Will Not Fail

Chapter 28: He Won't Fail

Chen Xingfeng and Mo Cuidao had the same master and learned the same things.

Their conflict, however, stemmed from their different paths.

Chen Xingfeng's ideals simply didn't align with Mo Cuidao's.

What Chen Xingfeng disagreed with most vehemently was Mo Cuidao's understanding of Qi Refining stage artifact refiners.

In Mo Cuidao's view, the further you wanted to go, the stronger your foundation had to be.

Chen Xingfeng had initially agreed with this theory, but after reading Mo Cuidao's detailed explanation, he'd exploded in anger.

"What kind of nonsensical garbage is this?"

"Who can learn so much in the Qi Refining stage?"

Mo Cuidao's ideas were too far-fetched.

And one of the most baffling things to Chen Xingfeng was--

Mo Cuidao intended to teach Qi Refining stage artifact refiners how to cultivate the [Rune of the Artifact Spirit]!

[Rune of the Artifact Spirit].

It was a rune shaped like a brain, drawn by artifact refiners imitating a real human brain.

This type of rune was typically only needed for Magic Treasures intended to catalyze an Artifact Spirit, and only with this rune did the possibility of obtaining an Artifact Spirit increase.

They believed that only by giving a Magic Treasure a "brain" could that "brain" develop and eventually catalyze an Artifact Spirit.

The ultimate goal and highest pursuit in their creation of the [Rune of the Artifact Spirit] was--

"The Magic Treasure I refine is going to grow a brain!"

But how could the Rune of the Artifact Spirit be something a Qi Refining stage cultivator could master?

It demanded not only precision but also accuracy and balance. Furthermore, it couldn't take up too much space, or it would interfere with the normal operation of other runes.

The difficulty was akin to carving a city onto a piece of tofu the size of a thumb.

Qi Refining stage artifact refiners couldn't handle this level of difficulty.

The "brains" drawn by Qi Refining stage artifact refiners would undoubtedly be crude and incomplete.

Trying to make a Magic Treasure grow a brain with that?

Impossible. It would be more like creating a brain-damaged artifact.

Yet, Mo Cuidao insisted on pursuing it.

This was precisely why Chen Xingfeng cursed Mo Cuidao. He lamented that Mo Cuidao, with his exceptional talent and formidable skills, was wasting them on such pursuits instead of sharing them with the Cultivation World like he did.

Luoxia City could center around the Craftsmanship Tower precisely because Chen Xingfeng was willing to impart his skills. This was how he drove the development of the entire city. If he had only been a seller of Magic Treasures, Luoxia City wouldn't have revolved around him.

Chen Xingfeng believed that even if Mo Cuidao didn't want to teach so many people, couldn't he at least research something that could succeed?

But now...

Chen Xingfeng watched Ning Ri flawlessly and fluidly draw the [Rune of the Artifact Spirit] on the molten metal.

Without a single mistake.

Extremely stable!

After seeing it, Chen Xingfeng felt like his own brain was about to grow.

Mo Cuidao might actually succeed.

He had clearly seen Ning Ri's previous fire control technique, [Blazing Heaven Chapter], and his material fusion technique, [Red Furnace Melting Snow]. It was precisely because of this that he marveled at Ning Ri's genius.

But now...

He didn't know what to call Ning Ri.

Watching this scene made him feel utterly absurd. Where did this monster come from?

Also, why was Ning Ri adding the Rune of the Artifact Spirit to this set of Magic Treasures?

The design blueprints clearly didn't include it!

Chen Xingfeng fell silent for a moment--

Was this to vent Ning Ri's anger on behalf of Mo Cuidao?

Chen Xingfeng had misunderstood Ning Ri.

He wasn't helping Mo Cuidao vent his anger.

He was trying to curry favor with Chen Xingfeng.

Ning Ri knew that the [Rune of the Artifact Spirit] was incredibly powerful and shouldn't be on a Qi Refining artifact. Moreover, the mission requirements didn't specify it...

If he forcefully included it, it would seem a bit like showing off or boasting.

But...

He had no choice!

He had his difficulties!

Ning Ri believed that since no one had completed this task of Chen Xingfeng's for so many years, it meant that there was a risk of failure even if he refined artifacts normally.

If he failed, he wouldn't get the Heaven Defying Foundation Establishment Method.

For the sake of the [Heaven Defying Foundation Establishment Method], even if he were a low-key, serious, steady, and practical traditional cultivator who disliked showing off, he would have to show off.

Precisely because of this, he put in 200% effort just to complete this task!

He stared intently at the molten iron before him, thinking—

Chen Xingfeng just praised him for pausing his artifact refining, so...

Now that you've seen my Rune of the Artifact Spirit, surely you'll be full of praise, old man?

Haha!

No need for praise, no need for praise, I'm only doing this for the Heaven Defying Foundation Establishment Method!

After two hours, Ning Ri's artifact refining came to a pause. Even though he frequently "rested," his speed was much faster than others.

However, when he finished, he didn't immediately say he was done. He pretended to rest there and continued refining...

He wouldn't do things like finishing early to mess with others' mentality.

Chen Xingfeng and Yang Xingming both saw through Ning Ri's intentions and couldn't help but shake their heads—

No one else is competing with you anymore. Even if you say you're done, it won't shatter their Dao heart.

Half a day later.

Everyone had finished refining.

Except for Xi Yuan, the other three had a very high completion rate. It was completely fine to say they scored 95 points. The remaining 5 points were deducted because Ning Ri had messed with their mentality.

But even so, these three sets of Qi Refining Magic Treasures were exquisite works.

This made Yang Xingming nod repeatedly.

It seemed these three were outstanding talents in artifact refining within their respective sects!

As for Ning Ri's artifact refining...

He didn't comment, he just learned.

Next, Chen Xingfeng began the formal inspection. He walked up to Jin Le's magic treasure, glanced at it twice, and said lightly, "Failed."

Jin Le's expression stiffened, then he gave a wry smile, "Yes! Thank you, Master Xingfeng!"

He walked up to Liang Shuyou, glanced at it a few times, touched it, and shook his head again, "Failed."

Liang Shuyou wasn't surprised by this result, so he directly thanked him, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Xingfeng."

Chen Xingfeng: "Mm."

After speaking, he walked up to Jiang Wen, picked up the magic treasure, looked at it twice, and then smiled, "You're learning quite quickly what I taught you. The control of this artifact fire is quite good."

Jiang Wen scratched his head sheepishly, just as a happy smile appeared...

Chen Xingfeng immediately changed his tune, "But you also failed."

Jiang Wen's expression stiffened, "Thank you, Master Xingfeng."

Chen Xingfeng walked up to Xi Yuan, who was looking at him with expectant eyes.

After glancing at it a few times, a complex expression suddenly appeared in his eyes, but he quickly shook his head again, "Failed."

Xi Yuan looked a little dejected, "Yes, thank you, Master Xingfeng."

Chen Xingfeng was not responsible for comforting children. He walked directly to Ning Ri, not looking at the magic treasure, but staring at Ning Ri.

Ning Ri was looking at him with anticipation...

In the quiet refining room, the air was still filled with the scorching heat from the flames. Everyone else cast their gazes over at this moment.

It was understandable that they had failed.

In previous years, even those who did better than them hadn't succeeded.

But...

In past tasks, no one had ever been more skilled than Ning Ri!

Moreover, Chen Xingfeng had just praised him...

In this case, Ning Ri couldn't possibly fail, right?!

Yang Xingming, who was comforting Xi Yuan, felt the same way.

Chen Xingfeng had given Ning Ri an unprecedented evaluation—

To learn from him.

Under such circumstances, would he fail?

Dream on!