At the sharp, piercing crow of a rooster, Luo Chen slowly opened his drowsy eyes. Morning light filtered through the window lattice, and a cool autumn breeze stirred the faint scent of dew in the air.0

Stretching lazily, he stepped out into the courtyard, drew a bucket of well water, and washed up quickly. The chill of the water helped clear away the remnants of sleep.0

To his surprise, Duan Feng was already up, standing in the courtyard with a flying sword in his hand, meticulously wiping it down.0

"What are you doing?" Luo Chen asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.0

"My enchanted artifact was damaged," Duan Feng replied flatly. "Just cleaning it up and preparing to buy materials for repairs."0

"You can repair enchanted artifacts?" Luo Chen blinked in disbelief.0

The answer left him stunned, but a moment later, understanding flickered in his gaze. "Ah, right. You’re from the Duan family. I’ve heard they have an Ice-Fire Spirit Spring and are specialized for artifact forging."0

At the mention of the Duan family, Duan Feng’s expression stiffened visibly. The atmosphere in the courtyard turned cold.0

Luo Chen sensed it immediately—this wasn’t a fond family relationship. If things had been harmonious, Duan Feng wouldn’t be living in a rented room in the inner city, battling his way through Dahe Market alone.0

For a ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivator, life wasn’t exactly easy without the backing of a sect or family. Without a specialty skill or steady support, earning spirit stones could be a daily struggle.0

And judging by how Duan Feng not only competed on the Debate Platform...0