"I don't believe it!"
Master Zheng's expression shifted repeatedly, unable to accept this reality, he gritted his teeth.
He was a renowned senior, a veteran top craftsman, and today, by forging the Golden Snake Sword, he had stabilized his Yellow Tier level.
Today should have been the day he made his name known to the world.
How could he be a mere foil for a junior?
Therefore, he was unwilling.
Moreover, he harbored doubts, how could a young man under twenty possess such earth-shattering skill.
Could it truly be a gift from heaven?
"I don't believe it either!"
Jin Wudao gritted his teeth in hatred.
Just as their Jin family was about to achieve a complete victory, not only crushing the Lan family, but also gaining a Yellow Tier weapon refiner to oversee them, their Jin family's status would undoubtedly soar, becoming a top family in Jiangnan City, even rivaling the City Lord's mansion.
They wouldn't even have to curry favor with the Craftsmen Association anymore.
Such a beautiful prospect was within reach, only to be shattered by Ling Fan. How could he be reconciled?
"I don't believe it either!"
Hu Hao shouted, veins bulging.
A hint of killing intent quietly emerged.
Everyone was startled. Had the Jin family failed in their duel and resorted to force?
Lan Tianxiong's heart tightened, fearing that the Jin family might make a move against Ling Fan, so he quickly moved to Ling Fan's side.
"Silence!"
Just as the atmosphere became tense.
An unexpected figure appeared.
Upon seeing this person, all the members of the Craftsmen Association quickly bowed in greeting.
"Greetings, President!"
"Greetings, Master Wang!"
Everyone in the hall respectfully greeted Master Wang.
This was the number one craftsman in Jiangnan City, the prestige of the President of the Craftsmen Association.
Seeing Master Wang appear, the Lan family members felt a little uneasy…
Because they still had a sliver of worry, fearing that the golden patterns Ling Fan forged were fake…
"Master, you've come at the perfect time. Please expose this trick of Ling Fan's. I strongly suspect this spirit weapon is a fake with only superficial brilliance!"
Hu Hao said immediately.
"Hu Hao, you disappoint me."
Master Wang shook his head and glanced at Hu Hao, plunging him into an ice cellar!
Master Wang ignored everyone else and walked directly to Ling Fan.
He cupped his hands respectfully towards Ling Fan and said, "Master Ling's divine skill has convinced me! I apologize for my previous rudeness, please forgive me, Master Ling."
Master Wang had always thought he had overestimated Ling Fan, but he never expected to still underestimate him!
Seeing Ling Fan forge with his will today, he realized how profound Ling Fan's methods were, far beyond his imagination.
He suspected that Ling Fan's limits were far beyond the peak of the lower Yellow Tier…
And Master Wang felt that even with his full effort, he might not be able to forge nine golden patterns in one go.
No wonder Ling Fan had been dismissive of his offer to take him as a disciple that day, even saying he wasn't worthy of being his disciple.
Unconsciously, his address to Ling Fan had changed from "young friend" to "Master Ling."
Seeing Master Wang's respectful attitude towards Ling Fan, everyone was stunned.
Master Wang was one of the few individuals standing at the pinnacle of Jiangnan City.
His status was self-evident.
After all, behind him stood a colossal entity, the Craftsmen Association!
Yet, such a prominent figure, who could stand on equal footing with the City Lord of Jiangnan City, was so respectful to Ling Fan, even sincerely apologizing to him.
Judging by his tone, it seemed he had known Ling Fan for a long time.
Ling Fan merely nodded faintly.
"This brat, his attitude is too arrogant. Our President is so respectful to him, and he just responds with a casual nod!"
Many members of the Craftsmen Association felt indignant.
However, Master Wang was unperturbed. Seeing Ling Fan nod, a weight was finally lifted from his heart.
He had now broken through to the Profound Gang realm with Ling Fan's help, and perhaps his future hope of advancing to a mid-Yellow Tier craftsman or even higher depended on this young man.
"I have been following this duel, Master Ling forged a peak lower-Yellow Tier spirit weapon with nine golden patterns, while Zheng Bicheng only had one golden pattern. Therefore… the Lan family wins!"
With Master Wang's declaration, the duel was finally settled.
Including Hu Hao, Master Zheng, Jin Dazhi, and others, no one dared to voice any further objections.
"Since the victor has been decided, it's time to fulfill the wager,"
Ling Fan said calmly.
Everyone's expression immediately turned serious.
Now it was finally time for the Lan family to confront the Jin family.
Jin Dazhi, Jin Wudao, and many Jin family members had faces as if they had eaten feces. Many were even so scared their legs had gone weak.
How could they be willing to be driven out of Jiangnan City by the Jin family?
"Master Wang, since you have spoken, our Jin family naturally admits defeat and will provide appropriate compensation to the Lan family. As for the Jin family withdrawing from Jiangnan City… can you perhaps waive that?"
The Jin family patriarch, Jin Dazhi, pleaded respectfully to Master Wang.
Master Wang snorted coldly, unmoved.
The mere Jin Dazhi was not worth Master Wang's attention.
Jin Dazhi's face immediately turned uglier than if he were crying.
He looked at Master Zheng for help.
Master Zheng frowned and said to Master Wang, "Master Wang, for the sake of my Zheng family in Yunmeng City, please show leniency. Please advise Ling Fan, young people should not be too impetuous. They should know when to stop. Although he has become a Yellow Tier craftsman, there are many people in this world he cannot afford to offend."
Master Wang's brow furrowed upon hearing this, and he then turned to look at Zheng Bicheng.
The mere Zheng Bicheng was naturally not worth his attention, but Zheng Bicheng's brother was the president of the Yunmeng City Craftsmen Branch, Zheng Bilie, a mid-Yellow Tier craftsman!
His status within the Craftsmen Association was slightly higher than Master Wang's.
He might not give face to Zheng Bicheng, but he had to consider giving face to Zheng Bilie.
"Master Ling, what do you think?"
He said to Ling Fan.
Everyone's eyes flashed. The life and death of the Jin family now rested on Ling Fan's whim.
Many sighed with emotion.
Before today, Ling Fan was just the Lan family's useless son-in-law, insignificant in the eyes of the true magnates of Jiangnan City.
But after today, Ling Fan's status would be extraordinary!
Even Master Wang had to respectfully inquire about his opinion, which was evident.
Ling Fan's gaze was cold. What Zheng Bicheng, Zheng Bilie, and Master Wang had to fear, in Ling Fan's eyes, were merely like ants.
"When they pushed the Lan family to the brink, and even targeted my wife, they didn't know when to stop."
"Limit the Jin family to three days to get out of Jiangnan City! Otherwise, Master Wang, you can handle it as you see fit."
Ling Fan waved his hand, as if swatting away a non-existent fly.
His indifferent words had almost pronounced the death sentence on the Jin family.
With a single statement, he intended to uproot the deeply entrenched Jin family!
Such ruthless means.
Everyone was awestruck by Ling Fan's demeanor.
"Master Wang, this…"
The Jin family members' faces turned extremely grim. Jin Dazhi's eyes seemed to hold a hint of regret.
They had thought that by initiating the duel, they could completely eliminate the Lan family, but who knew that due to Ling Fan's presence, they had lifted a rock only to drop it on their own feet.
"Didn't you hear Master Ling? If the Jin family dares to appear in Jiangnan City after three days, don't blame the Craftsmen Association for being merciless!"
Master Wang snorted coldly.
The mere Jin family was far less important to him than Ling Fan himself.
Therefore, he chose to stand with Ling Fan with hardly any consideration.
Upon hearing Master Wang's words, the last shred of hope for all the Jin family members was extinguished.
The power of the Craftsmen Association was not something their Jin family could contend with.
Since Master Wang told them to get out of Jiangnan City, they could only obediently leave.
"Fine! You just wait and see, our Jin family is not finished with you." Jin Dazhi and Jin Wudao cast venomous glances at Ling Fan and the Lan family members, then left with a group of Jin family members.
They left as miserably as they had arrived with arrogance.
And Ling Fan was clearly still not satisfied.
His gaze fell upon Hu Hao.