The goddess of weapon crafting was dumbfounded; her request to see her was refused at the door!

Chen Family, quiet room.

Chen Ruoxi sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, her pretty face, which was usually untouched by the mundane world, now filled with exhaustion and confusion.

In the Refining Cauldron before her, a newly formed short sword was emitting unstable buzzing sounds, the spiritual light on its blade flickering as if it might go out completely at any moment.

Ever since the Wasteland Hunt ended, Chen Ruoxi had locked herself in here, not stepping out for seven whole days and nights.

The "illustrated manual of heavenly craftsmanship" that Lin Yuan gave her had opened a door to a whole new world for her!

The Artifact Refining techniques recorded in the book were exquisite and peerless, overturning everything she had known for the past twenty years!

In just seven short days, her Artifact Refining level had undergone a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering change!

Whereas she used to struggle for days just to dismantle an ordinary Magical Artifact, now, she could grasp its structure clearly in a single thought.

Those complex and obscure basic spiritual power circuits had become as simple and clear as a child's doodle in her eyes.

Three days ago, she even successfully refined a profound-grade supreme "Ice Soul Hairpin"!

This was an achievement she would never have dared to imagine before!

However.

When she confidently opened the chapter on "Artifact Spirit Cultivation," she hit an impenetrable wall!

She strictly followed the methods recorded in the manual, carefully injecting her purest Qi into her proudest work, attempting to awaken the sleeping artifact spirit.

But!

No matter how many times she tried, the short sword remained like a stubborn rock, completely unresponsive.

Just a moment ago, during her last attempt, the short sword in the cauldron suddenly shuddered violently.

A surge of violent Qi rushed up her arm, viciously rebounding back at her!

Pfft!

Dozens of fine bloodstains instantly appeared on Chen Ruoxi's arm, and blood stained her plain white sleeves red.

The piercing pain brought her to her senses instantly.

She looked at her arm, scorched by the Qi, and then at the "illustrated manual of heavenly craftsmanship" she held as a treasure, a deep sense of powerlessness appearing on her face.

Something is wrong!

There must be something wrong somewhere!

She had repeatedly simulated it for three days and nights, going over every word and every step in the manual in her mind at least ten thousand times!

Yet, she still couldn't find the source of the problem.

She realized that this was no longer a problem that could be solved by Comprehension Ability alone.

There must be a deeper trick to it that she didn't know!

And the only person in the world who could solve this puzzle was likely one person.

Lin Yuan!

That man's figure uncontrollably emerged in her mind.

Recalling his indifference when he casually threw this Secret Manual, which was enough to drive the entire Artifact Refining world crazy, to her like trash.

Recalling his miracles in the Wasteland, where he formed a Formation with a single thought, shattered stars with a punch, and turned a sword into a vast ocean!

Recalling his lazy, yawning appearance when facing the world-destroying palm strike from her grandfather, Lin Zhan...

An unprecedented sense of frustration, intertwined with an even stronger, almost chest-bursting desire!

She took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

A trace of unprecedented determination flashed in her cold, clear eyes.

If you don't understand, go ask!

...

Thinking of this.

She changed into her most appropriate plain-colored long dress and carefully combed her black hair.

Then, she carefully placed the "illustrated manual of heavenly craftsmanship" into an exquisite brocade box.

After doing all this, she didn't notify anyone.

Alone, carrying both trepidation and anticipation, she arrived outside the gate of the manor that was now like a Holy Land in the entire Yan Capital.

Lin Family Manor.

The magnificent gate exuded an air of majesty under the sunlight.

Standing at the entrance were just two ordinary guards.

But Chen Ruoxi could feel the faint, iron-blooded aura of slaughter on them.

This was an aura that could only be honed from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!

Just two gate-keeping guards were actually battle-hardened elites who had been on the battlefield and seen life and death!

Chen Ruoxi's heart couldn't help but sink further.

She adjusted her dress, walked forward, and bowed slightly to the two guards.

"This humble girl, Chen Ruoxi, has an urgent matter and requests to see Lin Yuan... Young Master Lin."

Her voice carried a trace of nervousness that she herself hadn't even noticed.

One of the guards looked at her expressionlessly.

His voice sounded very polite, yet carried an unquestionable firmness: "Young Miss Chen, I apologize, but my Young Master has ordered that no one is allowed to disturb him."

Boom!

Chen Ruoxi's mind went blank.

She had imagined countless possibilities.

Being mocked, being given a hard time, or even being directly chased away.

But she never expected such a sentence, which was understated yet completely blocked off all her hopes!

"I... I am not here to dwell on the past!"

Chen Ruoxi panicked and quickly explained, "I am here to ask for advice on Artifact Refining! I..."

However, the guard just shook his head and interrupted her.

"Young Miss Chen, please return."

"These are the Young Master's exact words."

The other guard, seemingly feeling that she was a bit pitiful, broke his habit and added one more sentence.

Having said that.

The two guards stood like two statues, returning to silence and not looking at her again.

Chen Ruoxi stood there stiffly.

A light breeze blew, lifting the hem of her plain-colored dress and messing up her carefully combed hair.

She felt like a huge joke.

Endless grievance and unwillingness welled up in her heart.

She really wanted to turn around and leave right then and there.

But...

She couldn't do it!

That "Artifact Spirit Cultivation" method was like an invisible hook, firmly snagging her heart!

She was unwilling!

She was unwilling to just stop here!

She bit her lip and stood outside the gilded gate, letting the cold wind blow.

Her gaze, however, was fixed tightly on the pavilion faintly visible deep within the manor.

She wasn't leaving!

She would wait here today!

She didn't believe that man could stay inside forever!

...

Time passed, second by second.

The sun slowly shifted west from directly overhead.

Chen Ruoxi still stood stubbornly at the entrance of Lin Family Manor like a stone statue waiting for her husband.

The two guards at the entrance never looked at her again from beginning to end.

As if she were just a non-existent mass of air.

Just as Chen Ruoxi's heart sank into the abyss bit by bit, about to be swallowed by despair.

A crisp, happy voice like a silver bell suddenly came from inside the manor.

"Charge! Little rabbits in the back mountain, I, the great Devil King Lin Ke'er, am coming!"

Creak—

The side gate of the manor was pushed open.

A little girl with twin tails, wearing a pink princess dress, looking carved from jade and cutely to the point of being unfair, ran out, skipping while holding a stack of Formation Jade Slips taller than herself.

It was the little princess of the Lin family, Lin Ke'er.

She was preparing to go to the back mountain to test her newly researched "automatic rabbit catching Formation."

As soon as she stepped out, she saw the woman in the plain dress standing in the cold wind, her figure appearing exceptionally thin and lonely.

"Eh?"

Lin Ke'er stopped and tilted her cute little head.

She blinked her big eyes, which were brighter than the stars, and curiously sized up Chen Ruoxi.

This big sister is so pretty.

Seems like... have I seen her somewhere?

Oh! I remember!

It was at the last banquet!

She seems to be...

The Young Miss from the Chen family!

Lin Ke'er was naturally outgoing, and besides, the other person was a pretty big sister.

She immediately moved her short legs and ran over, pit-a-pat.

"Sister Chen, why are you standing here? The weather is so cold, why don't you go inside and sit?"

Lin Ke'er tilted her little face up, her voice soft, sweet, and full of concern.

Chen Ruoxi stiffened all over.

She looked at the girl who had suddenly appeared before her, as warm as a little sun, and for a moment, she was at a loss.

Lin Yuan's... younger sister?

She recognizes me?

A huge wave of hope, like a volcanic eruption, instantly dispelled all the grievance and despair in her heart!