Ten-Day Pact

Song Changqian trembled with rage, her face turning pale. She had already understood Chou Wenxiu's intentions—he wanted to use this method to retaliate against the lineage's sanctions against them!

If they did not deliver a forceful counterattack, the lineage's reputation in the market would surely plummet off a cliff.

She wanted to accept the challenge, but quickly discovered helplessly that no one in the shop could accomplish such a thing. Unless they invited a Second-Tier Artifact Forger—but if they did that, would they not become an even greater laughingstock?

Just as Song Changqian was at a loss, a gentle voice sounded by her ear. "Treasure Seeking Pavilion accepts this order."

Everyone immediately turned toward the source of the voice, only to discover in astonishment that the speaker was actually a young man.

Ignoring the astonished gazes around him, Song Changsheng walked straight up to Chou Wenxiu and said calmly, "Leave the materials behind. You may go."

"Heh, brat, who do you think you are? Get lost." Chou Wenxiu had shown some restraint when facing Song Changqian, but before Song Changsheng, he could not even be bothered to keep up the pretense.

"Fellow Daoist, this matter has nothing to do with you. Do not get dragged into it for nothing." Song Changqian spoke politely, but her face was filled with rejection.

Though refusing the challenge would affect the lineage's reputation, puffing oneself up by slapping one's own face was even less advisable.

If there had not been so many people present, Song Changqian would have wanted to throw this blind fool out herself.

Song Changsheng removed a waist token from his belt and said blandly, "I am Treasure Seeking Pavilion's newly appointed Artifact Forger. Your requirements are very simple. Leave the materials, go back, and wait for news. The deposit is two hundred Spirit Stones."

Song Changqian's eyes widened at once. She took the waist token and examined it—the identity was correct.

She looked Song Changsheng up and down. He seemed even younger than she was. Could he really be a First-Tier High-Grade Artifact Forger?

The moment Chou Wenxiu saw Song Changqian's expression, he knew the other party's identity was genuine. Yet Song Changqian clearly did not trust him. He was probably some greenhorn who had come down the mountain for a training journey.

Still, that was good news for him.

He immediately climbed the pole while it was offered. "So it is Master Song in person. I was saying, how could the Song Clan possibly be inferior to the Earth Fire Sect? Then I shall entrust these materials and the deposit to you, Master."

Song Changqian still found it hard to believe and was about to refuse when Song Changsheng beat her to it. "Come collect it in ten days."

Hearing this, Chou Wenxiu was over the moon. He became even more convinced that the other party was a complete fool. After all, that person from the Earth Fire Sect had spent twenty days forging this magic artifact.

He had originally intended to give the Song Clan only half a month, yet this fool had actually boasted that he needed only ten days. If he did not accept, would he not be letting himself down?

"Good! Master Song is a young talent indeed, truly forthright. All fellow Daoists here have heard it—ten days. I shall come collect the magic artifact in ten days. At that time, I hope you will all come and lend your support."

Having achieved his goal, Chou Wenxiu left with his people, beaming from ear to ear.

"Then we shall return in ten days as well. When the time comes, we will certainly bring more people to support Master Song." The customers who had come to buy goods feared no chaos when watching a show and began calling for more people.

The Earth Fire Sect and the Song Clan were tearing into each other. How could they possibly miss such a scene?

Enduring her fury, Song Changqian pulled Song Changsheng up to the second floor and demanded angrily, "Who allowed you to make that decision on your own? Do you know how great a loss this will bring upon the lineage?"

Looking at Song Changqian's finger pointed at his nose, Song Changsheng frowned. "If we did not agree, where would the lineage's dignity remain?

If you cannot come up with a solution, then why not let me try? Three properties—is that so difficult?"

"You..." Song Changqian was choked speechless.

"Ten days is already more than enough. Where is the Artifact Forging Room? Take me there." Song Changsheng did not want to waste any more words on Song Changqian.

At the root of it, today's matter was still caused by Song Changqian's improper handling.

The moment Chou Wenxiu brought out the Treasure Pearl, she lost her bearings and let him leap about like a monkey, until he finally forced the lineage into a corner, trapped between advancing and retreating. It was utterly foolish.

He believed that if Treasure Seeking Pavilion's shopkeeper had been present today, he would certainly have handled the matter properly and never allowed the lineage to become so passive!

Song Changsheng completed the handover with the original Artifact Forger as quickly as possible, then shut himself inside the Artifact Forging Room.

Forging this magic artifact was not difficult for him, and ten days was fairly ample. But he had developed a new idea regarding forging methods, so he had to seize the time to test it...

Song Luyuan returned to Treasure Seeking Pavilion with a dark face. Seeing Song Changqian, he snapped in irritation, "What happened? I was only gone for half a day—how did some absurd Ten-Day Pact get settled?"

Like a primary school student who had done something wrong, Song Changqian stammered through the matter of the Chou Clan coming to stir up trouble. She did not forget to embellish the story with a string of accusations against Song Changsheng.

The furious Song Luyuan suddenly froze for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "What did you say the new Artifact Forger was called?"

"You mean that arrogant lunatic? His name is Song Changsheng. It was he who acted on his own and agreed to forge a First-Tier High-Grade magic artifact possessing three properties at once within ten days." Song Changqian hurriedly distanced herself from responsibility.

Who would have thought that Song Luyuan would completely change his previously furious attitude? Stroking his chin, he said, "If it is him, then it really might be possible."

"Him? He is even younger than I am, isn't he? How could he possibly do it?" Song Changqian said indignantly.

Song Luyuan glanced at her and roared, "You still have the nerve to speak? You should know that beyond every person is another person, and beyond every heaven is another heaven. Just because you cannot do something, does that mean others cannot either?

If you had not mishandled this matter today, would he have needed to step forward as the bird that sticks its head out and clean up after you?"

Song Changqian jumped in fright, but the next moment she argued back, "How did I mishandle it? There was simply no one in the shop who could do it. If I had accepted it and then failed to complete the order, would that not have damaged the lineage's reputation even more?

And you call it cleaning up after me? Him accepting this order is what will truly leave the lineage's dignity swept from the ground!"

Seeing that she still had not realized her mistake, Song Luyuan let out a deep sigh. "You, you... You truly have learned nothing at all in ordinary times.

Chou Wenxiu said that Treasure Pearl was forged by Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and you believed him? Is your mouth on your body just for decoration? Did you not know to question him? Did you not know to stall for time?

In the end, he forced you to that point. If we did not accept the order, how could we continue standing in the market?

I always tell you to pay more attention to matters within the lineage, yet you shut both ears to everything beyond your window. Do you know who Song Changsheng is? He is the Patriarch's own grandson!

He cultivates formations and artifact forging alike, has received the Patriarch's personal teachings, and became a First-Tier High-Grade Artifact Forger before reaching adulthood. He is the lineage's foremost genius.

If he says he can do it, then this matter is eight or nine parts certain. In ten days, just wait and watch the show."

Song Changqian was still unconvinced, but seeing Song Luyuan's expression, she ultimately did not dare argue further. In her heart, however, she remained dissatisfied...

The ten-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye. Early that morning, Chou Wenxiu came to the entrance of Treasure Seeking Pavilion.

Following him was a large crowd of bystanders who had come to watch a good show...