They had seen far too many such magical artifacts in their lives, but this one was clearly exceptional.
Elder Hewlett's gaze sharpened, and his eyes gradually revealed extreme admiration. He exclaimed repeatedly, "What a masterpiece! It's a perfect whole. Whose new work is this?"
"Let me see." Hui Ming, who was beside him, couldn't hold back any longer and snatched it away. At first glance, he frowned. Although the workmanship wasn't rough, it certainly didn't deserve the word "exquisite." The array inside was even more appallingly rudimentary.
However, when he looked at it a second time, his expression changed drastically. He muttered something and suddenly exclaimed, "Good heavens, ten levels stacked, a magic weapon of a higher level, this is truly a rare sight."
“Not bad.” HP reached out to take back the small round shield, but Hui Ming stroked the streamlined shield with obvious affection and refused to hand it over. Helpless, he had to call out, “Hey… give it to me, I want to take another look.”
Huiming reluctantly handed it over, exclaiming in surprise, "I never imagined there would be someone so skilled in the Hundredfold Technique. Hmm, let me guess, is it the work of old man Yanmin? Hmm, then it must be the work of Daoist Jicang? No, then..."
Huiming named five or six people in a row, but Amo kept shaking his head. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "This old Taoist priest can't guess whose masterpiece it is."
HP's eyes remained fixed on the small round shield, but suddenly his expression turned extremely strange, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "How strange..."
"Senior brother, what's wrong?"
“Junior brother, look.” HP handed the small round shield back to his junior brother and said, “The crafting technique used to create this weapon is the extremely rare Daoist technique of the Hundred Layers. I watched it intently, and each layer was seamless and without any trace. It was obviously made in one go. There was not a single mistake between the ten layers. Such skill is divine. I, an old Daoist, am completely humbled.”
Huiming nodded repeatedly in agreement.
However, HP changed the subject, saying, "What puzzles me is that if you look at the material of this round shield, the crafting technique, and the array embedded in it, it is clearly the work of a beginner. Such two completely different techniques appearing on a magic weapon is truly perplexing."
Huiming held the small round shield and nodded slowly. He looked up at Amo and asked, "Tell me, who made this?"
Amo gave a wry smile and said, "Uncle-Master, this disciple truly does not know."
"What?"
Amo quickly explained, "The person who delivered this item today is a Core Formation stage cultivator from an unknown sect. He keeps claiming that he refined this item himself..."
"Core Formation stage?" the two old Taoists exclaimed simultaneously.
"yes."
"Senior brother, what do you think?"
“Absolutely impossible.” HP stood up and said angrily, “A cultivator in the Core Formation stage wants to master the Hundredfold Technique? He really doesn’t know his own limitations. Hmph… Amo, take me to see which junior is so arrogant.”
※※※※
They arrived at the guest room with the unnamed outer disciple. Along the way, the disciple's attitude towards him changed drastically, becoming excessively respectful. Clearly, he had noticed the astonished expressions of Amo and the others, and thus began to treat Xiao Wenbing, who only possessed the cultivation of the Core Formation stage, with special regard.
Upon arriving at his room, Xiao Wenbing first ordered a meal. Although a Core Formation stage cultivator could go hungry for a month without causing any life-threatening incident, he was not a cultivator with decades of arduous training experience; his daily eating and sleeping habits were still deeply ingrained.
For the past month, while I was in the cave, I didn't feel anything because I had something on my mind. But as soon as I stepped out of the cave, I immediately thought of all the habits of the human world, and my stomach was naturally growling with hunger.
After the servants brought the food, Xiao Wenbing dismissed them and began to devour everything on the table.
Whether it was because he hadn't eaten in a long time or because the food here was truly unique, Xiao Wenbing gave the Jade Cauldron Sect's food a rare perfect score of 100.
Volume Four: The Divine Artifacts Chapter 113: The Myriad Treasures Competition (Part 1)
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Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Xiao Wenbing's heart skipped a beat. He looked up, wanting to ask, but his hands were full of food, and he simply couldn't bring himself to do so.
However, he was extremely puzzled. Who was this person? Did they not even know the simple etiquette of knocking before entering?
Where is this place? This is the Jade Cauldron Sect!
It is one of the most recognized super sects in the cultivation world. Even the Heavenly Dao Sect, which is the most prestigious sect on Earth, is far inferior to it.
Since he arrived here, among the few people he'd met, even the outer disciple had been extremely polite. So who was this person so reckless this time?
Entering through the door were Hewlett-Packard and two others. Their identities were extraordinary; finding Xiao Wenbing's residence would be a simple matter of a word. However, the scene they encountered upon rudely pushing open the door was far beyond their expectations.
Xiao Wenbing was holding the thigh of an unidentified animal in one hand, and in the other hand he was rolling up something that looked like a large pancake. Both his hands were covered in soup, making him look quite disheveled.
HP frowned. This man was wolfing down his food like a starving ghost, lacking any composure or demeanor of a seasoned expert. His opinion of him immediately plummeted; he simply couldn't believe that the small round shield had truly been made by this man.
Upon seeing his master's and uncle's expressions, Ah Mo immediately understood their thoughts. However, since he was the one who had obtained this item, and the only way to find its original owner was to inquire from him. He immediately stepped forward and asked with a gentle smile, "May I ask how I should address you, fellow Daoist?"
"Waaah...waaah...waaah..." Xiao Wenbing answered, gesturing wildly.
"Huh?" Amo was taken aback. What kind of language was this? Was it a special dialect from some remote planet?
Suddenly seeing Xiao Wenbing's large mouth moving rapidly, they immediately realized that his mouth was stuffed full of something, which was why he couldn't speak for a moment.
After Xiao Wenbing finally managed to swallow, he twitched his lips slightly, as if to say he had managed a smile. He asked, "How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"
Xiao Wenbing
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, may I ask which master crafted the small round shield you brought today?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wenbing immediately understood. He smiled slightly, but couldn't help but feel a little proud: "It was indeed refined by my own hands."
HP's face darkened, and he snorted, saying, "You made it? Do you even know what kind of technique was used to make that round shield?"
“The art of Hundredfold Refinement,” Xiao Wenbing replied casually.
HP and the others were surprised; they hadn't expected this kid to have even heard of the Hundredfold Technique. Could it be that he really created it?
However, their wavering confidence was strengthened once again when their gaze swept over Xiao Wenbing's greasy hands.
Hui Ming flicked his wrist, and an object appeared in his hand. It was the small round shield that Xiao Wenbing had crafted. He asked in a deep voice, "The Hundred-Fold Technique. Easier said than done. Did you truly create it?"
Xiao Wenbing felt a slight dissatisfaction; these people were speaking to him as if he were a prisoner.
Too lazy to argue with them anymore, Xiao Wenbing raised his hand and beckoned, and the small round shield suddenly began to spin in Huiming's hand without warning.
Hui Ming was startled. Just as he was about to cast a spell, he saw the small round shield already flying in front of Xiao Wenbing.
The small round shield kept spinning, emitting rays of dark golden light in front of Xiao Wenbing, forming a wide defensive net.
Xiao Wenbing didn't use any spiritual power. He used only his mind, which is why the three people were completely unaware. He took advantage of this loophole.
This small round shield was a magical artifact he had painstakingly crafted, and a profound and mysterious connection had long been established between him and the shield. Therefore, with just a thought, Xiao Wenbing could control the small round shield to change according to his will.
Unless the energy contained in the small round shield itself is completely exhausted, Xiao Wenbing does not need to use even a little bit of spiritual power.
Hui Bao and the other two were simultaneously shocked. They weren't surprised by Xiao Wenbing's strength; a mere Core Formation stage cultivator, with that defensive net blocking his way, was simply not a threat to them.
However, no amount of flowery words can compare to actions. Xiao Wenbing's actions clearly told them one thing: he had indeed forged this small round shield himself. Otherwise, how could he wield it so skillfully, without even these three great masters noticing beforehand?
HP took a deep breath and stared intently. Sure enough, a Core Formation stage cultivator. He stared again, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets, but it was still the same – a Core Formation stage cultivator. The others exchanged glances, and at this moment, looking at the greasy soup in Xiao Wenbing's hands, they didn't find it particularly unacceptable.
Given that someone so young possesses such a level of skill, it's quite normal for their words and actions to be somewhat unusual... This is nothing more than the so-called extraordinary person or event.
HP gave a wry smile.
Finally admitting his mistake, he cupped his hands and said, "My apologies, it turns out this item really did come from your hand, fellow Daoist."
Seeing his change in attitude, Xiao Wenbing had a thought, and the small round shield immediately stopped spinning and flew into the Heavenly Void Ring with a whoosh.
"Thank you for your praise, senior. I was just lucky to have it for a moment," Xiao Wenbing said modestly.
"A stroke of good fortune?" The two old Taoists exchanged a glance. If it happened once, perhaps it really was a stroke of good fortune, but ten times in a row, even if Lady Luck were in his arms, there would be no such coincidence.
However, they would never say these words aloud. HP put on a broad smile and asked, "Fellow Daoist, you are too modest. May I ask how many years you have been studying weapon crafting?"
Xiao Wenbing quickly calculated in his mind and honestly replied, "It's been about half a year."
"Half...half a year?"
"Indeed, this small round shield is a complete first graffiti work, and it is really not worth mentioning."
"This is your first time?"
Xiao Wenbing was secretly furious. If someone heard this, who knows what kind of misunderstanding they would have? First of all, this is your first time.
He forced a smile, but there was no hint of amusement in his eyes or words: "Not bad. It is indeed the first time... the first time refining a weapon."
HP and the others stared wide-eyed at Xiao Wenbing, their gazes filled with disbelief as if they were looking at a rare treasure.
Xiao Wenbing rubbed his nose, thinking to himself, "I wasn't lying, it really was my first time refining... Success! Of course, the scrap metal in the Heavenly Void Ring doesn't count."
"Fellow Daoist Xiao... you are truly gifted. I have never seen anything like it in my life." Hewlett stared for a long time before finally withdrawing his gaze and sighing, "Fellow Daoist's Hundred Folding Technique is divine. You completed ten folds in one go. I am ashamed to admit that I am not as good as you."
Nodding inwardly, Xiao Wenbing felt a slight sense of disdain. This old Taoist priest didn't seem to have any real skills after all. Just a mere ten folds of magic, and he already felt inferior.
Elder Daoist Huiming also let out a long sigh. He greatly admired this young man in the Core Formation stage.
Xiao Wenbing stood there with a smile. After two years of cultivation in the Secret Talisman Sect, he was already used to the surprised expressions of these old Taoist priests. Just as he was about to say a few words of humility, he caught a glimpse of a very familiar figure flashing in from outside the door.
Master Xiao Wenbing was overjoyed and went to greet him.
The old Taoist priest chuckled. No matter what, seeing this prized disciple always filled him with genuine pride and satisfaction.
However, with a quick glance, the old Taoist priest Xianyun spotted the three uninvited guests in the room. His eyesight was extraordinary; he could tell at a glance that all three were above the Nascent Soul stage, and the old Taoist priest himself had even reached the Tribulation Transcending stage. Their cultivation was no less than his own.
"This humble Taoist priest is Huipu. May I ask for your Taoist name?"
"HP? The HP Daoist from the two elders of the Tianding Sect?" Elder Xianyun asked in surprise.
HP shrugged slightly and nodded with a smile.
Xiao Wenbing tugged at the robe of the old Taoist priest, Xianyun, and asked, "Master, are these two fellows very famous?"
The old Taoist priest, Xianyun, blushed. This disciple of his was truly clueless, asking such a question on his own turf; he really didn't know what was good for him. He straightened his face and said, "Master Huipu is a top-notch, renowned weapon-refining master in the cultivation world."
"A master weapon refiner?" Xiao Wenbing looked at the two men with extreme suspicion. He asked softly, "Master, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"Of course not," the old Taoist priest Xianyun said firmly.
“But…” Xiao Wenbing lowered his head and said in a very low voice, “He can’t even do ten-fold reinforcement. Can he really be considered a master weapon refiner?”
"Ten stacks plus one? What is that?" The old Taoist priest Xianyun was completely baffled.
Xiao Wenbing explained helplessly, "It's the Hundredfold Technique. After tenfolds, the magic weapon advances one level."
"Oh..." The old Taoist priest nodded in sudden understanding. Suddenly, his expression hardened, and he said angrily, "What do you mean you can't even do ten stacks to advance one? This hundred stacks is the supreme skill of Taoism. Let alone ten stacks to advance one, even four or five stacks are already extremely rare."