At Qin Fen's words, Zhao Lingshan glanced curiously at Qin Chen. "This is also a disciple of your Qin family?"
Qin Fen smiled. "Princess Lingshan, Qin Chen is actually my aunt's son. He's that one from our Qin family..." His words were deliberately vague, but Zhao Lingshan immediately understood.
"Oh, so he's that illegitimate child?" Zhao Lingshan looked Qin Chen up and down again, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes. The story of Qin Yuechi was known to everyone in the capital, from nobility to commoners.
Qin Chen slightly furrowed his brows but ignored them both.
His indifference only stoked Qin Fen's anger. Eager to show off in front of Zhao Lingshan, he sneered, "Chen-di, you can't even awaken your bloodline, yet you come here pretending to be an artificer? Know your place—this isn't somewhere trash like you belongs!"
Qin Chen coldly met his gaze. "Since when do I need your permission?"
Qin Fen was taken aback, his face darkening instantly. In all their years growing up together, Qin Chen had never dared speak to him like this. Had the coward grown a spine overnight?
Having just returned to the estate, Qin Fen was unaware of the day's events. Enraged, he snapped, "I'm here to commission a treasure weapon. What's your excuse? A failure who can't awaken his bloodline should stay hidden at home instead of embarrassing our Qin family in public. Do you want me to enforce family discipline and break your legs?"
Qin Chen smirked. "Do you even have that capability?"
Qin Fen paused, then burst into laughter. He stepped forward, his robes fluttering as qi surged around him. "Chen-di, it seems big brother hasn't 'educated' you in a while. Let me rectify that."
Qin Chen remained calm, standing his ground without flinching.
The growing crowd buzzed with whispers.
"Gentlemen!" Chen Yufei hastily intervened, sensing the rising tension. "The Artificers' Pavilion prohibits private conflicts. Violators will face severe consequences—expulsion at minimum, execution at worst. I advise you both to reconsider."
Qin Fen halted, coming to his senses. He shot Qin Chen a venomous glare. "Consider yourself lucky today."
Ignoring him, Qin Chen turned back to Chen Yufei. "Do you have these materials or not?"
"Let me see that list." Qin Fen snatched it away. After a glance, he scoffed. "Hah! So you know about Black Abyss Ore? Even a sliver costs a fortune—far beyond your means. What other nonsense is on here...?"
Suppressing his anger, Qin Chen's eyes suddenly gleamed. "You recognize Black Abyss Ore?"
"Of course!" Qin Fen puffed out his chest. "Not only do I know it—I have some right here." He pulled out a thumb-sized black mineral, preening. "Father won this at the Skyreach Pavilion auction. Know how much this tiny piece cost? Thirty-eight thousand silver coins. You couldn't afford the dust from it."
As Qin Fen paraded the ore, drawing envious gazes, he bragged, "I'm commissioning a second-rank treasure weapon with this. Once forged, it'll cut you down like a dog."
Qin Chen tuned out the taunts, his mind racing on how to acquire that ore.
"Greetings, Master Liang Yu!"
A middle-aged man in artificer robes entered the pavilion, his head held high with palpable arrogance. The crowd immediately bowed in reverence.
"It's Master Liang Yu! Rumor says he recently passed the second-rank artificer examination!"
"A second-rank artificer at thirty—his future is limitless!"
"At this rate, third-rank is within reach."
The murmurs of awe spread like wildfire.
Qin Chen observed the two silver threads encircling the hammer emblem on Liang Yu's chest—the mark of a second-rank artificer. Such credentials commanded respect across the continent.
Having been a ninth-rank imperial artificer and honorary elder of the Artificers' Hall in his past life, Qin Chen was intimately familiar with these distinctions.
Yet as his gaze settled on Liang Yu's face, his brows suddenly knitted together.
Liang Yu strode directly toward their group.
"Master Liang." Chen Yufei bowed deeply.
Liang Yu acknowledged her with a nod, then froze upon spotting the Black Abyss Ore in Qin Fen's hand.
"Master Liang, I am Qin Fen, second son of Marquis Anping. I wish to commission a second-rank treasure weapon using this ore," Qin Fen said eagerly.
"What type?" Liang Yu asked.
"A three-foot sword," Qin Fen replied excitedly.
Liang Yu nodded. "Black Abyss Ore is a third-rank premium material with icy properties. It enhances sharpness, durability, and imbues frost attributes. Though wasting it on a second-rank weapon is... unfortunate."
"My father said any remaining ore is yours to keep, regardless of success," Qin Fen quickly added.
After a thoughtful pause, Liang Yu said, "Very well. I accept."
This was the first commission he'd agreed to all day.
Overjoyed, Qin Fen presented a silver card. "Twenty thousand silver coins—half for materials, half for your expertise."
Liang Yu accepted the card with a faint nod.