Chapter 422: While Temple Master Ning Was Away, Xiaoxiong Found a Wife

"Ning Fei, did you get the meteorite?"

Big Gold Tooth stared at Ning Fei's bulging backpack and asked with a hint of jealousy.

Ning Fei waved a hand and said, "It's just a rock. I got lucky."

With that, he walked away without looking back.

Big Gold Tooth smacked his lips and sighed. "The guy has such good luck. Does believing in Daoism really change your fortune? Maybe I should sell this Guanyin pendant tomorrow and try wearing Fuxi and Nüwa instead."

At this thought, Big Gold Tooth clasped his hands behind his back and walked away, feeling disgruntled.

Along the way, seeing others still searching for meteorites, he shouted, "Stop looking! That Daoist from Qingfeng Temple already found it! Don't waste your effort!"

Hearing his words, someone retorted, "Meteorites shatter. The experts said more than one landed on Qinshan. We might still find something."

That made sense to Big Gold Tooth, so he immediately rejoined the crowd hunting for the meteorite.

Meanwhile, Ning Fei's live-stream room was buzzing with activity.

Many people already knew that Ning Fei had picked up a meteorite the size of a soccer ball.

"Temple Master Ning, are you selling the meteorite? I'll give you five million!"

"I offer six million!"

More and more people flooded into Ning Fei's live-stream room to shout out bids.

Ning Fei temporarily ignored them.

Another netizen asked,

"Temple Master Ning, the meteorite just fell. Isn't it radioactive?"

To this, Ning Fei replied, "Meteorites are radioactive. When traveling through space, they're exposed to solar and galactic cosmic rays, forming cosmogenic nuclides. As these nuclides decay, they can harm the human body."

"However, once they land on Earth, the radiation dissipates very quickly, decreasing with every passing hour."

"The amount of radiation left on this one is already negligible."

At that moment, the system's completion notification rang out in Ning Fei's mind.

He had received another item: the Golden Crow Incense Burner.

For a Daoist temple, an incense burner was incredibly important.

Good incense burners were extremely expensive. Emperor Qianlong had been fond of using them, and today, incense burners from his era auctioned for around two million.

Even older burners sold for much more.

After all, the art of incense was a traditional part of Huaxia culture.

Ning Fei brought the meteorite back to Qingfeng Temple. Not long after he returned, Qin Zheng, the village chief, arrived looking travel-worn and weary.

"Ning Fei, you know I don't like lecturing people, but the city leaders called me and insisted I get your thoughts."

"This meteorite holds immense research value. They wanted to know if you'd be willing to donate it to the Geological Bureau."

Qin Zheng looked rather embarrassed.

To be honest, he was never the type to pressure others into selfless generosity.

But the city leaders had assigned him to talk to Ning Fei. It was a matter of work, so he had to ask.

"Chief, I'm quite interested in this meteorite myself. A donation is definitely out of the question."

Ning Fei politely declined.

"Alright, I understand."

The village chief shook his head and turned away.

Ning Fei didn't necessarily need to use the meteorite.

However, the city leaders sending the village chief to pressure him rubbed him the wrong way.

"This is an iron meteorite. It should contain a massive amount of iron and nickel inside."

"A rough estimate puts it at over twenty jin."

"If I find the right ironworks, it could be forged into a longsword."

"A Meteoric Iron Sword forged from a celestial stone... That certainly has the feel of a martial arts novel."

Ning Fei placed the meteorite on the table and spoke to the viewers in his live-stream.

"Forge a sword?"

"Great idea, Temple Master Ning!"

"What a genius! I remember reading a novel where the protagonist used a Meteoric Iron Sword."

"That's not very practical in real life!"

"Right. Besides iron and nickel, meteorites contain a lot of stone. Smelting them is incredibly difficult."

Ning Fei didn't actually plan to forge a sword.

It was best to sell the thing.

He already had a Longsword and a Peach-wood Sword from the system's lottery. Aside from the unique material, a Meteoric Iron Sword probably wouldn't even be able to cut grass if he actually had it made.

Furthermore, he preferred that the state buy it from him.

Rather than being forced to 'donate' it.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before people from the Huaxia Astronomy Bureau arrived.

A basketball-sized meteorite—and an iron one at that—held immense research value.

The representatives were very generous, offering a sky-high price of twenty million. For an organization like the Astronomy Bureau that constantly burned through funding, this wasn't too much.

Ning Fei gladly accepted.

This saved him a lot of trouble.

The Astronomy Bureau bought the meteorite partly for research and partly for exhibition.

As a gesture of gratitude for Ning Fei's willingness to sell, the Astronomy Bureau named the meteorite 'Temple Master' and even made a dedicated Weibo post about it.

From then on, anyone entering the Astronomy Bureau's exhibition hall would see the meteorite displayed in a glass cabinet, with the accompanying plaque reading:

"This meteorite was discovered by Ning Fei, the master of Qingfeng Temple. To commemorate this event, the meteorite has been named 'Temple Master'."

This matter became widely popular on Weibo.

Many people clamored to visit the Astronomy Bureau. Unfortunately, the facility didn't easily grant public access, so the hype eventually died down.

Back in the Daoist temple, Ning Fei replaced the old incense burner in the Three Purities Hall and lit some of the incense he had crafted himself, returning to the simple life of an ordinary Daoist priest.

When a Daoist paid their respects to the Three Pure Ones, the complete ritual was quite complex. It required three bows and three kowtows, and the entire process had to flow naturally and calmly, without any abrupt or exaggerated movements during the prostrations.

Then, they would step back half a pace and offer a deep bow. Only then was the full ritual complete.

Of course, the rituals at Qingfeng Temple weren't that complicated. Bai Yuanche had never taught Ning Fei these intricacies.

It was nothing more than lighting incense and bowing.

The essence lay in the heart, not the form.

"The Three Pure Ones above, resonating with the heart below."

Ning Fei silently chanted this in his mind before leaving the Three Purities Hall.

The next day brought clear weather.

Ning Fei headed toward the South Lake, simultaneously contacting Liu Laicai from the nongjiale, telling him to come pick up some fish in two hours.

He hadn't been to the South Lake in a while, and it had been on his mind.

It was then that Ning Fei turned on his live-stream.

The drone spiraled high into the air, broadcasting the familiar scenery to his viewers.

Taking Little Dog along, Ning Fei strolled unhurriedly through the woods. Dressed in a crisp Daoist Robe with a Daoist Hairpin securing his hair, his handsome appearance and otherworldly aura put anyone who saw him completely at ease.

"It's been a long time since I came to South Lake."

"I'm going to take a break and go fishing today."

He spoke with a leisurely tone.

Coming down the mountain to the shores of the South Lake, Ning Fei didn't spot Little Black Bear anywhere.

"Xiaoxiong! Xiaoxiong!"

Ning Fei shouted toward the nearby woods.

A moment later, the trees rustled, and a dark figure bounded out.

The viewers were instantly delighted when they saw the black bear.

"It's really been a while since we saw this cowardly black bear!"

"Haha, I used to call it Little Coward."

"It looks a bit fatter."

"With a paradise like Nanhu Reservoir, how could it not get fat?"

"A security guard hired by Temple Master Ning is definitely built different."

The viewers burst into laughter.

At that moment, however, Ning Fei's expression shifted slightly.

Looking confused, he said, "This isn't Xiaoxiong. It's another black bear."

"What? Another black bear?"

The viewers were dumbfounded.

"What's going on?"

"Isn't Xiaoxiong the security guard for South Lake? Was it chased off by another bear?"

While Ning Fei was still puzzled, another rustling sound came from the woods.

Shortly after, the goofy Little Black Bear lumbered out.

Seeing Ning Fei, the black bear was clearly overjoyed and rushed over, its large behind swaying with every step.

As it ran, it didn't forget to call out to the other black bear beside it.

Seeing this, Ning Fei completely understood.

He sighed and let out a helpless laugh.

"The other one is a wife Xiaoxiong found for himself."

"While I was away, this guy actually managed to find himself a wife."