Chapter 259: Chapter 236: A Change in the Rules (2)

"Last month, I saw groups traveling between the Celestial Demon Sect and the Stone Demon Sect..." Yang Yingjie recounted what he had seen in the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.

It was all thanks to the Upper-Grade Magical Artifact Fang Yun had refined for him. Its concealment effects could be stacked, allowing him to travel much more safely within the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.

After hearing Yang Yingjie’s account, Fang Yun grew even more certain of his conclusion.

"When the next war breaks out, it won’t be long before the Celestial Demon Sect forces all its vassal powers to make a move. Then, it will be another all-out war between them and us."

Historically, similar large-scale wars had occurred many times.

Apart from one instance that brought them to the brink of annihilation, the sect had successfully defended itself every other time.

The Celestial Cloud Sect suffered significant losses in every war. But as the aggressors, the Celestial Demon Sect’s losses were typically even greater. If the aid from the Demon Spirit Sect was substantial, however, their losses would be greatly reduced.

Whenever this happened, the Black Ghost Cave would make subtle moves from the shadows.

These moves might favor them or the Celestial Demon Sect; it all depended on the situation.

Aside from these subtle moves, the Black Ghost Cave mostly just watched from the sidelines. Once the war ended, their presence would become more pronounced, especially in places with the highest death tolls, which they might convert into Yin Lands.

As he listened to Fang Yun speak, Yang Yingjie said nothing, simply nodding in silence.

He had also read about these events from the sect’s history in various books.

He knew that what Fang Yun said was very likely to come true.

Yang Yingjie hoped to become a Sect Elder before the war broke out, which would allow him to do much more.

...

「At Artifact Casting Peak, inside the Artifact Pavilion.」

"I need to request Elder Fang specifically for the Artifact Refining task I’m posting."

"Apologies, Elder. The Artifact Pavilion currently does not allow you to specify a particular elder for Artifact Refining. All tasks must be assigned by Elder Xiong."

"In that case, I won’t post the task. Just report this situation to Elder Xiong."

"Yes, Elder."

The Steward nodded. Situations like this had occurred many times recently.

The Elders who needed Artifact Refining all hoped Elder Fang could be the one to do it for them.

In such cases, all he could do as a Steward was to compile the information and report it to Elder Xiong.

Whatever decision Elder Xiong made, or whatever opinions the other Elders had, was none of his business as a Steward.

The Elder watched the Steward finish making his note, nodded once, and then left.

His reason for doing so was, of course, because Elder Fang’s Artifact Refining techniques were excellent; he often exceeded the task’s requirements.

News had already spread among the Elders. For those who needed Artifact Refining, as long as the task they posted was completed by Fang Yun, it was possible that a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact meant to have one Spirit Pattern would end up with two.

An artifact with two Spirit Patterns might become one with three.

The fact that their submitted Spiritual Materials could yield an extra Spirit Pattern was undoubtedly the result of Elder Fang’s masterful and efficient use of the materials.

No Elder wanted the Spiritual Materials they had gathered to go to waste. They all wanted a better Spiritual Artifact.

Therefore, they felt the rules of Artifact Casting Peak needed a slight adjustment.

If enough Elders raised the issue, then as the Management Elder of Artifact Casting Peak, Xiong Xingfeng would have to change some of the rules.

But more than just changing the rules, getting to know Elder Fang and building a good relationship with him was the best-case scenario.

That way, they wouldn’t have to post a task at Artifact Casting Peak. They could just ask him to refine a Spiritual Artifact for them privately, which would also give them higher priority.

...

「In Xiong Xingfeng’s Grotto-Abode.」

Wei Tiexin had come to visit.

After some brief small talk, Xiong Xingfeng got straight to the point.

"Elder Wei, if you have something to say, just say it."

Wei Tiexin smiled. "Alright, I’ll be blunt. I’d like your disciple, Fang Yun, to refine an Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifact for me."

’Wei Tiexin wants an Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifact refined, but instead of asking me, the Management Elder of Artifact Casting Peak, he’s seeking out Fang Yun.’

After hearing this, Xiong Xingfeng wasn’t angry at all. On the contrary, he was quite pleased.

’With my disciple’s talent for Artifact Refining, surpassing me in the future will be a simple matter.’

"You’re getting ahead of yourself. I haven’t even let Fang Yun attempt to refine an Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifact yet, and you’re already seeking him out."

’Talent is one thing, but a solid foundation is another. The foundation for refining Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifacts is built upon mastering the refining of Middle-Grade ones.’

Xiong Xingfeng felt Fang Yun hadn’t refined enough Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifacts yet. Only after he had refined a sufficient quantity of them, and refined them well, could he move on to refining Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifacts more easily and with a lower chance of failure.

"Elder Wei, you must understand, my disciple has never failed in refining a Spiritual Artifact. I don’t want your request to be the one that breaks his perfect record."

That wouldn’t be a good thing.

Xiong Xingfeng felt there was a significant chance of failure if Fang Yun were to refine an Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifact right now. However, with his disciple’s talent, even if problems arose during the process, he could probably salvage something.

"Then I’ll leave it to you," Wei Tiexin could only say after hearing Xiong Xingfeng’s explanation.

"If you’re not in a hurry, you could wait another two or three years," Xiong Xingfeng suggested. "When the time comes, I’ll have my disciple prioritize refining an Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifact for you."

"Prioritize? Elder Xiong, that sounds a bit strange."

Xiong Xingfeng didn’t beat around the bush. "The rules on Artifact Casting Peak will have to change soon."

Over the past few months, he had received a great deal of feedback from the Elders via the Stewards at the Artifact Pavilion.

These Elders wished to specify a particular Artifact Refining Elder when they posted their tasks at the Artifact Pavilion.

And every single one of them wanted his prized disciple to be the one to do it.

’Where would Fang Yun find the time for all that?’

"Once the rules are changed, there will be a queue to have my disciple refine a Spiritual Artifact. It’ll be a good month if he can refine two."

Xiong Xingfeng knew that Fang Yun spent even more time on Alchemy than on Artifact Refining.

He had no issue with that.

Xiong Xingfeng was well aware that when Fang Yun refined Spirit Ascension Pills, he not only received payment for the pills themselves but also earned phased rewards just like the other Elders. If there weren’t appropriate rewards for refining Spirit Ascension Pills, he would consider his disciple’s focus on Alchemy a waste of time.

Under these circumstances, his disciple’s Alchemy was a way to acquire more resources for himself and speed up his Cultivation progress.

"Then it’s a deal."

Not giving Xiong Xingfeng a chance to back out, Wei Tiexin quickly agreed to the proposal.

...

「A fine spring in the third month.」

At the entrance of the Artifact Casting Peak’s main conference hall, Fang Yun appeared, having just finished his Cultivation.

Nearly two years had passed since he had killed the four Foundation Establishment Demons near the Shen Family’s ancestral lands, and it had been over four years since he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment.

"Since everyone is here, let’s begin the meeting."

The peak’s meetings weren’t held on a fixed schedule. They were convened whenever specific matters needed to be addressed.

Xiong Xingfeng always gave notice half a month before a meeting was convened.

Concerned that Fang Yun’s schedule might be difficult to arrange, Xiong Xingfeng had actually informed him a month in advance, then confirmed the specific date for the following month’s meeting based on his availability.

"This time, I want to discuss the matter of Artifact Refining tasks. We’re receiving more and more feedback from Elders who wish to specify which Elder refines the Spiritual Artifact they’ve commissioned. What are your thoughts on this?"

Xiong Xingfeng’s gaze fell primarily on the other two Artifact Refining Elders.

Rumors had already spread, so the two Artifact Refining Elders already had an idea of what this meeting would be about.

"Just as we Artifact Refiners hope to create better Spiritual Artifacts, it’s perfectly normal for the other Elders to want better Spiritual Artifacts," one of the Artifact Refining Elders said.

As he spoke, he glanced at Fang Yun, who was sitting nearby.

As fellow Artifact Refiners, they could do nothing about the enormous gap in talent between them and Fang Yun.

In his eyes, Fang Yun was a perfectionist when it came to the path of Artifact Refining, always striving to complete every task he accepted to an even higher standard.

Over time, it was only natural that the Elders would want to entrust their Artifact Refining tasks to Fang Yun.

But that didn’t mean they would no longer receive any Artifact Refining tasks. Fang Yun’s time was just as limited as theirs; his months weren’t getting any longer.

Elders who needed a Spiritual Artifact in a hurry would still choose them first.