127: Chapter 54 Yun Zhongzi Descends from the Clouds_3 127: Chapter 54 Yun Zhongzi Descends from the Clouds_3 “This…”
“Your grandmaster also said,” Xu Sheng raised an eyebrow, “your father’s only obsession is you, his son.
You’re very filial, and his motivation for cultivation is to protect your path.
If you simply say the word, could your father not listen?”
Li Ping’an hastily said, “I wouldn’t dare speak so, how could I presume to urge my father?”
“It’s not urging, it’s offering advice!”
Xu Sheng picked up a pair of chopsticks [stir-fried centennial vegetable root] and placed it in the Jade Dishware in front of Li Ping’an, smiling as he spoke:
“Our two families, the Yuan Sect and the Wanyun Sect, are like brothers!
“Back in the day when I worked as an Artifact Refiner at the Human Alliance, Kongming was the commander of the Human Alliance’s Xuantian Army.
He often sought me out to repair Spiritual Treasures, and how many Treasured Materials he bilked me for is beyond count.
“Later, after the Hundred Clans were defeated, we old things also retired from the battlefield and almost all started our own sects, hoping to pass on our teachings and cultivate more fighters for our Human Race.
“Alas, as of today…sigh!”
Xu Sheng’s old eyes seemed somewhat cloudy as he spoke slowly:
“I’m not good at management, and my disciples are all single-minded, only knowing how to bury their heads in Artifact Refining and cultivation.
“Your father said that in a few years he would come to our Yuan Sect to establish a branch of Castcloud Hall; they’re just foolishly waiting for that.
“I told them to go out and mingle, but they couldn’t bring themselves to lose face, so in the end, it was up to me, the oldest, to show my face.
It infuriates me also!”
Li Ping’an spoke earnestly, “The elders of the Yuan Sect are all known to be indifferent to fame and fortune, and persons of noble character.
This is something I have long heard of.”
“I taught them the Path of Artifact Refining so they could earn a living.
“But these disciples of mine don’t know how to manage things, always chasing the refinement of Spiritual Treasures.
If someone brings them ten portions of Treasured Materials, they would use twelve to refine for others.
How could anyone want to use their services again?
Moreover, can Spiritual Treasures be intentionally created?
The quality of materials and the enchantments can only determine the power of a Magic Artifact; great power in a Magic Artifact doesn’t necessarily give it a spirit!”
“Every one of them is rigid in their thinking!
How can their sect flourish!”
Li Ping’an acted as if he did not understand at all.
Ningning Mu sat quietly on the side, listening attentively and occasionally reflecting deeply;
Gu Qingcheng and Yu Yingshu emulated their elders, picking at food and sipping wine, taking full advantage of the opportunity to eat and drink without restraint.
Xu Sheng spent quite a while venting to Li Ping’an.
Li Ping’an offered various compliments, but he did not commit to anything regarding the establishment of a branch of Castcloud Hall.
Xu Sheng laughed and scolded: “You rascal, why are you just like your Sect Leader, impervious to persuasion.”
“The elder’s reprimand is well deserved.”
Li Ping’an said with a wry smile:
“The matter is of great importance, I am but a common disciple of the Wanyun Sect, how dare I rashly make any remarks…
Nonetheless, rest assured, my father already has some preparations in place.”
“Oh?” Xu Sheng’s eyes brightened, “Really?”
“How could I dare deceive an elder?”
Li Ping’an spoke seriously:
“The specifics, my father has not informed me, and I cannot inquire.”
“But my father had said before that resource distribution within the Wanyun Sect has reached its full capacity.
If we want to increase the speed of earning Spirit Stones, we would either have to exploit our disciples or the mortal Immortal Dynasty,”
“Neither of these are what my father desires.”
“Moreover, my father also said last year that the Wei Yuan Sect is the preferred location for the subsidiary branch of Castcloud Hall, and the resources within our sect should be enough to support about thirty production lines.”
“In addition, since the Wei Yuan Sect is a major sect in Artifact Refining, we were also considering negotiating with them on how to use the name of Castcloud Hall and the Artifact Refining techniques of the Wei Yuan Sect to sell more high-quality Magic Artifacts and relatively cheap Spiritual Treasures.”
“As far as I know, Sect Leader and my father have actually been preparing for this, so you need not be anxious.”
Xu, the old Immortal, eyes shining, exclaimed, “Hahaha!
We’ve been waiting just for you!”
Li Ping’an let out a sigh of relief.
Xu, the old Immortal, continued, “To be honest, it’s a bit embarrassing to say, but we’ve already replicated your Magic Artifact production line.
However, my disciples are too bashful to compete with your business.
Also, the production lines they’ve set up, well, they can’t seem to reduce the cost of a common flying sword; out of ten, only six would be functional.”
Li Ping’an kept a poker face, but inwardly felt a stroke of luck.
Although the Wei Yuan Sect was not considered prosperous, their strength in Artifact Refining was far superior to that of the Wanyun Sect; if the Wei Yuan Sect were to directly enter the competition, in the long run, its core competitiveness would far exceed that of the Wanyun Sect.
He thought, I must advise my father as soon as I return…
Something’s not right.
Why does it feel like I’ve fallen into this old Immortal’s trap?
Although this elder is a respected senior in the cultivation world, I can’t simply take his word for it without any proof.
Li Ping’an blinked, and seeing the old Immortal lift his cup, he smiled and drank with him.
Xu Sheng began to reminisce about the old times, clearly intending to raise the value of the Wei Yuan Sect by deliberately mentioning things that all the older generation of Artifact Refiners knew.
Xu Sheng asked, “Ping’an, do you know where the Human Race’s Artifact Refining techniques originally came from?”
“Where?” Li Ping’an replied with a smile, “According to the records in the sect, it should be Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain.”
Xu, the old Immortal, his eyes full of reminiscence:
“Yun Zhongzi of the Jade Void Palace, a Golden Immortal of great virtue and fortune, you remember this, the source of our Human Race’s Path of Artifact Refining originates from this Immortal.”
“Yun Zhongzi is also our mentor.”
“However, I’m only considered an honorary disciple of the teacher.
At that time, the teacher was lecturing for us Artifact Refiners of the Human Race.
He may not necessarily remember someone like me.”
Li Ping’an blinked, his Dao heart becoming extremely active.
Could it be that this Elder Xu is really a disciple of the Chan Sect?
A white cloud slowly drifted from beyond the sky, upon which sat a crane-haired, ruddy-faced elder.
Next to him was a basket, from which a rainbow mist swirled.
If others were to look up at the sky, they would not be able to see the cloud at all.
At that moment, the elder, as if sensing something, calculated with his fingers and looked towards the shore of the East Sea.
Muttering to himself, with a gentle sweep of the horsetail whisk in his hand, the elder’s form transformed into a beam of light, silently descending upon Guanlan City.
Yet he was murmuring…
“Who is impersonating my disciple?