"Master Wu!"
"Greetings, Master Wu."
Lu Li, who was still admiring the enchanted armor, was startled out of his thoughts by Xu Xiong's voice.
He turned around to see a tall, middle-aged man in a green robe, with a thick beard, staring intently at the two of them.
"M-master..."
Xu Xiong was tall and broad, with burly shoulders and a thick waist.
But when he saw Wu Changgeng, he became like a small child, lowering his head as his voice dwindled to a mosquito's buzz.
He looked frightened and ashamed.
"Mm..."
"Bring me the enchanted armor you made. Let me have a look."
Wu Changgeng struggled to contain the excitement in his heart and maintained a stern expression.
He beckoned to Xu Xiong.
"Yes, Master..."
Not daring to disobey in the slightest, Xu Xiong timidly summoned the enchanted armor from behind him and moved it in front of himself.
"Stable spiritual light... solid coloration... steady artifact and materials..."
"Mm, apart from the somewhat shoddy artifact patterns, it's decent overall. It barely qualifies as first-tier intermediate-grade."
Wu Changgeng looked it over from top to bottom.
His tone was nonchalant, and he seemed somewhat particular.
But in truth, the more he looked, the more astonished he became.
Others might not know Xu Xiong's skill at artifact refinement, but how could he, as his master, not know?
Even calling it poor would be giving him too much credit.
Yet everything about this enchanted armor, from the heat control during refinement to the fusion of its materials, was practically perfect.
In fact...
If the strokes used to engrave the artifact patterns hadn't lacked strength, it might even have reached first-tier advanced-grade!
This... this is all thanks to Lu Li!
Wu Changgeng was shaken.
In the cultivation world, Law Artifacts were divided into tiers and grades.
Artifact refiners naturally had their own distinctions in skill as well.
Law Artifacts generally ranged from the first to the ninth tier, from first-tier Qi Refinement to ninth-tier Mahayana.
Each tier was further divided into four grades: basic, intermediate, advanced, and peak.
Those who could refine basic-grade Law Artifacts were respectfully called artifact refiners.
Those who could refine intermediate-grade ones were artifact craftsmen.
Only those who could refine advanced-grade ones were artifact masters. Wu Changgeng himself was a second-tier artifact master.
Above them, those who could refine peak-grade Law Artifacts were called... artifact grandmasters.
Reaching that level was already an extraordinary feat.
The entire Azure Pool Sect didn't have a single first- or second-tier artifact grandmaster, much less a third-tier one.
If there truly were a third-tier artifact grandmaster... even a Nascent Soul ancestor would have to show him considerable deference.
And legend had it... there was another grade above peak.
It was called the... Dao grade.
Anyone capable of refining a Law Artifact of that quality, even a first-tier Dao-grade one, would be treated as an honored guest by countless sects.
Such a person would be respectfully addressed as... an immortal craftsman!
First-tier intermediate-grade... that's enough to count as having the skill of an artifact craftsman.
But this... was almost entirely thanks to Lu Li...
In other words...
Wu Changgeng's thoughts raced, and he reached a conclusion.
As long as Lu Li settles down and studies artifact refinement properly... he could easily become an artifact craftsman.
Becoming an artifact master probably wouldn't be difficult either.
It's just a shame... with Five Spirit Roots, reaching Foundation Establishment without anyone's support would be as hard as ascending to the heavens...
Shaking his head, Wu Changgeng pushed the enchanted armor back.
Failing to reach Foundation Establishment meant being unable to refine second-tier Law Artifacts.
At most, Lu Li could become a first-tier artifact master.
Even a first-tier artifact master merely served Qi Refinement cultivators and wasn't of much use.
The desire to nurture talent that had just sprung up in Wu Changgeng's heart was instantly extinguished.
This boy has an excellent nature. If I could take him as a disciple and have him keep Xiong'er company, that would be wonderful.
What a pity... with Five Spirit Roots, even if he has comprehended the Advanced Five Elements Instruction, he has no chance of reaching Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Alas... what a shame. Why doesn't Xiong'er have such aptitude...
Wu Changgeng sighed softly, feeling somewhat disappointed.
In the cultivation world, taking a disciple or accepting a master was a momentous affair that affected one's entire life.
He and Lu Li were neither relatives nor old acquaintances. There was no way he would take Lu Li under his wing just because he had a little talent, teach him with painstaking care, and then work himself to the bone to procure a Foundation Establishment Pill for him.
It would do him no good and would hold back his cultivation.
Unless Lu Li could demonstrate enough value for him to see a return within his lifetime, why would he undertake such a thankless task?
Besides, Xu Xiong alone already gave him enough headaches.
Oh... wait...
Still, this boy seems to get along quite well with Xiong'er...
Why not...
As though something had occurred to him, Wu Changgeng cleared his throat twice.
"Ahem... Lu Li, is it? Are you here to do a task today?"
"That's right. This disciple came to clear out furnace slag today."
Lu Li cupped his fists and answered respectfully.
"It seems to me that you also know something about artifact refinement?"
"Well... this disciple is untalented and knows only the barest basics."
"Oh? In that case... would you be willing to take an assignment from me?"
"An assignment?"
"May I ask what you mean, Master Wu..."
"Since you've accepted my furnace-slag clearing task and you also know Xiong'er..."
"From now on, why don't you study artifact refinement alongside Xiong'er?"
"I can post the furnace-slag clearing task on a long-term basis and let only you take it. And... whenever Xiong'er attends my lessons on artifact refinement, you may come and listen as well."
"Of course, you and I won't be master and disciple. I won't accept support from you, nor will I have any duty to teach and nurture you. How much you can learn will depend entirely on your own disposition."
At those words, Lu Li froze on the spot.
If he had heard correctly,
this had to be the legendary pie falling from the sky...
He's just letting me freeload?
Wait... there isn't a catch, is there?!
A surge of joy swept over Lu Li in an instant, but he forced himself to remain calm and analyze the reason.
A moment later, he had a rough idea.
Perhaps Master Wu saw me helping Xu Xiong refine the artifact...
Is he planning to have me study alongside him?
Well... so be it! It's such a good assignment. I can attend lessons without taking a master or paying tuition...
Wonderful!
In that brief moment, Lu Li sorted out the reason. Before Xu Xiong could react,
he bowed and cupped his fists.
"This disciple is willing. Thank you for nurturing me, Master Wu."
"Mm, good. You have some sense, at least. In that case, get back to your work. Discuss the details with Xiong'er."
"I'll take my leave."
Wu Changgeng waved a hand and darted out of the hall.
In high spirits, he hurried to the mountain behind the sect, eager to offer comfort to his senior brother's spirit in heaven. He even cast the Law Artifact he was supposed to refine today to the back of his mind...
Only Lu Li and Xu Xiong were left alone in the side hall.
The two stared at each other, and the atmosphere grew a little awkward.
"J-junior Brother Lu, thank you for earlier."
"If it weren't for you, I definitely would have failed again today... and been scolded by Master..."
Xu Xiong spoke first, scratching his head, his tone sincere.
But Lu Li heard a trace of dejection in his voice.
He couldn't help asking why.
"There's no need for that, Senior Brother Xu. But you... why does it seem like you're so afraid of Master Wu? Isn't he your master...?"
Hearing Lu Li's question, Xu Xiong looked even more downcast.
Thinking of how often he would be spending time with Lu Li in the future, he didn't hide it.
"Actually... I don't really count as Master's disciple."
"My father was originally my master's senior brother..."