"Show me your artifact refining now."
Zhang Tianbao: !
"...Senior, my humble skills are not worthy of presentation. It would be best if I didn't embarrass myself before you."
Although Zhang Tianbao had not personally witnessed Xu Yi's artifact refining, he had seen the divine light of the artifact tribulation that Xu Yi had drawn.
That was something his ancestors had failed to achieve in their entire lives.
Zhang Tianbao was self-aware. If he had any talent for artifact refining, the Qiwu斋 would not be in such decline.
To refine artifacts before Xu Yi would be equivalent to seeking humiliation.
"No matter, I wish to see your artifact refining standards."
Xu Yi naturally understood Zhang Tianbao's concerns, but Xu Yi also had his own considerations and his attitude was firm.
Zhang Tianbao had no choice but to take out his artifact refining platform and select several familiar refining materials from his storage bag, intending to forge a magic treasure that would not go wrong.
There were countless artifact refiners on the Jiuzhou Continent, with a myriad of schools and styles.
Many artifact refiners had their own habits and unique operational techniques when forging magic treasures.
Unless passed down within a lineage, artifact refiners were forbidden from allowing outsiders to observe their refining process to prevent their skills from being stolen.
Xu Yi and Zhang Tianbao had no connection whatsoever, nor did they share the same inheritance. By all rights, Xu Yi should not have had the authority to watch Zhang Tianbao refine artifacts.
However, Zhang Tianbao knew that his meager skills were like showing off before an expert in front of Xu Yi, so he did not object.
The flame ignited, and Zhang Tianbao gradually became serious, casting aside all distracting thoughts, his gaze incredibly focused.
Xu Yi nodded in secret, commending Zhang Tianbao's attitude, regardless of his skill.
Zhang Tianbao took a deep breath. Sensing that the temperature had reached a suitable state, he placed the first piece of ore onto the refining platform.
Meanwhile, at the Yu Family.
The head of the Yu family, Yu Datong, sat with a grim expression in the family head's seat. Before him knelt a ground full of clansmen.
These people were all bruised and battered, appearing disheveled, their clothes covered in dust.
"Family head, that Zhang Tianbao, I don't know where he found his helper, but without discerning right from wrong, they beat us soundly. My waist... Oh, right, that woman also spoke ill of our ancestor quite a bit. She's too arrogant, clearly not putting our Yu family in her eyes!"
The one speaking, Yu Wei, was the one at the bottom of the human pyramid.
Now that he was on Yu family territory, he had regained his confidence. Supporting his waist, he began to complain, portraying the other party as utterly wicked and heinous.
The rest of the Yu clansmen saw no issue with this and instead voiced their agreement, their words filled with dissatisfaction and anger towards the woman.
"Who is that woman! How dare she be so insolent!"
Yu Datong was also furious, but he possessed a bit more rationality than the other Yu family members.
Although their ancestor was now a high-level cultivator in the Spirit Transformation stage, the Jiuzhou Continent was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with one mountain higher than the next. Yu Datong feared that the Yu family might provoke someone too powerful, so he cautiously asked for more information.
"We don't know where she came from. Her relationship with Zhang Tianbao seems quite good, so she probably doesn't have much of a background." Yu Wei hesitated for a moment before stating confidently.
In his opinion, if Zhang Tianbao knew powerful people, he would have revealed it to intimidate them. Why would he continue to be beaten without giving in?
Therefore, he was convinced that Xu Yi's family background was ordinary and that she had no backing.
Yu Datong also found Yu Wei's speculation very reasonable. He sneered, "This is my Yu family's territory. How can we allow outsiders to run wild here? Wait, I will go and invite our ancestor out now. I must let her know what it means to be over the moon!"
Yu Datong stood up and walked towards the back, his face extremely grim. Only when he reached a quiet courtyard did he put away his angry expression and replace it with a respectful and fawning demeanor.
"Old Ancestor, Datong requests an audience." He clasped his hands and said loudly.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
The first sound from inside was not a response but a heart-wrenching cough, which made Yu Datong frown.
Only after the coughing subsided did an aged voice emanate from within.
"What is it?"
"Ancestor, today Yu Wei brought people to Qiwu斋 and was beaten. Moreover, that person also spoke some words that slandered you. What do you think should be done?"
"Qiwu斋? Is it that Zhang family's Qiwu斋?"
"Indeed."
As soon as he spoke, a frail figure appeared before Yu Datong, who was none other than the Yu family's ancestor.
The Yu family ancestor was thin and emaciated, with a hunched back. His hair and beard were all white, and his face was covered in沟壑-like wrinkles. He looked like he was on his last legs and about to be buried.
Yu Datong was not surprised by the Yu family ancestor's interjection and immediately bowed, "Greetings, Ancestor."
The Yu family ancestor nodded lightly, coughed twice, and said, "Let's go, come with me to meet the helper the Zhang family found."
"Yes."
Yu Datong responded, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
Everything was proceeding as he expected.
Many Yu family members did not know that the reason Yu Datong sought trouble for Zhang Tianbao was not because of some vague treasure.
It was because the Yu family and the Zhang family had a long-standing feud. However, due to the Zhang family's decline and the Yu family ancestor's seclusion, this matter had not been brought up again.
But after the Yu family ancestor emerged from seclusion, the old grievances between the two families were unearthed by him and conveyed to the Yu family head, Yu Datong.
Yu Datong, understanding the implication, immediately found people to target the Zhang family, which led to the subsequent events.
However, Yu Datong thought this matter would be resolved quickly, but he did not expect a complication, so he had to invite the Yu family ancestor.
After all, this matter had originated with the Yu family ancestor, so it was most appropriate for him to resolve it personally.
It was also a good opportunity for the Yu family to establish their authority in荒城 (Desolate City), so that no one in荒城 would dare to offend the Yu family from then on.
Yu Datong did not consider the possibility that even the Yu family ancestor might not be able to resolve the matter. He led a large group of family members towards Qiwu斋, making no attempt to conceal their movements.
"Why are the Yu family members all coming out? Where are they going?"
"Is the old man in front the Yu family ancestor? He looks so imposing."
"I know they must be going to Qiwu斋. Quickly, quickly go and report to Shopkeeper Zhang!"
"..."
The fact that the Yu family members were thrown out of Qiwu斋 was not a secret and had already spread throughout the streets and alleys of荒城.
Seeing the entire Yu family mobilized now, someone immediately guessed their destination and shouted to report it.
Upon hearing this, the Yu family members' eyebrows shot up, and they wanted to say something, but they were stopped by Yu Datong's gaze and could only shut their mouths sheepishly.
Yu Datong signaled for everyone not to act rashly, a cold smile playing on his lips.
With the old ancestor personally appearing, he was not afraid of anyone tipping off Zhang Tianbao.
He even looked forward to Zhang Tianbao's helplessness and anger upon receiving the news.
Zhang Tianbao was the first stepping stone for the Yu family to make an example of.
By crushing the Zhang family, the Yu family's status in荒城 would become more stable, and it would also help the ancestor resolve his inner demons. It was truly a good deal.