Chapter 75

After the formal celebration of the apprenticeship, the atmosphere at the banquet became much more relaxed.

Needless to say, Jiang Feng and the other four people all had to continue their efforts and prepare for the state examination in a month.

Therefore, they could not afford to relax at all and had to seize every moment to continue their training.

Wang Erhu had been tossing and turning all night, weighing whether to follow his initial plan and retake the county examination next year, or to fulfill Xiang Sheng's last wish and study at Linjian Academy.

It wasn't until this morning that he suddenly realized that so-called completing someone else's life was just a form of self-satisfaction. What he should do most was to follow the path he wanted to take.

After hearing his words, Jiang Feng and the others exchanged glances and raised their cups together, "You're right!"

Ping Luan Shan chuckled, "And, striving to secure a spot among the disciples of Fuliang Sect can also be considered avenging Old Xiang!"

The group responded in unison, and they all splashed their wine in front of Xiang Sheng's chair.

Fang Liuxian held his cup, listened to the young men's conversation, and turned to smile at Hua Su, "Children always grow faster than we imagine..."

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly widened, and he shouted, "Hold on, that's my disciple's work, you can't eat it all by yourself!"

Hua Su was drinking alone, and the dish of cracked-horn rhinoceros stomach was almost finished.

Hua Su sneered, "What are you talking about? Isn't that my disciple too? Besides, I'm the senior master, so you're only the second master! What's the big deal about eating a plate of beef stomach?"

Fang Liuxian spat, "We each teach our own, no such thing as seniority! No way, you can't eat the rest, give it to me!"

Ping Luan Shan turned his head and also shouted, "Leave some for us too!"

Immediately, the young men exchanged glances and rushed over, joining the food fight.

...

...

Hua Su had already prepared the backyard for them. After dinner, Jiang Feng formally apprenticed to Fang Liuxian and began learning the art of making treasures.

The apprenticeship ceremony involved paying respects to the ancestor, but this ancestor was not a person, but a painting.

This painting was called the Treasure Map. When the scroll was opened, various kinds of artifacts flowed across it. Jiang Feng's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it, and finally, he saw two familiar items: the Bronze Tree of Enlightenment and the Misleading Gate, which he had used in the major examination.

He suddenly understood and said, "This is all the treasures made by Master Fang!"

Fang Liuxian nodded approvingly, "That's right. Every treasure master receives a Treasure Map when they enter the apprenticeship."

As he spoke, he respectfully took out a scroll from behind him and handed it to Jiang Feng.

This scroll was completely blank, with nothing on it, as if waiting for someone to paint it.

Fang Liuxian said, "In the future, every treasure you make will automatically leave an image on it. The Treasure Map is protected by heaven and earth, and must not be violated. Unless you willingly give it to someone else, no one else can see anything even if they get it."

Fang Liuxian rolled up his own scroll and handed it to Jiang Feng. As soon as he took it, Jiang Feng felt as if countless pieces of information were waiting outside his brain, ready to flood in.

He asked in surprise, "What is this?"

Although his reference was unclear, Fang Liuxian knew exactly what he meant. He stroked his beard and smiled, "The Treasure Map not only leaves the image of the treasure but also all the materials required and the entire process of making it. Of course, how much others can understand from it depends on their own insight."

Jiang Feng suddenly understood, feeling indescribable. Fang Liuxian had actually handed over all his knowledge and thoughts to him!

Fang Liuxian said, "In the next few days, I will lay the foundation for you. After three days, I have to return to the academy to continue organizing the major examination. The path of a treasure master requires more from your mind—"

He gently tapped Jiang Feng's forehead, and Jiang Feng nodded in understanding.

Fang Liuxian smiled, "When the time comes, you will study with this map. If you don't improve by the next meeting, I will expel you from the apprenticeship!"

Jiang Feng gripped the scroll and said loudly, "Master, please rest assured!"

Next, Fang Liuxian explained some other related matters to Jiang Feng.

In certain organizations, there are associations of treasure masters. However, the certification of treasure masters is not handled by them.

The profession of treasure master is a creation of heaven and earth, and everything is determined by heaven.

In other words, the qualification of a treasure master is naturally generated based on the content that appears on the Treasure Map.

At first, the qualification on the Treasure Map is quite vague and hard to understand. But over time, treasure masters have developed a set of standards.

Roughly speaking, successfully making more than ten advanced treasures with a success rate of over 50% can earn one a first-tier qualification.

The second, third, and fourth tiers also have similar standards. Only the fifth tier is particularly different.

No one has yet figured out the promotion criteria for fifth-tier treasure masters, not even the fifth-tier treasure masters themselves.

At their level, there is a mysterious and profound sense, and many things they understand cannot be conveyed to others.

In general, receiving a Treasure Map from a master is the starting point for all treasure masters.

From today on, this blank Treasure Map will record Jiang Feng's entire journey as a treasure master.

Fang Liuxian had imprinted all the content from his own map onto Jiang Feng's, which was a genuine and complete transfer of knowledge.

Jiang Feng held the two Treasure Maps and returned to his room, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Ye Xiao's shadow appeared before him. He looked down at the scroll in his hand and suddenly looked up and smiled, "Ye Xiao, in this world, there are still more good people!"

...

...

In the evening, he organized the information Ye Xiao had passed to him.

Ye Xiao had asked him to go to Jiezi Pavilion in Taicang City to retrieve something before the state examination.

Jiezi Pavilion is also a property of the Zhong family, combining a bank, an auction house, and a treasure storage facility. It handles an enormous amount of money and treasures daily and holds a significant position in the Nine Heavens Continent.

The treasure storage service is a special business, open only to some important figures of Jiezi Pavilion.

Ye Xiao had once stored something there, and now she wanted Jiang Feng to retrieve it. This item, unknown to others, would sufficiently prove his identity without arousing suspicion.

Storing treasures in Jiezi Pavilion does not require any token; only a 48-character numerical password is needed. This password mechanism is extremely complex, designed by Ji Qingyun and two fifth-tier treasure masters.

Ji Qingyun himself is not a martial cultivator, but this password naturally possesses a mysterious power, extremely secretive. It can only be used by the creator of the password, and only someone like Ye Xiao can directly pass the information.

After organizing the information, Jiang Feng silently recited the password in his mind—he found that the password could not be directly described in words.

In other words, having someone else retrieve the item was absolutely impossible; he had to go there in person.

He became increasingly curious about Ye Xiao's identity. What kind of person was she to have a treasure storage space in Jiezi Pavilion?

Taicang City is the site of the state examination, but the information indicated that he needed to go there in advance.

The treasure itself was not stored in Jiezi Pavilion in Taicang City but had to be transported from another place, which would take at least half a month.

With a month left before the state examination, Jiang Feng had to make a trip there in the next month to complete the necessary procedures in advance.

...

...

For the next three days, Jiang Feng's time was entirely devoted to Fang Liuxian.

Fang Liuxian was extremely dedicated to him. He took him to the Twilight Forest to hunt Ming beasts and practice handling materials. He used these materials to teach him the principles of making treasures.

Advanced treasures were more complex than Jiang Feng had imagined, and the materials he had gathered were far from enough.

Fang Liuxian was about to go to the nearby market to purchase more when Hua Su, holding a cigarette, silently led them to the back warehouse of the martial arts hall and opened the door wide.

Materials piled up like a small mountain inside, ranging from low to high grade, worth a fortune.

Fang Liuxian was pleasantly surprised, complaining that Hua Su, a reckless martial cultivator, was not good at handling materials, which led to a significant loss of Ming energy, but he still pulled Jiang Feng in and started picking through the materials.

Materials flowed through Jiang Feng's hands like a stream, and he, accustomed to being frugal, was heartbroken.

Fang Liuxian, however, was not at all concerned. He told him that, in a sense, the ability of a treasure master was built on a massive amount of materials, and he had to be mentally prepared.

Moreover, for any treasure master, the foundation was very important.

The more you waste and practice today, the higher your achievements might be tomorrow.

However, once Jiang Feng achieved some success and could successfully make treasures, he wouldn't need to worry too much about money.

Even advanced treasures could be sold at high prices, and the money earned could be used to buy materials. By making some necessary items, he could basically maintain a balance.

At a higher level, like Fang Liuxian, who was a second or third-tier treasure master, he could become a wealthy person in the area just by his skills!

Although Fang Liuxian only stayed at the Far Mountain Martial Arts Hall for a short four days, these four days brought tremendous help to Jiang Feng.

Every word he said, Jiang Feng remembered carefully. The data he casually mentioned all turned into details, entering Jiang Feng's brain and the Tianji Magic Cube, being digested by him.

The time was too short, and everything Fang Liuxian taught was the core essence, which Jiang Feng absorbed with great eagerness.

If Jiang Feng had been completely ignorant about treasure masters before, now he had a clear framework in his mind, which was the best foundation for an excellent treasure master!

Three days after the apprenticeship ceremony, Fang Liuxian left the Far Mountain Martial Arts Hall.

Jiang Feng bowed deeply, only straightening up when Fang Liuxian's figure completely disappeared.

Hua Su stood behind him, blew a smoke ring, and said, "Old Fang is gone, it's time to pick up your martial cultivation!"

Jiang Feng smiled, turned around, and responded, "Yes!"

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