Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Damn! This old drunkard is really hard to fool...!"

When Xia Xihai asked for a price, Lu Feng's heart sank, and he cursed under his breath.

Although the other party had once given him a ninth-grade furnace cauldron, the "Four-Sheep Square Cauldron," and did not seem like a stingy person, that was only because Xia Xihai was generous in order to help Liu Lanyu alleviate her anxiety about her appearance; it was not really a generous gift at all.

Therefore, if Lu Feng wants to reforge the Ice Shield Axe, he can only pay out of his own pocket and cannot expect Xia Xihai to help him at any cost!

"Vice Dean Xia, may I ask how much the material cost was for reforging the Ice Shield Axe?"

Thinking of this, Lu Feng's lips twitched slightly, and then he forced out a smirk.

After all, he had gone to great lengths to trick Zhao Fang and others from Wanbaoge into giving him three jars of Baihua Zuixian Wine, and now Xia Xihai had agreed to help. If he gave up now, wouldn't all his efforts have been in vain?

"Hehe, don't worry too much, it won't cost many spirit stones..."

Seemingly noticing Lu Feng's troubled expression, Xia Xihai grinned and then said calmly, "The overall damage to this Extreme Ice Shield Axe is not high. There are only some chips on the inside of the blade. It can be repaired with about 800,000 mid-grade spirit stones."

"What?"

Lu Feng was completely dumbfounded. "Eight hundred thousand? And in mid-grade spirit stones?!"

"good."

Nodding in agreement, Xia Xihai said in a calm and unhurried tone, "The main body of this Extreme Ice Shield Axe is mostly made of ice crystal ore and mithril ore. Both of these ores are rare spiritual ores, and they are quite valuable even in some cultivator trading markets. They are extremely rare."

"Besides, reforging a magic weapon also requires the assistance of a demon core, not to mention that the Extreme Ice Shield Axe in your hand is a top-grade Xuan-level magic weapon. At the very least, you need to use a demon core of at least mid-grade Tian-level. Otherwise, even if the reforging is successful, its power will be greatly reduced, or even worse than before...!"

At this point, Xia Xihai glanced at Lu Feng again, and said in a meaningful tone, as if reminding the other party not to be stingy with these spirit stones, lest he end up losing more than he gained!

However, in response to Xia Xihai's reminder, Lu Feng looked grim and remained silent.

Because, at most, he could only scrape together 400,000 mid-grade spirit stones, barely enough for half the cost of materials. Even if he sold Lu Feng as a package, he still couldn't afford it!

The material cost alone is 800,000? And that's for mid-grade elemental stones?

This is ridiculously expensive! Why doesn't this old drunkard just rob someone?!

"Vice Dean Xia, are you kidding me? Where would I possibly find so many spirit stones right now..."

"Moreover, 800,000 mid-grade spirit stones is no small sum. Please allow me to say something blunt, isn't this blatant ripping you off...!"

Lu Feng hesitated to utter the last word "person," his face stiffening slightly. He then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and tentatively asked in a low voice.

Although he also wanted to reforge the Extreme Ice Shield Axe as soon as possible, he really couldn't afford 800,000 mid-grade spirit stones right now!

Moreover, given the treasure-gathering ability of the treasure basin, it would take at least half a year to nurture so many multi-element stones all at once!

Now that the four martial arts worlds are about to clash, Lu Feng simply can't wait any longer!

"Hmm, with your current strength and wealth, it's indeed a bit difficult for you to pull out 800,000 mid-grade spirit stones all at once..."

Seeing this, Xia Xihai also stroked his chin, his face thoughtful, as if he understood Lu Feng's predicament.

After all, Lu Feng was just a student from the South Academy. Even though he had successfully broken through to the first level of the Yuanhai Realm, he could not compare with Lu Feng, the vice dean of Falling Star Academy and an expert at the eighth level of the Yuanhai Realm!

Moreover, Xia Xihai himself is a master craftsman at the Grandmaster level, so earning 800,000 mid-grade spirit stones is just a piece of cake for him. On the other hand, it's not so easy for Lu Feng!

"Fine! I'll take this small loss. How many spirit stones do you have left, kid?"

After a moment's thought, Xia Xihai shook his head again, then looked at Lu Feng once more, seemingly too lazy to haggle over the material costs with him.

"Replying to Vice Dean Xia, this disciple currently only has less than 400,000 coins on him..."

"Four hundred thousand it is! Considering these jars of Hundred Flowers Drunken Immortal Wine and your filial piety, I, Xia, will take this job today!"

With a flick of his sleeves, Xia Xihai abandoned his previous petty calculations and spoke with a hearty and generous expression.

Admittedly, reforging the Ice Shield Axe was a bit of a loss for him, but he still had to help Lu Feng with this favor in the end!

After all, Lu Feng is not only the most outstanding cultivation prodigy in the Falling Star Academy in the past hundred years, but also one of the young juniors valued by his junior sister Liu Lanyu. In terms of cultivation value alone, he surpasses other disciples by several streets!

As the vice dean and Lu Feng's mentor, he couldn't very well try to take advantage of the other party. If this got out, it would inevitably make him a laughing stock and even discourage the disciples of other academies!

"This disciple thanks Vice Dean Xia!"

Seeing that Xia Xihai had finally relented, Lu Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately offered up his only storage ring, saying, "There are 400,000 mid-grade spirit stones inside. Please take a look, Vice Dean Xia!"

Lu Feng remained respectful, but a hint of heartache flickered in his eyes.

Although the material costs were finally settled, 400,000 mid-grade spirit stones was still a considerable sum. After this major financial blow, Lu Feng was now practically penniless, essentially back to square one!

"Alright, alright, if there's nothing else, you can leave now...!"

Xia Xihai waved his hand, signaling Lu Feng to step back, and then turned and walked towards the individual cave opposite, seemingly busy going back to continue forging weapons and refining treasures, with no time to chat idly here.

"By the way, reforging the Ice Shield Axe will take at least a month. You'll be waiting quite a while, so don't blame me for not warning you..."

Seemingly remembering something, Xia Xihai turned and glanced at Lu Feng again, who bowed respectfully, his face still showing deference, and said, "Disciple understands!"

"I'm leaving everything in Vice Dean Xia's hands...!"

Seeing that Lu Feng was so sensible, Xia Xihai didn't say much, just nodded slightly, and then turned around and disappeared into the cave.

"Um?"

The moment Xia Xihai stepped inside the cave, before even starting his furnace to forge weapons, his expression froze slightly. He then abruptly turned to look behind him, "Hey! What are you doing here again...!"

Seeing that Lu Feng not only followed him into the cave but also clung to him like glue, Xia Xihai looked suspicious. "Didn't I tell you to go back and wait? Do you have something else to do?"

"This disciple has long heard of Vice Dean Xia's unparalleled skill in forging weapons, and he is renowned in the martial arts world as the 'Divine Refinement Master.' Now that this disciple has the honor of witnessing Vice Dean Xia personally opening the furnace to forge weapons, it would be a pity to leave now..."

Faced with Xia Xihai's question, Lu Feng bowed respectfully, his face still full of flattery.

As the saying goes, since he's already here, he might as well make something of himself before leaving; otherwise, his trip would have been in vain.

Moreover, Xia Xihai is a master craftsman at the Grandmaster level, and his crafting skills are beyond the reach of ordinary people. If Lu Feng can observe from the sidelines now, he will benefit greatly in the future!

"Oh? I didn't expect you to be interested in the art of weapon forging?"

Faced with Lu Feng's barrage of flattery, Xia Xihai was quite pleased. He picked his nose, then grinned, "Since that's how it is, then do as you please..."

"However, I don't have time to teach you any skills right now, so you'd better watch yourself..."

After saying that, Xia Xihai turned and walked into the depths of the cave. At the same time, he raised his hand and took out a huge cauldron with a tiger's head engraved on its entire body, which was gilded from the ring between his fingers. He then ignored Lu Feng, who was standing to the side.

After all, the art of casting and the art of alchemy lead to the same goal, and neither can tolerate the slightest distraction during the casting process; otherwise, the furnace will explode and the artifact will be destroyed, and all previous efforts will be wasted!