The end of Gaowu: Becoming stronger from not practicing

The news that Yun Zhongzi had publicly challenged Zhang Tianshi spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of Baidi City.

Naturally, the news was immediately relayed to the Divine Craftsman Pavilion, which had just suffered a severe blow and was still in shock.

in the secret room.

The First Elder Shen Yuan, along with the pale-faced and weak Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun, and a group of core elders gathered again.

Unlike their previous panic and despair, their faces now showed a morbid excitement and calculation.

"Yun Zhongzi, a level three divine inscription master and a member of the Baruch family, has actually publicly challenged Zhang Tianshi!"

An elder's voice was filled with excitement.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Shen Qiming clutched his still throbbing chest, his eyes flashing with venomous resentment: "That Zhang Tianshi almost killed me and my second uncle, this is an irreconcilable feud! Since Yun Zhongzi wants to deal with him, why don't we..."

"Kill with a borrowed knife!"

Shen Pengyun took over the conversation. Although he was also seriously injured, he was unusually excited at the moment.

"Yun Zhongzi is incredibly powerful and has a powerful background. If he can defeat or even severely injure Zhang Tianshi at the Divine Inscription Master Conference, he will not only avenge us, but also greatly weaken Zhang Lingfeng's backer! At that time, wouldn't Zhang Lingfeng be completely at our mercy?"

"Not only that,"

Shen Yuan stroked his beard with a shrewd and calculating air.

"If we can take this opportunity to bring Yun Zhongzi, a level three divine inscription master, to our side, even if it's just a temporary cooperation, it would be a huge help to us."

This will not only intimidate Zhang Tianshi, but also greatly enhance the prestige and influence of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion in Baidi City.

This proposal appealed to everyone.

Although the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion has numerous blacksmiths and astonishing wealth, it has always been a weak point in the realm of top-tier experts, especially in the mysterious and unpredictable field of divine inscription masters.

Having a Level 3 Divine Inscription Master as an ally or guest, even if only nominally, would be of immeasurable value.

"But Yun Zhongzi comes from the Baruch family and is arrogant. What makes us think we can win him over?"

Questions were raised.

A glint flashed in Shen Yuan's eyes: "With the resources and sincerity of our Divine Craftsmen Pavilion! No matter how strong Yun Zhongzi is, he is still a cultivator, and cultivators need resources. Our Divine Craftsmen Pavilion may not have much else, but it has plenty of divine stones and a large collection of divine weapons!"

He looked at Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun: "Qiming, Pengyun, your injuries have not yet healed, but this matter concerns the future of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, so you need to make the trip in person to show your sincerity."

Bring generous gifts and visit Master Yun Zhongzi; he should be staying in the VIP quarters arranged by the City Lord's Mansion.

Although Shen Qiming was reluctant to face those important figures again and have to be humble, he gritted his teeth and nodded, thinking that he could use Yun Zhongzi to take revenge on Zhang Tianshi and Zhang Lingfeng.

The next day, despite their injuries, Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun arrived at the luxurious courtyard arranged for Yun Zhongzi by the City Lord's Mansion, carrying gifts ten times more lavish than those they had given Zhang Lingfeng when they apologized last time.

Inside the courtyard, Yun Zhongzi was resting with his eyes closed, a faint divine light flowing around his body, while his disciple Mu Chen stood respectfully to his side.

Sensing the presence of Shen Qiming and the other person, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze indifferent, with a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.

“Shen Qiming of Shenjiang Pavilion”.

Shen Pengyun.

I pay my respects to Master Yun Zhongzi.

The two bowed deeply, their posture extremely humble.

"What's the matter?"

Yun Zhongzi's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

He had no fondness for the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion, but he didn't dislike it either. He just felt that these blacksmiths were too obsessed with worldly things and had lost their original intention of cultivation.

Shen Qiming took a deep breath, stepped forward, and presented a storage ring.

"Master, I heard that you have made a bet with that Celestial Master Zhang and will compete against each other at the Divine Inscription Master Conference."

My Divine Craftsman Pavilion has a long-standing feud with that Celestial Master Zhang and his disciple Zhang Lingfeng. That Celestial Master Zhang is ruthless, and a few days ago he even ambushed my second uncle and me, almost causing us to be annihilated.

Such acts are outrageous and infuriating!

He observed Yun Zhongzi's expression and, seeing that the other party remained indifferent, continued, "Our Divine Craftsman Pavilion is willing to fully support the master and help him to severely thwart the arrogant arrogance of that Celestial Master Zhang at the conference!"
"If you can persuade that Celestial Master Zhang to cease his hostility towards my Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, my Divine Craftsmen Pavilion is willing to offer one million divine stones as a reward!"

One million divine stones!
This number made Mu Chen, who was standing next to him, gasp in shock.

This is almost the savings of a middle-class family over several decades.

However, Yun Zhongzi merely twitched the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing an undisguised disdain: "One million divine stones? The Divine Craftsmen Pavilion is certainly wealthy and powerful."

However, my dispute with Zhang Tianshi is a contest of superiority in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions; how can it be measured by mere divine stones? Do I need the support of your Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion?

Shen Qiming's face stiffened, and he quickly added, "Master, you misunderstand. My Divine Craftsmen Pavilion has absolutely no intention of interfering with you. Besides the divine stones, you are also free to choose any of the divine weapons and artifacts from past dynasties treasured in my Divine Craftsmen Pavilion's treasury!"
"Some of the legendary weapons forged by the first master of my Divine Craftsman Pavilion, and even by my ancestors with the Ma family, might be wielded by master craftsmen."

Choose any divine weapon from the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion! This offer is undeniably tempting.

The Divine Craftsman Pavilion has a long history, and its treasure trove must contain ancient artifacts with astonishing power, perhaps even bearing special divine runes.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion finally crossed Yun Zhongzi's eyes, but it was not greed, but rather a condescending amusement.

As a level three divine rune master and a powerful member of the Baruch family, what treasures hadn't he seen? The items from the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion were beneath his notice.

What moved him was something else entirely.

"Oh? Your Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion is so wary of, even... afraid of, that Celestial Master Zhang?"

Yun Zhongzi spoke slowly, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun felt their faces burning, but they had to admit: "That Master Zhang is secretive and ruthless. He specializes in sneak attacks. Although our Divine Craftsmen Pavilion is not afraid of direct confrontation, it is impossible to defend against him."

If the master can defeat him publicly at this conference and disgrace him, he will naturally have no face to resort to underhanded tricks.

For our Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion, this is an immense favor!

"To ruin his reputation..." Yun Zhongzi repeated in a low voice, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He was already humiliated by Zhang Lingfeng's rejection and believed that Zhang Tianshi and his disciples were deliberately trying to embarrass him.

The current predicament and requests of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion perfectly align with his objectives.

He not only wanted to defeat Zhang Tianshi and prove that his divine runes were stronger, but also wanted everyone to see the consequences of opposing him, Yun Zhongzi, and underestimating him!

"Hmph, that Celestial Master Zhang is hiding his true colors and is incompetent in teaching his disciples. I have long wanted to meet him."

Yun Zhongzi snorted coldly.

"Since the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion is so sincere, I will do you a small favor."

However, I do not need your interference in my actions.

At the grand assembly, I will show that Celestial Master Zhang what the true power of a Level Three Divine Inscription Master really is!

He did not explicitly accept the divine stone or weapon, but his words implied that he agreed to teach Zhang Tianshi a lesson.

For the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion, that's enough.

Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun were overjoyed and thanked them repeatedly. After leaving their gifts, they respectfully withdrew.

The news that the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion had paid a grand visit to Yun Zhongzi and successfully persuaded him to deal with Zhang Tianshi was leaked by someone, once again igniting chaos in Baidi City.

"Have you heard? The Divine Craftsman has gone to great lengths to invite Master Yun Zhongzi to severely suppress Master Zhang at the Divine Inscription Master Conference!"

"It seems that the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion has been terrified of Zhang Tianshi, and they're trying to use someone else to do their dirty work!"

“Master Yun Zhongzi is a third-level divine inscription master of the Baruch family, and his strength is unfathomable. Master Zhang is probably in trouble this time.”

"Two level-three divine inscription masters dueling! This is a once-in-a-century event! This year's Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Conference is going to be a spectacle!" "I wonder if that Celestial Master Zhang will accept the challenge? I heard he's always been very mysterious and rarely shows his face."

"Zhang Lingfeng is in deep trouble now. If his master is defeated, how will he ever be able to face anyone in Baidi City again?"

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about the upcoming showdown.

Originally a relatively professional Divine Inscription Master training conference primarily for those within the Divine Inscription Master community, it instantly became the focus of attention for the entire city and even the surrounding areas due to a bet between two Level 3 Divine Inscription Masters.

Countless cultivators and various forces began to try every means to obtain the qualification to enter the tournament, just to witness this earth-shattering battle.

There were also undercurrents within the Divine Inscription Master Guild.

The president neither confirmed nor denied the conflict between Yun Zhongzi and Zhang Tianshi, but was clearly pleased to see the conference's influence expand.

Chen Fenfang, Master Liu, Master Yan, and the others were filled with worry. They were both curious about the mysterious Zhang Tianshi and had a slight liking for him. After all, Zhang Tianshi had helped Murong Li become a divine inscription master, and they all liked Murong Li very much. They thought she was well-behaved and sensible, and they were happy for her to become a divine inscription master.

Of course, they dared not offend Yun Zhongzi, a powerful figure from the Baruch family.

General Ma and the staff of the Divine Craftsman Shop were extremely anxious.

They had barely recovered from the surprise of learning that Zhang Lingfeng had a Level 3 Divine Inscription Master backing him when they discovered that this powerful backer was about to face a challenge from another Level 3 Divine Inscription Master, who seemed to have reached some kind of tacit agreement with the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion.

"This is terrible! If Master Yun Zhongzi is determined to deal with Master Zhang, then what will happen to Master Zhang...?" Ma Fei was filled with worry.

"Those despicable people from the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion! They call in outside help when they can't win!"

Master Yang was indignant.

Ma Dashuai remained silent. He felt an invisible net tightening around him, and at the center of that net were Shenjiangpu and Zhang Lingfeng.

Just as the whole city was abuzz with discussion and all eyes were on the matter, Zhang Lingfeng, who was inside the Divine Craftsman's Shop, naturally learned about all of this through various channels.

"Yun Zhongzi... has actually gotten involved with the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion."

Zhang Lingfeng sat in the room, his fingers lightly tapping the table. His usual laziness was gone, replaced by a coldness.

His original plan was to participate in the Divine Inscription Master Tournament discreetly, achieve a good result, and gain guild recognition and resources.

He didn't want to be too high-profile, and he certainly didn't want to have a direct conflict with Yun Zhongzi.

After all, it's better to avoid trouble than to cause more; lying down and doing nothing is his ultimate goal.

However, the tree wants to be quiet but the wind keeps on.

Yun Zhongzi not only harbored resentment because he was rejected and openly challenged him, but now he has also accepted the invitation from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, clearly indicating that he wants to stand on the side of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion and join forces to suppress him.

"This is forcing me to take action."

Zhang Lingfeng's eyes grew cold.

The Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion must be dealt with; he hasn't avenged the fact that Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun almost killed him.

Now that Yun Zhongzi has gotten involved, things have become even more complicated.

If he backs down and doesn't dare to fight, not only will he become a laughing stock, but the arrogance of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion will also become even more rampant, and his and the Divine Craftsmen's Shop's situation will become even more difficult in the future.

More importantly, Yun Zhongzi's actions have crossed his bottom line.

The other party not only wanted to suppress him, but also wanted to use the suppression of him to curry favor with the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, which made him feel disgusted.

"Since you want to play, I'll play with you."

Zhang Lingfeng made a decision in his heart.

He was going to attend the Divine Inscription Master Conference and, as "Zhang Tianshi," face off against Yun Zhongzi head-on!

He wanted everyone to know that he, Zhang Lingfeng, was not someone to be trifled with, and that the backers that the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion had found were just as vulnerable!
Thinking of this, he took out the communication jade slip that Murong Li had left him.

After Murong Li became a Divine Inscription Master, his status in the guild improved, and the two maintained contact.

He channeled his divine sense into the jade slip, and soon, Murong Li's joyful voice came through: "Master Zhang! You finally contacted me! Everyone in the guild is talking about you and Master Yun Zhongzi, you..."

"Miss Murong,"

Zhang Lingfeng interrupted her, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness.

"Please help me formally register with the Divine Inscription Master Guild to participate in this year's Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Conference."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the jade slip, followed by Murong Li's excited yet worried voice: "You...you really want to participate? Master Yun Zhongzi, he..."

“I know, he just wants to challenge me, right? I accept his challenge. Tell the guild leader exactly what I said, and also... spread the word.”

Zhang Lingfeng remained calm.

Murong Li took a deep breath: "Yes! I understand, Master Zhang! I'll go and do it right away! You...you must be careful!"

After ending the message, Zhang Lingfeng put away the jade slip and looked out the window, as if he could already see the scene of everyone's attention at the Divine Inscription Master Conference.

"Master Zhang formally accepts the challenge!"

Murong Li was very efficient, or rather, the Divine Inscription Master Guild had been waiting for Zhang Tianshi's response.

Less than an hour after Zhang Lingfeng sent the message, the Divine Inscription Master Guild officially released an announcement.

Zhang Tianshi has officially registered to participate in this year's Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Conference and accepted the challenge from Yun Zhongzi, a third-level Divine Inscription Master from the Baruch family!
The tournament will include a special competition for the two Level 3 Divine Inscription Masters to determine who is superior in the art of Divine Inscription!
This announcement was like pouring cold water into an already boiling oil pan, instantly bringing the atmosphere in Baidi City to its peak!

"He accepted the challenge! Zhang Tianshi has truly accepted the challenge!"

"This is going to be interesting! Two level-three divine rune masters are going head-to-head!"

"The tickets for the Divine Inscription Master Conference are going to be in high demand!"

"The Divine Craftsmen Pavilion has probably made the right bet this time. Now it depends on whether Master Yun Zhongzi can suppress Master Zhang."

"Zhang Lingfeng is in deep trouble now. If his master loses, he will be completely finished in Baidi City."

Various discussions, speculations, and betting odds quickly arose.

Everyone was looking forward to the arrival of the tournament, anticipating the duel between third-level divine rune masters that was destined to be recorded in the history of Baidi City.

Inside the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion, Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun exchanged a smile upon hearing the news, their eyes filled with resentment and anticipation.

"Master Zhang... Zhang Lingfeng... let's see how you die this time!"

Shen Qiming gritted his teeth.

In the courtyard where Yun Zhongzi was, after hearing his disciple Mu Chen's report, he just smiled coldly: "You finally have some courage. I want to see just how much this cowardly fellow is really made of."

Inside the Divine Craftsman's Shop, General Ma and the others had mixed feelings of worry and joy.

What was gratifying was that Zhang Tianshi was so tough and accepted the challenge directly.

The worry is that the opponent is the well-known Yun Zhongzi, who also has the support of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, making the outcome uncertain.

"Master Zhang, your master..."

Ma Dashuai found Zhang Lingfeng, but hesitated to speak.

Zhang Lingfeng remained as steadfast as ever, seemingly unaffected by the upheavals in the outside world. He casually remarked, "Don't worry, Master Ma. My master knows what he's doing. Eat and drink as you please, and we'll see the results at the conference."

Looking at Zhang Lingfeng's appearance, Ma Dashuai suddenly felt that perhaps this mysterious Zhang Tianshi really had some unknown trump card.

The turmoil in Baidi City was completely stirred up by a bet between two level-three divine rune masters.

All eyes were on the Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Conference, which was scheduled for several months later.

A contest concerning honor, grudges, and the future landscape is about to begin.

But what would it be like for people to know that the so-called Zhang Lingfeng is the mysterious Zhang Tianshi?
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