Chapter 1223: The Artificer's Guild

Knowing that the ruthless man from Jibei Swamp would show no mercy once he made a move, Zhang Xuan dared not stop. He left the Master Teacher Pavilion and walked straight towards the Artificer Guild. Logically, the ruthless man shouldn't have acted so quickly, but with Emperor Qingtian's death and Zhang Xuan's identity as a Heaven-Acknowledged Master Teacher exposed, it must have put intense pressure on him. Once that guy could break free from the swamp's restraints, the first person he'd kill would definitely be Zhang Xuan. Therefore, Zhang Xuan needed to prepare in advance and strike first. This was not only for his own safety but, more importantly, to prevent these Master Teachers, who protected humanity, from continuing to die without reason.

"The Golden Origin Cauldron is currently at the Half-Spirit Aperture realm. If I integrate the Gold-Crystal Xuan Stone into it, its rank will surely increase significantly. Even if it doesn't reach the level of a high-tier Saint artifact, its quality will improve, making it easier to break through to the true Spirit Aperture realm!" He speculated as he walked.

The Gold-Crystal Xuan Stone was a treasure he obtained from Wu Yangzi. After giving a portion to Luo Qiqi, he still had a piece; he just hadn't had the time to integrate it into the Golden Origin Cauldron. Since he had decided to go to Jibei Swamp, it was best to arm himself in advance.

The Artificer Guild was about four to five kilometers from the Master Teacher Pavilion. It didn't take him long to arrive. As an artificer, he was currently only a six-star, having been assessed at the Master Teacher Academy, and hadn't even obtained a seven-star emblem. He took out his emblem, pinned it to his chest, and walked in.

The Artificer Guild in Qingyuan City was as bustling as any other, with countless people coming daily to purchase weapons. The highest-tier items sold here were low-tier Saint artifacts. Higher-tier ones required custom orders or even purchasing at great cost, though they were essentially priceless and rarely available.

"Master Teacher Zhang? Is that really you?"

Just as he was about to ask for the location of the Artificer Guild President, he heard an exclamation. Turning, he saw Chu Xiang, whom he had met earlier at the Astonishing Dance Master Guild, standing not far away, looking excited.

"Young Master Chu Xiang..." Zhang Xuan smiled. This person had helped him before, so Zhang Xuan couldn't just ignore him upon meeting him again.

"Thank you, Master Teacher Zhang, for speaking up for me earlier. My soul injury has now completely healed!" Chu Xiang bowed deeply. At the Astonishing Dance Master Guild, Master Teacher Zhang's foresight in speaking a word in advance had caused Fairy Ziyan to perform "Dancing for the Lord Alone" with full dedication, which resulted in his injury being healed, leaving him completely unharmed now.

"It's nothing..." Zhang Xuan said. It was just a word, nothing significant. It was just a pity about his top-tier spirit stone of essence... Actually, if he had watched Zhang Xuan dance, he would have recovered even faster!

"I heard about Master Teacher Zhang's trial in the hall... that was truly amazing..." After expressing his gratitude, Chu Xiang was full of excitement and admiration.

"It was nothing, just a casual trial, a casual trial..." Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly. The trial in the hall had caused a huge commotion, its sound reverberating throughout Qingyuan City. Since Chu Xiang already knew him, a little inquiry would reveal everything; it was impossible to hide.

"Just a casual trial..." Chu Xiang rolled his eyes. The Master Teacher Pavilion of Qingyuan Empire had stood for countless years without incident, yet the moment Zhang Xuan arrived, he successfully challenged its hall, nearly destroying the branch and causing the Pavilion Master to resign in disgrace. If *that* was "casual," wouldn't other Master Teacher Pavilions be scared to death?

"Master Teacher Zhang, are you here because you find the Artificer Guild displeasing... and plan to challenge it as well?" Seeing that Zhang Xuan didn't want to elaborate, Chu Xiang remembered something and looked at him. This Master Teacher Zhang hadn't had a peaceful day since arriving in Qingyuan City. First, he made the entire building at the Spirit Awakener Guild run around... then he challenged the hall, and now he's here. He's not planning to stir up more trouble, is he?

"Cough, cough!" He hadn't expected that someone as upright as himself could create such a negative impression on others. Zhang Xuan coughed awkwardly, "Actually... I'm an honest person. How could I do such a thing? You're overthinking it..."

"An honest person?" Chu Xiang's mouth twitched. He had met many honest people, but this was the first time he had seen someone *so* "honest."

"If you're not here to challenge the hall, then you must be here, like me, to observe Grandmaster Lin Jie's artifact forging!"

"Grandmaster Lin Jie?"

"Yes, he's an artificer grandmaster from Qianchong Empire, having reached the Half-Eight-Star level. He's just passing through, and President Qin specifically invited him to give a lecture. All seven-star artificers in Qingyuan City have been summoned here... I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation!" Chu Xiang said.

"You're a seven-star artificer?" This person in front of him, who even had a private room in a brothel, Zhang Xuan had thought was just a dissolute young master. Unexpectedly, he was a seven-star artificer.

"Of course. My talent in artifact forging is exceptional..." Chu Xiang said proudly, "Master Teacher Zhang, if you have any questions about artifact forging, you can ask me. Given our relationship, I will tell you everything honestly, without holding anything back!"

"I will!" Knowing the other party's good intentions, Zhang Xuan nodded. "Coincidentally, I have something I'd like to trouble you with. Would you mind taking me to meet the Artificer Guild President?"

"You want to see President Qin? That's simple..." Chu Xiang started walking forward, "Come with me!"

"Okay!" Zhang Xuan followed closely. Having someone introduce him would save a lot of trouble. Following behind him, Zhang Xuan also learned the name of the Artificer Guild President, Qin Chong, who was a peak seven-star artificer.

They soon arrived at the President's location. After announcing their arrival, the two walked in.

"President, this is Master Teacher Zhang Xuan, the seven-star Master Teacher who successfully challenged the hall a few days ago!" Chu Xiang introduced.

"So it's Master Teacher Zhang. Qin pays his respects..." President Qin hurriedly stood up. A Master Teacher who could successfully challenge a hall had reached an incredible level in both strength and insight; he, as an artificer, could not afford to slight such a person.

"You're too kind, President!" Zhang Xuan said.

After the host and guests were seated, they exchanged a few pleasantries. President Qin's face was full of concern: "May I ask why Master Teacher Zhang has come today? Our Artificer Guild has always been law-abiding, and I strictly manage my subordinates..."

Chu Xiang couldn't bear it anymore: "President, Master Teacher Zhang is not here to challenge the Artificer Guild..."

"That's good!" President Qin breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing their conversation, Zhang Xuan was speechless. He had only challenged one Master Teacher Pavilion, and now he was being misunderstood like this... He was really honest, truly sincere... why wouldn't anyone believe him?

"I've actually come to trouble President Qin with something!" Knowing that explaining might not make them believe him, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly. He looked at President Qin: "I have a mid-tier Saint artifact that I want to integrate with a Gold-Crystal Xuan Stone to enhance its power. I wonder if you have time to help me refine it?"

"May I ask, Master Teacher Zhang, what kind of weapon is this mid-tier Saint artifact? Does it have sentience? And what cultivation level has it reached?" Hearing this request, President Qin paused before looking at him.

"It's an artifact forging cauldron that has reached the Half-Spirit Aperture realm and possesses sentience!" Zhang Xuan explained.

"This..." President Qin's face was full of awkwardness: "To be honest, Master Teacher Zhang, if this cauldron were only at the initial Soul Departure realm, I might, with great effort, be able to help temper it and integrate the Gold-Crystal Xuan Stone... But for a Half-Spirit Aperture artifact, I don't even have that level of strength myself, so it might be difficult to do!"

"President, don't worry. When the time comes, I will guide you. As long as you follow the steps, there won't be any problems!" He had thought the other party was worried about something else; it turned out to be this. Zhang Xuan smiled. To be honest, when tempering the Golden Origin Cauldron, he naturally had to personally observe and guide. Otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease entrusting it to anyone else.

"Your guidance?" President Qin looked at him with slight doubt. "Is Master Teacher Zhang also an artificer?"

"Yes, I've studied it a bit; I've reached six stars now!" Zhang Xuan replied. He had read all the books on artifact forging in the Master Teacher Pavilion and had completed his study of them, forming a Heaven's Path cultivation technique. His understanding of artifact forging had already reached the peak of seven stars, even comparable to some initial eight-star artificers. However, he hadn't specifically studied tempering artifact embryos. At most, he could forge a lump of iron. Fearing he might damage the Golden Origin Cauldron if he forged it himself, he sought President Qin's help.

"A six-star artificer?" President Qin and Chu Xiang exchanged glances, both frowning. Among artificers, there was a significant gap between six-star and seven-star. Such a low rank... and he wants to guide me? Is he kidding?

"Oh, actually, my understanding of artifact forging has already reached seven stars. I just haven't come for the assessment yet..." Seeing their strange looks, Zhang Xuan explained.

"I see..." President Qin suddenly understood: "In that case, please come to the forging hall with me, Master Teacher Zhang. Only the earth fire here can melt mid-tier Saint artifacts and Gold-Crystal Xuan Stones!"

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded. Most of the forging flames in the Artificer Guild were drawn from earth fire, and even earth fire had varying strengths. The Gold-Crystal Xuan Stone itself was difficult to refine, and the Golden Origin Cauldron, having reached the Half-Spirit Aperture realm and undergone lightning tempering, could not be melted by ordinary flames.

The three quickly arrived at the forging hall. At this time, the hall was already packed with people, each wearing a gleaming emblem on their chest; surprisingly, they were all seven-star artificers.

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned. He had thought the forging hall would be empty, allowing him to re-temper the Golden Origin Cauldron, but a glance revealed hundreds of seven-star artificers...

"Oh, Master Teacher Zhang, please don't mind. This is the only forging hall capable of melting Gold-Crystal Xuan Stones. Grandmaster Lin Jie happens to be lecturing us on artifact forging here... If Master Teacher Zhang can wait, you might consider listening to Grandmaster Lin Jie's lecture. He is a quasi-eight-star artificer, whose understanding of artifact forging has reached an incredible level. Listening to his lecture will surely lead to rapid progress in your understanding of artifact forging!" Seeing his displeasure, President Qin quickly explained.

"I'm afraid I don't have that much time..." Zhang Xuan shook his head. The ruthless man could kill at any moment. He needed to quickly improve the Golden Origin Cauldron to deal with anything. Listening to someone explain artifact forging here... he really had no time.

"What? From your tone, listening to my lecture would be a waste of your time?" Before his words had fully faded, an displeased voice sounded.