Chapter 494 - 309: Duke Xirong! Golden Competition in Painting! Named on the Golden List Again?!

"But now I feel it’s no longer necessary..." Hoong Ying raised her eyes, they were like stars twinkling, suddenly becoming bright at this moment.

"The ’Red Flame Melting and Refining Technique’ you gave me is many times superior to the ’Red Flame Refining Technique’ of the Red Flame Race. If I can fully comprehend it..."

"I will certainly become an Artifact Refining Master, even those masters of the Red Flame Race might not compare."

Hoong Ying held the ’Red Flame Melting and Refining Technique’ given by Chu Ming in very high regard.

"Once I reach that level, I can erect new memorials for my mother and brother, and they won’t have to remain with the Red Flame Race."

Hoong Ying’s mother, due to a forbidden romance with Tang Bai, bore two sons and suffered countless humiliations.

Therefore, Hoong Ying’s greatest wish in this life was to take away the memorial plaques of her mother and brother from the Red Flame Race, far from that painful place.

"Sister Hoong Ying..." Chu Ming didn’t know how to console her.

"The ’Red Flame Melting and Refining Technique’ is precious, comparable to a clan treasure. Brother Fang, I, Hoong Ying, will do my best to repay you in the future."

Hoong Ying felt deeply guilty; she initially planned to offer the Red Flame Race’s refining technique ’Red Flame Refining Technique’ as a reward to have him participate in the painting competition.

But upon reaching this point, she realized that the so-called ’Red Flame Refining Technique’ meant nothing to the young man in black before her.

"Sister Hoong Ying, the ’Red Flame Melting and Refining Technique’ derives from the ’Red Flame Refining Technique.’ Without Sister Hoong Ying’s help, this method would not exist."

"So, there’s no need to talk about repayment or not."

"It’s getting late, we should go."

"...Okay."

"..."

...

Qin Capital, Imperial City.

Hoong Ying and Chu Ming walked to a certain place.

"Hoong Jun, the Floating Painting Hall for the Golden Painting Competition is on the left, and the Hall of Exquisite Craftsmanship for the Artifact Refining Golden Competition is on the right."

"Sister Hoong Ying, good luck." Chu Ming turned to walk to the right.

"Hmm."

The two parted ways, one left and one right.

After walking through two palatial corridors, Chu Ming’s eyes suddenly flickered.

[Sword Gourd Spirit] sensed, Hoong Ying encountered some trouble.

"Yo, who do we have here, if not Hoong Ying."

Directly ahead, four people appeared.

One was a middle-aged man, and the other three were young people.

The person speaking mockingly was a young woman; from her attire and red hair, it was clear she was from the Red Flame Race.

"Hoong Ying, do you know where you are? Running around carelessly might cost you your head," another young man taunted.

Seeing the two, Hoong Ying’s face suddenly flushed with anger, but she forcibly suppressed it, feigning ignorance as she continued forward.

"Hoong Ying, my master is right here, how dare you not pay respects?!" another young man jeered coldly.

This man’s hair was normal, not red, seeming not to belong to the Red Flame Race.

"Hoong Ying, Senior Brother Tang is speaking to you!" The mocking young woman blocked Hoong Ying’s path, "It’s one thing not to pay respects to us, but do you also disrespect Elder Hoong Zhuo?"

Hoong Ying was forced to stop, her hands hidden in her sleeves clenched into fists.

"Hoong Dan, Hoong Bin, Tang Yan, this is the Imperial City, keep your voices down."

Hoong Dan was the girl from the Red Flame Race who had mocked Hoong Ying first. Hoong Bin was a young man from the Red Flame Race.

Tang Yan was the final jeering young man, from the Tang Family, gifted in artifact refining, who had therefore become a disciple of the Red Flame Race’s Elder Hoong Zhuo.

The three of them were here to participate in this year’s Artifact Refining Golden Competition.

Elder Hoong Zhuo of the Red Flame Race cast a cold glance at Hoong Ying, then flicked his sleeve and walked away.

"Hoong Ying, you barely made it into the Artifact Refining Golden Competition, don’t come here to embarrass yourself."

Hoong Dan stepped beside Hoong Ying, "Embarrass yourself if you must, but don’t embarrass us from the Red Flame Race!"

The words carried double meanings!!

The embarrassment she mentioned was about Hoong Ying’s mother’s affair!

"Hoong Dan!" Hoong Ying couldn’t suppress a low roar.

She could endure humiliation, but she could not tolerate anyone insulting her mother.

A fist came crashing out.

Bang!

Hoong Dan flew backward.

"Hoong Ying!" Hoong Bin was furious and wanted to retaliate.

Tang Yan crossed his arms, watching the show, while Elder Hoong Zhuo watched coldly.

Hoong Ying was only at the Refining Organ Realm, whereas Hoong Bin had already unlocked his Meridians. If he struck, Hoong Ying would be severely injured, if not killed.

At this moment.

"Stop!"

An overwhelming pressure accompanied by a cold shout fell, immediately freezing Hoong Bin in place, and even Elder Hoong Zhuo’s face changed drastically.

Not far away, someone strode over steadily, it was Hoong Xiao of the Red Flame Race, a strong practitioner at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm from the Astronomical Bureau.

"Clan elder!" Hoong Zhuo hurriedly saluted.

Hoong Dan got up from the ground and saluted as well.

"Hmph! This place is the Imperial City; anyone who dares to act unruly will be executed without mercy!"

Hoong Xiao dissipated the pressure, and Hoong Bin’s back was soaked in sweat.

"The Artifact Refining Golden Competition is about to start, why are you still dawdling?"

Hoong Xiao snapped again, frightening Hoong Zhuo into quickly leading Hoong Dan and the others away.

Hoong Ying’s hands remained clenched tightly, her anger hard to quell.

"Hoong Ying," Hoong Xiao walked to her and sighed softly, "now that you’ve returned, won’t you visit your grandfather?"

Hoong Xiao was Hoong Ying’s maternal grandfather.

Hoong Ying bit her lip, remaining silent, the burning anger in her heart hotter than before.

Hoong Xiao was indeed her grandfather, but he was also the one she hated the most!

It was due to Hoong Xiao’s tacit permission that her mother suffered endless humiliation in the clan.

Even after her death, she could not be buried in the clan’s cemetery, leaving only a plaque.

And the plaque could not leave with her, also because of Hoong Xiao.

"Sigh..." another sigh, "I know you hate your grandfather, but as a clan elder, I must consider the big picture, your mother..."

"Enough!"

Hoong Ying’s eyes were already red, unwilling to hear any more from Hoong Xiao, she lowered her head and hurriedly ran away.

Hoong Xiao watched her go, his face returning to calm, then his figure flickered and he disappeared from the spot.

Another hundred years, in front of the Floating Painting Hall.