Chapter 9

When Qin Fen spoke, Zhao Lingshan curiously glanced at Qin Chen and asked, "Is this person also a disciple of your Qin family?"

Qin Fen smiled and said, "Princess Lingshan, Qin Chen is actually my aunt's son, the one in our Qin family..."

His words were very subtle, but Zhao Lingshan had already understood, and she exclaimed in realization, "So he is the illegitimate child?"

Zhao Lingshan looked at Qin Chen again, a hint of disdain in her eyes.

The story of Qin Yuechi was known from the nobles in the capital to the commoners, almost no one had not heard of it.

Qin Chen frowned slightly and ignored the two of them.

Qin Chen's indifference made Qin Fen, who wanted to show off in front of Zhao Lingshan, furious. He sneered, "Brother Chen, you can't even awaken your bloodline, and you still want to become a weapon smith here? You're overestimating yourself. This is not a place for you!"

Qin Chen gave him a cold look, feeling bewildered, and said coldly, "What's it to you?"

Qin Fen was taken aback, then his face suddenly turned dark.

This was the first time Qin Chen had spoken to him like this from childhood. In the past, this guy had always been meek and submissive. What had happened to him today?

Qin Fen hadn't returned to the manor yet, so he naturally didn't know what had happened there. He suddenly became furious and said, "I came here to forge a treasure weapon. What are you doing here? You haven't even awakened your bloodline, so you should stay at home. Coming out and showing off like this is just disgracing our Qin family. Do you believe that I, as a young master, will enforce family law and break your legs for my father?"

Qin Chen gave Qin Fen a cold look and mocked, "Do you have the ability?"

Hearing this, Qin Fen was slightly taken aback, then he burst out laughing.

He stepped forward, and a surge of true qi flowed through his body, making his robe flutter without wind. He sneered, "Brother Chen, it's been a few days since I last disciplined you. Have you grown a beard? It's just right for me to stretch my muscles."

Qin Chen's gaze was calm, standing there with dignity.

More and more people gathered around, whispering to each other.

"Both of you, this is the Hall of Artifacts. Private duels are strictly prohibited. Regardless of the reason, both will be severely punished by the Hall of Artifacts. The lightest punishment is expulsion, and the heaviest is death on the spot. Please don't make a mistake," Chen Yufei, sensing the tension between the two, stepped forward and said loudly.

Qin Fen's steps paused, and he finally came to his senses. He gave Qin Chen a cold stare and said resentfully, "You're lucky today."

Qin Chen didn't bother to argue with him and turned to Chen Yufei, saying, "Does the Hall of Artifacts have these materials?"

"What materials? Let me see."

Qin Fen snatched the list and glanced at it disdainfully, then laughed, "Haha, I didn't expect you, Brother Chen, to have good taste. You even know about Black Obsidian Stone. This thing is worth a fortune. Can you afford it? And the other materials, what a mess."

Qin Chen suppressed his anger, and a thought suddenly came to him. "Have you heard of Black Obsidian Stone?"

"Of course," Qin Fen said proudly. "Not only have I heard of it, but I also have it."

As he spoke, he took out a thumb-sized black ore and said smugly, "This thing was bought by my father at the auction in the Heavenly Tower a few days ago. Do you know how much this piece cost? 38,000 silver coins. Even if you sold everything you have, you couldn't afford a fragment."

Qin Fen proudly showed off the thumb-sized Black Obsidian Stone, drawing envious looks from those around him.

"I came here to ask the master of the Hall of Artifacts to forge a second-rank treasure weapon for me. When I add this Black Obsidian Stone, its power will double, and killing you will be like killing a dog," Qin Fen laughed heartily.

Qin Chen was indifferent. He didn't bother with such verbal sparring and was thinking about how to get this piece of Black Obsidian Stone.

"Pay respects to Master Liang Yu."

A middle-aged man in a weapon smith's robe walked into the Hall of Artifacts. He was in his thirties, head held high, and looked extremely proud.

Everyone in the Hall of Artifacts bowed respectfully, their faces showing admiration.

"Is it really Master Liang Yu? Haven't you heard? Master Liang Yu passed the second-rank weapon smith examination a few days ago and became a second-rank weapon smith."

"A second-rank weapon smith in his thirties, Master Liang Yu is truly talented and has a bright future."

"In my opinion, with Master Liang Yu's talent, it won't be long before he becomes a third-rank weapon smith."

"Third-rank weapon smith, just thinking about it is amazing. Sigh, I wish I were a weapon smith."

"You? A weapon smith needs extraordinary talent and powerful mental strength, both of which are essential. I think you should forget it."

People around them were discussing, all amazed.

Qin Chen looked up and his gaze fell on the badge on Liang Yu's chest. Next to the hammer, there were two silver threads, indicating that he was a second-rank weapon smith.

With this badge, he could receive corresponding treatment in the Hall of Artifacts wherever he went in the Tianwu Continent.

The ranks of weapon smiths were divided into nine levels, just like martial artists, with corresponding titles for each level.

A second-rank weapon smith was at the Earth level.

In his previous life, Qin Chen was a ninth-rank Imperial-level weapon smith and an honorary elder of the Hall of Artifacts, so he was very familiar with these things.

He looked up and his gaze fell on Liang Yu's face, suddenly pausing as if he had discovered something, his brows slightly furrowed.

Liang Yu quickly approached and soon stood in front of Qin Chen and the others.

"Master Liang," Chen Yufei said solemnly, bowing respectfully.

Liang Yu nodded at her and his gaze fell on the Black Obsidian Stone in Qin Fen's hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Master Liang, I am Qin Fen, the second son of Anping Marquis. I would like to ask Master Liang to forge a second-rank treasure weapon using Black Obsidian Stone," Qin Fen hurriedly said.

Liang Yu asked, "What do you want to forge?"

Qin Fen was overjoyed and said, "A three-foot sword."

Liang Yu nodded and said, "Black Obsidian Stone is a top-tier material for third-rank weapon smiths. It is cold in nature, which can increase the sharpness and strength of the sword, and it also has an ice attribute. Unfortunately, using it for a second-rank treasure weapon is a waste."

"My father said that regardless of the success or failure of this forging, the remaining Black Obsidian Stone will be left to your disposal, Master Liang," Qin Fen quickly added.

Liang Yu thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll take it."

On his way, many people had asked him to forge weapons, but this was the first one he accepted.

Qin Fen was overjoyed and hurriedly presented a silver card, saying, "Master Liang, here are 20,000 silver coins. Half is for the materials, and half is for the forging."

Liang Yu took the silver card and nodded slightly.