A Stunning Display of Skill

At the center of the Market, where four main roads intersected, stood a large circular plaza. It was usually a place where Rogue Cultivators conducted their trades.

When Song Changsheng arrived at the Market that day, he had not seen many people. It was not because the Market lacked visitors, but because most of them had gathered here.

The Earth Fire Sect had changed the venue, which was exactly what Song Changsheng wanted. After all, he had come to grind the Earth Fire Sect's face into the dirt, so naturally, the more people there were, the better.

By the time they arrived, the plaza was already surrounded by a crowd, all stretching their necks in anticipation. There were even speculators who had opened betting pools on the outcome, and countless people had placed their wagers.

"People from the Treasure Seeking Pavilion are here."

The moment Song Changsheng and Song Luyuan appeared, they drew the attention of many present. After what Song Changsheng had done yesterday, his name had already spread throughout Liuyun Market.

Everyone was guessing whether he could, as he had yesterday, stomp the Earth Fire Sect's face into the ground and rub it back and forth.

Song Changsheng kept his gaze straight ahead. Accompanied by Song Luyuan, he walked to the center of the plaza and stood there, waiting for the other side to arrive.

Within the crowd, a potbellied fat man squeezed his way to the front. The moment he saw Song Changsheng, he froze. "Isn't this Fellow Daoist Shen Changsong? Shen Changsong, Song Changsheng... Heh, this is interesting."

Interest immediately appeared on the fat man's face.

After waiting roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Bai Ruofeng finally Arrived Late with Cheng Xiao.

"Oh my, Shopkeeper Song. I changed the location without informing you beforehand. I hope Shopkeeper Song will not blame me." Bai Ruofeng stepped forward and spoke with false sincerity.

Song Luyuan also Rushed Forward with a face full of fake smiles, beginning a string of meaningless pleasantries. Though both sides wished they could kill the other, they still had to maintain a harmonious appearance.

While the people in charge from both sides made idle small talk nearby, Song Changsheng began observing his opponent.

He was a Young Cultivator dressed in white, about twenty-something years old. His appearance was extraordinary, but arrogance radiated from every inch of him, making him thoroughly unpleasant.

Right In the midst of Song Changsheng's observation, Cheng Xiao spoke first. "So you're the one challenging me?"

"I heard that your artifact-forging skills are superb, so I came specifically to seek your guidance." Song Changsheng answered calmly and unhurriedly.

"Heh, very well. How do you want to compete?" Cheng Xiao stood With Hands Behind His Back, not even sparing Song Changsheng a proper glance. He felt that victory was already in the bag.

Song Changsheng did not care about his attitude and said evenly, "Since I have come to seek your guidance, naturally, you make the rules."

A flicker of disdain crossed Cheng Xiao's eyes. With a wave of his hand, he took out two identical First-Tier High-Grade Magic Artifacts. "Very well. Here are two identical First-Tier High-Grade Magic Artifacts, with no arrays inscribed inside.

The two of us can compete to see who can inscribe more arrays within three hours, and whose arrays are of better quality."

"No problem." Song Changsheng nodded in agreement. Forging First-Tier High-Grade Magic Artifacts required a great deal of time; using this method would undoubtedly be much faster, while also revealing one's true level.

"Martial Uncle, when do we begin?" Cheng Xiao looked at Bai Ruofeng beside him, somewhat impatiently.

"If you are ready, then begin now." Bai Ruofeng said after exchanging a glance with Song Luyuan.

The two each chose an empty patch of ground and sat down cross-legged. Cheng Xiao tossed over a disc-shaped Magic Artifact, while he himself took a longsword-shaped Magic Artifact.

Song Changsheng did not mind. After receiving it, he first inspected the Magic Artifact. Clearly, Cheng Xiao had not resorted to such shabby tricks; there was nothing wrong with it.

However, during the inspection, he discovered several subtle flaws within the Magic Artifact. Clearly, the artifact forger's technique had been flawed.

"There is still plenty of time. I'll refine this Magic Artifact once more." Song Changsheng Glanced At Cheng Xiao, who had already begun inscribing arrays, and spoke to himself.

Before the astonished gazes of everyone in the plaza, a ball of orange-red flame rose In Front Of Song Changsheng and enveloped the Magic Artifact.

"What is he doing? Didn't they say they were competing over the number of arrays inscribed?" a Cultivator asked in confusion.

Soon, a knowledgeable Cultivator stepped forward and said, "He is refining the Magic Artifact. This can further improve its quality."

"But that seems unrelated to the competition, doesn't it?"

The Cultivator hesitated for a moment before ultimately nodding. "That is indeed the case."

For a Moment, Song Changsheng's actions left everyone utterly baffled. Was this confidence, or arrogance?

Cheng Xiao naturally noticed Song Changsheng's unusual behavior as well. Looking at the array he had already completed one-third of, he Couldn't Help But let out a Cold Laugh inwardly. Song Changsheng was far too arrogant.

It was true that refinement could improve a Magic Artifact's quality, but Cheng Xiao had personally forged both of these Magic Artifacts. He had complete confidence in his own abilities.

He had already made them as perfect as possible. Even if there were a few oversights, another round of refinement would not improve their quality by much. In his view, Song Changsheng was completely putting the cart before the horse!

Song Changsheng ignored the murmurs around him. He had already entered a state of complete absorption.

Time Flowed Away rapidly. Nearly an hour had Passed before Song Changsheng finally finished refining the Magic Artifact. By then, Cheng Xiao had already completed his first array.

The Vast Majority of those present no longer held any hope for Song Changsheng. After all, he had fallen too far behind. Those who had bet on Song Changsheng's victory regretted it so bitterly their guts turned green.

If they had not feared Song Luyuan's presence, they would likely have thoroughly greeted Song Changsheng's parents by now.

"Two hours remain. I do need to hurry a little." Song Changsheng Murmured Softly.

The next moment, his Mental Energy surged into the Magic Artifact's interior like floodwaters bursting through opened gates. Under his guidance, his Mental Energy split into two, and he actually began inscribing two arrays at the same time!

Since this was an open-air contest, the entire process of his array inscription was fully displayed before everyone's eyes. It was not very obvious when he first began, but as the outlines of the arrays gradually Appeared, someone immediately noticed something unusual.

"Heavens! Song Changsheng is actually inscribing two different arrays at once. Am I seeing this right?" a Rogue Cultivator Artifact Forger cried out.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" His words immediately drew doubt from those around him. After all, every array was incomparably complex and precise, often requiring a person's full concentration.

As for inscribing two arrays simultaneously, no one Did Not Know whether it existed elsewhere, but ever since Ling Province had been opened up, no one had ever heard of such a thing.

"Hm? It's true—the outlines of two arrays have already Appeared."

"Is Song Changsheng some kind of monster? How did he do that?"

Facts spoke louder than words. More and More people noticed the scene, drawing a chorus of sharp breaths. Everyone was stunned by Song Changsheng's move.

Bai Ruofeng stared fixedly at Song Changsheng, his eyes wide as he said in disbelief, "The legendary Dual-Mindedness? How is this possible? What gives him the right?!"

Seeing Bai Ruofeng's expression, Song Luyuan quietly stepped forward several paces and stood In Front Of Song Changsheng, afraid that Bai Ruofeng might resort to Desperate Measures.

Song Changsheng Did Not Know how great a stir he had caused. At this moment, he was completely immersed in it...