Chapter 513 - 674 : compete with me

Wentian and Jianyi Deling both took a slight step back.

Wentian said again, "I heard that Firecloud Perfected One's Artifact Dao attainments are astonishing. My Jianyi family wishes to seek some guidance from Senior."

"Seek guidance from this old man?!"

"You are clearly at Foundation Establishment completion and the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, yet you conceal your realms as the seventh level and second level of Foundation Establishment. Sneaky and secretive.

"This old man does not deal with those who hide their heads and show only their tails."

"I thought Senior was a person sincere to the Artifact Dao. It seems this Jianyi misunderstood. In that case, we will take our leave!"

"You are provoking this old man?"

"How Senior thinks is your business. Farewell!"

Wentian and Jianyi Deling turned and were about to leave.

At this moment, the cave dwelling's main door opened. A crimson figure flashed past and arrived before the two.

This person was in the prime of his life, his body burly and over eight chi tall. His shoulders were broad and his back thick. Standing there like a powerful pine, he almost seemed able to break through the surrounding scorching air.

His hair was like splashed ink, bound by a red-gold crown. Embedded in the crown was a fire agate, shining brilliantly.

His brows were like burning flames, slanting red into his temples. Every strand was clear, as if containing sparks. Beneath his chin, a red beard hung down to his chest. When the breeze brushed past, the beard hairs trembled lightly, actually carrying a bit of burning heat.

He wore red-gold robes embroidered with winding branch fire patterns, their edges outlined with golden thread.

As he moved, the fire patterns seemed to flow with his motion. Three red jade pendants hung from the hem of his robe, clinking as they struck one another, their clear tones hiding a dry heat.

Firecloud Perfected One's strangest feature was his pair of crimson heterochromatic pupils.

His pupils seemed forged from molten gold, and deep within them, waves of flame appeared to surge.

When he occasionally raised his eyes and swept them over, faint fire-element spiritual energy scattered, and even the surrounding lava seemed to boil slightly.

If low-level cultivators directly met his gaze, they would only feel a heat wave rushing at them, and their spiritual power would stagnate.

"What does Senior mean?" Wentian asked.

"What do I mean? Is this old man's Firecloud Valley somewhere you can come and go as you please?"

Firecloud Perfected One stood with his hands behind his back, his crimson pupils sweeping over the two. His gaze carried Golden Core pressure, making others not dare look directly at him.

"Did you not want to seek guidance on this old man's artifact refining attainments? This old man will satisfy you. But if you cannot satisfy this old man, then leave your lives here as compensation for disturbing this old man!"

Wentian smiled faintly. "If Senior wants to kill, then kill directly. Even if my Jianyi family's artifact refiner is skilled in the Artifact Dao, wanting to surpass Senior would be nothing but a fool's dream."

"Surpass this old man?"

Firecloud Perfected One laughed in extreme anger. His laughter shook like thunder, causing Firecloud Valley's heat waves to surge wildly.

"Speak. How do you want to seek guidance? As long as your performance can satisfy this old man, this old man will spare you."

"What if it is evenly matched?"

"Then this old man will gift you a magic treasure personally refined by my hand!"

"What if, by accident, we surpass Sen—"

Firecloud Perfected One's face gradually darkened, and Wentian hurriedly smiled. "Just a joke. How could Senior lose?"

"Cut the nonsense. How do you want to compete?"

"Naturally, directly competing in artifact refining. However, high-level materials are rare, so we will compete by refining fine-grade magic artifacts. Each side will refine one offensive and one defensive magic artifact and compare them.

"Materials will be limited to mid-rank low-grade materials. There is no limit on quantity, but using anything beyond that means defeat.

"In addition, considering Senior's cultivation, you need to seal yourself to Foundation Establishment. What does Senior think?"

"No problem."

Firecloud Perfected One raised his brows slightly. It was very obvious that he could see that these Jianyi family members had come prepared.

"Interesting. This old man wants to see where your confidence in challenging this old man in artifact refining comes from!"

If Wentian did not have some understanding of Firecloud Perfected One's personality, he would not dare act like this.

Golden Core cultivators had different temperaments, and killing someone on a whim was normal.

"Follow this old man into the cave. There is a specialized artifact refining room inside, connected to earthfire, which can increase artifact refining speed."

"Many thanks, Senior."

Wentian and Jianyi Deling followed Firecloud Perfected One into the cave dwelling.

"I heard Senior has five disciples. Are they in the cave dwelling?"

"After achieving success in artifact refining, they naturally each went their own way to find their paths. Did they have to keep relying on this old man, making this old man support their food, housing, and cultivation?"

Hearing this, the corners of Wentian's mouth twitched slightly.

This personality was indeed strange.

If it were other Golden Core cultivators, they would wish to have disciples serving them before and after, enjoying their reverent gazes.

"Which one of you will compete with me?"

Wentian smiled faintly. "This is my granddaughter, Jianyi Deling. She is my Jianyi family's number one artifact refiner!"

"As for this Jianyi, I am merely a small alchemist."

"You truly know how to flatter. In the Tiannan Domain, alchemists are even more popular than artifact refiners!"

They arrived at the artifact refining room.

Jianyi Deling saw that in the very center was a huge bronze artifact cauldron, within which burned scorching vermilion flames that seemed to have never gone out.

"Inside the artifact cauldron is earthfire, not the slightest bit weaker than Golden Core true fire. If you make a mistake controlling it and accidentally touch it..."