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

Chapter 240: Attending the Grand Gathering, Astonishing the Entire Assembly

“Master Ai?”

A Golden Core cultivator in the bustling crowd rubbed his eyes, staring blankly at the scene unfolding before him. “Am I seeing things? That’s a Rank 4 Artifact Master capable of forging Spirit Treasures!”

Heads turned. Countless eyes locked onto the figures walking through the thoroughfare.

Ai Xiao, a man famous for his arrogant and unruly temperament, was currently walking half a step behind a young man. His posture was humble, bordering on subservient—like an apprentice attending to his revered mentor.

What was even more shocking was the jade box cradled in Ai Xiao’s hands. He kept his head bowed, occasionally whispering inquiries to the young man, looking for all the world like a lowly errand boy.

Hiss—

The sound of sharp intakes of breath rippled through the onlookers.

“To make a Rank 4 Artifact Refiner act so respectful… who is that?”

Gazes shifted to Shen Xian.

He was dressed in a simple, unadorned white robe, with only an inconspicuous dragon-shaped jade pendant hanging at his waist. Yet, his bearing was as profound as a deep abyss and as imposing as a towering mountain. One look was enough to tell he was extraordinary.

“Could he also be a Rank 4 Artifact Master?” someone whispered.

“Unlikely. He’s probably a disciple from some major power, relying on his clan’s status to force Master Ai to fawn over him,” a male cultivator sneered, his tone dripping with acid.

His eyes were glued to Qiu Ruoli, who walked intimately close to Shen Xian’s side. Seeing such a peerless beauty attached to this unknown young man ignited a fierce fire of jealousy in his gut.

“Hmph. Just a rich profligate flexing his family background,” the cultivator muttered, nursing his resentment. “Otherwise, why would the proud Master Ai lower his head like that?”

Hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding cultivators shifted from awe to disdain.

“True. Look at his age. How could he possibly be a Rank 4 Master?”

An elderly man wearing an Artifact Refiner’s robe stroked his beard and shook his head. “This old man has lived in Azure Nether City for a century and has never seen this face. He must be some second-generation immortal out for a joyride, eager to show off at the Grand Gathering.”

In the crowd, several female cultivators who had initially been struck by Shen Xian’s handsome features curled their lips in contempt.

“He looks the part, but it’s a pity he’s just a straw bag relying on his ancestors,” they whispered among themselves, giggling. “What a waste of that fairy by his side…”

“Exactly!” another cultivator chimed in loudly. “And look at Ai Xiao! A dignified Rank 4 Master acting like a running dog. He’s embarrassing the entire profession!”

The gossip grew louder, feeding on the crowd’s collective envy.

Of course, they didn’t dare speak too openly, mostly communicating via private voice transmissions. To them, Shen Xian was just a rich tourist using the gathering as a stage for his vanity.

Under the weight of these malicious gazes, Shen Xian remained completely indifferent. He led his group straight to the massive jade platform in front of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

The pavilion servants responsible for reception were momentarily stunned by the strange group composition but quickly sent a message upward.

Moments later, a flash of spiritual light streaked across the sky.

Chen Min descended personally.

His face was wreathed in a bright, obsequious smile. From a distance, he cupped his hands and shouted, his voice booming with Qi:

“Master Wang! You’ve finally arrived!”

The title “Master Wang” struck the crowd like a physical blow.

The chatter died instantly. The cultivators who had been whispering moments ago looked like ducks that had been suddenly choked, their eyes bulging from their sockets.

“Master Chen… actually addressed him as Master?!”

The sarcastic male cultivator from earlier felt his knees turn to water. He stumbled, barely catching himself before he hit the ground.

“I… I mocked someone that even Master Chen treats with respect?”

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, instantly soaking his back. Master Chen was the face of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion; his respect wasn’t bought cheaply.

The old skeptic stroked his beard, his hand freezing in mid-air. He didn’t even notice when he plucked several hairs out by the root.

“This old man… this old man has eyes but failed to see Mt. Tai…” His turbid eyes trembled with shock. “To command such respect from Chen Min… could he be a Peak Rank 4 Master?!”

The handkerchiefs held by the gossiping female cultivators slipped silently to the ground.

“We just called him…” Their faces turned deathly pale, lips quivering in terror. “…a useless straw bag?”

The commotion caught the attention of the other Rank 4 Artifact Refiners already present.

“Wait!” one of them gasped, realization dawning. “Master Wang… could it be the one who forged that High-Grade Spirit Treasure a few days ago?”

The sentence was a spark in a powder keg.

Boom!

The crowd exploded into chaos. The remaining skeptics looked as if they had seen a ghost.

The auction of that perfect High-Grade Spirit Treasure had been the talk of the city. Every refiner knew about it. Chen Min had hyped it as a flawless creation, and those who inspected it confirmed the claim. Everyone wanted to meet the mysterious creator, but no one had the channels.

“That mysterious Grandmaster is actually so young?!”

The cultivators who had been loudest in their mockery now wished the ground would open up and swallow them whole.

“We were slandering a Master capable of refining High-Grade Spirit Treasures…” Their legs shook so violently they could barely stand.

Shen Xian ignored the drama entirely.

He treated the stares of the crowd like air. Guided by Chen Min, he ascended the steps toward the high platform.

The platform was a display of obscene wealth. Constructed entirely from 10,000-year Purple Sandalwood, its surface was carved with intricate array patterns that flowed with faint spiritual light.

A row of sandalwood chairs sat atop the dais, emitting a calming fragrance. The central seats were even more luxurious—carved from Rank 3 Profound Heaven Green Wood, draped in the snowy fur of Rank 4 Cloud Martens, and inlaid with Heart-Clearing Jade to focus the mind.

Over a dozen Artifact Refiners were already seated. Each exuded a powerful aura, the weakest among them being at the mid-Rank 4 stage.

They sat with the casual arrogance of experts, some meditating, others conversing in low tones.

In the center seat sat an unassuming old man.

He wore a plain white robe, his hair and beard snowy white. He had a kindly smile plastered on his face, looking for all the world like a harmless neighbor.

But anyone with a keen sense would notice that the space within three inches of him was subtly distorted. Light seemed to bend around him, avoiding his form out of instinct.

This was the manifestation of a high-level Law comprehension.

A Soul Formation Venerable.

This was Elder Mo from the Hundred Arts Sect, a Peak Rank 4 Artifact Refiner and the presiding judge of the gathering.

Even more shocking was the man sitting next to him. The Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion—himself a Soul Formation powerhouse who usually looked down on the world—was currently pouring tea for Elder Mo like a junior, his attitude respectful to the extreme.

On the other side of the dais, however, the atmosphere was less harmonious.

Yan Xiaozi sat with a gloomy expression.

When he saw Chen Min leading Shen Xian up the stairs, a cold light flashed in his eyes.

Crack.

The teacup in his hand developed a hairline fracture.

“So, this is the brat who ruined my plans…” Yan Xiaozi thought, his resentment simmering. Yet, looking at Shen Xian’s age, his jealousy morphed into contempt. I am the undisputed Number One Artifact Master of Azure Nether City. What are you, barely out of diapers?

Chen Min ignored Yan Xiaozi’s hostile glare completely. He walked Shen Xian to the center and bowed respectfully to the Elder from the Hundred Arts Sect.

“Elder Mo, this is Master Wang, the creator of that High-Grade Spirit Treasure.”

Shen Xian cupped his hands calmly toward the Soul Formation Venerable.

Elder Mo, whose eyes had been half-lidded in boredom, suddenly snapped them open. Two beams of sharp light shot out, piercing straight toward Shen Xian.

What a young monster…

Elder Mo’s heart skipped a beat. His bone age is definitely under a hundred years. To have such attainments already?