Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 201: Being Questioned

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Within the Thunder Brilliance Ring, the Blade Mantis hatchling emerged.

At birth, the tiny mantis already possessed Second Rank cultivation.

Its entire body surprisingly displayed a silver color, with strands of golden silk on its wings.

Its mother was entirely red, while normal Blade Mantises are dark green.

This was a substantial difference from its mother.

Although both were mutated Blade Mantises, Xu Ping’an felt that the bloodline of the hatchling before him was even more powerful.

Its mother could reach Sixth Rank in adulthood, but Xu Ping’an felt that this Blade Mantis might even break through the threshold of Seventh Rank.

"You’re really lucky, kid. Once this Blade Mantis grows up, it will definitely be a powerful demon beast," Lei Shi said, looking at the Blade Mantis hatchling.

Xu Ping’an did not reply, but a smile appeared on his face as he watched the Blade Mantis hatchling continually rub against him.

Then, he took out the Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid and fed a drop to the Blade Mantis.

The Blade Mantis immediately became incredibly excited and swallowed the drop of Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid in one gulp.

"This is the legendary Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid, the foundation establishment substance of the Dragon Race demon beasts in legends. Are you using it for this little one’s foundation establishment?" Lei Shi suddenly widened his eyes.

"I obtained it in the Golden Radiance Ring. It’s just right for this little one’s foundation establishment. Although this substance is rare, it’s not considered expensive," Xu Ping’an said indifferently.

Although the Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid was extremely rare, it indeed wasn’t of much use to Xu Ping’an.

Better to use it for this little one’s foundation establishment. The stronger the Blade Mantis, the more helpful it would be for him later on.

If its strength was too weak, it would be of little use to him.

After consuming the Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid, the Blade Mantis’s body emitted a golden glow.

All the blood in its veins boiled, and its Bloodline Power was continuously unearthed.

"There are a total of five drops of Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid. Once it has taken them all, it should be able to enter Third Rank," Xu Ping’an said.

"Hmm, that’s not key. The key is that this little one’s upper limit has been greatly raised, maybe it could even break through Eighth Rank," Lei Shi said.

Xu Ping’an nodded and handed the remaining Golden Dragon Mysterious Liquid to Lei Shi for safekeeping.

Xu Ping’an himself then left the Thunder Brilliance Ring and walked out of his residence.

He then took out a Messaging Talisman and sent a message to Tang Qingyu.

Upon receiving Xu Ping’an’s message, she immediately replied, asking Xu Ping’an to go to the Refining Alliance in the imperial city.

Xu Ping’an did not hesitate and headed straight for the Refining Alliance in the imperial city.

Since Xu Ping’an wanted to refine artifacts, he naturally needed to utilize the Refining Room’s Heavenly Fire of the Refining Alliance.

It just so happened that he planned to refine some Superior Grade Spirit Instruments for himself. Since he had previously agreed to Tang Qingyu’s request, it was a good opportunity to do both.

Soon, Xu Ping’an saw Tang Qingyu at the entrance of the Refining Alliance in the imperial city.

Following behind Tang Qingyu was a young man, yet it wasn’t Long Shan, but a young man around twenty-four or twenty-five.

The youth wore a white robe and looked extremely refined and graceful.

His cultivation was also not low, having reached the Second Layer of Fifth Rank.

However, what really caught Xu Ping’an’s attention was the badge of the Refining Alliance pinned on the young man’s chest, depicting crossed swords and hammers with two stars above them.

This was the badge of an Intermediate Grade Artifact Refiner. A badge without stars represented an apprentice refiner.

One star signifies a junior refiner.

Two stars indicate a mid-level refiner.

Three stars represent a senior refiner.

Xu Ping’an’s own token showed a hammer pattern with four stars, symbolizing a Superior Grade Refiner, also known as a Refiner Master.

An Artifact Refiner capable of creating Immortal Artifacts was called an Immortal Instrument Master. Such a person possessed a status so exalted that even the emperor of the dynasty would respect them.

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Xu Ping’an, in his former life, was a master of Superior Grade Immortal Artifacts. Now, limited by his cultivation, he could only refine Superior Grade Spirit Instruments.

Moreover, even to refine a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument, he had to rely on Heavenly Fire.

"Master Qin, we meet again," Tang Qingyu said with a slight smile to Xu Ping’an.

"Hmm," Xu Ping’an nodded indifferently, offering a greeting.

"Master Qin, this is my friend Zhao Kaishan, who is also an artifact refiner. He can’t compare to you, being merely an Intermediate Grade Artifact Refiner. However, his master is also a master of Superior Grade Artifact Refining," Tang Qingyu stated.

Xu Ping’an’s brows knitted slightly.

"If his master is a master of Superior Grade Artifact Refining, why seek me out for artifact refinement?" Xu Ping’an asked, puzzled.

"That’s right, Qing Yu, my master will be back soon. If you want to have a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument refined, I can have my master do it for you. Why seek others?" The young man glanced at Xu Ping’an, seeming to have little regard for him.

"There’s no time. I want to forge a weapon to participate in the Imperial Capital’s competition. From what I know, Master Hong Yan takes at least twelve days to refine a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument," Tang Qingyu said regretfully.

Although she was speaking to Zhao Kaishan, her words seemed more like an explanation to Xu Ping’an.

"But Qing Yu, my master’s refining skills are among the top one or two of the five masters of Superior Grade Artifact Refinement. Twelve days is already very quick. Normally, it would take a Superior Grade Artifact Refiner at least twenty to thirty days to refine a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument, and the success rate is very low. Could there be someone faster than my master?" Zhao Kaishan said urgently.

On hearing this, Tang Qingyu’s delicate brows furrowed and she turned to Xu Ping’an to ask, "Master Qin Feng, how long would it take you to refine a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument?"

"What kind of Superior Grade Spirit Instrument do you want to refine?" Xu Ping’an inquired.

"A spirit sword suitable for me, made of millennium Coldflame Iron," Tang Qingyu replied.

"Then, five days will suffice," Xu Ping’an stated.

"Five days? Do you really understand artifact refining?" Zhao Kaishan couldn’t help but turn to Xu Ping’an.

In his eyes, Xu Ping’an was about the same age as him. He had spent twenty years refining artifacts to reach the level of an Intermediate Grade Artifact Refiner.

Even so, he had been praised by his master as a once-in-a-century Immortal Instrument Master prodigy.

He was told he had the prospects of reaching the level of an Immortal Instrument Master within a century, so he prided himself, believing that no one in the entire Great Qin Immortal Dynasty could match his talent in artifact refining.

Now hearing that Xu Ping’an, who appeared to be around his age, was a master of Superior Grade Artifact Refining, he naturally disbelieved it.

"Whether I understand refining or not is none of your concern. Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean no one else can," Xu Ping’an replied coldly.

As for Zhao Kaishan standing before him, he felt not an ounce of fondness, even a tinge of disgust.

This feeling was something he hadn’t even experienced when faced with the utterly arrogant Long Shan.

Long Shan was indeed arrogant, but his arrogance was consistent inside and out.

In contrast, Zhao Kaishan, who seemed cultivated and warm, was filled with extreme arrogance in his bones.

"Hmph, my master is Master Hong Yan. Are you implying that what my master cannot do, you can? Refining a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument in five days? This is simply a huge joke," Zhao Kaishan scoffed disdainfully, his gaze towards Xu Ping’an as if looking at a fool.

Zhao Kaishan’s words immediately drew the attention of many onlookers.

This was the Refining Alliance, naturally filled with many artifact refiners.

Zhao Kaishan was quite renowned in the Imperial Capital, hence many recognized him.

Soon, a large crowd gathered around.

"Refining a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument in five days? How is that possible?"

"That’s preposterous, even boasting has its limits. The shortest record for refining a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument in the Imperial Capital’s Refining Alliance is set by Master Yan Wu, in eleven days and six hours. The second is Master Hong Yan at twelve days. Refining a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument in five days, how is that even feasible?" someone in the crowd chuckled and shook their head.

Hearing the discussion among the crowd, Zhao Kaishan’s gaze at Xu Ping’an became one of extreme ridicule.

Xu Ping’an, however, remained expressionless.

Tang Qingyu, who was not knowledgeable about artifact refining, turned pale upon listening to the words of the onlookers.

"Qing Yu, could you have been deceived? Whether this fellow is a true master of Superior Grade Artifact Refining is still up for debate. With him being so young, do you really think he is what he claims to be?" Zhao Kaishan pointed at Xu Ping’an and said.

At this moment, Tang Qingyu also started to waver and turned to Xu Ping’an to ask, "Master Qin, can you really refine a Superior Grade Spirit Instrument within five days?"