Chapter 1023: Bent

The cultivation technique he practiced had been personally passed down by the other party, and whenever he encountered problems, he was personally guided, never relying on others. For this reason, he had always been grateful to this Grandmaster Artificer, feeling that he had disgraced him, and would rather die than let him be implicated...

Why did he suddenly refuse to acknowledge it now?

Nonsense!

Flicking his sleeve, Sun Jin snorted coldly: "You're just an apprentice, not a registered student, let alone a personal disciple. What qualifies you for me to teach you techniques and personally guide you?"

I... Song Zhen swayed.

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

Back then, when the other party had taught him the technique, he had said it was extremely powerful and that if others knew, they would covet it, so he should not spread it... Now that he refused to acknowledge it, there was no way to explain.

After all, given his status, he indeed had no right to have a dignified six-star artificer personally teach him a technique.

"I raised you for twenty years, and instead of being grateful, you bring people to harm my disciple. Song Zhen, you have quite the nerve..."

Sun Jin roared loudly.

"The acting is a bit overdone..."

Seeing the other's increasingly imposing manner, as if he were righteous and indignant, Zhang Xuan tapped the table, raised his eyelids, and looked over: "Forget it, since you don't want to tell the truth, it seems I'll have to think of other methods!"

With that, he flicked his finger.

Bang!

Sun Jin immediately felt as if struck by lightning, flew backward, and crashed heavily to the ground, spitting blood.

You...

Not expecting the other to directly attack, and with just a light finger flick that he couldn't withstand, Sun Jin trembled, filled with disbelief.

Too arrogant!

This was the Artificer Guild!

He had barged in directly and attacked him without fear, treating the guild as if it were nothing!

"Well? Remember what happened?" Wiping his fingers with his sleeve as if disgusted, Zhang Xuan continued to look at him.

You...

Face flushed with anger, Sun Jin gritted his teeth and refused to admit: "Everything I said is the truth!"

Truth?

"Exactly. He's just an apprentice, not even a one-star artificer. What qualifies him for me to lie?"

Sun Jin's eyes showed a fierce glint as he looked at Zhang Xuan and roared: "And you, whoever you are, acting so arrogantly in the Artificer Guild, you're dead..."

If he hadn't known about Song Zhen's situation beforehand, looking at the other's demeanor, he would have believed him. Now, recalling his deeds, Zhang Xuan felt no sympathy but shook his head, full of disappointment: "It seems you still don't want to tell the truth!"

This Sun Jin was indeed cunning. Knowing that once such deeds were discovered, the punishment would be severe, he had prepared in advance.

As long as he didn't admit to having taught Song Zhen the technique, no one, no matter how capable, could do anything.

After all, it was only private instruction, and now most of those apprentices were dead, so no evidence could be found.

Such tactics might fool others, but they could never fool him!

If he truly wanted him to speak, he had at least dozens of methods.

Letting him speak on his own was just giving him a chance.

"What I said is the truth..."

Sun Jin stiffened his neck, but before he could finish, he felt another pain in his chest and flew backward again. This time, the injury was worse; his internal organs felt as if stirred by something, and he lay on the ground, barely able to stand.

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

"Even if you kill me, it's useless... If you dare kill me, you will be hunted by the Artificer Guild..." Sun Jin roared.

He knew that once he admitted it, he would not only lose his reputation but might also be 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!"

He flicked his finger again, and a sword light flew straight toward him.

Stop!

Just then, with a loud shout, three white-bearded elders rushed in. Seeing the sword light, they struck simultaneously.

They all wore the distinctive robes of artificers, with six-star badges shining brightly on their chests. As they attacked together, their power flowed like a river.

Boom!

The forces collided and dissipated.

One of the elders, with prominent brows and a dignified air, stepped forward, stared at Zhang Xuan seated in the main seat, and spoke with anger.

"Friend, barging into the Artificer Guild and severely injuring one of our elders—is this disregarding our guild, or the entire artificer profession?"

"He is... President Zhong..."

Song Zhen's neck involuntarily shrank, and fearing Zhang Xuan didn't know, he quietly transmitted a message.

President Zhong?

"Mm, President Zhong Mingchun is a peak Saint Realm First Layer expert and a peak six-star artificer... His strength is even slightly greater than the head of the Master Teacher Hall... He's considered the strongest..."

Song Zhen was anxious.

Due to its unique geography, Fire Source City excelled in artificing and alchemy far beyond other places. For this reason, President Zhong's level was even slightly higher than the head of the Master Teacher Hall, making him the top figure.

Such a strong man personally intervening... The matter had escalated so much; how would it end?

"President Zhong, save me... He attacked me, defying all laws. He must be killed, his body burned with earthfire..."

Before Zhang Xuan could respond, Sun Jin, struggling to get up, roared loudly.

"I am also an artificer, so naturally I wouldn't disregard the guild or the profession!"

Ignoring the roaring man, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist and took out a badge with a six-star emblem.

A six-star artificer?

Seeing the badge, President Zhong frowned and said solemnly: "Even if you are a fellow six-star artificer, any grievances must be reported to the headquarters for a life-or-death duel. Without a word, you charge into the guild and injure people. Don't think of leaving today. Form the formation!"

With that, he waved his hand.

Clatter!

The two elders beside him immediately changed positions, forming a special formation that enveloped him.

"I've revealed my identity, yet as the president, you don't ask why I acted but instead set up a formation against me... Isn't that a bit too arbitrary?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

Even after stating he was a six-star artificer, the other party didn't ask the reason but chose to attack, all while talking about rules—clearly showing bias.

"First, subdue this man who disregards the guild!"

Ignoring his words, President Zhong let out a long roar and suddenly struck forward.

Boom!

As he attacked, the other two elders in position also opened their palms. The three streams of true energy immediately formed a special formation in the air, enveloping the entire hall.

Within the formation, the three men's strengths interlinked, replenishing each other continuously, boosting individual combat power by nearly double. Previously, President Zhong was only at peak Saint Realm First Layer, but now he could probably hold his own against an early Saint Realm Second Layer expert.

The Purple Moon Three-Star Formation?

Looking at it, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

As a peak six-star formation master, he recognized the formation at a glance, despite its immense power.

The Purple Moon Three-Star Formation was created two thousand years ago by a Saint Realm Grandmaster of formations. It could be executed by three people, and once formed, a special transmission link would appear in the center, converging their power to unleash combat strength far beyond their combined efforts.

President Zhong and the other two had used this move from the start, presumably because they sensed his strength and held nothing back.

"Since you recognize it, surrender obediently, and we might show leniency. Otherwise, today is your death day!"

With a cold laugh, President Zhong's palm churned with true energy, ready to erupt at any moment.

Death day?

Zhang Xuan shook his head, his eyes full of disappointment: "As president, you allow Sun Jin to commit such heinous acts without restraint, and instead attack me... It seems the Fire Source City Artificer Guild indeed needs to be disciplined!"

Even if his insight was inferior to his own and he couldn't see the problem with Song Zhen's technique, Sun Jin had acquired many ores over the years—surely the president must have heard something!

Whether he was unaware or deliberately tolerant, this was serious dereliction of duty and could be dealt with directly.

"First, worry about saving yourself!"

Seeing that this fellow not only wasn't afraid but also spoke big words, President Zhong was so angry his beard bristled. He stepped forward, his aura like a dragon, and true energy poured down.

Boom!

Violent power condensed into a sword light in the air, stabbing straight toward him.

Be careful!

Seeing the power of the sword light, which seemed capable of piercing heaven and earth, and that even a Saint Realm Second Layer expert would find hard to withstand, Song Zhen's face turned pale as he shouted.

The other had come here for him; if he were killed, even in death he would feel guilty.

As his shout ended, he was about to step forward to help when he saw the young man not far away raise his eyelids, pick up the tea on the table, and gently splash it.

Hum!

The surging true energy sword immediately bent, changed direction, and shot upward...

Boom!

The sword struck the roof, sending dust flying.

A cup of water finished it? This...

Startled, Song Zhen rubbed his eyes vigorously.

The Purple Moon Three-Star Formation could perfectly combine the power of three people, making them nearly invincible at the same level... This guy casually splashed a cup of tea and bent the strongest attack of the three... How did he do it?

Not only was he puzzled, but President Zhong and the others were also stunned.

Without even attacking, a casual splash of tea altered the formation's power—it was simply incredible, beyond belief.

"This guy is strange. Use your strongest moves..."

President Zhong roared, and the three elders simultaneously drew their long swords, their cold light dazzling, forming three cold streams that stabbed toward Zhang Xuan again.

"This is bad..."

Seeing that the other side had switched to real swords instead of true energy, clearly enraged, Song Zhen's face turned pale. Just as he was wondering how the young man would deal with it, he saw him raise his eyebrows with anger: "Endless, aren't you?"

With that, he lifted the stool from under him with one hand and strode forward.

A stool...

Seeing his action, Song Zhen felt his body sway and nearly spat blood.

The three opponents wielded top-grade spirit weapons, and one even held a half-saint artifact. But you... picked up a stool and charged in—do you think this is a street brawl?

How... could this work?