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**
Swish, swish, swish!
As figures swept towards the stone platforms like a swarm of locusts, Elder Bing on the high platform slightly nodded, his hands tucked into his sleeves, and said calmly, "This year's Refining Convention is truly intriguing. Even some seasoned veterans have shown up."
"The Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall isn't something ordinary treasures can compare to. Even we haven't fully comprehended it. Naturally, it's a strong attraction for these old-timers," replied a dark-skinned elder beside him, his sharp gaze sweeping over the figures on the stone platforms like flashes of lightning.
"The new generation pushes forward, and these younger talents are no less capable than their seniors. Even if the old-timers make a move, they'll likely end up humiliated," a mature and alluringly dressed woman added with a faint smile.
"I've heard that Elder Bing's new disciple is quite extraordinary. Even the Young Sect Master of the Di Ming Sect isn't taken seriously by him. I wonder what rank he'll achieve in this Refining Convention," Master Zhu Jian remarked, glancing towards where Mo Yu was located, his murky old eyes narrowing slightly with hidden meaning.
Hearing this, Elder Bing remained expressionless, stroking his beard as he replied indifferently, "The current younger generation has indeed produced some remarkable individuals. Where Xiao Huohuo can go is not something you need to worry about."
"Is that so? I'm quite curious about whether this Xiao Huohuo has any connection to that Mo Yu," Master Zhu Jian said, his eyes sharp and his expression gradually darkening.
"Mo Yu?"
The unfamiliar name left the other elders and higher-ups of the Weapon Alliance momentarily stunned. Then, as if recalling something, they glanced in surprise toward Mo Yu's direction, their thoughts racing.
Could this young man named Xiao Huohuo be the same person who killed Master Zhu Jian's disciple, Sun Wuji?
The death of Sun Wuji had caused quite a stir within the Weapon Alliance. After all, not only was his teacher Master Zhu Jian, an eighth-grade weapon refiner, but Sun Wuji himself was also a prodigious fifth-grade weapon refiner with a bright future ahead of him.
Yet, this promising young refiner had been killed by someone named Mo Yu during an outing.
What's more surprising was that Master Zhu Jian now suspected Xiao Huohuo to be Mo Yu. Was there concrete evidence for this, or was it just a pretext to target Elder Bing?
"Zhu Jian, stop stirring up trouble. While the Weapon Alliance values freedom for its members and your status as an eighth-grade weapon refiner earns you respect in many major powers, in the Weapon Alliance, you still don't call all the shots!" Elder Bing retorted coldly.
The other elders and higher-ups exchanged glances but wisely chose to remain silent.
The conflict between Elder Bing and Master Zhu Jian had been simmering for a long time. In the past, Elder Bing had always held the upper hand due to his seniority and reputation, keeping the friction under control.
However, Master Zhu Jian's recent breakthrough to the eighth-grade had greatly bolstered his influence, and his dissatisfaction with Elder Bing had grown increasingly blatant.
It seemed that Xiao Huohuo's identity was merely a trigger for their escalating tensions.
The elders couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. If these two titans clashed openly, it would be a devastating blow to the Weapon Alliance.
Though not as formally organized as the Pill Tower, the Weapon Alliance was a formidable force in the Central Plains, given the sheer number of weapon refiners it brought together.
If the Weapon Alliance were to collapse, while it might not spell total disaster for them, their lives as unaffiliated individuals would certainly be much harder in the Central Plains.
"Hmph, once the Refining Convention ends, I will capture this boy, even if you, Bing Li, cannot stop me!" Master Zhu Jian muttered coldly, his gaze darkening as it fixed on Mo Yu.
Amid the chaotic scene on the stone platforms, Mo Yu blended into the crowd.
He did not rush to claim a platform but waited as the others scrambled. Some platforms even became the center of heated fights over territory.
Hovering in mid-air, Mo Yu observed until most had chosen their platforms. Then, he descended onto a relatively secluded platform near the edge, moving calmly.
Refining weapons required complete concentration, and the central platforms were heavily contested. If one were interrupted mid-refinement, it could lead to disaster.
The platform Mo Yu chose was modest, spanning only two to three meters, but it was sufficient for him alone. Seated cross-legged, he scanned the surroundings with a calm gaze.
In the distance, he spotted Feng Mu, Bei Hao, and Lü Qing'er on their respective platforms, all positioned near the edges like him, avoiding the more prominent central platforms.
Not far from him, Lan Yingying sat cross-legged, her graceful figure radiating a sense of ethereal beauty.
As Mo Yu's gaze swept across the area, it paused on a nearby floating platform. There, a shadowy figure sat cross-legged, seemingly meditating.
"This guy is concealing his true aura. Could he have some ulterior motive?" Mo Yu frowned slightly.
While the figure's outward presence seemed no different from any other participant, Mo Yu, aided by the Black Lotus Soul Thunder, discerned the individual's formidable soul power—on par with Elder Bing or even Master Zhu Jian. Clearly, this shadowy figure was an exceptionally dangerous opponent.
As Mo Yu pondered, the chaos in the air gradually subsided. The contestants had found their platforms and began preparing their materials for the refinement process.
Dong!
Elder Bing's gaze swept over the floating platforms. After a moment, he glanced at the sky and waved his sleeve. A resonant chime echoed across the heavens.
"The time has come. Everyone, begin your refinement!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The elder's words marked the beginning. Instantly, countless refining furnaces appeared across the platforms, landing with a series of low, metallic thuds.
The sight of so many high-quality furnaces in one place left the spectators awestruck. This was likely the first time they had seen such a grand display.
As the furnaces appeared, brilliant flames of various hues erupted into the air, painting the sky in a dazzling spectacle.
Seated calmly on his platform, Mo Yu didn't immediately start refining. Instead, he closed his eyes, organizing his thoughts.
For this conference, he intended to refine the Divine Might Black Thunder Spear.
The spear had been damaged previously, but Mo Yu planned to elevate it to the peak of the seventh-grade—or, if everything went smoothly, perhaps even the eighth-grade.
An eighth-grade weapon was considered exceptionally high-grade on the Dou Qi Continent. If he succeeded, securing the championship would be all but guaranteed.
Nearby, Bei Hao finally made his move after a period of quiet meditation. Summoning his furnace, he flicked his fingers, conjuring a vivid red flame in his palm.
The flame burned with an intensity surpassing that of blood, emanating a savage aura.
Its emergence caused slight ripples in the flames of the surrounding refiners, startling them into steadying their own fires while casting shocked glances at Bei Hao.
"This... is the Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame?"
The sudden fluctuation caught Mo Yu's attention. His gaze shifted, landing on the blood-red flame that resembled fresh blood in Bei Hao's palm. He froze momentarily before a flicker of astonishment flashed across his eyes.
Mo Yu was somewhat familiar with the peculiar flame Bei Hao had summoned. This so-called Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame wasn't a natural flame but could rather be categorized as an artificial one.
The formation of this flame didn't rely on naturally occurring fire but instead required the blood of nearly a thousand fire-attribute magical beasts. The diverse fire attributes within these blood samples were fused together, and through the fire energy within the blood, the essence was condensed into flame form.
The resulting flame was known as the Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame. However, its strength varied depending on the quality of the fire energy within the blood used.
Judging by the potency of the flame in Bei Hao's hand, it was evident that this was the most powerful version of the Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame, possibly rivaling the lowest-ranked flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
Though the Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame possessed formidable might, its creation method was excessively demanding. Without significant financial resources, gathering the blood of nearly a thousand fire-attribute magical beasts was an impossibility.
"This Master Zhu Jian truly lives up to his reputation," Mo Yu remarked with a raised brow. "To go so far as to prepare the Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame for Bei Hao. With this flame, his chances of successfully forging weapons will undoubtedly rise significantly."
Following Bei Hao, Feng Mu and Lü Qing'er in the distance also summoned their flames. Both of their flames belonged to the category of Beast Flames. Though inferior to Bei Hao's Ten Thousand Beast Blood Flame, they were still among the top-tier Beast Flames and powerful tools for forging.
Just as Mo Yu retracted his gaze, an exceptionally intense and somewhat familiar fluctuation suddenly erupted.
His brows knitted as he turned his head, only to see the mysterious black-clad figure clench his hand, causing a sky-blue flame to ignite and rise. The flame transformed into a fiery cloud, swirling and dancing around him.
The instant this flame appeared, the nearby weapon refiners closest to the black-clad figure turned pale. The flames within their forging furnaces began to churn violently before exploding with a bang, sending unprepared forgers tumbling from their stone platforms.
"Heavenly Flame?!"
The scene drew countless stunned gazes from the crowd. Shocked exclamations rippled across the plaza—it was the first time anyone had witnessed a Heavenly Flame at this forging competition.
As for the unlucky weapon refiners caught in the blast, the black-clad figure smirked coldly. The azure flame danced arrogantly around him like a sovereign amidst lesser flames, commanding reverence from all other fires.
"That explains the familiarity... It's indeed a Heavenly Flame," Mo Yu murmured, his expression growing solemn as he studied the smirking black-clad figure. "Judging by its appearance, it must be the sixteenth-ranked Flaming Cloud Water Flame!"
The unexpected emergence of a weapon refiner wielding a Heavenly Flame caught Mo Yu off guard. On the Dou Qi Continent, Heavenly Flames were rare treasures, often the lifelong pursuit of powerful forgers. For a weapon refiner to possess one was astonishing, as weapon refiners generally held lesser status compared to alchemists.
Yet this mysterious figure not only wielded a Heavenly Flame but also possessed soul power on par with veterans like Elder Bing. He was undoubtedly a formidable competitor.
Mo Yu fell into deep contemplation. Though he had achieved a half-step eighth-grade soul power three days prior, he couldn't risk exposing his identity. Using the Vermilion Burning Sky Thunder was no longer an option—it had already been revealed during his duel with Sun Wuji.
If he used it again, it might raise suspicion among those like the Master Zhu Jian. Should his identity be uncovered, even with Elder Bing's protection, continuing in the competition would likely become impossible.
Thus, Mo Yu was left with no choice but to rely on his Dou Qi to create flames. While his current strength could sustain the forging of a weapon, the absence of the Vermilion Burning Sky Thunder, which could rival a Heavenly Flame, would undoubtedly impact the weapon's quality.
As Mo Yu mulled over his predicament, tension etched into his features, the audience seating was abuzz with murmurs. The sudden appearance of the Heavenly Flame had drawn the attention of several elders from the Weapon Alliance, their expressions darkening.
One elder, a dark-skinned man, could no longer contain his anger. Rising to his feet, he bellowed, "Damn it! What kind of oversight happened during the registration process?
The Flaming Cloud Water Flame—this belongs to Qiu Yuanqiao, that traitor! He's a member of the Qiu Clan, one of the five great families of the Pill Tower! Not only is he a weapon refiner, but he's also an eighth-grade alchemist, possibly even an eighth-grade weapon refiner!"
"I knew the Pill Tower wouldn't let this competition pass without interference. Turns out, they set a trap here!"
"If Qiu Yuanqiao wins the championship, it'll make a mockery of all weapon refiners across the continent. People will say we're inferior to alchemists!"
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For exclusive access to 500+ advanced chapters and more, visit my Ko-fi page and support the journey:
ko-fi.com/laoyao95
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or Support me at patreon for 500+ advanced chapters :
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