Chapter 704
Joining Forces to Fight
Inside the hall, a deathly silence still lingered.
Murong Li's clear and respectful greeting to Zhang Tianshi seemed to put an end to this turbulent negotiation.
All doubts, all wishful thinking, all fantasies were ruthlessly crushed at this moment.
Shen Yuan slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the ground, as if her soul had been taken away.
As the Grand Elder of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion and the representative of the Shen family within the pavilion, he felt nothing but endless regret and coldness in his heart at this moment.
He regretted that he had allowed Shen Qiming to provoke Zhang Lingfeng, and regretted that he hadn't taken the rumors about Zhang Tianshi seriously from the beginning.
I regret why I had to be an enemy of such a powerful and cunning being.
The coldness stemmed from despair. The Divine Craftsman Pavilion was the foundation of the Shen family's legacy for thousands of years, and today it seemed that it would truly change course in his hands, or even... change hands.
He looked at Zhang Lingfeng's young yet dignified face, then at Murong Li's heartfelt reverence, and finally at the silent city lord and Chairman Huang in the main seat, as well as Yun Zhongzi, whose expression was complicated and whose eyes even showed a hint of retreat.
He understood that the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion was finished.
Even figures like the city lord and the guild leader chose to acquiesce after confirming Zhang Lingfeng's identity. Even Master Yun Zhongzi from the Baruch family was clearly wary. What chance could a small Divine Craftsman Pavilion possibly have to turn the tables?
Revolt?
That would only hasten the extinction of the Shen family bloodline.
Shen Pengyun and the other core elders of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion were now ashen-faced, barely able to tremble.
They looked at the limp Shen Yuan, and then at the young man Zhang Tianshi, no, Zhang Lingfeng, who held their lives in his hands.
The level 5 blacksmith they once thought they could easily manipulate, and even send assassins to kill, has actually transformed into a level 3 divine rune master whom they need to look up to and even fear!
This dramatic reversal of identity and power brings not only fear, but also a sense of absurdity, as if being mocked by fate.
They recalled their previous contempt and suppression of Zhang Lingfeng, and Shen Qiming's arrogance and murder. All of these things became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
They knew that in the face of absolute power, any scheming or struggle was futile.
Zhang Lingfeng's calm gaze swept over the Shen family members, who were all despondent, and finally landed on Shen Yuan again. His voice was completely calm: "Elder Shen, now we can continue with our business."
Do you have any further objections to the annexation of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion by the Divine Craftsman Shop and the appointment of Commander Ma as its new leader?
Shen Yuan struggled to raise his head, his lips moved for a long time, and finally, he squeezed out a hoarse voice from deep in his throat: "No...no objection."
Everything is at Zhang Tianshi's command.
These words seemed to have exhausted all his strength. After saying them, he looked as if he had aged decades, and his energy and spirit had completely collapsed.
He knew that from the moment he uttered those words, the Divine Craftsman Pavilion would no longer be the Shen family's Divine Craftsman Pavilion.
Shen Pengyun and the other elders also lowered their heads, expressing their submission through silence.
Even the Grand Elder has given up, what else can they do?
It wasn't until this moment that Commander Ma finally came to his senses, recovering slightly from the extreme shock and disorientation of his identity.
He looked at Zhang Lingfeng, then at the subjugated Shen family members, and an indescribable excitement and ecstasy surged into his heart, bringing tears to his eyes.
Shut down the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion!
To make the Divine Craftsman's Shop the only Divine Craftsman in White Emperor City! This was once a pipe dream he never dared to imagine, but now it was actually about to come true in his hands.
All of this is because of the young man in front of him—Zhang Tianshi, the blacksmith of his Divine Craftsman Shop and also a mysterious and powerful level three divine rune master.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his excited emotions, stood up, and bowed deeply to Zhang Lingfeng: "Master Zhang... I, Commander Ma, on behalf of everyone at the Divine Craftsman's Shop, thank you!"
Master Yang, Master Wang, Master Liu, Ma Fei, and others finally recovered from their petrified state, but the excitement and disbelief on their faces were still palpable.
They looked at Zhang Lingfeng with eyes full of awe, admiration, and a sense of unreality, as if it were a dream.
They've actually been on friendly terms with a level three divine rune master for so long!
Moreover, this level-three divine rune master helped them realize their lifelong dream of abolishing the Divine Craftsman Pavilion, which had been weighing on them for many years.
Master Yang pinched himself hard several times. Master Wang and Master Liu looked at each other and saw the relief and joy of surviving a disaster in each other's eyes.
Ma Fei was so excited that he trembled all over. His father's lifelong wish had actually come true.
Under the watchful eyes of three witnesses—the city lord, Chairman Huang, and Yun Zhongzi—a detailed surrender agreement, prepared in advance and overseen by Zhang Lingfeng, was brought out.
The agreement stipulates that all assets, personnel, and customer network of Shenjiangge will be merged into Shenjiangpu.
General Ma has been appointed as the new head of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion, possessing supreme decision-making power.
The former Grand Elder Shen Yuan and Elder Shen Pengyun of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion can serve as elders or advisors in the new organization to assist Commander Ma in a smooth transition, but they must not interfere with core decisions.
All blacksmiths in the original Divine Craftsman's Pavilion must undergo a new assessment and swear allegiance to the new Pavilion Master.
The original Divine Craftsman Pavilion's massive headquarters, located in the heart of Baidi City, will become the new location of the "Divine Craftsman Shop," while the original Divine Craftsman Shop on Ma Street will either become a branch or be closed.
The original sign for the God Craftsman's Pavilion will be removed and replaced with a new one approved by General Ma...
With trembling hands, Shen Yuan signed his name on the agreement and pressed his soul imprint on it.
Shen Pengyun and the others did as instructed.
The moment they pressed their marks, everyone knew that the landscape of the forging world in Baidi City had been completely changed from that day forward.
The news that the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion had submitted to the Divine Craftsmen's Shop, the Shen family had surrendered, and General Ma had become the new Pavilion Master swept through the entire White Emperor City like a Category 12 hurricane!
"What?! The Divine Craftsman's Pavilion is gone? It's been taken over by the Divine Craftsman's Shop?!"
"General Ma has become the new Pavilion Master? How is that possible! Hasn't the Divine Craftsman Pavilion always been dominating the Divine Craftsman Shop?"
"I heard it's Zhang Tianshi! That mysterious Level 3 Divine Inscription Master! He's actually Zhang Lingfeng! Zhang Lingfeng is Zhang Tianshi!"
"Zhang Lingfeng? That level five blacksmith from the Divine Craftsman's Shop? He's a level three divine rune master? My god!"
"No wonder the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion chickened out; even the City Lord and the President of the Divine Inscription Masters Guild went to witness it! Zhang Tianshi... no, Zhang Lingfeng is too terrifying!"
"The Divine Craftsman's Shop is about to soar to new heights! In the future, the largest forge in White Emperor City will be the new 'Divine Craftsman's Shop'!"
"The Shen family is doomed. Their millennia-old foundation has changed hands in a single day..."
In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about this earth-shattering news.
Shock, disbelief, sighs,感慨, speculation about the future... a mix of emotions.
The once lofty and prestigious Divine Craftsman Pavilion collapsed, replaced by the small shops on Ma Street that it had always suppressed. This story of a comeback is full of legendary color in itself, and at the core of all this is Zhang Lingfeng, who is so young and previously unknown.
His name became the hottest topic in Baidi City overnight, spreading to every corner with awe and curiosity. With the surrender matters settled, the Divine Craftsman Pavilion has now been renamed "New Divine Craftsman Workshop" by Commander Ma to distinguish it from the old Divine Craftsman Shop, but people still habitually call it the Divine Craftsman Shop.
The intensive integration and relocation work began.
Although Shen Yuan and the others were unwilling, under the absolute deterrent of Zhang Lingfeng's strength and the relatively lenient treatment of Commander Ma, they could only temporarily put aside their thoughts and cooperate with the work.
Ma Dashuai, Master Yang, and others were full of energy, immersed in the immense joy and busyness of their dreams coming true.
Just as the New Divine Craftsman's Workshop was in a state of chaos yet full of hope, Huang Youming, the president of the Divine Inscription Master Guild, once again found Zhang Lingfeng and Yun Zhongzi, who had not yet left.
This time, Chairman Huang's expression was more serious than when they were negotiating at the Divine Craftsman's Shop, and even carried a hint of earnestness.
"Master Zhang, Master Yun Zhongzi."
Huang Youming got straight to the point in a low voice.
"The matter of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion is settled, and I shouldn't bother you any further. However, there is a matter of great importance concerning the reputation of the Danzhou Divine Inscription Masters Guild and even the entire Danzhou. It is urgent and requires your strong support."
Zhang Lingfeng remained calm, while Yun Zhongzi raised an eyebrow; they both guessed what Huang Youming was about to say.
"The Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Conference is about to begin."
Huang Youming continued, "This conference has already attracted countless eyes because of the bet you two made."
But what's even more troublesome is that the two major guilds, Jingzhou and Shenzhou, learned of the infighting between two level-three divine rune masters within Danzhou and saw an opportunity to exploit it. The participants they sent this time are far stronger than ever before!
He paused, a serious expression on his face: "According to the reliable intelligence we have received, the strongest representative sent by the Divine Continent Guild this time is named Assange."
This person... is an unparalleled genius. In less than five hundred years of cultivation, he has already reached the peak of the third-level Divine Inscription Master realm. He holds the record for the shortest time to advance to the third-level Divine Inscription Master in the history of the Divine Continent Guild.
Moreover, he is exceptionally talented and is said to have created several unique and incredibly powerful divine runes. His understanding of the Dao of Divine Runes is extremely profound and unpredictable, and he possesses exceptional combat abilities.
An ordinary level three divine inscription master probably wouldn't last long against him.
"Less than five hundred years... Peak Level Three?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhongzi's expression changed noticeably for the first time. It was no longer the previous arrogance or apprehension, but rather a solemn expression, and even a hint of shock that he himself was unwilling to admit.
It took him over eight hundred years to cultivate to the level three Divine Inscription Master.
He knows all too well how difficult each step forward is. This Assange, his talent is terrifyingly extraordinary.
Moreover, creating one's own divine runes requires a profound understanding of their essence, which is by no means an easy task.
If the intelligence is true, this Assange is definitely a formidable opponent! He was already somewhat unsettled because of Zhang Lingfeng's matter, but now, upon hearing the news about Assange, his competitive spirit was reignited, but at the same time, he felt immense pressure.
What are his chances of winning against such an opponent on his own?
Huang Youming sighed as he watched Yun Zhongzi's changing expression, then looked at Zhang Lingfeng.
Zhang Lingfeng remained expressionless, as if listening to a story that had nothing to do with him.
Huang Youming sighed inwardly at how frighteningly calm this young man was, and then said, "As for the strongest person sent by the Jingzhou Guild, he is named Canaan."
Mentioning this name, Huang Youming's tone became even more somber: "This person's background is even more extraordinary. He is the personal disciple of the fifth-level divine inscription master, Lord Shengui, the vice president of the Jingzhou Guild!"
"A disciple of a fifth-level divine inscription master!"
Yun Zhongzi gasped in shock, his face filled with horror.
A Level 5 Divine Inscription Master! That's above Level 3, truly standing at the pinnacle of Divine Inscription Masters!
There are only a handful of them in the entire God-level continent!
The direct disciples of such beings possess knowledge of divine runes, resources, and secret techniques that far surpass those of ordinary level three divine rune masters.
Although a disciple may not have the same strength as his master, his foundation and methods will certainly far surpass those of his peers.
Huang Youming nodded heavily: "That's right!"
Although Canaan himself is a level three divine rune master, said to be a high-level level three but not yet at the peak, he has deeply inherited the true teachings of the God and Ghost Master and has mastered several powerful ancient divine runes and secret techniques. It is said that he once defeated a level three peak divine rune master in a competition within the Jingzhou Guild. Although it was just a friendly spar, it was enough to show how terrifying he was.
He came here with great ambition, aiming for first place in the tournament, intending to surpass my Danzhou Guild and make a name for the Jingzhou Guild.”
He looked at Zhang Lingfeng and Yun Zhongzi with pleading eyes: "Master Zhang, Master Yun Zhongzi, Assange and Canaan, any one of them is enough to pose a huge threat to my Danzhou Guild."
If the two of them join forces, or take turns challenging each other, our Danzhou Guild will not only fail to secure first place in this tournament, but we may not even be able to keep our top three spots.
At that time, our Danzhou Guild will lose face before the entire God-level continent, and our resources and reputation will be severely damaged.
"I know that there were some misunderstandings and conflicts between the two of you before."
Huang Youming spoke earnestly, almost as if he were pleading.
"But those are all personal grudges, and they are internal matters of Danzhou."
With foreign enemies at our doorstep and powerful adversaries surrounding us, the fate of the entire Danzhou is at stake.
I earnestly request that you two set aside your differences for the time being and join hands to deal with this crisis.
If the two of you can join forces, with your combined strength, you might be able to contend with Assange and Canaan, and even defeat them! This will protect the reputation and interests of our Danzhou Guild.
"If you two agree, the guild is willing to spare no effort to provide you with all possible support. Furthermore, regardless of victory or defeat, the guild will reward you handsomely after the tournament!"
A brief silence fell over the hall.
Yun Zhongzi's expression kept changing.
He was arrogant and concerned about his reputation. He had been publicly humiliated by Zhang Lingfeng and was burning with anger. He had originally planned to challenge Zhang Lingfeng at the conference to regain his dignity.
But now, Assange and Canaan have suddenly emerged as formidable adversaries whose strength may far exceed expectations.
If he continues to cling to his personal grudge against Zhang Lingfeng, he is likely to suffer a crushing defeat if he faces either of them alone, which would be an even greater loss of face.
Joining forces with Zhang Lingfeng? While this certainly felt somewhat humiliating, it seemed to be the most rational and advantageous option for the Danzhou Guild at the moment.
More importantly, if we join forces to fight against a foreign enemy and win, the credit will go to both of us, which will look better on our faces. If we lose... at least we'll have someone to rely on.
He struggled internally for a moment, and finally looked at Zhang Lingfeng with a complicated gaze, and said stiffly, "What Chairman Huang said... is not without reason. With a formidable enemy at hand, personal grudges can be put aside for now."
"Master Zhang... Master Zhang, what do you say?"
He was still a little awkward, but he eventually called him Zhang Tianshi, which was a tacit acknowledgment and concession.
All eyes were on Zhang Lingfeng.
Zhang Lingfeng looked at Yun Zhongzi with some surprise. This guy actually lowered his stance and thought about the big picture. Where is the spirit of the Baruch family!
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