Qin Ruqing stared at the woman’s face and suddenly widened her eyes, vigorously shaking her sister’s arm. “Sister, isn’t she the fiery lady who covered us in sand when we first arrived in Xiling?”

“She looks so dazzling in gold!”

Tang Zifeng couldn’t help but glance at Qin Ruqing. “She’s just a woman. Why do you use so many strange adjectives?”

Lu Wei’s eyes also lit up as she stared at the woman’s jewelry, nodding vigorously. “She really suits this style!”

Seeing the misunderstanding, Yang Wenxu stepped forward to explain, “Ladies, those aren’t just ornaments; they’re decorative spiritual weapons!”

Qin Ruqing exclaimed in surprise and looked to Tang Zifeng for confirmation.

Tang Zifeng nodded silently and said softly, “She’s covered from head to toe with spiritual weapons. She’s a bona fide crafter and very bold and confident.”

Yang Wenxu nodded in agreement. “It’s said among crafters that if a crafted spiritual weapon can’t be showcased, it shouldn’t be openly worn. So, anyone covered in spiritual weapons either has an outspoken personality or is an extremely formidable crafter. Either way, you should give way when you see them.”

Qirong was puzzled. “If it’s a formidable crafter, it makes sense to give way. But if it’s someone with an attitude problem, why bother?”

Qin Ruqing smirked, “Because we shouldn’t associate with idiots!”

Her remark caused Lu Wei, Tang Zifeng, and others to burst into laughter.

Qin Ruqing’s gaze remained fixed on the beautiful woman. “She must be the latter.”

Yang Wenxu affirmed Qin Ruqing’s guess. “She’s Lin Yijun, the only daughter of the Lin family patriarch. Also born into a crafting family, she’s been renowned since childhood. Her fame in Xiling City is just slightly below Tang Biao’s.”

So, she was from the Lin family.

Qin Ruqing was familiar with the Lin family, a rising star among Xiling’s noble families, boasting three Foundation Establishment cultivators and considerable strength.

After this little incident, Qin Ruqing and her group proceeded smoothly.

With two cultivators clearing the way, they quickly reached the registration hall.

A staff member resembling an executive officer of the Immortal Goods Bureau glanced at them and asked, “Who among you is participating?”

Qin Ruqing pointed to Tang Zifeng, dressed in a black robe.

Tang Zifeng stepped forward, and the officer began verifying his qualifications for participation.

Name, age, and other details were easily confirmed, but when it came to filling in the family section, Tang Zifeng paused.

Unexpectedly, he filled in “Qin.” Qin Ruqing, standing beside him, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow subtly at the sight.

Tang Zifeng seemed to anticipate their thoughts and explained, “Since I’m no longer part of that family and am now a guest elder of the Qin family, it represents the Qin family’s participation without error.”

Qin Ruqing smiled and nodded, seeming quite satisfied with Tang Zifeng’s explanation.

The officer, upon seeing the name “Qin,” showed a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Normally, he would have to scrutinize this family because there was no Qin family in Xiling; evidently, they were from an external domain.

But recently, the term “Qin” had started to gain attention in Xiling…

The surname Qin was indeed very prominent in Xiling.

Nowadays, everyone in the streets and alleys of Xiling knew about the official cooperation with the Qin family—

Qin Shijia!

Seeing the hesitation of the officer, Qin Ruqing asked, “Do you need to verify the identity?”

As she spoke, she took out an identity token with the Qin family crest engraved on it, not the heavy-duty ones from earlier, but a standard one.

Unexpectedly, the officer shook his head.

He looked respectfully at Qin Ruqing, as if he recognized her. “Who in the Celestial Bureau wouldn’t recognize Elder Qin? With you here, why bother with extra procedures!” With that, he swiftly approved the verification.

Qin Ruqing chuckled; now she could almost breeze through the Celestial Bureau.

Finally, they reached the most important part of the verification process—the assessment of the crafting qualifications of the participating crafters.

Obviously, such a prestigious competition had stringent requirements for the crafters’ abilities.

“You need to list one or two representative works. We will verify these works to judge your eligibility for the competition,” the officer informed them.

For some reason, Tang Zifeng hesitated.

Encouraged by Qin Ruqing’s gaze, he pursed his lips and wrote in the space for representative works: “Cultivation Accelerator.”

The officer, upon seeing this, couldn’t help but exclaim, “So, you crafted the Cultivation Accelerator!”

This exclamation, neither loud nor soft, nevertheless attracted the attention of the other crafters waiting in line behind them.

The Cultivation Accelerator was crucial for the cultivation of Xiling cultivators.

How could any cultivator not pay attention?

When the accelerator was sold by the Yang family before, they had speculated about the brilliant design and wondered which crafter had made it—a renowned master, for sure.

Later, they heard from the Celestial Bureau that it was crafted by the guest elder of the Qin family, an official cooperation family.

However, they were somewhat skeptical.

They had investigated the Qin family and knew it was a well-known alchemy family.

But when it came to crafting, they were confident that there were few outsiders who could match the level of Xiling crafters.

Various speculations circulated about this mysterious crafter, but today they were meeting the real person.

Inevitably, the onlooking crafters cast their eyes inquisitively at Qin Ruqing’s group.

The figure in the black robe was indeed the mysterious crafter.

Surprisingly, he carried himself with an air of a master.

The surrounding crafters nodded in agreement.

Clearly, there was a reason why Little Tang liked to dress like this—it worked on the crafters.

Qin Ruqing had seen all sorts of looks and remained calm.

She turned to the surprised officer and said, “The information is all filled out. It should take some time for your verification. Can we leave now?”

The officer snapped out of his surprise, nodded repeatedly, and even took a few steps forward. “Elder Qin, please take care.”

Thinking that today’s business was over and the qualification verification should go smoothly, they only needed to wait for the invitation letter for the competition.

However, just as Qin Ruqing and her group were about to squeeze out of the crowd and return to the Fifth Inn, they were intercepted halfway.

The person leading the group bowed slightly. “Elder Qin, it’s finally good to see you.”

He had a delicate and somewhat feminine face, which stood out in Xiling, where every cultivator seemed like a photoshopped version.

Qin Ruqing had a feeling she knew this person.

Underneath Tang Zifeng’s black robe, his expression changed rapidly, and his fist clenched involuntarily at his side.

Yang Wenxu, who had been escorting them back, raised an eyebrow when he saw the newcomer, He couldn’t help but let out a snort from his nose.

“He’s here. Isn’t that Tang Biao, the genius artifact refiner from the Tang family?”

Yang Wenxu noticed Qin Ruqing didn’t recognize him, so he introduced, “This is the renowned master refiner from our Xiling, Second Young Master Tang from the Tang family,” emphasizing the word “renowned.”

Qin Ruqing instantly remembered who he was.

Tang Biao, the genius refiner who had once crafted world-shaking artifacts but hadn’t produced anything remarkable since.

She recognized him from a previous aristocratic gathering.

Qin Ruqing smiled and returned the greeting respectfully, not with the deference of a junior but as an equal, “Second Young Master, you’re too kind.”

Previously, she had to act as a junior in interactions due to her undisclosed identity.

Now, as the official representative of the Qin family in Xiling, acknowledged by the Celestial Bureau, she could sit on equal footing with Second Young Master Tang.

In fact, by family standards alone, her status was slightly higher.

Tang Biao smiled and said to Qin Ruqing, “We sent someone to the Fifth Inn earlier, but sadly, Elder Qin was not there. What a pity!”

Qin Ruqing sighed lightly and responded, “Really? They didn’t inform me afterward. It’s regrettable that the Tang family’s efforts were in vain.”

Bringing up their failed visit so soon seemed like a subtle reproach. Even if he wanted to mention it, he could have done so more tactfully.

Qin Ruqing already harbored some resentment towards his family because of Tang Biao’s actions, and now she was even less pleased.

If you want to play mind games with me, you’ve picked the wrong opponent.

After a sigh, Qin Ruqing looked sincerely at Tang Biao and suggested, “How about this? Next time you send someone, let us know in advance. We’ll be waiting at the inn all day to welcome you.”

Tang Biao’s smile froze for a moment.

Not only did their previous visit fail, but now she was suggesting another visit?

Did they think the Tang family was so idle?

After the aristocratic gathering, they had investigated the Qin family and knew they were only a modest aristocratic family, albeit somewhat prestigious in Nanling.

They were rumored to be on the verge of the Silver Grade, but compared to their genuinely Silver Grade family, they were insignificant.

Where did this disrespectful junior get the nerve to be so arrogant in front of him?

But Tang Biao restrained his irritation because she did have some grounds.

Regardless, the Qin family now had the support of the Celestial Bureau, and the cultivators in Xiling still relied on their family’s elixirs.

Many aristocratic families were considering establishing ties with the Qin family now.

It wasn’t worth jeopardizing that over a disrespectful junior.

Tang Biao forced a smile and said, “Next time, for sure!”

Qin Ruqing chuckled, “Haha, alright, looking forward to it!”

After a few more pleasantries, Qin Ruqing realized that this famous genius artifact refiner from the Tang family seemed quite arrogant, accustomed to being admired and emphasizing status and hierarchy.

For example, among those present, only she, the elder of the Qin family, seemed worthy of his direct attention.

To Qirong and the others, he barely spared a glance.

Glancing over, seeing Yang Wenxu was like seeing an annoying fly, not even worth a greeting.

Fortunately, Yang Wenxu seemed equally irritated and just grunted before turning away.

Out of sight, out of mind.

After chatting for a while, Tang Biao shifted the conversation to Tang Zifeng, “I heard in the hall earlier that the guest elder from the Qin family who crafted the cultivation accelerator will also participate in this competition?”

Turns out he was also in the hall earlier, no wonder he turned to intercept them.

Qin Ruqing simply acknowledged without introducing.

Tang Biao then turned to Tang Zifeng, saying, “Someone who can craft a spiritual artifact like a cultivation accelerator must have profound insights into artifact refinement. Since I also dabble in artifacts, why don’t we meet another day for tea and exchange insights?”

A slightly coarse voice came from under the black robe, “No need, we’ll meet at the assembly. We can exchange then.”

Direct refusal, quite a blow to his face. Tang Biao’s expression soured immediately.

Qin Ruqing chuckled and intervened, “Apologies, Second Young Master. Our guest elder is a bit reserved and doesn’t enjoy private meetings with strangers.”

Tang Biao twitched his mouth.

With that, the conversation naturally came to an end.

After Qin Ruqing and her group bid polite farewells, Tang Biao’s face darkened visibly.

The steward following behind couldn’t help but worry, hoping he wouldn’t lose his temper in public!

Tang Biao still remembered his manners. With a flick of his sleeve, he coldly said, “Let’s go back!”

Back at the inn, as soon as Tang Zifeng closed the door, Qin Ruqing, Qirong, and Lu Wei turned and stared at him together.

Qirong hesitated, “Tang Big Brother, isn’t that Second Young Master…”

Lu Wei added, “The artifact he crafted…”

Qin Ruqing crossed her arms, “Tang Zifeng, spill it. If you don’t explain everything clearly, we can’t help you.”

Facing their gazes, Tang Zifeng hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly, “Second Young Master Tang Biao from the Tang family, he’s also my uncle. He’s the one who kicked me out of the family.”

“The spiritual artifact he won at the artifact refining competition was actually my invention.”

Even though Qin Ruqing had suspected it earlier, hearing Tang Zifeng admit it still surprised her.

That artifact, powerful enough to harm cultivators in the Golden Core stage, was actually invented by Tang Zifeng?!