Chapter 51: Instant Kill!

“In addition to magical artifacts, there are also rewards in the form of elixirs.” The Supreme Elder of the Xu family chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the flushed and eager cultivators before him as he continued, “And if any fellow Daoist makes an outstanding contribution, the three families each have eligible men and women among their ranks. Should both parties be willing, a beautiful union might well be arranged.”

This declaration provoked an even greater stir among the cultivators than the promise of the finest magical treasures. To marry into one of the three clans, or to welcome a daughter from these families, meant leaving behind the hardships of a solitary cultivator’s life. There would be spiritual veins for cultivation, resources at one’s disposal, and with the clans’ support, the chance to reach Foundation Establishment was no longer a distant dream.

In an instant, the atmosphere within the Hall of Forging became feverish. With the exception of a handful whose thoughts ran deeper, nearly everyone gazed with burning anticipation at the three Foundation Establishment cultivators seated above.

“Honored elders, I am Zhou Qian,” a robust late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator suddenly spoke, stepping forward with reverence. “May I ask whether the restoration of the damaged talisman treasure truly requires so many people?”

“Indeed not,” replied the Supreme Elder of the Chen family, nodding slightly. He gestured toward the many iron anvils scattered about the hall. “That is why the three families have arranged a test here. The task: to repair damaged magical artifacts.”

At his words, the elder who had earlier guided them in quickly led a team to distribute a damaged magical item upon each anvil.

“These are all mid-grade magical artifacts collected throughout the market by our three families. Each of you may choose freely which you wish to repair.”

With that, she surveyed the cultivators, expectation bright in her eyes.

The crowd fell silent for a moment. Restoring a mid-grade magical artifact was no simple matter. Unlike forging a new one, repair demanded not only a keen, discerning eye, but deft and practiced hands as well. What’s more, the materials used for repair had to be kept to a minimum—otherwise, how could one hope to profit from the trade?

Before long, however, a graceful young woman spoke up with composure. “Honored elders, I am Han Yin. What are the criteria for this assessment? And how are we to select which damaged artifact we attempt?”

Her questions roused the crowd from their contemplation.

Indeed, the standards for assessment and the rules for choosing an artifact were of utmost importance. If one were to pick the most difficult object, wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?

“It is all a matter of discernment,” replied the Xu family’s Supreme Elder coolly, his eyes glancing over Han Yin. “This assessment will select only four who truly excel at the art of artifact restoration. But rest assured, any who successfully repair an artifact will receive a worthy reward from our three families.”

At this, the gathering fell silent, their eyes flickering rapidly over the damaged artifacts arrayed on the anvils.

Shen Yan, for his part, scoffed inwardly at the words of the three elders—he didn’t believe a word. The three clans’ attitude toward the cultivators of Little Lan Mountain Market had been made plain by the men and women who’d brought him here. Whether it was the so-called supreme magical artifacts or the chance to marry into the clans, it was all little more than empty promises. Even the high-grade artifacts and so-called rich rewards were likely nothing but bait.

What troubled Shen Yan even more was this: if the three clans valued the restoration of that talisman treasure so highly, why not seek out Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside? Why select candidates from within the market instead? Was the talisman itself a secret, perhaps something the clans didn’t want outsiders to know about?

If that were truly the case, he would need to tread carefully.

With a chill settling in his heart, Shen Yan resolved to demonstrate his skills nonetheless. In the worst-case scenario, should the clans decide to silence everyone present to preserve their secret, those most proficient in restoration might not be killed outright. That, at least, might leave him a sliver of hope.

Seeing that no one else was making a move, and recalling the earlier warning from the cultivator surnamed Zhao, Shen Yan guessed that the three clans probably already had a fair sense of everyone’s abilities. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and bowed. “Yan Sheng greets the three elders. I am ready.”

Receiving no objection from the elders, he strode to one of the anvils, upon which rested a sword-shaped, broken artifact.

With Shen Yan taking action, the others awoke as if from a dream and hastened to select the anvil of their choice. There were, of course, disputes, but with three Foundation Establishment cultivators watching from above, even the unwilling had to abide by the rule of first come, first served, and begrudgingly moved to another anvil.

Once everyone had chosen, Han Yin spoke again: “Honored elders, my methods of artifact restoration have been passed down in my family. They may be unremarkable in your eyes, but they are my livelihood. I humbly request that, during the restoration process, you provide a measure of privacy.”

Her request drew widespread approval from the crowd. All made their living by repairing magical artifacts, and none wished to see their unique techniques stolen.

The three elders smiled. The Supreme Elder of the Xu family replied, “Rest assured, we have already made preparations for this.”

He turned to the elderly guide. “Xu Sheng, activate the formation.”

With a bow, the old man produced an array disk from his storage pouch and activated it. Instantly, a veil of white mist arose around each anvil. At a glance, it looked no different from ordinary morning fog, but Shen Yan quickly realized that neither one’s eyes nor spiritual sense could penetrate it.

“Well, it seems the three families do not intend to silence everyone after the restoration is complete,” he thought with relief. For those who held his life in their hands, he always had to consider the worst, but now that the danger seemed less, he allowed himself to relax a little. “Since that’s the case, I’ll have to give it my all. If fortune favors me and I pass up the chance, I’d have only myself to blame. A supreme artifact is not an opportunity to let slip by.”

With his decision made, Shen Yan began to examine the broken sword lying atop the anvil.

“A mid-grade artifact of gold and fire attributes. Three cracks along the blade, clearly caused by being forcefully shattered in battle.”

Turning the broken sword over in his hands, Shen Yan continued his analysis. “The main material is likely Solar Gold Stone, with traces of beast bone of gold and fire qualities. To restore it completely, I’ll need those same materials.”

Having formulated his plan, Shen Yan glanced at the storage pouch beneath the anvil—filled with restoration materials prepared by the three clans.