" Elder Jian... do you think the one who repaired my flying sword... might be Junior Brother Lu?"
"He?"
"Is this kid a master weapon refiner...?"
"Such a composed and steady demeanor, coupled with his status as a master weapon refiner... and also a slight talent in Cultivation Method..."
"Um..."
Elder Jian pondered for a moment, his tone no longer carrying the disdain and aloofness of the past.
But something was amiss.
Yes, now that things have come to this, he has to admit that he misjudged the situation back then.
The tone became slightly more... serious!
"Young Master Ye, your junior brother..."
"That's impressive!"
"Not simple? I've had a feeling he wasn't simple for a long time..."
Ye Chenfeng muttered something to himself.
" Elder Jian, what should we do now?"
"Should we test Junior Brother Lu first?"
"Testing the waters?"
"There's no need..."
Elder Jian snapped out of his reverie, recalling the subtle feeling Lu Li had given him during their recent meeting.
My thoughts raced.
"Your junior brother doesn't seem to like you very much..."
If you try to test them again, it will only backfire.
"What should we do?!"
"In my opinion... we should just ask him directly!"
"Ask him?"
"This..."
"How do I ask... Am I supposed to tell Junior Brother Lu that I helped him Foundation Establishment, and he helped me cultivate my sword?"
"Why not? Master weapon refiners are rare to begin with, and second-tier master weapon refiners are few and far between even in the entire Western Continent."
"Besides, the Azure Pool Sect is in a remote place. Just say you have a flying sword that needs repairing, and don't mention anything else. The reward is a Foundation Establishment Pill. He has no reason not to accept!"
Elder Jian's voice was resolute.
Seeing this, Ye Chenfeng had no better solution and could only nod.
He immediately mounted his sword and sped towards Lu Li's cave abode...
"Ah Qiu~!"
Lu Li cave abode.
For some reason, ever since he took on the mission to repair the flying sword, he has been sneezing non-stop.
As cultivators, how could they possibly catch a cold?
Every unusual phenomenon has its cause.
In other words...
Could it be that someone is eyeing me?
Lu Li frowned, his heart stirring slightly.
I only regret that I don't know divination or fortune-telling, otherwise I could at least have a fortune told to find out what's wrong.
There's no need to make wild guesses.
" Junior Brother Lu! Is Junior Brother Lu there?!"
"Please dismantle the magic array, junior brother. I have important matters to discuss with you!"
Just as Lu Li was completely confused, a familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears.
" Ye Chenfeng? What's he doing here..."
Lu Li was stunned.
I have a vague feeling that I've found the reason for the strange phenomenon...
"Whoosh!"
Activate the protective array.
The cave abode's stone door swung open, Lu Li appeared at the entrance, looking wary.
" Senior Brother Ye, you're looking for me..."
"I really have something important to discuss with my junior brother this time. Let's go inside and talk!"
Ye Chenfeng hurriedly pushed Lu Li into the cave.
"Please reopen the protective array, junior brother, so I can explain in detail."
"Well... okay."
He waved his hand, releasing a burst of spiritual light.
The formation activated again, isolating the cave abode.
Seeing this, Ye Chenfeng stopped dawdling and took a deep breath.
He rummaged through his Storage Bag and pulled out a flying sword that was sharp all over.
Upon seeing this high-grade Tier 1 flying sword... Lu Li finally confirmed it.
Yes.
My unusual behavior these past two days is indeed related to Ye Chenfeng.
" Junior Brother Lu, you repaired this flying sword of mine, didn't you?"
"Let's not beat around the bush, Junior Brother Lu, aren't you a master weapon refiner?"
"No..."
"No, it's not? Then you..."
Ye Chenfeng thought Lu Li was still pretending to be confused, and was immediately stunned.
But then Lu Li spoke sincerely.
" Senior Brother Ye, I'm really not a master craftsman. At best, I can barely attempt to craft a mid-tier first-order Law Artifact, which is... a craftsman."
"I'm still a ways off from being a master weapon refiner. The reason I was able to repair your sword is because I've always loved studying weapon inscriptions..."
Lu Li explained everything clearly in one go, without hiding anything.
He could tell that repairing Ye Chenfeng's sword must have triggered some kind of side quest.
He had no desire to get involved in any side quests.
His main mission is to achieve immortality safely and first with the help of the nation, return to Blue Star to see his parents, and incidentally live the life of a carefree immortal Immortal Emperor in the city...
Side quests are definitely going to be a big problem.
Moreover, it's related to this suspected "protagonist," which is definitely dangerous...
Hearing Lu Li's sincere tone, Ye Chenfeng was also stunned.
" Elder Jian, this... this Junior Brother Lu is just a weapon refiner... we..."
"Fool! Can a weapon refiner repair your flying sword?"
"Your junior brother clearly doesn't want any more trouble. Enough talk, just show me what you've got."
That's why they say cultivators become more cunning with age.
Elder Jian was clearly thinking more than Ye Chenfeng.
At his prompting, Ye Chenfeng was first taken aback, then gritted his teeth.
With a flick of his wrist, a flash of light appeared in his hand.
Before Lu Li could react, a pill the size of a longan, bronze in color, and shimmering with light suddenly appeared before him.
"This is Foundation Establishment Pill!"
" Junior Brother Lu, I don't care whether you're a weapon refiner or a weapon craftsman..."
"In short, I have a top-tier second-tier broken sword that needs repairing. If you can succeed, this Foundation Establishment Pill is yours!"
"Um?!"
"..."
Ye Chenfeng is gone.
He left behind that Foundation Establishment Pill.
Inside the cave abode, Lu Li pinched a bronze elixir between two fingers.
He stared into deep thought as he watched the shimmering light that occasionally flashed across the pill.
"So... we have Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Several thousand Spirit Stone were saved just like that..."
"More than ten years have suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
Lu Li silent.
Now it seems that Ye Chenfeng is definitely the 'protagonist'.
He can casually Foundation Establishment Pill and casually wield a top-tier second-order flying sword.
Ordinary people don't have that kind of wealth.
"The side quest has finally been triggered..."
"But... it's just repairing a flying sword, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Something's not right... something feels off..."
As they spent more time together, they gradually developed a relationship with the Great Xia think tank.
Lu Li is now considering things from multiple levels and perspectives.
"I have a feeling that repairing the flying sword will lead to a series of unforeseen events..."
"Judging from the expectation in his tone and the anxiety in his expression..."
"It can't possibly be just because of a flying sword..."
"Yes, inform the Great Xia and let the nation help me analyze this carefully."
The thought flashed through Lu Li's mind, and he didn't dare to delay.
He directly pulled out the jade pendant and sent a message to the state.
"Hello comrade, could you please connect me to the strategy team and the psychological intervention team? I have an important report to make."
"Received! Comrade Lu Li, please wait a moment."
The message traveled back to Blue Star.
The strategic team, which was on standby 20 hours a day, quickly arrived at the command center.
Even Li Yuanchao received the news and rushed over.
"Comrade Lu Li, this is Li Yuanchao. The strategic team and the psychological intervention team are in place. Now, please tell us your situation."
"Call..."
Taking a deep breath, Lu Li slowly spoke.
" Director Li, it seems I've... triggered some kind of side quest!"