The Shen Artifact Master

Distant mountains were blue as painted brows; nearby waters lay veiled in mist.

In the main hall of Landscape Manor, sandalwood incense drifted in delicate wisps.

Chen Yuliang sat before the tea table, his brows slightly furrowed.

His companion was a middle-aged man with a stern, dignified face.

"Yuliang, who do you think... should get Flame Heart Island?"

This was Chen Yuliang's father, Chen Yuanya, a mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator who controlled the Chen Clan's fire veins and held authority over the allocation of resources for artifact refining and other matters.

Flame Heart Island was an island atop a fire vein, rich in earthfire.

Chen Yuliang considered the matter for a moment, then said slowly, "My cousin Chen Quan and my cousin Gao Qin are both capable first-rank, lower-grade artifact refiners. Judging by skill alone, either of them would be suited to Flame Heart Island."

Then he changed tack. "But... giving it to either one would be inappropriate."

"If we give it to one of them, the other will inevitably be resentful. Their uncles and aunts will probably have plenty to say about it, too."

The Chen Clan was a great cultivation clan. Besides the Chen surname, there were several surnames tied to it through marriage, including the Gao Clan.

By sheer coincidence, Chen Quan and Gao Qin had both reached the standard of an artifact refiner. According to the clan rules, each could apply for an artifact-refining island.

Of the unoccupied islands, Flame Heart Island was the best.

No matter who got it, the other would hold it against them.

"Father, why not have Chen Quan and Gao Qin compete in artifact refining? A fair contest. Whoever wins gets the island, and the loser can't blame anyone else."

Chen Yuanya shook his head. "It wouldn't be good no matter who won. The loser would lose face, and their resentment would only deepen. We mustn't do anything that harms the Chen Clan's unity."

Father and son sat facing each other, both frowning with worry. For a time, neither spoke.

Just then, Chen Yuanya's brow twitched. His spiritual sense swept toward a voice-transmission talisman.

"Refining Lake, island guardian Shen Yue... an artifact refiner?"

"Island guardian Shen Yue?" Chen Yuliang froze. He felt as though he had heard the name somewhere before.

"You know him?" Chen Yuanya asked.

Chen Yuliang thought it over. "I don't know him, but my cousin Chen Tong mentioned him. He said the man was learning artifact refining. Father, how did you hear about him?"

"Qiaoqian sent me a transmission. She said he's become an artifact refiner and asked me to test his skills."

"Qiaoqian?" Chen Yuliang was a little surprised.

Chen Qiaoqian was far away at the Jade Void Sword Sect, yet she somehow knew about an island guardian on Refining Lake?

She had even sent a transmission back specifically to ask his father to examine him?

"A mere island guardian can actually refine artifacts." Chen Yuanya's eyes held no small measure of appreciation. "He's quite a talent."

"Father," Chen Yuliang suddenly said, his eyes lighting up, "I have a good way to settle the allocation of Flame Heart Island."

Chen Yuanya stroked his beard and smiled. "Let's hear it."

Clear-Turbid Island.

Waste qi shrouded the island, and gray fog churned.

Shen Yue had delivered the spirit boat to Changqin Wuming and was just about to leave.

Whoosh!

A streak of sword light cleaved through the fog.

Chen Tong came at him with a threatening air. "Shen Yue, why aren't you collecting waste? What are you doing here?"

"Steward Chen, Shen Yue, he..." Changqin Wuming stepped forward, wanting to explain.

"Did I say you could speak?" Chen Tong glared at him, then turned his furious gaze on Shen Yue. "You have no regard for the rules. If I don't punish you properly today, I'm not fit to be a steward."

A sinister smile tugged at Chen Tong's lips as a terrifying spiritual pressure radiated from him.

He would make these island guardians understand who ruled the roost on Refining Lake!

"Bring Shen Yue to Landscape Manor at once." A voice transmission suddenly came through.

The spiritual pressure abruptly stalled. Chen Tong froze, sensing trouble.

How had his cousin Yuliang found out about this?

His eyes darted about. In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts flashed through his mind, such as crippling Shen Yue on the spot.

But even if he crippled Shen Yue, his own younger brother would still be that clown who blew up his furnace every single day.

Rather than take the risk, he could keep anyone else from learning that his brother was refining artifacts.

Or he could cut ties with him once and for all. Better not to have that brother at all!

"Today, no one's laying a finger on Shen Yue!" Changqin Wuming summoned his spiritual artifact, spiritual energy surging around him as he prepared to fight to the death.

"How dare you!" Chen Tong roared, glaring at Li Sheng and the others. "Let's see who dares lay a hand on Master Shen!"

The five men, Li Sheng included: "?"

Changqin Wuming: "?"

"Master Shen, are you all right?" Chen Tong's manner had changed completely from his earlier aggression. He beamed. "They're a bunch of waste-qi fools. Don't waste your time arguing with them."

The speed of his change of face was astonishing.

"I'll make sure to punish them properly later."

Li Sheng, Changqin Wuming, and the others were all dumbfounded, their faces full of confusion.

So the people he'd just threatened to punish were them?

"Yes, yes... We were blind and offended Master Shen. We deserve to be punished, we do." Li Sheng hurriedly nodded and bowed.

Shen Yue had really made it!

"Come, Master Shen. I'll take you somewhere nice." Only then was Chen Tong satisfied.

"All right." Shen Yue smiled.

Chen Qiaoqian really was reliable.

"Safe travels, Steward Chen, Master Shen."

Behind them, Li Sheng and the others bowed in unison, their voices loud and their eyes full of awe.

As soon as Shen Yue and Chen Tong were out of sight, the five men immediately surrounded Changqin Wuming.

"Why would you personally take on such dirty work as collecting waste qi, Emperor Ming?"

Landscape Manor, main hall.

The Spirit Gathering Array turned slowly, drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the hall. Anyone who entered felt refreshed and invigorated.

Yet the atmosphere in the main hall was not nearly as relaxed as it seemed.

Chen Yuanya sat calmly in the seat of honor, his gaze steady.

To his right sat a middle-aged man, faint traces of fiery energy radiating from him.

His name was Xu Guanhai. Chen Tong had once begged him to refine an artifact, and his skills were superb. Chen Yuanya had specifically invited him here.

To the left, Chen Yuliang stood with his hands behind his back, his expression composed.

Below him stood two young people, a man and a woman.

Chen Quan had handsome features, and a hint of arrogance between his brows.

Gao Qin was lovely, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

Their gazes met by chance, and they silently sized each other up.

Before long, two figures appeared at the entrance to the hall.

As soon as Chen Tong entered, he sensed something was amiss. He hurriedly bowed. "Third Uncle, Cousin, Master Xu."

Chen Yuanya and Chen Yuliang gave him a faint nod, then looked toward Shen Yue.

"Sit, my young friend Shen."

Chen Yuanya greeted him with a smile, as if he knew Shen Yue well.

But that one "young friend" sent Chen Tong's heart lurching!

Who was Third Uncle?

A mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator and the one in charge of the Chen Clan's artifact-refining branch.

Usually, he couldn't even get a smile out of him. Now he was greeting Shen Yue with a beaming face?

As a prospective Foundation Establishment cultivator and a future Core Formation expert, Chen Tong had to admit that, at that moment, he envied Shen Yue.

Just then, Chen Yuliang took out a jade slip and walked over to Shen Yue with a smile.

"Master Shen, your application for an artifact-refining island was approved yesterday. You just need to leave your aura on this jade slip."

An artifact-refining island?

Chen Tong's eyes went red the moment he heard that.

Artifact-refining islands lay upon fire veins. They were ideal for both cultivation and artifact refining. Even he, the dignified steward of Refining Lake, had only an ordinary Cuiwei Island.

He didn't just envy Shen Yue—he was jealous!

Shen Yue frowned.

He had never applied for any artifact-refining island.

Could Chen Qiaoqian have applied for him?

No, that couldn't be. He had only told Chen Qiaoqian about becoming an artifact refiner today. How could he have applied yesterday?

"Wait!"

A voice rang out, sharp as a sword being drawn.

Chen Quan clasped his hands and bowed to Chen Yuanya, adopting a respectful posture.

"Third Uncle, according to clan rules, as long as the allocation of an artifact-refining island hasn't been finalized, other artifact refiners have the right to compete for it."

Chen Yuanya glanced at him and slowly nodded. "That is indeed one of the rules. Quan'er, you..."

"I challenge him!"

Chen Quan's gaze was like a blade as he stared straight at Shen Yue.

"I'd also like to discuss the art of artifact refining with Master Shen."

Gao Qin rose as well. Her tone was calm, but there was no less defiance in her eyes than in Chen Quan's.

Wonderful... just wonderful...

Chen Tong was secretly delighted.

That was more like it. How could a mere island guardian outrank him?