[Treasure Pavilion.]
Miss Lan Xin, dressed in blue, had reached the fourth stage of Qi Refining and had grown even more beautiful.
She was attending to a guest when she spotted Mu Fan. She bowed from a distance but did not abandon her guest to come over.
Mu Fan went upstairs on his own and inquired about vacant private rooms; it was still Heaven Room Number Five.
Not long after, a knock sounded at the door.
"Senior Brother Mu, Lan Xin requests an audience."
"Come in."
The two met and exchanged slight smiles, both somewhat reserved, with a faint sense of detachment.
However, as Lan Xin calmly brewed tea and the two engaged in casual conversation, that sense of distance quickly faded.
Mu Fan had just taken a sip of tea when Steward Li arrived.
Mu Fan handed over the Storage Pouch containing the Magical Artifacts. Steward Li excused himself and went to inspect their quality.
After finishing a cup of tea, Mu Fan said, "I haven't yet congratulated Miss Lan on your progress in cultivation."
Lan Xin glanced briefly toward the outer room and replied softly, "It's only a minor improvement. Senior Brother Mu overpraises me. It is all thanks to Steward Li's promotion… and also to Senior Brother Mu's good fortune."
Mu Fan showed his admiration openly. "Miss Lan has a good disposition. Drinking tea with you always reminds me to temper my own state of mind."
Lan Xin leaned forward to refill his cup. Her already tight-fitting clothes stretched slightly, revealing her exquisite figure. "I do not deserve such praise from Senior Brother Mu."
Steward Li returned and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Mu is naturally quiet and steady. Otherwise, how could he endure the loneliness of Artifact Refining?"
Mu Fan went straight to the point. "Senior Brother Li, how is the quality of this batch?"
"Since it is Brother Mu's work, it is naturally excellent. This intermediate Magical Artifact, in particular, surprised me. To succeed on the first attempt! your talent in the Dao of Artifact Refining is even higher than I imagined."
Mu Fan chuckled lightly and sipped his tea, neither arrogant nor overly modest.
Through studying the book of refining techniques given by Steward Li, along with two years of practical experience, Mu Fan had come to a conclusion.
The quality of the Basic Artifact Refining Technique rewarded by the System was not low. Rather, the so-called "basic" technique was inherently extraordinary, perhaps only a notch below certain top-tier refining methods.
Steward Li continued, "You've worked hard, Brother. I'll give you four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones for this batch. Are you happy?"
Mu Fan had no objections.
After all, the material costs for this batch of Magical Artifacts had been covered by the Exotic Treasure Pavilion. Mu Fan was essentially receiving a commission of two Spirit Stones per artifact.
The price of low-grade Magical Artifacts varied widely depending on quality, typically ranging from a few Spirit Stones to several dozen, and only rarely approaching a hundred.
Mu Fan estimated the unit price of this batch to be around ten to twenty Spirit Stones. Earning two Spirit Stones per piece was already good enough.
As for how much the Treasure Pavilion would profit, that was their concern. After all, raw Materials were also a cost.
Seeing that Mu Fan had no objections, Steward Li left temporarily to get the Spirit Stones and prepare new Materials.
Since Mu Fan had successfully refined an intermediate Magical Artifact on his first attempt, the next batch of Materials would naturally all be intermediate-tier.
How much could one earn from low-grade artifacts? The real profits lay in intermediate Magical Artifacts.
Steward Li left Mu Fan and Lan Xin alone for an hour. Both understood his intentions.
Lan Xin was still a virgin, something Steward Li could naturally discern, but his purpose was simply to display a certain attitude.
Mu Fan merely chatted with her, mostly listening as she recounted her experiences. He spent most of his time in secluded cultivation and refining, so he had little to say himself.
He still gained some useful information.
About two months ago, Liu Tian and Zhou Long had come to the Exotic Treasure Pavilion together to sell a batch of Magical Artifacts and Spirit Medicines, with a transaction exceeding a thousand Spirit Stones.
That was how Lan Xin had heard of it.
From this, Mu Fan inferred that Liu Tian and Zhou Long had teamed up for a mission and emerged as the biggest winners, with those artifacts and medicines likely being their spoils of war.
Naturally, such gains would not have come without fighting and intrigue.
Mu Fan reminded himself once again that he had no desire to engage in constant killing. He only wished to rely on the AFK System to raise his Realm and pursue longevity.
His combat experience was weaker than that of others at the same level.
If conflict ever arose, he would rely on overwhelming cultivation and raw power to suppress his opponents.
After all
If strength alone could crush others, why endure the hardship of fighting above one's level?
When Steward Li returned with two Storage Pouches, Mu Fan took his leave.
In the Heaven Character room, Steward Li stood by the window, idly tending to an orchid as he watched Mu Fan's departing figure.
He sighed. "This Junior Brother Mu is quite interesting. He avoids conflict and prefers seclusion. I'd wager he's heading straight back to cultivate again."
Lan Xin walked to his side, holding a teacup with both hands. She glanced at Mu Fan's retreating back, a faint trace of envy in her eyes.
If she had the choice, she too would prefer such a life, quietly refining artifacts in seclusion, detached from everything else.
Alas, she had once been a Disciple of a small sect. After its destruction by Extreme Yin Island, she had been captured.
Though she possessed a Triple Spiritual Root, she could only serve as a maid in the Exotic Treasure Pavilion.
She felt no strong attachment to her former sect, and even less to Extreme Yin Island.
Having stepped onto the path of cultivation, she only wished to go further. But where was her path?
Now, as Mu Fan's exclusive attendant, she no longer had to worry about certain troubles, but her future remained uncertain.
Her thoughts lasted only a moment before she quickly steadied herself.
"An Artifact Refiner should act like this," she said softly.
Steward Li nodded in agreement and laughed. "Exactly. If he didn't refine artifacts so quietly, where would our status in the pavilion come from? Hahaha!"
By discovering and securing an Intermediate Artifact Refiner, Steward Li's position within the pavilion had become even more stable, and would soon be higher.
Lan Xin laughed softly along with him.
Suddenly, Steward Li turned and said, "From now on, every time Junior Brother Mu comes, you will personally attend to him. Do not be negligent. And remember Lian'ers mistake."
"Yes," Lan Xin replied, lowering her gaze solemnly.
⸻———X——————
Mu Fan did in fact return directly to his courtyard.
Just as he was about to open the Formation, Miss Lü Zhu, who had guided him before, flew toward him at on a Magical Artifact.
"Senior Brother Mu! Wait! Martial Uncle Jiang has summoned you!"
Mu Fan felt a slight unease. What did Jiang Yi want with him?
"Miss Lü Zhu, it's been a while. You look as radiant as ever. Do you know why Master has summoned us?"
Hearing this, Lü Zhu covered her mouth and giggled. "I'm not sure. I only know that all five Disciples have been called. Wait a moment while I notify the others, then you can go together."
Mu Fan nodded.
Watching Lü Zhu depart, he opened the Formation and stepped inside to store the refining Materials.
Standing in the courtyard, his thoughts turned rapidly.
"Aside from Artifact Refining, I haven't shown anything noteworthy. It shouldn't be directed at me specifically…"
He checked his Qi Concealment Technique again. Facing Jiang Yi, who was at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, he couldn't afford to be careless.
After nearly an hour, the other four Disciples arrived.
Led by Lü Zhu, the five of them flew toward the mountain entrance.
At the cave entrance, Lü Zhu stopped. The five continued on foot, following the winding path through the dim tunnel until they reached the Immortal Cave at the mountain's core.
"Greetings, Master!" the five said in unison, bowing.
Jiang Yi sat at a large stone table. His gaze swept across them, and he nodded inwardly.
Among the five, the lowest cultivation was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, while the highest had already reached the twelfth.
His gaze lingered on Mu Fan slightly longer. A lone ninth-level Qi Refiner was somewhat lacking, but considering his Artifact Refining talent, it was acceptable.
"Sit."
Jiang Yi withdrew his gaze and waved his hand, moving five stone chairs into place.
The five sat down in order of seniority, waiting quietly.
Jiang Yi did not immediately address the main matter. Instead, he questioned each Disciple about their cultivation and patiently resolved their doubts.
Only after finishing this round of guidance did he speak again, his tone turning solemn.