46: Chapter 46 Ye Fan's scheme exposes the truth.

In the early morning of the inner city of Tianji City, the thin mist had not yet dispersed, and the morning sunlight sprinkled onto the bluestone slabs through the gaps between high buildings.

"Have you heard? Yesterday, someone was drinking at a tea stall near the black market and let it slip while drunk that the Lin Feng being hunted by the whole world is hiding right here in our Tianji City, and that he even has ties to an Artifact Refining Family in the western district of the inner city!"

"Is that true?"

"They spoke with such vivid detail, even mentioning things like 'Heavenly Craft' and the 'divine artisan hammer of heaven'..."

"The divine artisan hammer of heaven? Isn't that one of the tokens of the 'Tiangong Realm'? Is Lin Feng eyeing that thing?"

"Shh—keep your voice down! I heard that Tianji Pavilion and Divine Weapon Valley have already secretly sent more people to patrol the western district of the inner city..."

These whispers were, naturally, spread by Su Qianxue last night without leaving a trace, following Ye Fan's instructions. She did not directly point to 'Duobao Pavilion' or the 'Liu Family', but only provided enough keywords for interested parties to follow the clues themselves.

At this moment, the doors of 'Duobao Pavilion' had opened early. The shop was cleaned until it was spotless, and a few pots of festive spirit flowers had been placed out.

The shopkeeper, Liu Chengzong, was wearing a brand-new brocade robe. He forced a smile onto his face, but his eyes betrayed anxiety and anticipation as he looked outside from time to time.

Just then—thump! Thump! Thump!

The knocking was neither too light nor too heavy, but it had a very steady rhythm, as if it were knocking on everyone's heart.

Liu Chengzong perked up, hurriedly adjusted his robes, put on a smile, and walked quickly toward the door: "Coming! I'm coming!"

The door opened.

Standing outside the door was not the grand betrothal procession he had expected, nor was it that Young Master 'Lin Feng'.

Instead, it was a young scholar dressed in a semi-old cyan robe with an ordinary face and a calm demeanor, accompanied by a maid in a light blue dress with delicate features.

It was none other than Ye Fan and Su Qianxue, who had disguised themselves.

"Who are you two..." Liu Chengzong frowned slightly. Today was the big day for Young Master Lin's betrothal; he had no heart to receive ordinary customers.

"I am Ye Qingfeng, and I have brought my maid, Xiaoxue, to specifically request a custom-made protective Magic Treasure from your shop." Ye Fan cupped his hands, his voice gentle.

"Custom-made Magic Treasure?" Liu Chengzong glanced at him, and seeing his ordinary attire and mediocre cultivation, he felt contempt in his heart and replied perfunctorily, "Apologies, our shop has important matters today and is not receiving outside guests. Please come back another day!" As he said this, he prepared to close the door.

"Wait a moment, Shopkeeper Liu!" Ye Fan stepped forward to block the door, looking at him with calm eyes. "The Magic Treasure I require is quite special; it needs the Dao rhythm of the 'divine artisan hammer of heaven' as a guide to be refined. I heard your shop possesses this as an heirloom, so I came specifically to try. Price is not an issue."

When the five words 'divine artisan hammer of heaven' were uttered, Liu Chengzong's expression changed drastically! His pupils contracted, and his eyes flashed with vigilance, shock, and even panic! This was the Liu Family's greatest secret; outsiders absolutely should not know about it! How did this scholar know?

"You... what are you spouting! What divine artisan hammer of heaven? I've never even heard of it!" Liu Chengzong shouted, trying to sound tough, but the trembling in his voice betrayed him.

"Is that so?" Ye Fan curled the corner of his lips. "Perhaps I heard wrong. However, I also heard that your shop has a happy occasion today? Are you marrying into the Family of a Young Master surnamed 'Lin'?"

"Who exactly are you?" Liu Chengzong completely lost his composure and demanded sternly, the aura of his Middle Stage Golden Core pressing toward Ye Fan. "Who sent you?"

"Shopkeeper Liu, there is no need to be nervous." Facing the pressure, Ye Fan's expression remained unchanged. "I am just a passing Loose Cultivator who happened to hear some interesting rumors. I also happen to know a thing or two about the Dao of Artifact Refining and have studied the Dao rhythm of that 'divine artisan hammer of heaven'. I came today, firstly, to verify the truth of the rumors, and secondly, to offer Shopkeeper Liu a word of advice."

"What advice?" Liu Chengzong's face was gloomy. He did not reduce the pressure, but the unease in his heart grew heavier.

"To remind Shopkeeper Liu not to be blinded by the false Legacy and promises of someone with ulterior motives, only to end up sacrificing your daughter, ruining your Family, and even letting others take your heirloom as a dowry."

"You... what exactly do you know?" Liu Chengzong's voice was now filled with shock and anger.

"I know that Young Master 'Lin Feng' is actually not a descendant of some reclusive Artifact Refining Family." Ye Fan's gaze was like a torch as he looked straight at him. "His true identity is the one ranked sixth on the golden list, possessing the Chaos Dao Body, hunted by the entire world, and carrying the chaos bell fragment—Lin Feng!"

This sentence exploded like a thunderclap. Liu Chengzong was struck as if by lightning and stood frozen on the spot. Liu Mengli and several shop assistants also had their expressions change drastically—although Liu Mengli already had her suspicions, having it pointed out so directly was still incredibly shocking.

"You... you are spouting blood!" Liu Chengzong came back to his senses and roared, trying to sound tough. "Young Master Lin clearly demonstrated profound Artifact Refining skills—"

"What he demonstrated was likely not any profound Artifact Refining skill." Ye Fan sneered. "It was an illusion created by forcibly 'assimilating' and 'enhancing' the material and Dao markings of the Magic Treasure using the power of Chaos. It looks miraculous, but in reality, the Foundation is unstable, and it is harmful rather than beneficial for the long-term use of the Magic Treasure. It is even more impossible to replicate or promote. If Shopkeeper Liu doesn't believe me, you can take out the Magical Artifact he 'enhanced' that day and ask a true Artifact Refining Grandmaster to verify it, and you will know the truth."

Liu Chengzong's face turned deathly pale in an instant. It wasn't that he hadn't doubted it, but the effect 'Lin Feng' had demonstrated that day was simply too shocking. Coupled with his state of mind—eager to find a way out—he had chosen to believe. Now, with Ye Fan pointing it out so bluntly, the doubt and unease in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

"Furthermore, his true purpose in approaching the Liu Family was never about any Legacy Fusion or Family revival." Ye Fan continued. "He only had his eyes on the 'divine artisan hammer of heaven' fragment that the Liu Family has passed down, wanting to use it to find the Legacy of the 'Tiangong Realm'; marrying Miss Liu was merely to seize the fragment more conveniently and legitimately, and to tie the Liu Family to his war chariot, using you as a cover to evade his pursuers, or as an abandoned pawn or scapegoat in a crisis."

"No... impossible... Young Master Lin clearly promised..." Liu Chengzong's voice began to tremble, and his conviction began to waver.

"Promises?" Ye Fan scoffed. "To a desperate fugitive who betrayed his master and Sect and is hunted by the whole world, what is a promise worth? He can even betray his own Sect and teachers, so why would he care about a promise to a tiny Liu Family? Shopkeeper Liu, do you really think that by latching onto him, the Liu Family will soar to the skies? No, you are dragging the Liu Family into an abyss of eternal doom. When that time comes, not only will Miss Liu's life be ruined and the heirloom stolen, but the entire Liu Family could face total annihilation for harboring and hiding Lin Feng. Are you not aware of the methods of Tianji Pavilion, Divine Weapon Valley, and Beast Taming Villa?"

Ye Fan's words were more piercing than the last, shattering the last trace of luck and fantasy in Liu Chengzong's heart.

With a "thump," Liu Chengzong stumbled backward and plopped onto the chair behind him. His face was deathly pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes were filled with lingering fear, regret, and deep terror.

"Shopkeeper Liu, it is not too late to repent." Ye Fan watched this scene without much ripple in his heart. "Since that Lin Feng agreed to come for the betrothal today, he will definitely send someone. At this very moment, there may already be countless eyes watching this place in the dark. Every move you make now could determine the life or death of the Liu Family."

Liu Chengzong raised his head abruptly, a glimmer of seeking help flashing in his eyes: "Young Master... since you know so much, do you have a way to save my Liu Family? I am willing to offer the heirloom fragment; I only ask that you point out a clear path to save the lives of my entire Liu Family!"

"I do not want the fragment." Ye Fan shook his head. "I came here simply because I could not bear to see an innocent young woman and a Family harmed by a villain and ruined for nothing. It is not advice, but there is indeed a way that might allow the Liu Family to escape this crisis, and perhaps even turn a misfortune into a blessing."

"What method?" Liu Chengzong and Liu Mengli asked eagerly at the same time.

Ye Fan's gaze swept over the street outside the shop, which looked calm but was actually undercurrents surging, and then he looked at the father and daughter before him, slowly speaking: "It is very simple: play along with his scheme, lure the snake out of its hole—and then expose Lin Feng's true face in public."