Chapter 657: Can You, Or Can't You?
Chapter 657: Chapter 655: Can You, Or Can’t You?
With Zuo Feng’s arrival, the entire Artifact Refining Pavilion was thrown into an uproar.
When the members of the Han Family saw Zuo Feng, their expressions turned incredibly grim.
“Damn it. The Zuo Family is really producing one talent after another. Rumor has it that this Zuo Feng is expected to become a One-Star Top-Grade Refiner in his very first certification.”
“Why can’t the Han Family produce a talent like that?”
It was a known fact that very few people, even in all of Xingyuan City, could achieve the rank of One-Star Top-Grade Refiner on their first attempt.
And it was clear that Zuo Feng had the potential to be one of them.
Even before his certification, the legends about Zuo Feng had grown to mythical proportions.
The people from the Artifact Refiner Guild were also stunned to see Zuo Feng, and gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.
“It’s Zuo Feng, the monstrously talented Artifact Refiner from the Zuo Family.”
“He only became an Apprentice Artifact Refiner last year, and now he’s here for his certification. He might even become a One-Star Top-Grade Refiner!”
“This kid is truly an out-and-out genius. I’m afraid no one will be able to surpass him for the next ten years.”
Zuo Feng hadn’t even begun his Artifact Refiner certification, yet the sounds of praise were already endless.
Jiang Chen couldn’t help but glance back at Zuo Feng.
Then he paid him no further mind.
As for Zuo Feng, faced with the crowd’s adulation, he was brimming with arrogance.
The members of the Zuo Family, in particular, happily swarmed around him when they saw him arrive.
“Young Master Feng, you’re finally here.”
“We came just to see you today. You’re definitely the star of the show.”
“You’re the Zuo Family’s once-in-a-century genius Artifact Refiner.”
Zuo Feng smiled faintly, his face a mask of immense pride.
He chuckled. “But of course. This time, I’m going to aim for One-Star Top-Grade Refiner.”
“If I fail, I’ll kill myself in front of everyone.”
Zuo Feng was filled with boundless confidence in himself.
To become a One-Star Top-Grade Refiner on the first attempt was a feat few could accomplish, even in the entire Artifact Refining Realm.
Especially when combined with his Zuo Family’s Artifact Refining Technique, he was destined to become a legendary figure in Xingyuan City, and even across the entire Artifact Refining Realm for years to come.
His future prospects were limitless.
“Cousin, you’re here!”
At that moment, Zuo Tu also hurried forward, calling out “Cousin” effusively.
Although Zuo Tu was part of the Zuo Family, his status was nothing compared to Zuo Feng’s.
Thus, he wore a fawning expression.
Zuo Feng nodded indifferently.
“Alright, all of you, don’t disturb me. I’m here for my certification today.”
As he finished speaking, someone stepped forward with his pre-arranged number.
In the end, Zuo Feng was assigned to Artifact Refining Furnace number sixteen.
It happened to be right next to Jiang Chen’s.
Zuo Feng, incredibly arrogant, glanced at Jiang Chen with a look of utter disdain.
He murmured, “Trash. You dare to get certified at the same time as me?”
“Kid, you should just get out of here. Wait until I’m done with my certification, then you can have your turn. It’ll save you from excessive embarrassment.”
Jiang Chen’s gaze was calm.
He said coolly, “Can you shut that foul mouth of yours?”
This Zuo Feng, this supposed genius of the Zuo Family—Jiang Chen didn’t give a damn about him.
And since the guy had been so outrageously arrogant from the moment he arrived, Jiang Chen wasn’t about to show him any courtesy.
It was the first time Zuo Feng had ever been cursed at so crudely.
He instantly flew into a rage.
Pointing at Jiang Chen, he roared, “Kid, you dare speak to me, Zuo Feng, like that?”
“You’ve got some serious nerve.”
Jiang Chen asked again, “I asked you, can you shut that foul mouth of yours? Can you, or can’t you?”
Berated by Jiang Chen, Zuo Feng was stunned.
His face went blank.
Even the onlookers stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief.
Zuo Feng, the genius of the Zuo Family, was being repeatedly rebuked by Jiang Chen.
It was simply mind-boggling.
The faces of the Zuo Family members instantly darkened, and they all glared daggers at Jiang Chen.
Zuo Tu also couldn’t believe that his cousin, Zuo Feng, was being scolded by Jiang Chen right to his face.
And his cousin had been scolded into speechlessness.
“Good heavens, that kid is way too bold. He actually dared to curse at Zuo Feng.”
“Provoking Zuo Feng is the same as provoking the entire Zuo Family. This guy truly doesn’t know his place.”
“He’s a dead man.”
Some in the crowd sympathized with Jiang Chen. After all, as the genius of the Zuo Family, Zuo Feng received special nurturing and held an extremely high status.
Even other members of the Zuo Family wouldn’t dare say a single word against Zuo Feng, yet now Jiang Chen had rendered him speechless.
Zuo Feng, naturally, was trembling with rage.
He glared viciously at Jiang Chen.
“Kid, do you know you’re courting death?”
“Right now, I’ll give you one chance. Kneel and apologize to me immediately. Beg for my forgiveness.”
At that moment, the aura of his Martial King Seventh Heaven cultivation erupted from Zuo Feng’s body. He bore down on Jiang Chen with immense pressure, ready to strike.
The Zuo Family members all began to move.
The certification hadn’t even started, and it already looked like a huge fight was about to break out.
Jiang Chen was surrounded by the Zuo Family, with Zuo Feng in particular staring at him with a vicious gaze.
Jiang Chen turned to face the members of the Zuo Family.
He let out a dry chuckle. “Interesting.”
“Zuo Feng, is it? You want me to apologize?”
Zuo Feng nodded. “That’s right. You must apologize today.”
“You only have one chance.”
Looking at Zuo Feng with an indifferent gaze, Jiang Chen said coolly, “Apologize? It’s not impossible.”
As he spoke, Jiang Chen beckoned to Zuo Feng. “Come here. A little closer. I’ll apologize to you.”
Zuo Feng snorted coldly and sneered to himself. ‘He knows that with my power and the Zuo Family’s presence, I’ve scared him. Of course he’s going to apologize.’
‘But that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll forgive him.’
He approached Jiang Chen and said, “Alright, kneel and apologize.”
“We’ll talk after you’ve apologized.”
Jiang Chen nodded, raised his hand, and aimed a vicious slap at Zuo Feng’s face.
SLAP!
The slap was incredibly fierce.
WHOOSH!
In the next instant, Jiang Chen’s slap sent Zuo Feng flying.
He then crashed heavily to the ground.
BOOM!
Everyone in the Artifact Refining Pavilion was utterly stunned.
‘What just happened?’
‘Wasn’t Jiang Chen going to apologize to Zuo Feng? How did Zuo Feng end up getting slapped away?’
That’s right—Zuo Feng had been sent flying by a single slap from Jiang Chen.
Then, Jiang Chen was heard saying, “My apologies. If you had shut that foul mouth of yours earlier, I wouldn’t have had to slap you.”
“So I’m reminding you: when I tell you to shut up, you’d better shut up. Otherwise, you’re just asking for a beating.”
Jiang Chen was not a man without a temper. This Zuo Feng had targeted him from the moment he arrived, and it’s safe to say Jiang Chen was thoroughly pissed off.
He hadn’t held back at all with that slap.
With his Martial Arts Sect Second Heaven cultivation, it was a miracle he hadn’t killed a Martial King Seventh Heaven expert like Zuo Feng with a slap to the face.
Everyone was still in a daze.
They still couldn’t quite process what had happened.
This was followed by a series of sharp intakes of breath.
Many people’s mouths hung wide open.
The members of the Han Family, however, felt a wave of satisfaction, though they also felt a bit of pity for Jiang Chen’s current predicament.
Jiang Chen hadn’t just cursed Zuo Feng; he had struck him, which was equivalent to slapping the entire Zuo Family in the face.
Zuo Tu was also rooted to the spot, looking as if he’d been struck by lightning.
His eyes were wide with disbelief. His cousin, Zuo Feng, had actually been slapped by Jiang Chen.
After all, just moments before, Zuo Tu had been thinking of asking Zuo Feng to teach Jiang Chen a lesson for him.
But the current situation was truly beyond his comprehension.
“Cousin!”
After a moment of blankness, he finally came to his senses and rushed toward Zuo Feng.
“Young Master Feng!”
The members of the Zuo Family all rushed to Zuo Feng’s side, helping him up from the ground.
“Cough, cough…”
Zuo Feng coughed a few times, spitting out several mouthfuls of fresh blood.
Dazed and disoriented, he slowly turned his gaze toward Jiang Chen.