"Can you truly repair any artifact? I don't know the materials needed to fix mine. Is that still acceptable?"
A slightly thin young man with a guileless face stepped up to Lin Feng's stall, questioning uncertainly.
Finally, a customer!
Lin Feng's heart leapt with joy. He nodded emphatically. "Not knowing the repair materials is irrelevant. My master can analyze them. He will certainly restore your artifact to its original state. What artifact do you wish to have repaired?"
As he spoke, Lin Feng unconsciously activated his recently learned Observation Technique, scanning the man. He discovered the man's cultivation was only Foundation Establishment Layer 1, just like himself – likely recently advanced.
The youth hesitated, then pulled a small, black single-handed axe from a pack on his back. He handed it to Lin Feng. "Then… see if this artifact can be repaired."
Lin Feng accepted the short axe, about a foot long with a chopping blade the size of a small plate. Simultaneously, a thought stirred within him.
"Artifact Damage Level: 55%" "Repair Materials Required: 200g Grade Three Obsidian Crystal, 250g Grade Three Metallic Essence Ore, 150g Grade Two Golden-Eyed Jackal Bone."
Lin Feng examined the axe in his hand, then smiled. "Mid-grade Treasure Artifact, damage level fifty-five percent… Hmm, no problem. It can be repaired."
"Truly?!" The young man exclaimed, astonished. "It can really be fixed? I consulted a third-grade Artificer. He said he couldn't fully analyze the materials of this artifact! You genuinely can repair it?"
Lin Feng maintained his smile. "Just because a third-grade Artificer couldn't analyze it doesn't mean my master cannot. He can repair even top-grade Treasure Artifacts. A mid-grade one like yours is well within his capabilities."
The young man looked thrilled, but then inquired cautiously, "Then… how much will you charge?"
Lin Feng calculated quickly: A mid-grade Treasure Artifact typically ranged between 1,000 and 3,000 low-grade spirit stones. The one in his hand was probably worth around 2,000 stones when new. With 55% damage, charging 1,300 stones shouldn't be excessive, right?
After a brief consideration, Lin Feng spoke. "The standard repair fee for such an artifact would be 1,500 low-grade spirit stones. However, as you are my first customer, I'll offer a significant discount—only 1,000 stones. If you agree, leave the artifact here. As promised, I will give you a 1,000 stone deposit immediately. You return tomorrow to collect it, I return your deposit, and you pay the 1,000 stone fee. How does that sound?"
The young man gasped. "1,000?!"
Was the price too high?
Lin Feng's heart tightened. He was about to suggest lowering it when the young man blurted out incredulously, "When I took it to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, they said only a fourth-grade Artificer could repair it! They demanded 1,800 low-grade spirit stones and said I'd have to wait half a month to get it back! You… you can really fix it by tomorrow morning? For only 1,000 stones?"
Lin Feng relaxed and chuckled. "Exactly. My word is binding. You can retrieve your artifact tomorrow at this same time, for only 1,000 stones. So… will you place the order?"
"Yes! Absolutely! Please… please ask your master to repair it for me!" the young man agreed instantly, overjoyed. As he'd said, the Pavilion's price had been prohibitively high—almost enough to buy a comparable new artifact. He'd clung to this damaged one out of sentimental attachment. While he harbored some suspicion Lin Feng might be a fraud, the offer of a deposit worth even more than the axe's current damaged value removed all risk. Even if Lin Feng vanished, he wouldn't lose out. In fact, Lin Feng was arguably taking the greater risk—if the young man simply kept the stones and never returned.
"Excellent. I'll take the axe. Here is one thousand stones—please confirm." Lin Feng wasted no time. He stored the axe and handed over a pouch containing exactly one thousand stones. This deposit system was indeed born of necessity. Without it, trust would be near impossible to establish. If the young man decided to keep the stones and abandon the axe, Lin Feng would simply have to accept it—repairing and reselling the axe wouldn't result in a loss anyway.
"Great! I'll be back tomorrow morning!" The young man checked the pouch, his trust now complete. Beaming, he clasped his hands respectfully towards Lin Feng before departing contentedly.
"..."
The surrounding crowd, having witnessed the entire transaction and heard every word, stared at Lin Feng with even greater astonishment. The buzz of conversation grew louder. With one pioneer, others were clearly becoming tempted.
Soon, a brawny middle-aged man stepped forward. He was a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. He presented a high-grade Treasure Artifact. Lin Feng accepted it and handed over a staggering 5,000 low-grade spirit stones as deposit!
Repairing the man's high-grade artifact at a major shop would typically cost five to six thousand stones. Lin Feng quoted only 4,000 stones and then gave a deposit exceeding the quoted fee! This mind-boggling way of doing business left the onlookers utterly speechless.
Gradually, the crowd around Lin Feng's stall swelled. News spread, drawing even more spectators. Among them were cultivators bringing artifacts for repair. Those willing to try were mostly Foundation Establishment cultivators with some financial means. The artifacts presented ranged from top-grade Magical Instruments at the lowest, with low-grade Treasure Artifacts dominating. Mid-grade Treasure Artifacts were less common. Only a few high-grade Treasure Artifacts appeared, and absolutely no top-grade ones.
After a little over two hours, Lin Feng had accepted a total of:
Ten top-grade Magical InstrumentsFifteen low-grade Treasure ArtifactsFive mid-grade Treasure ArtifactsThree high-grade Treasure Artifacts
The combined deposits he handed over approached a staggering thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones. Some cultivators who had watched the entire time seemed on the verge of their eyes popping out of their heads.
Moreover, a few individuals were now looking at Lin Feng with poorly concealed, predatory glints in their eyes...
Having advanced to the early Foundation Establishment stage, Lin Feng's capacity for artifact repair had significantly increased. Furthermore, artifacts with lower damage levels consumed less energy. Repairing all thirty-three items tonight was entirely feasible. However, today was just a trial run. He announced he was temporarily halting new orders, informing the crowd to return tomorrow.
Many were indeed waiting to see proof. Lin Feng understood their wariness. Once he fulfilled his promises tomorrow, the real flood of lucrative business would likely begin...
After packing up, Lin Feng collected his signboard. He went directly to the rental office and paid the fee upfront to reserve the same stall for the next three days.
As he exited the Free bazaar, Lin Feng's sharp senses detected several figures tailing him. He ignored them—mere Foundation Establishment cultivators. If they only wanted to find out where he lived or who he was, it didn't matter. If any were foolish enough to try anything… he wouldn't mind collecting some extra 'bonus income'.
"Next, I need to buy the materials for the repairs, then meet up with Long Chengkong should be about right. Speaking of which… where are Zhang Fangzhou and the other two? Shouldn't they have found me by now? Could they have actually run off with the spirit stones?"
Lin Feng walked on, jotting down the repair materials needed for the artifacts he'd accepted onto a small notebook. He suddenly remembered Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers, who had taken Li Sha's head to claim the bounty. He frowned slightly.
Calculating the time, they should have headed to the Li family early in the morning. Even allowing for travel distance, they should have returned by now. They were supposed to meet him at the Free bazaar after collecting the reward, yet he'd already packed up his stall and they were nowhere to be seen. This felt… off.
Lin Feng still trusted the trio. He doubted they would genuinely run off with the stones. It also seemed unlikely they'd arrived and simply missed him. That left only one plausible explanation…
"Could there have been a problem claiming the bounty?"
As Lin Feng frowned, lost in this troubling thought, he happened to look up. A familiar figure was rushing towards him—it was Yao Wangtian.
"They're back?" Lin Feng paused momentarily. But then he noticed something wrong—Yao Wangtian was alone. Worse, his expression was one of utter panic!!
"Boss Lin!!"
Yao Wangtian spotted Lin Feng. Relief flashed across his face as he sprinted the remaining distance.
"Boss Lin!! Trouble!! Something terrible has happened!!"