Chapter 113: Provocation

  The air was filled with contempt and ridicule for the Equipment Repair Alliance, this sentence made all transactions in the entire venue come to a halt.

  As is well known, after the destruction of the Instrument Spirit Sect, the only place in the Cultivation Realm that can provide artifact refinement is the Instrument Refining Alliance. Although some small instrument refining sects did not join the alliance at first, as time passed, these small sects were all destroyed by the 'Devil Dao Cultivation' without exception, leaving only the Instrument Refining Alliance as a place for artifact refinement in the Cultivation Realm. It is said that the Instrument Refining Alliance controls the majority of top-grade artifact refiners in the Cultivation Realm, with some exceptions being old monsters who hide from the world. Therefore, some cultivators who are looking for a lucky break have placed their hopes on these hidden old monster-level artifact refiners. However, up to this day, no one has heard of anyone finding these old monsters. After all, the Cultivation Realm is vast, and most artifact refiners are skilled in array techniques, so finding them is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Sun Ming's actions as the fake Ming Xin True Person seem to fit the image of a hidden old monster-level artifact refiner that people have in mind, so at this time, almost everyone's attention was focused on Sun Ming.

  "Could it be that Senior also knows how to refine equipment?" The Tribulation period cultivator who was being bullied by the Equipment Refining Union to the point of having no way out asked with a tone that was both tense and excited.

  "I roughly know a thing or two, although I don't know if it's still possible to refine the immortal artifact, but the spiritual artifact is indeed within my grasp." Sun Ming stroked his newly grown white beard and said confidently, with an air of transcendence that made people involuntarily believe him, not a single person had any hint of doubt.

  "I don't know if you can even refine a sacred artifact, do you think you're a grandmaster-level refiner? Arrogant, truly arrogant to the extreme. Do you think refining a spiritual artifact is something that can be done by just anyone? Has the standard of high-level refiners fallen to this point? Any old geezer can claim they can refine a spiritual artifact?" A sinister voice came from behind the counter of the Refiner's Alliance, followed by a young and handsome cultivator who walked out. Although his face was quite handsome, he gave off an overall feeling that was somewhat ominous, like a python hiding in the woods waiting for its prey.

  "In the Lower Realm, Mu Rong Zhan Yu heard from his subordinates that his senior could freely refine spiritual-level artifacts, and he was quite surprised. So, he came here specifically to see his senior's extraordinary artifact-refining skills, and he hoped his senior would teach him." Mu Rong Zhan Yu's tone was neither arrogant nor humble, giving people a feeling of extreme politeness, which was completely different from the words he had just spoken, as if they were said by two people with different personalities.

  The originally quiet crowd suddenly started making a fuss and discussing after hearing the name of Murong Jingyu, as if they had seen some kind of celebrity.

  "I didn't expect to meet a disciple of the Murong family, one of the four major families of the Qi Xiu Alliance's cultivation forces, here. It was really worth coming." The tone of cultivator A's words made Sun Ming feel like his head was swelling up.

  "Yes, I didn't expect to meet a disciple of the Murong family. I really want to know if his sister Murong Yunfan has come. If she has, I must get her to refine a magic treasure for me, even if it takes ten times the materials, I'd be willing." The words of cultivator B made Sun Ming laugh in his heart.

  "I didn't expect to run into an acquaintance in a place like this, Mu Rong Yun Luan's brother, haha, no wonder he's as arrogant as his sister. Today, I'll let me take down your haughty attitude, and pay back the interest for the suffering you've caused us cultivators." As he thought this, the smile on Sun Ming's face grew thicker.

  "Please, go ahead." Murong Jingyu made a inviting gesture, indicating for Sun Ming to follow him.

  "Hold on." Sun Ming's words caused everyone to become suspicious. Could it be that this arrogant and mysterious cultivator was indeed an imposter, just as Murong Zhenyu had said?

  "Senior, what are you doing? Are you afraid? Or do you simply not know how to refine equipment and are just pretending to be a refiner to cause trouble?" Mu Rong Zhan Yu's expression seemed somewhat playful. The cultivators guarding the area slowly closed in.

  "What's going on here? Are you guys from the Mechanic Union trying to silence people by killing them?" Sun Ming pretended to be stupid and ignorant, his tone somewhat dissatisfied.

  "What are you doing? You're causing trouble for us here. There's no need to stir up trouble. What do you want us to do?" Murong Zhiyu provoked, this was the first time.

  "Refining equipment is just refining equipment, why do you need to go inside? Can't it be refined here? The refiners of the Equipment Repair Alliance refine things that can't be seen by others. It doesn't mean that when I refine things, they can't be seen by others either."

  Sun Ming's words suddenly made Mu Rong Zhan Yu, who was about to take action, pause.

  "But senior, you don't have the materials here, are you going to use your own prepared materials to refine it? It seems that senior has been planning our equipment repair alliance for a long time, and even this step was calculated, truly broadening my horizons."

  Murong Zhenyu's gaze seemed to see through his expression, making Sun Ming feel a sudden chill.

  "Are you calculating the cost of repairing your equipment? Hmph, is that really necessary? Using materials you've prepared yourself to refine them? Did I say that? You young one, don't always think you're right, got it?"

  "Joke, old man, won't your brain get numb? Not using our materials, nor your own materials, are you going to create something out of thin air? Even if your craftsmanship is superb, can you really create something from nothing? Are you taking us all for fools?" Murong Zhenyu asked mockingly.

  "There is indeed a technique to create something out of nothing, but I haven't reached that level yet. You little brat have no memory, did I ever say I could create something out of nothing? Remember, never be self-righteous and never interrupt others!"

  As soon as Sun Ming's words fell, they immediately triggered a burst of laughter. Murong Jiyu's face was beet red with rage, his tightly clenched fists trembling uncontrollably, clearly furious to the extreme. However, in front of so many people, he still had to maintain a dignified demeanor, so although angry, he could only restrain himself. "Frustrated" - this was the only word that Murong Jiyu could think of in his heart; now what he most wanted to see was the old man in front of him making a fool of himself while refining the equipment.

  "I don't know which fellow practitioner needs to refine a magic treasure, I can help you refine it for free and won't charge any fees." Sun Ming shouted loudly.

  "Listen, no charge at all, how about that? Let's have him refine it?" said Practitioner A to Practitioner B as if discussing something.

  "You fool, haven't you heard that 'cheap things aren't good, and good things aren't cheap'? You want to refine something without any cost? Have you ever heard of such a thing?" Refiner B asked back.

  "There isn't, even the former Qiling Sect would charge a certain fee as compensation. I've been cultivating for so many years and it's still my first time seeing an alchemist master willing to refine things for free." After saying that, Practitioner A was about to head forward when Practitioner B immediately stopped him.

  "Didn't you understand what I just said? This guy's background is unknown, it's not even certain if he's a Refiner. If you rashly let him refine a Treasure for you and succeed, that's fine, but if not, your things will be completely ruined. Later on, he'll use excuses like 'this is the risk that must be taken when not collecting payment' to shirk responsibility, what can you do? Are you going to make him compensate? Do you even know which sect or school he belongs to?"

  "Thanks for reminding me, if it wasn't for brother Dao reminding me, I'm afraid that in the end I wouldn't even know who had swindled me." Cultivator A was left with a lingering fear.

  "It seems that seniors will still come with me, the people here all hope that their own law-abiding treasures will be refined by our Instrument Refining Union, after all, handing over the materials they have collected to a person who doesn't know the bottom line is not a risk that everyone can bear. Maybe the senior was too lucky, there is no one here who dares to take this risk." Mu Rong Zhen Yu said with a bad smile.

  "Is it really that there is no one who needs to refine the law treasure?" Sun Ming said again, although somewhat disappointed, but Sun Ming still hoped that someone would stand up.

  "Senior, don't shout anymore. I've told you, they trust our Instrument Repair Alliance. You've never shown your instrument repair skills, who would believe you?" Murong Zhenyu's laughter caused a burst of ridicule and contempt from the people in the Instrument Repair Alliance.

  Sun Ming felt a little disappointed, turned around and prepared to walk in the direction of Murong Jingyu. He was slightly uncomfortable in his heart, after all, in his own conception, under the eyes of everyone, he had insulted the most skilled and relied on for survival, the art of refining instruments, which was the most suitable. Unexpectedly, no one responded at this point, it was a mistake step by step. Never mind, although going to the back would reduce the impact on them, there was still a chance of winning over nothing.

  "Please stay, senior." Just as Sun Ming was walking towards Murong Zhenyu, a voice called out to him from behind. Sun Ming turned around and smiled, it was the cultivator who had just gone through tribulation that he had helped earlier. It seemed that good people do get rewarded after all.

  "Although I also have some doubts about Senior's refining technique." This sentence disrupted Sun Ming's self-righteous thoughts.

  "But with the Tribulation imminent, according to the rules of this cultivation alliance, it's absolutely impossible for me to obtain this treasure. So after careful consideration, I've decided to let Senior Sun refine it instead. If he succeeds, I'll have one more senior; if he fails, then it's just my bad luck that I won't become an immortal, and I'll just switch to cultivating as a loose immortal." The cultivator on the verge of Tribulation said to Sun Ming with a tone of reckless abandon.

  "What's with the 'Transcendent Immortal' nonsense? Since you trust me, I guarantee that once this thing is refined successfully, it will definitely protect you through the Heavenly Tribulation."