The light group exploded like a cloud, turning into specks of sparkling light that disappeared into the crown of the head.
Massive and astonishing knowledge abruptly sprang forth, as if it was being rammed brutishly into the brain by a giant hand.
Learn it now!
This was the first time Li Quanqing came into contact with such a formidable stream of information, feeling as though his head would burst with the pressure, veins on his forehead pulsating wildly.
Yet his mind remained exceptionally clear, forced to study the unfamiliar Artifact Refining knowledge.
The method for refining the Green Carp Sword!
Material identification, smelting of ores, forging of the artifact base, Spiritual Pattern Engraving...
All sorts of basic Artifact Refining knowledge surged in, which actually included many unique artifact refinement techniques of the Li Family.
Li Quanqing sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, guarding his mind vigilantly, striving to digest this vast sea of knowledge.
Moo moo!
The male Green Jade Carp, no longer controlled by spells, immediately dashed off with a flick of its tail into the water, sticking close to its spouse.
After a good hour or so, Li Quanqing finally slowly opened his eyes.
"It seems that becoming an Artifact Refiner is indeed no simple matter."
He exhaled a murky breath, massaging the somewhat swollen area between his eyebrows, and could not help but marvel at the complexity and profundity of the path of Artifact Refining.
Merely the method for refining a Mid Grade Magical Artifact was as vast as the sea of stars, utterly unattainable in a lifetime without talent.
Fortunately, he had the option to take a shortcut.
Li Quanqing mused over this body of knowledge, which was vivid in his mind, remembering various Artifact Refining techniques and essentials.
But without actual hands-on experience, it ultimately amounted to armchair strategizing.
"Perhaps... I could try my hand at the Artifact Refining Hall?"
The thought emerged in Li Quanqing's mind.
The spiritual stone expenditure at the Artifact Hall was sizeable, not even mentioning the basic academy fees.
Buying extra materials for practice runs cost money, privately hiring a family Artifact Master for guidance cost money, and even the social interactions among the academy disciples consumed a fair amount of spirit stones.
But now that he had memorized the basics of Artifact Refining, he could swiftly skip past the novice stage of the apprenticeship.
It was akin to walking into an examination hall with the answer sheet in hand.
Not only would he save a large amount of spirit stones, but he could also leap to become an Artifact Refiner and ascend to a higher status within the family.
After sorting out the pros and cons, Li Quanqing ultimately decided to join the Artifact Refining Hall.
He pulled out the Storage Bag Li Quanzhu had given him and began to count the spirit stones.
The words of the Third Elder had struck a chord with him; the family competition indeed seemed worth a shot.
"How come there are precisely five hundred and twenty low-grade spirit stones?"
Li Quanqing furrowed his brows, noticing something amiss with the quantity.
Initially, he had only lent out five hundred spirit stones.
"Could it be my uncle having a pang of conscience, adding interest?"
Li Quanqing shook his head, dismissing that notion.
Li Yuheng was stingy and cheap; he valued spirit stones more than anything and was unlikely to do such a thing.
A gentle woman's figure emerged in his mind, and upon reflection, the possibility seemed greatest that his aunt had act of kindness.
"Then tomorrow, I'll bring two big Green Fish to visit this wealthy uncle of mine who has struck it rich."
Li Quanqing put away the spirit stones, feeling perfectly justified in doing so.
Moo moo!
The water surface made splashing sounds as the male Green Jade Carp slowly emerged, its dead-fish eyes seemingly having lost a particular sparkle.
[Decadent Green Jade Carp Life]Green Jade Carp: "Rising up was too terrifying; I better just peacefully be a salted fish, eat, sleep! Sleep, eat!"
[Cultivation: Qi Refining First Level (1%)]
Li Quanqing was pondering over what had happened when he saw the female Green Jade Carp swimming up shortly after her mate, clinging to her husband and wailing loudly.
Most importantly, on the rich and plump belly of the female Green Jade Carp, there was a layer of densely packed fresh fish roe.
[Maternal Bliss]Green Jade Carp: "I'm so happy, finally gave birth to the babies today, hubby was so mighty just now～"
Li Quanqing: ...
He didn't expect these two creatures to act so quickly.
In the blink of an eye, they had both become pregnant with babies.
"The more abundant the Spiritual Energy, the better the development for the fish roes after hatching, so it seems I'll need to spend a few more days at this Zone B fish pond."
Li Quanqing revealed a smile, filled with anticipation for the young Green Jade Carp.
The offspring of the Golden Pattern Jade Carp are bound to have extraordinary bloodlines; I wonder what rewards they will bring.
After feeding the fish swarm the next day, Li Quanqing, with a big Green Carp as a gift, headed to his uncle's on Spirit Island.
He arrived fairly early, but outside the door of Li Yuheng's residence, there was already a crowd of visitors gathered.
"Why are there so many people?"
Li Quanqing was a bit confused; in his memory, his uncle didn't have many friends.
"Hey, does this young fellow not know? Lord Yuheng has broken through to the Qi Refining Sixth Level. It's said he'll soon be promoted to Family Steward!"
The envious tone of a nearby elder was unmistakable. Seeing the two Green Carps in the hands of the youth, he couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.
Such a modest gift, how could it possibly receive the host's reception and favor?
A Qi Refinement Sixth Level Cultivation, even among the Li Family's direct lineage is considered a backbone; not to mention these impoverished collateral kin.
Fortunately, the mortal servants recognized him and led Li Quanqing into the cave mansion without neglect.
"Master Quanqing, please wait a moment. The lord is currently in the main hall meeting those esteemed guests."
Li Quanqing looked up and saw the hall hidden within the garden, where he could faintly hear a familiar burst of hearty laughter.
This laughter was so carefree it seemed to expel all the frustrations accumulated over the decades.
He couldn't be bothered to wait any longer: "Take me to see my aunt instead; I gather my uncle isn't too eager to see me at this moment."
In the backyard, his aunt was with two cooks, obviously quite happy to see him.
Li Quanqing handed over the big Green Carp to the cooks, and mentioned those twenty extra spirit stones.
"It must have been your uncle who tucked those away; he's stubborn and won't thank you face to face, young master Quanqing."
Li Yurou smiled gently, her skin a bit dark but dimples formed at the corners of her mouth, tender as water.
"In that case, I'll go and thank my uncle right away."
As soon as these words came out, the woman immediately panicked and stopped him.
Li Quanqing confirmed his suspicions and handed over the deed to the fish pond to his aunt: "Our family's Green Jade Carps are currently breeding, could I possibly return the Array Formation Token in a few days?"
"Of course, there's no problem. Your uncle got a taste of adventure this time and is now obsessed with it. I'm afraid he won't have time to care about the fish pond for a while."
Li Yurou let out a long sigh, with a worried look in her eyes, deep unease lingering in her heart.
These matters were not something Li Quanqing could easily meddle in.
After some idle chit-chat, he said goodbye and returned to the fish pond.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
During this time, Li Quanqing went to the Evergreen Hall once and repaid all the spirit stones mortgaged to the family.
He then borrowed a hundred spirit stones using Contribution Points.
This time he had no plans to repay them, instead intending to use them to sign up for Artifact Hall.
"There are still four hundred Family Contribution Points as a backup. If I fail in the family competition in two or three years, I can accumulate enough points to exchange for the 'Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill'."
Li Quanqing rowed around the fish pond, knocking on the edge of the boat with his fingers to produce a unique sound: "Dinner time at the canteen!"
The school of fish surged forth, the water's surface boiling with activity, countless shades of green scales filling the view, smooth as mirrors, a spectacular sight.
Moo! Moo!
Two Green Jade Carps followed and swam up leisurely, eating the Spirit Worm Bait, their Demon Energy swirling; not one big Green Carp dared to compete for food.
Around their bodies, a ring of Green Jade Carp fry also gathered, though only as thick as a finger, they had quite the appetite.
"1, 2, 3... 38 fry!"
Li Quanqing counted them and also examined the belly of the female Green Jade Carp to ensure all the roes had hatched before nodding with satisfaction.
"The time has come, time to move!"