# Chapter 1625: The Cunning Mu Xiao
"Dead!" The Sword Mountain Sword Emperor's pupils contracted, sharp and fierce, his eyes like two swords slashing forward. He knew well the strength of his two junior disciples. He hadn't even bothered to watch their battle, believing that killing two guards would be a foregone conclusion. But in the blink of an eye, his two Sword Mountain disciples had fallen.
Mu Qingying was also stunned, looking at Mu Xiao in surprise. When had Mu Xiao become so powerful? She didn't think of Lin Feng at all, because from start to finish, Lin Feng seemed never to have made a move—he had been retreating, dodging, not daring to fight.
Only Mu Linxue wasn't surprised. Having worked with Lin Feng on artifact refining for so long, she knew he possessed the ultimate Earth Essence, and combined with his mastery of the Array Dao, she had never worried about his safety. How could an Array Dao expert not have some defensive array talismans on him? But in truth, Lin Feng hadn't even used any array talismans.
"What is Senior doing? I don't think a Sword Mountain senior would attack two guards of my Mu Mansion just because his juniors were outmatched, would he?" Mu Linxue felt the sharp aura from the Sword Emperor across from her and spoke calmly.
"Very good." The Sword Emperor snorted coldly, his icy sword intent seeming to pierce through Lin Feng and Mu Xiao. Then his figure flickered, turning into a sword, and vanished before the crowd's eyes. He had no face to stay here—a dignified Sword Mountain disciple had died at the hands of two Mu Mansion guards, and so effortlessly at that.
"Let's go back." Mu Linxue turned around and said to Lin Feng and Mu Xiao. The four of them walked back toward the Mu Mansion. Mu Qingying came to Mu Xiao's side, chatting with him, apparently curious about how Mu Xiao had managed that.
Inside the Mu Mansion, in Mu Linxue's artifact refining room, Mu Linxue handed a jade slip to Lin Feng and said, "This time, I plan to attempt refining an Imperial Artifact armor. This contains the refining method, including the formations that need to be carved. Take a look."
Lin Feng nodded, took the jade slip, and extended his divine sense into it. By now, before every artifact refining session, Mu Linxue would show him the secret formula of the artifact to be refined. This was undoubtedly a sign of her trust—otherwise, any secret formula possessed by an artifact refiner was extremely precious and not to be revealed. That was why two people who cooperated in artifact refining had to trust each other deeply.
"This formation can be improved. I can make it better, but I'm not sure if it will be compatible with the Imperial Artifact armor you want to refine." After reading it, Lin Feng said to Mu Linxue, causing her beautiful eyes to ripple slightly. Then she smiled and said, "It seems you haven't been giving your full effort in carving formations before."
"And you haven't given your full effort either!" Lin Feng replied. They exchanged smiles. Mu Linxue looked seriously at Lin Feng and said, "Let's give it our all this time and see if we can break through the limits of my refining. What do you think?"
"I won't refuse any request you make," Lin Feng said with a smile.
"Thank you, Lin Feng." Mu Linxue's heart warmed. From Lin Feng's eyes, she could see sincerity. She didn't even ask him why—if there was something to say, Lin Feng would tell her naturally.
"Let's begin. Do your best. You can make improvements. If we don't try to adapt, how can we break through our limits? I hope we succeed on the first try." Mu Linxue took a deep breath. For an artifact refiner, the probability of successfully refining an Imperial Artifact matching their own level was relatively low. But with two people working together, the success rate could be significantly increased. That was why many in the Artifact Dao cooperated in pairs—after all, all-rounders skilled in flames, soul power, and the Array Dao were relatively rare.
After discussing, they began refining. Mu Linxue first used flames to heat the refining furnace. This time, she raised the flame's power to a very high level. Lin Feng could feel the Law of Flame pulsing. The stronger the flame, the harder it was to control with ease—it required powerful soul power to assist.
Melting the metal, polishing, quenching the blank, shaping—Mu Linxue completed each step meticulously, not daring to be careless. Lin Feng watched calmly from the side. Finally, when the artifact blank was formed, he began carving formations. Since this was a defensive Imperial Artifact armor, he didn't prepare to carve the Ruin Array Dao. Instead, he used various small array daos to deduce and carve a defensive shield array dao with extraordinary defensive power. Lin Feng's understanding of this array dao was far from perfect compared to the Ruin Array Dao, but he did his best, meticulously carving small array daos in the limited space, letting them intertwine.
"This guy—he's completely overturning the original formation and carving his own defensive array dao. But if this array dao is successfully carved, it will definitely be stronger than the one in the original Imperial Artifact. The only question is how well it will fit." Mu Linxue controlled the refining process, occasionally glancing at Lin Feng's carving, her heart trembling.
This was the first time Lin Feng had carved formations with such seriousness, striving for perfection. It was also the longest time he had spent. But as it progressed, Mu Linxue grew more astonished. If this array dao were perfectly carved, just the defensive power of the formation alone would reach the Imperial Artifact level. Combined with these high-grade materials being smelted into the artifact, her heart began to race. She was very eager to see what kind of Imperial Artifact would be born this time.
In another inner courtyard's refining room, Mu Qingying and Mu Xiao were also attempting to refine an Imperial Artifact. This was their first attempt. At this moment, sweat was beading on Mu Qingying's forehead. The green demonic flame beneath the refining furnace was especially dazzling. Mu Xiao had already finished carving the formations and was now hammering the weapon. The greatsword being refined would soon take shape.
Mu Qingying was quite nervous. She knew that to participate in the Artifact Refining Competition, she first had to stand out from the Mu Family. Although the competition had no limit on participants, the Mu Mansion wouldn't send too many people. Those who weren't skilled enough would only embarrass the Mu Mansion. She had to at least secure a spot within the Mu Family first, which meant she had to refine an Imperial Artifact. This was her first attempt.
The lines of the greatsword grew more and more perfect, and it had even begun to emit a soft humming sound. Like many others, she could only refine common Imperial Artifacts like swords and blades. As for special Imperial Artifacts like ancient mirrors or scepters, she had neither the secret formulas nor the ability to refine them. The requirements for refining such special artifacts were higher and more difficult.
Finally, the blade of the greatsword flashed with an eerie green light, as if thirsting for blood, trembling continuously in the refining furnace.
"Condense!" Mu Qingying shouted. Instantly, the blade's light shot toward the sky, splitting open the roof of the refining room and rushing outward.
"Imperial Artifact!" A look of surprise appeared on Mu Qingying's face. She had refined an Imperial Artifact!
"Qingying, we succeeded!" Mu Xiao was also very happy. He had helped Mu Qingying refine an Imperial Artifact. Although he had obtained this position through special means, Mu Xiao had indeed put in great effort, especially during this period, devoting all his thoughts to it. He knew that to win Mu Qingying, he first had to make her unable to leave him. And there was only one way to make her unable to leave him: artifact refining—making Mu Qingying unable to do without him in artifact refining.
"Yes, we succeeded." Mu Qingying showed Mu Xiao a brilliant smile.
Mu Xiao looked at Mu Qingying's beautiful face, stepped forward slowly, and gently touched her cheek, as if wiping away her sweat. He said softly, "Qingying, you're so beautiful."
Mu Qingying's body stiffened slightly, and then her expression suddenly changed. She shouted, "How dare you!"
Hearing this angry shout, Mu Xiao stepped back a few paces, his expression also changing. "Qingying, I..."
"Mu Xiao, you're too presumptuous!" Mu Qingying said coldly.
Mu Xiao's heart hardened, and then he said, "Miss Qingying, you are too beautiful. The truth is, I have long secretly admired you, gone mad for you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been so persistent in artifact refining. Mu Xiao knows his lowly status and position, that he shouldn't have such improper thoughts. Just now, I offended Miss Qingying. I understand what I should do."
"Miss, take care." Mu Xiao slowly backed away, then turned directly to leave. With his back to Mu Qingying, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. The Imperial Artifact had already been refined, and there wasn't much time left before the Artifact Refining Competition. Mu Qingying couldn't possibly let him go. He was waiting for her to call him back.
"Stop!" Sure enough, Mu Qingying calmed down, took a deep breath, and suppressed her agitation.
"Does Miss still need Mu Xiao's service?" Mu Xiao said to Mu Qingying.
"You're not allowed to leave," Mu Qingying said.
"If it weren't for that momentary impulse just now, I would have silently devoted myself to Miss. But the mistake has been made. I know Miss looks down on Mu Xiao, so I have no face to stay here any longer. If Miss wants to kill me, Mu Xiao has nothing to say." Mu Xiao lowered his head, retreating to advance.
Mu Qingying's expression froze, her gaze flickering uncertainly. At that moment, many figures appeared in the sky outside. Mu Qingying had also refined an Imperial Artifact!
"Qingying, did you succeed?" A delighted voice came—it was Mu Qingying's father. This made Mu Qingying's heart even more chaotic. She couldn't lose Mu Xiao. Otherwise, alone, she would never be able to refine an Imperial Artifact again.
"Mu Xiao, I was too agitated just now. I have never looked down on you. In fact, I admire you very much. I just couldn't accept what happened for a moment. Don't mind it," Mu Qingying said in a low voice.
"Does Miss mean she is willing to accept Mu Xiao?" Mu Xiao's gaze burned as he stared at Mu Qingying.
"Let me think about it for a while, okay?" Mu Qingying said helplessly.
"Mu Xiao will give his all, sacrifice everything for Miss, even his life." Mu Xiao was delighted inside. He could already see hope. For now, he would stop here. When the time drew closer to the Artifact Refining Competition, he would break through the final barrier, press Mu Qingying beneath him. Then she would have even less chance of leaving him!