Strongest War Emperor

Even if they sent down all the Artifact Refiners from the Profound Dao Sect, the Evil Wind Valley, and the other three sects combined, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

After all, Shen Lang hadn’t spent much time on these Artifact Refiners, and the period he’d spent guiding them was also extremely brief.

Artifact Refiners were a special case. They weren’t like the members of War Wolf, who Shen Lang could just toss a manual for the Netherworld King’s Three Extremes Sword and watch as their Cultivation soared in a short time, enabling them to cut down opponents of a higher Cultivation level with a single strike.

And the Artifact Origin Sect was, after all, a Sect that specialized in Artifact Refining—and a Spirit Copper Level Influence at that!

To be honest, if you wanted to compete with them, you could gather all the Artifact Refiners from the Purple Chu Country’s three great Spirit Copper Level Influences, and the only possible outcome would still be a crushing defeat.

That was the situation they were in...

If they competed in the Artifact Refining Dao, they were doomed to lose without Shen Lang’s return. Going up there would be asking for humiliation.

If they rolled up their sleeves and just beat the stuffing out of these guys, that was certainly doable. The old men from the Artifact Origin Sect were, at best, at the Sixth and Seventh Heavens of Xuanwu Realm. The Profound Dao Sect had plenty of people who could knock them flat; they could even pick a random member from War Wolf to do the job.

But doing so would be even more disgraceful.

Besides, the Artifact Origin Sect had swaggered up to their doorstep, bringing along a crowd from other sects to watch the spectacle.

If word of this got out, the Profound Dao Sect’s hard-earned reputation would be ruined in a single day.

High up on the viewing platform, the Profound Dao Sect’s Leader, Su Wenxuan, several Elders, and the masters of the various peaks all sat in silence, their faces ashen.

They were clearly aggrieved and miserable, yet they had no choice but to be present.

This feeling was far worse than simply taking a beating.

And in the surrounding crowd, though many people were murmuring amongst themselves, their voices were hushed and suppressed.

In a plaza filled with thousands of people, the atmosphere was so bizarre it was almost suffocating.

Time trickled by. At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, one of the men in the row of elders suddenly glanced at the sky, then turned his gaze toward Su Wenxuan on the platform.

He smiled smugly. ”Sect Leader Su, it looks as though another day is about to pass. Making us wait here day after day isn’t a very hospitable way to treat your guests, is it?”

”We from the Artifact Origin Sect came with the utmost sincerity to compare notes with your esteemed Sect on the Artifact Refining Dao, but your people have been sorely disappointing... It seems your reputation is undeserved. To think that the Profound Dao Sect was once a great Spirit Copper Level Influence... I never imagined it would fall to such a state. *Sigh*!”

As he spoke, he put on a pained expression and let out a long sigh.

That sigh was like a sledgehammer slamming into the hearts of the Profound Dao Sect’s members. It was so grating that they wished they could charge up and strangle the old bastard.

Su Wenxuan could no longer remain silent. He took a deep breath and said, ”Elder Tong, that’s where you’re wrong. The Profound Dao Sect is not an Artifact Refining Sect to begin with. Our disciples do not specialize in Artifact Refining, so the current situation is only natural.”

”Oh?” Elder Tong said with a smirk. ”So, Sect Leader Su, does that mean you are conceding defeat? If so, then we don’t need to wait any longer.”

The surrounding Profound Dao Sect disciples erupted in furious curses.

Su Wenxuan waved his hand to quell the commotion, then said in a clear voice, ”Elder Tong, you’re being too confident. I only said that my people specialize in the Martial Arts and have little interest in Artifact Refining. That doesn’t mean we are incapable of it.”

”I’ve had you all wait here because we are awaiting the return of a certain disciple from my Sect. He will be the one to compete with you in Artifact Refining.”

Elder Tong snorted. ”Hmph, easy for you to say, Sect Leader Su. We have been waiting here for six whole days! As for this disciple you claim is proficient in Artifact Refining, we haven’t seen so much as a shadow of him! Stalling for time like this... I’m afraid you’ll become a laughingstock.”

The old man spoke slowly, with an exaggerated, singsong cadence. Listening to him made one want nothing more than to grab him by the neck and choke the life out of him.

If looks could kill, the glares from the Profound Dao Sect members would have slain the old man a hundred and eight thousand times over.

Just then, Chu Qingcheng appeared beside Su Wenxuan.

Chu Qingcheng flicked open his paper fan and chuckled. ”The final outcome is still in the air. Who will end up the laughingstock is far from certain. The gates of the Profound Dao Sect are wide open. If Elder Tong doesn’t dare to wait a little longer, feel free to head down the mountain. We’ll respectfully see you off.”

”But if you truly have the confidence to ’compare notes’ with us, then please, be patient and wait.”

Elder Tong was enraged. ”Insolent junior! You have no respect for your elders! I am speaking with your Sect Leader. What right do you have to interrupt!”

Chu Qingcheng grinned. ”Don’t worry about whether I’m a junior or not. I’ll make it simple for you: if you dare to compete, then wait, and stop your whining. If you don’t dare, then get lost. No one’s stopping you! But don’t you dare go around saying you beat the Profound Dao Sect. With your pathetic skills, you’re not even worthy of carrying our shoes!”

The entire arena erupted.

The members of the Profound Dao Sect roared with approval, their voices thundering through the air.

That man, Chu Qingcheng, had given voice to all their pent-up fury. His words were cathartic, arrogant, ruthless, wild, and utterly satisfying!

Elder Tong shot to his feet, his old face flushed crimson with rage.

He pointed a trembling finger at Chu Qingcheng, his lips quivering, unable to utter a single word for a long moment.

In truth, when it came to a battle of wits, no one could hold a candle to Chu Qingcheng.

This was the kind of man who could make even the Sect Leader flee in defeat with just a few choice words.

He usually gave off an air of being gentle, refined, and exceptionally composed.

But now, he had finally revealed his arrogant and domineering side. A few sentences had the old Elder Tong’s eyes rolling back in his head, and a few sentences had a swarm of the Profound Dao Sect’s female disciples screaming in adoration.

The Artifact Origin Sect clearly had the upper hand, but his words made it sound as if the Profound Dao Sect had them completely in the bag.

The group from the Artifact Origin Sect felt so aggrieved they could have coughed up blood.

’Screaming insults back would be beneath us,’ they thought. ’Besides, there are only a handful of us. Trying to get into a shouting match with several thousand people would be suicide.’

’If we leave now, it’ll feel like we’re slinking away with our tails between our legs, even though we’re the ones winning.’

’But if we keep waiting, it’s just so damn frustrating... The great Artifact Origin Sect, a Spirit Copper Level Influence with Artifact Refining Masters to spare, always makes *others* wait. Since when do *we* wait for someone? And for a mere teenager, no less?’

Elder Tong took a deep breath, regaining his composure.

He sneered. ”Young man, I’ve seen no talent for Artifact Refining from you, nor have you demonstrated any skill. You are, however, quite sharp-tongued... Unfortunately, the Artifact Refining Dao isn’t won with words. You say wait? Fine. We’ll wait for this boy you speak of!”

”I’d like to see just what kind of genius youth can possibly contend with our Artifact Origin Sect!”

SNAP!

Chu Qingcheng snapped his fan shut and laughed heartily. ”Elder Tong, you’ve made a small mistake. The one you’re waiting for isn’t a genius from our Profound Dao Sect. He’s the most useless piece of trash in the entire Sect!”

Elder Tong’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he nearly fainted from rage. ”Sect Leader Su, this junior is spouting utter nonsense! Aren’t you going to control him? The Profound Dao Sect once commanded the winds and clouds. Do you now rely on such shameless sophistry to deceive people?”

Su Wenxuan gave an awkward smile. ”Well... Elder Tong, you’ve misunderstood Qingcheng. Actually, he wasn’t wrong. The one we’re waiting for... really is the most useless piece of trash in the Profound Dao Sect.”

”This disciple is only seventeen years old. He joined the Profound Dao Sect a few months ago. When he entered, his aptitude was appraised by the Demon Stone as the absolute worst, making it nearly impossible for him to cultivate. If you doubt this, Elder Tong, feel free to ask our friends from the other sects present. Many people are aware of this matter.”

”This disciple’s name...”

”...is Shen Lang.”