Challenge at the Door (Please Follow)

At once, a single thought sprang into everyone's minds: "Using a petty man's heart to measure a gentleman's belly!"

"You wouldn't be such sore losers, would you?"

"Exactly. The Song Clan's reputation is still trustworthy. That's going too far."

More and more comments unfavorable to Chou Wenxiu spread through the crowd, yet he had no way to refute them. After all, the facts were there.

"Chou Wenxiu, are you questioning the reputation my Song Clan has built over hundreds of years?" Song Luyuan could no longer remain seated. He stood up and glared at Chou Wenxiu angrily.

The tide of condemnation grew louder and louder, and Chou Wenxiu's expression became increasingly ugly. He understood that the Song Clan had already seized the initiative today. If he stayed any longer, he would only be humiliating himself.

After shooting Song Changsheng a vicious glare, he ultimately left behind three hundred Spirit Stones, took the Treasure Pearl, and slunk away in disgrace.

A burst of boos immediately erupted from the crowd.

But Song Changsheng had no intention of letting him off so easily. Targeting Chou Wenxiu, he called out loudly, "Please inform that Artifact Forging Master at Hundred Treasures Pavilion. This junior, Song Changsheng, will pay a visit tomorrow and ask the master for guidance in the way of artifact forging!"

Chou Wenxiu stumbled beneath his feet. He turned back and gave Song Changsheng a venomous look, but in the end, he left without saying a word and fled in panic.

The onlookers immediately burst into merciless laughter. Those who had previously loudly proclaimed that the Song Clan was bound to lose now shrank into the background, afraid of becoming laughingstocks as well.

The tall Cultivator from earlier was preparing to slip away unnoticed, but the moment he turned around, he found himself surrounded by a group of people.

The old Cultivator took out a piece of greenstone flooring and held it before him, his expression unfriendly. "Young friend, would you like to eat it piece by piece, or have it ground into powder first?"

For a moment, the tall Cultivator was caught between advancing and retreating, on the verge of tears. He begged grandfather and pleaded grandmother, but in the end, he had to lick the floor brick all over before they let him go.

He practically fled the scene with his sleeve covering his face.

At this moment, someone asked Song Changsheng, "Master Song, are you going to Hundred Treasures Pavilion tomorrow to challenge them at their door?"

The moment they heard this, everyone fell silent and turned inquisitive gazes toward Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng shook his head and said with a "serious" expression, "Fellow cultivators, I am going tomorrow to ask the master at Hundred Treasures Pavilion for guidance, not to challenge him. Please do not misunderstand."

The Bystanders immediately revealed meaningful smiles. What difference was there between a challenge and seeking guidance? There would be another good show to watch...

After Song Changsheng won this round, the benefits were plain to see. Many of the watching Cultivators poured into Treasure Seeking Pavilion, leaving Song Changqian and the others so busy their heels were kicking the backs of their heads.

Song Luyuan's face nearly blossomed with laughter. He invited Song Changsheng aside and said sincerely, "Worthy Nephew, this time, it was all thanks to you for cleaning up after my daughter.

"She may be a few years older than you, but when it comes to handling matters, she is still far behind you. If she had even half your ability, she would not have put the Lineage in such a predicament that day.

"Fortunately, you were there. Otherwise, this old man truly would not have known how to face the Lineage. This is a small token of thanks prepared by my daughter. Worthy Nephew, please do not refuse it."

As he spoke, he pushed an exquisite little box toward Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng knew at a glance that the item inside was extremely valuable, yet he directly pushed the box back and said frankly, "Clan Uncle, there is no need for this. Since the matter has been resolved, let it be passed.

"You have been stationed in this place for more than ten years and have worked hard with great merit. Just be more careful in the future. The Lineage will not punish you over such a small matter, so please rest assured."

He knew what Song Luyuan was worried about. It was nothing more than fear that Song Changsheng would report the matter to the Lineage and have Song Changqian punished.

After all, her handling of the matter had truly been terrible. If she had possessed even Chou Wenxiu's brains and raised a few doubts about the Magic Artifacts, things would not have developed that way.

But Song Changsheng had come to improve his Artifact Forging Technique, not to inspect the Lineage's businesses. There was no need for him to keep clinging to such matters. Now that it had been resolved, that was enough.

A trace of shame appeared on Song Luyuan's face. He sighed and said, "Worthy Nephew is righteous and honorable, but this matter arose because of my daughter after all. This old man must do something."

"Clan Uncle can simply prepare more artifact-forging materials for me. Please take this item back." Song Changsheng shook his head. He had his own principles. What difference was there between accepting this and taking a bribe?

"Then we shall do as Worthy Nephew says. The artifact-forging materials in the shop will certainly be supplied to Worthy Nephew first." Song Luyuan understood Song Changsheng's unspoken meaning and stopped insisting. He picked up the box and left.

Throughout the exchange, he never asked about the challenge. Presumably, Song Changsheng's displayed confidence and strength had won him over.

The next day, Song Luyuan personally led Song Changsheng toward Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Meanwhile, news that Song Changsheng was going to visit Hundred Treasures Pavilion had already spread across all of Liuyun Market through the mouths of the Bystanders. Many Cultivators eager to watch the excitement had gathered early, waiting for a good show.

Inside Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the shopkeeper Bai Ruofeng peered down through a crack in a second-floor window. Below, he found a sea of people. The street was packed so tightly that not even water could pass through, and an endless stream of people was still gathering here.

Bai Ruofeng's face was so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water. He turned to Chou Wenxiu beside him and snapped, "Look at the fine mess you've made."

But Chou Wenxiu was not about to take his attitude. He shot back, "Shopkeeper Bai, saying that is against your conscience. This matter was decided by your Earth Fire Sect. I merely came to cooperate with you under orders from my clan.

"Yesterday, in full view of everyone, I suffered so many cold looks and insults for your sake. And now you are placing the blame on me? How can there be such a reason under heaven?"

After saying that, Chou Wenxiu stormed away in anger, not giving Bai Ruofeng the slightest face.

Bai Ruofeng was nearly angered into ascending to heaven on the spot, but there was nothing he could do to Chou Wenxiu. After all, Chou Wenxiu was a member of the Chou Clan.

In the end, he could only turn his gaze to the young man seated nearby and ask anxiously, "Nephew Cheng, what should we do about today's matter?"

The young man replied unhurriedly, "Martial Uncle, what are you anxious about? Do you think I will lose to him?"

Bai Ruofeng wanted to say yes, but considering the other party's identity, he instead said tactfully, "Nephew Cheng, Song Changsheng only took ten days to Refine Magic Tools, while you..."

"Martial Uncle, artifact forging is not judged by speed alone. I admit that Song Changsheng has some skill, but a contest is not about speed alone. In the end, quality must also be considered.

"I have examined his Magic Artifact carefully. His forging methods are crude beyond measure, and its quality is inferior. It is not even on the same level as the one I forged. I am confident I can defeat him," Cheng Xiao said confidently.

Bai Ruofeng's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. Today, I will properly give him some guidance." A cold laugh appeared at the corner of Cheng Xiao's mouth.

"Hahaha, good. So it was I, Bai, who had been worrying like a man from Qi fearing the sky would fall. Then let us make this a big one." Bai Ruofeng's worries instantly vanished.

He immediately summoned an Attendant and instructed, "Go outside and announce that there are too many spectators and this place cannot accommodate them. Ask everyone to move to the square at the center of the Market. We will hold the Artifact Forging Technique contest there."

Watching the noisy crowd below move toward the square, Bai Ruofeng sneered, "This time, I will make the Song Clan suffer a crushing defeat beneath the gaze of everyone in the Market!"