Chen Xingfeng's Offer

Under everyone's watchful eyes.

Chen Xingfeng turned Ning Ri's magical artifact over a few times. Then, without warning, he asked, "Do you think you'll succeed?"

Ning Ri answered seriously, "This junior is working hard with the intention of succeeding."

Chen Xingfeng nodded slightly. "Well said, but unfortunately, you failed."

The moment those words fell.

Everyone's expressions changed drastically—

Even Ning Ri couldn't do it?!

Could this task even be completed at all?

Ning Ri's heart sank as well—

Didn't Elder Zhou say this task was simple?

Then why had it turned out like this...

At that moment, Chen Xingfeng added, "Want to know why?"

Ning Ri nodded.

Chen Xingfeng said, "Then I'll talk with you alone later."

After everyone had failed, they left the Refining Room and returned to the cool reception hall.

There was an ice basin in the reception hall, somewhat like the tools mortals used to ward off summer heat.

At that moment, white mist continuously rose from the ice basin, making the reception hall especially cool.

Ning Ri glanced at it. This air conditioning wasn't bad...

But after another look, he saw several spirit stones embedded in the ice basin. It was clearly using spiritual energy for refrigeration.

Seeing that, he immediately dismissed any thought of using such an ice basin.

For someone still impoverished in spirit stones, the very thought of consuming spirit stones was enough to chill his heart. He had no need for an ice basin to cool him down.

Once everyone was seated, Chen Xingfeng said solemnly, "Thank you all for coming from afar to participate in Chen's task. Although no one succeeded this time, Chen will purchase your magical artifacts at their proper value."

He paid spirit stones to purchase all the magical artifacts they had refined.

The batch of materials Chen Xingfeng had provided was worth one hundred spirit stones.

For the magical artifacts made by the three artifact refiners, Chen Xingfeng offered two hundred spirit stones each.

That was the normal price for turning Qi Refining materials into Qi Refining magical artifacts. After all, market prices also had to account for labor and material loss.

The trio had initially been too embarrassed to accept the spirit stones. They did not lack those hundred spirit stones.

But Chen Xingfeng stated plainly that this was his recognition of them.

Only then did the trio accept them with beaming smiles.

[Chen Xingfeng's recognition]—that was enough for them to return to their sects and boast about.

As for Xi Yuan's magical artifact, Yang Xingming did not sell it. Chuckling, he said, "Master Xingfeng, I'll keep Young Master Yuan's magical artifact for myself."

"The Household Head will surely want to take a look, so I have to bring it back."

But Chen Xingfeng ignored Yang Xingming and said blandly, "You don't get to decide. Let Xi Yuan speak. He's the artifact refiner."

Yang Xingming was left speechless, then laughed. "All right, all right, all right."

Chen Xingfeng looked at Xi Yuan. "Xi Yuan, will you sell it to me, or take it home for your father to see?"

Xi Yuan actually considered it seriously before saying, "Master Xingfeng, sorry, but I want to take it back!"

Only then did Chen Xingfeng nod. "Fine."

Since that was the case, Chen Xingfeng let him have his way. In any case, Xi Yuan did not lack his recognition.

Then Chen Xingfeng looked at Ning Ri. "Your magical artifact was refined very well. Therefore, I offer two thousand five hundred spirit stones. Will you sell it?"

The instant those words came out, everyone immediately sucked in a breath of cold air from the ice basin.

"Hiss!"

Everyone's eyes widened.

Yang Xingming also revealed a look of surprise.

Two thousand five hundred spirit stones were not much to them.

But this price was enough to prove Chen Xingfeng's "approval" of Ning Ri's magical artifact.

Yet the more that was the case, the more bewildered they became.

If so, why had Ning Ri's task still failed?

But Ning Ri had no time to care about the failed task right now. His heart surged with excitement, and he was overjoyed. Holy crap!

Two thousand five hundred spirit stones!

I'm rich!

Previously, when he had demonstrated blade refinement before the people of the Lingxi Immortal Sect, he had received a dozen or so spirit stones in tips—nowhere near enough to buy even the complete version of the Qi Refining Art.

Previously, even when taking a carriage, he could only afford very short distances and had to rely on his own legs for the rest. Back then, thankfully, the Golden Strategy Immortal Sect had not looked down on him for being poor.

But now...

Two thousand five hundred spirit stones were enough for him to splurge extravagantly.

The names of several Foundation Establishment Cultivation Methods and spell arts immediately flashed through his mind, only to be discarded again...

He could earn those things through Contribution Points at the Heaven Defying Sect's Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion. He could absolutely spend these spirit stones on something else...

With that thought, Ning Ri immediately said in a deep voice, "Master Xingfeng, I'll sell!"

Even as he agreed to the deal, Ning Ri was already considering whether he should visit a merchant house in Luoxia City later. Maybe he might happen upon an auction and snag a bargain...

After the transaction was completed, Ning Ri stored all the spirit stones in the storage space of his Disciple Token.

Afterward, Chen Xingfeng told the others to make themselves at home. They could leave or stroll around Craftsmanship Tower. Then, he had Ning Ri follow him away alone.

Clearly, Chen Xingfeng intended to tell Ning Ri why the task had failed.

This scene left everyone itching with curiosity, Yang Xingming included.

He was curious as well—what exactly had caused the failure?

"The reason you failed is that this task was impossible to succeed at from the start."

Chen Xingfeng brought Ning Ri back to the Refining Room they had just been in. After closing the door, he spoke directly.

Ning Ri let out an "Ah?" "Why is that?"

Chen Xingfeng said, "The blueprint I gave you was for the first set of Qi Refining magical artifacts my wife successfully refined, and also the magical artifacts she was proudest of."

Hearing this, Ning Ri's expression changed—

Chen Xingfeng continued, "My wife and I met while we were at the Qi Refining stage."

"I hoped someone could refine a set of magical artifacts exactly identical to the ones she made. She made quite a few mistakes with that set, and due to material issues, some of the runes even had a scorched-black appearance... I wanted all of that reproduced."

"I hoped someone could be as inexperienced as she was, making the same mistakes."

"But..."

"You were all too outstanding. You wouldn't make so many low-level mistakes."

"And that is why no one could succeed!"

As Chen Xingfeng spoke, his tone remained light, though it carried a trace of melancholy.

But when those words reached Ning Ri's ears, his expression shifted slightly—

So this task had actually been issued by Chen Xingfeng for his wife's sake?!

Once he realized this, a faint sadness suddenly welled up in his heart. No wonder...

No wonder no one could succeed!

Master Xingfeng must have wanted to find identical magical artifacts as a way to commemorate his wife...

But in the vast sea of people, how could such a thing possibly happen?

After thinking for a moment, Ning Ri offered Chen Xingfeng an idea. "B-but why not directly find some less skilled artifact refiners to try?"

Chen Xingfeng said blandly, "If I did that, word would quickly reach my wife's ears. I can't bear that price."

Ning Ri: "?"

What did that mean?

Wasn't she already dead?

Ning Ri asked in astonishment, "Can your... wife learn about this?"

Chen Xingfeng turned to look at Ning Ri's expression and knew what he was thinking. He said blandly, "Of course she can. She isn't dead."

"Back then, I accidentally destroyed her magical artifacts as if they were trash. Only after destroying them did I realize something was wrong, but it was already too late."

"Now, I'm trying to save myself. So far, this task of mine hasn't caught her attention, and she hasn't come to Craftsmanship Tower to inspect the Qi Refining magical artifacts she is proudest of."

"But if I were to issue such an abnormal task as you suggested, she would definitely come and demand an explanation..."

"Then I'd be finished!"

Ning Ri: "..."