Chapter 20: Artifact Refining—I Want to Try It, Too

Yuedong suggested, "If you are interested, why not give it a try? If anything goes wrong, I am here."

The Mortal Realm forbids the entry of cultivators with high cultivation levels; it is even more strictly prohibited for them to engage in violent disputes within mortal cities. Therefore, one mostly encounters Qi-Awakening stage cultivators here. Cultivators like Yuedong and Aunt Zhuning, who have reached the Insight stage, are already considered experts.

Hearing Yuedong’s reminder, Qinglan did not rush.

Watching as both Wen Shuo, a disciple of the Wen clan, and Zhuning accepted the shopkeeper’s proposal, Wen Shuo stepped up first. He gingerly picked up the unfinished wooden bow. Instantly, a deep, dark green hue quietly spread from his palm, transforming into fine wooden vines that wound their way up to coil tightly around the bow frame.

He closed his eyes, his fingertips spinning lightly, guiding the bow frame and the delicate string to draw slowly closer, as if drawn by an invisible force. With a slight exertion of power, a faint yet crisp "pop" sounded, and ripples invisible to the naked eye spread through the air. The bow frame set into its final shape instantly, a gentle luster emerging upon its surface.

The shopkeeper’s expression remained calm, seemingly unsurprised. He murmured, "This half is considered finished, but..."

Yuedong offered his critique: "This man truly possesses immense control over his spiritual energy—delicate and stable. However... his offensive power is lacking. This is, after all, an offensive spiritual tool. He is... unsuitable."

Just as Yuedong predicted, Wen Shuo hit a bottleneck when he reached the most critical part of the process: harmonizing the arrow with the bow.

He attempted to enhance the arrow's durability through precise injections of spiritual energy, but he neglected the impact and coordination between the arrow and the bow frame. As a result, while every part appeared complete, it was impossible to draw the bow or fire an arrow.

Soon, he realized this himself. He stopped and sighed, "The balance required for this tool is too demanding. I cannot do it."

With that, he stepped back and withdrew from the competition.

...

Seeing Wen Shuo’s failure, a pleasant smile surfaced on Zhuning’s face, tinged with a hint of mockery—the Wen clan was nothing special after all.

Filled with confidence, she was about to step forward to take her turn when a sound of light, hurried footsteps reached her ears.

Two young girls ran past, and one of them, running too fast, accidentally dropped her candied hawthorn skewer. As luck would have it, the syrup and sugar coating stuck squarely onto the surface of Zhuning’s shoe.

Zhuning’s delicate brows furrowed as her gaze turned cold. "Do you have any idea how rare these shoes are?"

The little girl fell to the ground, her eyes filled with helplessness and panic. "I-I'm sorry, I will pay you back..."

A cold sneer tugged at the corner of Zhuning’s mouth, and then she said viciously, "Pay me back? Pay with your life!"

Before the words had even faded, she kicked out fiercely toward the terrified girl. Had this strike landed on a mortal body, it would undoubtedly have resulted in broken bones and shattered joints.

Seeing this, the girl was filled with terror. With no time to run, she could only curl into a ball, shielding her head.

At that moment, Qinglan reacted with lightning speed. Just as the girl was about to suffer a brutal blow, Qinglan rushed over, scooped the girl up, and carried her to safety.

Seeing this, Zhuning’s anger surged. She shouted sharply, "Who is meddling in my business?"

She spun around, her sharp eyes piercing toward Qinglan like blades.

The refined-looking woman before her was clearly a wood-element cultivator, but her simple, unadorned attire suggested she was not a disciple of any major sect or noble clan.

Zhuning sneered disdainfully, "What are you? How dare you meddle in my affairs?"

Qinglan’s tone was icy. "She is merely an ordinary girl. Had that kick landed, she would have been maimed. How would you expect her to go on living?"

Zhuning chuckled mockingly. "What does that have to do with me? What is a mere mortal worth?"

A flash of fury crossed Qinglan’s heart. She said coldly, "Is this the attitude of noble clan disciples toward the mortal world?"

This was a difficult question to answer. Zhuning’s expression turned ugly, a mix of embarrassment and rage crossing her face. "What are you? Are you even worthy of mentioning the noble clans of humanity?"

"Slap!"

A crisp sound, like the cracking of ice, exploded in the quiet space.

Qinglan reached out and slapped Zhuning hard across the face.

The sharp sound echoed in the air, instantly shocking everyone present.

Except for Yuedong, who chuckled softly and stepped forward to stand behind Qinglan.

...

Zhuning’s eyes were filled with disbelief. She suddenly shrieked, "How dare you strike me! I will kill you!"

She whipped out her long spear and lunged at Qinglan.

Qinglan dodged with effortless grace, waving her wooden sword to deflect the spear.

Before Zhuning could strike again, whispers rose from the crowd. The words were harsh and stinging, yet though whispered, they cut clearly into her ears.

"Look at her, to be so vicious toward a little girl?"

"Indeed, a grown woman, and she could lay a hand on a child like that. How lacking in upbringing!"

"The Zhuning family’s conduct is absolutely tyrannical."

"Are people like this worthy of being our protectors? Bah, it’s an insult to the eyes!"

...

The atmosphere suddenly turned subtle.

Zhuning stood frozen, her eyes filled with humiliation. Seeing Qinglan’s nonchalant, detached demeanor only drove her to the brink of madness.

Her eyes were filled with murderous intent, but before she could act further, a commanding voice came from the side: "Enough."

Qinglan and Zhuning turned simultaneously to see Zhuning’s aunt, Zhu Yue, watching her coldly. "The matter at hand is what matters. Stop this tantrum."

Hearing her aunt’s voice, Zhuning finally calmed down. Realizing she had lost face, she could only glare viciously at Qinglan, gnashing her teeth as she turned back to finish the spiritual tool.

...

Zhuning’s expression was dark. She unleashed her spiritual energy to its full extent, her aura surging like a rainbow. Despite the wood-element energy being known for its gentleness, it now felt incredibly violent.

As she channeled her energy, it seemed as though she were venting her anger. Under the infusion of her power, the bow’s sharpness spiked, quickly reaching the level of a spiritual tool.

A smug curve touched Zhuning’s lips as she began to craft the bow frame. At that moment, a problem arose.

Because she had applied her wood-element energy too aggressively, the bowstring could not withstand the direct impact of such immense power.

"Pop!"

The string snapped under the strain, and the entire bow turned dull and lifeless.

Her face turned ashen. She turned to the shopkeeper and cursed, "No one can balance wood-element energy like this! This is an impossible task!"

After Zhuning failed as well, Zhu Yue frowned slightly, her expression sour.

She stepped forward. "This test is too difficult. Now that both of them have returned empty-handed, do you not intend to sell the Azure Shadow Fall today?"

Her voice carried pressure and threats.

The shopkeeper retorted, "The rules are the rules..."

Zhu Yue’s face turned icy. An Insight-stage pressure, imbued with scorching heat, descended upon the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper grew annoyed, and the two reached a stalemate.

Just then, a crisp voice broke the silence.

"Shopkeeper, I would like to try as well."