Chapter 266 Public Opinion, the Way of Weapon Forging

Cao Xiu moved very quickly.

First, within the Cao Family, information began to circulate in the residences of several Elders.

Grandmaster Shen had already accepted Cao Xiu's challenge and would perform Alchemy publicly at the Pill Tower on a chosen date, refining the same tier of Medicinal Pill to determine the winner based on quality.

The information was very detailed, even the date was set for the eighth of next month.

Immediately after, this wind blew out of Cao City and quickly spread to the entire Holy Pill City.

Within the Pill Tower, in tea houses, wine shops, and even at gatherings of various Family scions, everyone was discussing this matter.

"Have you heard? Cao Xiu is challenging Shen Wen to Alchemy!"

"Cao Xiu? The one from the Cao Family? Didn't he just return? Why is he going up against Shen Wen?"

"I heard he's dissatisfied with Shen Wen calling upon the Cao Family's resources, feeling that an outsider has no right to stand on equal footing with the Cao Family's direct daughter."

"Tsk tsk, there's a good show coming."

"What's there to see? Shen Wen is Tier 8, while Cao Xiu is only Tier 7 Intermediate. How can they compare?"

"You can't say that. They aren't comparing rank, but the same tier of Medicinal Pill."

"It means neither will use the Pill Formula they are best at, but will instead choose a Medicinal Pill of the same tier and difficulty level to refine, to see who does it better."

"That way, the advantage of a higher rank won't be as significant."

"That's interesting then. But I still think Shen Wen has a better chance of winning; he's the personal disciple of Old Ancestor Lin, after all. What does Cao Xiu have to compare?"

Similar discussions quickly evolved into more complex public opinion.

Some began to question: Since Shen Wen dared to accept the challenge, why hasn't he made a public statement?

Some said even worse things: Could it be that he's afraid?

After all, Cao Xiu has traveled abroad for many years and is said to have unique insights into the Dao of Alchemy.

Although Shen Wen is Tier 8, his age is right there. If it's truly a contest of fundamental skills for the same tier of Medicinal Pill, he might not necessarily win for sure.

Others pointed out subtly: If he can't even beat Cao Xiu, what right does he have to call upon the Cao Family's resources?

Behind this wave of public opinion, one could faintly smell the shadows of the Bai Family and the Qiu Family.

These two families had harbored resentment ever since their Elder seats were replaced by Shen Wen and Cao Ying, but they didn't dare to act openly because Shen Wen was currently at the height of his influence.

Now that they caught an opportunity, they naturally wanted to secretly add fuel to the fire.

For a time, there was a lot of discussion throughout the Pill Tower, with all kinds of voices being heard.

Some supported Shen Wen, feeling that Cao Xiu didn't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth;

Some watched coldly from the sidelines, waiting to see the excitement;

Others spoke sarcastically, saying that since Shen Wen hadn't shown his face yet, he must be feeling guilty.

Just as the public opinion reached its peak, a clear voice suddenly exploded within the Pill Tower.

"Who says Brother Shen Wen is afraid?!"

Dan Chen.

She stood on the steps outside the Pill Tower's Council Hall, her small face flushed red and her almond eyes wide, looking at the young Alchemists who had been speaking sarcastically just now.

"Brother Shen Wen just can't be bothered to deal with him! What do you know!"

The young men were startled by her sudden outburst and hurriedly backed away with sheepish smiles.

But Dan Chen was relentless and added another sentence: "Whoever spreads rumors again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

After saying that, she flicked her sleeves and left in a huff.

The news quickly reached the Shen Residence.

Shen Wen was sitting in the Flower Hall drinking tea, with a scroll of Pill Formula notes brought back from the Cao Family spread out beside him.

Cai Lin leaned on a soft couch, Xiao Yi Xian sat by the window flipping through a book, and Qing Lin stood quietly to the side pouring tea for him.

A figure in goose-yellow rushed in like a whirlwind.

"Brother Shen Wen!"

Dan Chen ran up to him, her eyes slightly red, her small face full of grievance and anger.

"Those people outside are too much! They say you're afraid of Cao Xiu and don't dare to accept the challenge!

They also say that if you can't win, you don't deserve to call upon the Cao Family's resources! I... I couldn't take it, so I scolded them!"

Shen Wen looked up, seeing her angry and anxious appearance, was stunned for a moment, and then laughed.

He put down the Pill Formula in his hand and reached out to rub Dan Chen's head.

"Silly girl."

After being rubbed like this, Dan Chen's anger dissipated a bit, but she still pouted: "Brother Shen Wen, why don't you go out and say something? Those people are spreading more and more ridiculous things!"

Shen Wen withdrew his hand, picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone indifferent:

"Why bother with them?"

Dan Chen was startled.

Shen Wen put down the teacup and looked at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes:

"For these people, acknowledging them is giving them too much face."

Dan Chen blinked, not quite reacting.

Shen Wen didn't explain further, but leaned back in his chair, gazing at the distant Pill Tower through the window frame. The smile on the corner of his mouth faded slightly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He had originally intended to be a bit more amiable for the sake of Cao Xiu being a member of the Cao Family.

After all, he was Cao Ying's cousin; if things got too ugly, it wouldn't look good for the Cao Family either.

So he let Cao Ying make the arrangements, thinking that when Cao Xiu came to the Shen Residence, they could sit down and have a good talk to clear things up.

But now it seemed that some people didn't want to be amiable.

Cao Xiu's momentum-building, the fermentation of public opinion, and the secret push from the Bai and Qiu Families... Shen Wen's fingertips lightly tapped the armrest as a series of thoughts flashed through his mind.

Although he didn't care about these idle rumors, he didn't like being roasted over a fire either.

Since the other party wanted a result, he would give them one.

Only, this result might not be the one Cao Xiu wanted.

"Chen'er."

Shen Wen spoke.

Dan Chen hurriedly leaned in: "Hmm?"

Shen Wen looked at her, his tone calm:

"Go back and tell them that on the eighth of next month, I will perform Alchemy publicly at the Pill Tower. I will be on the same stage as Cao Xiu, refining the same tier of Medicinal Pill."

He paused, the corners of his lips curling into a faint arc:

"Tell him to invite everyone he wants to invite."

Dan Chen's eyes lit up: "Brother Shen Wen, you're finally going to take action!"

She nodded vigorously, turned to run out, then turned back after two steps: "I'll go tell them right now!"

Before she could finish her sentence, the goose-yellow figure had already rushed out of the Flower Hall.

Cai Lin leaned on the soft couch, turned a page of her book, and said indifferently:

"What, don't plan on being amiable anymore?"

Shen Wen smiled and didn't respond.

Xiao Yi Xian looked up from the window and said softly: "Cao Xiu is young and impetuous after all. After being praised by others, he no longer knows his own worth."

Shen Wen picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Young and impetuous?

He was also a young man.

Shen Wen indeed didn't take the matter to heart.

Cao Xiu's challenge, the public opinion in the Pill Tower, and the fuel added by the Bai and Qiu Families were nothing more than petty tricks in his eyes.

When the eighth arrived, once the cauldron was opened and the pill was formed, all the voices would naturally vanish.

His mind was now entirely on another matter.

The heaven burning cauldron.

This cauldron was a System reward. It was originally meant for Cao Ying, but it was said that she had her own cauldron while Shen Wen lacked a suitable one.

Therefore, after her favorability reached 50%, Shen Wen took it for his own use.

Now that he had obtained the Yuqing Artifact Refining Method and looked at this cauldron again, he found that there was a lot to it.

The patterns on the cauldron were not simple decorations, but layers of runic arrays.

The position, depth, and direction of every line conformed to a certain profound law, collectively forming a complete System of Formations.

Gathering fire, dissipating heat, stabilizing pressure, and resisting impact... each had its own role, coordinating seamlessly.

"This is true Artifact Refining."