As befitting the cultivation of the Yu Family Ancestor, the journey from the Yu Family to the Oddities Emporium would only take a few breaths. However, to coordinate with the Yu Family's grand display, he deliberately slowed his pace, walking leisurely amidst the gazes of reverence and admiration from the crowd.
"Cough..."
A tickle in his throat caused the Yu Family Ancestor to cough lightly, then he covered his nose with his hand, suppressing the remaining cough.
He lowered his hand and gazed at the back of his hand, which resembled withered tree bark, a complex mix of emotions churning within him.
However, thinking that he would soon be reborn, rid of his lingering illness, a faint smile touched the Yu Family Ancestor's gaunt cheeks.
Soon, very soon.
Even though the Yu Family Ancestor deliberately slowed his steps, for cultivators, it took only half a cup of tea's time to reach the entrance of the Oddities Emporium on foot.
At this moment, a large number of cultivators had already gathered on both sides of the Oddities Emporium, looking on with eager anticipation.
Luo Chunniang concealed herself within the crowd, her lips pressed together, her slender fingers constantly fiddling with her most beloved silk handkerchief.
Ever since she had stepped forward to speak for Zhang Tianbao, this matter had become entangled with her. If Zhang Tianbao and that senior were to be defeated by the Yu Family, then she would not fare well either.
Thinking of this, a faint trace of annoyance flickered in Luo Chunniang's almond-shaped eyes.
"Zhang Tianbao! The Yu Family Ancestor has arrived, why have you not come out to greet him!"
The Yu Family entourage arrived in front of the Oddities Emporium. Without waiting for the Yu Family Ancestor to speak, a sharp-eyed member of the Yu Family stepped forward to the entrance of the Oddities Emporium and shouted loudly.
The Yu Family Ancestor, however, slightly lowered his head, his hands clasped in front of him, remaining silent as if indifferent to his surroundings, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
In the artifact refining chamber in the backyard of the Oddities Emporium.
Fine beads of sweat had already formed on Zhang Tianbao's forehead. He neglected to wipe them away, his eyes fixed on the artifact on the refining platform, which was already showing a discernible outline. The spiritual energy in his hands flowed continuously into the refining platform.
He had now reached the most critical juncture. Once the artifact took shape, his refining would be complete.
"Zhang Tianbao! The Yu Family Ancestor has arrived, why have you not come out to greet him!"
The shouts from outside reached Zhang Tianbao's ears. His expression faltered, and the flames on the refining platform flickered erratically.
"Calm yourself!" Xu Yi reprimanded in a low voice, extremely displeased with Zhang Tianbao's distraction.
Zhang Tianbao glanced at Xu Yi, then towards the direction of the Oddities Emporium's main entrance. Gritting his teeth, he refocused his attention on the artifact refining.
Xu Yi gave a barely perceptible nod.
Zhang Tianbao's talent in artifact refining was truly not to her liking. However, what was commendable was that even so, Zhang Tianbao had never given up on artifact refining. His solid fundamental skills and steady techniques were evident.
Zhang Tianbao practiced an artifact refining technique passed down from his ancestors, which highly tested the refiner's mastery of flames and tools.
Xu Yi had also studied this technique before. Perhaps because Zhang Tianbao's ancestors were limited by their cultivation, they had not perfected the technique, leaving certain flaws. Furthermore, it was too unsuitable for Zhang Tianbao.
Xu Yi decided that after Zhang Tianbao finished refining, she would teach him a more suitable refining method based on his habits, which would also repay his kindness in gifting her the manual back then.
As for the Yu family members currently preparing to cause trouble at the entrance of the Oddities Emporium, Xu Yi paid them no mind.
To her, they were merely a pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator whose foundations were damaged from forcibly breaking through. Xu Yi did not believe the other party could withstand five moves from her.
If they were to force their way in, then she would, in front of all the cultivators of荒城 (Huangcheng), show the Yu family the true methods of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Outside the main gate of the Oddities Emporium, the crowd surged, yet remained silent.
The smugness and arrogance on the faces of the Yu family members, due to the long absence of a response, appeared absurd and laughable.
Although the surrounding cultivators dared not speak, the exchanged glances all conveyed a sense of schadenfreude.
The Yu Family's recent conduct had been irritating, and naturally, there were those eager to add insult to injury.
The other two major families, who had previously stood alongside the Yu Family, had also sent their clansmen to observe the situation. Seeing the Yu family members embarrassed, the clansmen of the two families almost burst into laughter.
In the past, the three major families stood in a delicate balance, supporting each other like a tripod.
The rise of the Yu Family disrupted the original equilibrium, forcing the other two families to band together. Even then, they frequently suffered losses and humiliation at the hands of the Yu family.
Now, seeing someone standing up for them, they were naturally overjoyed.
Yu Datong, the head of the Yu Family, wore a grim expression, especially when he sensed the subtle mocking gazes from his surroundings, which further ignited his anger.
He lowered his head and whispered into the Yu Family Ancestor's ear, "Ancestor, that upstart from the Zhang family is arrogant!"
He left the rest unsaid, but both he and the Yu Family Ancestor understood each other perfectly.
Yu Datong wanted the Yu Family Ancestor to personally teach the arrogant and conceited Zhang Tianbao a lesson and awe all the cultivators of 荒城.
However, to his surprise, the Yu Family Ancestor did not reply immediately. Instead, he gazed at the plaque of the Oddities Emporium in a daze, his expression peculiar.
Yu Datong's heart skipped a beat. He had a bad feeling. Could it be that his ancestor was reminiscing about the past and no longer wished to confront Zhang Tianbao?
Recalling the old events his ancestor had revealed to him last time, Yu Datong's expression grew even more displeased.
The Yu Family Ancestor and Zhang Tianbao's ancestors indeed had a past that was not widely known.
To put it simply, the Yu Family Ancestor had once admired Zhang Tianbao's ancestor, a master artifact refiner. However, the latter was wholeheartedly focused on artifact refining and had no time for romance. Therefore, all of the Yu Family Ancestor's overtures were ignored.
Although the Yu Family Ancestor was disappointed, he could understand.
However, not long after, Zhang family's ancestor inexplicably brought back a man of ordinary appearance, with whom he formed a Dao companion.
After their marriage, their roles were clearly divided. Zhang Tianbao's ancestor was only responsible for refining artifacts within the Oddities Emporium, while his Dao companion was responsible for receiving guests from all sides at the Oddities Emporium.
However, they never had any offspring throughout their lives. Fearing that his legacy would not be passed down, the Zhang family's ancestor adopted a collateral descendant, and this child was Zhang Tianbao's grandfather.
The Yu Family Ancestor could not understand what he lacked compared to that man who appeared out of nowhere, and therefore could not let go of it for a long time.
Now, the Yu Family Ancestor had a house full of descendants, with five generations living together. He thought he had long since let go, but at the most crucial moment, he discovered that he had never forgotten.
Thinking of this, Yu Datong could not help but feel a sense of contempt and disdain.
In his opinion, cultivators should focus their minds on cultivation, not on romantic entanglements, which could ultimately lead to inner demons.
Moreover, if the ancestor was unwilling at the time, he should have gone directly to Zhang's ancestor to ask for clarification, at least to get an answer, rather than being unclear and dwelling on it until now.
Zhang family's ancestor had already passed away for many years, and the Zhang family had declined. What was the point of finding trouble with the Zhang family now?
What's more, the entire 荒城 (Huangcheng) now knew about the conflict between the Zhang and Yu families. If the Yu Family Ancestor began to waver, it would be a complete disregard for the Yu family's reputation.
Yu Datong was extremely anxious, wishing he could shout and yell into his ancestor's ear to make him sober up.