Chapter 732: Weaver Man

The Devouring Beast’s reaction astonished Jiang Xueling and Zhou Xian, so much so that Jiang Xueling’s expression changed for the first time. She had raised this Devouring Beast, Xiaosan, since it was young and was intimately familiar with its nature.

It wasn't so much that Devouring Beasts were unpredictable, but rather that very few people could genuinely interact with them. Communicating with them was a huge challenge because they were rarely conscious, and even their dreams couldn't be easily influenced. The Weimei Sect had only managed to build a relationship of trust with them through immense, long-term effort dedicated to raising them.

Yet, Ji Yuan was riding a Devouring Beast for the very first time. He had also been in seclusion since coming aboard, with no prior opportunity for close contact with the beast. How then did a single sentence from him make the Devouring Beast obey?

"Mr. Ji, how did you do that?"

Zhou Xian couldn’t help but ask, as everyone present was equally curious.

Ji Yuan smiled mysteriously. "This is a wondrous karmic connection," he replied. "It just so happened that I dreamed of it, and it dreamed of me."

Ji Yuan then looked up at the sky. The Devouring Beast was moving incredibly fast, already at a high altitude, and within a short time, it was approaching the celestial gales.

Zhou Xian frowned, looking at her grandmaster. Mr. Ji seemed to imply he was in the Devouring Beast’s dream. The issue was that while some had indeed used dream-entering methods to enter the beast's dream realm, upon doing so, they either encountered utter chaos or a perilous landscape filled with monsters. Furthermore, one could not linger long in such a turbulent dream.

Jiang Xueling watched Ji Yuan thoughtfully, remaining silent. In her mind, she was recalling what the little fox had mentioned earlier about the "Kun." Perhaps Ji Yuan's extraordinary closeness with Xiaosan wasn't due to direct physical interaction with the Devouring Beast, but rather deeper reasons, such as his profound understanding of the "Kun."

The surrounding winds grew wilder, and their roar intensified. Xiaosan flicked its tail again and, like a fish leaping into the ocean, plunged into the vast celestial gales.

The Weimei Sect’s formations on the Devouring Beast didn't even activate to resist the celestial gales. Instead, a layer of mist and airflow generated by Xiaosan itself shielded them, blocking the blade-like gales. When the gales swept over the mist around the Devouring Beast, it was as if they were brushing against cotton, and their roar was greatly muffled.

"Oowoo~"

Xiaosan let out another joyful cry, its sound vibrating through the air and shattering the surrounding celestial gales.

"Alright, this altitude is good. You can continue to move forward."

Clearly, Ji Yuan understood the emotion and meaning in the Devouring Beast’s vocalizations.

"Sir, for weaving star-silk garments, perhaps a pair of skilled hands is needed..."

Lian Baiping spoke with a smile. Just as he caught Ji Yuan’s eye and was about to continue, Ju Yuanzi on the side readily chimed in.

"Indeed," Ju Yuanzi agreed. "This matter also involves the path of artifact crafting to some extent. I gained some insight when I joined Mr. Ji and several fellow daoists in refining the Immortal Binding Rope back then. I am willing to offer my assistance!"

"Mr. Ji, I too would like to help."

"Since this is an exchange on the path of artifact forging, I can also lend a hand."

Seeing that everyone else had offered, Jiang Xueling felt it would be inappropriate to remain silent, so she also offered her help.

Ji Yuan, however, merely said, "Thank you," with no intention of accepting their help. The task simply involved threading star-silk. The weaving skills of these esteemed immortals might not even compare to his own; after all, he had properly researched the craft back then.

"Everyone, please observe how I draw the star-thread," Ji Yuan said. "The principle of artifact crafting I employ is quite simple: it merely involves using divine abilities to draw countless starlight energies, causing them to contract and spin onto a single central star-silk, thereby condensing into a thread."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan subtly performed his Sleeve-Universe technique once more. In the next instant, the starlight in the sky dimmed, yet the surrounding celestial gales remained completely unaffected.

Countless starlight energies, like silver threads in the darkness, continuously converged towards Ji Yuan. Each time he flicked his sleeve and brought it down briefly, a single strand of star-silk would be held in his hand.

Only half the night passed, and the star-silk gathered by Ji Yuan grew increasingly abundant. The clear tea on the table had been moved to the corner, as clusters of star-silk now occupied a significant portion of the tabletop.

At one point, Ji Yuan looked down at the tabletop and nodded.

"That should be enough."

The others had been meticulously observing Ji Yuan's technique, intensely curious about everything from the divine abilities he employed to how the star-silk was formed. Fortunately, Ji Yuan wasn't silently engrossed in crafting the star-silk; during the process, they also exchanged insights and explanations. Naturally, the core essence of Ji Yuan's method required a powerful ability to manipulate stellar energy.

This was something the present individuals could achieve with effort. Lian Baiping even attempted to condense star-silk using the principles of artifact crafting as explained by Ji Yuan, and he succeeded. However, his star-silk contained too little stellar energy. Furthermore, it wasn't formed by threads meticulously spinning and interweaving, but simply by fusing it using a method for refining lunar energy. While a strand of star-silk did form, it was dim and lacked radiance. Compared to the star-silk on the table, which enveloped the entire stargazing platform in silvery radiance, Lian Baiping's creation was truly unpresentable.

"Mr. Ji," Lian Baiping asked, "how long will it take to refine this Dharma Robe? If it requires a significant amount of time, we can wait until we reach the Heavenly Secret Cavern before you begin; there's no hurry."

Lian Baiping was concerned about their travel schedule. Ji Yuan had just emerged from seclusion, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for refining the Dharma Robe to take too long, especially as they were already nearing the Southern Wilderness Continent.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Lian, it's merely a matter of threading the silk. It can be completed tonight."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan had already sat down again. The other people at the table exchanged glances, very curious about how the seemingly relaxed Ji Yuan intended to refine the Dharma Robe and what wondrous artifact crafting methods he would employ.

As it turned out, Ji Yuan simply took out two other garments from his sleeve, one white and one gray. He then picked up the white robe with one hand and a strand of star-thread with the other, beginning what appeared to be utterly ordinary needlework. A strand of star-thread, guided by Ji Yuan’s finger, threaded directly into the garment, merging with its existing fabric lines.

The scene before them left Lian Baiping, Ju Yuanzi, and the others stunned for a good while. Even Lian Baiping had never imagined that Mr. Ji would personally engage in needlework. Despite knowing the profoundness of the underlying process, the visual impact was undeniable.

However, they quickly composed themselves. One should not judge things by their superficial appearance; even with needlework, it mattered who was doing it and what materials were being used.

As Ji Yuan continuously threaded the needle through the white robe in his hands, it seemed to become coated with a faint starlight. Strangely, the star-threads on the table grew fewer, yet the white robe did not appear brighter despite more and more star-threads being incorporated. This caused the light on the stargazing platform to gradually dim.

Ji Yuan grew more proficient. He had originally intended to weave an entirely new garment, but making a garment solely from star-thread was not that simple; it might unravel immediately after weaving unless refined with great magical power over a prolonged period.

Instead, he chose to use his three robes that had accompanied him for many years. These garments were no longer ordinary objects themselves. By integrating the star-threads to re-create the robes, it was exactly as Ji Yuan had thought: the garments' original Daoist essence remained intact, yet the Dharma Robe could be continuously elevated.

"Mr. Ji is truly a wonderful immortal. In my long life, I have never seen an immortal like you."

Jiang Xueling watched Ji Yuan spend the entire night threading needles and sewing garments. The supposed discussion about the path of artifact crafting had, in fact, led to everyone present, including Zhou Xian, remaining silent, most simply observing in quiet contemplation.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, you flatter me," Ji Yuan replied. "The Weimei Sect dislikes interacting with the outside world and even more so dislikes traveling in the mortal realm, which is why you find it strange. If you ventured out more, you would see many cultivators like me who enjoy roaming the mortal world — be they immortals, Buddhas, demons, or monsters, some even enjoy being beggars."

Jiang Xueling paused, then shook her head and smiled. "I know who Mr. Ji is referring to," she said. "Tonight, I have witnessed the marvel of your artifact crafting. I had initially hoped we could discuss, or even witness, the legendary Samadhi True Fire."

Lian Baiping’s eyes lit up, and his heart stirred with great interest, though he knew that Ji Yuan wouldn’t be able to use the Samadhi True Fire today. Meanwhile, Ju Yuanzi smiled serenely and refilled everyone’s teacups.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang," Ji Yuan continued, "in my view, the path of artifact crafting is not overly complex. Neither emphasizing 'refinement' nor 'the artifact itself' is a complete understanding. I personally believe that if something possesses spirit, it becomes wondrous. Even an ordinary object can embody the spiritual path and the artifact path. It is active refining, and also the way of non-action..."

A hum... Ju Yuanzi looked at the teacups on the table, where subtle ripples had appeared on the surface of the tea. The others also felt a slight electric tingle, recognizing it as an extremely pure and unique sword intent.

The most representative example of Ji Yuan’s words was the Azure Vine Sword. Although its original sword base was a renowned blade in the mortal realm, it wasn't considered a treasure of heaven and earth in the cultivation world. No immortal had refined it with countless spells, and it was already rust-covered from the ravages of time. Yet, this very sword, with an azure vine wrapped around its hilt, ultimately transformed decay into wonder, becoming an immortal sword. The so-called power of command had, in fact, merely served as an auxiliary to this transformation.

The Azure Vine Sword understood that Ji Yuan was referring to it and responded with a surge of sword intent.

"Alright, one piece is woven."

Ji Yuan stood up, lifting the white robe, which was shimmering with starlight. He shook it twice, and faint star-dust fell away. The glow on the robe immediately faded, transforming it back into a seemingly ordinary garment.

"Well, looks like I've become a weaver!" he thought, self-deprecatingly. Ji Yuan presented the garment to the others.

"What do you think, fellow Daoists?"

"Excellent!" "Of course, a Dharma Robe refined by Mr. Ji is wondrous."

"Mr. Ji, your hands are truly skillful!"

Even Jiang Xueling's eyes shone with an unusual brilliance. Although the robe had now returned to its ordinary appearance, the beauty it possessed when freshly woven was etched in her mind, a sight that was clearly even more appealing to a female cultivator.

Although the others offered praise, Ji Yuan knew they hadn't grasped the main point; they didn't realize that the Dharma Robe was primarily intended to enhance the effectiveness of his Sleeve-Universe technique.