Fang Yuan’s gaze lingered on the wooden horse in Tianyi’s hands.
At first glance, it appeared ordinary... Well even ifyou stared at it for ages, it would still simply because a children’s toy.
"That horse."
He pointed toward the toy.
"Who made it?"
Aunt Lin Xi looked slightly surprised by the question.
"The toy?"
Fang Yuan nodded and Aunt Yueyao replied with a smile.
"It was made by Lu Cheng."
"Lu Cheng?"
"He’s an artisan who lives at the eastern district."
Aunt Lin Xi added, "He’s quite skilled. Many of the children’s toys in the clan co from his workshop."
Fang Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
Then he asked, "Where did he co from?"
The question caused Aunt Lin Xi to pause for a mont.
"We actually don’t know."
"Oh?"
"During the three years you were absent, the Matriarch traveled throughout the world recruiting talented people."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Fortunately, she wasn’t dragging people back by force."
Fang Yuan silently agreed with that statent but the fact that people needed to clarify such a thing whenever Lin Zhaoyue was involved was sowhat concerning.
"He was one of the many talents she recruited."
Aunt Lin Xi continued.
"Not just him, over the past three years, many talented individuals were brought into the clan. Alchemists, backsmiths, formation Masters and even beast rearers."
Fang Yuan nodded silently.
Gathering talents was far more efficient than trying to cultivate every profession from scratch.
Then his gaze returned to the wooden horse.
"Why is there only one?"
The two won exchanged glances and Aunt Yueyao answered first.
"Recently, he’s encountered so difficulties."
"What kind of difficulties?"
"He is trying to advance."
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow.
An artisan’s advancent was quite different from a cultivator’s.
For craftsn, breakthroughs often ca from inspiration rather than cultivation.
Aunt Yueyao continued.
"So ti ago, I visited his workshop to talk about the wooden horss and he ntioned that he had an idea, sothing he wanted to create."
Her expression beca slightly helpless.
"But he said he couldn’t figure out how to make it work. He has been stuck on that problem ever since."
Fang Yuan fell silent as he took in the information.
After so ti, he also recalled sothing that had been sitting in the System Shop for ages without a use.
A screen imdiately appeared before him.
🔸 [Artisan’s Insight] – 150 FP
Grants a chosen person temporary enlightennt for forging, alchemy, or crafting.
Ever since the item first appeared, he had never once used it.
Fang Yuan’s smile slowly widened.
Aunt Yueyao imdiately noticed the expression.
"Would you like to call Artisan Lu over?"
she asked gently to which Fang Yuan blinked before suddenly waving his hand.
"No, no. I should be the one going to et him instead."
Aunt Lin Xi looked surprised.
A Clan Head personally visiting a craftsman was not exactly common.
But neither woman questioned him.
Before leaving, Fang Yuan glanced toward the still-crying Fang Da’ai.
The little boy was stubbornly reaching toward the wooden horse in Tianyi’s hands while tears stread down his face.
Tianyi, anwhile, remained completely oblivious to the source of his grievances.
He simply held the horse with both hands and occasionally pushed it toward him as if inviting her to play.
The result only made Da’ai cry harder.
Fang Yuan rubbed his forehead.
"Aunt Lin Xi."
"Mm?"
"At least calm Da’ai down first."
Aunt Lin Xi chuckled before calmly walking over and picked the little boy up.
The crying stopped almost instantly.
The speed of the change left Fang Yuan speechless.
Da’ai sniffled once before happily nestling against Aunt Lin Xi’s shoulder.
Children truly were strange creatures.
anwhile, Aunt Yueyao also I picked Tianyi up.
The little boy continued clutching the wooden horse tightly.
Soon after, the four left the residence together.
—
Mount Skyhowl had changed greatly during Fang Yuan’s absence.
Originally, it had rely been a single mountain.
Now, however, several neighboring mountains had been incorporated into its territory.
The entire region had expanded many tis over.
According to Aunt Lin Xi, the expansion had been personally overseen by Lin Zhaoyue.
Not only had she enlarged the territory, she had also reorganized it.
Various regions had been divided into districts.
Each district serving a different purpose.
The area they were currently heading toward was known as the Entertainnt District.
It was where most craftsn, artists, rchants, storytellers, musicians, and other skilled professionals chose to settle.
Naturally, Lu Cheng’s workshop was also located there.
Along the way, Fang Yuan noticed that there were a lot of people around, the streets were bustling with activity.
The entire district felt more like a thriving city than a clan territory.
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"How did it beco this crowded?"
Aunt Lin Xi smiled.
"It’s because of the Matriarch."
"...Of course."
It was difficult to imagine this place had once been nothing more than a mountain occupied by a single clan.
"What about the spirit beasts? The surrounding mountain ranges should still be filled with them."
At that, Aunt Yueyao smiled.
"Oh, that problem was solved long ago."
"How?"
"The Matriarch regularly sent Xiao Pei and Lu Yi to deal with them."
Aunt Lin Xi looked excited as she added in, "They called it training but everyone knew she was using them as free labor while she went around recruiting talents."
anwhile, Aunt Lin Xi continued speaking.
"The results speak for themselves. Today, Mount Skyhowl is recognized throughout the world as the greatest nation."
Fang Yuan blinked.
"Nation?"
"It is effectively one."
Her tone remained calm.
"The Qin Kingdom doesn’t dare provoke us. The Shu Kingdom doesn’t dare provoke us and the surrounding kingdoms certainly don’t. In fact, even the Empire maintains a respectful distance."
Fang Yuan listened quietly.
Aunt Lin Xi wasn’t boasting.
She was rely stating facts.
The reason was simple.
At the center of everything stood one person.
The Matriarch of the Fang Family.
A cultivator powerful enough that entire nations would rather bow their heads than risk offending her.
Fang Yuan remained silent as he listened.
The bustling streets.
The thriving districts.
The endless flow of talents.
The peaceful lives being lived around him.
Only now did he realize how much the world had changed during his absence.
Or perhaps.... How much Lin Zhaoyue had changed the world.
Before long, they arrived before a modest workshop.
The sound of hamring echoed faintly from inside.
Above the entrance hung a simple wooden sign.
Lu Cheng Artisan Workshop.
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