Hao Ren didn't know what was going on inside the Flame Storme shop. He was immersed in his own cultivation. Instead of switching from one place to the other, Serene Storme had decided to give him the list of orders that he needed to finish and allowed him to work at Flaming Hammer's place.

It was because Flaming Hammer didn't have many guests seeking him at his house. The old man was grumpy and unpredictable and many times he had beaten up some customers. So, Hao Ren would be better concealed in that location and have greater seclusion experience. Hao Ren was not going to deny such a good deal.

There was none who watched him in this place, and Hao Ren condensed his Saint Halo to the next level by comprehending all the new things. The two Grandmasters had basically given him the key to their libraries, and Hao Ren filtered out the books he had already read. Even then he found several thousand books and techniques that he had no idea existed. He mumbled, "The world of cultivation sure is vast."

*You think so? Loser. Just focus on working.*

Hao Ren immersed himself back into work.

…

The two old men were discussing things regarding the business these days, when the Shopkeeper Amad ran over, and bowed. Serene Storme asked, "What is it?"

Amad replied, "Grandmaster Amira is here. She is looking for the person who crafted the new set of weapons."

The two old men smiled and Grandmaster Serene Storme said, "Bring her over."

A soft feminine voice sounded from outside the door, "I am already here, you old couple."

Her words caused Flaming Hammer to clench his fists and he was about to snap when Serene Storme said, "If that is your attitude, then fuck off back to that hole you call home. We have nothing to discuss."

He knew better than Flaming Hammer when it came to handling this woman. Grandmaster Amira walked inside the room, she looked like a middle-aged woman but she was even older than the two men. She clicked her tongue and said, "This is why I refused to be your Dao Companion back then."

This time Flaming Hammer replied, "Are you sure? I am sure I heard that you went to discuss life with that silk pant alchemist who gave you a youth pill and loaded you with his son."

Flamming Hammer was better at insulting people, and this time Grandmaster Amira clenched her fists while the former appeared smug. Serene Storme said, "You came here to meet the guy who made these artifacts, right?"

The lady nodded, and the old man asked, "Why do you wish to meet him?"

Grandmaster Amira replied, "I want to take him in as a disciple."

The two men chuckled and laughed loudly as Grandmaster Flaming Hammer said, "Do you think that you can take him in as a disciple just because you want to? Since when did it become so easy that you can take in a disciple just because you want to?"

Grandmaster Amira frowned and asked, "What are you implying here?"

Grandmaster Flaming Hammer replied, "This matter is related to the secret that we are keeping for someone else. You cannot get us to talk about it unless you swear secrecy."

The lady was surprised but then she asked, "Are you two old men for real? Asking me to take an oath for a junior?"

The two men acted as if they didn't care and shrugged before one of them said, "You can do what you want but you cannot force us to give you the answers. This is not about whether we trust you or not, it is about the sincerity that you have always been preaching about all your life."

Grandmaster Amira frowned, she didn't expect that something like this would come her way, however, looking at the adamant expressions of the two old men, she replied, "Fine, I promise."

With that she made an oath on her Dao Heart, and Serene Storme replied, "The person you are looking for is not some junior. But a grandmaster in disguise."

Amira opened her eyes wide and asked, "Who is this guy? Why have I never heard of someone like this?"

Flaming Hammer replied, "That is because this young man is not a native of our city. He came from a farther place, but his name is not new to anyone in the refiner community."

Amira looked at the two men and finally she snapped, "Can the both of you shut up and stop the theatric build up and directly tell me who is this person?"

Flaming Hammer smiled and replied, "He is Grandmaster Hao Ren."

It took a good moment for Amira to recall the significance of this name and she was stunned before she replied, "I don't believe you."

Serene Storme sighed and took out a small jade box and handed it to Flaming Hammer who said, "Told you, she wouldn't believe it."

The former nodded and said, "Come along, you will understand the truth once you have met him."

The lady nodded, and then the trio headed to Flaming Hammer's courtyard where Hao Ren was sitting in the void with his legs crossed and he was meditating, and around him a golden flame ring was revolving at a high speed. When the trio entered the courtyard, he didn't sense them because he was busy in comprehending the last few things that would help him condense the second saint halo.

Amira looked at Hao Ren and she sucked in a deep breath, "Is he really that young? Is it really him?"

Serene Storme replied, "Can't you see the flame ring around him. The heat he is giving off is too high for a normal flame."

Amira nodded after she inspected the flames. After a few minutes, Hao Ren opened his eyes and was about to get back to refining artifacts, however he was surprised when he sensed the three people looking at him with great interest. He greeted the two old men, before one of them said, "This is Grandmaster Amira. She is here to meet you."

Hao Ren bowed in greeting and Serene Storme said, "She doesn't believe that your level is that of a grandmaster."

Hao Ren smiled and replied, "I will refine a high level spiritual artifact if that would help."

The two old men nodded and then they saw Hao Ren using his original technique. The young man tossed the few pieces of different metals in the void and waved his hand to smelt them with his flames. His speed was anything but slow. However, even then the three elders could not sense even a slightest bit of impurity inside the smelted chunk.

Then they watched him form an anvil of his spiritual energy and began to shape the smelted metal. However, the people noticed that the young man had opened a needle like hole in the artifact and he was pouring in some spiritual ink inside the artifact layers.

The flame control caused the ink to dry and it became one with the rest of the layers, before the spiritual fluctuations from the weapon caused the people to understand how high Hao Ren's level was when it came to crafting weapons.

The two elders smiled while Amira opened her eyes wide looking at the situation before her eyes. Hao Ren turned around and handed her the sword, as he said, "Grandmaster, please inspect the artifact."

Amira was shivering, because she had just witnessed the work of a person who created the first Saint Grade Artifact after the Refining Saint ascended. She looked at the sword and channeled her spiritual energy through it before she exclaimed, "Marvelous!"

Hao Ren smiled and said, "You can take this as a gift from me, if you have a talented person in your family. I am sure this blade would serve them well."

Grandmaster Amira was capable of crafting an artifact of this level herself but receiving a gift was just to reciprocate the respect that Hao Ren showed towards her. She bowed and said, "Thank you, I will cherish it."

Hao Ren shook his head and Grandmaster Flaming Hammer replied, "Lady Amira, would you give him your recommendation to him for the upcoming contest?"

Grandmaster Amira nodded and said, "If Grandmaster Hao agrees to take in my grandson as his disciple, I will give him my recommendation. It is not necessary for you to agree, Grandmaster Hao, but my grandson is a talent who surpasses me and I don't want him to end up on a path that is not suitable to his skills.

I am aware of how you found your own path by following the basics, and refining your foundation to the level where you stand today. My grandson idolizes you, and I believe that you can certainly help him find a path that is suitable for him. So, please consider this request. I will get you the rest of the recommendations as well."

Hao Ren thought for a bit and said, "I would like to test his skills before I give you an answer, would that be alright?"

The lady nodded and replied, "You can test him whenever you want."

Hao Ren took out a clean set of robes and said, "Then what are we waiting for?"