation as their primary pastime.

Unlike the darkness throughout most of Fengshan, the ghost market in the west of the city was ablaze with lights and bustling with people.

At one small stall, an old man and a young man were setting up shop.

The old man looked scruffy, a steamed bun in his mouth.

The young man was strikingly handsome, dressed in black, and exuded an extraordinary aura.

The pair was none other than Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao.

Using a shapeshifting technique to alter their appearances, they entered the ghost market to sell artifacts and earn some silver.

“Clearance sale! Artifacts at bargain prices! Last two days—don’t miss out!”

An audio device at the stall continuously played the pre-recorded announcement, attracting attention.

The device clashed with the ghost market’s ancient atmosphere, naturally drawing many curious onlookers.

“Young man, your artifact is quite interesting. What grade is it? It even repeats itself,” a neighboring vendor, an old man, asked enviously while eyeing the audio device.

If he had such a device, he wouldn’t have to shout anymore.

“It’s ungraded. Want to buy it? Just 99 taels of silver,” Qi Yuan replied.

“Cough, cough…” The vendor laughed awkwardly.

Ninety-nine taels of silver for an ungraded artifact? That was daylight robbery.

In Ning Kingdom, one tael of silver could buy approximately one stone of rice (roughly 500 pounds- 226 kg).

Ninety-nine taels could buy a graded artifact. Who would spend that much on a talking device?

“Young man, your artifacts aren’t certified or standardized, and your prices are steep. It’ll be hard to sell them,” the vendor remarked.

Although Qi Yuan’s audio device attracted attention, most people were put off by the price.

Especially since Qi Yuan’s artifacts weren’t certified and looked unconventional.

What if he was a scammer?

Buying artifacts was no trivial matter. Spending so much silver required caution.

“Don’t worry. I have modern marketing strategies. Didn’t you see my device announcing a clearance sale? Someone’s bound to buy!” Qi Yuan said confidently.

Such marketing tactics were common on Earth.

Stores often advertised “last two days clearance sales,” only to display the same sign a month later.

The vendor chuckled but didn’t argue further.

---

Elsewhere in the ghost market…

Young Master Tu San, wearing a mask, walked alongside another nobleman with a sword at his waist. The nobleman’s regal demeanor was unmistakable.

“Tu San, this ghost market in Fengshan County is quite impressive, though the artifacts for sale seem rather ordinary,” the nobleman remarked. “I doubt you’ll find anything useful here.”

Weapon masters typically carried a primary weapon or a natal artifact.

In addition, they often acquired other artifacts to bolster their strength.

The nobleman had invited Young Master Tu San to join him in hunting specters—a task akin to venturing into a dungeon.

Tu San hoped to purchase artifacts for the mission.

“I’m just trying my luck. Who knows? I might stumble upon a treasure,” Tu San replied with a smile.

“It’s unfortunate that none of the top twenty artifact masters on the Earth List hail from Jining Prefecture,” the nobleman lamented.

Tu San merely smiled, seemingly amused by the nobleman’s lofty concerns.

At that moment, a voice caught Tu San’s attention.

The nobleman also turned toward the source of the sound, his expression calm. “I visited that stall about fifteen minutes ago. Quite intriguing. The prices are high, though the quality of the artifacts remains uncertain.”

“Oh?” Tu San’s interest was piqued. “Let’s take a look.”

“Their artifacts aren’t certified or standardized, and the prices are double the norm. Be cautious—it might be a scam,” the nobleman warned.

“Understood.” Tu San headed toward the stall.

By now, a crowd had gathered around Qi Yuan’s stall.

Voices of doubt and curiosity filled the air.

“An ungraded artifact for 100 taels? Do you take me for a fool?”

“This is probably a scam. I’ve never seen artifacts like these before!”

“Why do these artifacts feel so useless?”

Most of the crowd was skeptical or simply there for the spectacle.

Tu San squeezed through the crowd, his gaze falling on the stall. Suddenly, his eyelid twitched, and his heart raced.

His artifact, Thornblood, reacted.

The artifact’s response pointed directly to the handsome young vendor—Qi Yuan.

Tu San’s heart sank as he met Qi Yuan’s gaze.

“Hey there, handsome. Want to buy an artifact?” Qi Yuan asked.

The casual address felt strange, causing Tu San’s nerves to tighten.

His artifact’s reaction, coupled with the blood-red mist it emitted, indicated that this man had killed at least dozens of Thorned Blood specters.

Could this man… be from the Red Cloud Bandits?

The thought unsettled him. If this vendor served Thorned blood, he might report Tu San’s presence to higher-ups.

But Tu San wasn’t a bandit—he was an undercover agent.

This man is a powerhouse!

If the vendor had truly slain eighty-seven Thorned blood specters, his prowess was akin to that of a divine force. That meant the artifacts he sold might be exceptional.

Suppressing his fear, Tu San spoke with newfound respect.

“I’d like to purchase an offensive artifact. Does the stall owner have any recommendations?”

“Offensive artifacts?” Qi Yuan mused.

He didn’t have many of those.

“How about this?” he said, handing Tu San an artifact resembling a flashlight.

“This is a light sword. Its design is inspired by… uh, I can’t recall which show. Its greatest strengths are its cool and stylish appearance,” Qi Yuan explained.

“Such an ugly thing, and you call it stylish?” the nobleman scoffed, his disdain evident.

Dressed flamboyantly, the nobleman was clearly a fan of theatrics and was unimpressed by the flashlight-like artifact.