Chapter 1643: Rewards
Yan Feng's body trembled slightly. He had lost. Not long ago, he had been brimming with confidence, arrogantly looking down on Lin Feng and Mu Linxue. In his eyes, the championship seat of the artifact refinement competition was his for the taking. But now, he had lost so thoroughly.
The people of the Yan family also felt a trace of sorrow. If he had lost to Hen Changtian or the others, it might have been easier to bear. But he had lost to Mu Linxue's team from the Mu Estate. Moreover, he had just spoken big words, declaring that Yan Feng would surely win the championship. Now, reality had given him a resounding slap.
"I lost!"
Finally, Yan Feng let out a long breath and admitted his defeat to Lin Feng and Mu Linxue. His eyes closed slightly for a moment, and when they opened again, a piercing cold gleam flashed within them as he swept a frigid glance at Lin Feng. He had warned this guy not to get close to Mu Linxue, but not only had he gotten close, they had become intimate, and even teamed up to snatch his first-place seat.
"Are you still not giving up?" Mu Linxue saw Yan Feng's gaze and her expression turned cold. She said, "Yan Feng, you lost this time in artifact refinement. From now on, I don't want to hear the words 'my woman' from you again."
"Mu Linxue, you can't escape my grasp," Yan Feng said coldly, his eyes sharpening again.
"Before the results of the artifact refinement competition were even announced, you assumed you had won the championship. Then you questioned the senior from the Flame Gold Tower. Now that you've lost, you still have this attitude. Yan Feng, you have no sense of shame," Mu Linxue sneered at him, humiliating him without restraint.
"Hmph." Yan Feng snorted coldly, then looked at the ninth-level artifact refinement master draped in a purple-gold robe. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "I offended you earlier, senior. I hope you won't hold it against me. It was just a moment of impulse on my part."
"Forget it." The ninth-level master waved his hand. Although he was somewhat displeased, he wouldn't bother hounding a junior. He looked at the crowd and said, "The results of this artifact refinement competition are out. Next, according to the decision made before the third round, we will distribute the rewards. Everyone, stand in line."
Lin Feng and Mu Linxue moved slightly and stood side by side with the crowd. Yan Feng and his partner stood next to Lin Feng and Mu Linxue.
"The champion of this artifact refinement competition receives this flame." The ninth-level artifact refinement master extended his hand. With a thought, a terrifying roar trembled in the hearts of the crowd. It was as if nine flame serpent emperors coiled upward, rushing into the void, filled with a violent and ferocious aura.
"This nine-headed serpent emperor's beast flame is extremely violent. If you wish to refine it, remember to invite at least a peak mid-rank emperor or a high-rank emperor to protect you and help you refine it. Otherwise, you will surely suffer backlash from the beast flame," the ninth-level master said to Lin Feng and Mu Linxue. The crowd nodded, their gazes burning with desire for the beast flame, especially the artifact refiners. This was the beast flame of a high-rank demon emperor, the nine-headed serpent emperor. Its violence was unimaginable.
The ninth-level master flicked his finger, and the beast flame seemed to be drawn into a purple-gold space, sealing it shut. He smiled at Lin Feng and Mu Linxue and said, "You two, to whom should I give this reward?"
"Give it to him."
"Give it to her!"
Lin Feng and Mu Linxue spoke almost simultaneously, both stunned for a moment before exchanging smiles. The others were speechless. If it had been anyone else, they would have scrambled to claim it, but these two were pushing it toward each other.
"This competition was all thanks to you. This should rightfully be yours," Mu Linxue said to Lin Feng with a radiant smile. She couldn't figure out what was on this guy's mind. He had come out of nowhere to help her, and now he didn't even want such a precious beast flame. Mu Linxue was a bit confused, not understanding why Lin Feng had done all this.
Lin Feng shrugged and smiled. "This thing is better used on you than on me. From now on, it will make artifact refinement much easier for you."
"But you're also skilled with flames. It could enhance your strength," Mu Linxue shook her head.
"You don't know this yet, but my strength is pretty impressive too," Lin Feng said, rubbing his brow with a smile, earning a glare from Mu Linxue.
"Alright, this is the first time I've seen people like you two. Who gets it?" the ninth-level master said with a smile. Mu Linxue was about to speak again, but Lin Feng said to her, "If you refuse again, I'll leave."
"Uh..." Mu Linxue was speechless. She shot him a resentful glare, then nodded and accepted the nine-headed serpent emperor's beast flame from the master.
"This armor is a seventh-level imperial artifact. Which of you two takes it?" the purple-gold robed master asked, looking at Yan Feng and his partner.
"I will." Yan Feng said without hesitation, taking the armor and storing it away. Then, the purple-gold robed master distributed the promised rewards to the top ten finishers of the competition one by one.
Next, the ninth-level master took out some token medallions of the Flame Gold Tower, engraved with the towering flame tower. He handed them to the crowd and said, "With the Flame Gold Tower token, if you are in Flame Gold City and crush it, Flame Gold Tower experts will immediately sense it. If anyone tries to harm you, crush it directly, and our Flame Gold Tower will send experts to assist."
Everyone took one token each. This token would ensure their safety in Flame Gold City. Anyone who wanted to make a move against them would have to think carefully.
"Alright, according to the previous agreement, the top three can choose one of the three Crimson Gold masters to guide them in artifact refinement for one year," the purple-gold robed master said with a smile. Then, three Crimson Gold robed masters approached. The one who had been favoring Lin Feng and Mu Linxue nodded slightly at them, a clear signal.
"Lin Feng, let's choose this senior," Mu Linxue said, understanding the Crimson Gold master's gesture. She bowed slightly to him.
"Haha, I'm happy to guide you," the Crimson Gold master said with a laugh. Yan Feng chose the master who had favored him, while Hen Changtian symbolically chose the last one. Since he was already a disciple of the Flame Gold Tower, this choice didn't mean much.
"Now, it's your turn," the purple-gold robed master said, looking at the seven purple-robed masters with a smile. He had announced earlier that if any Flame Gold Tower master took a liking to someone, they could directly become master and disciple.
The distant crowd watched the Flame Gold Tower masters busily working and stood up slightly. Once the Flame Gold Tower people finished their selections, they could step in to recruit. After all, this competition was hosted by the Flame Gold Tower.
"Yan Feng." At this moment, Yan Feng's prospective master walked over to him and said, "One failure doesn't mean anything. Your achievements in artifact refinement will surely be brilliant."
Yan Feng nodded firmly, then bowed slightly to the purple-robed master and said, "Disciple Yan Feng greets Master."
"Good, good. From now on, I will teach you artifact refinement, and with the Crimson Gold master's guidance, your skills will grow very quickly," the purple-robed master said with a smile, quite pleased. Even though Yan Feng had ultimately lost to Lin Feng and Mu Linxue's team, he had still done very well.
"It seems you owe me a look at your artifact refinement technique. Everyone heard it back then," the purple-robed master who favored Lin Feng and Mu Linxue said to Yan Feng's master with a faint smile.
"Don't worry. Since I agreed, I'll give it to you," Yan Feng's master said unhappily.
"Very well, I'll wait," the other man said with a smile. Then he looked at Lin Feng and Mu Linxue and said, "Would you two be willing to become my disciples?"
"Lin Xue." Lin Feng looked at Mu Linxue. She smiled slightly. With so many good opportunities before her, how could she not cherish them?
Seeing Mu Linxue's smile, Lin Feng understood her intention. He looked at the purple-robed master and said, "Senior, I already have a master, so it wouldn't be right for me to join another sect. Besides, I won't stay in Flame Gold City for long. However, Lin Xue is very willing to take you as her master. If you are willing..."
"I see. Your master must be a powerful array dao grandmaster," the purple-robed master nodded. Given Lin Feng's array dao skills, it wasn't surprising that he had a master. It was a pity that Lin Feng couldn't join his sect, but Mu Linxue was a good girl worth cultivating.
"If you agree, I am willing to teach you," the purple-robed master said to Mu Linxue with a smile.
"Disciple greets Master." Mu Linxue's face lit up with joy as she bowed slightly to the purple-robed master. Now that she had become a disciple of a Flame Gold Tower master, she was considered a member of the Flame Gold Tower. With a purple-robed master as her teacher, the Mu Estate could no longer force her to do anything. Her fate was no longer tied to the Mu Estate.
This turn of events had come so quickly. All the glory had been brought to her by the guy beside her.
Reaching out, Mu Linxue lightly touched Lin Feng's hand and held his palm. Lin Feng looked at her and smiled. "Everything is in the past."
"Yes, it's all in the past." Mu Linxue nodded heavily. The other artifact refinement masters also chose their favored candidates. Few young refiners could refuse an invitation from a Flame Gold Tower master. The onlookers could only watch with envy as these young refiners were selected.
"Lin Xue-jie has entered the Flame Gold Tower and become a disciple of a purple-robed master. She'll even get guidance from a Crimson Gold master," Mu Qingying sighed, looking at Mu Linxue's figure. From now on, the gap between her and Lin Xue-jie would only grow wider.
As for the people of the Mu Estate, their expressions were especially complicated. They didn't even know how to face Mu Linxue now.