Chapter 9: Master Liang Yu

"Another Qin disciple?" Zhao Lingshan arched an eyebrow.

Qin Fen smirked. "Princess, this is the... bastard my aunt brought home."

Understanding dawned. "Ah, the illegitimate child." Her gaze dripped with disdain.

Qin Chen ignored them.

"Still can't awaken your bloodline?" Qin Fen sneered, stung by his indifference. "Playing artificer won't hide your shame. Crawl back to your hovel!"

"Does it concern you?"

The venom in Qin Chen's retort shocked the crowd. Qin Fen's face purpled—since when did this worm grow fangs?

"I'm here to forge a second-grade spirit weapon!" He brandished a thumb-sized black stone. "See this Darkmoon Ore? Thirty-eight thousand silver coins! You couldn't afford its dust!"

Murmurs of awe rippled through the hall.

Qin Chen's eyes locked onto the ore. The key to reforging my meridians...

"Enough!" Chen Yufei interjected. "The Hall forbids violence. Provoke further, and guards will execute you."

Qin Fen stepped back, seething. "Lucky bastard."

As Qin Chen pressed Chen Yufei about alternative materials, the air shifted.

"Master Liang Yu approaches!"

A man strode in—mid-thirties, artificer robes billowing. Two silver threads coiled around the hammer emblem on his chest: Second-rank Artificer.

"Bow to Master Liang!"

Whispers erupted:

"Thirty-something second-rank—genius!"

"Future third-rank, mark my words!"

Qin Chen's brow furrowed. His qi flow... flawed.

Qin Fen scrambled forward. "Master Liang! I beg you forge this Darkmoon Ore into a sword!"

Liang Yu examined the ore. "Wasting third-grade material on second-tier work? Foolish."

"My father offers leftover ore as tribute!"

"Acceptable." Liang Yu pocketed the silver card. "Begin at dawn."