At the Market Chief's Residence, Li Chen met Qi Maigu once again.
He still looked much as he always had: a haggard, world-weary middle-aged man with unkempt stubble. He listlessly fielded Dong Pengfei's endless questions until Li Chen arrived, then told him with a wry smile, "Market Chief Dong is far too curious."
Dong Pengfei said, "That's what you get for disappearing for months at a time, Master Artisan Qi. Even if I could keep myself from asking, I couldn't stop wondering. You two must be hiding something big from me."
Li Chen said, "This matter has far-reaching implications. We really shouldn't reveal it before the dust settles. Please understand, Young Master Dong."
He looked at Qi Maigu and added, "But since you've emerged from seclusion this time, Fellow Daoist Qi, I assume you've finished it?"
Qi Maigu said with a smile, "Indeed. The good news I wanted to tell you is that the item is complete. I've also gained considerable empirical certification experience and mental certification provisions from it, so I'm even more confident of advancing to Grand Artisan!"
He had not crafted the Blazing Sun Divine Thunder for Li Chen without compensation; he stood to gain considerable benefits from it himself.
Tangible rewards such as nether-origin crystal were secondary. More importantly, this opportunity had deepened many aspects of his understanding of the Solar Dao. Just as Li Chen had once performed modification surgeries on other rogue cultivators at the qi refining level, he was enriching the provisions for his own mental certification.
Dong Pengfei gave a startled shudder. "Good heavens, just what are you two making? Something that even has a bearing on becoming a Grand Artisan?"
Li Chen said, "You're not an outsider, Young Master Dong. At this point, there's no need to keep it from you.