Chapter 244
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Chapter 244: The Little Pig Ruined by Cabbage
"Even though she’s a wealthy lady, we still need to uphold the reputation of our Hidden Spirit Sect."
"The dowry must be proper," Xu Fan said, stroking his chin.
His expression was like that of a hardworking father who raised his little pig, determined to dress it up nicely when it’s time to offer it to the best cabbage, showing everyone that his pig is worthy of the finest.
As for Su Rantian’s Master, he had already brushed that aside.
No matter how fiery her temper is, the fact remains—your cabbage ruined our little pig. If you want to harm my disciple, we’ll just lay low for now and deal with you when we’re strong enough.
Just then, a streak of sword light flashed in the distance.
Ning Dao appeared before Xu Fan.
"Brother Ning, aren’t you supposed to be on duty at the Elder Council?" Xu Fan asked.
"Not anymore. Thanks to you, I only need to handle some routine tasks at the Elder Council now."
"Grand Elder, your fourth disciple hasn’t done anything to Su Rantian, has he?" Ning Dao asked, eyeing Xu Fan.
"That’s an odd way to put it. Why wouldn’t it be Elder Su doing something to my disciple?"
"After all, my disciple is only at the Nascent Soul Stage. What harm could he possibly intend toward someone at the Core Formation stage?" Xu Fan replied.
"My disciple’s innocence is gone," Xu Fan added.
"Wait, what? How could a woman overpower a man?" Ning Dao was momentarily stunned.
"……….."
"Have you never heard the stories about female cultivators who practice certain dual-cultivation techniques of questionable morality?" Xu Fan raised an eyebrow.
Xu Fan had to admit, in this world, this particular issue was even more intense than in the last.
They’ve used illusion techniques to give male cultivators an experience like never before.
And the scenarios were so wild that Xu Fan couldn’t help but marvel.
"Are you talking about Bai Ling’s story?" Ning Dao suddenly blurted out.
"Ah, a true connoisseur! You went straight for the most classic one. She’s a role model for our kind," Xu Fan chuckled.
"Though personally, I prefer the story of Xiao Rou and her reluctant dual cultivation. That souvenir stone is something else."
"Ahem, Grand Elder, let’s forget that earlier conversation and focus on something serious," Ning Dao said, straightening up.
"Master Xuling has been in this realm for nearly ten thousand years. If my information is correct, in about 200 years, Master Xuling will ascend to the Immortal Realm."
"Maybe we should just wait it out?" Ning Dao suggested.
"That might not be the best idea. Isn’t it said that Master Xuling treasures Elder Su above all else? How sad would it be if he doesn’t see his precious disciple married before he ascends?" Xu Fan said, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his eagerness.
"Then, Grand Elder, you’d better write a will before you go," Ning Dao remarked.
"Is it really a death sentence? Isn’t there a gentler way to handle this?" Xu Fan frowned.
"Not really. Everyone who’s gone to propose has been killed by Master Xuling," Ning Dao shook his head.
"He’s that ruthless? Doesn’t he worry his daughter might never marry?"
At that moment, Xu Fan received a message from Li Xingci through his communication artifact.
"Master, wait until Tian’er talks to her master before you go!!"
"Do I really act so recklessly?" Xu Fan furrowed his brows.
However, Xu Fan’s heart gradually settled down. Although the proposal issue had been resolved, he was still a bit troubled about the dowry.
"Sigh, this is the trouble of marrying up," Xu Fan said.
He then turned his gaze toward the underground space where the beast race’s Star Ship was stored.
"How about I come up with a plan to get this beast race Star Ship ready in advance? Using this as a dowry wouldn’t be embarrassing," Xu Fan stroked his chin and said.
"Ning Dao, do you think using this Star Ship as a dowry is classy?" Xu Fan asked.
"Absolutely, that’s beyond classy!"
"This dowry would be enough to marry a Great Ascension Master. Grand Elder, does our Hidden Spirit Sect have a Star Ship?" Ning Dao said in surprise.
"Hehe, guess," Xu Fan replied with a smile.
After chatting for a while, Ning Dao bid farewell to Xu Fan and returned to Lin Sen Fairy City.
Xu Fan returned to his courtyard, and before he could settle down to cultivate, a strange wave spread throughout the entire Hidden Spirit Sect.
"I did it!!"
Sha Diao’s excited voice echoed throughout the Hidden Spirit Sect.
Xu Fan’s figure appeared on Artifact Crafting Peak.
"Greetings, Grand Elder," a group of disciples led by Lei Ren saluted.
"Hmm, what new achievement has Elder Sha excitedly achieved?" Xu Fan asked, not wantonly barging into Sha Diao’s artifact crafting room, which showed the basic respect for an artifact master.
"Grand Elder, come in!" Sha Diao’s voice came from the artifact crafting room.
"Alright."
Xu Fan walked into the artifact crafting room. It had been years since Sha Diao had been in there, and he looked quite disheveled, exuding a greasy smell, except for his clear and determined eyes.
In front of Sha Diao was a one-meter-square piece of dark bronze metal.
"Brother Sha has developed the alloy formula for artifact-level materials," Xu Fan said, looking at the metal block which radiated a unique energy.
"Right! Thank you, Grand Elder, for your guidance. Otherwise, I might never have advanced to become a master craftsman," Sha Diao said excitedly, though soon his eyes filled with fatigue.
"I’ve already given the formula to Grape. You study this alloy first; I can’t take it anymore, I need to sleep and restore my spirit," Sha Diao said, looking worn out.
"Brother Sha, go ahead. I’ll study this artifact-level alloy first," Xu Fan said, eager to begin.
Sha Diao transformed into a beam of light and flew upward, leaving Xu Fan alone in the artifact crafting room.
"Grape, let me see the formula," Xu Fan said.
At that moment, a light curtain appeared before Xu Fan.
"Earth Spirit Sand, Heavy Hill Red Copper, Sky Shatter Crystal, Thousand Refined Spirit Iron, Cloud…………….."
After running through the formula in his mind, Xu Fan looked at the alloy with a strange expression and said, "It seems like aside from replacing upgraded puppet materials and serving as armor for Sea Ships, this doesn’t have much use."
"Using this material to craft an artifact would be less powerful than a fine precious artifact."
Xu Fan used the Five Elements Spirit Fire to cut off a small piece of alloy and started refining it.
"Grape, test the data of this alloy," Xu Fan said.
"Understood."
A tool puppet took away the piece of alloy Xu Fan had cut off.
Xu Fan then retrieved a larger piece of alloy and brought it to the underground space.
Ten days later, Xu Fan looked at the data in his hands, feeling a bit stunned.
"The plan to create the Star Ship hasn’t even started yet, but the materials are already here ahead of time," Xu Fan said with a smile.
After several days of testing, Xu Fan found that this alloy was most suitable as the primary material for the hulls of Sea Ships and Star Ships.
In other areas, it performed quite average; its only use was to serve as the main material for puppets, just barely capable of crafting Refining Void-level puppets.
At that moment, Sha Diao woke up and came straight to the underground space.
"Grand Elder, how is this alloy? Can it be used to craft an artifact?"
"I had a nightmare while I was sleeping. I dreamt that the artifact crafted from this alloy was even worse than a precious artifact," Sha Diao said.
Xu Fan was surprised; when did his dreams become so accurate?
"I have one good news and one bad news. Which one do you want to hear, Brother Sha?" Xu Fan asked with a smile.
"Bad news," Sha Diao replied without hesitation.
"The dream you had was quite serious; the artifact crafted from this alloy really is worse than a precious artifact," Xu Fan said.
"I…" Sha Diao’s expression immediately turned unhappy.
"It seems my formula needs some improvement," Sha Diao said gloomily.
As he spoke, he walked out, ready to return to the artifact crafting room to continue his work.
"Hey, Brother Sha, don’t you want to hear the good news?" Xu Fan said.
"No need to say it; it must be the Grand Elder trying to comfort me. I, Sha Diao, can handle this little setback," Sha Diao replied.
"Don’t go! Sit down and let me tell you," Xu Fan urged.
"Do you remember the Floating Sky Ship from our Que Tian Gate?" Xu Fan asked.
"I do, what about it?" Sha Diao inquired.
"I also researched that artifact-level alloy; what’s going on?"
"The alloy that Brother Sha developed is even better than the main material of the Floating Sky Ship."
"With some optimization, it can serve as the main material for the Star Ship," Xu Fan said with a smile.
"Really?!" Sha Diao exclaimed joyfully.
A jade slip appeared in Xu Fan’s hand.
"This is the manufacturing blueprint for a Sea Ship. If you use Brother Sha’s alloy as the main material, it will be at least a generation stronger than the Floating Sky Ship’s overall data," Xu Fan explained.
The design for the Sea Ship was created by Xu Fan, utilizing Grape’s spare computing power.
Sha Diao’s eyes lit up as he looked at the jade slip in Xu Fan’s hand. Then, following Xu Fan’s gesture, he took it and began to study it.
The entire research took one day.
When Sha Diao came to his senses, Xu Fan was eating nearby.
"So this is how the core spiritual energy power source of the Sea Ship is designed," Sha Diao exclaimed, as the main problem that had been troubling him was finally solved.
"Did the Grand Elder design this Sea Ship?" Sha Diao asked.
"Sort of," Xu Fan replied. Since he created Grape, and Grape derived the Sea Ship design, skipping the middle steps meant he effectively designed the Sea Ship himself.
"Can the Grand Elder teach me?" Sha Diao said, preparing to kneel and pay his respects.
Xu Fan quickly used his spiritual energy to hold Sha Diao back, preventing him from performing the act of reverence.
In the cultivation world, artifact masters and alchemists can have multiple teachers at the same time.
"Brother Sha, you’re putting me in a tough spot," Xu Fan hurriedly said, thinking he really didn’t want to become Sha Diao’s master.
"If we communicate as equals, there’s no need for formalities," Xu Fan added.
"Alright then," Sha Diao said with disappointment.
"Ever since I became an artifact master, I’ve wanted to craft a Sea Ship like the Floating Sky Ship."
"My master once told me that to craft a Floating Sky Ship, you need to be skilled in artifact crafting and, more importantly, be a designer of Floating Sky Ships."
"Grand Elder, once I learn this skill, I can fulfill the grand ambition I had as a child," Sha Diao earnestly said.
"Brother Sha, what’s our relationship? This is a minor issue," Xu Fan said with a smile.
"Grand Elder, given the current financial power of our sect, can we gather the materials for the Sea Ship in this jade slip?" Sha Diao asked.
"That’s not a problem at all," Xu Fan confidently replied. Ever since completing several artifact orders, his small treasury had started to flourish. Gathering a full set of Sea Ship materials was more than sufficient.
"Then can you allow me to craft this Sea Ship?" Sha Diao saw the opportunity and intended to fulfill his childhood wish.
Seeing the fervent look in Sha Diao’s eyes, Xu Fan nodded and said, "Yes, but with your cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, doesn’t that seem a bit lacking?"
"Don’t worry! Once I succeed in crafting the artifact, my feedback will make up for my cultivation. In a maximum of three months, I’ll reach the Nascent Soul Stage," Sha Diao declared.
"Wait, that doesn’t sound right. Why is the Grand Elder still at the Golden Core Stage? Based on the artifacts you’ve crafted, the feedback should be enough to reach the Transformation Stage," Sha Diao questioned curiously.
"……….." Xu Fan suddenly felt uncomfortable, not wanting to speak.
"Uh, let’s not focus on those details. Since Brother Sha wants to craft the Sea Ship, I’ll start having Pang Fu procure the raw materials."
"Also, Brother Sha will need to find a place to craft the Sea Ship."
Xu Fan’s words quickly drew Sha Diao’s attention.
"I’ve found a location; it’s a thousand miles northwest of the main peak. That valley is perfect for crafting the Sea Ship," Sha Diao said, excited about crafting the Sea Ship.
"Alright, I’ll have Grape help you with the modifications afterward," Xu Fan replied.
"That would be wonderful."
Sha Diao then inquired about the technical aspects of crafting the Sea Ship from the jade slip, and Xu Fan patiently answered each question.
They continued this technical exchange until three days later when visitors arrived at the sect.
In the main peak’s reception room, Xu Fan saw the smiling Master Qianling and the puppet carrying Grape’s clone beside him.
"This is the recent profit and rent from the Star Ship," Master Qianling said with a smile.
Xu Fan took the space ring without looking and handed it directly to the puppet beside him.
"Seeing the Respected Elder looking so joyful, I take it you have good news," Xu Fan said with a smile, already knowing in his heart that Master Qianling had used Grape’s control over the Star Ship to destroy two smuggling Beast Race Warships and capture a complete Giant Beast Race Warship.
Master Qianling had also made quite a name for himself in the circle of respected elders controlling the Star Ship.
"Haha, I won’t say anything; Xu Grand Elder should already know."
"Let’s not say more. You’ll understand when the Grand Elder sees the profit," Master Qianling chuckled.
Currently, his puppet had attracted the attention of many respected elders, but due to the confidentiality of state affairs, he had kept it tight-lipped. In the eyes of the other respected elders, they thought he had acquired an artifact or celestial tool with a spirit.
"Haha, thank you, Respected Elder, for the opportunity to get rich," Xu Fan laughed.
"No need to thank me; it’s only right."
"However, I came this time hoping the Grand Elder could help strengthen the spirit within this puppet."
"I’ve discovered that when facing more than two Star Ships, the puppet’s operation clearly lags behind."
"When I destroyed three Beast Race Star Ships, it nearly got hit," Master Qianling said. Since obtaining this puppet to help control the Star Ship, he had clearly embarked on a strange path.
"……….." Xu Fan was speechless.
Your operation isn’t that great, yet your demands are high.
"How would the respected elder like to strengthen it?" Xu Fan asked.
"Replace the spirit in this puppet with one of the great spirits from your sect."
