The few people in the pavilion began to criticize Shen Lang one after another, their words filled with dissatisfaction.
Although Shen Moran trusted her younger brother, this matter was simply too shocking. She couldnât make up her mind, and her brow furrowed even deeper...
In her view, it was possible that Shen Lang, unable to cultivate Martial Arts, had secretly turned to the Artifact Refining Dao instead.
But repairing a Third Grade Spiritual Artifact was something only a Spirit Level Third Grade Artifact Refining Master could do.
Mo Liusheng, the Dean of the Artifact Refining Institute at Tayun Academy, was only a Spirit Level Fourth Grade Artifact Refining Master.
And how old was Shen Lang?
Trust was one thing, but the claim had to be reasonable.
If even Shen Moran wasnât sure, it went without saying for the others.
Su Jin, however, was different. She only trusted what she saw, trusted her own judgment and speculation... although she, too, felt a little anxious.
âThis young man... from the very beginning, his eyes gave off a very special feeling. It was as if nothing in the world could stump himâso calm, so composed...â
âEven when Yin Kuang was furious, his gaze remained just as calm, almost frighteningly so. And when he destroyed the Spirit Array Map within Yin Kuangâs Fiery Fire Divine Spear, his technique was undeniable. Such a fast, skilled, and even somewhat graceful method was definitely not something an amateur could pull off!â
Seeing their distrustful expressions, Shen Lang just smiled and shook his head. Without explaining, he directly took out a Furnace Cauldron from his Sumeru Ring and said, "Since you want your Spiritual Artifacts repaired, you must have brought some of the corresponding materials, right? Give them to me. Also, give me some Spirit Stones. I need to set up an Array... Seriously, isnât anyone hungry this late? Donât you want to go eat?"
"Oh, oh, yes, yes... We all brought some materials..." Su Jin was the first to react.
âThereâs no mistake. He even carries a Furnace Cauldron with him. Who but an Artifact Refiner would do something like that?â
Su Jin nudged the dazed Yin Kuang with her elbow and gestured with her eyes. The others finally came to their senses and reluctantly began to take out their materials.
Only Shen Moran, her face slightly flushed, didnât move.
Seeing this, Shen Langâs heart ached. He didnât even have to ask to know that his sister must not have any materials.
Back home, she had always been frugal, giving any Spirit Stones she had to Shen Lang. She never believed he was useless trash incapable of Cultivation. It was clearly the same at Jialan Academy; she saved wherever she could, then brought back any money she earned through various means to support the family...
"Sis, give me your Spiritual Artifact. Iâll repair yours first. I have some materials here, itâs more than enough."
Without waiting for a reply, he took the Longsword from Shen Moranâs hands.
Shen Lang really wanted to tell her that he would never be short on money again, but he didnât know how to bring it up.
In fact, in this world, there were absolutely no poor Artifact Refiners or Alchemists.
They were sought after and courted by all sorts of powers; there was no way they could ever be short on Spirit Stones.
Let alone a freakishly talented guy like Shen Lang.
He had already been planning to forge a few powerful Profound Artifacts and concoct some Elixir Pills to make money, he just hadnât gotten around to it yet.
The other day, a single bottle of Giant Potion he had casually concocted was said by Uncle Zhou to be worth at least a million Gold Coins. A million Gold Coins was equivalent to a thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones, which was no small sum in Celestial Phoenix City.
For some smaller families, after a hard year of running businesses like restaurants, earning five or six hundred thousand Gold Coins would be considered a good year.
Holding the Longsword, Shen Lang channeled a stream of Spiritual Power into it.
A burst of aqua-blue light erupted, but it vanished without a trace just as quickly.
This was a First Grade Spiritual Artifact, a full two Levels lower than the othersâ Third Grade Spiritual Artifacts.
With a great CLATTER, Shen Lang dumped the materials from his Sumeru Ring, startling Shen Moran and the others.
Although the materials werenât particularly rare, the quantity was certainly a bit much...
Shen Lang frowned as he looked at the materials, feeling a little frustrated.
Relying on these materials alone, it wouldnât be a problem to successfully repair his sisterâs First Grade Spiritual Artifact.
But his real goal wasnât to repair the Longsword. He wanted to reforge it completely and turn the Spiritual Artifact directly into a Profound Artifact.
And these materials didnât even come close to meeting the standards for a Profound Artifact!
âEven the most skilled craftsman canât make bricks without straw.â Without good materials, even the best Spirit Array Map was useless.
He was able to upgrade Mo Liushengâs Spiritual Artifact into a Profound Artifact back at the Artifact Refining Institute because Mo Liushengâs materials were extremely rare in themselves, just barely good enough to be forged into a Profound Artifact.
But now, without good materials, even if he knew a more advanced Spirit Array Map, he could only sigh in resignation.
"Whatâs wrong? Is there a problem?"
Su Jin couldnât help but ask when she saw him staring blankly at Shen Moranâs Longsword.
Shen Langâs eyes shot up, and his gaze fell upon the materials in the othersâ hands. His eyes instantly lit up!
âThatâs right, the materials these guys have arenât bad at all! Look at what that bastard Yin Kuang hasâitâs actually Deep Sea Profound Iron! If I just pool their materials together and refine them with a Secret Technique, itâll be enough to forge a Profound Artifact!â
Having made up his mind, Shen Lang grinned at Su Jin and the others. "Iâm really sorry, but I might not be able to repair your Spiritual Artifacts today..."
"What the fuck! Are you messing with us?!" Yin Kuang, who had been watching him with suspicion, flew into a rage. He could no longer hold back and reached out a large hand to grab Shen Lang by the collar!
"Yin Kuang, donât be reckless!" Su Jin cried out in alarm.
But it was too late. Yin Kuangâs hand was already at Shen Langâs chest, about to grab him.
Just then, Shen Langâs right hand shot out, and two fingers jabbed like lightning into the palm of Yin Kuangâs hand!
A flash of electricity sparked. Dozens of crisscrossing bolts of lightning immediately shot out from Yin Kuangâs right hand and spread across his entire body, locking him in place.
The careless Yin Kuang only felt a tyrannical wave of Thunder Power instantly blast into his body, numbing his entire arm!
Before he could react, Shen Lang pulled his hand, causing him to stumble. Then, Shen Lang lightly slapped Yin Kuangâs right shoulder with his right hand, spinning him around on the spot before giving him a gentle push...
Yin Kuang, his body still numb and unable to react, flew into the air and, with a very stylish pose, landed back in the lake with a SPLASH!
"..." Everyone was completely dumbfounded.
What just happened? Yin Kuang, a cultivator at the Qi Martial Realm Fifth Heaven, was just casually thrown into the lake like that?
And by Shen Lang, the one who was supposedly useless trash?
Even if Yin Kuang had underestimated him and been careless, it shouldnât have ended so tragically, right?
Now things had really escalated...
When Su Jin had pushed him into the water, it was because of their special relationship; they had grown up playing together, so Yin Kuang wouldnât hold a grudge.
But Yin Kuang was already very displeased with Shen Lang. To be thrown into the lake again, in front of so many people...
"Sigh. I donât get it. Usually, people beg an Artifact Refiner to work for them. But now, here I am, practically begging you to let me repair your Spiritual Artifacts, only to be criticized for half the day. What kind of world is this?"
"Forget it. Iâm not in the mood anymore. Iâll just repair my sisterâs Spiritual Artifact first. Youâd better not come begging me later," Shen Lang said with a sigh.
He took out a few Spirit Stones, set up the Array, and added, "Iâm borrowing your materials to help my sister reforge this Spiritual Artifact into a Profound Artifact. Just stand here and watch. See for yourselves if I have the ability. Anything else is a waste of breath."
"A Profound Artifact? Forging a First Grade Spiritual Artifact into a Profound Artifact?" Everyone was in a state of shock.
For someone of Shen Langâs age and status, just claiming to be able to repair Spiritual Artifacts was shocking enough. How did he suddenly make such a huge leap to talking about Profound Artifacts?
This kid was going to give someone a heart attack!
At this point, Shen Lang was completely focused on forging the Profound Artifact for his sister, paying no mind to anything else.
He activated the Array and began to calcine the various materials. Every step was flawless, every Spell was executed with incredible precision, and every technique was natural to the extreme.
He was like an artist creating his masterpiece.
The raging fire from the Array illuminated everyoneâs faces as they watched with turbulent emotions.
No one spoke. Even Yin Kuang, who had just climbed out of the water, furious and ready to fight, was stunned, forgetting what he was about to do.
Although these people werenât Artifact Refiners, they had all learned the basics of Artifact Refining at Jialan Academy.
And now, with a single look, they could see the tell-tale signs of his expertise.
âIf Shen Lang can really forge a Profound Artifact... Oh heavens, thank goodness Iâve always supported him, and Iâm the closest with Moran...â A hint of joy appeared on Su Jinâs face.
A look of relief washed over Shui Buyuâs face. âDamn it, looks like there are benefits to acting cool after all. When youâre busy posturing, you talk lessâand the less you say, the better! Because I was so focused on maintaining my image in front of Moran, I didnât get a chance to bad-mouth Shen Lang. If I had, I would have spewed all my real thoughts, and what would Moran think of me then?â
âWould he be willing to repair my Spiritual Artifact? No, no, who said anything about repairing? I want him to raise my Lifebound Spiritual Artifact by a level or two! When that happens... Wahaha!â
Zeng Zuimo and Lin Yueâs faces fell. They had been the most vocal in their criticism of Shen Lang earlier.
Their feelings were now incredibly complicated. On one hand, they hoped Shen Lang couldnât actually forge a Profound Artifact; on the other, they desperately wished he could...
But looking at Shen Lang now, the possibility of him succeeding seemed much higher...
Offending an Artifact Refining Master like this was no joke.
Never mind him being unhappy and refusing to repair their Spiritual Artifacts, in the future, they probably...
You had to understand, an Artifact Refining Master of this caliber was the kind of talent that major powers would fight crazily to recruit!
Even at Jialan Academy, he would be a dominant and renowned figure!
"This step requires the use of Pill Fire. I wonder if any of you would be willing to assist my Artifact Refining with your Pill Fire?" Shen Lang asked, his hands never stopping as he spoke with elegance and composure.
"Brother, let me! My cultivation is the highest here..." Shui Buyu was quick to offer, but before he could finish, a gust of wind hit him from behind. He felt his collar being grabbed, and then a powerful force yanked him. Before he could even react, he was already flying backward and falling into the lake!
It was Yin Kuang, who had been hiding in the back, who attacked and threw him out...
Poor Shui Buyu, who had just claimed to have the highest cultivation. He had wanted to show his support for Shen Moranâs brother in front of her, but before he could even make a move, he was treacherously attacked.
"Yin Kuang! You and I are finished!" Shui Buyu roared in fury. He slapped the surface of the water and flew back up.
It was no wonder he was so enraged. Thanks to Yin Kuang, he had fallen into the water twice, which was just too embarrassing and humiliating.
And of all things, it had to happen in front of Moran!
In the past, just facing that freak Chu Qingcheng was already stressful enough.
Now, to be turned into a drowned rat in the same spot twice... this was absolutely intolerable!
"Um... ah... how about I do it, Brother Lang? Whatever you say, Iâll do! Iâll go through fire and water for you! Iâll climb a mountain of knives and jump into a cauldron of boiling oilâI wonât even flinch!"
Yin Kuang completely ignored Shui Buyu and said to Shen Lang with a shameless grin.
The guy was pretty smart, changing his tune in a heartbeat when the situation turned. An unknowing observer might have thought he wasnât the one Shen Lang had just thrown into the lake!
Shen Lang frowned slightly and said, "The path you follow in your Cultivation is too aggressive and domineering. Itâs not suitable for refining a Water Element Profound Artifact... You donât need to jump into a cauldron of oil, but the water part is fineâwhy donât you get back in the water. Iâd be grateful if you just didnât interfere."
Yin Kuang was dumbfounded...
He had rarely met anyone at Jialan Academy who dared to speak to him like that!