I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely-Chapter 99: Wasted Effort

"What’s wrong?"

"Steward Cai, like I just said, I ran into Elder Xiong on the way here. If he was really looking for me, he would have called out to me."

In that situation, even if I hadn’t taken the initiative to greet him, the Elder should have been the one to speak.

"Well... maybe you need to be more proactive."

"But I have no reason to look for an Elder," Fang Yun stated directly.

When he accepted tasks on Artifact Casting Peak, he never had any special requests, so why would he need to see the peak’s Management Elder?

Besides, what Steward Cai said was just his own speculation.

Such speculation wasn’t necessarily correct.

Even if there was a sixty, or even an eighty percent chance that Steward Cai’s speculation was correct, he still wouldn’t go out of his way to find Elder Xiong of the Artifact Casting Peak.

First of all, he had no special requests for his Artifact Refining task. Second, if Steward Cai’s guess was wrong and he went to see Elder Xiong, wouldn’t he just make a fool of himself in the Elder’s eyes?

"Elder Xiong has never taken a disciple," Steward Cai hinted very obviously.

If Fang Yun still didn’t get it after a hint that blatant, there was really nothing more he could say.

The moment Steward Cai started talking about Elder Xiong, Fang Yun already had an idea of what he was trying to imply.

Accepting a disciple was not a simple matter.

Never mind Elder Xiong; from what Fang Yun understood, most Sect Elders had never taken on a disciple.

"Steward Cai, I understand what you mean. I’ve met Elder Bai, and we got along very well, but even he never showed any intention of taking me as his disciple. And my Alchemy Talent is nothing to scoff at," Fang Yun shared his thoughts.

He found it hard to believe that Elder Xiong would want him as a disciple without ever having interacted with him.

If he were to take on a disciple, talent would be important, yes, but character would be just as crucial.

He didn’t know about Evil Sects, but in Orthodox Sects, the master-disciple relationship often surpassed that of father and son.

"Maybe I’m overthinking it."

Steward Cai was also anxious. He really hoped Fang Yun could become Elder Xiong’s disciple, because Elder Xiong was their Celestial Cloud Sect’s best Artifact Refiner.

If Fang Yun became his disciple, his future would be even brighter.

"But I’ll say it again: your Alchemy Talent is good, yes, but your talent for Artifact Refining is even better."

Fang Yun was already used to it.

’If Steward Cai wants to keep saying it, let him.’

"Ahem... I’m telling you all this today because Elder Xiong has come here twice recently." Steward Cai added this one last reminder before placing a Token in his hand.

With the Token in hand, Fang Yun entered Superior Artifact Refining Room Number Two.

Before starting Artifact Refining, Fang Yun thought again about what Steward Cai had said.

’If Elder Xiong is really interested in me, my sect influence should have changed significantly...’

He glanced at the light screen. His sect influence was still at 20%.

Three days ago, his sect influence had increased from 19% to 20%.

This increase was the effect of the news spreading further after he became an Inner Sect Disciple.

After dispelling these distracting thoughts, Fang Yun officially began Artifact Refining.

...

「Smoke Cloud Peak.」

「Smoke Cloud Pavilion.」

「Inside a private room.」

A table was laden with Spiritual Food, but only two people sat there.

Fang Yun had met both of them before, but only once.

Zhu Tianrui and Deng Qian.

"I say, Junior Brother Zhu, what did you want to see me about?" Deng Qian said while enjoying the Spiritual Food. "With our relationship, if you need my help, you don’t have to go to all this trouble."

"A small token of my appreciation is still necessary," Zhu Tianrui said with a fawning smile.

’He knew very well that if he didn’t make a gesture, getting Deng Qian’s help wouldn’t be easy.’

"I know you’re incredibly powerful, Senior Brother Deng. You have few rivals among the senior brothers and sisters at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Today, I’d like to ask for your help in dealing with a certain disciple."

"Who?" Deng Qian asked, the Spirit Wine at his lips.

"Fang Yun."

PFFT—

Deng Qian spat out the mouthful of Spirit Wine he had just taken.

It even sprayed onto Zhu Tianrui’s face.

"Junior Brother Zhu, are you alright?" Deng Qian chuckled.

Zhu Tianrui wiped his face and replied with a smile, "I’m fine."

His right fist, which he had lowered, was already clenched, but it quickly relaxed.

Deng Qian’s reaction was clearly a bit off.

"Senior Brother, what was that just now? Is there a problem with dealing with Fang Yun?"

"A problem? A very big problem." Deng Qian’s mind raced, trying to buy time.

"What kind of problem?"

"Fang Yun is on especially good terms with Senior Sister Bai Qinying!" Recalling the incident from that day and how Bai Qinying had shown up afterward, Deng Qian immediately latched onto it as an excuse. "Junior Brother Zhu, you might not know Senior Sister Bai Qinying all that well, but you must know how strong she is. She’s third on the Inner Sect Ranking!"

The more he spun the tale, the more smoothly the words came to Deng Qian.

And as for that embarrassing incident of his, only he and Fang Yun knew about it.

"If I make a move on Fang Yun, Senior Sister Bai Qinying will definitely make a move on me."

"So that’s it!" Zhu Tianrui’s reaction was huge, as if he’d just had an epiphany.

This time it was Deng Qian’s turn to be confused.

"What are you thinking, Junior Brother?"

"No wonder Elder Bai is so partial to Fang Yun. It must have a lot to do with Bai Qinying."

Deng Qian knew Fang Yun’s Alchemy Talent was excellent. Otherwise, with a Spirit Root Talent as poor as the Five Spirit Roots, he never would have become an Inner Sect Disciple so quickly.

’Elder Bai probably favors Fang Yun simply because of his Alchemy Talent.’

Deng Qian didn’t know what Zhu Tianrui was thinking, but as an outsider, he could see things clearly.

"That’s right, that’s exactly it," Deng Qian quickly agreed.

’It was best that Zhu Tianrui understood it this way. That way, he wouldn’t have to deal with Fang Yun and could get a free meal of Spiritual Food out of it.’

"So, Junior Brother, it’ll be very difficult to make Fang Yun suffer a bit in a Magical Combat spar, unless you have a way to get past Senior Sister Bai Qinying."

Deng Qian said this while eating and drinking.

"Senior Brother Deng, do you think it’s possible that in private..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The moment Zhu Tianrui said that, Deng Qian shot to his feet, staring daggers at him.

The unpleasant memories that had just dissipated began to assault him again.

"Are you crazy?! What are you thinking of doing in private?"

"Senior Brother, don’t get so worked up. I was just throwing the idea out there." Seeing Deng Qian’s reaction, Zhu Tianrui had no choice but to temporarily abandon his plans.

"I’m not worked up."

After saying this one line, Deng Qian sat down again.

Then, in the silence that fell between them, he devoured the rest of the Spiritual Food on the table like a storm.

"Junior Brother, thank you for your hospitality."

After speaking, Deng Qian quickly stood up, gave Zhu Tianrui a smile, and then left.

Zhu Tianrui was left alone in the private room.

He didn’t leave right away but continued to sit there.

This meal was a huge waste for him. Nothing was resolved, and he had spent a lot of Spirit Stones.

What concerned him most, however, was the current situation with accepting Alchemy tasks.

Ever since Fang Yun became an Inner Sect Disciple, the number of Alchemy tasks he could accept had started to decrease drastically.