"A Third-Grade Spirit Gathering Array Disk?"
Dongfang Yuhui was momentarily taken aback, then nodded. "I do indeed possess one. However... it's rather worn..."
"You really have one?" Lin Feng's expression brightened with delight. He truly isn't an ordinary Golden Core cultivator! To possess a Third-Grade Spirit Gathering Array at only the second layer of Golden Core... He spoke in a negotiating tone, "Fellow Daoist Dongfang, would you be willing to part with it? Could that array disk serve as the repair fee?"
"This..."
A flicker of something peculiar crossed Dongfang Yuhui's eyes. He hesitated, "It's not impossible... but... I used this disk once when I formed my Golden Core, and again recently when I advanced to the second layer. It's likely damaged by seventy to eighty percent now. I doubt it could sustain many more cultivation sessions..."
As he spoke, he waved his right hand. A milky-white jade disk, about the size of a washbasin and three inches thick, materialized from his spatial ring. He placed it on the table between them and pushed it towards Lin Feng. "If you truly want this array disk, Fellow Daoist Lin, you may take it. However, this disk is worth, at most, two to three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones now. That hardly covers the repair fee. Let's deduct its value from the total cost. Please state what additional spirit stones are required. I would feel uncomfortable otherwise."
This Dongfang Yuhui is refreshingly straightforward. Lin Feng's favorable impression of the man rose significantly. Honestly, even if the other only offered the disk, it wouldn't be a loss for Lin Feng. But since Dongfang had put it that way, there was no need for false magnanimity. His tone suggested he wasn't overly concerned about spirit stones – clearly a 'wealthy' cultivator. Lin Feng, however, was desperately short on funds. Money was money; he couldn't refuse it. Moreover, insisting on only the disk might actually raise suspicion.
After a few seconds of thought, Lin Feng said, "Since you put it so plainly, Fellow Daoist Dongfang, I won't stand on ceremony... Once your artifact is repaired, besides this array disk, you can pay an additional five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. How does that sound?"
"Five hundred thousand?" A faint smile touched Dongfang Yuhui's lips. He even felt the price was surprisingly low. He had taken his artifact to the Treasure Pavilion before. Lian Ye, their Fifth-Grade Artifact Refiner, personally examined it and stated it would take at least ten days to repair, with no guarantee of success. The quoted fee? A staggering one and a half million low-grade spirit stones. While Dongfang possessed considerable resources, he naturally preferred not to waste them. Hearing rumors about Lin Feng, he had come seeking an alternative solution. He hadn't expected the condition to be so unique: a worn-out Third-Grade Array Disk and a mere five hundred thousand spirit stones.
Seeing Lin Feng waiting for his answer, Dongfang Yuhui smiled. "Good. That's acceptable. The spirit stones will be delivered when I retrieve the artifact tomorrow. Consider this array disk as the deposit." He gestured to the disk on the table.
"Excellent!!" Lin Feng couldn't contain his delight. "Then I'll accept this array disk first. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Dongfang, I will urge my master to spare no effort in repairing your artifact. If it truly proves impossible... everything will be returned to you intact tomorrow!"
"Agreed. I trust your respected master will not disappoint." Dongfang Yuhui nodded. He then retrieved another spatial ring from his robes and handed it to Lin Feng. "These are the repair materials I prepared. They should be sufficient. If the repair is successful and there are leftovers, please keep them as part of the compensation."
"Alright." Lin Feng took the ring. A quick mental scan revealed only a few types of materials inside. He didn't scrutinize them further, storing the ring away promptly. Then, he reached out and picked up the array disk from the table.
"Artifact Damage Level: 75%" "Repair Materials Required: Fourth-Grade Non-Attributed Essence Ore (1 kg), Fourth-Grade Genyin Stone (400g), Fourth-Grade Profound Jade Stone (200g), Mid-Grade Spirit Stones (300g)."
It can be repaired! Lin Feng felt a surge of internal joy. His old First-Grade disk only required First-Grade materials. This Third-Grade disk needing Fourth-Grade materials suggested that, if ranked like artifacts, it was equivalent to a Peak-Grade Treasure Artifact.
Seeing Lin Feng secure the disk, Dongfang Yuhui stood up. "Then I shall take my leave. The matter of the artifact repair is entrusted to you and your master, Fellow Daoist Lin. I will return tomorrow."
...
After seeing Dongfang Yuhui out, Lin Feng retrieved his pre-prepared materials list. He added the items needed to repair the array disk and handed the updated list to Zhang Fangzhou, instructing him to purchase everything from the Treasure Pavilion.
Lin Feng had initially planned to go out for a meal. However, receiving a Spiritual Artifact commission and obtaining the Third-Grade Array Disk had ignited an urgent impatience within him. He was desperate to test whether repairing a Spiritual Artifact worked as he had theorized. He decided to stay in, simply asking Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers to bring back some spirit food when they returned from their errand.
—The inn did serve food, but after growing accustomed to spirit food, Lin Feng's palate had become discerning. If he could eat something beneficial to his cultivation, he naturally preferred it over ordinary fare.
The Zhang brothers departed on their mission. Lin Feng returned to his room, bringing out the Spiritual Artifact jade sword and the repair materials.
There were five types of repair materials. Lin Feng examined them one by one, murmuring in admiration, "Fifth-Grade Metal-Attributed Essence Ore... Fifth-Grade Mochen Stone... Fifth-Grade Gold Jade Crystal... Fifth-Grade Spirit Amber... and this is... a Third-Grade Metal-Attributed Demon Core?! Tsk tsk... Truly befitting materials for repairing a Spiritual Artifact. Just these few items alone must cost several hundred thousand spirit stones..."
"I just hope it can be repaired like my flying sword... Please don't disappoint me..."
After cataloging the materials, Lin Feng circulated his true essence, projecting it outward. An invisible force enveloped all the materials and the jade sword, holding them aloft above his right palm. He took a deep breath and focused his mind.
"Repair."
"WHOOSH!!"
A foot-wide sphere of blazing fire erupted exactly as expected. Lin Feng's eyes flashed with triumph, but it was immediately followed by a sensation of his internal true essence draining away like floodwaters bursting through a breached dam!
This time, however, he was mentally prepared. Gritting his teeth, he bore the intense consumption of his true essence with grim determination.
Fifteen seconds.
A mere fifteen seconds later, Lin Feng was forced to violently halt the repair technique. If he didn't stop, he would collapse from true essence depletion instantly.
"Ssshh..."
The raging flames before him vanished abruptly. The pile of items they had engulfed clattered onto the floor in front of Lin Feng; he lacked the strength to catch them.
Ignoring the state of the artifact for the moment, Lin Feng retrieved a spirit stone, clasped it tightly, and immediately began circulating his energy to recover.
...
A full hour later, Lin Feng had mostly recovered his strength. He ceased his cultivation, opening his eyes once more.
He sifted through the pile on the floor until he found the jade sword. A thought passed through his mind.
"Artifact Damage Level: 40%" "Irreparable."
His eyes lit up again. It worked! Perfect!
Though depleting his entire true essence reserve had only repaired 30% of the damage, this was a minor issue. It simply meant repeating the process a few more times.
Just as Lin Feng prepared to continue repairing the Spiritual Artifact, a knock sounded at the door. Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers had returned. They had procured all the materials and brought back a sumptuous meal of spirit food.
After satisfying his hunger, nightfall had descended. Lin Feng had no interest in sightseeing. He remained in his room, resuming his artifact repairs.
He first completely repaired the Third-Grade Spirit Gathering Array Disk. Yet, he resisted the urge to activate it immediately. Instead, he proceeded to repair the jade sword artifact in two more exhausting sessions, restoring it to full functionality. Then, he turned his attention back to the pile of commissioned artifacts awaiting repair...
...
The night passed uneventfully. At dawn the next day, Lin Feng handed a batch of repaired artifacts to Zhang Fangzhou. The three brothers were dispatched to the Free Bazaar to complete the transactions. Lin Feng himself stayed behind in the inn, continuing his relentless repair work around the clock.
Driven by the promise of high returns, Lin Feng was pouring all his energy into earning spirit stones these days. The fatigue seemed insignificant – it was only a temporary hardship.
The batch of artifacts Zhang Fangzhou took this time would yield several hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones in repair fees. Lin Feng's evident trust in them to handle such a large sum greatly motivated the Zhang brothers. They thumped their chests, promising Lin Feng they would succeed, and left brimming with excitement.
Lin Feng now placed considerable trust in the three brothers and wasn't worried they would abscond with the funds. Once they departed, he settled back into his focused rhythm of repairing artifacts.
However, Lin Feng remained unaware that an unforeseen turn of events, one beyond his expectations, was quietly drawing near...