Chapter 150: Must Be Grand
Steward Cai, of course, didn’t make a special trip to inform Xiong Xingfeng that Fang Yun had successfully refined a Spiritual Artifact.
It would be better for Fang Yun to deliver this news to Xiong Xingfeng himself.
After leaving the rented Artifact Refining Room, Fang Yun quickly arrived at the entrance to Xiong Xingfeng’s cave residence.
Following the sign in front of the cave, Fang Yun knocked directly on the stone door.
The stone door slowly swung open.
Fang Yun had just stepped inside when, before he could speak, he heard Xiong Xingfeng’s voice.
"Ah, Fang Yun. What brings you here?"
"Elder Xiong, this is the Spiritual Artifact I refined."
As he spoke, Fang Yun, now standing before Xiong Xingfeng, took out the Profound Crystal Shield and presented it to him.
"I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!"
A smile finally broke across Xiong Xingfeng’s stoic face.
Fang Yun had succeeded far sooner than he had expected.
He had estimated that Fang Yun might be able to refine a Spiritual Artifact by June. If his luck was poor and he failed his first attempt, his second try would likely be around September.
These were the two outcomes Xiong Xingfeng had considered.
If Fang Yun had used up two sets of Spiritual Materials and still couldn’t produce a Spiritual Artifact, then he would have to admit he had completely misjudged the boy.
Xiong Xingfeng inspected the Profound Crystal Shield. This Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact was decently made—better, in fact, than the first one he himself had ever refined.
Of course, he wasn’t about to tell Fang Yun that.
During his inspection, he also noticed that the Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact had already been bound to an owner.
This seemed only natural to Xiong Xingfeng. When he had finished refining his own first Spiritual Artifact, he had been so excited that he’d bound it to himself immediately.
An Artifact Refiner’s first creation should be for their own use, not sold off for Spirit Stones.
"The combination of Spirit Patterns is a bit simple, and the fusion of some materials isn’t perfect, but it is a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact nonetheless." Xiong Xingfeng gave his brief assessment as he handed the Profound Crystal Shield back to Fang Yun.
Finally, he announced formally.
"Fang Yun, you have passed my test."
Hearing this, Fang Yun immediately understood what to do next.
He immediately put away the Profound Crystal Shield and prepared to perform the formal bow of a disciple to a master.
"Master, I—"
"Wait." Xiong Xingfeng used his Spiritual Power to lift Fang Yun before he could bow. "Now is not the time."
Fang Yun could only swallow the words he was about to say.
Fang Yun looked at Xiong Xingfeng, confused.
Xiong Xingfeng quickly explained.
"Ahem... this is your first time taking a master, after all. How could we not make it a grand occasion? Let’s hold the formal ceremony next month. I’ll make the proper arrangements."
Xiong Xingfeng’s words sounded a little strange to Fang Yun.
’What does he mean, *my* first time taking a master?’
You couldn’t just take multiple masters. According to the rules of the Cultivation Realm, a person could not have two formal masters simultaneously. Before accepting a second master, the first one had to have passed on and be no longer in this world.
But then, thinking about Xiong Xingfeng’s personality, Fang Yun quickly understood.
’This is *his* first time accepting a disciple. *He’s* the one who wants a grand ceremony.’
Honestly, Fang Yun didn’t really care. If this was what Xiong Xingfeng wanted, he would go along with it.
"Yes, Master." Fang Yun switched his form of address without hesitation.
"Mm."
Hearing Fang Yun call him "Master" felt immensely satisfying to Xiong Xingfeng.
"Tell me about your first experience refining a Spiritual Artifact."
"Yes, Master."
Fang Yun quickly recounted the process of refining the Spiritual Artifact, discussing many of the details with Xiong Xingfeng.
Xiong Xingfeng pointed out several issues in Fang Yun’s process. Correcting these would make refining Spiritual Artifacts much easier in the future.
Xiong Xingfeng was smiling throughout the entire conversation.
Xiong Xingfeng’s only regret was that Bai Heyan wasn’t in his cave residence at the moment.
If Bai Heyan had been there to hear Fang Yun call him "Master" and witness his expert guidance...
...his mood would have been even better.
"Master, I have a rather impudent request," Fang Yun said after Xiong Xingfeng finished his pointers.
"Speak."
"You once said, Master, that if my first attempt at refining a Spiritual Artifact failed, I could ask you for a set of Spiritual Materials. Could we perhaps consider my first attempt to have been a failure?"
It was, indeed, an impudent request.
Fang Yun wanted to refine another Spiritual Artifact.
"Of course. It’s a small matter." Xiong Xingfeng agreed without hesitation. "What Spiritual Materials do you need?"
"Ten pounds of essence refined from Lower-Grade Earth Yellow Stone."
This was something Fang Yun had planned for a while. The resulting Spiritual Artifact would be an upgraded version of his Yellow Iron Sword.
"Essence of Lower-Grade Earth Yellow Stone... I only have three pounds on hand right now. I’ll gather the rest for you within a month."
"Thank you, Master," Fang Yun said gratefully.
With his master Xiong Xingfeng’s guarantee, he would be able to start refining his second Spiritual Artifact next month.
...
「Late March.」
「Nightfall.」
Fang Yun was refining and absorbing an Upper-Grade Qi Enhancement Pill.
By the time he had completely refined and absorbed the pill, it was already the beginning of April.
The moment he opened his eyes,
Fang Yun immediately summoned his interface.
—
...
Detailed Study · Artifact Refining, Talent Points +146.
Guidance · Artifact Refining, Talent Points +58.
Refined Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact: Profound Crystal Shield x1, Talent Points +1562.
...
Sect Influence: 30%
Regional Influence: [Not Unlocked]
Talent Point Bonus: 210%
Total: Talent Points +11,033.
—
The more profound the knowledge he learned, the more Talent Points he could obtain.
In the "Study" category, Fang Yun had earned over a hundred Talent Points from Artifact Refining for two consecutive months.
The "Guidance" category only awarded Talent Points when he truly learned something, and he had clearly grasped a great deal from Xiong Xingfeng’s instruction on refining Spiritual Artifacts.
’The Talent Points I get from refining a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact are so much higher than what I got for an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact...’
Fang Yun remembered that the first time he refined an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact, he had only received around one hundred and sixty Talent Points.
As his skill in refining Upper-Grade Magical Artifacts improved, the corresponding Talent Points also increased, now netting him over two hundred.
’...at the initial stage of refining each, the difference in Talent Points is about tenfold.’
He was earning slightly more Talent Points from Artifact Refining than from Alchemy, and his Alchemy gains were mainly propped up by refining Upper-Grade Qi Enhancement Pills.
Looking at the final tally of Talent Points, Fang Yun felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
His Talent Point earnings had once again broken the ten-thousand mark.
Now that his Sect Influence had reached 30%, every settlement of Talent Points was more than triple the original amount. If he hadn’t joined the sect, his progress would have been incredibly slow by comparison.
’I have enough for eleven draws for Combat Talents now. Surely I’ll get at least two more Shield Talent fragments.’
With that thought, Fang Yun stared at the Talent Points on his interface and quickly navigated to the Combat Talent screen.
With a single thought,
the eleven draws for Combat Talents began. At the same time, his balance dropped to a mere 52 Talent Points—not even enough for a single draw in the Life Talent category.