Chapter 1693: Star Devouring Silk?

That being said, the Star Origin Lord Robe might be a rare treasure, but after Shang Xia entered the Seven Star Realm, it was pretty much useless.

In the void tens of thousands of miles away from the heavenly screen, Shang Xia held the Star Origin Lord Robes in his hand and clicked his tongue. “If I really went crazy and ripped it apart, Ren Huan might be able to craft a few sheets of rank seven talisman paper with this. However, that would truly be a waste.”

Feeling resigned, Shang Xia was about to put the robe away, still pondering over who he would pass it to eventually.

As it stood, there was no one suitable in the Tongyou Institution to wear it.

Kou Chongxue, who was already at the sixth tier, would find the effects of the amplification to his strength minimal. Everyone else was a second tier True Immortal of below and even though their strength would be significantly enhanced it would still be a waste as any high-level True Immortal would be able to take them out.

To be honest, there was actually someone in the Tongyou Institution who was suitable to wear the Star Origin Lord Robe. It was Gao Qin who was at the level of Returning to the Origin.

However, Gao Qin was ultimately Shang Xia’s prisoner, and she wasn’t trusted enough to be given the Star Origin Lord Robe.

Just as Shang Xia was about to temporarily store it, his gaze swept over to the Variant Talisman runes embroidered in different positions on the robe. His expression stiffened in an instant.

"How did I not notice before? The positions of these runes seem to hold some mystery. If the runes of the other Variant Talismans can be embroidered in other specific positions, I would also be able to combine them into one! Wouldn’t that make the Star Origin Lord Robe itself a rank seven talisman?” Amazed, Shang Xia began to verify his new hypothesis based on the positions of the existing runes on the robe, and the more he verified, the more feasible it seemed.

"Why hadn't I noticed it before?" Shang Xia wondered to himself but soon realized it must be due to the difference in his cultivation level.

Even if he were to complete the combination of the runes, the Star Origin Lord Robe would fundamentally differ from a typical rank seven talisman.

Regardless of grade, talismans were usually single-use items. However, the Star Origin Lord Robe could be worn and used repeatedly.

Rubbing his chin, Shang Xia felt the urge to complete the combination of the runes that very moment.

Ultimately, he restrained this impulse. To truly upgrade the Star Origin Lord Robe, he would at least need some experience in creating a rank seven talisman. Currently, he hadn’t even made a single one, let alone a new talisman made with the combination of many Variant Talismans.

Thus, he was back to square one. He needed to get his hands on rank seven talisman paper, talisman brush, and talisman ink.

...

Leaving the space around the Spirit Luxuriant World, Shang Xia reappeared in the space around the Spirit Abundance World. Or more precisely, he appeared outside the Spirit Observation World.

Zhuo Gudao immediately sensed Shang Xia's presence. The void split open and Zhuo Gudao appeared before him.

"Sage Shang, why have you come?” Zhuo Gudao was greatly taken aback. Based on their previous secret agreement, Shang Xia wasn’t supposed to act so swiftly.

Moreover, both were under scrutiny, especially since Shang Xia became a Sage and his world hadn’t completed its ascension. Many covetous eyes from outside the Heaven Observation Field were staring right at them.

Shang Xia directly stated his need to obtain a batch of cloth woven by Star Devouring Silk.

Zhuo Gudao couldn’t help but chuckle at his request. "Sage Shang... Even though we don’t have too much of it, we have some in the Dao Field. However, you should know how precious the treasure is. What would you like to exchange it for?”

Shang Xia was at a loss as to what to offer in exchange and he eventually asked, "Sage Zhuo, what do you want?”

Zhuo Gudao's expression turned serious. "I’ll trade you a batch of Star Devouring Silk. However, you will need to give us back the Star Origin Lord Robe.”

Shang Xia raised his eyebrows slightly. "That's rather inconvenient, as I have already given it to someone else in the institution. It will be rather awkward to ask for it back now.”

With a slightly embarrassed smile, Shang Xia added, "Is there anything else I can trade it for?”

Naturally, Shang Xia was lying. How could he easily part with the robe, especially after discovering that he could combine runes from the various Variant Talismans on it?

Zhuo Gudao did not believe Shang Xia for a second. However, he was merely trying his luck.

Since Shang Xia was unwilling to part with it, Zhuo Gudao immediately suggested another trade. “That’s a shame... Since you don’t wish to trade the robe, why don’t you give me the method to lay down the Five Element Teleportation Formation your institution’s Grandmaster Chu Jia created?”

Without hesitation, Shang Xia snorted, "Sage Zhuo, the value of 1 bolt of silk isn’t worth the formation inheritance, right?”

Zhuo Gudao held up three fingers. "3 bolts of rank seven Star Devouring Silk. That’s all we can offer!”

Zhuo Gudao looked at Shang Xia seriously and continued, "I know that Sage Shang is a genius in the art of talismans. Since you became a Sage, you’ll likely soon begin crafting rank seven talismans. The first might even be a combination of the Variant Talismans left by the Star Origin Lord. That’s probably why you need Star Devouring Silk, right? You need to craft rank seven talisman paper...”

Seeing that Shang Xia did not respond, Zhuo Gudao added, "According to the records left by my Star Origin Dao Field, after a simple refining process, a single bolt of Star Devouring Silk can make at least 5 to 7 sheets of rank seven talisman paper. 3 bolts should get you 15 to 20 sheets. It should be enough for you to make the leap to become a rank seven Talisman Grandmaster!”

However, Shang Xia remained unmoved. The value and significance of the Five Element Teleportation Formation were far greater than a few bolts of Star Devouring Silk. After a quick thought, he replied, "Why bother with all this trouble? If you need a teleportation formation, why not simply hire Grandmaster Chu to build it for you?”

Zhuo Gudao chuckled, "Sage Shang, is there a need to beat about the bush? Since you’re not willing to trade the inheritance, we can always find another way to trade.”

Curious, Shang Xia asked, "Oh, what does Sage Zhuo have in mind?"

Zhuo Gudao held up a finger. "1 bolt of Star Devouring Silk. However, after you craft the Origin Star Talisman, you need to give me its inheritance.”

"'Origin Star Talisman? Is that the name of the rank seven talisman?” Shang Xia asked in surprise, "Don’t your Dao Field possess a complete inheritance for crafting it after you obtained the Heaven Observation Sect’s legacy?”

A bitter smile appeared on Zhuo Gudao’s face. "This talisman was created by the Star Origin Lord in his later years. Right after that, he entered the Essence Ping World. No complete crafting method was left behind. Over the past several hundred years, the Star Origin Guards also tried to complete the combination, but even among the rank seven talismans, the Origin Star Talisman is of an extremely high level and its not easily restored.”

Shang Xia nodded before speaking again, "Since the inheritance comes from you, it won’t be a problem for me to return it to its rightful owner. However, a bolt of Star Devouring Silk is not enough. Let’s make it 3 bolts!”

Zhuo Gudao shook his head with a wry smile, "2, no more."

Shang Xia pondered for a moment, then asked, "Does your Star Origin Dao Field have a... Do you have any information about a rank seven Talisman Brush?”

Shang Xia initially thought about asking Zhuo Gudao for a brush of the quality of a Divine Artifact or greater. However, the second the words left his lips, he watched Zhuo Gudao’s face darken. Understanding he might have been a little greedy, he quickly asked if they had news of it instead.

Zhuo Gudao snapped, "All I know is that the Star Origin Lord once borrowed a brush from the Essence Hong World. If you have the ability, go ask for it! Enough! Take these 2 bolts of Star Devouring Silk and leave. Obtaining the complete inheritance will depend on your skills.”

With that, Zhuo Gudao impatiently waved his hand, clearly not wishing to see Shang Xia any longer. He vanished back into the Spirit Observation World.