Chapter 300: Chapter 287: Zhouyang’s Test
Liu Changhe never imagined that one day he would share a room with a Purple Mansion Stage cultivator, an Artifact Refining Master.
A loose cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi cultivation, he had lived for ninety-seven years, never having experienced such splendor before.
The reason he was able to bask in such glory was his treasured granddaughter, Liu Xuanxuan.
When Zhou Family’s Foreign Affairs Elder, Luo Qiang, came to recruit his granddaughter into the Zhou Family, Liu Changhe was highly reluctant.
This granddaughter was special, not only possessing Middle-grade Spirit Root talent but also being a prodigious artifact refiner, with beauty unmatched by anyone.
With these attributes, Liu Changhe never worried about his granddaughter’s marriage.
Indeed, life as a loose cultivator was tougher than clan cultivators.
But the freedom loose cultivators enjoyed was far superior to that of clan cultivators.
Liu Changhe had roamed the Cultivation Realm for decades, witnessing many loose cultivator women who, after marrying into cultivation clans, faced unpleasant days and couldn’t leave even if they wished.
Those female cultivators who believed marrying into a cultivation clan equated to entering nobility and becoming "Immortal Immortal" were merely naïve girls untouched by the harsh reality of the Cultivation Realm.
One must understand a cultivation clan is vast, with numerous members to support, so how much resources can a typical clan disciple at Qi cultivation stage receive from the clan? What can they provide their Dao companions?
Though life as a loose cultivator is tough, at least no one is ordering you around; you can do what you want as long as you don’t chase that elusive path to eternal life. A loose cultivator can live comfortably.
But once married into a clan, becoming part of a cultivation family, not only do you have to take on tasks assigned by the clan elders but also bear the responsibility of passing on the family line, bearing offspring.
So, Liu Changhe showed no joy when Luo Qiang came to recruit his treasured granddaughter into the Zhou Family, instead showing reluctance.
He knew the Zhou Family was a Purple Mansion Clan, but so what?
He didn’t want his beloved granddaughter to suffer any grievances or marry someone she didn’t love or even know.
However, his reluctance transformed completely after Luo Qiang revealed the truth.
Compared to freedom and independence, a Foundation Establishment Pill was evidently more essential!
If consuming the Foundation Establishment Pill allowed her to establish a foundation and join a cultivation family, what did it matter?
Compared to the lifespan of over two hundred years of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, enduring temporary orders and commands wasn’t a big deal; hadn’t everyone been guided by parents from childhood?
Once the foundation was established, she’d be the one commanding others!
"You must succeed! You must succeed! My beloved granddaughter, whether grandpa can peacefully enjoy his twilight years in the upcoming decades, whether you can successfully establish a foundation, all depend on today!"
Outside an Earth Fire Chamber in "Liuyun Marketplace," Liu Changhe watched his granddaughter’s silhouette as she walked in with Zhouyang. His weathered old face brimming with excitement and anticipation.
Beside Liu Changhe, Luo Qiang, Zhou Family’s Foreign Affairs Elder, and Vice Clan Leader Zhou Guangxiang, likewise wore expressions of anticipation, hoping for Liu Xuanxuan’s success.
Even though the Zhou Family could now call themselves an "Artifact Refining Family", since Zhou Minghan and Zhouyang, subsequent family members learning artifact refining were plenty, but few became accomplished, and none inherited the artifact refining legacy.
Even though, given Zhouyang’s lifespan, this was not urgent, having another Tier Three refiner serve the family would be a great boon.
At least with such a person, Zhouyang in the future wouldn’t need to waste precious cultivation time refining middle and low-tier spiritual artifacts.
Zhouyang did not bother with what others thought. Leading Liu Xuanxuan into the Earth Fire Chamber, he handed her materials and tasked her to refine an artifact on the spot— a Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact.
The method of refining the spiritual artifact was something he taught her on the spot, giving her only half a day to ponder and study it, with just five sets of materials.
According to his criteria, if Liu Xuanxuan could successfully refine the artifact within one day, she would pass his test.
For a twenty-one-year-old girl at the third layer of Qi Cultivation, the test was nothing short of strict, yet this was fate.
As a loose cultivator, if Liu Xuanxuan wished for the Foundation Establishment Pill, to become an "Immortal Immortal", she had to exert more effort than clan cultivators, possessing better talent than them.
The Cultivation Realm never advocated for equality, it only revered power and strength.
The offspring of the strong, even with low-grade spiritual roots, could consume Foundation Establishment Pills as if they were candies.
While humble loose cultivators with no background, even if possessing top-grade spiritual roots, needed to sacrifice a great deal to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Liu Xuanxuan might understand these truths, or she might not fully comprehend them yet.
In short, she did not show any dissatisfaction with Zhouyang’s test. Instead, as soon as she received the magical artifact refining method given by Zhouyang, she devoted herself to researching this new refining method she had never encountered before.
This attitude truly gained Zhouyang’s admiration.
Such an attitude from the young girl Liu Xuanxuan reminded him of those genius scientists he’d read about in biographies in his previous life, those who achieved great success in their fields. They were also so engrossed in their work that they forgot themselves, neglecting sleep and food.
"Perhaps she can really achieve it."
Watching the ponytail girl seated on the ground of the Artifact Refining Chamber, studying the new refining method, Zhouyang’s face showed a hint of anticipation.
Thus, after approximately four hours, Liu Xuanxuan put aside the new refining method given by Zhouyang, stood up, and bowed to him: "Elder, I am prepared. Please give me the artifact refining materials."
Zhouyang looked deeply at the girl and spoke slowly: "Are you certain about this? I have only prepared five sets of materials for you. If you fail, there won’t be a second chance!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xuanxuan replied with a resolute expression: "I have thought it through. Please grant me your approval, Elder."
"If that’s the case, then you may begin."
Zhouyang waved his hand, handed all the materials to the girl, and patiently awaited the results of her refining.
Despite being observed by a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator during a crucial test, Liu Xuanxuan remained calm throughout, displaying no signs of tension.
Receiving the materials from Zhouyang, she immediately began refining using the Tier Two Lower Grade Artifact Refining Cauldron provided in the chamber.
Undoubtedly, using a refining cauldron for the first time and crafting a new artifact led to a quick failure.
After failing, Liu Xuanxuan paused for about half an hour, reflecting, before starting the second attempt.
The second attempt also ended in failure due to improper arrangement of the magic ban.
However, just as Zhouyang thought the girl might pause to rest and summarize her failures, she opened the cauldron again and commenced the third attempt.
The third attempt also failed at the magic ban arrangement stage.
Watching this, Zhouyang did not show any disappointment, but rather had a flicker of amazement in his eyes.
With his keen sight, he could clearly see that Liu Xuanxuan was only a step away from success in arranging the magic ban.
After this failure, even for an exceptionally gifted refiner like Liu Xuanxuan, it was certain to succeed in one or two more attempts.
Indeed, after resting for about an hour to recover power and spirit after the third failure, Liu Xuanxuan started the fourth refining.
Hiss!
The steaming artifact was thrown into a fine iron water tank serving as a quenching pool in the Earth Fire Chamber, creating a mist of white steam.
An artifact entering its final quenching step mostly indicates the completion of refining.
When Liu Xuanxuan retrieved the quenched artifact and handed it to Zhouyang, he merely glanced at the artifact before returning it to her saying, "Well done, indeed a standard Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact. Congratulations on successfully passing the test."
Only then did the girl finally reveal a relieved and joyful smile.
It turned out she did care about this test, but she had excellent psychological control, preventing anxiety from affecting her refining.
Her lovely face relaxed, and she respectfully bowed to Zhouyang smilingly: "Thank you, Elder, for granting me the opportunity to prove myself."
"Don’t rush to thank me yet. This is merely the first test to determine if you can join the Zhou Family. Whether you can obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill for advancement depends on your future performance!"
Zhouyang waved his hand, throwing cold water on the girl.
Without watching the girl’s fluctuating expression, he stepped out of the chamber.
Outside, Zhouyang didn’t acknowledge the anxious Liu Changhe or Elder Luo Qiang, but nodded to Zhou Guangxiang, gave a few instructions via voice transmission, then directly controlled his sword to leave the marketplace, returning to Red Tiger Mountain.
This scared the waiting Liu Changhe outside, who was so startled that he quickly grabbed his granddaughter’s arm, urgently asking, "How was it, Xuanxuan? Did you pass Elder Zhou’s test? What is Elder Zhou’s opinion?"
"Grandfather, please calm down. Elder Zhou’s first test has been passed, and he agreed to let me join the Zhou Family as an Honored Guest Elder."
Liu Xuanxuan comforted her worried grandfather while glancing at Zhou Guangxiang, seemingly aware that this Vice Clan Leader was currently in charge of Zhou Family affairs.
Meeting Liu Xuanxuan’s gaze, Zhou Guangxiang nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, the Clan Leader has instructed that from now on, Miss Liu, you will be our Zhou Family’s Honored Guest Elder. For now, you will be granted offerings according to a Second-class Guest Elder status. Elder Luo will inform you of the rights and obligations as a guest elder and arrange your future residence and cultivation place."