After taking care of the Spirit Plants, Li Mu entered the Cultivation Room of the Four-sided House. Then, in a flash, he vanished from the spot and entered the Painting Realm Treasure Mansion, summoning the Chi Lian Fire Phoenix and the Cyan Moon True Dragon to begin the refining of the Jade Bamboo Spirit Sword.

The Venerable Kun Ling and Tianshang Supreme provided a significant amount of Tier Six Refining Spiritual Materials. With the commissions from artifact refining and the inventory of High-tier Spiritual Materials, using Jade Green Spirit Bamboo as the primary material, while conserving auxiliary materials a bit, it was enough to refine two to three thousand Tier Five Jade Bamboo Spirit Swords.

Once Li Mu entered the Painting Realm Treasure Mansion, the Chi Lian Fire Phoenix and Cyan Moon True Dragon swiftly flew over to him.

"Master!"

Li Mu nodded at them and immediately summoned a Tier Six Gold Element Spirit Sword from the Nine Treasures Spirit Pearl, forming a Sword Technique with his hands, cutting down in the air from afar.

With a "crack" sound, a Jade Green Spirit Bamboo over a dozen feet high broke with the scent of rich Wood Spiritual Qi and bamboo spreading from the cut.

The Chi Lian Fire Phoenix and Cyan Moon True Dragon flew to Li Mu’s sides in tacit understanding, one summoning the Celestial Fire Tripod, the other summoning the Blue Spirit Glaze Water, ready to cooperate in the artifact refining.

Seeing them ready, Li Mu took a deep breath, quickly forming a Spell with his hands, casting the Spirit Taming Soul Sharing Technique, multitasking, and began to control them in artifact refining. The Extreme Yang Celestial Fire transformed into the Celestial Fire Refining Furnace, with the Blue Spirit Glaze Water entering it, investing refining materials... The artifact refining was going intensively.

————

Time flew by, five years passed in a blink.

As the Central State Fleet’s operations in the South Wilderness Spirit Realm reached a stalemate, numerous forces from the Central Continent Spirit Realm gathered their strength at the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars, including two major sects, small sects, various Cultivation Clans, and multiple factions. Although they had different goals and interests, they chose to unite against the Nine Demons Sect and the Demon Abyss enemies.

To better resist the invasions from the Nine Demons Sect and the Demon Abyss, sect forces from the Central State Spirit Realm teamed up, deploying almost all their power. They brought hundreds of thousands of high and low-tier cultivators from the Central State Spirit Realm, who were the elites of each sect, forming the backbone in defending the Ten Thousand Stars Sea Region.

After gathering at the Ten Thousand Stars Sea Region, these forces launched a grand scale defense line construction. Utilizing great magical power, they reshaped the land, constructing majestic forts on key islands within the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars. These forts not only had sturdy walls and deep moats but also various mysterious arrays and defense facilities.

Moreover, they built several lines of cannon towers on the islands. These towers not only had powerful attacking capabilities but also could conduct remote strikes on the enemy. In warfare, they became a crucial force in protecting the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars.

In just five years, the Ten Thousand Stars Sea Region underwent a tremendous transformation. Initially lagging, with the influx of numerous Central Province Cultivators, it gradually became prosperous, and Ten Thousand Stars Island, as the center of the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars, became a place for cultivators to gather and trade.

On Ten Thousand Stars Island, Li’s Treasure Tower undeniably became the most popular trading venue. Relying on the reputation of a Tier Six Refining Grandmaster, Li’s Treasure Tower’s business prospered, with frequent transactions of precious treasures and refining materials inside. Many cultivators came eagerly, hoping to find desired treasures or rare materials here, or to meet Master Li and commission the refining of a Spirit Treasure.

Over five years, Li’s Treasure Tower continued to grow and expand. It not only enlarged its building structure by several times but also expanded its business scale, inviting numerous outstanding artifact refining masters, alchemy masters, and talisman masters to reside, increasing more trading varieties and involving in diverse trading fields like Spirit Grass, Pills, and Talismans.

The tower gathered many Central Province Cultivators, with cultivators of all levels present. They either purchased needed items, sold their collections, or exchanged insights with other cultivators.

Five years of time greatly developed the entire Sea of Ten Thousand Stars’ economy. With the influx and prosperous trade of cultivators, various commercial activities gradually emerged. Beyond trading venues like Treasure Tower, there appeared many inns, repair shops, and other supporting facilities, providing various services for the cultivators.

Besides economic development, the strength of local cultivators also saw significant enhancements. With the gathering and exchange of Central Province Cultivators, various cultivation resources, secret techniques, and magical treasures spread in the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars, enhancing the overall strength of the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars’ cultivators.

Li’s Treasure Tower, reception room on the fifth floor.

Li Mu stood by the window of the reception room on the fifth floor, looking down at the bustling main street below, eyebrows furrowed and gaze deep, seemingly contemplating something.

At this moment, Li Mu’s heart was filled with doubts and concerns, considering how to proceed next.

Having just sent off Kun Ling and Chen Xuanzi, simultaneously, Li Mu received a piece of very surprising news from their mouths.

The Nine Demons Sect forces seemed to have their eyes on him again, advising him to be cautious when leaving Ten Thousand Stars Island. Recently, they caught quite a few spies from the Nine Demons Sect, and it seems their attention is focused on Li’s Treasure Tower, or rather, on him.

This news truly startled Li Mu. These five years he had been cautious, trying not to attract others’ attention. However, now it seems it was to no avail!

During these five years, the Tianshang Supreme, Ten Thousand Islands Sect, Sea God Sect, and other forces united all the power within the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars, including major sea races, jointly laying down a formidable dragnet to search for remnants of the Nine Demons Sect. During this time, numerous battles erupted, countless cultivators making great efforts and sacrifices. Yet, despite the immense price paid, they remained unable to completely eradicate the Nine Demons Sect’s power in the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars.