Lu Zhen!!

Xiao Huo fell silent for a moment, then shook his head again.

"We can't ask him."

"Why not?"

"Because Vice Dean Yuan Chong happened to leave on a journey some time ago."

Xiao Huo explained, "An Artifact Refining Grandmaster of his level would not remain stationed in one place lightly.

"Every so often, he would travel through the Ten Thousand Realms, seeking rare materials and studying the artifact-refining methods of other races in pursuit of a breakthrough."

"No one knows when he will return.

"And you are heading to the Yellow Spring Star River on October 1st. There's definitely... not enough time."

At those words, Qin Yan's face immediately fell.

It felt like he had already glimpsed the dawn of hope, only for someone to mercilessly slam the door shut.

There was clearly an Artifact Refining Grandmaster, clearly Creation Divine Iron, and clearly only one final step left—yet he was held up by time.

That feeling was even more unbearable than having no hope from the start.

Seeing Qin Yan's dejected expression, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Huo's lips.

"But..."

"Our school's Artifact Refining Grandmaster may not be here, but I happen to know an Artifact Refining Grandmaster."

An Artifact Refining Grandmaster?!

Qin Yan's heart jolted. The hope that had just been extinguished instantly flared up again!

He raised his head and stared intently at Xiao Huo, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing this, Xiao Huo waved a hand and poured cold water over him.

"Don't celebrate too soon."

"I'm not familiar with that Artifact Refining Grandmaster. Besides, he has a well-known habit—whenever he refines a Spirit Weapon, his price is outrageously high."

"What material do you have? Creation Divine Iron! The price he would demand to forge such divine material would be even more terrifying."