Cao Yan did not really know where he stood in regards to the standard of repairing demon balls.
He had only transmigrated over for a few days and was still new to this place. He had not seen others’ work till now. Naturally, he would not think that his level of skill would make Master Liu ecstatic.
There were at least ten demon balls in the box given to Cao Yan. They came in different colors and were no longer elementary demon balls but characteristic demon balls.
Master Liu had just witnessed Cao Yan’s standard at repairing demon balls. He knew that this youngster had skills, so this time, he gave him higher-level demon balls.
Repairing all these demon balls would obviously take up a lot of time.
Cao Yan hesitated, wondering if he should finish this box. Suddenly, a notification from the fake system popped up in his consciousness. “Repaired four demon balls. Skill proficiency increased by 0.2%.”
“I can improve my skills by repairing demon balls?”
“Yes. You have already mastered the technique of making demon balls. Through practice, your skills would naturally improve and be better than those of your level. Besides, you need to constantly use your mental and spiritual energy when repairing demon balls, so it will also help you improve in that area.”
After listening to the fake system’s explanation, Cao Yan looked at the 10 demon balls in front of him once again. He picked up one of the characteristic demon balls, studying it carefully.
This demon ball could almost be considered useless. Nearly half of its pattern was destroyed, making it a challenge to repair it.
Cao Yan did not start even after scrutinizing it for a long time.
Seeing him study the ball without immediately working on it made Master Liu heave a sigh of relief.
If Cao Yan could repair characteristic demon balls as easily as he did just now, it would be demoralizing for people like Master Liu, who had spent several years specializing in repairing demon balls.
However, before Master Liu could finish his sigh, he swallowed it back.
Just as before, Cao Yan’s hand holding the demon bone pen moved smoothly without stopping. He drew several cryptographs on the ball’s surface in one breath.
Actually, the moment Cao Yan picked up the ball, relevant knowledge had started surfacing in his mind. When he finished studying the damaged surface, his hand moved naturally, as though it was something he was familiar with. He carved out the patterns based on his cryptography knowledge.
The demon ball glowed softly, and the patterns on its surface merged together. The unknown powers infused into the ball gave it new life.
The patterns slowly turned red as the fire elements started filling the space inside the ball. This was a demon ball with fire characteristics. It was also the first characteristic demon ball Cao Yan had repaired, and it exhilarated him.
After completing one, he picked up the next.
Two, three, four, five, six, seven… Master Liu was absorbed in watching Cao Yan as he applied cryptography adeptly.
Somehow, every time Cao Yan finished repairing a demon ball, Master Liu would reach out to take it from him and place the repaired demon ball aside carefully, as though he was afraid that he would disturb Cao Yan.
His actions were usually followed by a disciple when his teacher was working.
Master Liu did it very naturally, though, without any second thoughts.
After a while, something suddenly clicked in his mind. “Why am I doing this for a newbie?”
Just as he was thinking of not taking the ball from him, he subconsciously reached out again when Cao Yan was done with the next one.
“I didn’t even realize that I am such a wimp,” Master Liu dissed himself.
Master Liu only relaxed after he saw Cao Yan pick up the last demon ball.
Hmm? Around three to four people had gathered around, as they subsequently realized Cao Yan’s cryptography skills were not of an ordinary level. On top of that, Master Liu was standing at the side, helping him on his own accord.
Even at a place like the Pet Trainer Association, where the elites gathered, it was uncommon to witness someone with such a good grasp of cryptography. The guy could make the repair process look so smooth and fluid.
The people watching Cao Yan were attracted by his adept movement. They all observed him silently from the side.
One guy was even standing outside the sectioned room, watching through the glass. He was the overaged candidate.
He had followed Cao Yan all the way and witnessed how he repaired the demon balls. Suddenly, he felt distraught and almost cried.
He was not only feeling hurt by Cao Yan’s repairing skills. It was also the level of spiritual and mental energy needed to execute the process, which made the overaged candidate jealous and upset.
Every symbol carved on the demon ball had to be guided by spiritual and mental energy.
Cao Yan had finished more than ten demon balls in one go without taking a break. Such intensity and spiritual magnitude were enough to make one feel the difference. He must have cheated… The overaged candidate was spiteful.
When Cao Yan was on his last demon ball, the overaged candidate turned around silently and walked away. He never wanted to see that person again.
Cao Yan put the completed demon ball down and felt a little tired. Suddenly, he realized Master Liu was looking at him like how a desperate old man would look at a young girl. He asked warily, “Master Liu, if you hand me even more demon balls, I’m afraid my spiritual strength would not be able to handle them.” He could not possibly expose all his skills, so Cao Yan decided that he should stop. “Actually, I’m not here to repair the demon balls. I just wanted to ask if there were any good materials for making demon balls.”
“Hmm?” Master Liu was stunned.
“Examiner Xu from the examination department told me to come here,” said Cao Yan.
Master Liu smacked his head. “It’s my fault. I was too busy thinking about other things that I didn’t even listen to you and got it wrong.”
“I was the one who didn’t make myself clear,” Cao Yan said humbly.
“We have quite some materials for demon balls. Follow me.” Master Liu led the way respectfully, bringing Cao Yan away from the onlookers. After that, he asked, “Did you just join the association?”
Cao Yan nodded.
“Then, which department are you working at?” Master Liu asked again.
“I don’t have a fixed-job. Examiner Xu told me that I can come twice a week or not come at all,” Cao Yan answered honestly.
Master Liu beamed, feeling as though he had just struck gold. “Come to the logistics department and join my group. Twice a week.”
Seeing Cao Yan’s lack of reaction, he quickly added, “You can replenish half of all the trainer tools you use, like demon balls and whatnot, with us for free. This is something you wouldn’t be able to find at other departments. Of course, we should not talk about these openly. You understand, right?”
In order to pull this master repairman to his team, Master Liu revealed the underlying benefit to a newbie. He was taking a huge bet.
Cao Yan was fine with coming to the association occasionally, and he did not really mind where he worked. Upon hearing that he could replenish the materials, he agreed with a nod.
Master Liu was also satisfied. He led Cao Yan to a small room where the demon ball materials were kept.
Cao Yan had yet to officially join the logistics department. Therefore, after picking the things he needed, he had to pay the materials’ cost price. The materials for certain parts of the demon ball and a demon bone pen set him back by almost 100 thousand. It was an exorbitant price. No wonder people said that only the wealthy were in supernatural occupations.
After he took the materials, Cao Yan left the logistics department and returned to his shop.