"Old Li, do you think that in Yanming City, only you know how to forge weapons, and everyone else is no good? If my Fang family doesn't hire you with a high salary, this weapon forging workshop will not be able to operate?"

Fang Han's gaze was sharp as he stared intently at Li Xiwen, a barely perceptible hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

In his view, people who demand exorbitant prices are truly despicable.

Moreover, Li Xiwen can only forge low-grade treasure-level weapons, yet he usually acts extremely arrogant. If he were truly capable, that would be one thing, but this kind of behavior is simply unbearable for Fang Han.

“Of course. The Wu family was probably dealt with secretly by the Prince of Zhenbei because they married Su Qianyu, a remnant of the Hehuan Sect. And your Fang family colluded with the City Lord's Mansion and the Lin Yin Pavilion to obtain the Wu family's weapon-refining workshop. I have been managing this workshop all along, and no one in the workshop has a weapon-refining skill that surpasses mine. The weapon-refining workshop is so profitable, it is only natural that my disciples and I have doubled our salaries.”

Li Xiwen slowly stroked his slightly graying goatee, his expression arrogant and his tone resolute.

"The original salary was already quite high, and you want to double it? Besides, weapon crafting isn't difficult at all. I can craft spirit weapons with ease. My Fang family also has many weapon crafting experts. I think the weapon crafting workshop can't just craft treasure and spirit weapons. We still need some people who can craft ordinary weapons, which is why I plan to keep you here."

Fang Han frowned slightly, feeling increasingly disgusted by Li Xiwen's greed, and spoke coldly.

"Young Master Fang, are you still out of your mind? Only your father, Fang Zhendong, has any talent in alchemy in your Fang family. I, Shi Enzuo, have never heard of anyone in your Fang family knowing how to forge weapons. Even Wu Haomiao, a Foundation Establishment Realm expert, can only forge high-grade treasure-level weapons, not spiritual weapons. You say you can forge spiritual weapons casually? Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"

A burly, middle-aged man with a thick beard, wearing a mocking sneer, sneered mercilessly.

He was Li Xiwen's eldest disciple, and his weapon-refining skills were second only to Li Xiwen's.

"That's right, even if it's an ordinary artifact, no one in your Fang family can forge it."

"Your Fang family owns refined iron ore, which also contains fire crystals. However, your Fang family has always sold the refined iron ore to the Feng family in Tianyuan County, keeping only some fire crystals for alchemy. If your Fang family knew how to refine weapons, would you have sold all the refined iron ore?"

Li Xiwen's disciples echoed him, each one making a comment, their faces full of mockery. Their grating laughter echoed in the air, as if trying to completely crush Fang Han's words.

Li Xiwen made a gesture for silence, and his disciples immediately quieted down.

He narrowed his eyes, looking at Fang Han with a hint of provocation: "Fang Han, how about this? If someone in your Fang family can really forge a weapon of the treasure level, I, Li Xiwen, and my disciples and grand-disciples will forge weapons for your Fang family for free. But if your Fang family can't do it, then give us double the salary. What do you think? Of course, I guess you can't make the decision. You should have your father or grandfather do it."

“I can make decisions about the Fang family. Li Xiwen, you bunch of frogs in a well, today I’ll show you what I’m made of.”

Fang Han said calmly, "Now, come with me into the weapon-refining room. I'll show you what real weapon-refining is all about."

Are we frogs in a well?

Enraged by Fang Han's words, Li Xiwen's veins bulged slightly as he roared, "I'd like to see what makes you so capable of saying such things!"

"Even the Wu family used to treat my master with great respect. Aren't you afraid of blowing your own horn?"

Shi Enzuo continued to mock and ridicule the other party, hurling one nasty remark after another.

"Li Xiwen is doing you a favor. Once you witness our young master's weapon-refining skills, you'll definitely be so shameless as to stay and beg him to teach you some weapon-refining techniques."

Zhou Chi stood behind Fang Han and spoke loudly.

"You big oaf, your young master is a bragging idiot, and so are you?"

Li Xiwen glanced at Zhou Chi with disdain, "I've never heard of you being an idiot before."

"You old codger, don't be so unconvinced, just wait until you get a slap in the face."

Zhou Chi retorted without backing down, his eyes filled with Fang Han's trust.

Soon, Fang Han, Zhou Chi, Li Xiwen, and Shi Enzuo strode into the weapon-refining room in a grand procession.

Stepping into the Wu family's weapon-refining room, a simple yet profound aura immediately greets you.

The weapon-refining room was vast, with more than a dozen weapon-refining furnaces neatly arranged in the spacious area.

These refining furnaces were all cast from top-grade black iron, and their bodies were engraved with mysterious runes that occasionally shimmered with a faint light.

Nearby, fire crystals and fine steel needed to forge weapons were piled up like mountains.

Fire crystals emit a faint red glow, their internal energy seemingly ready to burst forth at any moment; while refined steel radiates a cold metallic luster, its texture hard, each piece seemingly waiting to be forged into an unparalleled divine weapon.

As for the quenching liquid, it was placed in a huge stone trough. The surface was calm and still, but it faintly exuded a chilling aura.

The heavy hammers and other equipment and tools used for pounding steel billets were also neatly arranged. The hammers bore the marks of time, as if showing everyone their glorious past achievements.

"Fang Han, let's start now. I bet you don't even know how to start a fire in a weapon-refining furnace."

Li Xiwen stroked the neatly trimmed white beard on his chin, a mocking sneer appearing on his face.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the weapon-refining room suddenly became heavy and oppressive.

Li Xiwen and his disciples' gazes were like sharp knives, fixed intently on Fang Han.

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