Chapter 143: The Elder’s Test
A change in sect influence.
Elder Xiong had considered taking him as an apprentice, but his sect influence, then and now, hadn’t changed at all.
Based on the patterns Fang Yun had observed, a situation like this should have increased his indirect influence, which in turn would have inevitably caused his sect influence to change.
If he had received this prompt back then, he would have been far more proactive in seeking out Elder Xiong.
Having an Elder as a master within the sect—a Management Elder of a peak, at that—was a huge blessing for Fang Yun.
Right now, his backing was still flimsy. If he truly had an Elder for a master, even just a regular one, his background in the sect would be rock-solid.
Righteous Cultivators were especially particular about accepting apprentices. Once the relationship was established, it could surpass even a father-son bond in most cases.
This particularity also meant it was difficult to be taken as an apprentice. So far, Fang Yun only knew that Senior Sister Bai’s master was Elder Feng, and Brother Jiang’s master was Elder He.
Elder Bai Heyan thought highly of him but had shown no intention of taking him as an apprentice.
This Elder Xiong Xingfeng hadn’t caused any change in his sect influence. Would he really take him on?
As he thought about it, Fang Yun found himself still wrestling with this question.
’Forget it. I’ll stop thinking about it. When I go see Elder Xiong later, I’ll be more proactive and see if he truly has any intention of taking an apprentice.’
Without knowing what was on Elder Xiong Xingfeng’s mind, it seemed useless to overthink it now.
It was better to focus on refining the Upper-Grade Magical Artifact.
After reading the *Spirit Pattern Compendium*, Fang Yun felt that refining Upper-Grade Magical Artifacts had become even more like second nature to him.
This round of refining was also a great success.
Thanks to his meticulous configuration of materials, although this Profound Iron Shield’s general defensive capabilities were average, its ability to defend against Demon Power was exceptionally outstanding.
For disciples who went out to perform missions in the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory, this Profound Iron Shield of his was an absolutely fantastic item.
If he wanted to sell this Profound Iron Shield, he’d only need to shout once on Battle Peak, and countless senior brothers and sisters would surely be scrambling to buy it.
Having finished the refining, Fang Yun left the number one advanced Artifact Refining Room, paid the three Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, and took a moment to compose himself.
He prepared to go find Elder Xiong Xingfeng.
Fang Yun, who had just bid farewell to Steward Cai, immediately retracted the step he had just taken.
"Fang Yun, what’s wrong?"
"Steward Cai, um... where is Elder Xiong’s cave residence?"
"Go up from here, take the path that splits from the one to the Artifact Pavilion, and keep going until you’re halfway up the mountain. Then take the path on your left. When you see a huge rock, Elder Xiong’s cave residence is right next to it."
After memorizing the route, Fang Yun thanked Steward Cai and then officially departed.
Following the path Steward Cai had indicated, Fang Yun soon saw a huge rock.
It was a natural stone and looked quite distinctive.
’This must be Elder Xiong’s cave residence.’
Arriving before the cave residence, Fang Yun first took a look. There were no signs indicating the occupant was out or in seclusion. After confirming this, he knocked on the stone door.
KNOCK KNOCK.
After the two knocks, the stone door of the cave residence slowly swung open.
"Elder Xiong!" Fang Yun greeted him first upon entering the cave residence.
This time, Xiong Xingfeng didn’t just give him a faint reply, but asked, "Fang Yun, what have you come to see me for?"
This was his personal cave residence; if Xiong Xingfeng had only given a faint reply, it would have seemed deliberately distant.
"..."
Faced with Elder Xiong Xingfeng asking a question he clearly knew the answer to, Fang Yun was quite speechless inside, but his expression didn’t change much.
He was here now, under the Steward’s guidance, to try and ask Elder Xiong Xingfeng to be his master.
"Elder Xiong, do you have any Lower-Grade Profound Crystals here?"
"I have some," Xiong Xingfeng replied.
"I wonder if the Elder would be willing to sell these Lower-Grade Profound Crystals to this disciple?" Fang Yun continued to ask.
"I can. I have eighteen catties here. How much do you need?"
"This disciple wants all eighteen catties."
"I’ll charge you thirty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones per catty of Lower-Grade Profound Crystal. That’s a total of five hundred forty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones."
Just like that, Fang Yun very easily completed the transaction with Xiong Xingfeng.
Seeing the eighteen catties of Lower-Grade Profound Crystal in his possession, Fang Yun was overjoyed. He hadn’t even become an apprentice yet, and he already had the Profound Crystal.
The whole transaction process was smoother than a typical sale, and Xiong Xingfeng hadn’t quoted a high price. ’This has to be a hint from the Elder, right?’
Fang Yun mulled this over as he stowed away the Lower-Grade Profound Crystal.
The two of them fell silent for a while.
"If there’s nothing else, you may leave."
"?"
Xiong Xingfeng’s words left Fang Yun a bit stunned.
If not for Steward Cai’s hint, after Xiong Xingfeng said that, even with his suspicions, he really would have just left.
"This disciple has another matter."
"Speak."
"It’s like this, Elder Xiong... In truth, this disciple has admired you for a long time and hopes to become your apprentice." After saying this, Fang Yun immediately lowered his head, as if afraid of being rejected by Xiong Xingfeng.
In reality, he could barely keep a straight face.
He’d just lied about admiring the Elder, but his desire to become his apprentice was completely genuine.
Xiong Xingfeng had yet to speak.
But Fang Yun already knew it was in the bag, because he had received a prompt on the light screen.
With his head still lowered, he took the opportunity to open the light screen.
Sect Influence: 4%↑
His sect influence had actually increased by four percentage points!
This was a much larger increase than Fang Yun had expected.
According to his research on sect influence, indirect influence required the other party to be willing to do things for him, thereby allowing him to influence the sect.
In other words, the current Xiong Xingfeng was very willing to do things for him, as long as he asked.
Such a huge difference in just a brief moment.
’Judging from the increase in influence, Elder Xiong’s previous behavior was just part of a normal transaction... To get the Elder’s personal help, I have to become his apprentice. Otherwise, he’ll just do things strictly by the book...’
After seeing the increase in his sect influence, Fang Yun’s mind raced with thoughts, right up until Elder Xiong Xingfeng spoke.
"It’s true that your talent for Artifact Refining is excellent, but to become my apprentice, you must first pass a test I have for you."
Hearing this, Fang Yun stopped his train of thought and immediately asked, "What is the test?"
"The test is this: before next year, you must refine a Spiritual Artifact and become a true Artifact Refiner. Only then will I take you as my apprentice."
Looking at the still-bowed Fang Yun, Xiong Xingfeng added another condition.
"You will have at most two chances to refine a Spiritual Artifact. If you exceed two attempts, even if you succeed in refining one before next year, you will not have passed my test."
"Yes."
Only then did Fang Yun raise his head.
The test Xiong Xingfeng described was not difficult for him.
Unless the time limit was only three months and he was given only one chance to refine a Spiritual Artifact—that would have truly raised the difficulty of the test.
Whether looking at the difficulty of the test or the growth of his sect influence, it was clear that Xiong Xingfeng wanted to accept him as an apprentice.
Of course, the test was only "not difficult" for someone like him.