Chapter 1042: Bent

The cultivation technique he practiced had been personally taught to him, and he had always received direct guidance whenever he encountered problems, with no one else involved. For this reason, he had always been grateful to this grandmaster artifact forger. He felt that if he disgraced his master, he would rather die than allow him to be implicated.

Why is he suddenly denying it now?

"Nonsense!"

Sun Jin flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly. "You're just an apprentice, not a formal student, let alone a direct disciple. What right do you have for me to teach you cultivation techniques and personally guide you?"

"I..." Song Zhen swayed.

He wanted to explain, but he didn't know how to begin.

Back then, when the other party taught him the technique, they had said it was extremely powerful and that others would inevitably covet it if they knew, so he shouldn't spread it. Now that he denied it, there was simply no way to explain.

After all, given his status, he indeed wasn't qualified to have a dignified six-star artifact forger personally teach him cultivation techniques.

"I've raised you for twenty years, and you show no gratitude. Instead, you bring people to harm my disciples. Song Zhen, how audacious of you!"

Sun Jin reprimanded him loudly.

"This act is a bit over the top..."

Seeing the other party speak with increasing righteousness and grandeur, Zhang Xuan tapped his fingers on the table, then raised his eyelids and looked over. "Fine, if you don't want to tell the truth, it seems I'll have to think of other methods!"

After speaking, he flicked his finger.

Sun Jin immediately recoiled as if struck by lightning, flying backward. He crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"You..."

He hadn't expected the other party to act directly, and with just a light flick of a finger, he couldn't resist. Sun Jin's body trembled slightly, full of disbelief.

Too arrogant!

This was the Artifact Forgers Guild!

To forcefully enter and attack him without any fear, it was as if he considered the Guild to be nothing!

"How about it? Have you remembered what happened?" Wiping his fingers with his sleeve, as if finding them somewhat dirty, Zhang Xuan continued to look at him.

"You..."

His face flushed with anger, Sun Jin gritted his teeth. Refusing to admit anything, he insisted, "What I said is the truth!"

"The truth?"

"Precisely. He's just an apprentice, not even a one-star artifact forger. What right does he have for me to lie?"

A ruthless look appeared in Sun Jin's eyes as he looked at Zhang Xuan. He roared, "And you! No matter who you are, being so arrogant in the Artifact Forgers Guild, you're dead!"

If he hadn't known about Song Zhen's situation beforehand, he would have certainly believed him based on his demeanor. But at this moment, recalling Sun Jin's actions, Zhang Xuan felt no sympathy. Instead, he shook his head, filled with disappointment. "It seems you still don't want to tell the truth!"

This Sun Jin was indeed cunning enough; he knew that if his actions were discovered, his guilt would be severe, so he had prepared in advance.

As long as he didn't admit to having taught Song Zhen the cultivation technique, even the most formidable person would be helpless.

After all, it was taught privately, and most of this batch of apprentices were dead, making it impossible to find any evidence.

Such a method might fool others, but it was absolutely impossible to fool him!

If he truly wanted him to speak, there were at least dozens of ways.

Letting him speak now was merely giving him a chance.

"What I said is the truth..."

Sun Jin stuck his neck out, but before he could finish speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his chest again and was sent flying backward. This time, his injuries were more severe; his internal organs felt as if they were being stirred. He collapsed to the ground, almost unable to stand up.

"What? Still can't remember?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Even if you kill me, it will be useless..." Sun Jin roared. "If you dare to kill me, you will certainly be hunted down by the Artifact Forgers Guild!"

He knew that if he admitted it, he would not only be ruined but also potentially executed by the Guild. If he didn't admit it, the other party had no evidence and could do nothing.

"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

With another flick of his finger, a streak of sword light shot straight out.

"Stop!"

Just then, a loud shout echoed, and three white-bearded old men rushed straight in. Upon seeing the sword light, they simultaneously made their move.

They were all wearing robes characteristic of artifact forgers, with six gleaming stars shining brightly on their chest badges. As they attacked together, their power surged like a mighty river.

The two forces collided and dissipated.

One of the old men, with raised eyebrows and an aura of profound authority, stepped forward, glaring angrily at Zhang Xuan, who was seated in the main chair.

"Friend, you forcefully entered the Artifact Forgers Guild and severely injured one of our elders. Is this a disregard for our Guild, or for the profession of artifact forging itself?"

"That's... Guild Leader Zhong..."

Song Zhen's neck instinctively recoiled, afraid that Zhang Xuan might not know. He secretly sent a voice transmission.

"Guild Leader Zhong?"

"Yes, Guild Leader Zhong Mingchun, he's a peak Saint Realm 1-dan expert and a peak six-star artifact forger... His strength is even greater than that of a Master Teacher Pavilion's head, making him arguably the strongest."

Song Zhen was somewhat anxious.

Due to its unique geographical location, Huoyuan City's artifact forging and alchemy professions far surpassed others. Precisely for this reason, Guild Leader Zhong's standing was slightly higher than that of a Master Teacher Pavilion's head, placing him as the top figure.

For such a powerful expert to personally intervene... With the matter having escalated this much, how would it end?

"Guild Leader Zhong, save me..." cried Sun Jin. "He attacked me, acting lawlessly! He must be killed, and his body burned with earth fire!"

Before Zhang Xuan could answer, Sun Jin, who was struggling to get up, let out a loud roar.

"I am also an artifact forger myself, so naturally, I wouldn't disrespect the Guild or the profession!"

Too lazy to bother with the roaring fellow, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist and took out a badge with a six-star emblem.

"A six-star artifact forger?"

Seeing the badge, Guild Leader Zhong frowned and said gravely, "Even if artifact forgers of the same rank have a grievance, they must notify headquarters and arrange a life-and-death duel. Saying nothing and directly barging into the Guild to injure someone—don't even think about leaving today! Form the array!"

After speaking, he gestured with his palm.

Whoosh!

The two old men beside him immediately changed their positions, forming a special array that enveloped Zhang Xuan.

"I've already revealed my identity. As Guild Leader, instead of asking why I acted, you're setting up an array against me... Isn't that a bit too arbitrary?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

He had already stated he was a six-star artifact forger, yet the other party not only refused to ask for the reason but intended to attack. While constantly speaking of rules, they were actually showing favoritism.

"First, let's apprehend this fellow who disregards the Guild!"

Ignoring his words, Guild Leader Zhong let out a long cry and suddenly thrust his palm forward.

Boom!

As he made his move, the other two old men, who had taken their positions, also spread their palms simultaneously. Three streams of true qi instantly formed a special array in the air, enveloping the entire hall.

Within the array, the three men's strengths flowed and replenished each other ceaselessly, causing their individual combat power to surge by nearly a hundred percent. Previously, Guild Leader Zhong was only at the peak of Saint Realm 1-dan, but now, he could probably contend with an early Saint Realm 2-dan expert without being at a disadvantage.

"The Purple Moon Three-Star Array?"

After a glance, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

As a peak six-star formation master, he recognized the array the other party was using at a glance, despite its immense power.

The Purple Moon Three-Star Array was created two thousand years ago by a grandmaster formation master from the Saint Realm. It could be deployed by three individuals. Once the array was formed, it created a special conduit in the center, gathering their power and unleashing combat strength far exceeding the combined efforts of the three.

Guild Leader Zhong and the other two unleashed this move as soon as they acted. They likely believed their strength was formidable and held nothing back.

"Good that you recognize it. Surrender obediently, and we might show you leniency. Otherwise, today will be your day of demise!"

Guild Leader Zhong sneered coldly, his palm brimming with churning true qi, ready to erupt at any moment.

"Day of demise?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head, his eyes filled with disappointment. "As a Guild Leader, you fail to discipline this Sun Jin, who has committed such deranged acts, and instead try to attack me... It seems the Artifact Forgers Guild of Huoyuan City truly needs to be reined in!"

Even if his discernment wasn't as good as his own and he couldn't see the issues with Song Zhen's cultivation technique, Sun Jin had obtained many ores over the years; as Guild Leader, he should have heard something about it!

In this situation, whether it was a lack of awareness or deliberate tolerance, it constituted severe dereliction of duty and could be directly dealt with.

"You'd better focus on saving yourself first!"

Seeing that this fellow was not only fearless but also spoke boastfully, Guild Leader Zhong's beard bristled with anger. He took a step forward, his aura like a dragon, and true qi surged downwards.

Boom!

A violent force condensed into a sword light in the air, stabbing straight toward him.

"Watch out!"

Seeing the power of the sword light, capable of piercing through heaven and earth, which even a Saint Realm 2-dan expert would find hard to resist, Song Zhen's face turned pale with fright, and he cried out loudly.

The other party had come here for him; if he were truly killed, Song Zhen would feel immense guilt even in death.

As his shout ended and he was about to step forward to help, he saw the young man not far away raise his eyelids, pick up the teacup from the table, and lightly splash its contents.

The surging true qi sword immediately bent, changed direction, and shot upwards...

Boom!

The sword struck the ceiling, sending dust flying everywhere.

"It was dealt with by just a cup of water? This..."

Startled, Song Zhen rubbed his eyes hard.

The Purple Moon Three-Star Array could perfectly unleash the strength of three individuals, possessing infinite power, almost unrivaled among those of the same rank... Yet this fellow casually splashed a cup of tea, and it deflected the strongest combined attack of the three... How was that possible?

Not only was he surprised, but Guild Leader Zhong and the others were also dumbfounded.

Without even making a move, just a casual cup of tea altered the power of the array. It was simply incredible, beyond imagination.

"This fellow is strange. Use your strongest ultimate moves..."

Guild Leader Zhong roared furiously, and the three old men simultaneously drew their long swords, their cold gleam dazzling. They transformed into three cold currents, thrusting once more toward Zhang Xuan.

"This is bad..."

Seeing that the opponents were using real swords instead of true qi attacks, clearly indicating their anger, Song Zhen's face turned pale as he wondered how the young man before him would deal with this. Just then, he saw the young man raise an eyebrow, a look of anger on his face. "Are you done yet?"

After speaking, he single-handedly lifted the stool from beneath him and strode forward to meet them.

"A stool..."

Upon seeing his action, Song Zhen felt his body sway and almost vomited blood.

The three of them: two wielded peerless spiritual artifacts, and one held a semi-saint artifact. But you... you just rushed over with a stool. Do you think this is a street brawl?!

How... how was he supposed to fight like this?