Chapter 306: Chapter 151: Mysterious Treasure, Severely Injure the Ninth-Layer Great Demon?
A moment later, inside the main hall of the Lin Residence’s front courtyard, Lin Xuankong dismissed the numerous servants and then looked at Xiao Xiuyi. "Miss Xiao, you plan to refine a Battle Armor stronger than the Ruyi Battle Armor. I will certainly give you my full support! But how long do you anticipate it will take to refine this Battle Armor?"
Xiao Xiuyi took out a stack of blueprints from her waist and placed them on the table. "The main issue is that gathering the materials is too difficult. If all the materials could be gathered, it wouldn’t take too long. These are my refining ideas; Brother Lin, please take a look!"
Lin Xuankong looked at Xiao Xiuyi with some surprise. "Since these are the results of your research, Miss Xiao, you’re showing them to me so easily?"
Xiao Xiuyi’s clear eyes showed a hint of confidence. "I just want Brother Lin to understand the concept and also to see the materials needed.
"If Brother Lin’s Comprehension is so astonishing that he can learn my Refining Method just from the design blueprints and concepts, then I, Xiuyi, would willingly acknowledge you as my master. Why would I be stingy with a mere Refining Method?"
Lin Xuankong was somewhat speechless. This Xiao Xiuyi is certainly very confident in her own Artifact Refining Method. However, I’m now an Artifact Refiner who has successfully refined the Demon Prison Cage. Could I really be inferior to her?
"Miss Xiao, you are quite confident!"
Lin Xuankong felt a little unconvinced. He picked up the first few sheets from the stack and began to examine them carefully. After a moment, a look of astonishment gradually appeared in his eyes.
In Xiao Xiuyi’s design blueprints, the Artifact Refining Runes alone numbered 16,000. Each one was as complex as the Array Runes of the Demon Prison Cage. Furthermore, the refinement and combination of various materials were incredibly intricate. Of the 100 types of materials listed on just the first page, there were more than 70 he didn’t recognize at all!
This was just one blueprint; the contents of the remaining nearly 100 blueprints... This material was so complex that, let alone understanding it, even just memorizing it would likely be 100 times more difficult than the Demon Prison Cage’s secret manual! Xiao Xiuyi truly deserved her reputation as an Artifact Refining Genius, one capable of creating Great Xia’s First Battle Armor!
Her Artifact Refining Talent was evidently far superior, by countless degrees, to that of the old leader of the Black Tiger Gang!
Third Princess Xiaoo Ying’Er praised me as Great Xia’s foremost Artifact Refiner, but when it comes to actual refining skill, even with my sixty-fold enhancement, catching up to Xiao Xiuyi’s level would likely take me several years... Right now, the only area where I might surpass her is perhaps the micro-manipulation afforded by the Eight Gates Celestial Eye!
Lin Xuankong coughed and put down the blueprints. "Miss Xiao, your blueprints are... quite well-designed."
Xiao Xiuyi’s lips curved into a smile. She picked up the waterskin hanging from her belt, took a sip, and remained silent, still smiling.
How awkward! Lin Xuankong lifted his teacup, taking a sip to hide his face.
Just then, a sudden WHOOSH sounded from outside. Immediately after, a masked Cultivator leaped over the high walls of the Lin Residence and landed outside the hall.
Xiao Xiuyi, who had been smiling silently, tensed. Upon seeing the visitor’s agile leap and the exceptionally condensed True Qi he exuded, her delicate face changed slightly, and the longsword on her back emitted a humming sound. She abruptly stood up, a hint of vigilance in her eyes. "A Late-Stage Fifth Layer expert!"
The newcomer, however, paid no attention to Xiao Xiuyi. He walked straight into the hall, bowed, and cupped his fists towards Lin Xuankong. "Elder Lin, I came as soon as I received your summons."
Lin Xuankong nodded slightly. "Sit down. There are no outsiders here; no need to be so cautious! This lady beside me is an Artifact Refining Genius. I plan to ask for her assistance in refining a Treasure, which will likely require many materials. In a moment, you’ll note down the required materials and then prepare them as quickly as possible!"
The Late-Stage Fifth Layer expert relaxed upon hearing this. He removed his mask and sat down to one side.
When Xiao Xiuyi saw the newcomer’s face, her expression changed once more. "Patriarch Feng Mengshan of the Feng Family!"
Feng Mengshan? I’m your Uncle Little Hu! Li Xiaohu grumbled internally, but his face remained quite respectful as he cupped his fists and said, "So, this young lady recognizes me!"
Xiao Xiuyi looked at Li Xiaohu, then back at Lin Xuankong, a hint of astonishment in her eyes. "Who in Great Marsh Prefecture doesn’t know Patriarch Feng? But, Brother Lin, for Patriarch Feng to actually... behave like this towards you..."
Lin Xuankong smiled. "Miss Xiao, no need to be surprised. By a stroke of luck, I once saved Patriarch Feng’s life. He is one of the few people I trust most!"
Xiao Xiuyi’s delicate face showed an expression of disbelief. She looked carefully at Li Xiaohu, only to see that when this Patriarch Feng looked at Lin Xuankong, his face indeed showed profound admiration, even a hint of fervor in his eyes, as if gazing upon a most revered deity!
Patriarch Feng revered Lin Xuankong? But Lin Xuankong was just a Silver Jade Steward of the Yin Talisman Sect! As for his Cultivation... he seemed to be at the Third Layer before. Even if he had reached the Fourth Layer now, it would be nowhere near enough to command such deference from Patriarch Feng!
For a moment, Xiao Xiuyi felt that the Lin Xuankong before her had become incredibly mysterious.
She furrowed her brow, pondered for a moment, and then hesitantly said, "Brother Lin, although you have an excellent relationship with Patriarch Feng, my new Artifact Refining Method, if successfully developed, could have enormous repercussions. I still hope to keep it as secret as possible!"
Seeing this, Lin Xuankong looked at Little Hu. "Go to the backyard first and help me groom Little Bear. That little bear is endearingly dim-witted and has gotten rather grubby lately!"
Li Xiaohu smiled. "Alright, Elder Lin, you two can talk here. I’ll go play with Little Bear!"
With that, he quickly headed towards the backyard.
Watching this unfold, Xiao Xiuyi’s mouth fell slightly agape. Patriarch Feng, a man who could command thousands of elite Martial Cultivators, was actually helping Lin Xuankong groom his pet?