Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 22: Challenging Authority
All the students looked at Shen Lang as if he were a dead man, smirks of schadenfreude on their faces. They were just waiting to see the kid meet his doom.
It was simply too much, too arrogant, too presumptuous!
He had no idea what he was getting into!
A Spirit Array Map of a corresponding Attribute must be carved onto a suitable material to unleash its greatest power... Who didn’t know that?
Even students who couldn’t perform Artifact Refining understood that!
The problem was, Spirit Array Maps were incredibly precious. The higher the level, the rarer they were.
You might get lucky or spend a massive amount of Spirit Stones to buy materials for forging a Magical Treasure, but the Artifact Refiner helping you might not have a Spirit Array Map suitable for those materials!
Many of today’s Artifact Refining Masters, for example, a Spirit Level Third Grade Artifact Refining Master, might know many Spirit Array Maps, but they may only know a single Spirit Level Third Grade Spirit Array Map!
Let’s say this Artifact Refining Master only knows a Fire Spirit Array Map...
Then, regardless of whether you bring him Wind Attribute materials or Water Attribute materials, wouldn’t he have to carve that Fire Spirit Array Map onto it?
Otherwise, he could only use a lower-level Spirit Array Map, and the effect would be greatly diminished.
Even then, he might not even be willing to do it for you.
Whenever a person or faction sought out an Artifact Refiner to forge a weapon and carve a Spirit Array Map, didn’t they have to beg and plead and pay an enormous price?
And this brat, who hadn’t even finished puberty, dared to come here and spout such arrogant words!
Does he even know what this place is?
Does he know what level of Artifact Refining Master the Dean is?
’This kid must be crazy for fame. He probably thinks spouting some outlandish nonsense in front of the Dean will get his attention! Yes, that must be it!’ everyone thought.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qifeng was nowhere to be seen in the back... Turns out, when he saw the momentum shift against them, he’d fainted just like Xiao Chunfeng.
Except one had fainted for real, and the other was faking it.
"Hmph!"
Mo Liusheng let out a cold snort, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.
Then, he took a deep breath and said, "Who are you? Which department and class are you from? How did you get in here?"
’He was furious. It was the first time he’d ever encountered such an arrogant and presumptuous student!’
’Not only did the boy interrupt his class, but he was also using common knowledge to lecture him!’
’Even Chu Qingcheng had shown him some face back in the day, yet this wet-behind-the-ears brat dared to say he’d made a mistake right in front of so many people?’
’Who do you think you are?’
Shen Lang had expected these reactions and paid them no mind. He smiled and said, "The Spirit Array Map is the core of an artifact. It is said that the Spirit Array Maps of long ago were created by Peak Powerhouses who, through comprehending the fundamental principles of the universe, captured the veins of nature. They meticulously refined and carved them based on their own understanding, evolving them through countless trials. No Spirit Array Map is created from thin air; they follow the principles of nature, are observed from the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and are learned from the heavens themselves."
"What’s the damn point of saying all this? This stuff is all in the books, do we need you to tell us?!" someone in the crowd could no longer hold back and yelled coldly.
Mo Liusheng raised his right hand and said, "Let him continue."
"Everything in this world—the famous mountains and great rivers, the lakes and seas—is actually covered in Spirit Array Maps. A single leaf has its veins, a tree trunk cut open has its rings; the mountain ranges are Spiritual Lines, and the earth itself is a Spirit Array Map; the constellations in the sky are Spirit Array Maps, and the galaxies formed by countless constellations are also Spirit Array Maps. They are omnipresent..." Shen Lang explained smoothly.
Mo Liusheng’s expression remained unchanged as he asked, "I don’t deny what you’re saying, but what does any of it have to do with what you said at the beginning? An Artifact Refiner’s knowledge of Spirit Array Maps is ultimately limited. If I have Water Attribute materials, forge a Water Attribute Magical Treasure, but the Spirit Array Map I have is a Fire Spirit Array Map, is there any other method besides carving this Fire Spirit Array Map?"
He sounded polite, but inwardly he was sneering. ’This damn brat came out of nowhere to waste my time. Good thing my temper has mellowed with age. If this were me in my youth, I would have slapped him across the face a long time ago!’
’I’m giving you a way out! Hurry up and finish so you can leave. If you keep spouting nonsense, no one will be able to save you!’
"My point is that all Great Daos are connected. If an Artifact Refiner thoroughly comprehends the fundamental principles of heaven and earth, or the changes in the Rules, they can create entirely new Spirit Array Maps. In fact, many Spirit Array Maps were created by Artifact Refining Masters through the study of existing ones," Shen Lang said with a smile.
Mo Liusheng exhaled forcefully, his voice growing more heated. "So what you’re saying is, I should use this Fire Spirit Array Map to create a Water Spirit Array Map to suit this Celestial Water Blade?"
"Of course not..." Shen Lang shook his head.
"Hehehe..." The crowd sneered.
’So you do have some self-awareness after all. You think creating a Spirit Array Map is that simple? It’s easy for you to say. If you’re so capable, why don’t you create one for us to see?’ ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
’Just see what Attribute the material has, then casually take a Spirit Array Map of another Attribute, modify it, and create a new one suitable for the material... Who the hell even thinks like that!’
’He’d love to, but the problem is, it’s impossible!’
’Only Master Level Artifact Refining Masters, or those on the verge of reaching that level, could do something like that!’
Shen Lang smiled. "What I mean is, this Celestial Water Blade had quite a few problems during its forging. It’s basically scrap. Why not reforge it, then modify this Fire Spirit Array Map into a Water Spirit Array Map, or maybe a Thunder Spirit Array Map—anything but Fire is fine. Water and fire are incompatible, after all."
The entire hall fell silent. Everyone stared at Shen Lang as if he were a madman. No one dared to speak.
’This guy’s a lunatic. Talking to him is pointless!’
’Converting a Fire Spirit Array Map into one of another element is just a wild fantasy... Even a Profound Level Artifact Refining Master would be unlikely to pull that off!’
And not only that, this bastard actually called the Celestial Water Blade that the Dean just successfully refined a substandard product!
No, it seemed what he meant was even worse than calling it substandard.
He said—"basically scrap"!
’Does he mean the Dean ruined this Spiritual Artifact, turning it into garbage?’
Truly, a newborn calf doesn’t fear the tiger. I just wonder where this particular calf came from.
"So, you’re saying you’re confident you can reforge the Celestial Water Blade, and that you can restructure this Fire Spirit Array Map into a Water or Thunder Spirit Array Map?" The moment Mo Liusheng issued this challenge, he regretted it.
’He still couldn’t hold back. Regardless, the other party was just a kid. He was an old man of several decades; getting into a huff with a child seemed a bit much.’
’This kid probably just learned a few things from books and got a little ambitious, so he came here to put on such a show.’
’Even if he doesn’t respect me, why do I have to be so harsh?’
"Ahem, this issue, we can... next time..." Mo Liusheng said with a dry cough.
"I can." Shen Lang, not understanding Mo Liusheng’s good intentions, cut him off.
"What?" Mo Liusheng thought he had misheard.
Shen Lang raised an eyebrow and said, "I said, I can reforge the Celestial Water Blade and restructure that Fire Spirit Array Map."
"WHOA!"
An uproar swept through the crowd. The dozens of students from the Artifact Refining Institute could no longer control themselves...
"Silence!" Mo Liusheng infused his voice with Power and shouted, the sound making everyone’s eardrums ache as they all quieted down.
"I-I-I... I can prove that Young Master Lang can do it!" Xiao Qifeng, who had been playing dead, finally couldn’t help but scramble to his feet.
He now held a blind reverence for Shen Lang. Aside from being a little disapproving of him knocking out Xiao Chunfeng, he had complete faith in Shen Lang’s Artifact Refining Dao.
Besides, he was the one who had brought Shen Lang here. With things having reached this point, the two of them were like grasshoppers on the same string—whether they were dropped in a wok of oil or roasted over a fire, they would share the same fate.
’In that case, might as well go for broke!’
Mustering his courage, Xiao Qifeng carried the Profound Iron Flying Shield, THUMP THUMP THUMP, and ran up to Mo Liusheng. He handed the shield to Mo Liusheng, then leaned in and began whispering animatedly in his ear.
The crowd pricked up their ears, trying to hear what was going on, but they couldn’t hear a single word.
"What! Fifteen minutes!" Mo Liusheng exclaimed in shock as he stroked the shield.
With his Cultivation and attainments in Artifact Refining, a single sweep of his Divine Thought was all it took to know the power of this Spiritual Artifact and the grade of the Spirit Array Map within it.
A Spirit Level Second Grade Spirit Array Map! Even if he were to do it himself, it would take at least half a day, and during that time, he couldn’t be disturbed by anyone, or all his efforts could be for naught!
This kid took only fifteen minutes in total, from refining the Spiritual Artifact to carving the Spirit Array Map!
’Subtracting the time for forging the materials and other steps, does that mean he only took a few minutes to carve the Spirit Array Map, completing it in a single go?’
’Is he even human?’
"Prove what? What’s there to prove?" Shen Lang said, a little impatiently. "Dean, I’m on a tight schedule and don’t want to waste any more time... Just have these people leave, and I’ll reforge this Spiritual Artifact for you right here. After it’s done, I have a deal to propose to you."
"What? This kid wants to kick us out? And he’s really going to reforge the Spiritual Artifact? You’ve got to be kidding!" The students exchanged glances in disbelief.
Mo Liusheng desperately controlled his emotions and waved his hand lightly. "All of you, get out. No one is to enter without my command."
"Yes, sir!" the crowd responded in unison.
"Drag that fainted guy out too... And don’t look at me like that. He probably hadn’t seen me in a long time and got a little excited. He fainted before we could even finish a couple of sentences," Shen Lang said with an innocent look, shrugging and holding up his hands.
"Hey, what’s-his-name, Xiao... Xiao Qifeng, right? You stay. Who said you could leave?" Shen Lang was at a loss for whether to laugh or cry when he saw Xiao Qifeng looking back every few steps with a resentful expression.
A light flashed from the ring on Mo Liusheng’s hand, and numerous materials appeared. He then grinned and beckoned, "Come, come, little friend. I’ve prepared everything for you. Let me see just how shocked you can make me."
’This old fox was cunning and sly. After observing their expressions and words, he was already starting to believe Shen Lang and Xiao Qifeng.’
’A monster like this has appeared in Tayun Academy, and he would be the one to discover him. When that time comes... hehehe!’
’Moreover, with no one else around, if this kid really is that amazing, he could probably learn a lot this time. Then, he could advance further on the Artifact Refining Dao—no, maybe two or three steps further! We’ll see how those old geezers from the Celestial God Academy can compete with him then!’
’And if he can’t do it, that’s simple too. Just kick him out. No loss.’
"Um... I have an impertinent request..." Shen Lang said, hesitating slightly.
"Speak. As long as you can do what you just said, I’ll agree to anything," Mo Liusheng replied straightforwardly with a grand wave of his hand.
Shen Lang’s face lit up with a grin. "That’s great! What I mean is, after I’ve reforged this Celestial Water Blade, this blade... how about you gift it to me, Dean? When an elder meets a junior, they usually give a gift, right? And it just so happens I don’t have a suitable weapon..."
"..."
