Chapter 26: The Ten-Day Agreement (Please keep reading)

Song Changqian trembled with rage, her face turning pale. She had already understood Chou Wenxiu's intention: he wanted to use this method to retaliate against the family's sanctions against them!

If they did not provide a powerful counterattack, the family's prestige in the market would undoubtedly plummet.

She was inclined to accept the challenge, but she quickly realized with a sense of helplessness that no one in the shop could achieve such a feat—unless they summoned a Tier 2 Refiner. If they did that, wouldn't it only invite even more ridicule?

Just as Song Changqian was lost in confusion, a gentle voice sounded in her ear: "Our Treasure Seeking Pavilion will take this order."

Everyone's gaze immediately turned toward the source of the voice, only to find with surprise that the speaker was actually a young man.

Ignoring the astonished stares of those around him, Song Changsheng walked straight up to Chou Wenxiu and said calmly, "Leave the materials and you may leave."

"Heh, you brat, who do you think you are? Get lost!" Facing Song Changqian, Chou Wenxiu had maintained a modicum of restraint, but with Song Changsheng, he didn't even bother to pretend.

"Fellow Daoist, this matter has nothing to do with you. Do not involve yourself needlessly," Song Changqian said politely, though her face was written with "resistance."

While failing to respond to the challenge would affect the family's prestige, trying to act tougher than one actually was was even worse.

If there hadn't been so many people present, Song Changqian would have wanted to throw this blind fool out.

Song Changsheng took a waist token from his waist and said indifferently, "I am the new Refiner of the Treasure Seeking Pavilion. Your requirement is simple: leave the materials, go back, and wait for news. The deposit is two hundred spirit stones."

Song Changqian's eyes widened instantly. She took the waist token and checked; the identity was correct.

She sized him up from head to toe, feeling that Song Changsheng was even younger than she was. Could he really be a high-grade Tier 1 Refiner?

Seeing Song Changqian's expression, Chou Wenxiu knew the other party's identity was genuine, but that she didn't trust him—he was likely just some reckless youth who had come down the mountain for experience.

However, for him, this was good news.

He immediately seized the opportunity, saying, "So it is Master Song! I was wondering how the Song Clan could possibly be inferior to the Earth Fire Sect. Then I shall leave these materials and the deposit to the Master."

Song Changqian still found it hard to believe and was about to refuse when Song Changsheng preempted her, saying, "Come to collect it in ten days."

Hearing this, Chou Wenxiu was delighted in his heart, his suspicion that the boy was a fool further strengthened. After all, the person from the Earth Fire Sect had taken twenty days to refine that magic tool.

He had originally planned to give the Song Clan only half a month, but he hadn't expected this idiot to boast that he only needed ten days. To refuse now would be a disservice to himself.

"Good! Master Song is a young talent and truly decisive. Fellow Daoists, you all heard that—ten days! I will come to collect the magic tool in ten days. I hope you all will come to support Master Song then!"

Having achieved his goal, Chou Wenxiu left with his people, beaming with joy.

"Then we shall also come in ten days. We will certainly bring more people to support Master Song!" The customers who had originally come to buy goods were onlookers who loved a spectacle, and they began calling their acquaintances.

The Earth Fire Sect and the Song Clan were at each other's throats; how could they miss such a scene?

Suppressing her anger, Song Changqian pulled Song Changsheng to the second floor and said furiously, "Who gave you permission to decide this on your own? Do you know how much loss this will cause the family?"

Looking at Song Changqian's finger pointing at his nose, Song Changsheng frowned and said, "If we don't agree, what remains of the family's dignity? If you cannot find a solution, then let me try. Is it that hard to have three different characteristics?"

"You..." Song Changqian was momentarily choked into silence.

"Ten days is enough time. Where is the refining room? Take me there." Song Changsheng did not want to linger with Song Changqian.

Ultimately, the issue today was Song Changqian's method of handling things.

The moment Chou Wenxiu produced the precious pearl, she lost her composure, allowing the opponent to jump around and ultimately cornering the family into a dilemma. It was utterly foolish.

He believed that if the manager of the Treasure Seeking Pavilion had been present today, they would have handled it properly and would not have let the family become so passive!

Song Changsheng completed the handover with the original refiner as quickly as possible and then locked himself in the refining room.

Refining this magic tool was not difficult for him, and ten days was quite ample, but he had new ideas regarding the refining method, so he had to hurry to verify them...

Song Luyuan returned to the Treasure Seeking Pavilion with a grim face. Looking at Song Changqian, he said angrily, "What happened? I was only gone for half a day, how did we end up with this inexplicable ten-day appointment?"

Like a primary school student who had done something wrong, Song Changqian stammered through an account of the Chou Clan coming to cause trouble, not forgetting to embellish her accusations against Song Changsheng.

The originally furious Song Luyuan suddenly froze and asked uncertainly, "What did you say the new refiner's name was?"

"You mean that arrogant man? His name is Song Changsheng. It was he who took it upon himself to set a ten-day deadline to refine a high-grade Tier 1 magic tool with three simultaneous characteristics," Song Changqian said, hurriedly trying to distance herself from the matter.

To her surprise, Song Luyuan's angry attitude shifted completely. Stroking his chin, he said, "If it is him, it might actually be possible."

"Him? He's even younger than I am! How could he possibly do it?" Song Changqian said unconvinced.

Song Luyuan glanced at her and shouted, "You still have the face to say that? You should know that there are always people better than you. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't! If you hadn't handled this matter poorly today, would he have needed to step up as a lightning rod to clean up your mess?"

Song Changqian was startled, but in the next moment, she retorted, "How was my handling poor? There was no one in the shop who could do it! If I had accepted, wouldn't failing to complete the order damage the family's reputation even more? And talking about cleaning up my mess—it was his acceptance of this order that will truly drag the family's face through the mud!"

Seeing that she still did not realize her mistake, Song Luyuan sighed deeply and said, "You, oh you... you really haven't learned anything in your daily life. You believed Chou Wenxiu when he said the pearl was refined by the Hundred Treasure Pavilion? Don't you have a brain to question him or stall for time? In the end, we were pushed to that point—if we didn't accept the order, how could we maintain our footing in the market? I tell you to pay more attention to the family's affairs, but you just ignore everything. Do you even know who Song Changsheng is? He is the Patriarch's biological grandson! He practices both formations and refining, having received personal instruction from the Patriarch. He became a high-grade Tier 1 Refiner before reaching adulthood; he is the family's foremost genius. If he says he can do it, then it is almost certain. In ten days, just wait and see the show."

Song Changqian was still unconvinced in her heart, but seeing Song Luyuan's expression, she ultimately did not dare to continue arguing, though she remained skeptical...

The ten-day deadline arrived in a flash. Chou Wenxiu arrived at the doors of the Treasure Seeking Pavilion early in the morning.

Following him was a large crowd of onlookers, all eager to watch the spectacle...

(End of Chapter)