Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Saving Talent Points
After reflecting on his experience and comparing the differences between a two-star and three-star Alchemy Talent, Fang Yun began refining another batch of Cyan Jade Pills.
This was the thirty-sixth batch.
’Excellent!’
This ti, the refining process for the Cyan Jade Pills was even shorter than the last, and the resulting pills broke his record once again.
All six Cyan Jade Pills were Middle Grade.
With the boost from his three-star Alchemy Talent, Fang Yun was now confident he could refine an Upper Grade Cyan Jade Pill within fifty batches.
’If I estimate again now...’
By the ti he broke through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, there was a ninety percent chance he’d be able to use exclusively Upper Grade Cyan Jade Pills to aid his cultivation.
...
「Early July.」
Fang Yun had beco an Outer Sect disciple of the Celestial Cloud Sect in early October of last year, so it had now been over nine months.
In terms of cultivation, his most imdiate goal was to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer by the end of September.
With the help of Upper Grade Qi Nourishing Pills, he was making steady progress toward this goal.
Fang Yun now stood at the entrance to the Library Pavilion.
Before he had even stepped inside, he received a notification.
Sect Influence 1% ↑
’It’s the beginning of the month again...’
His Sect Influence had last increased in early May, and now it had happened again in early July.
It always seed to increase at the beginning of the month, which made Fang Yun feel like he was getting a raw deal.
Of course, the increase in Sect Influence wasn’t sothing he could control, especially since it currently depended more on his spreading reputation than on holding any real power within the sect.
To hold any real power in the sect, he would have to beco a Sect Elder at the very least.
So disciples in the Celestial Cloud Sect already knew he was refining Cyan Jade Pills, and that his results were quite good. These were mainly disciples who frequented the Disciple Marketplace.
The fact that he had started refining Cyan Jade Pills so quickly had further boosted his reputation in the Disciple Marketplace.
To increase his Sect Influence, Fang Yun continued the sa strategy he’d used when refining Qi Nourishing Pills: he would visit the Disciple Marketplace to buy about ten sets of Alchemy Materials at a ti, deliberately increasing how often he was seen there.
He opened the translucent screen and looked at the sect interface.
[Celestial Cloud Sect]
Sect Level: 3
Sect Position: Outer Sect Disciple
Sect Influence: 4%
In the bottom-right corner of the interface, his Talent Points showed the number 261.
At the start-of-month calculation, he had received 1,377 Talent Points. Added to the 84 points left over from last month, he had a total of 1,461.
Things were different from before.
This month, when drawing for Life Talents, Fang Yun didn’t spend all his Talent Points at once.
He ended up drawing twelve tis, receiving five Alchemy Talent fragnts, four Artifact Refining Talent fragnts, and three Planting Talent fragnts.
When he drew his fourth Artifact Refining Talent fragnt, all three of his Life Talents reached the three-star level.
After that, he started saving his Talent Points.
It cost one thousand Talent Points to draw for a Combat Talent.
At his current rate of acquiring Talent Points, he could normally afford one Combat Talent draw per month.
This month might be a little tight, though. He planned to start reading books on the basics of Artifact Refining, and that would take up a considerable amount of ti.
That was why he was now at the Library Pavilion: to borrow so introductory books on Artifact Refining.
"Junior Brother Fang, why are you standing here in a daze?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Fang Yun ntally dismissed the translucent screen before him.
He turned to see Song Qiaoqiao walking toward him.
’I must have looked like I was in a daze,’ Fang Yun thought. ’From now on, I should try not to open the screen in public places like this.’
Fang Yun smoothly averted his gaze and replied with a smile, "Oh, Senior Sister Song. I was just thinking about sothing."
"Are you here to borrow books from the Library Pavilion too, Senior Sister Song?" Fang Yun asked casually as she drew near.
"Of course,"
Song Qiaoqiao nodded earnestly.
’What a stupid question,’ Fang Yun realized a mont later. ’What else would soone be doing at the Library Pavilion besides borrowing books...’
Fortunately, Song Qiaoqiao had answered him earnestly, so it wasn’t awkward.
The two of them entered the Library Pavilion together.
The books Fang Yun wanted were on the first floor of the Library Pavilion, while Song Qiaoqiao needed to go up to the second.
The two parted ways shortly after entering the Library Pavilion.
Finding the section on Artifact Refining, Fang Yun quickly searched for books suitable for beginners.
Soon, Fang Yun found a technique manual, Beginner Refining Technique. Next to it was a knowledge-based book, Basic Refining Spiritual Material Attributes, which he decided to borrow as well.
Books that introduced the properties of materials didn’t provide many Talent Points and didn’t require repeated, careful reading. He just needed to morize the content, so they were quick to get through.
With both books in hand, Fang Yun was walking away from the shelves when he saw Song Qiaoqiao coming down from the second floor.
’Looks like Senior Sister Song is just like , very decisive when choosing books. That’s why she was so fast.’
"Junior Brother Fang, this book I got..."
Seeing that Fang Yun was also done, Song Qiaoqiao hurried over to him.
She had wanted to recomnd the alchemy book she’d borrowed for him to read later, but then she saw the cover of the book in his hands: Beginner Refining Technique. Her voice trailed off, becoming so quiet that Fang Yun couldn’t hear the end of her sentence.
Huh...?
’Artifact Refining?’
Song Qiaoqiao stared at it again.
She was certain she hadn’t seen it wrong. The book in Junior Brother Fang’s hands was about Artifact Refining, not Alchemy.
Fang Yun saw Song Qiaoqiao staring at the book in his hands, her face a picture of confusion, though she didn’t ask him about it.
’This will be easy to explain.’
’I already have an excuse ready.’
Considering everything he planned to do in the future, Fang Yun had already co up with plenty of excuses like this.
"I’ve had so free ti recently, and I’ve gotten a little interested in Artifact Refining, so I wanted to see if I have any talent for it. If I do, I could save a bundle of Spirit Stones on buying Magical Artifacts in the future. And if my Artifact Refining Talent turns out to be really good, it could be another way for
to earn Spirit Stones."
Hearing Fang Yun’s careful calculations, Song Qiaoqiao couldn’t help but think how difficult things must be for a disciple with Five Spirit Roots like Junior Brother Fang.
’He’s only thinking about Artifact Refining because he wants to see if he can save so Spirit Stones.’
"You really have it tough, Junior Brother," she said, speaking her thoughts aloud.
"It’s not so bad. Luckily, my Planting and Alchemy Talents are decent." Seeing her expression, Fang Yun couldn’t resist joking, "Oh? Hearing you say I have it so tough, Senior Sister... does this an I don’t have to pay back those one hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones?"
"No, Junior Brother." Song Qiaoqiao shook her head. "You absolutely have to pay
back the Spirit Stones. And on ti, too!"
"Fine, fine. Of course, I know."
Fang Yun didn’t press the joke further; he was just teasing.
"After you pay
back the Spirit Stones this ti, Junior Brother, if you need to borrow again..."
"I won’t have to pay you back?"
"No, no! Next ti, you can borrow them for longer." At this, Song Qiaoqiao added emphatically, "Interest-free."
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