341: Chapter 341 Mo Feng and the others' plan: Once Xu Ruyu comes out, they'll give him a good humiliation.

Inside the Illusory Moon Well, time passed quietly.

Xu Ruyu stayed in the Artifact Refinement Hut for seven days.

During these seven days, he hardly stepped out; his meals were delivered to the door of the Artifact Refining Room by people sent by the Taihao Clan.

He worked tirelessly, researching, forging, and improving, repeatedly optimizing the design of "poqi type i." Building on that, he began developing improved versions of the "Chuan Yang Type I" sniper unit and the "Lei Hou Type I" support cannon.

The Taihao Clan didn't say it out loud, but she ran to the Artifact Refining Room every day, calling it "supervision" when she was actually stealing his techniques.

Squatting in a corner, she watched Xu Ruyu operate those strange devices with wide eyes, asking questions from time to time and occasionally offering suggestions for improvement.

As a Saint Realm Artifact Refiner, her insight was indeed sharp; she pointed out flaws in Xu Ruyu's designs several times, which benefited him greatly.

Yue Ling also visited a few times.

Unlike the Taihao Clan, she didn't squat in a corner but stood quietly to the side, watching Xu Ruyu's focused back with a faint smile always on her lips.

She never disturbed him, only watching for a while before quietly leaving.

But every time she left, a carefully prepared serving of spiritual fruit and clear tea would appear in the Artifact Refining Room.

Xu Ruyu's attitude toward the master and Disciple gradually shifted from initial nervousness and apprehension to becoming accustomed to their presence.

Although the Taihao Clan was stubborn, she no longer mentioned "castration"; Yue Ling, on the other hand, always looked at him with such a gentle gaze that it made his heart tremble. It made him feel uneasy, yet strangely... expectant?

He didn't know what this feeling was, but for now, he had no time to dwell on it.

Artifact Refining, after all, was the most important thing.

...

However, outside the Illusory Moon Well, it was a different story.

In Elder Mo Feng's private courtyard.

"What? Xu Ruyu has hidden himself in the Illusory Moon Well?"

Mo Feng, sitting in the seat of honor, was momentarily stunned by the news before bursting into laughter.

Elder Kumu stroked his beard and chuckled sinisterly, "It seems this Great Saint Master also knows he's disgraced himself and is hiding away, afraid to face anyone."

Hu Yong added with a smile, "It's said he's been in there for seven days and has yet to come out.

Over at the Fire Cloud Cave, many Disciples are waiting to see him make a fool of himself."

Mo Feng laughed even more heartily, "Good, good, good! He can hide for a while, but not forever! He has to come out eventually!"

He stood up and paced the hall, his eyes gleaming with calculating light. "Tell me, when he comes out, how should we 'welcome' this Great Saint Master?"

Kumu said, "Why not have people wait outside the Illusory Moon Well? As soon as he emerges, invite him to the Fire Cloud Cave to publicly display the 'results' of his recent Artifact Refining. The last explosion was so spectacular; maybe this time will be even better!"

Hu Yong smiled, "Brother Kumu, that's a brilliant idea. However, just a display might not be enough.

It would be best to find a few Disciples with decent Artifact Refining skills to 'exchange pointers' with him and see whose Spiritual Artifacts are better.

If he dares to accept, he'll be humiliated in public. If he doesn't, it will only further cement his reputation as a 'useless coward'."

Mo Feng's eyes lit up. "Good! Let's do that!

Go, find a few Disciples who are articulate and have decent Artifact Refining skills, and have them prepare well.

As soon as that Xu Ruyu comes out, block his way!"

He paused, then added, "Oh, and call more people to watch.

The more people there are, the more complete his humiliation will be.

Better yet, bring the Disciples of the Hehuan Sect as well. Let them see with their own eyes what kind of person their proud Sect Master really is!"

The three of them looked at each other and laughed, their laughter filled with malice.

Thus, in the following days, several "patrolling" Disciples appeared outside the Illusory Moon Well. They staked out the place day and night, waiting for the moment Xu Ruyu would emerge.

Meanwhile, news of Xu Ruyu "hiding in the Illusory Moon Well, afraid to face anyone" spread rapidly across the entire Tianyin Mountains, fueled by those with ulterior motives.

"Have you heard? Sect Leader Xu has hidden in the Illusory Moon Well and hasn't come out for seven days!"

"Hiding? He's definitely too ashamed to show his face! After that explosion in the Fire Cloud Cave, I'd hide too."

"Haha, maybe he's secretly practicing his craft in the Illusory Moon Well! Once he's mastered it, he'll come out and shock everyone!"

"Forget it! With his skill level, even if he practiced for ten thousand years, he'd still be destined for explosions!"

These mocking words naturally reached the ears of the Hehuan Sect Disciples.

Inside Qixia Valley, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

A few young Disciples gathered, their faces filled with worry.

"Has the Sect Master... really gone into hiding?"

"Don't talk nonsense! The Sect Master must have his reasons!"

"But the rumors outside are so nasty... our Hehuan Sect's reputation is almost completely ruined."

"What if we're disgraced? What can we do? We can't outfight them, and we can't outtalk them. We can only endure it!"

"Sigh... Senior Sister Leng and the others haven't come out to handle this either. They're in seclusion every day, and who knows what they're practicing."

"I heard it's a new Cultivation Technique given by the Sect Master... I wonder if it's even useful."

"A new Cultivation Technique? Hmph, the Sect Master's own Artifact Refining ends in explosions; how good can the Cultivation Technique he gives be?"

"Stop talking! If someone hears us, they'll laugh at us again!"