The appearance of Sea Subdue King Zhao Jiuxiao brought everyone to their feet to greet him. He was like the sun or moon shining on the mountains and rivers.

The disputes silently ceased.

Zhao Zhanye and Chu Shanhe breathed a sigh of relief because Zhao Jiuxiao was from the imperial family, which meant that he was on the same side as them.

Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui, Fortune God Shi and the others frowned and kept quiet.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Influential figures continued to arrive one after another, including people from the Hua Clan, the Song Clan, and the Chi Clan.

As soon as they arrived, Zhao Zhanye, Chu Shanhe and the others greeted them enthusiastically because they knew that Lin Xun had previously offended their clan. The enemy’s enemy was their friend. Zhao Zhanye and the others wouldn’t let go of the opportunity to make ‘friends’.

Ning Bugui and Fortune God Shi remained silent. Everyone could tell that if they wanted to protect Lin Xun they would be met with greater resistance.

In truth, the majority of people present had never expected the situation to develop to that stage.

This was because Lin Xun had only begun the rune armament-making process. Even if everyone thought that his chance of success was very slim, they couldn’t guarantee that he would fail!

Based on that, it was very strange for Zhao Zhanye, Chu Shanhe, Zuo Fuguang, Qin Baoji and others to take such a direct and aggressive action against Lin Xun.

Were they not worried that they would be embarrassed if Lin Xun succeeded?

Or were they certain that Lin Xun’s rune armament-making operation would end in failure?

If so, that meant they had come prepared!

Ning Bugui and Fortune God Shi were very worried because Zhao Zhanye and the others looked too confident and the consequences would be very serious for Lin Xun if he failed.

“Master Shen Tuo, how confident do you think Lin Xun is in succeeding?” Fortune God Shi sent a voice transmission to Shen Tuo.

“I…I’m not sure either.” Shen Tuo smiled bitterly.

It was that question again.

“The situation doesn’t seem to be looking good,” Fortune God Shi said ruminatively.

“As far as I know, it will take at least one month to make a rune armament. Regardless of what the outcome is, I will do everything I can to protect the last remaining seedling of Duke Daochen,” Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui said resolutely.

Of course, he only said that to Fortune God Shi, Ye Qingtian and Gong Bupo through voice transmission to prevent it from being heard by others.

On the other side, Zhao Zhanye also sent a voice transmission. “We came in such a mighty manner and already attracted the attention of many people. All eyes are on us so I hope no further changes will happen.”

Chu Shanhe smiled confidently. “Brother Zhao, don’t worry. Even if the boy can create a rune armament, he is doomed to fail!”

Zhao Zhanye glanced at Chu Shanhe and nodded. “Then I can rest assured. The kid Lin Xun is special, so we can’t let him grow up. Otherwise, he will become a disaster rather than a blessing for our empire.”

……

Ten days passed by in the blink of an eye.

On the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower, the furnace continued to roar and produce waves of energy that rippled the space. Occasionally, colorful rays of light burst forth like divine rainbows.

The spectacles sparked commotions and discussions within the audience. Many rune masters joined in and analyzed and explained the visions to the audience.

“Everyone, look, it is currently in the extraction stage. To cast a rune armament, the extraction of rune materials is an extremely important step because, as we all know, every piece of rune material is tremendously rare and full of spiritual intelligence. It’s not easy to extract them and combine them into an elementary form.”

“Yes, rune masters in the past had failed at this stage because they failed to form a perfect elementary structure.”

Many influential figures listened with interest. Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Master, can you tell whether Lin Xun can successfully form a perfect elementary structure?”

“At present, there seems to be no problem. It just depends on whether he can maintain control in the extraction step. In this regard alone, Lin Xun’s performance has exceeded my expectations,” explained Yu Beidou, a senior rune grandmaster of the Rune Master Association Headquarters.

His analysis improved many people’s confidence in Lin Xun.

After all, according to Yu Beidou, it was already amazing for a young rune master like Lin Xun to achieve that step.

Amid the exclamations of amazement, Chu Shanhe snorted coldly, “Haha, I don’t see that. If my guess is correct, Lin Xun will fail to form a perfect elementary form during the stage of rune material extraction.”

The audience was a little perplexed. Chu Shanhe was from the Chu Clan, one of the three great rune families, and he was also the deputy head of the Rune Department. If such an experienced rune grandmaster made such a clear claim, he had to have noticed something.

“That old thing has such a bad mouth!” Ning Meng fumed.

“That old guy deliberately made things difficult for Lin Xun when he was repairing the empress’ Sword of Apocalypse, but he had to leave in embarrassment in the end. Naturally, he wants Lin Xun to fail to make a rune armament,” Shi Yu said with a frown.

“That old thing needs a beating. No one in the entire Rune Department could repair the Sword of Apocalypse and only Lin Xun succeeded. Lin Xun had done him a huge favor, but he didn't show any appreciation and instead he deliberately targeted Lin Xun with other people,” Ye Xiao remarked.

“Brother Chu, I wonder if you have any basis for that claim?” Shen Tuo questioned Chu Shanhe, looking dissatisfied.

“Hmph, of course, I noticed something. Just wait and see if you don’t believe me.” Chu Shanhe snorted and didn’t explain.

His confidence made many spectators wonder whether Lin Xun would indeed fail at the extraction stage.

That would be bad!

Boom!

As though fulfilling Chu Shanhe’s prediction, a thunder-like explosion resounded from the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower.

Immediately, the light dimmed and the rainbow disintegrated. Not long after that, the entire ninth floor of the Refinement Tower fell into silence. The furnace no longer rumbled nor produced any gorgeous spectacles.

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

“How would this happen? Is he going to fail at this stage?”

Shen Tuo trembled inwardly and his face turned ashen. Even the faces of Yu Beidou and Cheng Jing were filled with disbelief.

He failed!

“Hahaha, what did I just say? Did my prediction come true?” Chu Shanhe burst into laughter.

“I already said earlier that Lin Xun can’t cast a rune armament!”

The audience exchanged glances with each other. Many were disappointed, but some gloated and sneered.

Ning Bugui and Fortune God Shi assumed solemn expressions. Although they knew that Lin Xun’s chance of success was slim, they couldn’t believe that he would fail at the rune material extraction stage.

“Okay, go and ask some influential figures to come. The kid has failed so it’s time to settle some accounts with him!” Chu Shanhe said smugly.

In recent days, some influential figures had left and some had just arrived. People with their identities and status wouldn’t wait there patiently.

Sea Subdue King Zhao Jiuxiao and Zhao Zhanye, the deputy head of the Dao Martial Department, had left a few days ago.

The atmosphere became deathly silent. Lin Xun has failed?

Ning Meng and Shi Yu couldn’t accept the result.

In contrast, it was the best result for those who viewed Lin Xun as an enemy.

Lin Xun would be doomed once the influential figures return!

Shen Tuo’s face was bleak as he murmured, “How could that be...given his ability...it shouldn’t be hard for him to extract rune materials and form a rudimentary form…Could some kind of accident have happened...”

Not long after that, powerful figures such as Zhao Jiuxiao, Zhao Zhanye, Zuo Fuguang and Qin Baoji returned one after another, turning the atmosphere austere.

“I didn’t expect him to fail.” Sea Subdue King Zhao Jiuxiao sighed. His attitude was the most intriguing because he seemed to have come to solely watch the rune armament-making operation and had no other motives.

However, he was a member of the imperial family, so there was no way he would help Lin Xun.

Zhao Zhanye, Chu Shanhe and the others grinned. The outcome allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief. Next, they need to consider how to deal with Lin Xun.

“Lin Xun, since you failed, come out and face reality!” Chu Shanhe yelled like thunder, shaking the sky and ground.

“That damn old thing! Is he that urgent to deal with Lin Xun?” Ning Meng fumed.

Shi Yu and the others scrunched up their faces in worry. It was undoubtedly the worst outcome for them. If they wanted to protect Lin Xun, it would no doubt be difficult and full of obstructions.

Zhao Zhanye and Chu Shanhe wouldn’t let go of the opportunity to subdue Lin Xun!

The area seemed to be pervaded by a grave atmosphere. Everyone knew that a storm targeting Lin Xun was looming!

Ever since Lin Xun had entered the Forbidden City, he had offended many powerful forces, such as the Hua Clan, the Song Clan, the Chi Clan, the Zuo Clan, the Qin Clan, the Chu Clan and the Imperial Family...

Today, people from those great forces had gathered to settle accounts with Lin Xun!

It’s over for Lin Xun…

Even Ning Bugui and Fortune God Shi likely wouldn’t be able to protect him!

“Lin Xun, are you afraid? If you don’t come out now, don’t blame me for sending someone to invite you out!” Chu Shanhe thundered, his expression chilling and his voice full of threat.

“How dare he?!”

Ning Meng and Shi Yu gnashed their teeth. Chu Shanhe had gone too far!

Everyone looked at each other in dismay, but no one dared to speak up to stop Chu Shanhe from doing so.

Amidst a tense atmosphere, Lin Xun’s indifferent and calm voice sounded.

“Old man, what are you talking about? Who said I failed?”