Strongest War Emperor

As Shen Lang spoke, he flicked his fingers. The Phoenix Feather Bow, as if pulled by invisible threads, drifted to the side of the Melting Furnace. The other materials—the Lingxiao Celestial Scale and the Purple Cloud Beast Bone—abruptly converged in the center, melting together into a rainbow-colored liquid!

SIZZLE!

As the flames surged and white smoke billowed, Shen Lang made a subtle gesture with his fingers. The rainbow-colored liquid, a fusion of the various materials, immediately poured over the Jade Green Sand and Red Refining Fire Copper.

To the astonishment of Bai Feifei and the other two, the notoriously difficult-to-fuse Jade Green Sand and Red Refining Fire Copper began to visibly merge. The green and red liquids slowly intertwined, then completely fused with the rainbow-colored substance!

"Oh my god, you can do it like that...?" Bai Feifei’s eyes went wide as she murmured in disbelief.

The Phoenix Feather Bow spun and then shot upright.

Then, the now-fused liquid flowed down the length of the Phoenix Feather Bow, beginning to repair the damaged frame.

A glint flashed in Shen Lang’s eyes as a wisp of his Divine Thought instantly connected with the Phoenix Feather Bow.

The bow’s damaged Wind Spirit Array Map immediately materialized in his mind’s eye.

’Just using a Wind Spirit Array Map makes the bow’s attacks faster, but the power seems much weaker.’

Shen Lang’s Divine Thought spread out like a net, gradually covering the Wind Spirit Array Map within the Phoenix Feather Bow.

Then, he suddenly turned to Shu Lan. "You haven’t cultivated the Thunder Control Divine Technique yet, have you?"

Shu Lan started, then shook her head. "Not yet. Even the basic level of the Thunder Control Divine Technique costs a lot of Contribution Points, and I... I don’t have enough yet."

Fang Hongfeng gave a derisive laugh. "The Thunder Control Divine Technique isn’t that easy to get. You think just anyone can cultivate it whenever they want? Holy crap, you’re talking while refining! Watch the Melting Furnace! Watch the Melting Furnace!"

Shen Lang fell silent for a moment. His powerful Divine Thought completely enveloped the Wind Spirit Array Map inside the Phoenix Feather Bow. He activated the central star of the array and instantly smashed it into the surrounding ones!

’I’ll just shatter this Spirit Array Map and inscribe a new Wind Thunder Dual-Element Spirit Array Map.’

Shen Lang performed these actions with casual ease, while beside him, Bai Feifei and the others watched with bated breath, their palms sweating as they stared unblinkingly at his every move.

Time ticked by...

Twenty minutes later, Shen Lang flicked a finger on his left hand. Two of the Spirit Stones on the floor shifted slightly, and the gushing Celestial Fire vanished without a trace.

Shen Lang retrieved the Phoenix Feather Bow. With a flick of his left hand, the vial of Setting Sun Illusion Dew on the floor transformed into a small serpent that shot onto the bow and slithered across its surface.

SIZZLE!

White smoke billowed as the Setting Sun Illusion Dew instantly began to evaporate.

In just a few moments, all the Setting Sun Illusion Dew on the bow had vanished. The Phoenix Feather Bow, which had been completely dull, suddenly erupted with a blinding radiance, forcing Bai Feifei and the others to look away.

"Alright, take a look."

Shen Lang handed the Phoenix Feather Bow to Shu Lan.

"Let me see it first." Before Shu Lan could even take a look, Bai Feifei snatched it from her.

Bai Feifei was already stunned by Shen Lang’s unpredictable methods. Now, with a sense of trepidation, she sent her Divine Thought into the Phoenix Feather Bow.

The next moment, an indescribable excitement flashed in her eyes, and she roared, "Holy shit! The original Spirit Array Map was completely shattered? And he inscribed a new one? A superimposed Wind Thunder Dual-Element Spirit Array Map!"

"You... you really did this?"

Hearing this, both Shu Lan and Fang Hongfeng were utterly astounded, looking at Shen Lang in disbelief.

’What did it mean to shatter a Spirit Array Map?’

’It meant immense danger. It meant the Phoenix Feather Bow could have self-destructed at any moment!’

’In other words, Shen Lang had shattered the Spirit Array Map while simultaneously repairing the Spiritual Artifact?’

’Wasn’t he afraid the bow would just blow up?’

’And fine, maybe he shattered it. But re-inscribing a Spirit Array Map after it’s been shattered is far more difficult than during the initial forging! That’s because you’re not working with a stable Spirit Plate, but the chaotic remnants of a broken Array Map!’

’And he actually managed to re-inscribe it? And as a superimposed dual-element map, no less?’

’Superimposing a dual-element map is several times more difficult and complex than just inscribing two separate ones...’

"Heavens, to accomplish something like this in such a short amount of time... not even a Profound Level Artifact Refiner could do that! He’s an absolute monster!" A brilliant light danced in Bai Feifei’s beautiful eyes.

’That kid was definitely putting on an act! He said he could only repair Spiritual Artifacts, and only below the Third Grade... but what he just did was way harder than refining a Fifth Grade Spiritual Artifact! I’ve struck gold...’

While Shu Lan and Fang Hongfeng were still dazed, Bai Feifei turned to Shen Lang with a seductive smile. It was a smile so unnerving it was downright terrifying.

"Kid, how about we make a deal?" Bai Feifei sidled up, blocking Shen Lang’s escape route.

Shen Lang’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately put on a stern face. "There’s nothing to discuss. We had an agreement: I’ll spend a few days repairing the Spiritual Artifacts you need fixed, and in exchange, you’ll talk to those old-timers about my mandatory mission problem. I told you from the start I can’t do Artifact Refining. Give it up."

"Who do you think you’re kidding? Can’t refine Spiritual Artifacts? Not even a Profound Level Artifact Refiner could do what you just did. Cut the crap. I’ve been gathering materials for my Neon Fan for years and still haven’t dared to start because I’m not confident enough. You’re going to help me forge it into a Profound Artifact. Do that, and I’ll have your back from now on!"

"A Profound Artifact!"

Fang Hongfeng, who had just taken the Phoenix Feather Bow to see what had shocked his master so badly, jumped in alarm.

’Does this kid really know Artifact Refining?’

’Even if he did fix the Phoenix Feather Bow, that’s no reason for Master to flash that terrifying, predatory grin, right?’

The moment his Divine Thought entered the Phoenix Feather Bow, Fang Hongfeng froze, completely stunned, like a stone statue.

"Damn it, I’m seeing things..." After a long moment, Fang Hongfeng finally managed to spit out the words.

Meanwhile, Bai Feifei had pressed herself so close to Shen Lang that she was almost on top of him. In an intimate posture that made Shu Lan and Fang Hongfeng blush crimson, she purred, "It’s just one Profound Artifact. It won’t be too much trouble. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. How about it?"

Now it wasn’t just Shen Lang who wanted to bolt. Even Shu Lan and Fang Hongfeng were trembling, looking for an escape route.

With a pained expression, Shen Lang said, "You can’t do this, Senior. We had a deal! A gentleman’s word is his bond. How can you go back on it?"

"I’m not a gentleman!" Bai Feifei shot him a look. "I’m a woman."

"I don’t know how to do Artifact Refining, much less how to forge a Profound Artifact! I only know how to repair Spiritual Artifacts!"

"I believe you... not! If you don’t forge that Profound Artifact for me today, you’re not leaving this room. Be a good boy and listen to me. I won’t let you go... er, I mean, I won’t make things difficult for you."

’Shen Lang was utterly speechless. He’d met shameless people before, but never anyone *this* shameless.’

’He really shouldn’t have shown even a hint of his true abilities in front of them. The moment he did, it brought nothing but trouble.’

...

「On a moonlit night, all was still, save for the soft, silken rustle of leaves.」

After a full day of refining, a weary Shen Lang looked up at the starry sky and took a deep breath.

’The air smells of gardenias. Dingdang, are you doing alright...?’

High in the starry sky, a vision of Xue Dangdang in a red dress danced on the wind, then gave him a mischievous wink.

Knowing full well the bitterness of longing, yet still, I can’t stop worrying about you.

After much thought, I’ve decided I’d rather bear this pain...

As Shen Lang recalled the small moments he’d shared with Xue Dangdang, a smile would sometimes touch his lips, only to be replaced by a look of melancholy.

But his reverie did not last long. When he was still a hundred-odd meters from his wooden cabin, Shen Lang’s pace slowed.

In the soft glow of the Moonlight Stones, he could see five figures standing in a line before his wooden cabin, all of them looking his way.

"Are you Shen Lang?"

A cold voice emanated from the young man in the center.

Shen Lang glanced up, his eyes sweeping over the five. He noted their uniform dress: tight-fitting black outfits, each with an Ancient Sword strapped to their back.

Each one had an impassive face and radiated a bloody aura. They were clearly no ordinary disciples of the Profound Dao Sect.

His expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "I am. And you are?"

The one who had spoken before stepped forward and raised his right hand. A blood-red Token in his palm pulsed with an unnatural light. On its surface was a large, stylized character for "Punishment" that seemed to trap one’s gaze like a vortex, making it impossible to look away.

"I am Dongfang Wenxin, a special emissary from the Punishment Hall. You are a suspect in a rape case. Please come with me to Songdu Peak Hall to assist in the investigation."

Dongfang Wenxin’s voice was frigid, completely devoid of any discernible emotion.

The moment he finished speaking, he tilted his head slightly. A man to his right immediately moved forward, attempting to throw a thick Locking Chain over Shen Lang.

Shen Lang snorted, his hand shooting out to grab the thick Locking Chain. "Let’s be clear," he said coldly. "Am I being asked to assist an investigation, or are you trying to drag me away by force? If I’m just assisting, then what’s the meaning of this chain?"

SHIIING!

Seeing Shen Lang grab the Locking Chain, the other three men drew their swords and surrounded him!

Shen Lang’s eyes turned cold. He let out a derisive laugh. "I don’t like starting trouble, but I’m not afraid of it, either. I’m speaking to you respectfully as my seniors because I don’t wish to fight. You’d do well not to point those pieces of scrap metal at me."

Hearing Shen Lang’s arrogant words, the eyes of the three men surrounding him grew even more sinister, and the bloody aura they exuded became thicker.

Dongfang Wenxin, however, had a flash of surprise in his eyes.

’Most disciples are terrified when they face anyone from the Punishment Hall, trembling in their boots. Yet this boy shows no fear at all. Facing five experts of the Spirit Martial Realm, he even dares to threaten them, telling them not to point their "scrap metal" at him!’

"You are to assist the investigation. Come with us. Martial Uncle Wang Dashu is also at Songdu Peak Hall." Dongfang Wenxin waved his hand.

The men surrounding Shen Lang sheathed their longswords in a single, fluid motion.

"By the way, can I ask a question?" Shen Lang asked, looking at Dongfang Wenxin who was walking ahead of him.

"What is it?" Dongfang Wenxin replied without turning his head.

Shen Lang glanced at the moon and said nonchalantly, "Oh, it’s nothing important. I was just wondering... this woman I supposedly raped, does she have a good body? Is she pretty?"