Chapter 189
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Chapter 189: Sha Diao’s Path of Artifact Crafting
When Sha Diao presented the ten pairs of wind wings designed for the Heavenly Power Spiritual Boat, Xu Fan couldn’t help but sigh.
“Master Sha, while the Heavenly Power Spiritual Boat is indeed an Artifact-level treasure, it’s only really useful near the shores of the Endless Sea. If you run into even a modest beast tide, it’s going to fall apart.”
“It’s too risky and not very practical.”
“That said, it’s unstoppable on the Ten Thousand-Mile Giant Lake,” Xu Fan commented.
“I know. With my current skills, it’ll take who knows how many years to reach the level of a master craftsman.”
“I can’t craft something like the Floating Sky Ship anytime soon. For now, this is all I can manage to satisfy my itch,” Sha Diao said with a sigh.
Seeing the hint of gloom in Sha Diao’s eyes, Xu Fan was reminded of their first meeting.
Back then, Sha Diao was full of ambition, the future star of artifact crafting at Que Tian Gate, someone who truly believed he’d become a master craftsman one day.
“Brother Sha, has something been bothering you lately?” Xu Fan asked. There weren’t many things that could bring a man down—his career or his love life.
“For the past ten years or so, I’ve hit a wall in my artifact crafting.”
“It feels like the road to becoming a master craftsman is covered in a thick fog I can’t see through.”
“My master went through the same thing. He told me that if an artifact master stays stuck like this for a hundred years, their chances of becoming a master craftsman are pretty much gone.”
“It’s been almost 20 years now,” Sha Diao admitted.
Xu Fan gave Sha Diao’s shoulder a firm pat.
“Master Sha, I think you’ve got it wrong.”
“Your path to becoming a master craftsman isn’t blocked by fog—you’ve just lost your way.”
Xu Fan pulled out a piece of spirit iron alloy and a jade slip.
“I can’t show you the future, but maybe I can give you a nudge in the right direction.”
He handed the spirit iron alloy and the jade slip to Sha Diao.
“Think about the outer wall of our old Floating Sky Ship,” Xu Fan said before leaving the Artifact Crafting Peak.
Sha Diao stared at the spirit iron alloy, then examined the jade slip.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a newfound energy, and his entire demeanor shifted.
“My path to becoming a master craftsman isn’t over—I’ve just been lost.”
As Xu Fan flew through the air, he glanced back at the Artifact Crafting Peak.
“I wonder if my rambling actually helped Brother Sha,” he mused.
Xu Fan had never really understood the concept of a bottleneck.
What even is this? Can you eat it?
The only thing holding him back right now was his damn cultivation level.
“Master, the 300 Golden Core cultivators from the Outer Sect are ready,” Grape reported.
“Good. Let’s stick to the plan. Give them a morale boost with some rewards, then hand out the long-term tasks,” Xu Fan instructed.
“Understood.”
“Master, Pang Fu has returned to the Hidden Spirit Sect.”
“Finally here,” Xu Fan said with excitement.
In Xu Fan’s courtyard, a few small dishes and a small jar of spirit wine were set on the table as the two men sat facing each other.
Xu Fan looked at the still chubby Pang Fu and smiled, asking, “When will Chief Pang advance to the Nascent Soul stage?”
At this point, Pang Fu’s cultivation had reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage, just one step away from advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.
“No rush. Advancing to the Nascent Soul stage is the most critical period in the business world; I need to build a solid foundation,” Pang Fu replied with a smile.
“True, after all, your trade is tied to the heavenly way of this realm,” Xu Fan said. Although he hadn’t directly engaged in the business world, he had some understanding of its advancement model.
“If you need any help in the future, just say the word; you’re not an outsider.”
“Haha, thank you, Elder Xu,” Pang Fu said with a wide grin.
Pang Fu pulled out a large space ring and handed it to Xu Fan.
“Grand Elder, these are the items you asked me to procure,” Pang Fu said, a bit reluctantly, as this purchase had drained a significant portion of the Hidden Spirit Commerce’s resources.
“Don’t worry about it. Our Hidden Spirit Sect’s foundation is still weak, and some things are necessary,” Xu Fan reassured him.
“I understand. The Grand Elder has advanced to master craftsman and needs to craft a few tools to secure the sect.”
Pang Fu understood but regretted that the best profits from his collaboration with several trade associations were now out of reach.
“Haha, as long as you understand. It’s tough to lose 80% of the spirit stones all at once, but I’m in a tight spot too.”
“Just wait; when I have time, I’ll craft a few tools for you to sell.”
Hearing this, Pang Fu’s eyes lit up. If he really had a few tools to sell, he’d be a major player in the commercial circles.
“Really?”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Xu Fan replied, glancing at Pang Fu. After crafting 12 Giant Shields from the Titanium Spirit Ore, there would still be plenty left. He planned to make a few traditional defensive tools for Pang Fu to sell.
As they nibbled on the dishes, Xu Fan and Pang Fu discussed the future.
Xu Fan’s plans for the future deeply captivated Pang Fu, especially the idea of trading with various middle thousand worlds and the vast thousand worlds after crafting the Universe Ship. It left Pang Fu in awe.
Though Pang Fu knew Xu Fan was exaggerating, it was a boast he had never even dared to imagine.
“Pang Fu, follow me, and I’ll make you the first cultivator to ascend through commerce in the past ten thousand years.”
“Even if I ascend to the vast thousand worlds, I’ll still be your boss,” Xu Fan declared.
For some reason, Xu Fan felt unusually talkative that day. He chatted with Pang Fu late into the night, sharing all his past business insights.
This filled Pang Fu with fiery enthusiasm, and he was determined to embark on a grand venture upon returning home.
Late at night, after Pang Fu left, Xu Fan sat in the starry courtyard, waiting for his two clones to finish their tasks.
While gazing at the stars, Xu Fan suddenly received a notification from Grape, informing him that eleven beast race teleportation formations were about to land 300,000 miles south of Lin Sen Fairy City.
“Have you notified the Elder Council of Lin Sen Fairy City?” Xu Fan asked.
“Notified immediately, but this batch of beast race teleportation formations is a bit different from the previous ones,” Grape replied.
“The beast race isn’t stupid; once they realize their teleportation formations have issues, they’ll improve them. Just make sure you can lock onto their locations,” Xu Fan advised.
Just then, the meteor tail that had streaked across the sky suddenly disappeared, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.
A red figure appeared through space in Xu Fan’s courtyard.
“This batch of beast race teleportation formations is a bit different. Can you handle it?” Su Rantian asked, looking in the direction where the meteor tail had vanished.
“I can only predict a rough location. Once the formation teleports the beast race and spatial fluctuations occur, I can destroy it immediately,” Xu Fan replied.
“Give me the approximate location. I need to take the guards to suppress them,” Su Rantian said with a serious expression. There had been eleven firelines in the sky, meaning there were eleven beast race teleportation formations.
“East-southeast of Lin Sen Fairy City, roughly in the areas of Tianquan Kingdom, Lingmu Kingdom, and Wanxin Kingdom,” Xu Fan quickly reported.
“Got it.”
After Su Rantian finished speaking, she vanished.
“Su Rantian is more impressive than I thought,” Xu Fan remarked.
“Senior Su is a direct disciple of the eighth elder of the Elder Council. Her fighting strength and artifacts are top-tier among her peers.”
At some point, Li Xingci had appeared in Xu Fan’s courtyard.
“Unmatched fighting strength, wealth, and she’s so infatuated with you. If you were an ordinary cultivator, you’d have already given in completely,” Xu Fan teased Li Xingci.
“Ah, if Senior Su’s taste weren’t so peculiar, I wouldn’t have so many worries now,” Li Xingci sighed.
“The Path of Desire, if cultivated to the end, leads to heartlessness. You might even end up killing your husband to achieve enlightenment.”
“I know, but there’s no need to think pessimistically about everything.”
“You don’t have to follow the heartless path, and as for killing your husband for enlightenment, I believe you can handle that issue when the time comes,” Xu Fan said, patting Li Xingci on the shoulder.
“……………”
“Haha, alright, I’m done joking with you.”
“Ever since Senior Su took an interest in you, I’ve looked deeper into the Path of Desire. Do you know why she chose you at first sight?”
“Because your technique complements hers. Isn’t it amazing? Even I, the creator, didn’t expect that.”
“If you’re sincere, you two might have a good outcome in the future; at worst, you’ll just have to take it easy at the beginning.”
“There are plenty of cultivators who want to enjoy a comfortable life; don’t feel any burden about it,” Xu Fan said.
“Master, are you pushing me so eagerly because you want to sell me off?” Li Xingci frowned.
“Don’t accuse me, your master is not that kind of person,” Xu Fan quickly explained.
“Alright, then I’ll find a way to refuse her.”
“Master, can you suppress a Core Formation stage cultivator now?” Li Xingci asked seriously.
“…………….”
You don’t know; your master is just a pitiful little Golden Core stage cultivator right now.
“A regular Core Formation stage cultivator still needs three more years.”
“If it’s this one, I’ll need ten years to prepare.”
Though he knew Li Xingci was joking, he answered the question earnestly.
“Alright, I’ll try to buy ten years’ time,” Li Xingci said with a smile.
‘Smack~’
Xu Fan smacked Li Xingci on the head.
“Believe it or not, without Senior Su’s help, I’ll clean up the mess myself!”
This troublesome disciple dared to joke with his master; such behavior must be stopped, or else where would his authority stand in the future?
“I was just joking around with you, Master,” Li Xingci said, covering his head. He had already decided in his heart that he would never involve his master.
“Learning to joke with your master now,” Xu Fan squinted at Li Xingci.
A massive yellow-skinned duck phantom slowly rose behind Xu Fan.
At that moment, Li Xingci remembered the terror of being dominated by the duck once again.
Li Xingci stared at the gigantic yellow duck phantom, which towered over a hundred meters high, and he fell into a trance.
In a world of pure white, millions of ducks surrounded Li Xingci from all sides.
At that moment, Li Xingci cursed himself for his loose tongue.
