Chapter 599 - 580: Master Wang’s Trial Run

"Twelve bundles?"

The Senior frowned slightly. "Alright, you can go."

Wang Meng gave a wry smile. ’It seems my idea of reforging these at the Divine Artifact Pavilion is a bit unrealistic. Forget five hundred gold coins, even a hundred seems like a big problem right now.’

Just as he was about to leave, the Senior grabbed him.

"Friend, a word in private." Seeing no one else around, the Senior beckoned Wang Meng over.

"What is it?"

"Heh heh, friend, I can see you have an extraordinary air about you. I assume you have some other purpose for refining these Immortal Binding Ropes. Truth is, catching a True Essence Beast is all about luck. I have a solution. I’m Pang Hong, a Quasi-Third Grade Refiner. I can refine these twelve bundles for you for just one hundred gold. Of course, you understand... this is just between us."

The Senior winked.

Wang Meng paused for a moment. ’Damn, so he’s trying to make some money on the side.’ A sudden idea popped into his head.

"Brother Pang, you saw right through me. To be honest, I’m not really trying to catch a True Essence Beast. I made a bet with a few of my buddies. I told them I have the talent to become an Artifact Refiner, but they don’t believe me. Dammit, I really want to join the Divine Artifact Pavilion and become an apprentice next year."

Pang Hong smiled. ’Just as I thought.’ Only a fool would bring a pile of crappy Demon-Binding Ropes to be refined.

"Heh heh, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. A one-third success rate should be more than enough." His words were tinged with arrogance. ’Everyone wants to get into the Divine Artifact Pavilion these days. Artifact Refining isn’t that easy. What a pipe dream.’

"Brother Pang, after meeting you, my dream has become even clearer. How about this? Lend me the space, and I’ll do the refining myself. I’ve really learned a little bit. Success or failure, the hundred gold is yours!"

Wang Meng said.

"This..." Pang Hong hesitated. ’This guy probably couldn’t refine a single hair.’ If he backed out of the deal later, Pang Hong couldn’t afford the loss of face.

Wang Meng directly took out one hundred gold. "Brother Pang, I’m just doing this to prove a point. It doesn’t matter if I succeed or not. Please, do me this favor."

Weighing the bag of gold in his hand, Pang Hong grinned. "Since you’re so sincere, I’ll let you give it a try. But let me be clear: success or failure, there are no refunds. Also, if you cause any damage, you’ll have to compensate me double."

"Of course. But as for the necessary materials, I hope Brother Pang..."

"Don’t worry, you’ll have what you need."

’The materials are worthless. Besides, with a hundred gold, I’ll make at least ninety in profit. This kid is a real spendthrift. Judging by his pale face and signs of overindulgence, he doesn’t have the strength to cause much trouble even if he wanted to.’

As the Senior, Pang Hong had the authority to test newcomers. ’It’s only natural to make a little extra on the side.’

"Qilong Stone, Whisker Root, Purple Scale Ink..." Wang Meng selected his materials. He had to admit, this Senior was quite generous, letting him take whatever he wanted. Of course, there weren’t any truly expensive materials here, so he just let Wang Meng mess around.

Wang Meng’s Artifact Refining Skill had already reached its peak. His technique of infusing Divine Sense into Magical Artifacts to create Supreme Treasure Artifacts was unmatched in the world. Although he was now in a different plane, the principles were largely the same. The key was in the details. If he were to refine something truly rare, he would need to adapt to the local refining rules, but for low-level items like Demon-Binding Ropes, the difficulty was far too low for Master Wang.

However, finding the right materials did take some effort. For Wang Meng, it was a matter of ignoring their names and functions to get straight to their fundamental properties.

Watching Wang Meng fumbling around, touching this and that, Pang Hong couldn’t help but chuckle. ’An amateur is an amateur. He can’t even perform a basic identification, yet he wants to be an Artifact Refiner.’

’This side money is so easy.’

"Ahem, pick your own things. There, the Artifact Refining Rooms are over there. You can use one. But you only have one ancient hour, so be quick. The Divine Artifact Pavilion’s facilities aren’t usually for outsiders. I have other things to attend to, so hurry up."

"No problem."

Pang Hong walked off leisurely. ’Fat sheep like this don’t come around often. This was a satisfying fleece.’

As for Wang Meng, he gathered a large pile of things with a CLATTER and ran into an Artifact Refining Room.

"Heh heh, Senior, how was the fat sheep?"

The seventh junior brother, Xie Xian, who had just disappeared, slipped back into view.

"Got it. Good work." Pang Hong patted Xie Xian on the shoulder. "You wait here. When the time’s up, kick him out. Let him mess around with the rest."

"Heh heh, I bet this rookie will blow himself up in a minute. Artifact Refining... does he think just anyone can do it?"

Xie Xian chuckled.

"Alright, tone it down. We’re here for the money. The more people like him there are, the better our lives will be."

Pang Hong said. As disciples of the Divine Artifact Pavilion, their lives were actually quite hard. Although they were talented, they only received a daily quota of resources. Even after reaching the Third Grade, they had to spend the first three years repaying the Pavilion. Pang Hong and the others relied on rich kids like Wang Meng to improve their standard of living.

Pang Hong was not yet thirty, but he was already a Quasi-Third Grade Refiner. His future was undoubtedly limitless, and his Artifact Refining skill was beyond question.

If he was lucky in the future, he might even become the chairman of a branch.

Of course, Xie Xian had to suck up to him. He stood guard at the door and glanced at the Artifact Refining Room.

’Sigh, a hundred gold. What an idiot.’

Time is money. Wang Meng got busy. He first used a Refining Stone to ignite the Refining Furnace. A turquoise flame flared up, and the temperature in the Artifact Dao Room rose sharply.

It only took a few minutes for Wang Meng to master this low-level Artifact Refining Array. Artifact Refining didn’t have particularly high requirements for one’s Cultivation level; it was mainly about controlling the array and the refining techniques.

He tested all the materials, spending a little time selecting fifteen suitable ones. Then, he tossed the first Demon-Binding Rope into the Refining Furnace.

The rope was rapidly heated and tempered in the furnace. Wang Meng smiled. ’Looks like it’s working well.’ But... just as he was about to succeed, the Refining Furnace let out a huge, stifled fart and sputtered out.

Master Wang scratched his head. ’Damn, I got a bit hasty and made a small mistake.’

Outside, Xie Xian was roaring with laughter. ’A stifled furnace... what a rookie mistake!’ It was obvious the refining had failed. Xie Xian yawned. ’Damn, I was up all night gambling yesterday. I’m exhausted. Might as well take a nap.’

Wang Meng wiped the ash from his face. ’Just a small slip-up.’ He tossed the remaining eleven bundles in. ’The array is pretty basic, so the success rate probably won’t be too high. But by my estimate, I should be able to make three to five of them, which is basically enough.’ This time, Master Wang followed the procedure step-by-step. After all, failure was a small matter, but he couldn’t afford another hundred gold.

「An ancient hour passed quickly.」

Xie Xian, on the other hand, had a nice long nap. He glanced at the sky outside and suddenly woke with a start. ’Damn, what time is it?’ He rushed into the Artifact Refining Room and breathed a sigh of relief. The person was already gone.

He stretched. ’Time for my wonderful nightlife to begin.’

Wang Meng returned to the Jiang Family. His haul this time wasn’t bad. Although only three bundles were successful, these three should be quite good.

"Young Master, your dinner is here." Wan’Er walked in gracefully.

"Alright, just put it over there. By the way, how come you weren’t around today?"

Wang Meng eyed the young maid with some curiosity. ’Has Jiang Biyao finally let her guard down around me?’

Wan’Er looked a little embarrassed. "Um, Young Master, I don’t think this is right... but please don’t blame the Young Miss. It’s just that your past... it must be a misunderstanding!"

Wang Meng smiled. To think there was someone who would stand up for him. "You little imp. I don’t blame your Young Miss, and besides, I won’t be staying here for long anyway."

"Young Master, I’m not trying to drive you away! I just meant..."

Wan’Er waved her hands frantically.

"I know. I have my own business to attend to. By the way, I’m going for a trip to the outskirts tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

"Yes! Yes!" Wan’Er clapped her hands in excitement, then suddenly looked dejected. "Young Master, you should really be inviting the Young Miss. To clear up her misunderstanding."

Wang Meng looked at Wan’Er. "Actually, those rumors are true. I’m a bad person."

"No, I don’t believe you."

Wang Meng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’To think someone could be this stubborn.’ Even Wang Meng himself felt his predecessor was no good. "Alright, alright. You’ll be in charge of preparing lunch for tomorrow."

"Leave it to me! It’s Wan’Er’s specialty!"

Wan’Er pumped her small fist.

At that moment, in the Divine Artifact Pavilion’s branch, Chairman Yang Qi had just finished his duties. He checked the time; it was time for his inspection rounds again.

As a branch Chairman who had clawed his way up from the bottom, Yang Qi had a very short temper, but he had real skill. What he couldn’t stand most were the children of nobility. In contrast, he valued talented disciples from poor backgrounds, though his demands on them were much stricter. Every day at a set time, he would inspect the various areas of the Divine Artifact Pavilion.

Wang City was currently a key area of contention for the three major powers. After all, the output from the Taibai Mountain Range was staggering. The Spirit Control Association controlled the appraisal of True Essence Beasts, while the Divine Artifact Pavilion controlled the Sealing Containers for them. The two sides had to rely on each other when capturing Spirit Beasts, so the competition was fierce. Yang Qi couldn’t stand the old geezer from the Spirit Control Association, and their history of conflict was no less intense than that of the four great families.

The moment Yang Qi arrived, all the disciples immediately became cautious and timid. This Artifact Refining Master’s power was extraordinary, but his foul temper was just as famous.

Senior Pang Hong stood respectfully, leading a group of disciples. In the Wang City Divine Artifact Pavilion, Pang Hong was the most powerful figure besides Master Yang Qi.

Yang Qi was quite satisfied with this disciple of his. His background wasn’t great, but he was talented, hardworking, and his management was orderly.

After reviewing the month’s income and expenses and inspecting the disciples’ work, a slight smile appeared on Yang Qi’s perpetually stern face, but only for a moment.

He nodded. "Pang Hong, good work. Tell the kids not to slack off. We won’t rest until we’ve taken down the Spirit Control Association."

"Yes, Master!" Pang Hong said, though inwardly he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’These two old men have been fighting for so many years, yet they’re still so stubborn. Why must they insist on determining who’s superior?’

"Mm, in a few days, you’ll be taking the examination for Third Grade Refiner. Are you ready?"

Yang Qi said flatly.

"Please rest assured, Master. I won’t bring shame to you!"

"Mm. That shameless old man’s nephew is also taking the test for Third Grade Spirit-Controlling Master. I’m just waiting to watch the joke unfold!"

Yang Qi said. Nepotism was what he despised the most.

"Huh? Why do I smell a stifled furnace in here?"

Yang Qi suddenly caught a scent. It was a very basic mistake. ’How could there be such an idiot among my disciples!’

"Get everyone over here, now!" Yang Qi’s booming voice erupted like the Thunder God.

Pang Hong’s heart skipped a beat. ’Shit, I’m screwed! I forgot to clean up!’

(Rolling around begging for monthly tickets! Senior brothers and sisters, it’s urgent, urgent, urgent, I’m begging for monthly tickets!) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)