Chapter Twenty-Six: The Ten-Day Pact

Song Changqian was shaking with rage, her face pale as she finally grasped Qiu Wenxiu’s true intention—he meant to use this scheme to take revenge for the family’s punishment! If she failed to strike back forcefully, the family’s reputation in the marketplace would surely plummet.

She wanted to accept the challenge, but quickly realized with despair that no one in the shop was capable, unless they invited a second-rank artifact refiner—which would be even more humiliating.

Just as Song Changqian was lost in confusion, a gentle voice sounded in her ear: “We at Treasure-Seeking Pavilion will take this order.”

All eyes immediately turned toward the speaker, only to discover, to their astonishment, that it was a young man.

Ignoring the shocked stares around him, Song Changsheng walked straight up to Qiu Wenxiu and said calmly, “Leave the materials. You may go now.”

“Hey, brat, who do you think you are? Get lost,” Qiu Wenxiu replied, barely bothering to feign courtesy as he had with Song Changqian.

“Fellow cultivator, this matter does not concern you. Do not get involved needlessly,” Song Changqian said politely, though her face was filled with resistance. While refusing the challenge would affect the family’s reputation, pretending to be stronger than they were would be even worse. If not for the crowd present, Song Changqian would have thrown this reckless fool out herself.

Song Changsheng took out a waist token and said indifferently, “I am the new artifact refiner of Treasure-Seeking Pavilion. Your request is simple—leave the materials and wait for news. The deposit is two hundred spirit stones.”

Song Changqian’s eyes widened as she took the token and checked it—his identity was indeed legitimate. She scrutinized him, feeling he was even younger than herself. Could he truly be a first-rank superior artifact refiner?

Qiu Wenxiu saw her expression and knew the identity was real, but Song Changqian clearly did not trust him—he must be some inexperienced youth sent out for training. But that was good news for him.

He immediately seized the opportunity: “So it’s Master Song himself. I knew it—how could the Song family fall short of Earthfire Sect? I’ll leave the materials and deposit with you, Master.”

Song Changqian was about to refuse, but Song Changsheng spoke first: “Collect it in ten days.”

Hearing this, Qiu Wenxiu was elated, now convinced the young man was indeed a fool—after all, to craft this artifact, Earthfire Sect’s master had taken twenty days.

He had planned to give the Song family only half a month, but this fool boasted he needed just ten days—how could he resist accepting?

“Excellent! Master Song is a young prodigy, truly decisive. Fellow cultivators, you’ve all heard—ten days! I’ll return then to collect the artifact. Please come and witness the event.”

Having achieved his aim, Qiu Wenxiu left in high spirits with his entourage.

“We’ll come in ten days as well, and bring even more to support Master Song!” The customers, eager for spectacle, began to spread the word.

A public clash between Earthfire Sect and the Song family—how could anyone miss such a scene?

Song Changqian, barely containing her anger, dragged Song Changsheng up to the second floor and demanded, “Who gave you the right to decide on your own? Do you realize how much loss you’ve brought on the family?”

Pointing her finger at him, Song Changsheng frowned slightly and replied, “If we don’t accept, what face will the family have left? If you can’t solve this, let me try. Three properties—is that so difficult?”

“You…” Song Changqian was momentarily speechless.

“Ten days is more than enough. Where’s the artifact refining room? Lead me there.” Song Changsheng wished to avoid further quarrel.

Today’s predicament stemmed from Song Changqian’s mishandling. As soon as Qiu Wenxiu presented the gem, she lost her composure, letting him manipulate the situation and ultimately corner the family—utterly foolish. He believed that if the Pavilion’s manager were present, the situation would have been handled far more smoothly, without leaving the family so passive.

Song Changsheng quickly took over from the original artifact refiner and then locked himself in the refining room.

Crafting this artifact was not difficult for him; ten days was ample time. Yet he had new ideas about refining, so he needed to hurry and test them…

Song Luyuan returned to Treasure-Seeking Pavilion with a dark expression. He looked at Song Changqian, barely able to contain his irritation. “What happened? I was gone only half a day—how did this absurd ten-day agreement come about?”

Song Changqian, looking like a schoolchild caught in a mistake, hesitantly recounted how the Qiu family had come to make trouble, embellishing her account with complaints about Song Changsheng.

But Song Luyuan suddenly paused, his anger replaced by uncertainty. “What did you say the new artifact refiner’s name was?”

Page (2/3)

“You mean that arrogant brat? His name is Song Changsheng. He’s the one who made this decision—ten days to craft a first-rank superior artifact with three properties,” Song Changqian hurried to distance herself from responsibility.

To her surprise, Song Luyuan’s demeanor changed completely; rubbing his chin, he mused, “If it’s him, it may actually be possible.”

“Him? He’s younger than me! How could he accomplish it?” Song Changqian protested.

Song Luyuan shot her a glance and rebuked, “You dare talk? You should know there’s always someone better. Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t. If you hadn’t handled things so poorly today, would he need to step up and clean up your mess?”

Song Changqian was startled, but soon retorted, “How did I mishandle things? No one in the shop could do it. If I accepted, failing to complete the order would damage the family’s reputation even more! Saying he’s cleaning up after me—he’s the one who’ll disgrace the family!”

Seeing her lack of awareness, Song Luyuan sighed deeply. “You, you—never learned a thing. That Qiu Wenxiu claimed the gem was crafted by Hundred Treasures Pavilion and you believed him? Couldn’t you question it, delay for time? He pushed you so far—if we hadn’t taken the order, how could we stand in the marketplace?

I’ve always told you to pay more attention to family affairs, but you ignore everything. Do you know who Song Changsheng is? He’s the clan leader’s own grandson! Skilled in both arrays and artifacts, personally taught by the patriarch, and became a first-rank superior artifact refiner before coming of age. He’s the family’s foremost genius.

If he says he can, then it’s almost certain. In ten days, just wait and see the spectacle.”

Song Changqian still felt unconvinced, but seeing Song Luyuan’s expression, dared not argue further—though she remained quietly dissatisfied.

The ten days quickly passed; at dawn, Qiu Wenxiu arrived at the door of Treasure-Seeking Pavilion.

Along with him came a throng of onlookers eager to witness the event…