Chapter 144: Verifying the Prediction
For a cultivator with normal talent in Artifact Refining, this test would be far too difficult.
After all, Fang Yun had only recently broken through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.
Normally, a test like this would require the participant’s cultivation to be at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.
"Consider the eighteen catties of Lower Grade Profound Crystal from before to be the Spiritual Materials for your test." As he spoke, Xiong Xingfeng waved his hand. Five hundred and forty Lower Grade Spirit Stones flew from his Storage Pouch and landed in front of Fang Yun. "If you fail to refine a Spiritual Artifact with these Spiritual Materials, you can come back to me for one more set."
"Thank you, Elder!"
Fang Yun expressed his thanks and put away the Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
He hadn’t had many Spirit Stones to begin with; after paying for the crystals, he had been left with less than three hundred. Now, his count was back over eight hundred.
"I will dedicate myself to my studies and refine the Spiritual Artifact with just one set of Spiritual Materials."
"Mm, it’s good that you have such resolve."
Xiong Xingfeng nodded, his expression remaining impassive.
"If there’s nothing else, you are dismissed."
"Yes, Elder."
After giving a respectful farewell bow, Fang Yun left Xiong Xingfeng’s abode.
As far as he was concerned, the Spiritual Materials he now possessed were enough to refine a Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact.
But he couldn’t start refining just yet.
Before he could begin refining a Spiritual Artifact, he had to thoroughly master the *Spirit Pattern Compendium*.
In the meantime, he could also gather more auxiliary materials and read more books on Artifact Refining.
He didn’t plan on withdrawing the request he had posted at the Task Hall, either.
He wasn’t going to refine just one Spiritual Artifact, so it was always a good idea to collect more materials. He wasn’t in a hurry for his Task Hall request to be fulfilled.
He would be fine as long as someone accepted his request within the next two years.
After leaving Elder Xiong’s abode, Fang Yun prepared to go back and focus on raising his cultivation.
He had to achieve his goal of breaking through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining before the end of the year.
Fang Yun didn’t know that the moment he left, Xiong Xingfeng, whose expression had been impassive, broke into a wide smile on his lightly-tanned face.
The fact that Fang Yun, even after hearing the test, had declared he would try to succeed with just one set of Spiritual Materials, made Xiong Xingfeng even more satisfied with him.
「Not long after.」
Xiong Xingfeng shot out of his abode, flying directly toward Dan Cloud Peak.
Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Level could fly by relying on their own formidable Spiritual Power.
Within the abode of Bai Heyan, the Management Elder of Dan Cloud Peak.
Xiong Xingfeng had already appeared here.
"Well, if it isn’t Elder Xiong. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Bai Heyan was surprised to see Xiong Xingfeng, so much so that he used the man’s formal title.
The reason he was so formal was that, for once, Xiong Xingfeng hadn’t come to see him with his usual sour expression.
"I came today to tell you something."
"What is it?" Bai Heyan asked immediately, gesturing for Xiong Xingfeng to take a seat.
’For Xiong Xingfeng to make a special trip—and with a pleasant look on his face, no less—this news must be worth hearing.’
’After all, Xiong Xingfeng usually claimed that visiting him was a waste of time.’
"Fang Yun came begging me to take him as my disciple," Xiong Xingfeng said, enunciating each word.
Hearing this, Bai Heyan stared at Xiong Xingfeng in disbelief.
"What’s with that look?"
"I believe that Fang Yun would want to become your disciple. But there’s no way he would *beg* you to take him."
Bai Heyan’s disbelief that Fang Yun would do such a thing was secondary.
The primary reason was his understanding of Xiong Xingfeng.
But today, Bai Heyan decided not to call out his old friend on his little game.
"That boy, Fang Yun, hasn’t even formally become my disciple yet. Why would he go begging you to take him?"
"You are you, and I am I. How can we be the same?" Xiong Xingfeng retorted.
Before Bai Heyan could reply, Xiong Xingfeng added a crucial detail, trying to make his story more believable.
"And another thing—Fang Yun begged me to be his master, but I haven’t agreed. If he can’t pass my test, I won’t accept him as my disciple."
"You actually gave Fang Yun a test..."
At this point, even Bai Heyan found Xiong Xingfeng’s behavior rather baffling.
"Weren’t Fang Yun’s past achievements enough?"
"That’s why I say, you are you, and I am I. It might be enough for you, but it’s not enough for me. He needs to pass my test," Xiong Xingfeng said, emphasizing how different he was from Bai Heyan.
The difference being that he was stricter than Bai Heyan, and by extension, operated on a higher level.
"Alright, I’ll let you have this one." Bai Heyan smiled, feigning indifference. "By the way, Old Ghost Xiong, what was the test you gave Fang Yun?"
"To refine a Spiritual Artifact by the end of the year," Xiong Xingfeng replied.
"That test doesn’t sound too difficult."
"What do you know about Spiritual Artifacts?" Xiong Xingfeng shot Bai Heyan a glare.
"I wasn’t finished. The test isn’t difficult *for Fang Yun*. I may not understand Artifact Refining, but I understand Fang Yun. His performance in the Inner Sect competition was spectacular. Judging by his use of a top-tier Upper Grade Magical Artifact, he should already be qualified to start refining Spiritual Artifacts, shouldn’t he?"
At this, Bai Heyan gave a faint smile.
"I’ve got to say, Old Ghost Xiong, it seems you’ve been paying special attention to that boy Fang Yun yourself. You clearly know all about his performance in the Inner Sect competition, which must be why you gave him this particular test."
Xiong Xingfeng didn’t deny it. What Bai Heyan said was indeed part of his reasoning.
He simply retorted:
"You’re no different when it comes to Fang Yun."
’He had watched Fang Yun’s performance in the Inner Sect competition, and so had Bai Heyan. And yet, Fang Yun had chosen to seek him out as a master.’
’Didn’t that just show the difference between the two of them?’
"I’m different." Bai Heyan shook his head and explained, "My grandniece told me all of this."
"I bet you asked her yourself," Xiong Xingfeng said, unconvinced.
"Just think about it. Fang Yun managed to fight my Qin Ying to a standstill before his Spiritual Power ran out. Is it possible she *wouldn’t* have come and told me all about his performance?"
Bai Qinying was his grandniece, and as his old friend, Xiong Xingfeng knew her quite well.
Anyone who knew Bai Qinying would know she would definitely tell her granduncle about such a thing.
"Even if Qin Ying did tell you, the fact remains that Fang Yun chose to seek *me* out as his master. This just proves what I said before: when Fang Yun was ready to start refining Spiritual Artifacts, he would inevitably come looking for me."
Xiong Xingfeng had also come over this time to prove he had been right all along.
He was here to tell Bai Heyan that everything had happened exactly as he’d predicted.
"Fine, fine, I get it." Bai Heyan nodded, then asked, "So, Old Ghost Xiong, when are you planning to leave?"
"I have some time now. I figured I’d chat with you for a bit."
"Hahaha! Now that’s more like it."