Elder Ning was calm again, her icy composure back in place. But now, it was a calm filled with hope, not despair. She had one practical problem.
"Elder Lin," she began, her voice formal once more. "I am an elder of the sect. If I am seen visiting your courtyard every day for a month, it will cause rumors. It could damage both our reputations."
He nodded thoughtfully. Inside, he was cheering. This was the perfect opening. "Your concern is valid, Elder Ning. We cannot have distractions."
He stepped closer, his expression turning serious and grand. "Also, a powerful expert like you, at the Core Formation realm, the simple Secret Realm in my courtyard would not help. A Core Formation foundation is deeper and more complex. That is why it will take a full month to fix. It requires a new, dedicated formation. A sanctuary, built only for you."
He lowered his voice, making it seductive and romantic. "I will erect a new Obelisk, right here in your courtyard. It will be our secret. A world created just for you, Xinyi." He used her first name, and a blush appeared on her cheeks.
"A new one?" she asked, her eyes wide. "Can you do that? Will it take a long time?"
"It is difficult," he lied smoothly, "but for you, it is necessary. It will take one month to fully stabilize the new realm and your foundation. Even if you feel your Qi has stabilized after a day or a week, you must continue the full cycle. It is like forging a divine sword. You cannot stop halfway, or cracks will appear later."
His words were filled with a strange mix of technical jargon and romantic promise. She was completely captivated. The thought of a Secret Realm, created just for her, made her heart beat faster. Hope, and something else she hadn't felt in a long time, filled her.
"I will do it," she vowed, her eyes shining. "I will follow your instructions for the entire month."
She looked at the empty space in her courtyard where he was pointing. "This... this profound formation art you use... does it have a name?"
Lin Fan froze for a second. 'Crap. Name? I just call it 'the System'.' He needed something good. Something that sounded ancient and powerful.
He put on a solemn expression. He looked up at the sky, acting like he was showing respect to the Heavens. He stroked his chin slowly. After a long, dramatic pause, he spoke, his voice filled with ancient wisdom.
"It is called the 'Samsara Foundation Reforging Art'."
"Samsara... Reforging..." she whispered the words. They sounded beautiful and deeply profound. Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. Reforging, to create something new and stronger from the old. Her eyes filled with awe and respect. She clapped her hands together lightly. "It is a magnificent name, Elder Lin. Any doubt I had is now completely gone."
Lin Fan mentally patted himself on the back. 'Bullshitting is a truly powerful skill. Thanks Webnovels for making me an expert.'
"Now, for the materials," he said, listing a few rare and expensive items. "...and I will need a large block of Star-Veined Granite and a core of Pure Jade to serve as the anchor."
Elder Ning did not hesitate. "I have them in my personal storage." Within an hour, she delivered the materials. They were of the highest quality.
Lin Fan began his "ritual." He placed the granite and jade in the center of the courtyard. He walked around them, muttering fake incantations and drawing glowing runes on the ground with his finger. It was all a show and mix of his Formation Knowledge.
However, to create a new Dungeon Gate he would only need the System, not even the materials. In his mind, he was simply navigating the System menu.
[Create New Obelisk Gate?]
[Location: Current Coordinates]
[Cost: 100 currency units.]
[Confirm?]
'Yes,' he thought.
A brilliant light shone from the materials. The ground trembled slightly. In less than a minute, a brand new stone Obelisk, identical to the one in his own courtyard, stood in the middle of Elder Ning's garden.
She gasped. To create such a complex formation so quickly... he was a true grandmaster!
"The gate is ready, not stable but don't worry, I will keep it stable for you, after a month later it will be stable and you will be able to use it on your own without my requirement." Lin Fan announced. "Now, for the rules."
He explained his made-up rules, designed to maximize his own profit. "The path of reforging must begin at the very beginning. Your first task is to temper your foundation in the 'Forest of Beginnings'. The creatures inside are weak, but this is a vital cleansing ritual. You must complete this trial 500 times. Each completion purifies a small part of your foundation. Do not question the process. It is essential."
His real plan was simple. When Su Mei killed the Goblin Boss, it dropped 650 units of System Currency. He needed a lot of that currency. The System shop had new dungeon slots for sale, but they were expensive. Unlocking more slots meant he could design dungeons for stronger cultivators. A Nascent Soul expert? The Sect Master himself? Maybe even a legendary immortal fairy? The possibilities were endless if he had enough cash.
But Elder Ning did not need to know that.
She nodded seriously. The idea of a cleansing ritual made perfect sense to a cultivator. 500 times seemed like a sacred, meaningful number. She trusted him completely.
"I understand," she said with determination.
Lin Fan activated the portal on her new Obelisk. The green, swirling light appeared. She took a deep breath, gave him a look full of gratitude and trust, and stepped inside.
The moment she entered, Lin Fan's scumbag smile returned.
Inside the Goblin Forest, Ning Xinyi, a mighty Core Formation expert, appeared. A small goblin looked at her, squeaked, and raised its club.
A cold, sharp and brilliant blue sword light erupted from her. The goblin, and twenty others behind it, turned to Ice dust before they could even scream.
Goblin Forest is not going to be a fight for her. It would be harvesting.
Lin Fan leaned back against a tree in her courtyard, sipping tea she had left for him. A storm of notifications flooded his mind.
[Ning Xinyi has killed a Level 5 Goblin.]
[Applying Distribution Rule: 90% to Party Leader, 10% to Member.]
[Host Lin Fan receives: +9 XP.]
[Host Lin Fan receives: +10 Currency.]
[Disciple Ning Xinyi receives: +1 XP (Converted to Special Qi).]
[+9 XP.]
[+10 Currency.]
[+9 XP.]
[+10 Currency.]
The notifications were coming in so fast, they were a continuous stream.
He checked his currency balance. It was shooting up.
[Currency: 5680 -> 5690 -> 5770 -> 5780 -> 5890...]
He looked at the price for the next dungeon slot.
[New Dungeon Slot: 50,000 Currency (Locked)]
He grinned. "This is going to be a very, very profitable month."