Chen Ye was skeptical about her heartbreak: "Master often bathes, when did he stop getting clean?"
Qing Jun grumbled, "Qing Jun didn’t see it, so it doesn’t count! If Master wants to prove he loves cleanliness, he has to bathe with Qing Jun! Master’s so bad! He never helped his disciple bathe!"
The thought of splashing water with Master in the pool filled Qing Jun with anticipation, her big eyes shimmered as she gazed at Master.
Alright.
This little rascal even knows how to provoke.
Chen Ye immediately knocked her on the head: "You’re already grown up, still need Master to help you bathe!"
"Wah..."
After taking a bump on the head, Qing Jun tucked her head in, no longer daring to mumble.
Damn Master!
Always resorting to domestic violence!
The little girl felt as if the seeds of hatred were already planted in her heart.
Sooner or later, she’ll make Master regret!
Hm, smelly Master, refusing to help her bathe, huh!
From now on, she’ll be the one to bathe Master!
...
A return to a familiar place.
Chen Ye arrived at the Artifact Refining Shop, full of emotions.
The last time he came here, it was Hee Qi who introduced him.
But now, Hee Qi was missing, leaving only his daughter for Chen Ye to care for.
"Senior Gu."
Chen Ye bowed and placed the Hundred Herbs Cauldron and a dark iron sword side by side on the counter.
The old man glanced up briefly, not stopping the iron hammer in his hand: "Did you bring the Cyan Yang Warm Jade? You must be here to repair the Hundred Herbs Furnace this time."
When repairing the iron sword last time, Master Gu mentioned that repairing the Hundred Herbs Furnace wasn’t difficult, just missing a Spiritual Material called Cyan Yang Warm Jade.
Luckily,
Within Songyang Cave Heaven, Chen Ye fortunately obtained Cyan Yang Warm Jade.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t found the time, but now he could conveniently repair the cauldron while visiting Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
Chen Ye flipped his palm to take out a brocade box, and upon opening the lid, a brilliant bluish glow flowed out.
Inside lay half a dove egg-sized jade stone, warm as spring water, with natural patterns on the surface resembling a coiled dragon.
It was exactly the Second Tier Spiritual Material Cyan Yang Warm Jade!
Master Gu’s eyes shone, and he grabbed the jade stone to caress it, marveling:
"You really found this jade, not bad, luck must be on your side. This jade is rare; the last appearance at Moon Rhinoceros Lake District was a hundred years ago."
"What reward does Master require?" Chen Ye bluntly asked.
"The Hundred Herbs Furnace is a Second Tier Magical Treasure. If fully restored, it should be Middle Grade, and being a rare Pill Furnace, it’s truly a precious rarity!"
The old man said a lot, clearly raising the price, before finally smiling and saying,
"Five hundred Spirit Stones, isn’t it worth it for a Second Tier Middle Grade Pill Furnace?"
Chen Ye was startled; he was just repairing, plus he had all the materials prepared, yet it demanded a high price of five hundred Spirit Stones...
He paused and knocked on the iron sword again: "Then, if I want this sword to be reforged as a Second Tier Magical Treasure, what would the cost be?"
"Oh? You’re still using this sword?"
Master Gu was slightly surprised, looking Chen Ye up and down. He recalled Chen Ye’s last visit also asking him to reforge the iron sword.
But Chen Ye used the iron sword not just out of sentiment.
One reason was training in the Heavy Body Technique, two, the iron sword, being a heavy sword, matched him well.
He specialized in Flying Sword Technique, conveniently had powerful Divine Sense, enabling him to wield the heavy sword at high speeds, its power far surpassing the ordinary Light Spirit Flying Sword.
Chen Ye didn’t explain much, just sighed: "During my moments of insignificance, this sword was my companion, really hard to part with."
Master Gu hesitated for a moment, pondering:
"I’m good at repairing Magical Treasures, but less experienced in forging them. However, this sword’s structure is simple, it’s worth a try."
He flicked a finger toward the sword’s ridge, secretly assessing.
Finally, he said:
"The sword contains eighty Sinking Gold coins, weighing around four hundred pounds. Now that you’re in Foundation Establishment, you might as well add two hundred more coins to serve as the sword’s core. Sinking Gold costs four hundred Spirit Stones! Plus, using one Second Tier Spiritual Material as the main ingredient, Sealing Spirit Stone suits your heavy sword best, priced at one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones. These are just the costs... I’ll charge you two thousand Spirit Stones!"
Good heavens.
Turns out the reforging of the iron sword costs far more than the Hundred Herbs Furnace.
Yet it made sense.
The Hundred Herbs Furnace was just repairing; moreover, the Cyan Yang Warm Jade, worth thousands of Spirit Stones, was provided by Chen Ye.
Whereas now the iron sword was to be directly crafted into a Magical Treasure, basically equivalent to custom-ordering a Second Tier Flying Sword Magical Treasure, the price naturally high.
But Chen Ye still had twelve thousand Spirit Stones left, able to afford it.
Spirit Stones are meant to be spent!
He even thought they were too cheap.
If forging, forge the top-notch one, lest in the future there’s a need to reforge again.
Thinking of this, Chen Ye asked: "What exactly is this Sealing Spirit Stone?"
Master Gu, thinking about the large influx of Spirit Stones and practicing the crafting of Magical Treasures, smiled happily:
"Sealing Spirit Stone, the name sounds appealing. In truth, it’s merely the stone skin of a Top Grade Spirit Stone! But it has amazing effects, somewhat isolates Spiritual Power, slightly breakable magic. Of course, very slightly. Paired with your iron sword, it’s all about brute force bricks flying."
Chen Ye was quite tempted, pondering.
But in Master Gu’s eyes, he thought Chen Ye wanted to haggle.
Thus, somewhat displeased: "Hmph! I used to be the chief Artifact Refining Master at Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, would I greed for your Spirit Stones? Either craft it or don’t, I don’t lack your little Spirit Stones!"
This old man... claiming he doesn’t lack, yet his eyes gleaming with greed.
Chen Ye silently criticized but wanted to connect with Master Gu, humbly smiled:
"Senior misunderstood, I was thinking, can I add more Spirit Stones to make it as good as possible?"
This statement surprised Master Gu.
But the problem was... he couldn’t make a better one?
He was just a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, at best making a common Second Tier Lower Grade Magical Treasure.
"This..."
The old man was instantly caught up in a dilemma.
Earlier he acted grandly, now how could he lower his face to admit incapability?
Chen Ye observed and understood a bit.
He knew Master Gu’s limited abilities, but was contemplating the Spirit Treasure Sect behind him, wanting to test it out.
Master Gu had been a cultivator at the Spirit Treasure Sect; though he exited the sect now, most of his connections remained.
Chen Ye hesitated and said: "If it’s not possible, I might seek other Artifact Refiners..."
He said this but didn’t really want to find someone else.
Moon Rhinoceros Lake District had very few capable of crafting Magical Treasures, their levels not great.
Those with high expertise were long in the Spirit Treasure Sect, catering to people who sought treasures, why stay behind in Moon Rhinoceros Lake District?
Among the remaining cultivators, only Master Gu was from an authentic Artifact Refining sect, not only reliable in quality but also upright in character, never leaving hidden defects.
The others simply couldn’t compare.
"Hmph! Trying to provoke again? Besides me, would you really seek that Artifact Refiner from the He Family? He just luckily received an incomplete inheritance."
The old man snorted, shaking his head, steadfastly saying,
"Fine. Soon, I’ll have an old friend come to Moon Rhinoceros Lake District to repair the Grand Array. I’ll invite him to help, and we can craft together!"
Chen Ye was overjoyed, bowing deeply: "Thank you, Senior Gu!"
"Heh... Since inviting him, fees are naturally high. You better prepare plenty of Spirit Stones. At least, have five thousand Spirit Stones ready!"
Master Gu coldly laughed, gesturing with his hand.
He hardly believed a new Foundation Establishment cultivator had so much Spirit Stones.
Chen Ye understood, it was a credit check.
Immediately handing Master Gu a Storage Bag.
Master Gu saw his straightforwardness, suspiciously opened the Storage Bag to take a look.
Inside, it was piled with shiny Spirit Stones, roughly counted, several thousand!
No wonder one dares to boast...
He was momentarily speechless, only reluctantly returning the Storage Bag after a pause.
With a bitter face:
"Fine, it seems you’re planning to craft a Second Tier Upper Grade Magical Treasure... But though magical treasures are good, if one’s virtue doesn’t match, it might bring calamity."
These words weren’t pleasant, but they were for Chen Ye’s benefit.
Chen Ye knew gratitude, respectfully bowing: "I understand, thanks for Senior’s advice."
His two visits were always polite and humble.
Not due to reaching Foundation Establishment, did he change his attitude.
This made Master Gu look at him differently, thinking to himself:
"This person has an excellent temperament, even though I’m just a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, he treats me with respect, calling me senior every time. Fine, this time I’ll put extra thought into it, and along with my friend, craft well..."