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

Chapter 233: The Grand Assembly

At the main entrance of the residence, an elderly man with snow-white hair and a long beard stood waiting.

It was none other than Chen Min, the Chief Refiner of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. A Rank 4 High-Grade Grandmaster.

He had intended to visit sooner, but a critical forging commission had tied his hands. The moment the furnace cooled, he had rushed over, his demeanor frantic and eager, like a man chasing a fading flame.

He straightened his robes, composing himself before calling out, “This old man, Chen Min, has come specifically to pay his respects to Fellow Daoist Wang!”

Inside the refining chamber, Shen Xian was at a critical juncture. His attention was absolute; he could not spare a single thought for the outside world.

Seeing this, Qiu Ruoli hesitated. After a moment, she rose from her meditation, left the quiet room, and unbarred the main gate.

“Wang Yu… is currently refining,” she said coldly.

Chen Min’s aged eyes lit up instantly. “Refining? Might this old man take a look?”

“No,” Qiu Ruoli rejected him flatly.

This old man’s identity was unknown to her. If she let him in and he disturbed the process, the backlash could be catastrophic. Since she had agreed to be the Dharma Protector, she would ensure absolute security.

Chen Min’s face stiffened with embarrassment.

Logically speaking, as a dignified Nascent Soul True Lord and a renowned Rank 4 Refiner, he had no need to show such courtesy to a junior girl. He could have simply walked past her.

But out of respect for the master craftsman inside, he didn’t dare make a scene.

Just as the tension mounted, Shen Xian’s voice projected into Qiu Ruoli’s mind via Divine Sense.

Let him watch.

Shen Xian had already decided to monetize his identity as a master refiner. Since this visitor was from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, he was likely here for business. This was perfect; Shen Xian could use the man’s status to amplify his own reputation.

Qiu Ruoli paused, surprised, before stepping aside. “He says you may enter.”

Chen Min’s face bloomed with joy. He hurried toward the refining chamber with the excitement of a child entering a toy store.

Qiu Ruoli followed close behind, her guard raised.

Inside the chamber, waves of heat distorted the air. Shen Xian sat cross-legged, his focus locked on the spiritual fire dancing within the Burning Heaven Cauldron.

Hovering in the heart of the flames was a silver-white shield. Its surface was etched with dense, intricate lightning patterns that pulsed with a life of their own, arcs of electricity jumping across the metal.

The moment Chen Min stepped across the threshold, he froze.

“This… is this a Lightning Attribute Spirit Treasure?”

His eyes narrowed to slits as he scrutinized the floating artifact, trying to peer into its fundamental structure. The longer he looked, the more his heart hammered against his ribs.

The aura radiating from the shield was undeniable. It was a Top-Grade Spirit Treasure.

Shock washed over him.

Even with his decades of experience, Chen Min knew he couldn’t produce a Spirit Treasure of such flawless quality. The rumors were true—this man was indeed a Rank 4 Top-Tier Refiner!

Qiu Ruoli stood by the door, watching coldly. She noted the old man’s reaction but kept her hand near her weapon.

Shen Xian ignored the intruder. His hands moved in a blur, forming complex seals. One by one, he drove spiritual incompatibility runes into the shield, preparing it for the final nurturing phase.

“Condense!”

The spiritual fire in the cauldron snapped inward. The lightning shield let out a clear, melodious hum that vibrated through the room. The lightning patterns on its surface flared, illuminating the chamber in blinding white light before settling into a steady, dangerous hum.

“What exquisite forging techniques!”

Chen Min’s voice trembled, his beard shaking with excitement. His eyes burned with a fanatical fervor.

He had come to verify the mysterious master’s skill level. Now that he had witnessed it firsthand, he realized the man wasn’t just skilled—he was a virtuoso. No wonder he could produce such high-quality treasures!

Qiu Ruoli frowned, watching the old man.

Why is he acting like that? He looked like a lecher staring at a beauty, completely entranced.

Wait… didn’t he say he was from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?

A realization struck her. Is he here because of the Spirit Treasures this Evil Cultivator sold earlier?

Her vigilance sharpened.

Inside the circle, Shen Xian finished the cycle and exhaled a long breath. The refining was done for now; the shield just needed to cool and stabilize.

He turned his head slowly. “Does Fellow Daoist Chen have business with me?”

Chen Min snapped out of his trance and hurriedly clasped his hands, bowing low. “This old man apologizes for the intrusion. I was simply overcome with joy at seeing such mastery. I… I hoped to ask Fellow Daoist a few questions regarding the art of refining…”

Qiu Ruoli curled her lip in disdain.

Hah. So this old man is here to steal trade secrets.

She couldn’t help but interject, her voice dripping with mockery. “The secret, unwritten techniques of a Master Refiner… are they something you can just ask about so casually?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she stunned herself.

Why am I defending this villain?

Her ears burned slightly, and she turned her face away, refusing to look at Shen Xian.

Chen Min flushed and quickly bowed again. “The young miss is right. I was abrupt.”

He turned back to Shen Xian, his attitude humble and respectful. “I know it is presumptuous. I am Chen Min, the Chief Rank 4 Refiner of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. If Fellow Daoist is willing to offer even a little guidance, I would be eternally grateful. And if you have any needs in the city, you need only ask.”

Chief Rank 4 Refiner.

Qiu Ruoli’s eyes widened.

This old man was a Rank 4 High-Grade Refiner?

In the Southern Region, a refiner of that level was a titan. They were honored guests of major sects and treated like royalty. Even her own master, the Headmaster of the Tianyao Sect, would treat such a person with the utmost courtesy.

She had assumed he was just some ordinary craftsman. She never imagined his background was so terrifying.

And yet…

She looked at Chen Min, who was practically bowing to the floor, and then at Shen Xian, who sat there calmly accepting the adoration.

A Rank 4 High-Grade Master is acting this humble in front of him?

Her heart trembled. Just what is this guy’s background?

Shen Xian smiled. He had wanted to use Chen Min to build fame, so playing the role of the benevolent senior was part of the plan.

“Fellow Daoist Chen is too polite.”

He gestured for Qiu Ruoli to serve tea. Though she bristled at being treated like a maid, the presence of an outsider forced her to comply without complaint.

Soon, the two men sat over steaming cups of spirit tea, talking shop.

Shen Xian intentionally guided the conversation, dropping insights into alloy stabilization and rune logic that were far ahead of current standards. Chen Min listened like a starving student.

The old man was mesmerized. He looked drunk on knowledge, nodding continuously, his expression shifting from confusion to sudden, wide-eyed enlightenment.

“I never imagined Fellow Daoist Wang possessed such profound attainments!” Chen Min sighed, his gaze filled with awe. “Such knowledge… Dare I ask, does Fellow Daoist hail from the Immortal Art Sacred Land?”

The Immortal Art Sacred Land ranked third among the Ten Great Sacred Lands. It was the mecca for the ‘Hundred Arts’ of cultivation—Alchemy, Arrays, Talismans, and Refining. In Chen Min’s mind, only a monster from that Sacred Land could possess such skill at such a young age.

Shen Xian shook his head, smiling. “I merely stumbled upon an ancient inheritance by chance.”

Chen Min took the vague answer as modesty and didn’t pry further. “With such skill, Fellow Daoist must be here for the Artifact Refining Grand Assembly?”

“Oh?” Shen Xian paused. “I am unfamiliar with this event. Please, enlighten me.”

“You don’t know?” Chen Min laughed. “It is easily explained.”

He leaned forward. “The Artifact Refining Grand Assembly is a massive event jointly hosted by the Hundred Arts Sect, Azure Nether City, and five other major cities.”

“The Hundred Arts Sect?” Shen Xian asked. Being new to the Northern Region, the political landscape was still blurry to him.

“A colossus,” Chen Min explained gravely. “Their headquarters are within the Immortal Art Sacred Land, but their influence spans the entire world. Their members are drawn from all Ten Great Sacred Lands. Every ten years, they hold a Grand Assembly to scout for genius talents.”

“The preliminary selection is being held right here in Azure Nether City,” Chen Min continued. “Refiners from six surrounding cities will compete.”

Shen Xian tapped the table, his interest piqued. “If one were to take first place… what is the reward?”

He didn’t care about networking or glory. But if there was a competition, there was profit.

Chen Min smiled. “The champion receives a legacy transmission for a Rank 5 Refining Technique!”

The path of the artisan was different from Cultivation. One couldn’t just absorb Qi to level up; one needed specific, high-level methodologies. A Rank 5 technique was priceless—a key to the next realm of craftsmanship.

Shen Xian’s expression remained flat.

For him, possessing the ‘Marriage Blessing’ system meant skills came easy. A mere Rank 5 technique wasn’t enough to tempt him.

Seeing Shen Xian’s lack of reaction, Chen Min hurriedly added, “Of course, if one can advance to the finals and win the ultimate championship… the prize is a wisp of Source Fire!”

“Source Fire?”

This was a term Shen Xian didn’t know.

“Source Fire is a special, artificial flame created by the Hundred Arts Sect,” Chen Min explained with a reverence usually reserved for deities.

“The world is filled with strange fires—the Dan Fire of cultivators, the Beast Fire of monsters, the Earth Fire of the planet. The Hundred Arts Sect fused the essence of these three distinct flames to create Source Fire.”

“It possesses the intensity of Earth Fire but is fully portable. It can be refined into the body like a Dan Fire, used for both creation and destruction. Many great powers seek it to enhance their combat potential.”

A flash of genuine surprise crossed Shen Xian’s eyes.

He hadn’t expected the Hundred Arts Sect to be capable of such innovation.

If he could obtain this Source Fire, he wouldn’t need to rely on static Earth Fire rooms. His efficiency in melting high-grade ores would skyrocket. The 15-day struggle with the Mystic Thunder Cold Iron would become a thing of the past.

Shen Xian smiled, a predatory glint entering his eyes.

“In that case, I will have to participate. When does it start?”

“One month from now,” Chen Min replied, delighted. “Right here in the city. With your strength, Fellow Daoist, you will surely shine brilliantly!”

“I hope so.”

To the side, Qiu Ruoli stood in silence, her mind reeling.

This guy… is actually going to participate in the Grand Assembly?

And judging by his tone… he plans to take the championship?

She looked at the ‘Evil Cultivator’ with a complex expression.