Not only was Lin Feng dumbfounded, but even Dongfang Yuhui, Qi Minghe, and the others were stunned.
No one had expected Lian Ye to suddenly issue a 'challenge' to Lin Feng. The situation felt deeply bizarre to them.
Lin Feng spoke cautiously, "This... Senior Lian, you must be joking... How could this junior possibly be qualified to 'exchange insights' with you?"
"I am not joking," Lian Ye replied with a serious expression. "The exchange of techniques has no relation to age, seniority, or even cultivation level. I merely wish to witness the artificing skill of a Four-Star Artificer as young as yourself..."
Seeing Lin Feng's near-tearful expression, Lian Ye added, "Set your mind at ease. Naturally, I wouldn't deliberately bully you... Very well. Since you claim you can currently repair High-Grade Precious Tools, let's base our contest on that. We'll each provide the other with a damaged High-Grade Precious Tool. Whoever repairs theirs first wins... Moreover, I will not use my Unique Flame, only ordinary spirit fire. You, however, may freely use your Unique Flame... Alternatively, I could grant you a ten-minute head start... How does that sound?"
In his eagerness to 'witness' Lin Feng's ability, Lian Ye was setting aside his pride. He kept making concessions. In his mind, under these terms, the 'contest' should be considered 'fair'. He was convinced Lin Feng also possessed a Unique Flame, perhaps even one superior to his own, which ranked near the bottom of the Unique Flame List.
"..." Hearing the proposed conditions, Lin Feng fell silent. Repairing artifacts? That... that actually removes any reason to fear.
Forging artifacts would be time-consuming, which is why Lian Ye chose repair. Little did he know, he was walking straight into a trap.
Just as Lin Feng hesitated over whether to 'accept the challenge,' Lian Ye uttered another sentence that instantly made refusal impossible—
"Actually, a simple contest might lack a certain... incentive," Lian Ye said, a faint smile playing on his lips, reminiscent of a bad uncle luring a child with candy. With a flip of his hand, he retrieved a neatly folded white robe from his spatial ring and held it up for all to see. "As a wager, I am willing to offer a Spirit Artifact Robe. If you win... it's yours. How about it?"
"A Spirit Artifact Robe!!"
Lin Feng's eyes immediately lit up, unable to suppress a surge of covetousness. Robes were considered 'high-end goods,' practically unseen among low-level cultivators. Even the most basic robe was classified as a Spirit Artifact! Unlike the torso-protecting inner armor he currently wore, a robe offered full-body protection—impervious to blades and arrows, resistant to water and fire, boasting impressive defensive capabilities. They were generally only affordable to Golden Core cultivators and above.
The robe Lian Ye produced had just arrived from the headquarters of the Treasure Pavilion. Originally destined for sale within its halls, it was now being used as bait to tempt Lin Feng.
Though only a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact, its value rivaled that of many Mid-Grade Spirit Artifacts. Buying it would likely cost no less than one million low-grade spirit stones.
The temptation was significant. Lin Feng hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked Lian Ye, "Then... what if this junior loses?"
Lian Ye waved his hand dismissively. "You need not offer anything in return."
The very idea of winning something from a Foundation Establishment junior would be a disgrace to his reputation. In Lian Ye's mind, the possibility of Lin Feng winning simply didn't exist.
—Such good fortune! This is practically a Spirit Artifact Robe delivered right to my doorstep!!
Lin Feng was internally jubilant, struggling to keep his composure. He bowed respectfully to Lian Ye, adopting a humble tone. "Since Senior Lian has spoken thus... this junior will shamelessly request your guidance..."
Lian Ye nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Then let us begin without delay—we each give the other a damaged High-Grade Precious Tool. Then we each select a private room to perform the repairs. The first to emerge with the repaired artifact wins."
"Agreed!!" Lin Feng declared, already rifling through his spatial ring for a suitable item.
At that very moment, however, Lian Ye, standing opposite him, suddenly raised his hand. With a soft "Poof!", a peculiar, slightly grayish flame abruptly materialized above his palm.
Summoning this flame, Lian Ye addressed Lin Feng matter-of-factly. "This is my Unique Flame. It is ranked ninety-eighth on the Unique Flame List, named Stone Stamen Flame, and is only Mid-Grade. But rest assured, I will not use it later. I will employ ordinary spirit fire."
"Huh?!"
Lin Feng froze in place, utterly bewildered. Unique Flame? Unique Flame List? Stone Stamen Flame? Mid-Grade?
What in the world are all these things?
"..."
Seeing Lin Feng's dumbfounded expression, Lian Ye was also taken aback. Could it be? This young man doesn't know the practice of revealing one's refining flame before a friendly contest, as a sign of respect for the opponent? How did his master teach him?!
After a prolonged moment of stunned silence, Lin Feng finally reacted. He understood Lian Ye expected him to display his supposed 'Unique Flame'. But he didn't even know what a Unique Flame was, let alone possess one to show! Once again, he had to fall back on his 'master'.
"Senior Lian, please forgive me," Lin Feng said carefully. "My master... he strictly instructed me never... never to reveal my... Unique Flame to others..."
"Oh? Truly?" Lian Ye's eyes gleamed with sudden interest. Could his Unique Flame be of a high tier? Afraid of attracting covetous eyes, hence the secrecy?
Indeed, without the protection of such a powerful master, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator possessing even a low-ranking or unlisted Unique Flame would be targeted. And even with a master's backing, possessing a flame of exceptionally high grade could still invite trouble.
Lian Ye mentally filled in the gaps and nodded understandingly. "Hmm, very well. In that case, we shall skip the formalities..."
Lin Feng breathed an internal sigh of relief. "Thank you for your understanding, Senior Lian."
Lian Ye wasted no more words. He first retracted his Unique Flame. Then, with another flip of his hand, he produced a brown bracer adorned with several fine cracks from his spatial ring and handed it to Lin Feng. "You may repair this artifact. Its damage level is around forty percent. It shouldn't take overly long."
Lin Feng accepted the bracer with his left hand. With his right hand, he offered forward a High-Grade Precious Tool glove. "Then, Senior Lian, please repair this combat glove."
"Mm, satisfactory." Lian Ye took the glove, gave it a cursory glance, and then announced, "Then we shall each proceed to a private room. Rest assured, I will commence my repairs only after ten minutes. The first to emerge with the successfully repaired artifact wins... Those present here can serve as witnesses and judges."
He gestured toward Qi Minghe and the others. By now, quite a few additional onlookers had gathered around, drawn by the commotion – cultivators who had been 'following' Lin Feng since his arrival at the Laiyue Inn.
"Agreed."
Lin Feng nodded. He specifically signaled Yao Wangtian to inform the innkeeper. Then, he and Lian Ye simultaneously entered separate private rooms.
...
Once inside his room, Lian Ye walked to an open space. He took out a meditation cushion, placed it on the floor, and sat cross-legged upon it. He produced a timer and set it beside him. Clutching the combat glove, he didn't immediately examine it. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to meditate, focusing his mind.
Completely absorbed, he adjusted his state. Ten minutes later, Lian Ye opened his eyes. Raising his right hand, he channeled his soul force. A mass of crimson flame instantly ignited, enveloping the combat glove in his hand.
Hmph... Feels rather crude.
Since arduously obtaining the Stone Stamen Flame five years prior, Lian Ye hadn't used ordinary spirit fire. Its use now felt clumsy. However, analyzing a High-Grade Precious Tool posed no significant challenge. Before long, he had discerned the artifact's material composition. As a Five-Star Artificer, his spatial ring naturally held an ample supply of refining materials. He extracted the required items and began feeding them one by one into the spirit fire before him...
Twenty minutes later, Lian Ye, his expression intensely focused, suddenly narrowed his eyes. The spirit fire before him flickered violently before rapidly contracting. With a wave of his left hand, he withdrew some surplus material residue. As the flames dissipated, the combat glove – now gleaming as if new – rested quietly in his right palm.
Lian Ye nodded with satisfaction. Using ordinary spirit fire to analyze and repair a High-Grade Precious Tool in just twenty minutes was a respectable result.
...
He rose, collected the cushion from the floor, and opened the door to step out. A confident smile touched his lips as he prepared to bask in the admiring gazes of the spectators.
However, upon exiting the room, instead of encountering looks of reverence, he was met with a sea of faces wearing distinctly peculiar expressions...
His gaze swept across the room... and immediately landed on a figure sitting calmly with Qi Minghe and the others. Instantly, he froze solid.
—There, sipping tea with perfect composure while waiting for him... was Lin Feng.