Divine King of Honour

In the following days, Xu Nian was assigned to the Heavenly Refining Workshop, which looked like a blacksmith's shop.

Xu Nian's responsibility was to keep the Heavenly Refining Furnace from extinguishing.

One must admit, this Heavenly Refining Furnace was indeed a powerful artifact furnace.

The temperature of the flames inside even surpassed that of a typical constant star.

According to Xu Nian's estimation, this Heavenly Refining Furnace should be an ancient Immortal Artifact.

Otherwise, ordinary flames couldn't possibly reach such a high temperature.

As for the hammering and refining, the blacksmiths wouldn't let Xu Nian interfere.

In their words, with Xu Nian's frail arms and legs, he might not even be able to lift a hammer.

Initially, Xu Nian was a bit unconvinced, but when he truly tried to pick up a hammer, he realized what true terror meant.

Those hammers, easily swung by the blacksmiths, felt as heavy as ten thousand mountains in Xu Nian's hands.

Only then did Xu Nian realize just how weak his strength was.

Although he was at the middle stage of the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm and supported by the robust body of the Undying Devouring Sky Beast, with physical strength comparable to an early-stage Tribulation Gang expert,

his physique was weak compared to those who had grown up here.

Thus, Xu Nian, the top-grade Artifact Refiner, was reduced to being a stove boy in this ordinary blacksmith shop.

Of course, Xu Nian did not give up on cultivation.

Over the next three years, he never stopped strengthening his body.

As he gradually became acquainted with the blacksmiths, Xu Nian learned many peculiar ways to train his physique from them.

Although his cultivation remained at the middle-stage Heavenly Phenomenon Realm, his physical strength had increased several times compared to before.

Now Xu Nian could defeat someone from early-stage Tribulation Crossing without using a trace of True Essence, relying solely on physical strength.

And he could now swing the hammer, which he previously couldn't move, ten times in succession.

Xu Nian often seized the chance to take over the hammer from the blacksmiths to forge, thereby exercising his body.

Besides, Xu Nian kept researching the Heavy Origin Iron.

Eventually, he discovered that Heavy Origin Iron is entirely suitable for forging top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, being a top-notch material among them.

If successfully refined, the durability and sharpness would be ten times more powerful than the weapons currently forged.

However, Xu Nian did not reveal his identity as an Artifact Refiner because he felt it wasn't the right time.

Refining the Heavy Origin Iron into a top-grade Spiritual Artifact wasn't easy, and he wasn't able to do it yet.

So during this period, Xu Nian seized the chance to forge with the blacksmiths and also hone his Spiritual Sense Power.

Only by breaking through to the Transcendance Tribulation Stage with his Spiritual Sense Power could he forge top-grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Three years allowed Xu Nian to become quite familiar with Black Wind City.

But there was one person Xu Nian couldn't fully understand.

That was Elder Wang, the one in charge of the Heavenly Refining Workshop.

This elder's power was unfathomable, yet he spent most of his time sleeping.

His conversations with Xu Nian were minimal, totaling less than ten sentences over three years.

But Xu Nian knew this elder's strength was at least Earth Immortal level.

To be accurate, he was at Gang Immortal level.

Because, once, Xu Nian accidentally saw him leave a finger mark on Heavy Origin Iron using Finger Power.

It must be known that this material is incredibly hard, even Earth Immortal Peak might not destroy it.

And Elder Wang casually left a finger mark on it; what a terrifying existence.

Xu Nian had inquired other blacksmiths about Elder Wang's deeds, but whenever he brought him up, they fell silent.

They only said that as long as Elder Wang was around, Black Dragon City wouldn't dare invade.

This added a layer of mystery over Elder Wang in Xu Nian's heart.

On this day, Xu Nian was tending the fire.

Suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

Looking back, it was Elder Wang, who usually slept soundly.

"Elder Wang!" Xu Nian immediately greeted respectfully.

He was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected Elder Wang to not be sleeping today.

"Come with me!" the elder said to Xu Nian.

After speaking, he walked out of the Heavenly Refining Workshop.

Xu Nian asked a nearby blacksmith to watch the fire and followed along.

Soon, Xu Nian was led to a secluded, uninhabited place.

With hands behind his back, Elder Wang turned to Xu Nian, his eyes seemingly piercing through everything about him.

Xu Nian felt uneasy, unsure why the elder was staring at him like this.

He knew that if this elder wanted to kill him, it would just take a moment.

"Are you a human or a Demon Beast?" the elder suddenly asked.

The question stunned Xu Nian.

He never expected the elder to ask such a question.

"Replying to senior, this junior is human, but this body is that of a Demon Beast," Xu Nian answered truthfully, daring not to hide anything.

The elder nodded, "So you're just an avatar right now?"

"Yes, senior!" Xu Nian felt a cold sweat down his back.

The elder's eyes were truly sharp.

"So your true self is still outside? You just sent an avatar in here?" the elder seemed mildly curious.

"Yes, senior!" Xu Nian replied anxiously.

Hearing this, the elder's gaze softened slightly.

"Actually, I bear no malice. On the contrary, there's something I need to ask of you," the elder said.

"What is it? Please speak, senior. If I can accomplish it, I certainly will," Xu Nian responded promptly.

Yet the elder waved his hand, "It's not urgent. When I need your help, I'll come to you."

Xu Nian nodded.

Only then did he feel relieved, realizing Elder Wang sought him out upon seeing through his avatar identity.

"Are you also an Artifact Refiner?" As Xu Nian marveled at the elder's insight, the elder continued speaking.

Xu Nian was astonished; could the elder discern that too?

"Young man, you can't hide from me. I see your Artifact Refining level is not low, almost reaching top-grade Artifact Refiner level, which is good. Why conceal it?" Elder Wang said with a smile.

"I never intended to hide it, but since I haven't reached the top-grade Artifact Refiner level yet, I thought I'd wait until then," Xu Nian replied awkwardly.

The elder nodded.

"If you truly break through to top-grade Artifact Refiner, then help Black Wind City. Relying only on my deterrence isn't enough, especially since I won't live much longer. Once I die, Black Wind City will surely fall to Black Dragon City. The fate of the women and children then may be miserable," Elder Wang said with a sigh.

"Senior you…" Xu Nian asked in surprise.

"Don't be surprised, I suffer from Heavenly Dao Scar, which can't be healed except by Tao Trace Fruit. Now I have less than twenty years of life left; my constant sleep suppresses the injury," the elder said with a smile.

Xu Nian looked shocked.

Unexpectedly, this elder only had twenty years of life remaining.