Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

Seeing the confidence in Ye Xuan’s eyes, Shao Jun couldn’t help but hesitate.

If this shop truly was a property of the Artifact Refining Workshop, he would be courting disaster by daring to take Ye Xuan and the others away.

The Celestial Dragon Guard were indeed powerful in the Sky Empire, but their power stemmed entirely from their allegiance to the imperial family, taking orders from them alone.

But what kind of entity was the Artifact Refining Workshop?

Its master, Lu Li, was the number one Artifact Refining Master in the empire, his status so high it was almost unimaginable.

Years ago, to keep Master Lu Li in the empire, the current emperor personally paid him three formal visits and sought him out multiple times. He even personally set aside an area in a luxurious district of the Imperial Capital to establish Artisan’s Alley, all for the sake of convincing Master Lu Li to stay.

To this day, Artisan’s Alley had become a sacred place within the Imperial Capital.

It was safe to say that if he truly offended the Artifact Refining Workshop, never mind a mere Celestial Dragon Guard captain like him—even the Guard’s commander would be stripped of his post in a heartbeat.

But Shao Jun was no idiot. He knew a little about the Luo family’s background and was certain they had no connection whatsoever to the Artifact Refining Workshop.

Moreover, when Ye Xuan had made his claim earlier, a clear trace of panic had flashed across the faces of the Luo family members.

This only deepened Shao Jun’s suspicion.

"Kid, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t just say whatever you want. Do you know the consequences of deceiving the Celestial Dragon Guard?"

Shao Jun stared at Ye Xuan with narrowed eyes and said coldly.

Although Shao Jun was suspicious of Ye Xuan’s words, he didn’t dare take the risk. If it was true, his career as a captain would be over.

But if he allowed himself to be scared off by a single sentence from Ye Xuan, he, a captain of the Celestial Dragon Guard, would have nowhere to put his face.

Ye Xuan’s expression was impassive. "Whether it is or not, all Captain Shao has to do is inquire with the Artifact Refining Workshop, isn’t that right?" he said faintly.

Shao Jun glared coldly at Ye Xuan for a long moment before turning to one of his men. "Go to the Central Marketplace immediately and find Steward Zhou from the Artifact Refining Workshop’s main pavilion. Tell him Shao Jun has a matter to discuss and asks for his presence."

"Yes, sir." The Celestial Dragon Guard member immediately hurried away.

As the largest seller of Spiritual Treasures and Profound Treasures in the Sky Empire, the Artifact Refining Workshop naturally had a storefront in the Imperial Capital’s marketplaces. In fact, its location was undoubtedly the best—not only was it in the very heart of the Central Marketplace, but it was also a massive structure covering several square kilometers.

As the Celestial Dragon Guard captain in charge of patrolling this area, Shao Jun had naturally built a relationship with this shop. Over time, he had come to know a steward there with the surname Zhou.

The man Shao Jun had sent his subordinate to fetch was this very Steward Zhou.

As soon as the Celestial Dragon Guard left, the surrounding crowd immediately broke into hushed whispers.

From the Qin family and the City Construction Department dealing with the Luo family, to Ye Xuan’s intervention, and finally to the arrival of the Celestial Dragon Guard... they never expected the Artifact Refining Workshop to get dragged into it as well.

This clash between prominent families and official imperial forces instantly had the onlookers hooked, finding it all incredibly exciting.

Everyone knew that in the end, who won and who lost wasn’t about who was right, but about who had the stronger backing.

For a moment, everyone watched with keen interest.

"Young Master Qin, the Luo family couldn’t possibly have a real connection to the Artifact Refining Workshop, could they?"

Although he had investigated the Luo family’s background, Huang Zhong still felt a little nervous.

"Rest assured. Every family in the Imperial Capital knows the Luo family’s details. Even their patrons, the Murong family, can’t get close to the Artifact Refining Workshop. For a mere family like the Luos to try and claim a connection is just them shooting themselves in the foot."

Qin Yu said, full of confidence.

"But that young man spoke with such conviction. Could he have some connection to the Artifact Refining Workshop?"

"Him?" Qin Yu glanced at Ye Xuan, then sent a disdainful voice transmission. "Old Huang, have you let this kid scare you witless? This afternoon, this guy was slandering the Artifact Refining Workshop. Besides, Master Li Xu and the others there don’t know him from Adam. You’re not going to tell me he managed to forge a connection with the Workshop in just a few short hours, are you?"

Huang Zhong thought about it and realized he was right.

The entire Imperial Capital had heard about Ye Xuan causing a scene at the Artifact Refining Workshop. The fact that he’d walked out of there alive was a miracle in itself. The idea that he could have any positive connection with them seemed impossible to Huang Zhong.

At this thought, his heart immediately settled.

’This kid is so desperate to save his skin he’d dare drag the Artifact Refining Workshop into it. Once the truth comes out, he and the Luo family can just wait for death. This time, not even the Heavenly King himself could save them.’

Feeling immensely relieved, Huang Zhong and Qin Yu shared a series of cold smirks.

While the two of them were at ease, the members of the Luo family were terrified.

"Young Master Ye, how could you say our Luo family’s shop is an authorized dealer for the Artifact Refining Workshop? A claim like that could cost us our heads!" Luo Min’s heart was as bitter as gall.

As the Patriarch of the Luo family, how could he not know whether they were an authorized dealer for the Artifact Refining Workshop? It was absolutely, positively not true.

"Patriarch Luo, you just need to trust me," Ye Xuan said reassuringly.

But his reassurance had no effect on the Luo family members. In their hearts, they were all crying out in misery.

If they had known things would turn out this way, it would have been better to just let the City Construction Department tear down the shop from the start. At least then there would have been some room to maneuver later. Now that it had come to this, there was no room left at all.

"Captain Shao, you sent for me?"

The Central Marketplace wasn’t far from East Street. In just a few moments, a pot-bellied middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the Artifact Refining Workshop walked in, led by the Celestial Dragon Guard member.

He had the prosperous look of the wealthy, and his small eyes scanned the crowd with an air of utter arrogance.

"Steward Zhou, you’re finally here." Captain Shao hurried forward with a smile and explained the situation.

"Oh? This person claims this shop is under my Artifact Refining Workshop?"

After hearing Captain Shao’s words, Steward Zhou glanced at the Luo family’s shop, then said faintly, "I have worked at the Artifact Refining Workshop for over twenty years, and I’ve never known us to have another shop in the marketplaces besides our main pavilion in the Central Marketplace."

As he spoke, he eyed the Luo family’s shop again, a disdainful smile appearing on his face. "A trashy shop like this, located in such a remote part of the market... even if it were offered to the Artifact Refining Workshop for free, we wouldn’t take it."

Steward Zhou hadn’t said it outright, but the meaning behind his words couldn’t be clearer.

"Well, well! So the Luo family dares to impersonate a shop of the Artifact Refining Workshop."

"Treasonous and lawless! That’s the perfect description of your Luo family."

"So rampant, so arrogant! Captain Shao, are you still not going to arrest the Luo family members?"

"Arrest the Luo family and throw them in the Sky Prison!"

Captain Huang of the City Construction Department immediately started shouting excitedly, his face animated with delight.

"Everyone, please listen to my explanation..." Luo Min panicked and tried to explain.

How could Huang Zhong give him the chance? He cut him off immediately, saying viciously, "Patriarch Luo, there’s no need to explain. The evidence is irrefutable. You’d be better off thinking about how to arrange your funeral affairs. Daring to impersonate an Artifact Refining Workshop and fool the Celestial Dragon Guard... you’ve really got some nerve!"

Rage flared in Shao Jun’s eyes.

’Damn it, you little bastards. If I hadn’t summoned Steward Zhou, I really would have been fooled by you.’

"Men! Arrest the members of the Luo family, and this kid too!"

He roared.

He, a dignified captain of the Celestial Dragon Guard, had been played by a mere teenager. If word got out, it would be a stain on his, Shao Jun’s, reputation.

"Wait."

At the critical moment, Ye Xuan suddenly spoke up. He looked at Steward Zhou. "Steward Zhou, I have something to show you."

"Show him what? Kid, are you trying to bribe Steward Zhou? Who do you think he is? Do you really think he’d fall for a trick like that?"

Huang Zhong scoffed loudly.

Steward Zhou glanced arrogantly at Ye Xuan and said with indifference, "Captain Huang is right. Whatever you have, you can show it after you’re in the Sky Prison. I don’t have time to waste with you. Captain Shao, the shop is busy. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave."

With that, Steward Zhou turned to leave.

"Steward Zhou, you’re just a steward from the main pavilion. A mere mid-level manager. Are you certain you know about all of the Artifact Refining Workshop’s properties? Are you aware that by walking away, you may have just invited a fatal disaster upon yourself?" Ye Xuan’s indifferent voice rang out in the street.

Just a steward...

A mere mid-level manager...

The moment these words were spoken, the crowd erupted, and everyone’s expression changed dramatically.

’Does this guy have a death wish? Steward Zhou might just be a steward at the Artifact Refining Workshop, but is that any way to address him?’

Even Captain Shao Jun of the Celestial Dragon Guard had to address him respectfully as ’Steward’. ’This kid is insane.’

"What did you say?" Steward Zhou stopped in his tracks and turned his head, his gaze cold and sharp.

"You can look at this thing I have, or you can choose not to. The decision is yours. But I’ve said my piece. There are some matters that are beyond the responsibility of a mere steward. One wrong move could even bring fatal disaster upon you. So, before you understand the situation clearly, I advise you not to jump to conclusions."

Ye Xuan said calmly, holding an object in his hand. "The item is right here. Whether you look at it or not is your choice."

"But when disaster strikes, don’t blame me for not warning you."

Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, the first thing that surged in Steward Zhou’s heart was anger.

But when he caught Ye Xuan’s gaze, a sudden chill went through him.

Ye Xuan’s eyes were calm, but the aura he projected as he looked at him was filled with confidence and dominance.

It was as if, just as he had claimed, he held something in his hand that could decide his very life and death.

’What on earth is it?’

Curiosity immediately welled up in Steward Zhou’s heart. He desperately wanted to just turn and leave in disdain.

But Ye Xuan’s gaze held him, making it impossible to take a step.

He didn’t believe a teenager could possibly possess something that could determine his fate. But... what if he was telling the truth?

If he walked away now, would a disaster truly befall him?