The newly arrived Zhener still found many things in this world intriguing. Situ Gu, as it seemed, was still the little subordinate she once had under her command, and it could be said that his promising future was largely shaped by her hands.

On the stage, as the contestant representing the Refining Heaven Sect, the foremost powerhouse in the Artifact Refining World, Zuo Zisheng felt immense pressure. He, too, did not wish to suffer an embarrassing defeat.

Just then, his gaze flickered as he looked toward Gu Lianni. The flames in her hands had already extinguished, leaving her holding a vividly glowing crimson iron sphere. Walking confidently toward the presiding judges, she instantly drew cheers and applause from the disciples of Shudao Mountain.

Zuo Zisheng grew even more anxious. If he couldn't secure the first or second place, fine—he could swallow that. But if he couldn't even rank third, fourth, or fifth, how could he stand as a distinguished disciple of the Refining Heaven Sect?

So, his hands worked with increasing ferocity.

Watching from the mountainside, Young Master Nan broke into laughter, leaning back comfortably as he ordered someone to fetch him a chair, fully prepared to enjoy the unfolding competition at a leisurely pace.

At the center of the arena, near the judges' station, the verification was being conducted by representatives jointly sent by the Ten Great Sects.

The iron sphere refined by Luo Shengsheng, initially glowing red, had turned dark indigo on the surface. After being weighed, it met the three jin and six liang standard, and subsequent rounds of inspections by the Ten Sects' evaluators confirmed that the impurity levels met the requirements. Thus, Luo Shengsheng became the first contestant to pass this round.

He didn't need to leave the arena but was allowed to return to his workstation to rest. As he passed Gu Lianni, the two turned their heads simultaneously, exchanging a brief glance.

Gu Lianni slightly lifted her chin, an almost imperceptible provocation playing on her face. She wasn't quite sure why she made such a gesture, but deep down, she knew. It was because he was the strongest contestant present, and his appearance and demeanor were undeniably attractive to women. She wanted to catch his attention.

However, Luo Shengsheng's gaze barely lingered on her finished product, cold and indifferent, before moving forward without any emotion. His blatant disregard stung Gu Lianni's pride deeply.

When her own product was handed over for inspection, it too successfully passed, granting her the qualification to remain in the competition.

Returning to her workstation, she deliberately refrained from glancing at Luo Shengsheng, instead shifting her focus to Tong Mingshan's progress. She had long harbored doubts about the number of Divine Flames Tong Mingshan had absorbed.

At that moment, Tong Mingshan was already wielding four Divine Flames of different colors simultaneously.

Soon after, Mi Liangmeng of the Golden Appearance Hall, ranked fifth among the sects, completed his refining. Having also absorbed four Divine Flames, he presented a vividly glowing crimson iron sphere, greeted by thunderous cheers from the disciples of the Golden Appearance Hall.

It seemed to overshadow Tong Mingshan, who had also absorbed four Divine Flames.

However, the group from the Mingshan Sect appeared remarkably calm, their expressions void of any anxiety. They watched the competition in silence, their gazes seldomly even resting on Tong Mingshan, as if the results didn't concern them.

Meanwhile, the Hundred Refinement Sect across from them seemed noticeably more tense and anxious. Observing the Mingshan Sect's relaxed demeanor, they arrived at a reasonable conclusion—clearly, the Mingshan Sect considered it no shame to be outdone by the larger sects.

Little did they know that even An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, watching the proceedings from outside the Qi Yun Valley's projection mirror, shared the same tranquility. They knew full well that Tong Mingshan was merely keeping a low profile. How could he not be? Grand Sect Leader Tong had absorbed a staggering twenty-six Divine Flames and had even managed to refine two streams of Samadhi True Fire. How could he possibly fail the initial rounds of selection?

Of course, the two still regretted not being able to witness the event in person.

Zuo Zisheng of the Refining Heaven Sect, after much grit and exertion, finally managed to make his mark ahead of Tong Mingshan, wielding the power of three absorbed Divine Flames.

Stepping out into the arena, the first thing Zuo Zisheng did was look back at Tong Mingshan and exhale in relief. Cradling his vividly glowing crimson iron sphere, he made his way swiftly toward the judges' station.

The Yanbao Sect Master, Qu Wuming, glanced at Li Hongjiu, who was still refining, and frowned.

Tong Mingshan also cast a glance at Zuo Zisheng before quickening his own refining pace. Impurities began to fall off the molten iron sphere in his flames, leaving behind a single glowing crimson sphere of liquid iron.

He withdrew his four-colored Flame Energy, extended one palm to cradle it, and walked forward unhurriedly toward the judges' station.

Seeing him finish, Shi Chun broke into a gentle smile.

"Bravo!" Wu Jinliang hollered first, letting out a wild cheer before shouting again, "The Sect Master has spoken!"

Only half a sentence came out before it broke off. The Mingshan Sect disciples paused momentarily before Chu Jingtang shouted loudly to continue, "Who dares to compete?"

Everyone quickly followed suit, chanting in unison, "Who dares to compete?"

Wu Jinliang shouted again, "The Sect Master has spoken!"

The Mingshan Sect disciples immediately echoed, "Who dares to compete?"

Shi Chun, amidst the fervent chants, felt compelled to maintain a semblance of decorum under the public's gaze. Smiling, he gently dug at his ear with a small finger, using his sect mates' over-the-top enthusiasm as a foil to his own elegance.

"The Sect Master has spoken!"

"Who dares to compete?"

The rallying cries reverberated endlessly. Though inaudible to those outside the projection mirror, everyone in the arena cast bemused glances at the Mingshan Sect disciples, their expressions betraying pity. These folks genuinely had no shame—steamrollers had practically flattened their faces, and yet they still chanted "Who dares to compete?"

Chu Jingtang and the others found the whole thing somewhat unbecoming. But Wu Jinliang shamelessly kept shouting, leaving them no choice but to join, lest they appear disunited.

They hadn't always been this exuberant. At their original sect, they neither had the qualifications nor the audacity to be so showy. Heaven only knows how they had gradually become like this.

At first, it felt unnatural, but over time, shouting along became second nature—especially since they weren't the only ones shouting.

Eventually, the presiding elder, unable to stand it any longer, employed a spell to stop the noise. "Silence! Stop disrupting the competition for others!"

At these words, Wu Jinliang immediately grew indignant, retorting loudly, "When the other sects chanted, why didn't you stop them? When the Refining Heaven Sect shouted earlier, why didn't you intervene?"

The presiding elder replied in a low voice, "Don't you realize that your chanting has gone on for too long? It's affecting others' performance."

Wu Jinliang fired back without hesitation, "But the Refining Heaven Sect has more people, and their shouting creates even more disturbance. Why didn't you say something? We're just a small sect shouting a few more rounds to cheer for our own Sect Master—what's wrong with that? Or is it just that you're picking on us because we're a small sect? If you've got the guts, go reprimand the Li Huo Sect!"

His statement drew bursts of laughter from the onlookers. Even Mulan Jin, positioned on the mountain peak, smiled and muttered, "What a character."

Faces among the Li Huo Sect turned visibly strained at Wu Jinliang's audacious remark.

Meanwhile, on the mountainside, Young Master Nan stood up, visibly annoyed. Observing Wu Hehe's unrestrained antics, he couldn't help but feel the person's lack of restraint matched their stature perfectly.

"You…" The presiding elder was rendered speechless momentarily, baring his teeth as he prepared to issue a formal warning using his authority.

Fortunately, Shi Chun stepped in, reprimanding Wu Jinliang. "Shut your mouth!"

Then, turning toward the presiding elder, he repeatedly bowed apologetically, as if to present himself as the sole civil presence among the Mingshan Sect.

On the other side, the Hundred Refinement Sect disciples looked at the Mingshan Sect like a group of freaks. Or rather, they had come to realize just how bold this lot was. Regardless of anything else, the Li Huo Sect wasn't some minor sect. Dare to speak to the Li Huo Sect like that? Their Hundred Refinement Sect wouldn't dare!

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