After the customary greetings and pleasantries, they settled in. Yuan Wushang, unable to wait a moment longer, immediately produced the Jade Puppet.

"I heard from Zong Shou that Lord Shen's artifact refinement skills are unparalleled—the finest he has ever witnessed. I wonder if this is true. I have a puppet here that sustained considerable damage; perhaps the Lord could assist me in repairing it?"

His words were direct, holding no subtlety in their underlying skepticism.

Shen Yuexuan, upon hearing this, showed no sign of offense, offering only a faint, knowing smile. But when his eyes finally fell upon the Jade Puppet, he froze, his gaze sharp with a sudden, intense brilliance, tinged with a wistful melancholy.

Zong Shou, watching from the side, allowed the corner of his lip to curl upward almost imperceptibly. He knew then that this Lord Shen indeed shared a profound connection with the Mohist school.

"A Saint-tier Puppet! Yuexuan, you have broadened my horizons yet again. It seems that the secret mechanisms of this world truly can forge artifacts capable of contending with Saint Realm cultivators! Legends spoke of the Twelve Bronze Men of the Qin Era in the Cloud Realm, and the Jade Puppets of the Mohists, all capable of matching Saints. These rumors, it seems, are true!"

Shen Yuexuan recovered his composure after that brief lapse, his expression returning to normal. "I am honored by your high regard, Lord. To speak without false modesty, when it comes to artifact refinement in this entire Heavenly Square World, there may be no one who rivals me. On the path of intricate mechanisms and arrays, I consider myself quite accomplished. However, to repair an ancient divine artifact such as this... that is beyond my current capability. Much of the Mohist mechanism arts have also been lost. But—"

As Shen Yuexuan reached this point, a shadow of palpable disappointment crossed Yuan Wushang's eyes.

Yet, he himself had held little genuine expectation.

Then, Shen Yuexuan’s tone shifted, breaking into a light laugh. "Though I lack the skill to fix it directly, there is still hope. This Mohist Jade Puppet was renowned across the cosmos, even reaching beyond the domains for a reason. This puppet possesses a degree of self-repair capability. If the damage is minor and only affects the outer shell, it should be manageable."

As he spoke, Shen Yuexuan snapped his fingers in quick succession. Streams of powerful Gang energy impacted the Jade Puppet.

Yuan Wushang initially tried to intervene, but found himself entirely powerless to stop the action.

A moment later, his face broke into an expression of astonishing delight. He ceased his attempts to restrain the Refiner.

The outer shell of the Jade Puppet began to shimmer with flowing spiritual light.

Roughly half an hour later, the jade casing was once again smooth as a mirror.

All traces of blade cuts and sword wounds had largely vanished, and the remaining imperfections were rapidly mending themselves.

Overjoyed, Yuan Wushang's estimation of Lord Shen soared dramatically. He realized that everyone Zong Shou befriended truly possessed extraordinary talent. He spoke from the heart, "My sincere thanks, Lord. Without your intervention, I, Yuan Wushang, truly would have been helpless."

He made no mention of payment; with Zong Shou, the great benefactor, standing nearby, it was unnecessary for him to speak of compensation.

"There is no need for such gratitude. I was simply excited by the opportunity. My abrupt actions without your consent were rash; I ask your forgiveness."

Shen Yuexuan shook his head, his voice carrying a note of solemn reverence. "It is a rare fortune that you possess this Jade Puppet, Daoist friend. Few such objects remain in existence; perhaps this is the last one in the world. I ask that you cherish it deeply when you use it in the future."

"I understand!"

Yuan Wushang nodded. This was his ultimate life-saving artifact; how could he not treasure it? If not for owing Zong Shou a favor from years ago, he would never have dared to clash directly with those two Saint Realm figures from the Daoist Sect.

Then, a thought struck him. He retrieved a blueprint and, suspending it with his spiritual power, presented it to Shen Yuexuan.

"I acquired this item alongside the Jade Puppet. I am unsure if it is the schematic for manufacturing puppets. Yuan Wushang has no other means to thank you, but I hope this object may prove useful to you, sir."

Shen Yuexuan accepted the blueprint with a look of mingled surprise and awe. The moment his hand closed around it, he sensed its extraordinary nature.

Zong Shou also glanced at the item, and subtle ripples stirred in his own eyes.

It was genuine Dragon Hide, condensed and refined from the shed skins of at least three Saint-tier Dragons. It did not rival the Supreme Demon Slaying Scroll, but it was exceptional nonetheless.

Yet, Shen Yuexuan's hands trembled slightly, indicating an agitation he could barely contain.

"Great kindness requires no words! This item is of utmost importance to me, perhaps even more than my own life. Should Brother Yuan ever require my assistance in the future, do not hesitate to ask. I, Ye Xuan, will not delay!"

Yuan Wushang's sword-like brows lifted slightly, and he flicked his robes with a reserved smile.

Zong Shou knew that this man was likely inwardly ecstatic, savoring an obscure triumph. He understood Yuan Wushang's motive: by gifting this blueprint to Shen Yuexuan, he ensured that should the Jade Puppet ever sustain damage again, he would not lack a capable craftsman for repairs.

This blueprint was useless to Yuan Wushang, but Shen Yuexuan’s recent display proved he possessed genuine skill—at least his own refinement masters, even the God-tier experts renowned for their craft, had failed to notice the puppet's self-repair capability over the past month.

Zong Shou inwardly scoffed at the maneuver but chose not to expose it. Once Shen Yuexuan had carefully secured the blueprint, Zong Shou spoke, "I came today with several matters requiring your expertise. First, this puppet—which you have already resolved. Second, could you assist me in strengthening these artifacts?"

With a wave of his hand, a clamor of clattering sounds followed.

First appeared two massive black shields, then several sets of feminine armor and weapons. These were all items Shen Xuan had forged years ago using Black Profound Purple Essence Iron. Though their power had not diminished over the years, they no longer suited his current needs.

The Azure Fire Black Tortoise also poked its head out of Zong Shou's sleeve, gazing expectantly at Shen Yuexuan.

Zong Shou generously added, "Lord, simply name any spiritual materials you require!" Having just conquered the Heavenly Square World, they were currently flush with wealth and had not yet indulged in extravagance. The Heavenly Square World's vaults contained every manner of treasure.

Shen Yuexuan showed no sign of difficulty. After a moment of deep thought, he wrote out a detailed inventory list for Zong Shou.

"Once these items are delivered, Lord, you may collect your goods three months hence. I dare not make promises for the rest, but these two great shields are certain to be elevated to the Immortal Treasure level, with a high probability of reaching the Middle-Grade tier."

He had invested the most effort into those shields in the past, so he was most confident in their potential.

Zong Shou glanced at the list, feeling a slight jolt of apprehension. The materials Shen Yuexuan listed were not overly rare, and the Heavenly Square World should possess them all. However, the quantities listed were vast, indicating that Shen Yuexuan, taking Zong Shou’s request seriously, was preparing materials in abundance. The shields alone, being excessively large, would require the material volume equivalent to twenty ordinary Immortal Treasures.

However, backing out now would invite scorn. He could only force a smile and tuck the list into his sleeve. He mused that the tortoise was certainly getting a great bargain out of this deal.

"The third matter: I possess an object intended for the forging of my Second Primordial Spirit. Ordinary smiths cannot handle it; I could only seek your aid."

Saying this, Zong Shou manifested a strand of Geng Metal Qi, seven feet long, floating it before him.

Ye Xuan across the table smiled in return and also produced a wisp of Geng Metal Spiritual Qi.

"My need is to forge a finished Immortal Sword. Sir, have you ever heard of the Grand Cosmos Quaking Sword Art? Ideally, an artifact that can harmonize with my swordsmanship. If successful, Ye Xuan will owe you a great favor."

A favor from a man of his stature, one who was not a Saint Realm Venerable yet wielded power surpassing Saints, was no small debt. This expectation stemmed from his deep anticipation for his future personal blade.

Shen Yuexuan's gaze fixed intently on the two wisps of Geng Metal Qi, his expression suddenly clear with understanding.

"Innate Violet Heaven Profound Metal Qi? A magnificent treasure! It is one of the finest innate Geng energies in this world for forging swords. It is difficult to shape, but precisely because of that, once the sword is complete, it is often exceptionally durable, incredibly sharp, and resistant to damage."

He then looked pointedly at Ye Xuan. "I have heard of your moniker, Daoist of the Carefree Path. I also witnessed the Grand Cosmos Quaking Sword Art not long ago. Within its quaking vibrations lies immense power; it is truly remarkable, and Brother Ye's swordsmanship commands respect. Forging a blade suited to your Grand Cosmos Quaking Sword Art will not be difficult. However, these two strands of Innate Violet Heaven Profound Metal Qi are nearly flawless in quality. Normally, forging a Divine Weapon would not be complex. But to use them in my hands, Shen Yuexuan feels it would be a disservice. At most, it would yield a peak-grade Immortal Sword. Brother Ye, are you amenable to this?"

Zong Shou listened, secretly astonished. A peak-grade Immortal Sword—meaning it still fell slightly short of the very pinnacle, perhaps a notch below the seven swords wielded by the Cang Sheng Sect. But even so, this was extraordinary!

Ye Xuan’s eyes held relief and surprise, though he possessed far greater self-control than Yuan Wushang and showed no obvious emotion. "No matter! Ye Xuan trusts you, sir—"

While a Divine Treasure was certainly tempting—one such artifact could grant a Saint Realm cultivator the power to contend with Supremes—Ye Xuan knew that possibility was less than one percent. Furthermore, it would require countless Heaven-tier auxiliary materials, exceedingly rare, perhaps only appearing once every millennium or two. Even if he managed to gather them all, where would he find a craftsman capable of refining a Divine Treasure? A master refiner as skilled as Shen Yuexuan was already impossible to find, let alone one of higher caliber. Moreover, his current time was short; he could not afford to wait for such a lengthy search. Seizing the present opportunity was paramount.

"Very well, I accept this arrangement," Shen Yuexuan stated, without ceremony, reaching out to draw Ye Xuan's strand of Innate Violet Heaven Profound Metal Qi toward him.

"Five years for refinement, five years for nurturing the blade. Could Brother Ye return to claim this sword in ten years?"

Forging a peak-grade Immortal Sword is not like ordinary magical tools that require mere months. Zong Shou found this timeline reasonable. The Immortal Treasures spanned nine grades; those two shields would likely reach the fourth grade upon completion. This Immortal Sword, however, would reach the ninth grade. While both were Immortal Treasures, the disparity in power was immense. The more meticulously crafted the blade, the stronger its might.

Ye Xuan did not hesitate, offering a slight nod. "That is acceptable! I entrust this sword to you, sir—"

As he spoke these words, Zong Shou noticed a subtle lifting of gloom from Ye Xuan’s demeanor; his expression seemed suddenly brighter. Zong Shou instantly understood: ten years hence would mark Ye Xuan’s ascension to the Saint Realm.

Shen Yuexuan’s gaze then turned toward Zong Shou, "Your path appears to be that of sword cultivation—the Void Spirit Sword Forging Method? To integrate this Innate Violet Heaven Profound Metal Qi to forge a Second Primordial Spirit, you shouldn't have sought me out. Wait... is Lord perhaps doing this to suppress the invasion of that Kingly Qi?"