Settling the Matter

Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and Luo Yu Lei arrived at the Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion early in the morning.

Accompanying him were not only his lackeys but also a large crowd of onlookers eager to witness the spectacle.

The main doors of the Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion stood wide open. Chen Xing Shan remained unfazed by the throng outside, maintaining his usual gentle smile, though a trace of imperceptible solemnity lay hidden in the depths of his eyes.

Chen Ming Hui and Li Tong appeared somewhat nervous, while Chen Shi Shi's small face was taut, his palms slightly sweaty.

Luo Yu Lei stood proudly at the very front of the crowd. The Luo Family disciples behind him and the curious cultivators had completely blocked the entrance to the pavilion.

Discussions rippled through the crowd, a mixture of curiosity, doubt, and schadenfreude.

"Shopkeeper Chen, a grand opening!"

Luo Yu Lei spoke first, his voice deliberately loud and mocking, "The five-day period has arrived. This young master is here to collect my item."

"Where is that 'Master Chen who will forge a magical artifact within five days'? He isn't still scratching his head by the cauldron, is he?"

"Haha!"

The Luo Family disciples behind him joined in the laughter, causing a stir among the crowd.

Chen Xing Shan's eyes grew slightly cold, but his tone remained calm, "Young friend Luo, you jest. Our Chen Family has always been true to our word in business. Ming Hui, please invite Chen Heng out."

Chen Heng's figure emerged from the back hall at the opportune moment.

His steps were steady, and his face showed no sign of haste or panic, just as it had been when he closed the door to the refining room days ago. Only a hint of weariness flickered in his eyes before being covered by a calm demeanor.

He held a folding fan in his hand. The fan bones exuded a subtle, warm luster, mostly wrapped in a plain white silk cloth, drawing attention.

"Young Master Luo, your magical artifact is here."

Chen Heng's voice was not loud, but it cut through the clamor and reached everyone's ears clearly.

He ignored the probing gazes around him and walked directly to Chen Xing Shan's side, extending the silk-wrapped folding fan towards Luo Yu Lei.

The arrogant smile on Luo Yu Lei's face faltered slightly. He hadn't expected Chen Heng to actually produce it.

He took a step forward, accepted the fan, and snorted, "Hmph, it's good that you brought it out. However, I'll say this upfront: if it doesn't meet my requirements, or if it's shoddy work, don't blame me for not giving the Chen Family face!"

His words carried a threat, his gaze fixed intently on Chen Heng.

"Naturally. Whether it meets the requirements, Young Master Luo will know once he inspects it," Chen Heng replied calmly.

Luo Yu Lei took a deep breath and pulled away the plain white silk cloth.

A folding fan came into view: the fan bones were made from the mid-grade first-tier Green Jade Bamboo he had provided, which was hard and contained wood-attribute spiritual energy.

The fan surface was woven from some unknown white spiritual silk that held innate spiritual energy, soft and resilient to the touch; most importantly, three complex and profound artifact patterns were clearly visible on the fan bones!

Three artifact patterns of different properties!

One was shaped like leaping flames, emitting a scorching aura;

Another resembled flowing water ripples, with faint light swirling within;

The last pattern seemed like swirling mist, carrying a faint sense of sluggishness.

The three distinctly different artifact patterns were independent yet seemed to possess a subtle synergy, perfectly engraved on this mid-grade first-tier magical artifact no larger than a palm!

Most of the people present were cultivators. While not all of them could refine artifacts, they possessed the basic ability to discern the properties of a magical artifact.

Luo Yu Lei was no exception. His expression changed instantly, shifting from smugness and doubt to shock and disbelief.

He subconsciously injected his mana to test it.

Clang!

A crimson wind blade, about a foot long, formed at the tip of the fan, whistling as it slashed towards a test stone pedestal specially prepared outside the pavilion. With a "swish," it left a deep scorch mark.

He flipped his wrist, unfolding the fan. A thin, cicada-wing-like yet exceptionally tough, water-blue light barrier instantly expanded, perfectly blocking a few small stones thrown by a shop assistant at a glance from the manager.

With a few muffled "thuds," the light barrier remained undisturbed.

Immediately after, he fanned towards another stone pedestal from a distance. A whirlwind with a sticky sensation materialized out of thin air, temporarily binding the pedestal in place. While it couldn't completely immobilize it, its movements were significantly hindered.

The surrounding crowd erupted in a massive uproar!

"Three artifact patterns! It's actually done!"

"Look at the power! It definitely meets the mid-grade first-tier standard!"

"This craftsmanship... three different artifact patterns on one artifact, and it was forged in just five days?"

"This young man from the Chen Family is incredible!"

"The Luo Family this time... tsk tsk, they've kicked a steel plate?"

Luo Yu Lei's face alternated between green and white.

The quality, power, and artifact patterns of the magical artifact precisely matched the difficult requirements he had set.

The clamoring of the Luo Family disciples behind him abruptly ceased, replaced by an awkward silence.

He had intended to cause trouble, but instead, he had become a stepping stone for the other party's display of skill and a boost to their reputation!

This left him so stifled he felt like he was going to spit blood.

Chen Xing Shan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He immediately stepped forward, a smile filling his face as he smoothed things over. "Haha, as long as you're satisfied, young friend Luo! Ming Heng has lived up to expectations and honored the name of our Chen Family's 'Artifact Talisman.' Three hundred Spirit Stones, thank you for your patronage!"

He skillfully shifted everyone's attention away from Luo Family's embarrassment and towards the successful transaction, further emphasizing the Chen Family's outstanding craftsmanship.

Luo Yu Lei clutched the fan, which was worth far more than he had anticipated, feeling its weight as if it were a thousand pounds and burning his hand.

To go back on his word in front of everyone?

That would only bring shame upon him and the Luo Family. The rules of the market town and the Luo Family's reputation would not allow him to do so.

Luo Yu Lei held back for a long time, ultimately suppressing his surging anger and humiliation. He gritted out a few words from between his teeth: "Hmph! So... so you have some skill! Let's go!"

He practically snatched the bag of two hundred Spirit Stones from his companion, tossed it onto the counter without even looking, and led the Luo Family members out of the crowd, looking dejected. They quickly disappeared onto the bustling main street of the market town.

The crowd's gaze focused on Chen Heng, filled with curiosity and amazement.

But after Luo Yu Lei left, Chen Heng gave a slight nod to the curious onlookers and to Chen Xing Shan, who looked at him inquiringly. Without a word, he calmly said, "Shopkeeper, if there's nothing else, I'll go organize the refining room in the back."

With that, he turned, picked up Luo Yu Lei's gift, and walked through the crowd's curious gazes with unhurried steps, heading straight back to the rear hall.

Low-key, calm, and leaving without taking credit.

Chen Xing Shan watched his retreating back, stroked his short beard, and his smile became incredibly relieved, even tinged with a bit of admiration.

Not only had he perfectly resolved the Luo Family's challenge and saved the Pavilion's reputation, but he had also proven his own strength under everyone's watchful eyes.

And yet, he showed no arrogance or desire to capitalize on the situation. This composure, maturity, and way of handling matters were far beyond his years!

"Good kid..." Chen Xing Shan thought to himself.

Then, with a beaming smile, he turned to the other customers who had been drawn in by the scene.

"Come, come, fellow Daoists! My apologies for the disturbance just now! The minor incident is over. Our shop has a full selection of magical artifacts and materials, with guaranteed quality. Today's gathering offers many discounts. Please, come inside and take a look!"

Inside the Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion, the influx of customers, drawn in by the spectacular "performance," increased instantly.

A storm that was intended to embarrass the Chen Family was thus resolved by Chen Heng with irrefutable skill and an extremely low-key demeanor, silently turning it into increased prestige for the Jade Spring Artifact Pavilion.