Artifact Chapter 70: Artifact Refining Master

 

Chapter 70: Artifact Refining Master

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Lu Ming pulled his thoughts back and focused, drawing on all the knowledge stored in his mind. The five participants furrowed their brows, their faces showing signs of bitterness, making it clear how difficult the competition was. The spectators outside were also holding their breath, watching every move of the competitors.

The Zhao family’s legitimate son, Zhao Chencheng, moved first. After fiddling with a few items, the other competitors began to act as well. There were only two hours for the contest, and this intellectual battle was bound to be intense.

Time passed minute by minute, and the spectators observed through their small viewing mirrors. Suddenly, one person sneered, “The higher the level of magic artifacts, the more refined the fire needs to be. Could this young master from the He family have lost his mind? He’s using ordinary fire to forge, instead of platinum divine fire. I think he’s going to come in last place in this artifact refining competition!”

“What do you know?” Another person couldn’t help but retort loudly. “Purple flower is incredibly fragile and can only be found at Flowing Mist Mountain in the southern region. Flowing Mist Mountain is covered in dense fog year-round with extremely high humidity. If he uses platinum divine fire, it will burn the flower to ashes. So, ordinary fire must be used. You don’t even understand such basic knowledge, and yet you dare to speak out!”

The first person’s face immediately fell, his anger flaring as he reached for his longsword to challenge the other. But at that moment, a few startled gasps and intake of breath were heard. Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to the viewing mirror, and they saw the infamous Sang Wusheng pressing the bell on the wooden table.

Pressing the bell meant “turning in the work,” and Sang Wusheng had already finished his magic artifact? After just one hour since the competition started?

Should they call it arrogance or skill? It was the fastest “turn-in” time ever seen in the artifact refining competition!

Daoist Zi Yang was secretly surprised. He had been keeping an eye on Sang Wusheng’s previous competitions. While his ability was strong, he was too impulsive and still had a gap compared to He Qingci. But now, at the final stage, he had completed the final exam topic that had stumped him for years in just one hour? It was reckless!

But since the work was turned in, there was no going back. Daoist Zi Yang instructed his disciples to take the magic artifacts and pack them into the Qiankun bag before escorting Sang Wusheng to the rest area.

Compared to He Qingci and Sang Huai’s calm demeanor, Wang Yu and Zhao Chencheng seemed to have lost a lot of spirit, their faces pale and sweating as they completed their final tasks. The bell rang, signaling the end of the competition.

The judges placed the magic artifacts into Qiankun bags and handed them over to Daoist Zi Yang for safekeeping. Daoist Zi Yang and his disciples immediately set up protective barriers around the new magic artifacts, gathering closely to begin the evaluation of the artifact refining competition’s champion.

About an hour later, both inside and outside the venue, the anticipation was palpable. Wang Yu paced back and forth restlessly, his movements dizzying. It was no wonder he was in such a hurry; although he had secretly “bribed” Daoist Zi Yang, Ziyang was known for being unyielding and resistant to persuasion. The day he went to see him, Ziyang had agreed quickly, which felt unusual. There were likely changes ahead, but Wang Yu had already prepared backup plans. Even if there were surprises, he would still manage to claim the title of artifact refining champion!

The crowd didn’t know of his hidden schemes and waited anxiously for the result. Another half hour passed, and Daoist Zi Yang finally removed the protective barrier and stepped forward with the judges.

Everyone held their breath, unable to blink, staring at Daoist Zi Yang.

Daoist Zi Yang looked tired, but his eyes shone with excitement. He took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions welling inside, and announced loudly, “I declare that the champion of this artifact refining competition is… He Qingci!”

The crowd froze for a few seconds before it erupted into a frenzy! He Qingci! It was really He Qingci! It felt both expected and unexpected!

Upon hearing his name, He Qingci smiled slightly, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to the person watching him from the side. There, Sang Wusheng stood with a smile on his lips, his eyes locked on He Qingci with an unchanging, affectionate gaze, the warmth in his eyes nearly overflowing.

A pang of pain stirred in He Qingci’s heart, but he also felt a sense of relief. When he finally achieved what he had been striving for, the first person he wanted to share it with was him.

In his past life, He Qingci had achieved success many times in his field, but he had always regarded those successes as solitary honors, because he had never found someone with whom to share the joy. In this life, although he had found that person, he dared not approach him, fearing he would one day be caught in a web, sacrificing everything for him. He feared carrying a lifetime of guilt and sin, never seeing the light again.

Sang Wusheng smiled slightly and walked over. “Brother, congratulations.”

Lu Ming was stunned and nodded lightly.

“Wait!” A gloomy voice suddenly cut through the air, interrupting everyone’s thoughts.

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Wang Yu staring at He Qingci with a dark expression, his face inscrutable.

Daoist Zi Yang  shot him a cold look and asked, “What is it?”

Wang Yu sneered, “How can your one-sided judgment be convincing? He Qingci has made little contribution in the Cultivation World, and now he wins first place here. If there’s anything fishy going on, I wouldn’t be surprised!”

The crowd was shocked. Wang Yu’s words made sense. Although He Qingci had a good reputation in the Cultivation World, what did that matter? This artifact refining competition was unlike any before, as it would also determine the leader to deal with the demon realm. If they just handed over such power so easily, none of the families would agree.

However, aside from the Wang family, the other families were relieved that He Qingci had won the artifact refining master title. The Wang family had already oppressed the other families, and if He Qingci won, the balance of power would shift, preventing the Wang family from dominating completely.

While Sang Huai felt disgruntled, his goal was to take down Sang Wusheng. Now that He Qingci had won first place, he didn’t react, as this was better for his family’s interests.

Daoist Zi Yang sneered, “I’ve held this responsibility for centuries, and this is the first time a family like the Wang family has questioned the results. You can’t accept defeat and now lash out—looks like the Wang family is going downhill!”

Wang Yu was enraged by the insult and shouted, “I think you’re being biased, doing this on purpose!”

Daoist Zi Yang laughed, his gaze growing colder. “If that’s the case, feel free to take a look for yourself!”

With that, Daoist Zi Yang silently chanted a few incantations, and a magic treasure flew out from the Qiankun bag.

The magic treasures floated in the air, faintly emitting a dark purple glow.

Daoist Zi Yang’s eyes were filled with excitement as he injected a few strands of spiritual energy into the magic treasures and then spoke, “These magic treasures were crafted by Young Master He.”

Everyone immediately began to examine it closely. As the spiritual energy flowed into the magic treasures, the dark purple glow gradually turned golden, eventually becoming transparent beams of light. The light grew larger and larger, eventually forming a massive light dome that enveloped everyone under its glow.

Daoist Zi Yang added another strand of spiritual energy, and then shouted, “Turn!” There was a loud whooshing sound, and the people under the light dome vanished into thin air!

Everyone stood frozen, stunned by the astonishing scene. The entire hall fell silent, with everyone staring blankly at the empty space where they had just been.

“What… what is this?!” Someone finally reacted, stammering.

Daoist Zi Yang sighed softly, his gaze turning toward Lu Ming. “Perhaps it’s better for the owner of these magic artifacts to explain.”

Lu Ming glanced at Daoist Zi Yang  before explaining, “This item can instantly teleport everything covered by the white light, whether it is living or non-living. However, because the competition time was too short and no further improvements were made, it can only teleport up to a distance of ten miles.”

The entire room was stunned by his words. What did this mean? These magic artifacts, once only recorded in books and associated with legendary dreams of everyone, had now been created!

Ten miles was already impressive enough! This was hundreds of times more powerful than the substitution spell used in emergencies, and it had teleported so many people at once—this was a God Artifact! Moreover, while the materials used were rare, they were not impossible to find. People had a feeling that if these magic artifacts were to spread, they would cause massive upheaval. The cultivation world would surely enter an entirely new phase.

He Qingci was truly an invaluable treasure! Only he knew the method for refining these artifacts, and if they didn’t quickly honor him with the title of artifact refining master, when would they?

All objections in the room quickly quieted down. No one had ever been so eager for someone else to gain the title of artifact refining master!

Wang Yu realized that further resistance would be futile. The gap in their abilities was so vast it made him feel powerless. However, his goal had never been the title of artifact refining master, but the position of family leader. This, he would never give up!

Wang Yu coldly said, “Young Master He’s talents are extraordinary, and we must admit defeat. However, Young Master He has not yet received the elder’s seal from the He Family, nor does he have the right to inherit the position of family head. How can he then lead the families to resist the Demon Realm? The title of artifact refining master can be given to him, but the position of leader cannot.”

Daoist Zi Yang replied coldly, “It was you who suggested that the artifact refining master would lead the families in defending against the Demon Tribe. Now, you go back on your word—are you toying with us, Wang Yu?”

Wang Yu snorted, “He Qingci is not qualified to inherit the He Family and become its head. I cannot entrust the future of the entire cultivation world to him. I disagree with this matter!”

Wang Yu had carefully planned his strategy. When the He Family had been in disarray and the elders were overwhelmed, he had quietly conspired with the other families to assassinate two of the He Family’s elders. The remaining ones were imprisoned in a secret location, tortured daily until they died, and eventually, the last of them perished. Only then did the other families breathe easy. Now, without the elder’s seal from the He Family, He Qingci could not officially become the family head.

The room was filled with murmurs. Some people agreed with Wang Yu, thinking that even though He Qingci had impressive artifact refining skills, he was still too young to lead the families in the fight against the Demon Realm. If the He Family had elders to guide him, that would be one thing, but with the family in ruins, how could they trust him to lead?

Others, however, felt that He Qingci was highly respected in the cultivation world, and with his artifact refining skills, he was the most outstanding disciple of the new generation. He was more than capable of leading the families—better than allowing the Wang Family to dominate and oppress the other families.

The room was filled with heated debates. After some time, a deep, ancient voice suddenly rang out. The voice was powerful and filled with spiritual energy, clearly amplified with cultivation.

“Who says the He Family has no elders to bestow the elder’s seal?”

 

 

 

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