在嵩雲書院的古老院落中，一群弟子圍在廣場中央，氣氛張而微妙。一個名書逸的弟子，傲氣沖天，他對著面前的小輩淩一，角勾起一抹不屑的笑意：“我書逸何時過這樣的委屈，你竟敢如此無理取鬧？難道不怕我藏雲師兄的發怒嗎？”

淩一， Though a mere sophomore, stood unfazed, his chin held high in defiance. “You're overstepping your bounds, Book逸. How dare you demand such absurdity? Are you asking me to fight you, man-to-man? Do you dare?” His voice was filled with a defiance that belied his youth.

Before the words could fully register, a sharp slap came from nowhere, striking Book逸's cheek. The sound echoed through the air, and everyone present gasped in shock, turning their heads to see淩一, his face blank, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"I've never heard such an absurd demand. Its gratification was a mere formality,"淩一 declared, turning to the onlookers with an innocent expression.

Laughter bubbled up from the crowd, a chorus of amusement and curiosity as they awaited the unfolding drama.

Book逸's companions, red with anger, glared daggers at淩一. “Know whose honor you've struck? You've insulted Master Zhangyu!”

The young man growled, his eyes narrowing with fury. “ Strike a dog, and you have to consider the master’s feelings! Are you trying to provoke Master Zhangyu by wounding me?”

淩一 rolled his eyes, an exaggerated show of nonchalance. “I was in the乞幫， where I learned the art of beating dogs. It’s come in handy.”

“A bold brat with no sense of humility,” the man barked, anger flaring in his eyes.

The son of Zhangyu, a man of considerable strength, moved with a display of raw power, a ball of spiritual energy swirling around his hand, about to strike.

淩一, unbothered, slipped backward and deflected the blow, the spiritual energy1 bouncing off the wall behind him, leaving a smoking crater. “And that’s all you got?”

A smug smirk playing on his lips,淩一 summoned golden spiritual energy into existence, forming a golden staff in his hands. “Let me present you with a dogwhip.”

With a command, the staff shot out, aiming for Book逸. The latter, his eyes bloodshot from anger, did not retreat. His defensive shield was as solid as a mountain, and the golden staff struck it with a thud.

In a blink, Book逸 leaped forwards, his spiritual aura swirling with a force that pressed down on the very fabric of existence. “This is not the place for a fight, Book逸. Don't you know this is where the refinement ritual is taking place?”

Enter Liu Heling, with presence that commanded attention. She stepped in front of 淩一, her stance firm and unyielding.

Book逸's eyes widened, his face darkening as he turned to face her. He unleashed a blast of spiritual energy towards the flagpole nearby.

A crack and a snap later, the flagpole snapped in half, falling to the ground.

“Fighting in this area is forbidden. If you wish to challenge spiritual power, find another place. The refinement ritual is about to begin,” Liu Heling announced, her voice echoing through the square.

With a cold snort, Book逸 turned back to his spot, his gaze flickering with a menacing glint as he nodded at Liu Heling before retreating, his silhouetteented with the lingering anger of a defeated warrior.

Liu Heling turned to the assembly of students and said, “All, the materials are the same. The winner is the one who crafts the highest-level spiritual artifact. Begin!”

At her command, the refining ground shimmered with spiritual energy. Each student, deeply focused, manipulated spiritual power with precision, as molten rock bubbled within their cauldrons, absorbing precious stones, and the cauldrons glowed with an inner fire.

Suddenly, a blinding light burst out of one of the cauldrons, blinding the spectators.

Chen Song, a student from the Fanxiang School, showed no signs of .., with his skillful hands, the cauldron roared with life, as various materials were added, consumed by the flames, merging with the molten iron within.

“From the very beginning, listen to my command. In the contest of earth… emerge!”

With a series of incantations, the cauldron erupted, a surge of spiritual energy shooting out, reaching Chen Song.

“Break!”

Chen Song focused his spirit, the energy flowing from his palm into the spiritual surge, his figure growing more imposing.

“The Autumn Moon Dawn Bowl!”

With a roar, the spiritual surge faded, revealing the artifact within.

The artifact, a bronze-green bowl, rose on four dragon-shaped legs, atop which a dragon's head with an open mouth served as the opening. The dragon's teeth were sharp, its eyes gleaming with ferocity, leaving a chilling effect on all who beheld it.

Book逸's expression shifted to one of shock, his hands moving with a newfound urgency.

“I am cursed with such poor taste. Such a 'fake' could only be an imitation. My spiritual artifact, on the other hand, is far superior,” Book逸 sneered, revealing his own creation.

“Hmph, your little display of ignorance knows no bounds,” 淩一 interrupted, his arms crossed, a look of mock sorrow on his face.

“Your 'Great Spiritual Plate' is indeed a top-tier artifact, but this is a weapon, a tool of attack. It possesses a higher spiritual nature than your plate. You call this a fake? How can a fake carry the aura of the genuine article?”

Chen Song tossed his artifact into the air, the dragon's eyes flashing with a golden glow, the dragon's scales rippling up around the bowl's legs, and a sliver of dragon essence shot upwards, piercing through the sky, emitting a resounding吼聲.

"Ao!"

The sky darkened, the wind howled, and the crowd felt a chill in their bones as they watched the spectacle.

“Is this a junior artifact? He's pierced through a thread of the dragon path!” Book逸's eyes widened with astonishment, his voice trembling as he spoke.

淩一 raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at the crowd before speaking. “So, who is the winner, I wonder?”

“I concede,” Book逸 replied, bowing deeply, his pride genuinely humbled.

Chen Song, with a casual nod, returned the gesture. “Your honor.”

The rest of the students had no words left, acknowledging their defeat with humble hearts.

“Another victory for Fanxiang School? The city wall, a man's face darkened with anger, his words filled with disdain.

“The Fanxiang School has been producing strong individuals in recent days. It is said that they have obtained guidance from a Lin teacher,” reported the man who had come to report.

“A roar of anger,” he snapped. “The Fanxiang School even has Zhangsong ascending to a level of eldritch power. This Lin teacher has the gall!”

In the midst of the controversy and the aura of competition, 淩一 and his companions stood firm, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.