Chapter 1 The First Divine Craftsman Competition

The Immortal Treasure World is not primitive or backward. Due to the development of refining techniques, many magical instruments that are convenient for the people, facilitate transportation, and facilitate the spread of information have been developed and widely used.

After the Shenbing Mountain Manor launched a heated publicity campaign, in less than a week, the news that the Shenbing Mountain Manor was about to host the first "World's Number One Divine Craftsman Competition" spread throughout the entire world.

This, in turn, sparked heated discussions around the world.

Those Qi cultivators from humble backgrounds, but who considered themselves to have unique skills, all believed that it was time for them to show their talents. Even without clearly understanding the specific process or rewards, they were already riding on Earth Flying Shuttles, rushing to the Shenbing Mountain Manor.

On the shore of the Wanbao Lake, at the Wanbao Association's headquarters, which is as famous as the Shenbing Mountain Manor, many Qi cultivators were also enthusiastically discussing information about the World's Number One Divine Craftsman Competition.

"Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings; are they trying to catch all three generations of craftsmen, old, middle-aged, and young, in one fell swoop?"

"Does the Shenbing Mountain Manor really think of itself as the leader of the Qi cultivators in the Immortal Treasure World? They didn't even notify our Wanbao Association and just held some World's Number One Divine Craftsman Competition on their own. Who gave them the confidence and right to do that?" A Spirit Craftsman flipped through a magical instrument similar to a tablet computer, scrolling through the updated information, and said with a cold sneer.

"This matter is probably unusual. Participating in the competition does not necessarily mean joining them, and the prizes they offer are, to be honest... very tempting."

"The first place on the Heaven Ranking gets twelve strands of Dao rhythm, the second place gets eight strands, the third place gets five strands, and the top ten in the Heaven Ranking all have rewards, with the lowest being one strand of Dao rhythm. As long as a Divine Craftsman participates, they get a participation fee of considerable value. The first place on the Earth Ranking gets five strands of Dao rhythm, the second place gets three strands, the third place gets two strands, and those from third to tenth place also get valuable rewards. The Human Ranking only has one strand of Dao rhythm as a reward for the first place, but the top ten can make a name for themselves and be invited to join the Shenbing Mountain Manor and receive key training."

"Did you see that? It seems that they are mainly recruiting Qi cultivators on the Human Ranking. The positioning is not high, but the rewards given for the Heaven and Earth Rankings are very amazing. The Dao rhythm alone will cost nearly forty strands."

"Does the entire Shenbing Mountain Manor have forty strands of Dao rhythm to offer?"

"Behind this, I'm afraid there is another financier. The Shenbing Mountain Manor is probably only hosting it." The seemingly shrewd young Spirit Craftsman honestly revealed all his analysis, causing some old guys who had intentions of taking advantage of the situation to feel quite unhappy.

"Then what do you say is the purpose of spending such a large price to do this?"

"Just to give our Qi cultivators in the Immortal Treasure World a ranking?" A younger Qi cultivator couldn't help but ask.

"That's hard to say. Maybe it's to find someone to refine treasures!" Someone said jokingly.

No one took this sentence seriously.

With such a high cost, they could exchange it for several divine artifacts. To find someone to refine treasures specifically... what's the point?

"By the way! What is the specific process for participating in the competition?"

"Does anyone know?" Someone asked.

"I don't know. The promotional materials only mentioned the rewards, the deadline for registration, and some precautions for going to the competition. They didn't mention the specific competition process."

"I think there must be fraud in it. Anyway, I won't go!" said an older Spirit Craftsman.

"That's right, it's better to be cautious. There's something fishy about this matter. We have to be calm and not be fooled and blinded by interests." Several other Spirit Craftsmen followed suit.

"Whoever goes is a fool!"

"Going there is a betrayal of the Wanbao Association and will be unanimously spurned."

"Let's all agree that we are not allowed to boost the morale of others and diminish our own prestige! Let them Shenbing Mountain Manor entertain themselves. Let's just watch it as a joke."

For a time, the entire Wanbao Lake was filled with many people's bold words that they would never participate in the competition.

The entire Wanbao Association was of one mind, resolutely resisting the Shenbing Mountain Manor's barbaric behavior of recruiting people and trying to monopolize the Immortal Treasure World's weapon refining market.

Three days later, on a dark early morning, dozens of people met at the formation gate leading out of the valley on the side of the lake, and they all looked at each other, the scene was a little awkward for a while.

"Didn't you say you weren't going? That you would never be fooled?" Someone preemptively asked.

"Yes! I'm going to the Shenbing Mountain Manor with the attitude of probing the enemy's situation and exposing their conspiracy. What about you? I see you've even brought your treasured hammer with you. Are you bringing your own food, ready to go and join them?" Someone also counterattacked preemptively.

The formation gate suddenly became a little noisy.

The Qi cultivators were all skilled in refining weapons and had little interest in conquest and war. Therefore, both the Shenbing Mountain Manor and the Wanbao Association were more like companies with common interests, rather than sects or imperial courts where the upper levels completely controlled the life and death of the middle and lower levels. It was precisely based on this foundation that these Qi cultivators dared to openly ask for leave and then go to participate in the Shenbing Mountain Manor's World's Number One Divine Craftsman Competition.

Putting aside the amazing rewards for the top few, the four words "make a name for oneself on the list" alone were enough to make many people's blood boil.

At this time, inside the Shenbing Mountain Manor, meetings were being held day and night.

Originally, when Nangong Juhong, in the name of the manor lord, requested to fully mobilize all the resources in the manor to cooperate in holding the World's Number One Divine Craftsman Competition, the remaining four Divine Craftsmen, two of them firmly opposed it, and the remaining two were somewhat hesitant.

But after Nangong Juhong introduced Ye Chuxiao to them, and Ye Chuxiao smashed out fifty strands of Dao rhythm on the spot, all the voices of opposition stopped.

They then turned to fully cooperate.

The Shenbing Mountain Manor opened its doors to do business, and what it liked most was this kind of generous customer who would smash money at the drop of a hat.

Those who refined weapons were all rough men, not artists. Where did they get their affectation from?

At this time, the high-level members of the manor were still holding a meeting as usual.

As the financier boss behind the scenes, Ye Chuxiao was only responsible for standing on the high platform and conveying his needs. As for how to obtain the results he wanted, that was something that the Divine Craftsmen of the Shenbing Mountain Manor should worry about.

"I have only one request, and that is to manufacture a large number of magical instruments and then break them and throw them into the weapon washing pond, and your weapon washing pond must be emptied to be used exclusively for my set of saber, armor, and flying sword."

"Of course, in the meantime, you must also come up with a perfect plan to upgrade all of my equipment to the level of divine artifact embryos first," Ye Chuxiao said, tapping the Spirit Crystal screen.

On Nangong Juhong's right, the Goddess Craftsman, Hua Yiren, who mainly focused on new-style refining, said, "Then try to make the competition structure more complicated. Each time you rank up or advance, you must go through multiple processes such as preliminary rounds, preliminary competitions, and final competitions. You can even provide some resurrection spots according to audience voting and review discussions. Each competition can also be divided into upper, middle, and lower rounds, so that the competition process can be cut more finely, reducing disputes while also maximizing...stimulating the potential of the contestants. Ensure that every truly capable contestant can leave as many of their works as possible in the competition process."

Ye Chuxiao glanced at this Goddess Craftsman, who looked as delicate as Lin Daiyu, as if she would be blown away by a gust of wind at any time, and showed an approving expression.

Very good, Hua Yiren understands what a people's entrepreneur is.

Faced with Ye Chuxiao's approving gaze, Hua Yiren smiled shyly. Although she was a top Divine Craftsman of the world, she didn't seem to have the airs of a grandmaster.

"Won't this... be a great waste?"

"The material loss is probably an astronomical figure!" said Ou Huazi, the oldest of the five Divine Craftsmen of the Shenbing Mountain Manor.

Ye Chuxiao waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter, I'll pay the bill, but you also have to keep a close eye on it and not let those incompetent people muddle through and waste resources excessively."

"I will open up my domain from time to time to monitor all the details of the entire competition. I hope you don't mislead yourselves and ruin the reputation of the Shenbing Mountain Manor."

Although the probability was not high, Ye Chuxiao still had to say the ugly things first, so as not to let these Shenbing Mountain Manor guys put on a fake show and cheat his money.

"Mr. Ye, please rest assured, I, Shenbing Mountain Manor, guarantee with thousands of years of reputation that we will never do such a thing," Nangong Juhong said.

"In fact, the loss is not as big as imagined. In the early stage of the competition, we can use ordinary fine iron, brass, and other basic minerals as weapon refining materials, and eliminate the unqualified contestants through the finished products."

"In the subsequent competitions, successfully refining a magical instrument will be counted as two points, and refining a batch of materials badly will deduct one point. The final result is that the score ratio will be weighted, and it can even play a decisive role," Hua Yiren said again.

Ye Chuxiao clapped his hands and smiled, "Very good! The specific control of this competition will be handed over to Divine Craftsman Hua!"

"After this is done, I am willing to take out three more strands of Dao rhythm as thanks. Of course, I also support Divine Craftsman Hua to participate in the competition and win the top spot in the Heaven Ranking competition."

The remaining four Divine Craftsmen present... including Nangong Juhong, all looked at Hua Yiren with jealousy.

Unconsciously, they all got caught up in the competition.

Originally, they were still deliberating whether some ideas would be too despicable and whether some plans would damage their private morals.

Now they didn't care about that at all.

"This old man has a Spirit Enhancement Secret Technique, which has an excellent effect on enhancing the spirituality of creations, but using it will inevitably hinder one's cultivation somewhat. Using it too much will also cause one to lose one's realm,"

"For Mr. Ye's great cause, I will take it out and share it with the fellow Daoists who participate in the competition!" said the old Divine Craftsman Ou Huazi.

Ye Chuxiao cupped his hands and said, "Old Divine Craftsman, you are still highly respected. This junior is willing to offer three strands of Dao rhythm as compensation."

The others secretly said that this old thing was shameless, not wanting his face and reputation for the sake of a few strands of Dao rhythm.

But they all took out some of their trump cards in order to add bricks and tiles to Ye Chuxiao's divine weapon plan.

Under Ye Chuxiao's 'spending money' strategy, the Shenbing Mountain Manor was like a high-speed machine, operating frantically.

Not only were various precious materials from all over the world transported back like mountains, one by one.

The Shenbing Mountain Manor even contacted some old friends, old customers, and old acquaintances scattered in other worlds and purchased a large number of rare ores, metals, and other weapon refining materials across the world.

In order to help Ye Chuxiao upgrade a set of Yuanyang equipment, Nangong Juhong even borrowed a small piece of sun fire essence stone through connections.

This thing is basically equivalent to a fragment of a star.

Although it is said to be a small piece, it is actually as high as a mountain.

Standing in the formation outside the Shenbing Mountain Manor, the temperature was terrifyingly high, turning the surrounding dozens of miles into a sea of fire.

The temperature of several active volcanoes in the Shenbing Mountain Manor combined could not compare to this piece of sun fire essence stone.

Of course, although the temperature is high, it does not mean that it is suitable for refining weapons.

Most of the materials were melted into slag as soon as they were thrown in, and there was no time to refine them.

Ye Chuxiao's Yuanyang set was able to withstand such a temperature because it was originally refined using complete Yuanyang stones, and then melted by the Fortune Boat with sun fire essence.

Half a month later, almost all the Qi cultivators in the Immortal Treasure World who had some skills and face had arrived at the Shenbing Mountain Manor.

Even though the Shenbing Mountain Manor had prepared a large number of temporary space expansion tents in advance, it was completely insufficient.

There were still many cultivators who had to camp in the open space outside the manor. Of course, those who had the conditions would release their portable cave abodes and settle down on the spot.

Not all of these many cultivators came to participate in the competition.

There were more people who came to watch the show, join in the fun, and had other miscellaneous plans.

The tents and cave abodes were all over the mountains and plains, spreading from the Shenbing Mountain Manor as the center to the surrounding areas, densely packed, which was shocking to see.

With so many cultivators, a rough calculation showed that about a million cultivators had poured into the vicinity of the Shenbing Mountain Manor.

This was almost one-third of the cultivator population of the entire Immortal Treasure World.

The Immortal Treasure World, with a total population of about ten billion, has three to four million cultivators. Such a proportion can be considered high in many worlds that Ye Chuxiao has been to.

Probably only the cultivator population in the Academy World has a higher proportion.

This shows how amazing the annual weapon refining expenses in the Immortal Treasure World are.

And behind the Immortal Treasure World, the largest 'supplier' is the Da Huan Imperial Dynasty that Nangong Juhong once mentioned.

Only the Da Huan Imperial Dynasty, which dominates multiple worlds, can mobilize resources from many worlds to supply the abnormal development of the Immortal Treasure World.

If the Immortal Treasure World relied solely on self-sufficiency.

Even if they had certain resource recycling methods, they would have emptied all kinds of resources long ago after so many years.

The Shenbing Mountain Manor's preparations were in full swing.

As the mastermind behind the scenes, Ye Chuxiao did not idle, but roamed within a thousand miles of the Shenbing Mountain Manor, and left some 'ink marks' in suitable places.

After absorbing Huang Zhentu, who was peerless in formations and diagrams, Ye Chuxiao is now peerless in both formations and diagrams.

In the Immortal Treasure World, weapon refining techniques are at their peak, but when it comes to drawing formation diagrams, not everyone can compare to Ye Chuxiao.

Ye Chuxiao's move was just a habit of being cautious.

With such a big commotion, someone will definitely be able to deduce his intentions... Even if they can't deduce it, those people in the Shenbing Mountain Manor may not keep it a secret for him.

In order to prevent some people from not knowing what is good for them and being blinded by profit.

Ye Chuxiao had better make some preparations first.

Having confidence in one's own strength is one thing, and being fully prepared is another.

Amid the noise, the highly anticipated World's Number One Divine Craftsman Competition finally officially kicked off.