"Ma Liangpeng..."
Yi Tianyun's eyes narrowed, his disgust for Ma Liangpeng growing. 'Using his Divine Forging Sect background to deny everything?'
This was equivalent to saying the High-Grade Spiritual Artifact he had forged wasn't a genuine High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, but merely a pseudo one. Its true value was only that of a Mid-Grade one!
"Young Master Yi, do you know this Ma Liangpeng?"
Zi Yuwei asked curiously when she heard Yi Tianyun say the name.
"I don't know him personally, but I've heard a thing or two," Yi Tianyun said calmly.
"Junior Brother Yi, that Ma Liangpeng is one of the disciples the Divine Forging Sect sent to the Celestial Sinking Ruins. I can't believe he's so arrogant as to discredit the Spiritual Artifact you refined!"
An Ling was furious. She looked ready to storm over to the Celestial Phoenix Tower and argue with them.
Although the Celestial Phoenix Tower's announcement hadn't named them specifically, it claimed that any Spiritual Artifact sold by anyone other than them was garbage. The implication was obvious.
Just as they were thinking of going to the Celestial Phoenix Tower to confront them, a group of people stormed over from outside, each holding a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact they had previously purchased here.
As soon as they arrived, they shouted angrily, "We want a refund! A disciple from the Divine Forging Sect said these are all Pseudo High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, basically just Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts!"
"Exactly! No wonder they were so cheap—they're fakes! You passed off Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts as High-Grade ones. Give us our refund now!"
"No wonder it felt off when I used it! It's just a Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact! I can't believe you, Celestial Rain Tower, would sell counterfeit goods!"
They all started clamoring for refunds, and soon several artifacts were being returned. Some even brought back Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, thinking they were actually Low-Grade ones.
"We can guarantee these are absolutely High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts. There's no problem with their power!"
Zi Yuwei said in a low voice. They had personally verified them; they were completely up to the standard of High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts—and very good ones at that.
"What's the use of you saying that? This came from someone from the Divine Forging Sect! The Divine Forging Sect is the authority on Blacksmiths around here. Why would I believe you over them?"
"Exactly! You're all a bunch of scammers! We want a refund!"
The three words "Divine Forging Sect" were a symbol of authority. No matter what they said, it was meaningless. The word of an authority was taken as truth, and even though their goods were genuine, they were discredited with a single sentence.
"Give them their refunds!"
Yi Tianyun's expression was grim. This was clearly the Celestial Phoenix Tower using the Divine Forging Sect to make trouble for them, and it was a direct challenge to his bottom line.
This was no longer normal competition; it was suppressing a rival through slander. A fire of rage ignited within him.
"Fine, you'll get your refunds!"
Zi Yuwei followed Yi Tianyun's instruction and gave them their money back.
After the refunds were processed, Yi Tianyun picked up one of the High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts and said to his companions, "It looks like we can't leave just yet. Let's go. We're going to the Celestial Phoenix Tower!"
An Ling and Qin Xue both nodded. They couldn't swallow this insult either. How could anyone slander their work, claiming they weren't High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts?
Zi Yuwei also nodded once, signaling the other Guards to follow them. The large group marched over and stormed directly into the Celestial Phoenix Tower. The Guards inside quickly moved to intercept them, blocking their path.
Just then, Liang Tiancheng came out. He had clearly expected them to come and cause trouble. Following him was a sturdy young man with sharp, chiseled features. His gaze was cold, and when his fierce eyes swept over them, his imposing aura was palpable.
This was Ma Liangpeng, one of the most representative disciples of the Divine Forging Sect. His cultivation was at the fourth level of the Spirit Refining Stage, so his aura was naturally powerful.
"Well, if it isn't Purple Pavilion Master. Is there a problem?"
Liang Tiancheng's eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled. He was obviously playing dumb.
"Pavilion Master Liang, are you playing dumb? 'All Spiritual Artifacts besides those from the Celestial Phoenix Tower are garbage unworthy of their name.' Aren't you implying that the High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts we sold aren't genuine?"
Zi Yuwei's gaze was icy. Even as a woman, her presence was not the least bit weak. Anyone who could become a Pavilion Master was certainly not simple.
"That's right. I've seen the High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts you refined. They aren't High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts at all—at best, they're only Mid-Grade!"
Before Liang Tiancheng could respond, Ma Liangpeng had already stepped forward and said with a stern face, "A true High-Grade Spiritual Artifact has astonishing power. Yours are simply too weak!"
As he stood there, he unleashed a powerful aura, but another figure had already stepped out, easily blocking it.
"Is that so? Then let's compete and see whose High-Grade Spiritual Artifact is stronger."
The one who stepped forward was none other than Yi Tianyun, who had been standing at the side. He stared coldly at Ma Liangpeng. He was eager to see what a "true" High-Grade Spiritual Artifact was supposed to be.
"And who are you?" Ma Liangpeng's gaze was so intense it felt like it could pierce right through him.
"I'm the one who forged the 'Pseudo High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts' you mentioned," Yi Tianyun said in a low voice.
"So you're the one who forged these Pseudo High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts?"
Ma Liangpeng looked him up and down, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Yi Tianyun was simply too young. Then, his eyes fell on An Ling and Qin Xue standing behind him. After a brief pause, he suddenly burst out laughing. "You're that good-for-nothing from Merak Palace with no Blood Qi? I never would've thought you'd be capable of Artifact Refining. I suspect you begged someone else to refine them for you and then passed this batch of fakes off as your own."
The rumor that there was a man in Merak Palace, a sect full of female disciples, and that this man was a good-for-nothing with no Blood Qi, had spread far and wide. Even Ma Liangpeng had heard of it.
"A good-for-nothing with no Blood Qi? I don't know where you heard such useless information, but only an idiot would believe it!"
Yi Tianyun said with a cold expression, "You just want to test the power of the Spiritual Artifacts, don't you? How about we have a match and see whose artifact breaks first!"
"Are you calling me an idiot?"
Ma Liangpeng had actually believed the rumor. His face flushed with anger. "We'll see who the real idiot is! You want a match, is that it? Fine, let's have a match! And don't tell me you're going to have someone else fight in your place!"
"My forged weapons were discredited, so of course, I'll be the one to personally verify them. We'll find out whether your weapon is a fake or mine is. Let's settle this with our own hands!" Yi Tianyun said in a low voice.
"You've got guts!"
Ma Liangpeng sneered. "Alright then. We'll have our match on the grounds outside. Let everyone bear witness to who the real loser is!"
"No problem!"
Yi Tianyun accepted the challenge without a moment's hesitation. Their cultivation levels were comparable, but he didn't think for a second that he would lose. He had plenty of Treasures, not to mention Madness Mode. Who could possibly stop him!