From the fake emperor to the concubine

“A top-grade spiritual weapon,” Zheng Yi said.

The shopkeeper's smile froze instantly.

"A high-grade spiritual weapon?" He took a breath. "Sir, high-grade spiritual weapons aren't something that can be forged casually. In the entire Tianyuan City, there are only a handful of weapon refiners capable of forging high-grade spiritual weapons, and they generally don't take jobs from casual customers."

"Why?" Zheng Yi asked.

"Because refining high-grade spiritual weapons requires a large amount of materials and effort, the losses are enormous if it fails," the shopkeeper explained. "Master-level weapon refiners are either patrons of powerful forces or run their own refinement workshops, only taking jobs from acquaintances. They generally don't bother with casual customers like you."

Zheng Yi frowned. "Is there any way?"

The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then said, "There is a solution."

“What method?”

"Sir, you can try your luck at 'Hundred Refinements Workshop'," the shopkeeper said. "Hundred Refinements Workshop is the largest weapon-refining workshop in Tianyuan City. The owner is a master-level weapon refiner named Tie Wushuang. He occasionally takes on jobs from casual customers; as long as the price is right and the materials are good enough, he might agree."

"Where is the Hundred Refinements Workshop?" Zheng Yi asked.

"Just ask around on Blacksmith Street in the south of the city," the shopkeeper said.

"Thank you for your guidance, shopkeeper." Zheng Yi cupped his hands in thanks, then turned and left the shop.

He followed the shopkeeper's instructions and headed towards the south of the city.

The southern part of the city is the elite district of Tianyuan City. The streets here are wider and cleaner, and the buildings on both sides are more magnificent. Most of the pedestrians are dressed in fine clothes and have an extraordinary demeanor, clearly people of high status.

Zheng Yi walked through several streets and finally arrived at Blacksmith Street.

Blacksmith Street is a street dedicated to the business of forging weapons, with shops on both sides serving as weapon-making workshops and material stores. The air is filled with the scent of metal and fire, and the clanging of hammers echoes constantly, creating a lively atmosphere.

Zheng Yi walked along the street for a while and soon saw an impressive shop. The shop had a large storefront, with a black plaque hanging at the entrance bearing the three large golden characters "Bai Lian Fang" (Hundred Refinements Workshop), written in a vigorous and elegant style.

"This should be it," Zheng Yi thought to himself.

Just as he was about to go inside, he suddenly felt several pairs of eyes staring at him from behind.

The hostile gaze sent a chill down his spine.

Zheng Yi didn't turn around, but quietly used his divine sense to check the situation behind him.

About fifty feet behind him, five men dressed in black were following him. All five wore masks, revealing only their eyes, and their auras were concealed; they were clearly well-trained assassins.

"Someone's following me?" Zheng Yi's heart skipped a beat. "Was it sent by Han Feiyang?"

He recalled his conflict with Han Feiyang at the auction yesterday, and suddenly understood a few things.

This Han Feiyang is truly vindictive. Just because of a minor disagreement yesterday, he sent people to deal with me.

"But that's fine too." Zheng Yi's lips curled up slightly. "It'll allow me to see just how capable the Han family really is."

He didn't act immediately, but continued walking forward. He wanted to lure the men to a secluded place before making his move, so as not to cause too much of a commotion in the street.

He walked through Blacksmith Street and turned into a small alley.

The alley was lined with high courtyard walls, overgrown with weeds, giving it a desolate appearance. There were few people in the alley, except for a few stray cats sunbathing in the corners.

Zheng Yi walked to the middle of the alley and suddenly stopped.

"Come out," he said calmly. "Aren't you tired of following me for so long?"

Footsteps sounded behind him, and five men in black walked in from the alley entrance, blocking Zheng Yi's escape route.

“You have excellent eyesight,” said the leader of the men in black, his voice hoarse and deep. “You discovered us so quickly.”

"Were you sent by Han Feiyang?" Zheng Yi turned around and looked at the five people.

“That’s right.” The leader of the men in black nodded. “The Third Young Master said that you offended him yesterday, and he’s very unhappy. So he sent us to teach you a lesson.”

"A lesson?" Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow. "Just you guys?"

His divine sense had already reached out and sensed the cultivation levels of those five people.

The leader was at the mid-stage of the Integration Realm, while the other four were at the early stage. This lineup might be enough to deal with ordinary cultivators, but against Zheng Yi, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

"I advise you to go back and tell Han Feiyang not to invite trouble," Zheng Yi said calmly. "Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."

"Hahaha," the leader of the men in black laughed, "Such arrogance. You think you can take on the five of us all by yourself?"

“I’m telling the truth,” Zheng Yi said. “Your strength is nothing to me.”

"Arrogant!" The leader of the men in black's face darkened. "Brothers, attack! Let him know what happens when you offend the Han family!"

The five men in black moved at the same time and pounced on Zheng Yi.

They were fast and coordinated perfectly, clearly well-trained. The leader charged ahead, striking Zheng Yi in the chest with a palm strike. The other four spread out, attacking from different directions, forming an encirclement.

But in Zheng Yi's eyes, their movements seemed to be in slow motion.

He stood still, letting the palm strike his chest.

A smug glint flashed in the eyes of the leader of the men in black. He thought Zheng Yi was too scared to dodge.

Just as the palm was about to strike Zheng Yi, Zheng Yi suddenly moved.

His right hand rose with lightning speed, and with a gentle flick, he blocked the palm strike.

boom!
The leader of the men in black felt an immense force coming from the other's palm, which made his entire arm go numb. His body involuntarily staggered back several steps, almost falling over.

"What?!" His face changed drastically. "You..."

Zheng Yi didn't give him a chance to speak; he appeared in front of him in a flash.

Clap it with one palm.

That palm strike seemed effortless, but it contained terrifying power.

The leader of the men in black tried to dodge, but Zheng Yi was too fast; he had no time to react.

boom!
The palm struck him squarely in the chest, sending his body flying like a cannonball. He crashed into the alley wall, creating a large crater. He spat out a mouthful of blood, which slid down the wall; he was no longer capable of fighting.

"Boss!" The other four men in black were shocked.

They never expected their boss to be defeated in a single move. This seemingly ordinary middle-aged man possessed terrifying strength.

"Shall we continue?" Zheng Yi asked them calmly, looking at them.

The four men in black exchanged glances, a hint of fear flashing in their eyes.

But they are members of the Han family, how can they slink away like this? If word gets out, where will the Han family's reputation be?
"Kill!" one of the men in black shouted through gritted teeth and charged toward Zheng Yi.

The other three reluctantly followed. Zheng Yi shook his head, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

He moved with a swift movement, appearing like a ghost among the four men in black.

Bang bang bang!

Four muffled thuds followed, and the four men in black were sent flying almost simultaneously, crashing to the ground, spitting blood, unable to get up again.

It took less than three breaths from start to finish.

Zheng Yi stood there, looking at the five people lying on the ground, his face expressionless.

“Go back and tell Han Feiyang,” he said calmly, “if he still wants to cause me trouble, I won’t hold back next time.”

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the alley.

Five men in black lay on the ground, their faces ashen. They never imagined that even with their combined strength, they couldn't withstand a single blow from their opponent.

Who exactly is this person?
The leader of the men in black struggled to his feet, glanced in the direction Zheng Yi had left, his eyes filled with fear.

"Go back and report to the Third Young Master quickly," he said with difficulty.

Meanwhile, inside a luxurious mansion in the east of the city.

Han Feiyang was admiring the flowers in the back garden.

The garden is filled with all kinds of rare flowers, a riot of colors vying for attention. A clear stream meanders through the flowers, its murmuring waters a delight to the senses.

Han Feiyang sat in the pavilion by the stream, holding a cup of fragrant tea in his hand, leisurely savoring it.

“Third Young Master,” a maidservant approached, “Zhang Bo requests an audience.”

"Let him in." Han Feiyang put down his teacup.

A short while later, the old man in the gray robe from yesterday entered the pavilion.

“Third Young Master,” Zhang Bo bowed respectfully, “I have already arranged what you instructed. Those five men set off early this morning and should have found their target by now.”

"Very well." Han Feiyang's lips curled into a cold smile. "That arrogant fool dared to oppose me at the auction and even dared to speak rudely to me. I'll see if he still dares to be so arrogant after I teach him a lesson."

"The Third Young Master is wise," Uncle Zhang nodded.

Han Feiyang picked up his teacup, about to drink some tea, when suddenly a guard rushed into the garden.

"Third Young Master, something terrible has happened!" The guard knelt on the ground, his face pale.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?" Han Feiyang asked, frowning.

"The five men you sent have returned," the guard said in a trembling voice.

"You're back?" Han Feiyang was taken aback. "So fast? Did you complete the mission?"

“No, no,” the guard swallowed hard. “They…they were beaten, all of them were beaten. They’re lying in the front hall now, badly injured.”

"What?" Han Fei jumped up, his expression changing drastically.

He strode towards the front hall, with Uncle Zhang following closely behind.

Upon entering the front hall, they saw five men in black lying on the ground, covered in blood and barely alive. Several servants were busy bandaging their wounds, sweating profusely.

Han Feiyang walked to the leader, bent down, and asked in a deep voice, "What happened? Where is that person?"

“Third Young Master,” the leader of the men in black began with difficulty, “we…we are no match for him. He was too strong. One move…just one move, and he defeated us all.”

"One move?" Han Feiyang's expression darkened further. "You're saying he took down all five of you in one move?"

“Yes.” The leader of the men in black nodded. “He… he sent a message to the Third Young Master saying that if the Third Young Master tries to cause him trouble again, he won’t hold back next time.”

Han Feiyang's face turned ashen.

The five people he sent were all experts at the Integration Realm. Although their strength wasn't top-tier, they were still considered elite. Unexpectedly, they couldn't even withstand a single move from that person.

"Just who is this person?" he asked Uncle Zhang in a deep voice.

Uncle Zhang's expression was also very serious.

“As I said yesterday, that person is unfathomable, and his cultivation level is unfathomable,” he said. “Now it seems that his strength is at least at the Mahayana Realm level, otherwise he couldn’t have defeated five experts at the Integration Realm in one move.”

"The Great Ascension Realm?" Han Feiyang gasped.

Even within a prestigious family like the Han family, experts at the Mahayana Realm are highly respected. For a cultivator at the mid-stage of the Integration Realm to provoke a Mahayana Realm expert—wasn't he just asking for trouble?

“Third Young Master, this old servant advises you not to provoke that person any further for the time being,” Uncle Zhang said. “He is too powerful; we are no match for him now. Let’s return to the Han family, report to the patriarch, and then make a plan.”

Han Feiyang's expression shifted between light and dark.

He knew, of course, that Uncle Zhang was right. But the problem was, when had Han Feiyang ever suffered such humiliation? In Tianyuan City, who didn't give the Han family some face? That person not only opposed him at the auction, but now he had injured his subordinate and even sent someone to threaten him. How could he swallow this insult?

"Third Young Master" Zhang Bo said again when he saw that Han Feiyang was not speaking.

"Enough!" Han Feiyang interrupted him, his face filled with anger. "I know what to do. You can leave."

Uncle Zhang opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more, and turned to leave the front hall.

Han Feiyang stood there, looking at his five dying men on the ground, a sinister light flashing in his eyes.

“Fine, very well,” he said through gritted teeth. “You think you can intimidate me, Han Feiyang, by injuring a few of my men? Dream on! I’ll see how long you can keep up your arrogance.”

He turned and walked towards the study, his mind beginning to formulate new plans.

On the other side, after leaving that alley, Zheng Yi continued walking towards the Hundred Refinement Workshop.

The brief skirmish hadn't taken much effort from him; his clothes hadn't even gotten dirty. The five men in black were far too weak; they were like child's play to him.

"Han Feiyang is really courting death," Zheng Yi thought to himself. "I hope he learns his lesson and stops bothering me. Otherwise, I won't be so polite next time."

He entered the Hundred Refinements Workshop, and a shop assistant immediately came to greet him.

"Welcome to Hundred Refinements Workshop, sir. How can I help you?"

“I would like to meet your master blacksmith,” Zheng Yi said. “I have a magical artifact I would like him to help me forge.”

The waiter paused for a moment, "Sir, are you referring to Boss Iron?"

“Yes, it’s Master Tie Wushuang.” Zheng Yi nodded.

The waiter looked troubled. "Well... the iron shop owner usually doesn't see walk-in customers. Unless it's a referral from an acquaintance, or someone has special materials."

“I have the materials,” Zheng Yi said. “I believe that once Master Tie sees my materials, he will be willing to meet with me.” (End of Chapter)