Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 136 Bet

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Xu Ping’an furrowed his brows and his gaze towards the young man grew several degrees colder.

"Hu Bing, just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t. Stop making those sarcastic remarks," Song Lingxue immediately rebuked.

"I’m merely stating the plain truth. How old is he, not even seventeen? Even if he started Artifact Refining from the womb, he couldn’t possibly become a Superior Grade Artifact Refiner," the young man named Hu Bing spoke.

"Hu Bing is right. Typically, to become a Low Grade Artifact Refiner, one needs to spend more than three years, and to upgrade from a Low Grade to an Intermediate Grade Artifact Refiner takes at least five years, and then another decade or more for a talented individual to advance from Intermediate Grade to High Grade," the elder said.

"As for becoming a Superior Grade Artifact Refiner, some people can’t achieve it in their entire lifetime," the elder added.

"Exactly. Our master spent a full fifty years dedicated to Artifact Refining to reach the rank of a High Grade Artifact Refiner. Lingxue, even your father spent a full forty years to reach that level," Hu Bing said.

"But..." Song Lingxue still wanted to argue in Xu Ping’an’s defense.

However, she didn’t know what to say.

Xu Ping’an slightly smiled, "Are you the Great Elder of this Refining Alliance?"

"Yes, I am the Great Elder of the Tianlong County branch of the Refining Alliance, and also one of the two High Grade Artifact Refiners in Tianlong County," Liu Changshan replied.

"Then I would like to use the Heavenly Fire Refining Room, do you have the authority to grant permission?" Xu Ping’an asked.

"The Alliance Hierarch is absent, and I am responsible for everything," Liu Changshan replied.

"Good, I want to use the Heavenly Fire Refining Room, name your price," Xu Ping’an said directly.

"The Heavenly Fire Refining Room is not for just anyone to use; only those who have made contributions to the Alliance are permitted, and they must be at least a High Grade Artifact Refiner," Liu Changshan stated.

Xu Ping’an’s brows furrowed.

"Didn’t I just say that if you can repair this mechanical serpent golem, it would be considered a huge contribution to the Alliance? You could use the Heavenly Fire Refining Room for as long as you’d like. Or are you simply boasting?" Song Lingxue looked at Xu Ping’an.

"Is that true?" Xu Ping’an looked at Liu Changshan.

"Indeed, she speaks the truth. However, the mechanical serpent golem is not something just anyone can fix," Liu Changshan said.

"Then it’s easy!" Xu Ping’an didn’t waste any more words and turned around to walk towards the mechanical serpent golem.

She had never constructed a Puppet before.

But he had read some books about Puppet mechanisms.

Most of those Puppets were Immortal Puppets, so he figured it shouldn’t be too difficult to repair an Intermediate Grade Puppet.

The difficulty lay not in the Puppet itself but in its central controller, which dictated its movements.

Seeing Xu Ping’an head straight for the giant serpent Puppet, Hu Bing moved to stop him.

But he was restrained by Liu Changshan, who was standing beside him.

"Let him try. For some reason, this young man gives me a feeling that I can’t see through," Liu Changshan said.

"Master, he’s just a fraud. How could he possibly repair the Spirit Serpent Puppet? Don’t let him cause more damage, which will make it even harder for us to repair later," Hu Bing spoke.

Liu Changshan didn’t speak, just silently watched.

Seeing this, Hu Bing had no choice.

But he believed Xu Ping’an absolutely couldn’t repair the Spirit Serpent Puppet.

Xu Ping’an walked around the giant serpent Puppet.

He found that the structure of the mechanical serpent golem was simpler than he had imagined.

The core structure of the Puppet was essentially undamaged.

What was truly damaged was the centerpiece that transformed the Monster Core’s power.

"How about it, do you have a way?" Song Lingxue followed behind Xu Ping’an, asking curiously.

"It can be repaired, but it’s a bit troublesome. I need three days, and also a Fire Refining Room," Xu Ping’an stated.

"Really?" Song Lingxue was excited.

"Hmm, the repair shouldn’t be difficult. I have a ninety-nine percent confidence level," Xu Ping’an nodded.

"Pfft, anyone can brag. Lingxue, you actually believe him," Hu Bing said disdainfully.

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Xu Ping’an gave a slight smile and looked at Hu Bing, "What if I really could repair it?"

"If you really can repair it, I will give you this item." Hu Bing summoned with his hand, and a piece Superior Grade Spiritual Iron ore appeared in his hand.

"Thousand-year Soft Gold Silver?" A trace of surprise flickered in Xu Ping’an’s eyes.

This was an extremely rare material for refining Superior Grade Soft Swords or Superior Grade Protective Soft Armor.

Such material was exceedingly rare and could largely withstand the assault of True Yuan.

It had extreme ductility and could freely change its shape.

It just so happened that Xu Ping’an wanted to refine a Superior Grade Protective Soft Armor, and even if he didn’t use it himself, it would be beneficial for Li Qingyi.

"Fine, if I can’t repair it, then this thousand-year Cold Jade Iron will be yours." With a summoning gesture from Xu Ping’an, the thousand-year Cold Jade Iron he had obtained earlier appeared in his hand.

"Thousand-year Cold Jade Iron?" Liu Changshan was extremely astonished on the side.

He did not expect Xu Ping’an to possess Superior Grade Refining Materials.

Such things were not easily obtained by ordinary people.

Hu Bing was equally excited.

Superior Grade Refining Materials, that was a tremendous treasure.

This lad was delivering materials to him!

"In that case, let’s discern the outcome after three days," Xu Ping’an said.

"I hope you won’t go back on your word. Master, please be a witness by then," Hu Bing said to Liu Changshan.

Liu Changshan nodded.

In his view, his disciple was almost certainly going to win.

Subsequently, Xu Ping’an was led by Song Lingxue to a Refining Room fueled by earth fire.

"Do you really want to bet with Hu Bing? That’s Superior Grade Refining Material; it would be quite a pity if you lost," Song Lingxue remarked.

"Do you really not believe what I said?" Xu Ping’an asked with a smile.

"Do you want to hear the truth? The truth is I really don’t believe you, given that my father has studied it for a long time and still hasn’t repaired it. You look even younger than I am by two years, and my father said I have a high talent in artifact refining, but this year I only reached the rank of Low Grade Artifact Refiner," Song Lingxue confessed.

Xu Ping’an burst into laughter.

This girl was mischievously lively; she had never truly believed in him.

"Don’t worry, I never speak falsehoods. I just hope that he won’t regret it when the time comes," Xu Ping’an said laughing.

"If you really can repair it successfully, then I will take you as my master," Song Lingxue proposed cheerfully.

"I don’t accept disciples lightly," Xu Ping’an replied with a laugh.

He then promptly ushered Song Lingxue out of the Refining Room.

Upon entering the Refining Room, Xu Ping’an didn’t rush to start working.

Instead, he mentally visualized the form of the Giant Serpent Puppet.

Then he began to dissect the parts of the Giant Serpent Puppet one by one.

This dissection alone took one full day’s time.

The next day, Xu Ping’an began to use the earth fire in the Refining Room to start artifact refining.

Gradually, Xu Ping’an became completely immersed in artifact refining, forgetting everything else.

Song Lingxue meanwhile, would circle around the exterior of the Refining Room from time to time, feeling somewhat anxious.

What on earth does this guy want to do?

If he wants to repair the Giant Serpent Puppet, shouldn’t he be analyzing the Giant Serpent Puppet?

What’s he hiding in the Refining Room for?

This matter also spread thoroughly within the Refining Alliance and even alarmed many in Giant Sword City.