Unparalleled

The atmosphere in the main hall was oppressive; Chen Yuanya remained silent for a long time.

"Third Uncle is wise and formidable to have unearthed such a talent as Master Shen!" Gao Qin suddenly cupped her hands, her voice ringing out clearly. "Today, I admit defeat, heart and soul!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Quan secretly thought things were taking a turn for the worse.

"Master Shen's forging techniques are brilliant!" He hurriedly cupped his hands as well, his voice three parts louder than Gao Qin's. "Third Uncle has a discerning eye; Flame Heart Island should indeed be given to Master Shen!"

He certainly did not want to be branded as "narrow-minded and jealous of others."

Even though, in his heart, he was already green with envy!

Chen Yuanya looked at the two juniors, his eyes filled with gratification.

Understanding the big picture, prioritizing the greater good, and refusing to squabble—these were the fine sprouts cultivated by his Chen Clan!

"Father, are you really going to give Flame Heart Island to an outsider?" Chen Yuliang sent a telepathic message at this moment.

The smile on Chen Yuanya's face did not waver, but his tone was firm: "Impossible!"

Chen Yuliang breathed a sigh of relief.

Flame Heart Island was rich in earth fire and a precious resource of the Chen Clan; how could his father possibly hand it over to an outsider!

"Master Xu is right. The spiritual tool set by Nephew Shen is of extraordinary power. Flame Heart Island should belong to Nephew Shen."

"Father?" Chen Yuliang's face was full of astonishment.

"Shen Yue is a nephew I have watched grow up since he was a child; he is a close friend and companion who has known you for many years," Chen Yuanya replied telepathically, his tone calm.

"..." Chen Yuliang fell silent.

He would absolutely never acknowledge such a shameless claim.

"Congratulations, Brother Shen!" He stepped forward with a beaming smile, bumping his shoulder against Shen Yue's as if they were old friends of many years.

Following this, he took out the jade slip for Flame Heart Island and said, "Brother Shen, keep this safe."

He was merely bowing to his father's overbearing might.

"Congratulations, Brother Shen!" Seeing this, Chen Quan and Gao Qin also cupped their hands in unison.

"Many thanks, Senior Chen, Senior Xu. Many thanks... Brother Yuliang?" Shen Yue returned the salute.

Although he didn't know what the Chen Clan was up to, securing a forging island was certainly no loss.

Chen Yuanya nodded, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces as he smiled:

"You are all the future of the market, the torchbearers of the Chen Clan's forging lineage. Today's contest was not for private gain, but a struggle for the Great Dao."

"Do not be arrogant in victory, nor discouraged in defeat. Only by sharpening one another can you reach even greater heights."

"I hope you do not forget your original intentions, forge ahead, and craft even more peerless divine weapons for our Chen Clan and the world of cultivation!"

These words made the blood of Chen Quan and Gao Qin boil, and they nodded repeatedly.

Shen Yue also nodded perfunctorily; he had heard too many such speeches in his past life and had become immune to them.

"Let us end it here for today," Chen Yuanya waved his hand. "Yuliang, see Nephew Shen out."

"Brother Shen, please."

"I have troubled you, Brother Yuliang."

The two left the hall first.

Gao Qin and Chen Quan followed, departing together.

On the road.

"Brother Quan," Gao Qin couldn't help but ask, "Isn't array-pattern inscription considered an unorthodox path? How is it that Brother Shen's forging method appears... quite profound?"

Chen Quan shook his head. "I am not sure either, but the Fire Refining True Explanation clearly states that array-pattern inscription is a side-door path—not to be learned or used. It is better if we do not study it."

"True, better not to learn it."

The two steered their spiritual swords, turning into streaks of light as they flew off in opposite directions.

Within the streaks of light, Gao Qin: Once I return, I must study this array-pattern inscription method thoroughly!

Chen Quan: Haha, to think such an unorthodox path exists—how marvelous!

Above Refining Lake.

The sword light rode the wind and broke the waves. Wherever it passed, the lake water split in two, kicking up walls of waves several zhang high—a truly imposing sight.

This sword was Chen Yuliang's life-bound spiritual sword, one of the Twelve Divine Firmament Swords from the Jade Void Sword Sect; it was exceptionally powerful.

Shen Yue stood upon the sword, the lake surface whistling beneath his feet, the sharp screech of air being torn apart ringing in his ears.

He secretly lamented that his own spiritual boat was truly a minor trick compared to this sword.

Once he had some leisure time, he would definitely have to try forging a spiritual sword.

The spiritual sword rode the wind and waves, whistling all the way until it arrived at Cuiwei Island.

On the island.

Chen Tong sat before a stone table, muttering to himself:

"It won't work... it won't work... it's fake... it's all fake..."

"Brother, what are you mumbling about?" Chen Huan ran out, his head wreathed in black smoke, his face soot-stained with only his teeth showing white. "I've run out of materials, can you give me some more?"

Seeing Chen Huan in such a state, a surge of irritation flared up in Chen Tong.

To think that he, a prodigy with such innate talent, was already a quasi-Foundation Establishment cultivator and a quasi-Golden Core ancestor at such a young age—how could he have such a useless younger brother?

He had poured so many resources into him, yet the boy couldn't even become a proper artifact refiner!

"You still have the nerve to ask?" Chen Tong opened his mouth to scold him.

Before the words could leave his lips, his expression suddenly shifted as he looked toward the lake.

A streak of sword light arrived through the air, carrying two figures standing upon the spirit blade.

Chen Yuliang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as lightning.

Shen Yue stood at his side, his expression calm.

Chen Tong's mind went blank with a loud buzz.

His cousin had come in person!

This guy, he had actually succeeded!

"Chen Tong."

Chen Yuliang looked down from above: "You are bold beyond measure. Knowing full well that my close friend and confidant, Brother Shen Yue, is an artifact refiner, why did you not apply for Brother Shen to become the Island Master of Flame Heart Island in advance?"

"Huh?"

Chen Tong looked blank.

Wasn't this a bit of a stretch?

Since when did Shen Yue become your "close friend and confidant," Cousin Yuliang?

Furthermore, even if Shen Yue were an artifact refiner, why should he, Chen Tong—a quasi-Golden Core ancestor of the Chen Clan—help an island guard apply to become an Island Master?

"It is my fault!"

Chen Tong pulled out a handful of spirit stones, held them up with both hands, and bowed in apology: "I hope Island Master Shen will not hold a grudge against a small person like me."

He was apologizing to the Island Master, not the island guard!

Chen Yuliang's expression finally softened.

An ordinary artifact refiner would naturally not be worth his effort.

But Shen Yue was different.

Shen Yue was now his "close friend and confidant," and he needed everyone to know it.

"What do you think, Brother Shen..." Chen Yuliang looked toward Shen Yue.

Shen Yue beckoned, and the fifty spirit stones flew into his storage bag.

"We are all family; it was just a small misunderstanding."

It would be a waste not to take the spirit stones.

Chen Yuliang nodded, urged his spiritual power, and the spirit blade whistled into the air once more, carrying the two of them toward the courtyard area by the lake.

The small courtyard by the lake.

Li Sheng, Changqin Wuming, and all the other island guards who had heard the news crowded around, packing Shen Yue's courtyard until not even a drop of water could pass through.

Changqin Wuming stood in the center of the yard, head held high and chest puffed out, his mouth grinning from ear to ear.

Destroying the Chen Clan and dominating the market were just around the corner!

Things are looking up! This Emperor is finally on the rise!

Suddenly, two figures arrived, stepping across the waves.

"Eh? Why are there so many people?"

Zhou Chongwen looked at the dense crowd, his eyes lighting up. He turned to Zhou Feng beside him, his expression radiant:

"Son, look, so many people have come to celebrate you becoming a formation master."

"Didn't I tell you? Your talent is unrivaled!"

Zhou Feng lifted his chin, his gaze sweeping over the heads of the crowd as a proud curve tugged at his lips.

His father was right; his talent was unrivaled. He was already a formation master, the future guest elder of the Chen Clan.

Whoosh!

The sword light whistled, and spiritual pressure descended like a mountain.

Shen Yue and Chen Yuliang stood upon the blade, hovering in mid-air.

"Since you see the Island Master, why do you not bow?"

Chen Yuliang's voice echoed throughout the lakeside courtyard.

Island Master?

A shock ran through the crowd!

In the Chen Clan, the only ones who could be called "Island Master" were direct-line refiners or those who had long since established their reputations in the craft.

Every single one of them was a formidable figure!

Shen Yue... had become an Island Master?

No one knew what had happened.

But not a single person dared to be negligent.

"Greetings, Inspector Chen! Greetings, Island Master Shen!"

The dense crowd bowed in unison.

Chen Yuliang nodded with satisfaction. "Brother Shen, what is it you need to take?"

"Please wait a moment, Brother Chen."

Shen Yue leaped down from the spirit sword, wove through the crowd, patted Changqin Wuming on the shoulder, then went inside to grab a few things before leaping back onto the spirit sword.

Chen Yuliang channeled his spiritual power, and the spirit sword whistled away with the two of them, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

As the spirit sword faded into the distance, the crowd erupted into chaos.

"Shen Yue has become an Island Master!"

"Emperor Ming, you are truly incredible! Incredible!"

Changqin Wuming stood rooted to the spot, his head buzzing.

On the Green Jade Gourd in the middle of the lake.

"Father," Zhou Feng lowered his head, "is my talent... truly the best in the world?"

"You are the best, peerless!" Zhou Chongwen declared decisively.

"Then Shen Yue..."

"Shen Yue relies on day and night of ceaseless effort, but effort has its limits." Zhou Chongwen's expression was grave. "But you are different; you rely on talent, which has no ceiling."

Zhou Feng's eyes lit up. "I understand, I possess heaven-shaking wisdom!"

Zhou Chongwen patted his beloved son with gratification, then turned to steer the gourd, cutting through the waves.

The icy lake water splashed onto Zhou Feng's face, mingling with the tears streaming down.

"Ah, why... Island Master, Island Master! How did you become an Island Master!"

Meanwhile, on Cuiwei Island.

Chen Tong took out a sound-transmission talisman and sank his divine sense into it, his expression vicious.

"Cousin Yunxi, Shen Yue is not only on good terms with Cousin Qiaoqian, but he also shares a close relationship with Cousin Yuliang. Furthermore, he has become a refiner and has been named the Island Master of Flame Heart Island."