Chapter 620 601: Proud and Arrogant

When he looked up again, he saw a figure rush out like a whirlwind... Those clothes... they looked so familiar!

Damn!

The disciple's expression was as disgusted as if he'd found half a caterpillar in his food... 'Who was it just now who said running inside the Divine Artifact Pavilion was graceless and embarrassing?'

Master Yang was dying to curse someone out. 'Why didn't they tell him such important news sooner!'

But now, he didn't even have time to curse. He shot straight out the door. Running? Master Yang wasn't just running, he was sprinting!

Nearby, Xie Xian was so excited that he paid no mind to the fact that his senior, Pang Hong, was still forging. He forced open the door to the Artifact Refining Room and burst in, yelling, "Senior! Master Wang Meng is back!"

"Oh, so he's back," Pang Hong said. Unlike Yang Qi, he wasn't particularly thrilled. He just smiled faintly, his eyes filled with confidence and a thirst for a challenge.

"Master Wang—!"

"Calm down, Xie Xian. You are an Artifact Refiner of the Divine Artifact Pavilion. You must remain composed when dealing with anyone who lacks certification. That is a fundamental requirement for our profession."

Pang Hong stood up, the three brilliant golden clouds on his chest a testament to his status. At his age, he would be respected anywhere he went. And Wang Meng?

He was a nobody, though Pang Hong couldn't understand why his master was making such a fuss.

Master Wang was also waiting. He had been at the Divine Artifact Pavilion for some time now. Other than the Disciple Steward who had greeted him with great enthusiasm at the start, there had been no follow-up. If he wanted to forge a top-quality Five Elements Spirit Holding Artifact, the Divine Artifact Pavilion was really the only place that could do it. The Bai Family was still in the midst of rebuilding, and Wang Meng had no intention of troubling Fatty Bai with it.

In a whirlwind of motion, Master Yang Qi's figure blurred and appeared before Wang Meng. Such impressive skill.

"Senior, I've come to trouble you again," Wang Meng said.

"Haha, Master Wang! Ever since we parted at the birthday banquet, I've been kicking myself for not convincing you to stay. I, Yang Qi, am a straightforward person. I don't believe in all those ridiculous rumors. Anyone who can devote themselves to the Artifact Refining Skill is a friend of mine."

"Senior, please don't address me like that. I'm just an ordinary person and haven't been certified by the Artifact Refining Pavilion. I've only been lucky enough to learn a few superficial things."

Wang Meng wasn't just being humble. Although he was an expert in the Artifact Refining Technique of the Small Thousand Realm, this was the Middle Thousand Realm. There were similarities, but there were also differences.

Yang Qi just shook his head. "My eyes haven't gone blurry with old age just yet. These days, only the mediocre avoid envy. Younger Brother, if you'll accept this old brother as a friend, then drop all this 'Senior' talk. The most skilled takes precedence, and it's not yet clear which of us is superior."

Yang Qi was a man obsessed with Artifact Refining. He had no other pursuit in this life than to advance further on the path of his craft, but it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Talent was a huge part of it, but so was having support. In the beginning, he had been able to struggle his way up, but to reach the higher levels, the demand for resources was simply too immense. Without the backing of a family, it was impossible. And so, he had remained stuck at the level of Artifact Refining Master. It was a rare opportunity to meet someone like Wang Meng with whom he could exchange pointers, so the excitement in his heart was palpable.

With the conversation having reached this point, Wang Meng dropped the act. When it comes to experts, you can tell at a glance if someone has real skill. To be overly modest would be hypocritical.

"Older Brother, I've come to trouble you again. I need to forge some things."

"Haha, that's more like it! I can't claim my Divine Artifact Pavilion has absolutely everything, but our usual Refining Materials are of superior quality. If you need something better, I can help you get it!"

Yang Qi thumped his chest.

"Then I must thank you, Older Brother. As it happens, there are some aspects of Artifact Refining I'm not clear on and was hoping to discuss with you."

Yang Qi's eyebrows nearly curved into crescents. 'See, this is what you call being kindred spirits. How wonderful! He hadn't even opened his mouth, and the other party already had the same idea.'

Once one reached the Master Level, they would develop a certain state of insight. When these states stimulated one another, it was possible to elevate one's realm and achieve a breakthrough. It was just that most people treasured their own humble brooms, jealously guarding what they knew for fear that others would surpass them.

"Haha, that's exactly what I was hoping for! Let's go, let's go! I'll be your assistant!" With that, he grabbed Wang Meng and started dragging him toward his Artifact Refining Room, his personality truly more impetuous than Wang Meng's own.

The Disciple Stewards eavesdropping nearby practically fell over!

Could you believe it?!

Be an assistant for this young man? An assistant? An ASSISTANT!!!

Was there a single Artifact Refiner who wasn't a proud and arrogant individual? Acting as someone else's assistant?

And it was Chairman Yang, a man famous for his explosive temper!

"Younger Brother Wang, where are you staying now? I heard you moved out of the Jiang Family's residence. You should just live here at our Divine Artifact Pavilion! We have everything you could need. Also, whatever you do, don't listen to that Old Ghost Luo's nonsense. The Spirit Control Association is the most worthless of them all."

When it came to taking a shot at his old rival, Master Yang pulled no punches.

Wang Meng said, "Thank you, Older Brother. I'm currently staying with the Bai Family. Fatty Bai is my friend."

"Oh, you mean that Little Fatty! He's a good kid, just had a bitter fate. In the future, if the Bai Family needs anything from my Artifact Refining Pavilion, just say the word."

"Then let me thank you on Fatty's behalf, Older Brother."

As the two were talking, Pang Hong arrived. The biggest difference in Pang Hong since advancing his realm was his confidence. His gaze toward Wang Meng was somewhat condescending, even with Yang Qi being so enthusiastic.

"Master, I'd like to witness this as well," Pang Hong said.

"Nonsense! When a Master is forging, do you think you can just watch?" Yang Qi scolded. Exchanging pointers was for those on the same level. Pang Hong was not Wang Meng's disciple; watching from the side would be stealing another's techniques.

Pang Hong's face flushed. The words were on the tip of his tongue—'This guy isn't even certified, who knows if he has any real ability?'—but in the end, he held back.

"Heh, if Brother Pang is willing, I really don't mind."

Wang Meng was being very magnanimous. To an Artifact Refiner, their unique forging techniques were top secrets, not something to be shown to outsiders lightly. But to Master Wang, forging a Spirit Containing Artifact was just a minor, auxiliary skill. Moreover, he didn't mind sharing such things. 'To come to the Middle Thousand Realm, it's only right that I leave something behind.'

His true goal, however, was, and always would be, singular: to break the Celestial Dao and shatter the void to become a god.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Master Wang," Pang Hong said coolly. Inwardly, he was quite annoyed by Wang Meng's attitude. 'He really thinks he's a master.'

He led Wang Meng into Yang Qi's personal Artifact Dao Room. The Artifact Refining Furnace here was forged from the sturdiest Balan Gold mixed with Spirit-Melting Iron. While not of the highest possible grade, it was the best Refining Furnace in the entire Wang City Divine Artifact Pavilion.

To one side of the Refining Furnace was a small materials storeroom filled with all kinds of materials, from the common to the rare. Barring any exceptionally precious heavenly treasures, it had everything one could possibly need.

"...This should be enough to work with, right?" Yang Qi asked after giving a brief tour.

Wang Meng smiled and nodded. "This should be fine."

The Pill Flame rose. This was another thing incomparable to the Small Thousand Realm. The Artifact Refiners here all had a special Pill Fire Gourd that could release an astonishing Pill Flame, needing only to be controlled by their own True Essence. Wang Meng was genuinely curious about where this Pill Flame was gathered from, but he wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask.

"Warm the furnace, Pang Hong. Keep it under control. An opportunity like this is rare!" Yang Qi ordered, also eager to witness the process himself.

Wang Meng selected various Refining Materials from the small storeroom, carefully analyzing them with his Divine Sense. In just a short while, he had already picked out nearly a third of all the materials available.