I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 271: Business Comes Knocking, Repairing the Formation

Night fell. As was his routine, Shen Xian entered the chamber and summoned the Turtle-Snake Lamp, preparing for another session of dual cultivation.

A soft, rose-colored luminescence flooded the room, and the air immediately rippled with a peculiar, heady energy.

“I wonder what changes will manifest once this artifact is fully restored,” Shen Xian murmured, his gaze clinical as he inspected the damaged lamp.

Since arriving at the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce, he had tasked Zhao Wuchen with locating the three specific materials required for its repair. However, news had been scarce.

Considering this item originated from the ancient era—a Dongxuan-grade treasure that even a Body Integration True Venerable would covet—he held high expectations for its true potential.

While he was lost in calculation, Qiu Ruoli stepped lightly into the room. Her fingertips unconsciously brushed against the new silver knife hanging at her waist—the Cold Moon Small Knife he had gifted her.

Under the ambient pink lighting, a faint blush rose on her fair porcelain skin. Yet, unlike the early days, she did not turn her face away in resistance.

*There is no escape, after all…*

She took a deep, steadying breath and reached for the sash of her outer robe.

The gauze-like fabric slid from her shoulders, pooling on the floor to reveal skin as smooth and pale as white jade.

The proactive gesture caused Shen Xian to raise an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his stoic features.

“Today…” Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness. “I will do it myself.”

She gathered a wisp of spiritual power at her fingertip and gently tapped the Turtle-Snake Lamp. The pink radiance instantly flared, intensifying the atmosphere.

*It isn’t… entirely terrible.*

The thought flashed through her mind, surprising even her.

But the undeniable truth was that the spiritual power circulating within her meridians was flowing smoother than ever before. Her cultivation base was stabilizing and climbing at a rate she had never experienced.

Perhaps that pragmatic reality was why she had begun to accept her cage.

And so, the night dissolved into entangled shadows.

…

The next morning, the streets of the Holy City were bustling. Ai Xiao, Tie Shan, and Su Mu were already hard at work, generating hype for the imminent opening of the Duobao Workshop.

Tie Shan hoisted a massive signboard forged from black iron and slammed it into the pavement at the most prominent street corner.

*THUD.*

The heavy impact reverberated through the stone, silencing the immediate area.

“Gather round and feast your eyes!” Tie Shan bellowed, his voice like a thunderclap. “Master Wang Yu’s Duobao Workshop is about to open its doors!”

The sheer volume of the shout drew a crowd of cultivators instantly.

A middle-aged cultivator gasped, recognizing the name. “Wait, is this the same Master Wang who shattered two records at the Hundred Arts Sect? The one who demonstrated the ‘Nine Flames in One Cauldron’ technique at the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce? I heard even Venerable Zi Yun holds him in the highest regard!”

Su Mu stepped forward at the perfect moment, her smile gentle and elegant. “Indeed, he is my Master. Just the other day, the Patriarch of the Wei Family paid a personal visit to our residence, delivering a wealth of rare materials as a token of respect.”

Her words sent a ripple of shock through the onlookers. The Wei Family Patriarch? Bowing his head to a refiner?

A young master dressed in splendid brocade pushed his way to the front, eyes wide. “Miss Su, I am the Young Master of the Qingyang Sect. I wish to commission a fire-attribute spiritual treasure immediately!”

“Line up! Get in line!” Tie Shan cut him off gruffly, crossing his massive arms. “Can’t you see we’re swamped?”

Seeing the tension, Ai Xiao quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Gentlemen, please, patience.”

He produced a ledger from his robes. “Those interested may register their requests here. Once the workshop officially opens, Master will refine items in the order received. Please understand, the spiritual treasures my Master creates are sought after even by Soul Formation experts.”

In less than an hour, the registration booklet was filled with names.

A white-haired elder stroked his beard, shaking his head in disbelief. “I have lived for five hundred years, yet this is the first time I have seen a refining workshop secure dozens of commissions before even opening its doors. Then again… a Grandmaster who can make the Wei Family Patriarch bend the knee is a rarity even in the Holy City.”

Su Mu collected the booklet, her smile modest yet confident. “We are humbled by your enthusiasm. My Master has promised that the results will not disappoint.”

In the crowd, several young refiners whispered with looks of pure longing. “I heard Master Wang’s four disciples are all fourth-rank refiners already. Do you think he’s accepting new apprentices?”

Tie Shan’s ears perked up, and he puffed out his chest. “That depends entirely on your destiny! My Master’s standards are exacting. Not just anyone can walk through these doors.”

Meanwhile, Ai Xiao meticulously distributed jade tokens to those who had registered. Each token was engraved with the word “Duobao” and a serial number.

Su Mu handled the inquiries with the grace of a seasoned diplomat, occasionally dropping calculated anecdotes about Master Wang’s legendary refining feats.

By the time the sun reached its zenith and the trio packed up, nearly a hundred orders had been recorded.

“Good heavens,” Tie Shan muttered, scratching his head as he looked at the list. “We’re going to be working ourselves to the bone.”

Su Mu smiled silently, her fingers lightly tracing the jade token at her waist.

*Indeed. Following Master was the correct choice.*

Over the next few days, the three disciples played to their strengths, cementing the Duobao Workshop’s reputation across the Holy City.

Tie Shan carried the signboard through every alley and avenue, his booming voice becoming a fixture of the city’s soundscape. Ai Xiao managed the logistics, organizing the influx of visitors with military precision.

But the most effective was Su Mu, who orchestrated several “happy accidents.”

First, she arranged for a Golden Core cultivator to “inadvertently” display a heart-protecting mirror refined by Master Wang during a skirmish. The mirror withstood a direct strike from a Soul Formation cultivator, shocking everyone present. Later, she manipulated a local auction where a standard spiritual treasure—simply because it bore the mark of “Wang Yu”—sold for an astronomical price.

Through these maneuvers, the name Duobao Workshop became synonymous with elite quality in the Holy City.

One afternoon, as the three were sorting through the newest batch of commissions, a commotion erupted outside.

The crowd parted as a procession of cultivators wearing the Wei Family crest approached. They carried three gilded treasure chests, walking with solemn, respectful steps under the astonished gazes of the public.

The leading steward bowed deeply at the workshop’s entrance. “By order of the Patriarch, we have come to deliver the Heart of the Earth Fire Marrow, the Profound Dark Ice Iron, and a fifth-rank Array Disc for Master Wang’s inspection.”

Inside, Shen Xian, who had been in the middle of a minor refinement, heard the announcement and stepped out.

His expression was calm, betraying no surprise. “Excellent. Now I can repair the refining node.”

He instructed his three disciples to continue their work, then took possession of the materials and headed straight for the Profound Fire Cave.

…

Standing before the entrance of the Profound Fire Cave, Shen Xian’s gaze sharpened, analyzing the damaged Earth Fire Formation like a surgeon inspecting a wound.

He slowly raised his right hand. A faint golden spiritual light shimmered at his fingertip, tracing complex, profound array patterns in the air.

“Heart of the Earth Fire Marrow. *Align.*”

With a low command, the crimson crystal levitated.

Shen Xian formed a seal with his left hand and tapped the air with his right index finger. The Heart of the Earth Fire Marrow instantly dissolved into a streak of crimson light, shooting precisely into the fractured core of the formation.

Instantly, the violent, chaotic earth fire energy beneath the cave grew docile, submitting like a tamed beast.

His hands moved faster, fingers blurring as they formed seals. Hundreds of golden array runes manifested in the void, weaving together into a shimmering net.

Each rune contained a precise calculation of spiritual power, guiding the raw thermal energy of the Fire Marrow to every node of the grid.

“Profound Dark Ice Iron. *Manifest.*”

The second material rose, shattering into a cloud of microscopic ice crystals suspended in the air.

The Li Fire True Seal between Shen Xian’s brows ignited, and the thunder-fire power of the Burning Heaven Cauldron surged forth.

It was a display of absolute control. He was simultaneously manipulating the diametrically opposed forces of glacial cold and volcanic heat, forcing them into a perfect, oscillating equilibrium of Yin and Yang within the void.

“Go.”

The intertwined stream of ice and fire energy injected itself into the structural weak points of the array.

The fractured patterns began to knit together at a visible rate, glowing with a stable, azure light.

Shen Xian’s Soul Formation Divine Sense expanded fully, permeating the rock and energy alike, micro-managing the flow of power down to the smallest particle.

“Finally… the fifth-rank Array Disc.”

The disc spun in the air, radiating a blinding golden brilliance.

Shen Xian pressed his palms together. The spiritual power within his body roared like a breaking dam.

The intricate etchings on the Array Disc resonated with the ancient formation on the cave walls, emitting a crisp, high-frequency hum.

“Merge!”

At his command, the Array Disc dissolved into pure golden light, sinking seamlessly into the formation’s heart.

*BOOM.*

The entire Profound Fire Cave shuddered violently as the laws of physics within the chamber were rewritten. The brand new “Nine Revolutions Earth Fire Formation” locked into place.

As the array runes cycled, the earth fire moved with fluid grace, obeying his will as if it were an extension of his own nervous system. The violent, crushing pressure was gone, replaced by a dense, controlled power.

Shen Xian withdrew his spiritual power, nodding in satisfaction as he sensed the transformed environment.

The Heart of the Earth Fire Marrow stabilized the core; the Profound Dark Ice Iron harmonized the conflicting energies; the fifth-rank Array Disc reconstructed the meridians. Under his manipulation, these three materials had elevated the facility’s quality to a realm previously thought impossible.

“With this setup…” The corner of his mouth lifted in a rare, faint smile. “My efficiency in refining high-grade spiritual treasures has just tripled.”