Tan Tianyang's heart leaped with joy, and he was about to press his advantage.
Suddenly, a faint voice echoed from within the building.
"Don't you know that a good dog doesn't block the way?"
Both of them were startled and looked towards the source of the sound.
Ling Fan stood there, hands behind his back, looking at them with a blank expression.
"What are you, do you know who I am, to dare speak to me like that!"
Tan Tianyang was a top young master from Jiangnan City. In his usual circles, he had no interaction with people from third-rate families like Ling Fan, especially not a live-in son-in-law who wasn't a core descendant. Thus, he had never met Ling Fan before.
Seeing that Ling Fan had no true qi fluctuations and was wearing extremely plain, coarse cloth, looking like a pauper, he scornfully reprimanded him.
"Don't misunderstand, I don't know him."
To Tan Tianyang's surprise, Lan Xueyi walked towards the pauper boy in his eyes and took the initiative to explain.
Tan Tianyang was not stupid; he immediately thought of something, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"You are that Ling Fan!"
Tan Tianyang fell silent.
If it were anyone else who dared to ruin his plans, he would definitely make that person suffer.
But if it were Ling Fan, he really didn't know how to act.
After all, Ling Fan was not only the Lan family's son-in-law but also a Yellow-tier genius weapon refiner. Even Master Wang treated him as an honored guest, making him extremely popular in Jiangnan City.
Even as a young master from a top family in Jiangnan City, one of the top ten young masters of Jiangnan City couldn't afford to offend him!
Moreover, he was flirting with the man's wife. If the man didn't trouble him, he should be grateful.
With this thought, Tan Tianyang put on a smiling face and apologized, "Master Ling, please forgive my rudeness!"
Ling Fan left with Lan Xueyi without even looking at Tan Tianyang.
After Ling Fan left, Tan Tianyang's expression immediately turned grim. "Hmph, just a useless piece of trash. Relying on a bit of weapon refining skill, what's there to be proud of? It's still low-class stuff!"
He snorted and smashed the exquisitely carved stone table into pieces with one palm.
"What's wrong? With your skills as Young Master Tan, are there women you can't get?"
Wu Tong returned and saw this scene, couldn't help but be stunned.
"That Ling Fan came."
Tan Tianyang said with a cold face.
"He caught you fooling around with Lan Xueyi?" Wu Tong asked.
"If only that were the case! This woman, Lan Xueyi, is a bit difficult to handle."
"Don't be discouraged. Although I don't know how this Ling guy suddenly became a weapon refining genius, he's still a good-for-nothing. Weapon refining is just a minor art, how can it compare to personal strength? Perhaps he might die inexplicably one day, it's not impossible!"
A venomous glint flashed in Wu Tong's eyes.
"Hmph, his status as a weapon refiner is the only thing that makes me wary. Without that status, he's nothing more than dog shit in my eyes. Lan Xueyi, such a top-tier woman, following him is truly a waste of heaven's gift," Tan Tianyang said dismissively.
"That's natural! Don't worry, Lan Xueyi won't escape our grasp."
...
"Wu Tong is not a good person. You should interact with her less in the future."
Ling Fan said indifferently.
He didn't say much more, just enough to make a point.
Lan Xueyi bit her lip and said, "Perhaps this isn't her true intention. She and I have been sisters for many years, she shouldn't treat me like this..."
Just then, a person from the Jiangnan City Weapon Refining Association ran over and bowed to Ling Fan, "Master Ling, I've found you. The meeting is about to start, Master Wang is asking for you."
"Lead the way."
Lan Xueyi looked at Ling Fan's departing back and remained silent for a long time.
Upon entering the venue, the Cloud Dream City Weapon Refining Branch, people from Cloud Dream City, the Jiangnan City Weapon Refining Branch, and various prominent families had all arrived.
Ling Fan took a seat beside Master Wang.
He also saw several familiar figures opposite him.
Zheng Bicheng, the master and disciple duo Wu Yunfeng, Jin Dazhi, Jin Wudao...
Seeing Ling Fan's gaze, these people also looked over with cold smiles.
Obviously, with the support of the great Buddha Zheng Bilie, they had long forgotten about the bet and the ban order.
"Please welcome the President of the Cloud Dream City Weapon Refining Branch and the Five Cities Inspector, Master Zheng, the Deputy City Lord of Cloud Dream City, Yun Qianlang, and the Young City Lord of Cloud Dream City, Yun Rui."
Following a clear announcement, a middle-aged man with a resemblance to Zheng Bicheng walked out and took his seat at the main table, exuding an imposing aura without needing to exert himself.
To his left sat Yun Rui, the Young City Lord of Cloud Dream City. This person had small eyes and always looked at people from the corners of his eyes, which made others very uncomfortable.
On the other side was Yun Qianlang, the Deputy City Lord of Cloud Dream City.
The aura emanating from this person was extremely powerful and terrifying. With a fierce gaze, one could feel the pressure from afar, like a poised beast.
A master at least in the middle stage of the Profound Gang Realm!
The life force was so intense, like a blazing furnace.
The many strong individuals from Jiangnan City felt a chill in their hearts.
In Jiangnan City, Yun Qianlang could at least rank in the top ten, or even the top five.
Zheng Bilie, Yun Qianlang, and Yun Rui were very satisfied with the effect of intimidating the entire audience.
Next, Zheng Bilie delivered some pleasantries.
Everyone patiently listened.
Zheng Bilie's tone shifted, "As I have just taken office as Inspector, my purpose in coming here is to get acquainted with the strong individuals and peers from Jiangnan City, but that is only one of the objectives."
"The main purpose is to spar and learn from each other with the peers from Jiangnan City!"
"I have brought several ancient spirit weapons from Cloud Dream City, which were excavated from an ancient ruin. Some are already damaged or have lost their efficacy. Three have been repaired in Hongze, Xingsha, and Baoqing cities, and one remains: the Wood King Cauldron."
"I hope today we can brainstorm and combine the efforts of Cloud Dream City and Jiangnan City to repair these ancient spirit weapons. I implore all peers to showcase their skills, and I will reward you generously."
The crowd's spirits were immediately lifted upon hearing this.
The main event had arrived!
Many couldn't help but secretly glance at Master Wang.
Although Zheng Bilie spoke politely, it was obvious to everyone that today was actually an unspoken confrontation between the weapon refining circles of Cloud Dream City and Jiangnan City.
Zheng Bilie had already subdued the weapon refining circles of the three cities on his way here.
Now, only Jiangnan City remained.
It was likely that if the entire Jiangnan City weapon refining circle could not repair this Wood King Cauldron and was overshadowed by Zheng Bilie, then the Jiangnan City weapon refining circle would have to live under his influence from then on.
The weapon refiners of Jiangnan City lived comfortably in their own territory and naturally did not want this situation to be broken.
Who would want to look at someone else's face in their own home?
Master Wang took a deep breath.
Clearly, the pressure was immense.
After all, Zheng Bilie was a newly promoted Yellow-tier High-grade weapon refiner, two grades higher than him in rank!
Although his weapon refining ability had soared with Ling Fan's help, he still lacked confidence to compete with Zheng Bilie.
If even he felt this way, others were even more uneasy.
Although it was said that a strong dragon doesn't suppress a local snake, Cloud Dream City had clearly come prepared, and they wouldn't give up until they had crushed the Jiangnan City weapon refining circle.
Many gazes fell upon Ling Fan.
After all, many of the weapon refiners present had witnessed Ling Fan's miraculous skill of forging weapons out of thin air.
Perhaps today, they would have to rely on Ling Fan to uphold the dignity of the Jiangnan City weapon refining circle.