Chapter 161: Chapter 160: Sudden Challenge

On the way, Li Jingxuan suddenly remembered something. He cleared his throat and said: "Father, I have a refining challenge in two days."

Li Jain turned to look at him: "A refining challenge?"

Li Jain was a bit surprised, Li Jingxuan did show his interest in weapon craftsmanship, but he didn’t expect him to be in a competition already.

Li Yuhan slowly turned his head: "You only started taking refining classes a few days ago, and you already entered a challenge?"

Li Zhang stared at Jingxuan with sparkling eyes: "I knew you were a hidden genius. Show those guys what you’re made of. I’m sure some of them have been learning refinement since birth."

Li Zhang was so excited about Jingxuan crushing his opponents that he didn’t notice the uneaseness in Li Juanxin’s eyes.

Li Jingsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly: "Go on, spill the beans. Why did you join?"

Jingxuan’s ears began turning red: "It is not a big matter, the class was talking about basic forging and refining, and some people said I was only talking big without any waves. So I said that my talent was strong, and I can already refine level one weapons."

Li Cheng looked at him calmly and pressed on: "And then?"

Li Jingxuan’s voice became smaller: "The instructor overheard us. Then he said since I was so talented, I should participate in the beginner refining challenge in two days.""

Li Zhang leaned forward with clear interest: "Don’t worry Xuan, even if you don’t do well, just treat it as a learning experience. No need to beat yourself up."

Li Jingxuan’s face became even redder. He shook his head and said: "There’s a punishment that the instructor called *over confident* If I don’t prove myself, I’ll have to sweep the entire schoolyard for a week."

Li Juanxin immediately slapped his thigh and laughed: "You brought this on yourself."

Jingxuan glared at him, and found that Xinxin wasn’t as cute anymore.

"So because they were looking down on you, you created a bigger problem for yourself? If you don’t do well, and end up being punished, wouldn’t they look down on you even more?"

"That’s why I need to win that challenge! My social influence is at stake!"

Li Jain did not scold him: "Do you understand the basic refining steps?"

Jingxuan hesitated: "Only some. We haven’t done hands on yet."

"That’s not enough for you to win." Li Jingsheng said mercilessly.

Jingxuan looked even more pitiful.

Li Jain smiled and said: "Daddy will teach you, after school. I’m sure you’ll be ready in two days."

Li Jingxuan’s eyes brighten immediately: "Really? That’s why I love you the most, Father."

Li Cheng: "Since you already bragged about it, Father cannot bear to let you lose too badly."

The others laughed.

...

After dropping the others off, Li Jain arrived at Vermillion Sword Hall. The flying carriage stopped outside the gate.

Before they reached the gate, an instructor approached with a bright expression.

"Master Li, it’s been a while, welcome." He greeted him warmly.

Li Jain recognized him as one of the instructors who had assisted with the arrangements on the first day of school.

"Thank you," Li Jain nodded politely.

The instructor’s gaze immediately moved to Jingxuan, and his smile widened: "I heard that little Jingxuan will be participating in the refining challenge in two days. I must say, I am very eager to see his performance."

Li Jain looked down at Jingxuan, who refused to lift his head. He lowered his head until his chin nearly touched his chest.

The instructor pretended not to notice, and continued cheerfully: "After all, little Jingxuan said his father is a forging master and that he has been learning directly from you. If that is the case, his foundation should be very solid." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Li Zhang coughed lightly and turned his face away to hide his smile.

Li Jain smiled at the instructor: "Then I will also look forward to his performance."

Li Jain didn’t expose his son. If the little one said he can do it, then he can.

The instructor laughed: "Good, good. Our academy encourages confidence. It is good for young students to have spirit."

Jingxuan looked like he wanted to disappear.

Li Jain said goodbye to the children one by one and watched them enter the gate, before leaving.

....

After school, Li Jingxuan seemed to have forgotten completely that he had a refining challenge in two days.

The moment he returned home, he put down his school things, changed out of his academy robe, and was about to run out of the courtyard with Li Zhang.

Fortunately for him, not everyone had forgotten.

Just as he was about to pass through the side gate, a hand reached out from behind and grabbed the back of his collar.

Jingxuan’s whole body jerked backward: "Ah! Who’s doing that?" He shouted

Li Jingsheng stood behind him with a cold face: "It is me."

Li Jingxuan turned his head and immediately became guilty: "Sheng Sheng, why are you pulling me? Is there anything you want?"

Jingsheng looked at him expressionlessly: "Where are you going?"

Jingxuan blinked innocently. "I’m going outside with fourth brother to breathe fresh air."

Li Jingsheng’s eyes narrowed: "You breathed fresh air on the way back from school."

Jingxuan coughed lightly: "That was school air. This is the air of freedom. The two are different, if you know what I mean."

Li Zhang, who had almost escaped with him, nodded solemnly: "I know what he means. How can the air at school be considered air? I don’t even know whether I breathe all day."

Li Jingsheng looked at Li Zhang: "You should stop encouraging him. You know he has something important coming up, he can’t be slacking off."

Li Zhang took one step back and raised both hands: "It has nothing to do with me."

Li Jingsheng ignored him and dragged Jingxuan toward the house.

Jingxuan was startled and began to struggled: "Wait, wait, where are you taking me?"

Li Jingsheng didn’t stop: "I’m taking you to father. Did you already forget the refining challenge? Father said he was going to teach you after school."

Li Jingxuan’s eyes moved left, then right guiltily: "I know, I was only going out for a short while."

Li Jingsheng didn’t buy that. Li Jingxuan never missed after school snacks. The fact that he was running out without having his snacks, he didn’t even go to greet his father. This shows that he was avoiding being tutored.

Li Zhang covered his mouth and laughed: "Xuan Xuan, you are finished."

"Thanks for the kind words, fourth brother." Li Jingxuan rolled his eyes at him.

Jingsheng did not bother listening to their nonsense any longer and pulled Jingxuan all the way to the workshop where Li Jain was organizing materials.

Li Jain had already expected this.

The moment he saw Jingsheng dragging Jingxuan in by the collar, he placed down the metal box in his hand and smiled.

"Xiao Xuan, you look very busy."

Jingxuan quickly straightened his clothes and stood properly. "That’s right, but I still make time for you, father."

"Shameless," Li Jingsheng sneered.

Li Jain laughed lightly and waved Jingxuan over. "Come. Since you still have two days, we should not waste time."

Jingxuan walked over with a face full of reluctance, but he still sat down obediently.

"Xiao Sheng, do you want to join as well?" Li Jain asked.

As soon as he heard this, the laziness he was feeling immediately disappeared. He looked at his brother with alarm.

Li Jingsheng shook his head: "No, I don’t have interest in craftsmanship."

He knows that his sixth brother was wary about him. But he doesn’t blame his sixth brother. They were all talented so it’s hard not to be competitive. Like his eldest brother who is already at the second level of Spiritual Sea realm at the age of 12. He doesn’t even dare to think he would reach such a realm when he’s 12.

After Jingsheng left, Li Jain first tried to explain the theory of craftsmanship to Jingxuan.

He took out a simple blank sword mold, a few pieces of low-grade spirit iron, a bowl of prepared refining liquid, and several small tools. Then he placed them in order on the table so Jingxuan could see everything clearly.