I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 257: Seizing the Crown, All Sides Curry Favor

The moment the Burning Heaven Cauldron trembled, the sky above Azure Nether City darkened.

Thick, ink-black thunderclouds rolled in from the horizon, blotting out the sun. Purple-gold lightning serpents slithered through the gloom, casting the plaza in a strobing, chaotic light.

RUMBLE—

A low, vibrating thunderclap echoed like the growl of an ancient beast, shaking the foundations of the viewing platforms.

But what truly terrified the cultivators was not the storm, but the sound that accompanied it. From deep within the clouds, ethereal music drifted down—a celestial melody, as if thousands of immortals were chanting in unison from the Ninth Heaven.

“What… what is happening?” A cultivator gripped the railing, his legs turning to jelly. “How can a simple refining competition trigger a Celestial Phenomenon?”

“Isn’t this… isn’t this the sign of a True Spirit Treasure being born?” a master refiner stammered, his eyes wide with horror as he stared at Shen Xian. “Is he refining a Fifth-Rank treasure with Fourth-Rank materials?”

“Impossible! Who could have such skill?”

Hummmm—

A clear, melodious chime cut through the thunder.

From the Burning Heaven Cauldron, an ancient, heavy seal slowly ascended.

The seal was crafted from the fused essences of the five Supreme-grade materials. Five miniature dragons, each a different color, coiled around the handle, vying for dominance yet existing in harmony. On the base of the seal, two ancient Daoist characters glowed with terrifying power:

[Chaotic Sky]

As the seal rotated, the air filled with the phantom cries of dragons and phoenixes. The spiritual light flowing across its surface pulsed with a rhythm that felt suspiciously like a heartbeat.

“Spontaneous Spirituality!” Elder Mo shot to his feet, his voice cracking. “It… it has touched the threshold of a True Spirit Treasure!”

The Hundred Arts Sect recorder dropped his brush, dumbfounded. “It is technically a Top-grade Spirit Treasure, but it has birthed a wisp of True Spirit nature… Give it a hundred years of nourishment, and it will evolve into a True Spirit Treasure!”

On the platform, the difference in quality was brutal.

Chi Xiaozi’s Crimson Flame Spear, previously the star of the show, dimmed instantly. The fire dragon phantom wrapping around the spear whimpered and bowed its head toward Shen Xian’s seal, submitting to the higher hierarchy.

Elder Xuanji’s Star Compass let out a mournful keen as its gathered starlight was forcibly stripped away and swallowed by the Chaotic Sky Seal.

“Impossible…” Chi Xiaozi’s face was the color of ash. “My spear is the peak of Top-grade Spirit Treasures… how can it surrender?”

Shen Xian stood with hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This Five Elements Chaotic Sky Seal wasn’t a full True Spirit Treasure yet, but that wisp of spirituality placed it in a realm far above anything else on the stage.

High above, the hidden Void Refinement Celestial Venerable sipped his tea. “Interesting… A Nascent Soul cultivator refining a treasure with True Spirit characteristics. The winner is decided.”

He shifted his gaze from Shen Xian to Elder Mo—or rather, to the Storage Ring on Elder Mo’s finger.

In the stunned silence of the arena, a boisterous laugh shattered the tension.

“HEY! You in the red robe!” Tie Shan roared, pointing a massive finger at Chi Xiaozi’s disciple. “When are you going to pay me my 3,000 Spirit Stones?!”

The disciple collapsed to the ground, his face the color of dirt.

The refining phase concluded. The results were announced, though everyone already knew the outcome.

“The Champion of this Refining Assembly is—Wang Yu!”

Elder Mo’s voice boomed like a temple bell, resonating through the plaza.

He waved his sleeve. Nine beams of auspicious light descended from the heavens, converging into a single, blinding pillar that spotlighted Shen Xian.

“The Five Elements Chaotic Sky Seal. Contains True Spirit characteristics. Undisputed First Place!”

The crowd erupted.

“A monster… he really is a monster!”

“Is he secretly a Fifth-Rank Grandmaster in disguise?”

Chi Xiaozi stumbled back, looking aged and broken. “A hundred years of effort… lost to a boy?”

Elder Xuanji sighed, stroking his beard. “The waves behind drive the waves before. We are old.”

Fairy Bing Po’s beautiful eyes shimmered with a strange light. “His skill… it is a realm I have yet to touch.”

“From today on,” a cultivator in the stands shouted, “Azure Nether City honors Master Wang as supreme!”

Elder Mo smiled, stepping forward. He produced an ancient, weathered jade slip from his Storage Ring and presented it to Shen Xian with both hands.

“This is the fragment of the Heavenly Creations Precious Record. It records the secrets of Fifth-Rank Refining. Today, I gift it to you, young friend. May you ascend even higher.”

Shen Xian took the jade slip. His Divine Sense swept it instantly.

Real. It’s the Fifth-Rank inheritance.

Elder Mo then produced a Storage Ring.

“100,000 High Grade Spirit Stones, along with the Hundred Arts Sect’s collection of rare materials—Heavenly Star Sand, Profound Nether Iron, and more. They are yours.”

Hiss.

The crowd sucked in a cold breath.

“100,000 High Grade stones?!”

“Heavenly Star Sand? That’s a core material for True Spirit Treasures!”

Tie Shan was so excited he looked ready to explode. “Hahaha! Master is rich! We’re rich!”

Zhang Yu fanned himself vigorously, trying to look composed. “Now, who dares look down on our sect?”

Su Mu’s eyes shone. “Following Master was the correct path.”

Ai Xiao wiped tears from his eyes. “I knew it. I knew he was the one.”

At this moment, the name “Wang Yu” echoed across the entire region.

Shen Xian pocketed the rewards calmly. “Many thanks, Elder Mo.”

Then, he raised his hand. The Five Elements Chaotic Sky Seal floated gently toward the Elder.

“The seal is excellent,” Shen Xian said, his voice level. “But ultimately, it was refined using materials borrowed from the Hundred Arts Sect.”

He put a slight, deliberate emphasis on the word “borrowed.”

Elder Mo’s hand froze as he reached for the seal. He looked at Shen Xian, his eyes narrowing slightly.

This kid… he’s reminding me that the artifact is his creation, even if the materials are mine.

“Young friend Wang jests!” Elder Mo laughed, taking the seal. “You have gained the inheritance and the slot for the Holy City finals. Is that not enough?”

Shen Xian nodded.

He had expected this. The rules were clear: materials provided by the organizer meant the product belonged to the organizer. Still, trading a near-True Spirit Treasure for an inheritance and some stones… it was a loss, but an acceptable one.

He turned to leave.

Suddenly, he felt a gaze lock onto him. He scanned the crowd but couldn’t find the source.

A high-level observer?

“Master!” Tie Shan shoved his way through the crowd, clutching a bulging storage bag. “That red-robed brat couldn’t pay the stones, so he gave us fragments of his master’s Flame Dragon Cauldron as collateral!”

Shen Xian glanced into the bag. Inside lay several jagged shards of crimson metal, pulsing with dying heat.

Fourth-Rank Cauldron fragments. High quality.

“Good,” Shen Xian said, stowing them away. “Perfect food for the Burning Heaven Cauldron.”

Just as they prepared to exit, a wave of immense spiritual pressure descended on the plaza.

“Master Wang! Please wait!”

A blue-robed elder walked on the air, his aura vast as the ocean. It was the City Lord of Azure Nether City—a mid-stage Soul Formation cultivator!

“This old man watched Master’s performance. Truly heaven-defying.” The City Lord smiled warmly, offering a jade box. “This is Thousand-Year Soul Nurturing Wood. Consider it a meeting gift.”

Soul Nurturing Wood? Shen Xian’s heart skipped a beat.

That was a treasure that could heal and strengthen the soul. Even for Soul Formation cultivators, it was rare.

This old fox is investing heavily.

Before Shen Xian could respond, another figure descended.

“Fellow Daoist Wang.” A middle-aged man in star-patterned robes clasped his hands. “I am the Master of the Heavenly Star Pavilion. I offer three Star Cores in exchange for a single refining opportunity.”

The crowd gasped again. Star Cores were priceless.

“He wants me to refine his Life-Bound Artifact?” Shen Xian sneered internally. Get in line.

Most surprising of all was Fairy Bing Po. The ice-cold beauty glided over, her demeanor softening for the first time.

“Master Wang.” Her red lips parted slightly as she offered a snowflake-shaped jade pendant. “This item can block a full-force strike from a Soul Formation cultivator. If you ever visit Cold Moon City, present this token to enter my Profound Ice Pavilion directly.”

She curtsied—a gesture of respect to an equal—and drifted away, leaving the crowd stunned.

Tie Shan and the disciples were trembling with adrenaline.

“Master is too strong! Even Soul Formation Venerables are lining up to kiss his boots!”

Zhang Yu lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming. “From today on, our sect’s status in Azure Nether City…”

“…will be untouchable,” Su Mu finished, her eyes filled with awe.

Shen Xian stood amidst the accolades, watching the powerful cultivators bow and scrape. A small, satisfied smile touched his lips.

Not a bad harvest.

He and his group were about to leave when several more powerful auras descended, each representing a major faction in the region, all eager to curry favor with the newly crowned refining champion.