<h4>Chapter 1697: Chapter 1688: Enormous Risk</h4>


    At the same time, a trace of worry began to appear on Baili Chuanqiong’s face.


    If the Judgement Department intentionally wanted to target Master Yi, even though Master Yi’s artifact refining skills are unmatched, he would still face considerable risk.


    "Master Yi, you’re truly unlucky! ording to the rules, the difficulty of your artifact refining needs to be increased a bit!"


    Master Lu took the bamboo stick and said gloatingly to Ao Cangsheng with a smile.


    "No worries! An increase in difficulty can only stymie the useless, not a genius!"


    Ao Cangsheng sneered, dismissively speaking to Master Lu.


    Upon hearing this, Master Lu’s face turned sullen. Ao Cangsheng’s words clearly implied that the people in the Judgement Department were all useless in the Artifact Refining World.


    "Alright, the drawing has ended, now you may begin the duel!"


    With a cold snort, Master Lu said irritably.


    Then, Ao Cangsheng and Shangguan Hongkong were respectively led to two artifact furnaces.


    The artifact furnace where Shangguan Hongkong was had a fire source and materials that matched each other well. The fire source was a Third Rank Artifact Fire, and the mold was a Top Grade Artifact Mold.


    However, at the artifact furnace where Ao Cangsheng was, the fire source and materials were mismatched. The fire source was a First Rank Artifact Fire, while the mold was an Supreme Grade Artifact Mold.


    This artifact furnace, which had been tampered with, was originally arranged by Master Lu for Ao Cangsheng in the previous match.


    Unfortunately, the human n couldn’t match the divine will. Due to Di Qinglin and Chi Ming’s direct withdrawal, that round had not yet begun when Ao Cangsheng advanced directly.


    As a result, the n Master Lu painstakingly devised was instantly stillborn.


    Out of options, Master Lu discussed with the nine members of the Judgement Department, which led to the current duel format.


    "Wow——"


    Shangguan Hongkong approached the artifact path, grabbed a handful of Fire Crystals, and directly threw them into the artifact furnace.


    In an instant, red fire snakes burst out of the furnace opening, continually licking the transparent void.


    Turning around, Shangguan Hongkong nced at Ao Cangsheng with disdain, thinking, "Even without the new rules, you wouldn’t be my match."


    "Much less now with your increased artifact refining difficulty, defeating you will be even easier! Just wait and see how I rece you!"


    Faced with Shangguan Hongkong’s extremely provocative and contemptuous gaze, Ao Cangsheng simply smiled in response.


    Turning back, he too grabbed a handful of Fire Crystals and tossed them into the artifact furnace.


    Instantly, blood-red mes burst out of the furnace like explosive fireworks, tinting the sky above the furnace with color.


    Seeing the color of the mes, Ao Cangsheng immediately knew that the fire he used was a First Rank Artifact Fire.


    A First Rank Artifact Fire is the lowest grade of Artifact Fire, only capable of refining First Rank War Soldiers. If the Artifact Refiner is experienced, they can barely refine Second Rank War Soldiers.


    However, Second Rank War Soldiers refined with a First Rank Artifact Fire would undoubtedly have some anomaliespared to those refined normally.


    After testing the artifact fire, Ao Cangsheng picked up an artifact mold. With a nce, he realized that it was made of Red Cloud Steel, a supreme-grade artifact refining material.


    Red Cloud Steel is usually used for refining Third Rank War Soldiers.


    Because of its hardness and high fire resistance, even with a Third Rank Artifact Fire, fully forging Red Cloud Steel would require a lot of effort.


    Now, Master Lu actually tasked Ao Cangsheng with using a First Rank Artifact Fire and Red Cloud Steel to refine a War Soldier.


    Every Artifact Refiner knows this is impossible. Due to the temperature of a First Rank Artifact Fire, it’s incapable of heating Red Cloud Steel.


    "Hmph, dare to challenge the authority of the Judgement Department, I’ll make you die without knowing how!"


    Seeing the frustrated expression on Ao Cangsheng’s face, Master Lu inwardly sneered.


    "Your Highness, it seems Master Yi is in trouble!"


    At this moment, the Artifact Refiner sitting next to Baili Chuanqiong suddenly frowned and said.


    "What do you mean?"


    Baili Chuanqiong, not very knowledgeable about artifact refining, asked curiously.


    The elderly man said, "From what I see, the fire source in Master Yi’s furnace is a First Rank Artifact Fire. But the mold on his furnace is an Supreme Grade Artifact Mold."


    "All Artifact Refiners know it’s impossible to heat an Supreme Grade Artifact Mold with a First Rank Artifact Fire. This time, Master Yi may..."


    The elderly man didn’t continue.


    But being as clever as he is, Baili Chuanqiong could easily discern the meaning behind his words.


    In a moment, Baili Chuanqiong furrowed his brows deeply and couldn’t help but curse Master Lu’s ancestors up to eighteen generations in his mind.


    After finishing his silent curses, Baili Chuanqiong expectantly asked, "Elder Yun, is there a situation where a highly skilled Artifact Refiner uses a First Rank Artifact Fire to refine a High Rank War Soldier?"


    Hearing Baili Chuanqiong’s question, Elder Yun immediately understood his intention.


    After some thought, Elder Yun sighed and said, "Perhaps there is such a possibility, but in my decades in the Artifact Refining World, I’ve never seen such a master!"


    Elder Yun’s meaning was clear: while not impossible, the possibility is extremely slim.


    "Damn it! These old bastards are so insidious when targeting people!"


    In his mind, Baili Chuanqiong was furious, staring intensely at the Judgement Department as he couldn’t help but exim in anger.


    "What now? I can’t just watch Master Yi be framed!"


    After a moment of silence, Baili Chuanqiong asked anxiously.


    Elder Yun squinted, contemted, and said, "The only n for now is to file a protest, asking His Majesty to revise the duel rules!"


    Upon hearing this, Baili Chuanqiong nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll file a protest now!"


    With that, he suddenly stood up from his seat and addressed Master Lu in the Judgement Department: "Master Lu, I oppose the new rule you just added. This rule is detrimental to the fairness of the duel!"


    After these words were spoken, the originally noisy central square suddenly fell into a moment of silence.


    Subsequently, the spectators watching themotion immediatelyunched the fiercest attacks and debates over Baili Chuanqiong’s words.


    Just as the duel was about to proceed, the unexpected emergence of the Third Prince surprised Master Lu somewhat.


    However, just one Third Prince was not enough to intimidate Master Lu.


    As the chief Artifact Refiner of the Royal Tributor, he was the overall in charge of this Artifact Refining Holy Scripture.


    As the overall in charge, and with the nine judges, any temporary inclusion of newpetition rules was something no one else had the authority to challenge. Not even the Third Prince.


    "Your Highness, pardon the affront. This rule was made after a joint discussion by our nine reviewers."


    "We made this decision to ensure this Artifact Refining Holy Scripture would be morepetitive and stimting."


    "If you wish to oppose, you must seek His Majesty’s decision. If His Majesty agrees with your opposition, we will cancel the rule immediately."


    Master Lu, with aposed demeanor, said to Baili Chuanqiong.


    "You..."


    Hearing Master Lu’s words, Baili Chuanqiong was momentarily choked.


    He didn’t expect Master Lu to be so arrogant,pletely disregarding him.


    "Fine, I’ll ask His Majesty now to see if he agrees with your rule!"


    Baili Chuanqiong red fiercely at Master Lu, then turned his gaze to Baili Chunqiu at the center of the high tform.


    "King Qiong, please sit down. You need not ask me about this matter, as I find Master Lu’s rule perfectly reasonable."


    Before Baili Chuanqiong could speak, a dignified and deep voice suddenly resounded from the high tform.


    The speaker was none other than Emperor Baili Chunqiu, who seemed to have little faith in Baili Chuanqiong and outright rejected his protest in public.


    "But father..."


    "No buts, sit down! This Artifact Refining Holy Scripture is managed by Master Lu, you must trust his integrity!"


    Baili Chunqiu red at Baili Chuanqiong, his tone somewhat stern.


    Scolded publicly, Baili Chuanqiong, despite his displeasure, didn’t dare defy his father.


    Helplessly, he could only give Master Lu a fierce look before sitting back in his chair in anger.


    Seeing Baili Chuanqiong hit a wall, Master Lu let out a sinister smile, thinking to himself, "Challenging me, do you even know your weight?"