Ye Xiner listened as everyone praised Hong Yuan with such enthusiasm. A slight smile graced her lips, and she felt genuinely happy for Hong Yuan from the bottom of her heart.

With tender eyes, she watched the graceful figure reflected in the Water Mirror. Her gaze seemed entirely occupied by Hong Yuan. Gu Fan, you can do it—

「Hurricane Valley.」

The surrounding winds intensified, quickly forming raging hurricanes and massive tornadoes. The tornadoes overlapped, surging tumultuously towards Hong Yuan with vast and mighty force.

Such an astonishing scene caused the crowd watching Hong Yuan’s Artifact Refining to break into a cold sweat for him.

But Hong Yuan merely revealed a faint smile.

He patted the cold sword at his waist. It rose into the air, shining with an azure luminescence. In an instant, endless sword lights were reborn, forming the Blue Radiance Sword Dragon.

The Blue Radiance Sword Dragon roared, and greenery sprouted rapidly from the earth, forming a primeval forest that blocked the tornadoes.

However, the omnipresent winds still blew forward. Fortunately, under Hong Yuan’s control, they were drawn towards the Wind Thunder Roaring Double Wing, beginning the tempering process. Gradually, the Wind Tao Marks on the Wind Thunder Roaring Double Wing began to revive and change their appearance.

"How can there be wind without thunder?" Hong Yuan laughed heartily, raised his head, and shouted, "Leigong, assist me!"

Among the Five Elements, Wood Tao generates wind and thunder. With the power of Wood Tao, Hong Yuan quickly summoned endless thunderbolts. From the heavens, verdant wood thunder cascaded like waterfalls, suspended against the sky.

As the wind rose, the thunder fell!

Such a grand Artifact Refining spectacle quickly attracted the attention of most spectators in the Ye Family’s main city. Even the Martial Saints were impressed by Hong Yuan’s extraordinary feat.

"Whose son is this, to possess such boldness? I believe he will undoubtedly be the Leader of Artifact Refining in this event!" the Supreme Clan Elder of the Wu Family praised, stroking his beard.

"Hehe, hardly remarkable. This man is called Ye Gufan; he is indeed a disciple of our Ye Family," the Great Saint Taibai replied, unfazed, after receiving the report from the current Clan Leader of the Ye Family.

All the Saints cupped their hands, congratulating the Ye Family on their abundance of talent. The Great Saint Taibai responded to each one, but as he looked at Hong Yuan’s figure, he was puzzled. Why has this Ye Gufan revealed his Artifact Refining skills so early?

...

"Gu Fan, are our actions too brazen?" Ye Xiner asked, holding the Wind Thunder Double Wing Instrument, her expression troubled and uneasy.

Usually, during the preliminary selection stages, wouldn’t everyone hide their abilities, only unleashing their full potential at the final moment to secure an invincible position in one fell swoop? Yet, Hong Yuan had displayed such dominance from the very beginning of the competition, which was bound to attract the attention of other contestants. This was so out of character for him!

"Relax, we are disciples of the Ye Family, after all." Hong Yuan offered some comforting words. Seeing Ye Xiner still looked worried, he gently took her small hand. "I have my plans. I’ll tell you when we get back, okay?"

"No, no need. Gu Fan, it’s fine as long as you have a plan."

WHOOSH—

The Green Phoenix flapped its wings rapidly, soaring towards the horizon.

Shortly after they left, Ye Qingcheng, the granddaughter of Great Saint Taibai, arrived with a group of Ye Family disciples, searching for Hong Yuan.

"Ugh, Ye Gufan actually left! This is so infuriating!" Ye Qingcheng frowned, clearly impatient. She had intended to become the most dazzling disciple of the Ye Family, but she hadn’t expected Hong Yuan to overshadow her! She had come this time intending to recruit Hong Yuan.

And Hong Yuan’s target was, indeed, Ye Qingcheng.

Perhaps due to practicing Longevity Martial Arts, Hong Yuan always liked to have an extra ace up his sleeve. The sixth-rank immortal plant, the Blue Primordial Treasure Lotus, is key to entering the next dream sequence; I must obtain it. But I also need to visit all nine of the Ye Family’s sword peaks. However, I’m not sure if winning the title of Leader of Artifact Refining will allow me to visit all nine sword peaks. But if I can get help from Ye Qingcheng, the Great Saint’s granddaughter, then I’ll definitely be able to visit all nine sword peaks. In that case, practicing the ’Five Finger Fist Dream Sword’ Divine Power will definitely be no problem!

"Sister Qingcheng, should we keep looking for Ye Gufan?" Ye Fengdao asked softly.

A thoughtful glint flickered in Ye Qingcheng’s star-like eyes as she recalled her grandfather, Great Saint Taibai’s assessment of Hong Yuan. She bit her lip lightly and declared, "Search, definitely! I want to see for myself what kind of Heavenly Talent this Ye Gufan truly is!"