Chapter 29: A Stunning Display of Skill

At the center of the market, where the four main roads intersected, lay a large circular plaza that served as a regular trading ground for rogue cultivators.

When Song Changsheng arrived at the market that day, he didn't see many people. It wasn't because the market was sparsely populated, but because most people were gathered elsewhere at that time.

The fact that the Earth Fire Sect had changed the location was something Song Changsheng welcomed. After all, he had come with the intention of humiliating the Earth Fire Sect; naturally, the more people there were, the better.

By the time they arrived, the plaza was already surrounded by crowds. Everyone was waiting with bated breath; some speculators had even opened betting pools on the outcome, attracting a large number of bettors.

"The people from Treasure Seeking Pavilion are here."

As soon as Song Changsheng and his companion appeared, they drew the gaze of many present. Following his actions yesterday, Song Changsheng's reputation had already spread throughout the Liuyun Market.

Everyone was speculating whether he could once again trample the Earth Fire Sect's dignity into the dirt, just as he had done the day before.

Song Changsheng kept his gaze straight ahead, walking toward the center of the plaza accompanied by Song Luyuan, where he stood waiting for the other party to arrive.

In the crowd, a pot-bellied fat man squeezed his way to the front row. Upon seeing Song Changsheng, he froze for a moment. "Isn't this Fellow Daoist Shen Changsong? Shen Changsong, Song Changsheng... Heh, this is getting interesting."

An expression of interest immediately surfaced on the fat man's face.

After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Bai Ruofeng finally arrived, trailing behind Cheng Xiao.

"Oh my, Manager Song, I failed to notify you in advance that we had changed the location. Please, do not hold it against me," Bai Ruofeng said with feigned politeness as he stepped forward.

Song Luyuan also met him with a face full of fake smiles, engaging in meaningless pleasantries. Although both sides desperately wanted to kill each other, they had to maintain a harmonious appearance on the surface.

While the leaders of both sides engaged in idle chatter on the side, Song Changsheng began to observe his opponent.

The opponent was a young cultivator in white robes, roughly in his twenties. He possessed extraordinary elegance, but his entire being radiated an unpleasant sense of arrogance.

While he was observing the other, Cheng Xiao spoke up first: "Are you the one challenging me?"

"I have heard that your artifact refining skills are exquisite. I have come specifically to seek instruction," Song Changsheng replied calmly and composedly.

"Heh, very well. How do you wish to compete?" Cheng Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, not even deigning to look Song Changsheng in the eye. He felt victory was already in his grasp.

Unfazed by the attitude, Song Changsheng said indifferently, "Since I have come to seek instruction, I shall leave the terms to you."

A flash of disdain crossed Cheng Xiao's eyes. He waved his hand and produced two artifacts. "Very well. Here are two identical high-grade, first-tier artifacts with no internal formations inscribed. Let us see who can inscribe more formations with better quality within three hours."

"No problem," Song Changsheng nodded in agreement. Refining high-grade first-tier artifacts required a vast amount of time; using this method would undoubtedly be much faster and would serve to demonstrate one's true level.

"Martial Uncle, when do we begin?" Cheng Xiao asked Bai Ruofeng, sounding somewhat impatient.

"If you are ready, then let us begin now," Bai Ruofeng said, exchanging a glance with Song Luyuan.

The two chose empty spots and sat cross-legged. Cheng Xiao tossed over a disc-shaped artifact, while his own was a long sword.

Song Changsheng did not mind. After receiving it, he first inspected the artifact. Clearly, Cheng Xiao had not used any cheap tricks; the artifact was fine.

However, during the inspection, he did discover a few subtle flaws within the artifact. It was evident that the issue lay in the technique of the refiner.

"There is still plenty of time. I might as well refine this artifact further," Song Changsheng muttered to himself, glancing at Cheng Xiao, who had already begun inscribing formations.

Under the astonished gazes of everyone in the plaza, a cluster of orange-red flames rose in front of Song Changsheng, enveloping the artifact.

"What is he doing? Didn't they say the competition was about the number of inscribed formations?" a cultivator asked in confusion.

Soon, an experienced cultivator stepped forward and said, "He is refining the artifact. This can further improve its quality."

"But that seems unrelated to the competition, doesn't it?"

The cultivator hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Indeed, it is."

For a time, everyone was bewildered by Song Changsheng's actions. Was this confidence or sheer arrogance?

Cheng Xiao naturally noticed Song Changsheng's abnormality. Looking at the fact that he had already completed one-third of his formations, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly. *Song Changsheng is too arrogant.*

It was true that refining could improve an artifact's quality, but both of these artifacts had been crafted by Cheng Xiao's own hands, and he had full confidence in his strength.

He had already made them as perfect as possible. Even if there were a few minor flaws, refining them wouldn't improve the quality much. In his view, Song Changsheng was completely putting the cart before the horse!

Song Changsheng ignored the surrounding whispers; he had already entered a state of selflessness.

Time flew by. As an hour was about to pass, Song Changsheng finally finished refining the artifact. By this time, Cheng Xiao had completed his first formation.

The vast majority of those present no longer believed in Song Changsheng. After all, he had fallen too far behind. Those who had bet on Song Changsheng's victory were now regretting it to the core.

If they hadn't feared Song Luyuan's presence, they would have likely sent their best regards to Song Changsheng's parents.

"Two hours left. I need to pick up the pace," Song Changsheng murmured softly.

In the next moment, his mental strength surged into the interior of the artifact like a dam breaking. Under his guidance, his mental strength suddenly split in two, actually beginning to inscribe two formations simultaneously!

Because it was an open-air competition, the entire process of his inscription was fully visible to the crowd. It wasn't very obvious when he first started, but as the outlines of the formations gradually emerged, people began to notice something unusual.

"Heavens, is that Song Changsheng actually inscribing two different formations at once? Am I seeing things?" a rogue cultivator and artifact refiner exclaimed.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" His words immediately drew skepticism from those around him. After all, every formation was incredibly complex and delicate, usually requiring a person's total concentration.

Whether one could inscribe two formations simultaneously in other places was unknown, but since the opening of Lingzhou, nothing like this had ever been heard of.

"Hmm? It really is! The outlines of two formations have appeared!"

"Is Song Changsheng a monster? How is he doing this?"

Facts spoke louder than words. More and more people noticed the scene, causing a collective gasp of shock. Everyone was stunned by this feat of Song Changsheng's.

Bai Ruofeng stared wide-eyed at Song Changsheng, saying in disbelief, "The legendary 'dual-tasking' mind? How is that possible? On what basis can he do that!"

Seeing Bai Ruofeng's reaction, Song Luyuan quietly stepped forward a few paces to stand in front of Song Changsheng, fearing the other party might act out of desperation.

Song Changsheng had no idea how much of a stir he had caused; at this moment, he was completely immersed...

(End of Chapter)