Chapter 141: Worth a Try
The sect’s influence was currently at 26%. Fang Yun wasn’t sure if the news of him breaking through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer would be enough to push it to 27%.
This was just as difficult as breaking through to a new Realm.
In the eyes of many Cultivators, the leap from the Qi Refining Seventh Layer to the Eighth Layer wasn’t very significant.
"I don’t have any Lower Grade Profound Crystal here. If you want to get some, Junior Brother, your only option is to check the Artifact Pavilion."
"You can buy Artifact Refining materials in the Artifact Pavilion?" Fang Yun couldn’t help but ask.
As far as he knew, you couldn’t purchase materials at the Artifact Casting Peak’s Artifact Pavilion, just like at the Dan Cloud Pavilion on Dan Cloud Peak. You could only buy finished products.
The Spirit Medicines submitted from the Spirit Fields were all used to issue Alchemy tasks.
You could accept tasks in the Artifact Pavilion, and Fang Yun had gone to look before. At most, there were Refining tasks for Upper Grade Magical Artifacts; he had never even seen a task for Refining a Spiritual Artifact.
Even if there were tasks for Refining Spiritual Artifacts, he couldn’t accept them in his current situation.
Because he had yet to successfully refine a Spiritual Artifact, he couldn’t be considered a true Artifact Refiner.
"Normally, no. But in your case, Junior Brother, you could give it a try. I think there might be a chance." The stall-keeping senior brother was able to make such a judgment because he knew a thing or two about the Artifact Casting Peak and its current Management Elder.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother," Fang Yun said gratefully.
The senior brother’s suggestion was an idea that had crossed his mind before, but he had quickly dismissed it.
Experience had told him it was impossible.
But now, he decided to give it a shot. After all, there was no harm in trying.
"Senior Brother, do you have any Red Gold Sand?"
"I have some. How much do you need, Junior Brother?"
"How much do you have, Senior Brother?" Fang Yun countered.
"Seven Taels."
His luck was good. This was more than enough Red Gold Sand for his auxiliary material needs.
"I’ll take it all!"
"I knew you were a straightforward man, Junior Brother. Let’s make it sixty-eight Lower Grade Spirit Stones. I’ll knock two off the price for you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Fang Yun said again.
After the transaction, Fang Yun had collected nearly all the auxiliary materials he needed to refine a Spiritual Artifact.
He was a little short on some of the materials, but with a few adjustments, he could make do.
Afterward, Fang Yun bought some Spirit Medicines and then left.
As his strength increased and his talents in Artifact Refining and Alchemy became more widely known, his visits to the Disciple Marketplace grew less and less frequent.
Yet, the amount of materials he purchased on each visit was growing larger.
Previously, he had only ever bought small amounts of materials.
The purpose of his frequent visits to the Disciple Marketplace had been to subtly let other disciples know about his activities, thereby increasing his influence in the sect.
After leaving the Disciple Marketplace, Fang Yun hurried to Artifact Casting Peak.
Upon entering the Artifact Pavilion, Fang Yun walked up to the Steward and immediately asked.
"Steward, can I purchase Lower Grade Profound Crystal here?"
"Oh, it’s Fang Yun." The Steward recognized him at a glance. In response to Fang Yun’s question, he listlessly shook his head. "The Artifact Pavilion doesn’t sell Artifact Refining materials."
’I knew it...’
Fang Yun wasn’t surprised.
He had never heard of high talent granting the special privilege of purchasing materials directly.
For example, when he refined Qi Enhancement Pills, he had to follow the formal process of accepting an Alchemy task and then submitting the required pills.
In his discussions with Elder Bai Heyan, there had never been an option to purchase Spirit Medicine directly either.
His original plan for the day had been to collect materials at the Disciple Marketplace and then post a task at the Task Hall.
Now that he had come to Artifact Casting Peak first, he figured he would head to Dan Cloud Peak next to work on some Alchemy.
He still had two batches of Rejuvenation Pills to refine for the task he had accepted two days ago.
Now, when he refined Rejuvenation Pills, as long as the Spirit Medicine was of suitable quality, he could guarantee at least two Upper Grade Rejuvenation Pills per batch, meeting the requirements for a level-four task.
Fang Yun left the Artifact Pavilion, and on his way off Artifact Casting Peak...
He ran into an Elder.
Fang Yun now knew that this was Xiong Xingfeng, the Management Elder of Artifact Casting Peak.
"Greetings, Elder." Fang Yun performed a disciple’s salute.
"Mm," Xiong Xingfeng grunted, nodding without another word.
Fang Yun didn’t think much of it. After quickly departing from Artifact Casting Peak, he hurried toward Dan Cloud Peak.
「Inside the Artifact Pavilion.」
Xiong Xingfeng had already entered.
"Elder Xiong!" Seeing Xiong Xingfeng enter, the Steward, who had been looking listless, immediately straightened up and became alert.
Xiong Xingfeng had come to the Artifact Pavilion to give the Steward some instructions.
The Steward nodded repeatedly as he listened.
When he was nearly finished giving his instructions, Xiong Xingfeng casually asked.
"Was Fang Yun here just now?"
"Yes, Elder."
"What for? To accept an Artifact Refining task?"
"No, he came to ask if he could purchase Artifact Refining materials. I think it was... Lower Grade Profound Crystal." The Steward thought back for a moment. He hadn’t been paying much attention when he answered Fang Yun, so he almost forgot what the boy wanted to buy.
Lower Grade Profound Crystal!
Hearing this, Xiong Xingfeng’s expression didn’t change.
But inwardly, he understood. Fang Yun was preparing to refine a Spiritual Artifact.
Lower Grade Profound Crystal couldn’t possibly be used as an auxiliary material for an Upper Grade Magical Artifact.
Fang Yun was planning to refine a Spiritual Artifact much sooner than he had expected.
Based on his calculations, Fang Yun shouldn’t have been planning to refine a Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact until the latter half of next year at the earliest.
It was only the beginning of the second month now, nearly a year and a half ahead of his prediction.
"Elder, are there any other instructions?" the Steward asked, noticing that Xiong Xingfeng had fallen silent and showed no signs of leaving.
Xiong Xingfeng didn’t reply right away.
He was still thinking about Fang Yun.
He had confidently vowed to Bai Heyan that when Fang Yun decided he wanted to refine a Spiritual Artifact, the boy would definitely come to him for help.
But as it turned out, Fang Yun hadn’t come to him at all. Instead, he had opted to gather the materials himself.
’If Bai Heyan finds out about this, I’ll never be able to hold my head high in front of him again,’ he thought. ’And knowing his personality, whenever we argue, he’ll be sure to bring this up from time to time.’
After some thought, Xiong Xingfeng finally gave the Steward another instruction. "If Fang Yun comes to the Artifact Pavilion again, you can bring up the matter of the Artifact Refining materials. Tell him he can come look for me and try his luck."
The Steward was utterly confused upon hearing this.
He could understand the Elder telling Fang Yun to go find him.
But why add the part about... "trying his luck"?
’Does that mean even if Fang Yun goes to see Xiong Xingfeng, he isn’t guaranteed to get the materials?’
’Then what’s the point of even giving this instruction?’
Although his mind was reeling with questions, Elder Xiong had given a direct order, so he had no choice but to nod in agreement.
So, he nodded his head, indicating that he understood and would be sure to carry out the Elder’s instructions.
"Mm."
Only then did Xiong Xingfeng leave the Artifact Pavilion, satisfied.
After leaving the Artifact Pavilion, Xiong Xingfeng had originally intended to return to his own immortal cave.
But suddenly, he remembered something.
’Fang Yun’s relationship with Cai Qingfeng seems to be quite good...’
Realizing this, Xiong Xingfeng didn’t head back to his immortal cave. Instead, he made his way to the Artifact Refining Room rental area at the base of Artifact Casting Peak.
The person on duty there today was Steward Cai.