Chapter 1060

Chapter 1060: The Cocoon Waiting to Transform into a Butterfly

On the giant lake outside the Hidden Spirit Sect, a small boat drifted with the wind.

Xu Fan and avatar number one sat in the boat, the tea in their cups emitting a wisp of steam, filling the air with its fragrance.

“Main body, in such a beautiful scene, would it ruin the mood if I said I wanted to go to the city for the Great Sword?” avatar number one hesitated for a long time before speaking.

“Yes, but not too much,” Xu Fan replied lightly, looking at the distant surface of the lake.

Just then, huge waves surged up in the giant lake.

A mountain-like Transformation God-level giant turtle surfaced, bowing respectfully to Xu Fan with a low roar.

“It hasn’t been easy; you’ve finally reached the Quasi-Immortal level,” Xu Fan said, looking at the giant turtle that had been with the sect since its establishment.

The giant turtle originally had terrible talent, and reaching the Transformation Stage was already her limit.

Over the years, due to Xu Fan’s recognition of her contributions, he had pushed her from the Transformation Stage to the Great Ascension stage, after which she fell into a deep sleep to gather energy for the breakthrough to Quasi-Immortal.

“Woo~”

The giant turtle made a low sound, expressing her gratitude to Xu Fan.

Seeing the giant turtle break through to the Quasi-Immortal level, which marked her unstable state, Xu Fan sent a strand of spiritual light into her forehead.

Then, the mountain-like Transformation God-level giant turtle sank back to the lakebed, falling into a deep slumber.

“Turtle Mother just woke up not long ago; you should at least let her move around a bit before enlightening her,” avatar number one said with a smile.

“What’s the point of moving? It’s just walking around the lakebed before falling back into a deep sleep,” Xu Fan replied gently as he took a sip of the Immortal tea on the table.

“Right now, there aren’t any major matters in the sect, so you can take a break.”

“When nothing is happening, just refine a few interesting celestial tools to put into the treasure vault,” Xu Fan added lightly.

Avatar number one was taken aback. What could possibly make Xu Fan change his demeanor?

“Main body, if something is on your mind, just say it. It feels like we haven’t synchronized in years; it feels strange,” avatar number one probed.

“Of course, besides these, there are other tasks as well.”

“You specialize in artifact crafting, so I want to entrust you with a task. No rush, just take your time to study it when you’re free.”

Upon hearing Xu Fan’s words, avatar number one wore a knowing expression.

“Create a secret technique that allows master craftsmen to become great masters,” Xu Fan said.

“A secret technique for master craftsmen to advance to great masters? It’s alright for a temporary promotion to artifact great master for refining celestial tools.”

“However, to become a great master in a stable and lasting manner, that could be a bit difficult; it might require the Xuanhuang aura,” avatar number one mused for a moment.

“If you want the temporary promotion to the artifact great master secret technique, grant me fifty million Immortal Jade. I can figure it out in three months at Star Moon City,” avatar number one promised, patting his chest.

Hearing fifty million Immortal Jade, Xu Fan frowned.

“Let’s go with Grape instead; even though it might not be as sophisticated as your secret technique derivation, it’s practical and saves money.”

“Thirty million Immortal Jade; when Number Two returns, I’ll drag him to work hard, giving him no time to rest,” avatar number one hurriedly said.

“It’s practical and saves money~” Xu Fan continued.

“Twenty million Immortal Jade, can’t go any lower~”

“Any less would tarnish my reputation as an artifact great master~” Avatar Number One pleaded pitifully.

“And it’s a bargain~”

“One million Immortal Jade, take it or leave it~”

“Deal~” Xu Fan chuckled.

“Main body, I know exactly how much we’ve got stashed away.”

“You’re really being stingy with me,” Avatar Number One lamented.

“Save where you can, spend where you must~”

Just then, a streak of light flashed across the sky.

Pang Fu appeared on the lake’s surface nearby, standing on the water as he bowed to Xu Fan.

“Greetings, Grand Elder~” Pang Fu said.

“No need for formalities~” Xu Fan waved his hand casually.

The small boat they were on instantly transformed into a Celestial Boat over thirty yards long.

“So, what’s the outcome~” Xu Fan asked with concern.

After securing half of the Golden Winged Roc Clan’s treasury from the Hidden Spirit Sect, Xu Fan had tasked Pang Fu with using Xuanhuang aura to buy Time Treasures from various cross-border merchant associations.

“The results aren’t great. The taxes for crossing the Immortal Realm are sky-high, and even with Xuanhuang aura, the prices are outrageous.”

“On top of that, the delivery involves a straight shot across the Immortal Realm, with lead times stretching thousands of years, and they demand an eighty percent deposit upfront.”

“The worst part is, if something goes wrong during transit, the deposit is non-refundable, and we’re stuck with the losses,” Pang Fu explained, clearly frustrated.

“Is that the deal with the Tianding Merchant Association?” Xu Fan asked, frowning.

“They guarantee delivery to the Wood Origin Immortal Realm, but the price is nine times the market rate.”

“And the minimum order is fifty crystals of Xuanhuang aura’s worth of Time Treasures.”

After hearing Pang Fu’s report, Xu Fan gave up on the idea of buying Time Treasures altogether.

“Forget it. Once the Immortal Hidden Ship returns, we’ll just go collect them ourselves from the upper realms,” Xu Fan declared.

After Pang Fu left, Xu Fan and Avatar Number One continued sipping tea.

“Main body, if you’re that impatient, why not just raid outside human territory?”

“The human race is already at odds with half the races in the Wood Origin Immortal Realm anyway. No guilt involved,” Avatar Number One suggested.

“You think I haven’t thought of that? But the karma from that would be too much. Not worth the risk,” Xu Fan replied, glancing toward the direction of the Saint Moon Tribe.

Recently, he’d received a report from Grape about the Saint Moon Tribe.

Their treasure vault had been looted, their holy city destroyed by the Golden Winged Roc Clan, and ten of their top-tier Golden Immortals had been wiped out.

The two Great Luo of the Saint Moon Tribe, now without their sacred artifact, had their fighting strength severely diminished. They were ambushed by the Wood Thunder Saint and other human Great Luo.

One was critically injured and fell into a deep slumber, while the other wasn’t faring much better.

Upon returning to the tribe, the surviving Great Luo immediately decided to lead their people northward, to the barren lands of the Wood Origin Immortal Realm, where only a few minor races eked out a living.

This seemingly mundane news caught Xu Fan’s attention, and soon he felt a crushing weight of karma pressing down on him.

Xu Fan used a fragment of the sacred artifact from Saint Moon Bay to divine the future of the Saint Moon Tribe.

What he saw left him uneasy.

Though the Saint Moon Tribe was weak now, their unity as a race had never been stronger.

The remaining members were biding their time, enduring hardships while secretly developing in a remote corner of the Immortal Realm.

Like a pack of wounded wolves, they lay low, licking their wounds and waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

Through the fragments of Saint Moon Bay, Xu Fan saw the Saint Moon Tribe as a cocoon on the verge of transformation.

Given the right opportunity, they could emerge as one of the top powerful families in the Wood Origin Immortal Realm.

And once a race produces a quasi-saint, everything changes. All the underhanded deeds Xu Fan had committed against them would be laid bare before that quasi-saint.