Strongest War Emperor

"Are you really trying to refine a Profound Iron Flying Shield?" Facing the charging Xiao Qifeng, Shen Lang remained unruffled, dodging him with a light sidestep.

Xiao Qifeng was stunned, apparently not expecting him to be so fast.

"No shit! If I didn’t want to refine a Profound Iron Flying Shield, why would I be working this late? You bastard, you actually... Huh? What do you think you’re doing?!" Xiao Qifeng grumbled as he turned around, only to freeze in place.

He saw Shen Lang already starting to toss materials into the Furnace Cauldron...

’By the looks of it, is he going to perform Artifact Refining?’

"Bastard, stop! That’s my last set of materials! Damn it, do I have some kind of grudge with you or something?! Are you messing with me like this?" Xiao Qifeng was so mad he could jump.

A smile played on Shen Lang’s lips. "A Profound Iron Flying Shield, you say? Such a simple little thing... Watch closely. I’m only demonstrating this once. If you can’t remember or don’t understand, then it’s just my bad luck. You should hurry up and leave the Artifact Refining Institute and do something else. Don’t insult the profession of an Artifact Refiner."

"..." Xiao Qifeng was stunned. He had been about to roar like thunder and charge forward to cut this guy down, but the moment he saw Shen Lang’s extremely practiced technique, his rational mind took over and he watched quietly.

An expert reveals their skill with a single move.

Shen Lang wore a mischievous smile and even kept his eyes on Xiao Qifeng, but his hands never stopped grabbing materials from beside the furnace and tossing them in.

Such practiced technique, such fluid and seamless movements...

And every time he grabbed the materials, the amount was incredibly precise.

It was as if he could grab the perfect amount with a casual pinch, even with his eyes closed...

’This kid... he’s a real monster. When I grab materials, I have to weigh many of them in my hand for a while, and for a lot of them, I even have to use a scale. But he just grabs them casually and it’s perfect... Can it be that he really knows how to refine a Profound Iron Flying Shield? But how is that possible? He looks younger than me, and I’ve never heard of anyone like him in the Artifact Refining Institute! This technique... it seems even more amazing than the Dean’s... How is this possible!’

GULP. Xiao Qifeng swallowed hard, his eyes glued to Shen Lang’s movements. He even took out a pen and paper and began jotting things down from time to time.

’I can’t be sure if Shen Lang is bluffing, but judging from his actions, it really doesn’t seem like a trick. And his technique is definitely worth learning!’

Although his grades at the Artifact Refining Institute were at the bottom, he was just a little more effort away from becoming a Spirit Level First Grade Refiner. He had at least that much discernment.

’If there’s something to learn, I’ll learn it first. If he’s lying and can’t produce the shield in the end, I’ll just beat him up and drag him to the instructors!’

The moment Xiao Qifeng had this thought, he immediately regretted it.

Because the kid in black on the platform had, in the middle of his work, suddenly started to sing!

And it seemed to be a rather strange, high-energy kind of song!

"I ball up my dream and stuff it in a box, marked ’Handle with Care.’ I carry it on my back, watching the world as I go, waking up the moon with my dreamy song. My heart’s too small to hold a dream this vast, so I’ll just sing a little song, whatever. Imagine the endless applause, flowers like the sea, and watch my happiness grow..."

Not only was he singing, but the guy actually started twisting his whole body, beginning to sing and dance at the same time!

This was too crazy. Xiao Qifeng felt like his brain was short-circuiting.

The Artifact Refining Dao placed great emphasis on a peaceful state of mind and demanded one hundred percent concentration.

This was true whether one was refining the rough form or engraving a Spirit Array Map for a high-level weapon.

If one’s concentration lapsed for even a moment—the amount or weight of the materials was off, or the flame intensity wasn’t controlled properly—it would very likely lead to failure.

This was especially true for Spirit Array Maps, something Xiao Qifeng had not yet encountered.

That was something only High Level Refiners could learn. The complexity was said to be unimaginable; a single Spirit Array Map required inscribing countless Spiritual Lines, and one careless mistake would waste all previous efforts!

’But this kid is so arrogant!’

’To actually sing and dance while performing Artifact Refining!’

’Just sing a little song, whatever?’

’You call this "just singing a little song"?’

’You may be happy, but I’m miserable!’

’What kind of attitude is this? Is this how an Artifact Refiner is supposed to act?’

’It’s outrageous! Damn it, those are my materials! Don’t materials cost money?’

’Of course you’re not worried, they’re not your things...’

Xiao Qifeng was on the verge of tears...

’Damn it, did heaven send you down just to screw with me?!’

"My heartbeat’s wild, I don’t care what they say, just let me get carried away... Alright, what are you spacing out for? Get over here and use your Pill Fire to temper the rough form." Shen Lang abruptly stopped singing and spoke to Xiao Qifeng.

Xiao Qifeng faltered. "Huh? We need the Pill Fire already? You just started a moment ago..."

"If I tell you to use it, use it. Stop nagging. My time is worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones a minute, and here I am refining a crappy shield for you... You must have done something really good in a past life to deserve this! If you want the Profound Iron Flying Shield, do as I say. If you want to learn Artifact Refining, then you’d better obediently do as I say!" Shen Lang said impatiently.

’Fine, what’s done is done. You already made me waste one set of materials, and you’ve almost used up this one too...’

’If you can’t make this, I swear I’ll beat you senseless!’

With great reluctance, Xiao Qifeng walked over, pushed his hands forward, and a ball of blue flame erupted from his palms, beginning to temper the rough form of the shield floating above the Furnace Cauldron.

Burning Spiritual Power like this consumed an enormous amount of it.

Before long, Xiao Qifeng was drenched in sweat and was having trouble holding on.

His Cultivation was at the Qi Martial Realm First Heaven; to be able to last this long was already something to be proud of.

But Xiao Qifeng didn’t dare feel proud, because every time he looked up, he saw that bastard’s scornful gaze, as if disgusted by his low Cultivation, his lack of Spiritual Power, or something...

’Damn it all, if you’re so great, use your own! Why are you using my Pill Fire?’

Xiao Qifeng suppressed his anger, feeling utterly miserable.

"Alright, that’s enough. Got a Qi Recovery Pill?" Shen Lang nodded, not entirely satisfied.

As if granted a great amnesty, Xiao Qifeng immediately stopped, wiped away his sweat, and took out a Qi Recovery Pill.

’Okay, so I’m a little tired, but at least this kid isn’t completely heartless. He even knew to remind me to take a Qi Recovery Pill.’

A gentle breeze swept by, and before Xiao Qifeng could react, the Qi Recovery Pill was in Shen Lang’s hand.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Qifeng froze.

Shen Lang rolled his eyes. "What does it look like? Qi Recovery Pills are for eating, obviously."

As he spoke, he tossed the Qi Recovery Pill into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and swallowed.

Xiao Qifeng was dumbfounded. It took him a long moment to even process what had happened.

’What the hell was that?’

’I worked my ass off and exhausted my Spiritual Power, and when I take out a Qi Recovery Pill, he just eats it?’

’He hasn’t used a single shred of Spiritual Power from start to finish, so why does he need a Qi Recovery Pill?’

’Besides, that was my Qi Recovery Pill!’

’My precious Qi Recovery Pill!’

’Do you have any idea how many Spirit Stones one Qi Recovery Pill costs?!’

’Endure. I’ll keep enduring. If you don’t produce that Profound Iron Flying Shield for me, I swear I’ll skin you alive!’

Shen Lang paid no mind to whether Xiao Qifeng was going crazy or not. After adding several other materials in succession, the Qi Recovery Pill took effect, and most of the Spiritual Power in his body was instantly restored.

"The Artifact Refining Dao isn’t a solo endeavor. Only an idiot like you would agonize over when to use Pill Fire—can’t you find a few assistants? You’re using Pill Fire and you’re still worried about when to use it and how much Spiritual Power you have left. What kind of Spiritual Artifact do you expect to refine like that? Watch closely. Even tempering with Pill Fire has its own techniques."

As Shen Lang spoke, he lifted the rough form being tempered even higher. Then, his body began to spin rapidly. His hands fluttered up and down like butterflies, blazing flames erupting from both palms and leaving two beautiful trails in their wake.

Xiao Qifeng’s eyes were wide with disbelief as he watched it all unfold.

Of course there were techniques for tempering with Pill Fire; he knew that much.

But from what he’d heard, that was something only a Spirit Level Third or Fourth Grade Artifact Refining Master could do!

It was said to be a special Artifact Refining technique that not only maximized the use of the Pill Fire but also allowed one to temper different parts of the artifact separately, making the final object purer and more refined.

’But even if this kid really can refine a Profound Iron Flying Shield, there’s no way he’s this good, right?’

Panting, Xiao Qifeng pinched himself hard, then desperately tried to memorize the trajectory of Shen Lang’s hands.

’If I can learn even a fraction of this technique and study it later, I might even be able to advance a level!’

Before Xiao Qifeng’s very eyes, Shen Lang tempered the shield with a variety of dazzling, almost magical-looking moves. The technique was filled with Profound Mysteries, yet it was also incredibly natural and fluid, as if it secretly aligned with the very Heaven and Earth Rules.

At this point, forget about an ordinary weapon...

If Shen Lang told Xiao Qifeng he could refine Spiritual Artifacts or even Profound Artifacts, Xiao Qifeng would probably believe him.

Even if it were just an act... someone who wasn’t a true master could never fake a technique like that.

As time ticked by, Xiao Qifeng’s shock only grew.

He completely forgot himself and became a student, or rather, a beginner in Artifact Refining, recording every single step and detail.

And under his astonished gaze, the shield rapidly took shape.

Soon, it was fully formed and held in Shen Lang’s hand.

"The design’s a little ugly, but whatever. I don’t have time to waste on this thing. You’re getting off easy." Shen Lang tossed the shield to Xiao Qifeng.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" Xiao Qifeng caught the shield, overjoyed, and thanked him repeatedly.

Just then, Shen Lang pointed a finger at the shield from a distance. A flash of Spirit Light shot out and sank into it.

BUZZ!

The shield in Xiao Qifeng’s hand let out a soft hum. A ripple spread across its surface, and a large, illusory, circular shield-face manifested in front of it.

"A... A Spiritual Artifact! This is a Spiritual Artifact! How is that possible..." Xiao Qifeng plopped onto the ground, his face a mask of terror.

Shen Lang paused. "It is a Spiritual Artifact. Did you think I was just making you a normal weapon? Since I was doing it anyway, I went ahead and inscribed a Spirit Level Third Grade Water Spirit Array Map on it. The shield’s Defense Power is now more than four times stronger. It’s barely passable, I guess. I was just in too much of a hurry."

"A Spirit Level Spirit Array Map? A Third Grade Spiritual Artifact? I... Holy crap!" Xiao Qifeng’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he looked like he could faint at any moment.

Setting aside the materials, the Level of a Spiritual Artifact or a Profound Artifact was often determined primarily by the Spirit Array Map inscribed within it.

The Spirit Array Map inside this shield was Spirit Level Third Grade. That meant even if the materials were a bit lacking, or the refining technique was slightly off, it was still roughly equivalent to a Third Grade Spiritual Artifact.

But Xiao Qifeng had only wanted to refine a normal weapon. A weapon was a whole Level below a Spiritual Artifact.

Moreover, without a Spirit Array Map, the difference in Defense Power was immense.

Shen Lang frowned and walked over, slapping him twice on the cheek. "Hey, wake up, wake up! Don’t you dare faint. I’m still counting on you to get me into the Artifact Refining Institute. If you pass out, who am I supposed to find?"