Chapter 653: Public Refusal
Chapter 653: Chapter 651: Public Refusal
Jiang Chen looked at the ten materials displayed on the stage.
To be honest, the Artifact Refining Technique Tian Du had left him contained a vast amount of knowledge, including information on Artifact Refining Materials.
There was an incredible variety of Artifact Refining Materials; practically anything in the world could be used by an Artifact Refiner to refine a Magical Treasure.
And the knowledge of materials Tian Du had passed down to Jiang Chen was extremely comprehensive, even including illustrations.
Jiang Chen had already committed it all to memory.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Chen pointed to the first material and said, “Nether Copper. It has a Cold Attribute and can be used to refine both defensive and offensive Magical Treasures, though it is especially suited for defensive ones.”
Jiang Chen stated the first material’s name and the type of Magical Treasure it could be used to refine.
At that moment, several staff members nodded one after another.
“Correct. Next one!”
As for Elder You, he cracked open his eyelids slightly and glanced at Jiang Chen.
Very few people could recognize the material known as Nether Copper.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to identify it.
But it was just a single glance.
Jiang Chen pointed to the second material. “Glowing Grass. It can increase a Magical Treasure’s resilience. Adding it during the refining process will give the finished Magical Treasure a stronger luster.”
“Correct. Third.”
Jiang Chen then proceeded to identify the name and use of each material one by one, even interjecting a few details about their origins.
When Jiang Chen identified the sixth item, everyone on the stage looked at him in surprise.
Before him, only seven people had been able to identify five of the materials.
And Jiang Chen had been unlucky; the set of materials on display this time was even rarer than usual.
They never thought Jiang Chen would still manage to identify six of them.
Elder You opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Chen, a hint of expectation in his gaze.
The seventh item, the eighth, the ninth…
Jiang Chen identified them all in one breath.
Elder You was getting excited.
Jiang Chen was the most outstanding candidate in this batch.
For an Artifact Refiner, the most important thing is to recognize materials. Only by knowing the materials can one refine the corresponding Magical Treasures.
And the more materials one recognized, the better.
A wide knowledge of materials provided a huge advantage in the art of the Artifact Refining Technique.
Finally, only the tenth material remained.
Elder You had already stood up and was staring at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen fell silent. He truly didn’t recognize the tenth material.
Just then, Elder You suddenly spoke up, “Kid, do you recognize this last material?”
“If you do, I’ll take you as my disciple on the spot.”
Jiang Chen was just about to shake his head.
Suddenly, Little Xixi, who was in his arms, quietly whispered in his ear, “Daddy, that’s a Bright Stone.”
‘What?’
Jiang Chen froze.
Even the catalog of materials in Tian Du’s Artifact Refining Technique didn’t include this tenth item. Yet now, Little Xixi had actually named it.
He was utterly astonished.
He looked at Little Xixi. “Xixi, how do you know what this material is?”
Little Xixi shook her head.
“I don’t know either. I just know its name.”
Jiang Chen was taken aback.
He gave Little Xixi a deep look.
But Little Xixi just stared back with her bright, innocent eyes.
Jiang Chen pressed, “Then do you know what kind of Magical Treasure it can be used to refine?”
Little Xixi shook her head.
Apparently, she only knew the material’s name.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and said to Elder You, “I only know that the tenth material is called a Bright Stone. I don’t know its properties or uses.”
Elder You was stunned.
“A Bright Stone?”
He looked at Jiang Chen with a fresh wave of surprise.
Then, his gaze locked onto Little Xixi.
He suddenly chuckled. “Kid, to be honest, not even we at the Artifact Refiner Guild know the name or use of this material.”
“But the child in your arms insists it’s a Bright Stone.”
A moment ago, Elder You had overheard Little Xixi’s words.
It was Little Xixi who had identified the Bright Stone, not Jiang Chen.
A glint flashed in his eyes as he gave Little Xixi another long look.
Then, Elder You suddenly asked, “Kid, are you willing to become my disciple?”
Regardless of whether the tenth material was a Bright Stone or not, Jiang Chen had already identified nine materials, which was an incredible feat.
He wanted to take Jiang Chen as his disciple right then and there.
As soon as he said this, the few Artifact Refiner Guild staff members on stage—who were only apprentices themselves—looked at Jiang Chen with immediate envy.
They knew just how powerful an Artifact Refiner Elder You was. He was a Two-Star Refiner, one of the top figures in the entire Artifact Refiner Guild.
They all started talking at once. “Kid, you’ve hit the jackpot! Elder You has taken a liking to you.”
“Hurry up and accept Elder You as your master! If you do, you’ll be set for life.”
“You have to understand, Elder You is one of the most senior Artifact Refiners in our guild. He’s a Two-Star Refiner!”
“I’m so jealous of you.”
They all spoke in a rush, their tones thick with envy.
However, Jiang Chen ignored them and directly refused Elder You.
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of taking a master.”
With the Artifact Refining Technique Tian Du had passed down to him, he could refine unbelievably heaven-defying Magical Treasures. He had no need for another master.
Besides, an Artifact Refiner from the Lower Realm was simply not worthy of being his master.
What?
The Artifact Refiner apprentices heard Jiang Chen’s refusal.
Every one of them stared at Jiang Chen as if they’d seen a ghost.
“He refused?”
“I can’t have misheard. He actually refused Elder You.”
“Heavens, is this kid an idiot? By refusing Elder You, he has no idea what a massive opportunity he’s just thrown away.”
“Damn it, if Elder You were willing to take me as his disciple, I’d drop to my knees and formally accept him in front of everyone right now.”
“This kid has no idea what’s good for him.”
Immediately, one of them stepped forward, pointing at Jiang Chen, furious at his foolishness.
“Kid, Elder You isn’t just a Two-Star Refiner in our Artifact Refiner Guild; he’s also the Vice President!”
“You’d better rethink your words right now and give Elder You a proper answer. Don’t be so ungrateful.”
But Jiang Chen just looked indifferent, completely unconcerned.
He had been rejected.
Elder You’s eyes widened in an instant.
That’s right. He, a dignified Two-Star Refiner capable of refining Treasure Artifacts, had actually been rejected.
He was stunned into disbelief.
His eyes were wide as he stared fixedly at Jiang Chen.
“You… you just said you’re not willing to take me as your master?”
Jiang Chen nodded seriously.
“That’s right. That’s what I said.”
Elder You was getting annoyed. ‘This kid really is clueless.’
‘I personally offered to take him as my disciple.’
‘And he had the nerve to refuse me.’
This scene was also overheard by many people in the audience below the stage.
One by one, they glared at Jiang Chen, gritting their teeth, looking like they wanted to give him a savage beating.
Every single one of them longed to become a disciple of an Artifact Refiner from the guild. Forget Elder You; they would have been thrilled to be accepted by any other One-Star Refiner.
Yet now, Jiang Chen had just flat-out refused a Two-Star Refiner.
The commotion here attracted a lot of attention, and even people from the other certification platforms were looking over.
As for Elder You, he felt he had completely lost face.
He looked at Jiang Chen and said grimly, “Kid, I’ll give you one more chance. If you agree, I can still take you as my disciple.”
“Think it over carefully. Don’t jump to a rash conclusion.”