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

Chapter 283: The Shocking Wager, All Sides Compete

News of the wager swept through the Sacred City with the force of a hurricane. In less than half a day, there wasn’t a soul in the capital who hadn’t heard of the earth-shattering gamble.

“Have you heard? The newly ascended fifth-rank artifact refiner, Wang Yu, is going to challenge Venerable Chi Xiao to a refining duel!”

“Has he lost his mind? Master Lu is a titan of the industry, a Grandmaster with a thousand years of fame!”

“I heard the stakes involve a Spirit Gathering Array Disk from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and the entire ownership rights of the Hundred Forging Pavilion!”

For a time, the topic dominated every conversation in the Sacred City’s major taverns, marketplaces, and auction houses.

“Is there even a need for a competition? Master Lu is a legend who has forged seven True Spirit Treasures!” An Elder from the Hundred Arts Sect sneered openly. “That Wang Yu merely stumbled into a Weapon Tribulation by sheer luck once. Does he really think he’s qualified to challenge a titan?”

“Exactly! Master Lu’s Chi Xiao Pearl was praised endlessly by the Celestial Venerables of the Dao Xuan Sect!” someone immediately chimed in, eager to curry favor. “How long has that Duobao Workshop even been open? Their foundation is pitifully shallow!”

Some opportunists even set up gambling pools right in the middle of the city streets.

“Odds on Master Lu winning are 1.2 to 1! Odds on Wang Yu are 5 to 1!”

The result was predictable: nine out of ten bettors threw their money at Lu Tingwei.

“Hahaha! Isn’t this just free Spirit Stones?” A Nascent Soul Realm cultivator laughed heartily, slamming down a bag containing a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. “Master Lu is guaranteed to win!”

Of course, a small minority held absolute confidence in Shen Xian.

“What do you lot know?” A cultivator who had witnessed the phenomenon at the workshop snorted with disdain. “I saw Master Wang refine with my own eyes! The heavenly tribulation triggered by that Cold Soul Sword was no illusion!”

“Precisely!” Zhao Wuchen of the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce stroked his beard, smiling enigmatically. “Master Wang’s refining techniques are in a league of their own. Even the master refiners employed by my Chamber of Commerce admit they are inferior.”

Zi Chen was even more fervent. His face flushed with excitement as he dragged several friends around, evangelizing to anyone who would listen. “Master Wang will win! Who does Lu Tingwei think he is compared to him?”

…

While the city bustled with noise, deeper undercurrents surged in the shadows.

Several Elders of the Dao Xuan Sect met in secret.

“If Lu Tingwei loses and the Hundred Forging Pavilion is absorbed by the Duobao Sect, our market share will hemorrhage another thirty percent!”

Behind Lu Tingwei stood a Celestial Venerable of the Dao Xuan Sect. For years, Lu had supplied the Sect with Magical Artifacts and paid heavy tribute in Spirit Stones. Losing him would be a significant blow to their revenue stream.

One Elder sneered, his eyes cold. “It matters not. With our support behind Lu Tingwei, how could he possibly lose to a young upstart with no background?”

Far away in Black Profound City, upon learning that Shen Xian intended to compete in skill against a fifth-rank artifact refiner, the Black Profound Celestial Venerable chuckled softly.

“That little fellow certainly has a spine. Decisive.”

He turned his gaze to Yan Hao, who stood respectfully before him. “Go. Join in the excitement.”

Yan Hao cupped his hands deeply. “This subordinate obeys!”

…

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Mu, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. Collaborating with the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce, he launched “Premium Observation Seats.” Despite the front-row tickets being priced at an exorbitant one thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, they sold out instantly.

Tie Shan and Ai Xiao worked through the nights to prepare the venue. They transformed the workshop square into a colossal refining platform, establishing heavy protective Formations around the perimeter to ensure the violent fluctuations of Spiritual Qi wouldn’t vaporize the audience.

When the deadline arrived, the Sacred City was packed to the bursting point.

The finals of the artifact refining event had already drawn a crowd, but now, starved for entertainment, the entire populace clamored to witness this clash of egos. For the artifact refiners in the crowd, the chance to observe a fifth-rank Grandmaster at work was a rare opportunity for enlightenment.

“Look! Isn’t that the refiner from the Hundred Arts Sect? Even he came!”

“That’s nothing! I just saw an Elder from the Dao Xuan Sect take a seat!”

The eyes of the entire city were locked onto the Heavenly Craft Workshop square.

This battle… would determine the future hierarchy of the Sacred City’s artifact refining world.

At the hour of Chen, an ear-splitting dragon roar shattered the morning calm above the Heavenly Craft Workshop!

*ROAR!*

Nine Crimson Flame Dragons tore through the sky, pulling a magnificent gilded war-chariot. Each beast radiated the terrifying Pressure of the Nascent Soul Realm, and the flames dancing upon their scales dyed half the sky a bloody red.

Behind the chariot, twelve cultivators clad in crimson robes rode upon clouds of fire. Each bore four golden patterns on their chest—an entire squad of fourth-rank artifact refining Masters serving as mere attendants!

The chariot touched down with a heavy thud. Lu Tingwei, draped in a crimson-gold Daoist robe, stepped out. The five golden patterns on his chest blazed brilliantly under the morning sun.

With every step he took, a lotus of pure fire bloomed beneath his feet.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, it has been too long!”

A hearty laugh descended from the heavens as three figures arrived in unison. The crowd gasped—these were three other Grandmasters, each bearing the five golden patterns of the fifth rank!

“Heavens! It’s Master Zhou from the Hundred Arts Sect!”

“And Elder Yan from Skyfire City!”

“That one… could it be the long-secluded Senior Tian Yuanzi?”

Fifth-rank artifact refiners were apex existences within the Dao Xuan Sacred Land. Seeing their old friend preparing to crush a rival, these three Grandmasters had come to lend their weight to his prestige.

The display of influence was suffocating.

But the true shock was yet to come.

*BOOM!*

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, as if the air itself had turned to lead. A crushing Pressure descended, forcing the weaker cultivators to tremble.

Celestial Venerable Zeng Guang of the Dao Xuan Sect stepped through the void, followed by three Soul Formation Realm Elders!

“Master Lu,” Celestial Venerable Zeng Guang’s voice boomed like a great bell, vibrating in everyone’s chests. “This Venerable has come specifically to support you.”

Lu Tingwei cupped his hands, a triumphant smile on his face. “Many thanks, Celestial Venerable!”

With his appearance, the square erupted into chaos.

The disciples of the Hundred Forging Pavilion marched in a grand procession, numbering over twenty. Furthermore, thirty-six Nascent Soul Realm cultivators took up positions to maintain order, each holding Formation flags that were themselves top-grade spirit treasures.

“Is this the power of a veteran fifth-rank Grandmaster?” a cultivator murmured, his face pale with awe.

Lu Tingwei surveyed the scene, basking in the adoration and fear. His gaze finally settled on the Duobao Workshop, and his lips curled into a sneer of absolute superiority.

“Wang Yu, you brat! Do you dare show yourself for a battle?!”

His voice rolled out like thunder, shaking the foundations of the city!

Just as the crowd was reeling from Lu Tingwei’s overwhelming display of power, a light, unbothered chuckle drifted from the direction of the Duobao Workshop.

“Master Lu, what a theatrical entrance.”

Shen Xian walked out.

He wore a simple, unadorned white robe. His pace was leisurely, as if he were taking a morning stroll rather than entering a duel for his life.

Behind him walked only Venerable Zi Yun and Zhao Wuchen of the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce. Further back trailed Su Mu, Tie Shan, and a handful of disciples. Compared to the legion of elites and dragons on the other side, Shen Xian’s group looked pitifully shabby.

Although the Duobao Sect had gained favor recently, their opponent was a deeply entrenched institution. Most sects dared not openly offend the Hundred Forging Pavilion, leaving Shen Xian isolated.

“Tsk. That’s it?” A disciple of the Hundred Arts Sect whispered a secret transmission to his peer. “Not even a decent entourage? And he dares to call himself a fifth-rank refiner?”

“I heard the Duobao Sect is less than a year old. Their foundation is non-existent compared to the Hundred Forging Pavilion,” another sneered. “I bet his materials aren’t worth a fraction of Master Lu’s scraps.”

“Does Master Wang even have a decent refining furnace?” a cultivator attached to the Hundred Forging Pavilion mocked loudly.

His companion joined in, “How could he compare? Master Lu brought the *Nine Dragons Heaven-Refining Cauldron*! That is a Middle Grade True Spirit Treasure!”

Venerable Zi Yun let out a cold snort.

He released a mere fraction of his Void Refinement Pressure, yet it hit the crowd like a physical hammer. The air solidified, and the mocking whispers were instantly choked off.

However, the disdain in the crowd’s eyes remained. To them, the contest was over before it began.

This wasn’t just a test of skill; it was a war of resources and connections. Compared to Lu Tingwei, who was backed by three Grandmasters and the Dao Xuan Sect, Shen Xian looked like a pauper.

Seeing this, Lu Tingwei’s sneer deepened.

*In terms of foundation, I have been rooted in this Sacred City for thousands of years. How could a rootless drifter possibly compete with me?*

Just as he was savoring his inevitable victory, a sharp voice cut through the air!

“Deputy City Lord! This subordinate is late!”