Lu Lianxue was stunned for a moment, caught off guard by Zhang Wei's sudden question, but quickly chuckled:
"If it can be repaired, it would definitely be very powerful. Grandpa once said that the artifact was gifted when that country was still a vassal state of ours, or when our Great Xia was a vassal state. As a nation of etiquette since ancient times, anything gifted would naturally not be inferior."
"But Zhang Wei, don't think about these things. Repairing that artifact is impossible."
With that said, Lu Lianxue smiled and continued:
"I asked Grandpa at the time if the artifact could be repaired if it was damaged, and Grandpa's answer was yes, but it was extremely difficult. Otherwise, why would the president of the Heresy Association give it to you? He knew it had flaws, which is why he chose to give it."
"And I heard Grandpa say that the Heresy Association has tried to repair that artifact many times, but they all failed. I heard that the president of the Heresy Association even personally came to Great Xia to seek help from major forces like Longhu Mountain and Wutai Mountain for repairs."
"Although we didn't repair it for them, partly because we couldn't, and partly because it was originally our item, the president didn't give up. He even went to the Vatican and the Association of Sorcerers in India, seeking help from people there, but as you know, all failed."
"So, Zhang Wei, don't think about repairing this artifact. Anyway, as long as it's not against an artifact of the same level, the artifact's flaws can be ignored."
Before she finished speaking, Lu Lianxue, fearing that Zhang Wei would waste time on repairing the artifact, knowing that Zhang Wei was already at the Half-Step Zhenguo level and with a little more effort, reaching the Zhenguo level was not impossible, and repairing an artifact consumed time and energy, fearing it would affect Zhang Wei's progress, she added:
"My grandpa said that the reason the president gave you this artifact was actually intentional. Since it's impossible to repair, the president had even sought help from Zhenguo level experts and failed. By giving you a damaged artifact, they could also save face."
Lu Lianxue said with a hint of anger:
"This president is truly detestable, deliberately giving you a damaged artifact. Fortunately, you made him so angry he was hospitalized."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei smiled and rubbed Lu Lianxue's head, slowly saying:
"Making him hospitalized is not enough."
"Then what else do you want to do?"
Lu Lianxue blinked her eyes, recalling that Zhang Wei had encountered a monster on the way back after his birthday performance and had turned it into the president, and she giggled.
However, before she could laugh for long, Zhang Wei's words made her laughter abruptly stop.
"Repair the artifact and upgrade it to the Zhenguo level."
Zhang Wei said with a smile.
Lu Lianxue was taken aback, her smile turning into a headache. Zhang Wei was still persistent, constantly thinking about repairing the artifact. She couldn't help but say:
"Zhang Wei, repairing artifacts is very difficult, it's not like cultivation. Your talent is excellent, and improving your strength is as easy as drinking water, but that doesn't mean you can repair artifacts. It's like forging weapons; someone who can use a weapon doesn't necessarily know how to forge one."
How could Zhang Wei not understand Lu Lianxue's thoughts? But he couldn't mention his skill cards. He just pinched Lu Lianxue's cheek and said:
"Xiao Xue, I know what you want to say. I have a sense of proportion. I'll just try it. It won't take too much time. If it succeeds, everyone will be happy. If it fails, I won't lose anything, will I?"
With that said, Zhang Wei saw that Lu Lianxue wanted to continue lecturing him, worrying that he would neglect his proper duties, and he quickly changed the subject:
"However, compared to repairing the artifact, there's something else I'm more concerned about right now."
"What is it?"
Lu Lianxue instinctively asked.
Zhang Wei chuckled, leaned into her ear, and said:
"I was thinking, you said my birthday performance made you happy today, and you also said you wanted to make me happy. But I'm not too happy yet. Xiao Xue, shouldn't you try harder?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Lianxue's face turned red, and she glanced at Zhang Wei with her beautiful eyes, shyly saying:
"Then I'll try harder."
With that, Lu Lianxue, like a small worm, burrowed into the covers and moved towards Zhang Wei's waist. Zhang Wei, through the gap in the lifted covers, saw Lu Lianxue open her mouth…
…
The next day.
It was already noon, the time for lunch, when Zhang Wei woke up. He glanced at the bright sun outside the floor-to-ceiling window, patted Lu Lianxue, and said:
"Xiao Xue, time to get up. I remember we have a class this afternoon. Let's grab a meal now, and then head back to university. We should still have time."
To his words, Lu Lianxue, uncharacteristically, stretched lazily and replied leisurely:
"I'm not eating. Let's just go back to school."
"Not eating? Aren't you hungry?"
To Zhang Wei's question, Lu Lianxue rolled her eyes at him, imitating Qiu Xiaolin:
"You made me eat so much last night, I'm full."
Zhang Wei chuckled upon hearing this and directly pinched Lu Lianxue's nose, saying:
"Xiao Xue, you're getting bold. You're imitating Xiao Mantou, aren't you? Aren't you afraid I'll report you to Xiao Mantou for imitating her?"
"I'm not afraid, because… Xiao Lin taught me."
Afterward, after some more playful banter, Zhang Wei got up to wash, and they returned to Shou'er University together.
On the way back, Lu Lianxue didn't forget to ask:
"Zhang Wei, how do you plan to repair the artifact? When will you start tinkering with it?"
"I'll start today. I've already notified Zhang Chao and Wu Nian to prepare the materials for me."
Zhang Wei said, shaking his phone.
The phone screen displayed chat messages from a WeChat discussion group, the "Chao Wu Wei" trio.
[Zhang Wei]: Calling my two brothers from different mothers! @Zhang Chao @Wu Nian
[Zhang Chao]: Brother Zhang Fei calls for me, what is it.jpg
[Wu Nian]: Amitabha, this humble monk is here.
[Zhang Wei]: Help me collect some materials. I'll send you the list.
The next second, Zhang Wei sent a screenshot of materials from the Weidao Division forum, with many rare materials.
[Zhang Chao]: Holy crap, Zhang Wei, what are you trying to do? So many materials, damn, this is at least tens of millions. Oh, right, you dog 'Ghost King Supplier' doesn't care about this little money. But what are you doing?
[Wu Nian]: Amitabha, Zhang Wei, are you trying to refine an artifact?
Zhang Chao and Wu Nian quickly noticed that the screenshot was from the Weidao Division forum, and the search bar showed materials for artifacts.
[Zhang Wei]: To be precise, I'm trying to repair an artifact. I plan to repair that Half-Step Zhenguo level fan.
[Wu Nian]: …
[Zhang Chao]: …
Both Zhang Chao and Wu Nian were stunned. They reconfirmed Zhang Wei's message:
[Zhang Chao]: You thief!! Zhang Wei, did you overwork yourself last night and damage your brain? Repairing a Half-Step Zhenguo level artifact? Do you think artifacts can be repaired with a simple "biu" sound? This isn't like an online game where you can repair with one click.
[Zhang Chao]: And… you bastard, did you get these repair materials from Baidu on the forum?
[Wu Nian]: Amitabha, this humble monk suggests removing the words 'did you' and 'on the forum'. I just searched that list, and it came from a post titled [How to Repair Top-Tier Artifacts].
At the same time, Zhang Chao's mouth twitched. He exchanged glances with Wu Nian. Their eyes were surprisingly consistent at this moment, as if silently conveying… Zhang Wei is crazy, repairing artifacts isn't that simple. Searching on Baidu for answers, and it's a Half-Step Zhenguo level artifact.
…