Strongest War Emperor

In a clearing in the bamboo forest, Wooden Zither Tutor held the Fiery Fire Hammer in her right hand, looking majestic. With her left hand, she pointed at Shen Lang and lectured him nonstop.

"Stand up straight! What do you think you’re doing, slacking off like this!"

Shen Lang put on a miserable face and said, "I’m not slacking off, you’re the one who’s been smashing me, okay? I’ve already lost half my life... So what if you have a Spiritual Artifact? Do you have to show it off like this!"

With a cold snort, Wooden Zither put away her Fiery Fire Hammer and said sharply, "I’m going to say four things, and you’d better listen carefully."

"I’m all ears," Shen Lang said helplessly.

"First, you used those Divine Movement Talismans to mess with Qin Hun Tutor, and then you beat his favorite disciple half to death. He’s definitely got you marked. You need to be more careful around him in the future and don’t give him any openings. However, as long as we’re at Tayun Academy and I’m here, he can’t do anything to you. Second, I don’t know what you did to give Xu Qing diarrhea. That normally wouldn’t be a big deal, but he was so unlucky this time he fell straight into a toilet. He hasn’t dared to show his face at Tayun Academy since, and now he hates you to the bone. The moment you leave Tayun Academy..."

Hearing Wooden Zither say this, a warm feeling rose in Shen Lang’s heart. He knew she was looking out for him.

But he still grumbled, "That business with that scoundrel Qin Hun was his own damn fault. I told him over and over not to stick on all the Divine Movement Talismans, but he just wouldn’t listen. As for Xu Qing, that’s just baffling. Why does everyone assume I’m the one who gave him diarrhea? Couldn’t he have just eaten something bad, or exhausted himself looking for Qin Hun? Besides, even if I *did* give him diarrhea—it’s not like I broke the toilet, right? And I couldn’t have written those words on the door, could I? If I’d known he was going to that specific toilet, I definitely wouldn’t have written a single word..."

"Cut the crap. I’ve warned you, so be more careful! Third, a student from Jialan Academy is coming to stay in our class for a while. In a little over ten days, she’ll be joining you for the Thorn Valley trial. Until then, you’re responsible for protecting her. She’s a great beauty, you know, and from a major family in the Imperial Capital. This is a great deal for you, kid!"

Wooden Zither said, frustrated at his wasted potential.

Shen Lang rolled his eyes and shook his head. "NO! Why should I have to do something like that? No way! I don’t have the time or the interest to protect some woman I don’t even know. You know Dingdang has been protecting me all these years. You want *me* to protect someone? You’ve got to be kidding. I refuse! Scions of major families have their own people to protect them. Why would they need a good-for-nothing like me?"

"This isn’t up for discussion. Your cultivation is the highest in our class right now. Who else could it be?" Wooden Zither decided the matter without taking no for an answer. "As for the fourth and final thing..."

As she spoke, she grew a little awkward. "I have my Spirit Level First Grade Refiner assessment coming up soon at the academy. But because I’ve spent most of my time and energy on Martial Arts... do you... have a way to help me advance further on the Artifact Refining Dao, to reach a higher level?"

"Yes," Shen Lang replied with surprising frankness, catching her off guard.

He took out a pen and paper from his Storage Pouch and began to scribble furiously. He then handed the densely covered sheet to Wooden Zither and said, "The foundation of the Artifact Refining Dao is the cultivation of Divine Sense. The strength of one’s Divine Sense is what bars many people from entry. The second most important thing is the Spirit Array Map. Spirit Array Maps rely mainly on Divine Sense. If your Divine Sense isn’t strong enough, you can’t inscribe one even if you have it."

"Then this is...?" Wooden Zither asked, trying to suppress her joy.

Shen Lang said nonchalantly, "The top part is a simple Refining God Technique for strengthening your Divine Sense. Don’t underestimate it; cultivating it long-term has immense benefits. Further down are the principles for inscribing a Wind Spirit Array Map. I don’t have a Jade Scroll on me, so you’ll have to make do with this for now. Tomorrow, I’ll create a detailed tutorial for you on a Jade Scroll, and you can just follow that. At the very bottom is a list of Spiritual Materials. Go procure them as soon as you can. I’ll use them to concoct a type of Spiritual Liquid. When used with the Refining God Technique, your Divine Sense will improve by leaps and bounds, so long as you’re below the Xuanwu Realm."

"Something this good! Did you see this in that book, too? This is amazing! Okay... give it here!" A look of ecstasy appeared on Wooden Zither’s face. She believed every word Shen Lang said, because she was, after all, an Artifact Refiner herself and knew the properties of many of these Spiritual Materials very well. As for the Spirit Array Map, just a quick glance told her it was likely for a Fourth Grade Spiritual Artifact, at the very least!

"Give what?" Shen Lang was baffled.

Wooden Zither froze. "The money, of course! All these Spiritual Materials aren’t free, are they?"

"..." Shen Lang was stunned. "Tutor, are you running a fever? You’re asking *me* for money? My monthly allowance is one hundred Gold Coins. I give half of that to Dingdang for protection fees, and the other half isn’t even enough for food... If I didn’t sleep all day to conserve energy, I’d probably be skin and bones by now! Don’t you walk away, explain yourself! How dare you ask me for money! You might as well just sell me!"

"Alright, alright, I was just saying. Look at you, all worked up. You’re almost as long-winded as Chu Qingcheng." Wooden Zither swayed her hips as she walked away, waving a hand. "Hurry up and get something to eat. Be a good boy and go to class tomorrow morning. The new student is coming. She’s from Jialan Academy, a great beauty. Don’t you dare neglect her!"

As if Shen Lang would pay her any mind. Never mind that his cultivation was still too weak; even if he were truly powerful, where would he find the interest to protect a stranger?

He first went to the cafeteria to eat something, then headed straight for the Artifact Refining Institute.

He no longer needed to deliberately practice things like Artifact Refining or Alchemy, nor did he intend to spend too much time and energy on the Artifact Refining Dao.

The peak of Martial Arts—that was what he truly wanted.

But even though he had memories of many powerful Cultivation Techniques, the path of Martial Arts still had to be walked one step at a time. He couldn’t be too hasty.

Things like Artifact Refining could be used as a supplementary tool, especially at this stage. It was the perfect way to earn money and Spirit Stones.

But it wasn’t just about earning money. Shen Lang now wanted to use Artifact Refining to earn Contribution Points from Tayun Academy.

Only with Contribution Points could he enter the Cultivation Hall to practice his cultivation.

One had to know that the Cultivation Hall had special Arrays set up, making the Spiritual Qi many times more abundant than in the outside world.

The Gravity Field, in particular, had a very direct effect on strengthening the physical body, making cultivation there many times more effective than outside. Under those conditions, many Elixir Pills could also be absorbed by the body at maximum efficiency.

"Halt. Non-students of the Artifact Refining Institute are not permitted to enter." A sharp shout rang out as a guard at the main gate stopped Shen Lang.

Shen Lang frowned at the guard but said nothing. Forcing his way in was not an option. He was here to earn money and Contribution Points, not to cause trouble.

’But not being able to enter just because he wasn’t a student of the institute... What a stupid rule...’

Glancing around, Shen Lang’s face suddenly lit up with a grin.

In the plaza to the right of the Artifact Refining Institute, many students were engrossed in Artifact Refining at individual platforms. Earth Fire continuously erupted from each platform, illuminating the area as brightly as day.

He strolled over leisurely and stopped in front of one of the platforms.

On the platform, a young man in a blue robe had a solemn expression as he carefully added various materials into a Furnace Cauldron. Seeing Shen Lang approach, he just gave him a cursory glance and said nothing.

"Too much Star Sand. The furnace fire isn’t hot enough. It’ll make it harder to fuse the weapon later." Shen Lang, who had produced an apple-like fruit from who-knows-where, took a bite and suddenly spoke.

The blue-robed youth froze, then looked up and shot Shen Lang a vicious glare, his eyes filled with contempt and a clear warning.

’How outrageous! Artifact Refiners needed extreme concentration while working. That was precisely why there were sound-dampening Arrays between each platform.’

’It wasn’t uncommon for people like this—non-students with no talent for Artifact Refining who still wanted to learn—to come here to observe and try to steal techniques.’

’But most people who came had looks of reverence or shock in their eyes... and they wouldn’t dare speak casually and disturb an Artifact Refiner.’

’Where did this bastard crawl out from?’

’Not only is he making noise and interfering with my work, he’s even pointing fingers and criticizing?’

’I’m about to advance to become a Spirit Level First Grade Refiner!’

’Is this something an Outer Disciple like you has any right to comment on?’

If he weren’t in the middle of a delicate refining process, Xiao Qifeng would have jumped down and slapped the black-robed kid twice.

’He’s simply courting death!’

Just as Xiao Qifeng had this thought, he heard the black-robed kid chuckle and say, "Fire Melting Crystal isn’t that precious, and it doesn’t conflict with the other materials. You don’t have to add it so carefully. Just grab a handful and toss it in. Otherwise, you’re just wasting time."

"..." Xiao Qifeng’s hand trembled, and he almost cursed out loud.

’Who the hell is this guy? I’m already doing you a favor by letting you watch me refine, and you dare spout nonsense again and again? Believe it or not, I’ll chop you to death the second I’m done with this!’

’Patience. I’ll endure it one more time. I’ve already failed so many times, and I’m almost out of materials. If this bastard’s blabbering messes up my state of mind and I fail again, it’ll be a disaster.’

’Dammit. I’ve been trying to forge this one Profound Iron Flying Shield for so long. The steps are all correct, and the temperature control is stable, yet I keep failing over and over...’

’If I fail again this time, I’ll only have enough materials for one more attempt. If I still can’t succeed then, I won’t be able to face my tutor.’

"The materials inside are already half-melted. Increasing the Earth Fire won’t do much now. It’s time to use your Pill Fire. Your cultivation may not be high, but burning your Spiritual Power will be enough to support this refinement," Shen Lang said, taking another bite of the fruit.

"You... You shut up!" Xiao Qifeng couldn’t take it anymore and practically roared. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Of course Shen Lang wouldn’t shut up. If he did, how would he get his "ticket" into the Artifact Refining Institute?

"I can shut up, sure, but you need to hurry and start calcining with your Pill Fire. Otherwise, it’ll be too late," Shen Lang said with a frown.

"What the f— Who knows Artifact Refining, you or me?! For something like a Profound Iron Flying Shield, how can you use Pill Fire before the final shaping? If I use my Pill Fire and exhaust my Spiritual Power, what am I supposed to do later? Say one more word of nonsense and I swear I’ll beat you!" Xiao Qifeng felt like dying. He had already failed many times. This attempt was going much better than the previous ones, with a much higher chance of success, but then this nuisance had to pop up and constantly distract him!

’I don’t even know who the hell you are! We have no history, no grudge. Do you have to mess with me like this?’

’Did heaven send you down here just to screw with me?’

"What a blockhead. You’ve already made so many mistakes, and now you’re just throwing away a golden opportunity... Fine. If you can successfully forge a Profound Iron Flying Shield your way, I’ll take your surname!" Shen Lang shook his head repeatedly, looking utterly pained.

Xiao Qifeng lost control of his concentration for a moment, causing the Earth Fire to flare up to more than double its intensity. A sharp "CRACK" came from inside the furnace. A lump of something dark and nondescript floated up and began to spin above the Furnace Cauldron.

"If I don’t kill you, I’ll take your surname!" Xiao Qifeng tossed the dark, strangely shaped thing aside and charged viciously down from the platform!