Chapter 146

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Chapter 146: Sha Diao Artifact Crafting Shop

Half a month later, Xu Fan stepped out of the Time Chamber and saw Wang Yulun’s family, looking exhausted from their journey.

“What’s going on here?” Xu Fan asked, glancing at the unconscious Wang Yulun.

“He suddenly collapsed just before we reached Lin Sen Fairy City,” Wang Xiangchi explained.

“Big Brother Xu, what’s wrong with my husband?” Murong Qianer asked nervously. Seeing Xu Fan, she felt a bit calmer than before.

Xu Fan placed a hand glowing with green light gently on Wang Yulun’s forehead.

“The Poison of Desire has seeped deep into his soul,” Xu Fan said as he withdrew his hand. He had read about this poison in an ancient text; it could transform humans into a twisted form of the beast race, something akin to a nightmarish existence.

“How can we cure the Poison of Desire?” Murong Qianer asked urgently.

Wang Xiangchi also looked at Xu Fan, confident that his master could handle anything.

“This Poison of Desire is indeed tricky. We’ll figure it out once Xingci gets here,” Xu Fan said, having already asked Grape to summon Li Xingci.

“We need Xingci to examine your father’s soul and then pull him out of the deepest part of his dreams.”

Not long after, Li Xingci arrived at Xu Fan’s courtyard.

“Master, Auntie, Big Brother Wang,” Li Xingci greeted them one by one.

“What’s wrong with Uncle Wang?”

“There’s a minor issue with his soul. I need you to take a look and help wake him up,” Xu Fan instructed. Though he could handle it himself, he preferred to delegate when possible.

“Understood.”

Li Xingci lightly touched Wang Yulun’s forehead with his finger, and in an instant, he found himself in a world consumed by unchecked desires and chaos.

Everyone in this world was indulging their darkest impulses: some were gorging themselves on extravagant feasts, others were slaughtering everything in sight, while some were hoarding possessions or lost in carnal excess.

As Li Xingci walked through this realm of desire, the frenzied people seemed unaware of his presence. Deep within this world, he found Wang Yulun, who was being consumed by desire but still somewhat conscious.

Seeing Li Xingci, Wang Yulun sighed in relief. “It seems we’ve made it safely to the Hidden Spirit Sect.”

“Xingci, does Big Brother Xu think I can still be saved?” Wang Yulun asked.

“Master sent me to assess the situation. From what I can see, it’s not too bad.”

“I can handle the Poison of Desire affecting his mind, but the damage to his soul will need Master’s intervention.”

Li Xingci summoned an Other Shore Flower in his hand, which then turned into powder and scattered with the wind. Wherever the powder touched, the world of desire crumbled into dust.

The dust eventually gathered back into Li Xingci’s hand, forming six flowers of desire.

At that moment, Wang Yulun, lying on the bed, slowly opened his eyes.

“Big Brother Xu, I thought I’d never see you again,” Wang Yulun said with relief.

“Don’t worry. As long as you’re still breathing, I’ll find a way to save you,” Xu Fan replied with a smile. He’d rather get hurt himself than let anything happen to his sworn brother.

Li Xingci then opened his eyes and said, “Master, I’m not confident about the damage to his soul. That’s something only you can handle.”

“No problem. Once I reach the Golden Core Stage, a single Thousand Soul Pill will fix it,” Xu Fan assured him. Soul injuries could be treated with spirit pills, though individual treatments sometimes had complications.

The Thousand Soul Pill was a high-level spirit pill that only master alchemists could refine. It could cleanse soul poisons and nourish the soul, often resolving soul-related injuries with just one pill.

“For now, rest at the Hidden Spirit Sect. Take walks in the garden or go fishing. I’ll have Pang Fu try to acquire a Thousand Soul Pill. If he can’t find one, wait 15 years until I reach the Golden Core Stage and refine it myself,” Xu Fan said.

“Hm, it can only be this way,” Wang Yulun said weakly.

“Don’t be so down. While you can’t cultivate during this time, read more books and work on your heart cultivation. It’ll make advancing to the Nascent Soul stage easier later,” Xu Fan said with a smile, patting Wang Yulun’s shoulder.

After everyone shared a meal in the courtyard, Xu Fan received the rebate gift he’d been longing for.

In the dojo, Xu Fan looked at his three disciples and nodded in satisfaction.

“Wang Xiangchi, seeing how much you’ve improved, I won’t hold it against you for staying away so long.”

“Your cultivation hasn’t progressed in years; you should’ve come to me. Have you forgotten I’m still your master?” Xu Fan continued.

Wang Xiangchi lowered his head, relieved that he wasn’t scolded.

“Since you’ve been gone so long, meet my new disciple, Li Xuandao. You two should get to know each other.”

After speaking, Xu Fan left the dojo and went into seclusion.

……………..

At the border of Moliang State, countless giant spears made of Ice appeared in the sky, pinning down hundreds of fleeing beasts.

Several Nascent Soul Stage wolf demons were pierced through the head by armor-piercing rounds.

Dozens of wooden spears infused with Ice energy struck the remaining stragglers with precision.

When the battle ended, Xu Gang appeared from the air, looking uneasy. “Why leave the bodies intact? It’s not like we need to stop the blood energy from spreading.”

“There’s a reason for it. If you’re curious, ask when we get back,” Xu Yuexian’s voice chimed in.

Just then, a swift figure appeared beside Xu Gang, swinging a sword. Xu Gang’s head was severed, and blood gushed from his neck.

As the cat demon swung its sword, gunfire rang out. The moment Xu Gang’s head hit the ground, the cat demon fell dead.

Xu Yuexian appeared, looking at her brother’s severed head. “Big brother, your true form is incredibly lifelike.”

At that moment, Xu Gang’s body vanished, and the Five Elements of Spiritual Energy gathered once more, reforming his figure.

“All thanks to Master’s teachings.”

“Only now, in the heat of battle, do I realize how true Master’s words were,” Xu Gang said with a smile, suddenly missing his master.

“Haha, Master’s never wrong. But I have to admit, I’m a little jealous of the substitute technique he taught you. That Unlimited Avatar is unbeatable in the same realm,” Xu Yuexian said enviously.

“This is just an illusion. It’s nothing compared to the Illusory Three Realms Body Master taught you. In the end, you’ll have three true forms,” Xu Gang replied.

As they chatted, they collected the beast corpses into their space rings.

At the main camp of the Moliang State defense line, in the points exchange center, the on-duty Nascent Soul Stage cultivator announced, “2,410 Golden Core Stage beast corpses and 154 Nascent Soul Stage puppets, totaling 3,950 points.”

After exchanging their points, the two walked through the camp’s commercial street.

“Big brother, what are you planning to exchange these points for?” Xu Yuexian asked.

“I’ve already decided. I want to get Master a gift. I saw a treasure containing celestial scripts in the artifact master section of the exchange list.”

“It costs 10 million points. If we work hard, we might be able to gather enough before the beast race in Xiangzhou is dealt with.”

“I’ve heard celestial scripts are needed for refining weapons. I wonder if Master has any.”

“I didn’t have much when I left. Master gave me all my techniques and powers. This time, I want to show my gratitude,” Xu Gang said, his voice filled with sincerity.

After being brought back to Que Tian Gate by Xu Fan, everything he had was provided by Xu Fan.

“I’m with you, big brother, but I think besides exchanging for celestial scripts, we should also get a Tian Ji Spirit Pill.”

“I can’t make sense of the technique Master practices, but seeing him on the brink of death last time really scared me.”

“So, having a Tian Ji Spirit Pill that can extend life and heal all injuries would give Master some peace of mind during his next breakthrough.”

“It’ll cost 3 million points to exchange,” Xu Yuexian said.

“Alright, let’s add that to the list,” Xu Gang nodded.

“Let’s go check on our younger brother Qian Lian, and then we’ll head deeper into the borderlands. The strongest beings there are at the Transformation Stage. I’ll handle things openly while you stay in the shadows; it’ll be no trouble at all,” Xu Gang continued.

“Sounds good.”

The two arrived at a rather secluded area, where there was a Qian Lian artifact crafting shop that specialized in custom precious artifacts, up to fourth-grade.

Just as they were about to step into the Qian Lian artifact crafting shop, Xu Yuexian noticed another crafting shop across the street, offering the same services, and, most importantly, accepting custom orders for fifth-grade precious artifacts.

“Big brother, do you remember Master has a friend named Sha Diao?” Xu Yuexian asked.

“Yeah, he gave me a bunch of little trinkets back then.”

Xu Gang turned around and spotted Sha Diao’s artifact crafting shop.

“Let’s see if it’s our Master Uncle Sha,” Xu Gang said.

At that moment, Sha Diao, who had no customers in his shop, was brainstorming ideas for his first weapon.

“It’s been over ten years; I wonder how Junior Brother Xu is doing. Has he reached Foundation Establishment? Has he kept up with his artifact crafting?” Sha Diao sighed.

Ever since Que Tian Gate was overrun by the beast race over a decade ago, he had stayed behind with his master to help cultivators who came to slay demons, crafting precious artifacts for a modest fee just to get by.

His master was invited away by the Heavenly Artifact Sect four years ago, leaving him alone in this small shop. Luckily, not long ago, a junior from the Heavenly Artifact Sect opened a shop across the street, so they could chat whenever they wanted.

Now, he passed all orders for precious artifacts below fifth-grade to the shop across the street; once swamped with work, he now enjoyed his free time.

Just then, two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators entered the shop.

“This shop doesn’t take orders for precious artifacts below fifth-grade,” Sha Diao said lightly.

At that moment, Xu Gang and Xu Yuexian removed their masks.

“You are…?”

“Xu Gang and Yuexian!” Sha Diao exclaimed in surprise; he recognized Xu Fan’s disciples.

“Greetings, Master Uncle Sha,” the two said with a bow.

“Haha, what ‘Master Uncle Sha’? Now I should be calling you seniors.”

“How’s your master doing?” Sha Diao asked cheerfully.

“Master’s doing well, though he sometimes mentions you, Master Uncle Sha,” Xu Gang replied.