Behind him, two of the elders turned deathly pale.
"Hmph! You've all done well! Squabbling amongst yourselves within the clan is one thing, but to now commit such an act that damages our family's reputation! Fine, just fine!"
After Ya Fei finished speaking, Teng Shan's eyes opened a fraction wider. He retracted his spiritual pressure and let out a cold, deep snort.
As he spoke, his gaze swept over two specific elders in the group, then to the corpses of Lei Ou and his grandson on the floor.
The two elders caught in Teng Shan's icy stare felt a chill run down their spines as they heard the suppressed fury in his voice.
Damn you to hell, Lei Ou!
If you wanted to die, you old bastard, why did you have to drag us down with you!
Couldn't you investigate your target's strength before making a move?
Imbecile!
With their clandestine dealings exposed, the two elders knew their days in the clan would never be the same.
To protect the clan's interests and appease the wrath of a young Dou King, they might even be stripped of their elder positions.
In an instant, their hearts were filled with regret and resentment.
"I will deal with you two later!"
Teng Shan shot them a final, venomous glare before turning to Zhou Changqing. The coldness on his face was replaced by a smile and a hint of apology. He cupped his hands and said, "Little friend Changqing, my sincerest apologies. The Mittel clan was in the wrong here. I, on behalf of the Mittel clan, offer you my deepest regrets."
To covet and attempt to seize the foundation of another's livelihood was not a glorious act.
It could easily be considered a mortal enmity.
Of course, Teng Shan was no saint. The Mittel clan had not achieved its current status without resorting to its share of unsavory methods.
He was simply furious that these brainless fools had acted so rashly without proper intelligence, needlessly making a powerful enemy for the clan.
Ultimately, it all came down to Zhou Changqing's strength. Otherwise, would Teng Shan have adopted such a humble posture?
Though he couldn't tell the young man's exact age, Teng Shan's experienced eyes judged him to be no older than twenty.
A Dou King at twenty years old!
Such a thing was unheard of, not just in the Jia Ma Empire but in any of the surrounding empires!
Teng Shan understood exactly what this meant. In less than a decade, this young man could stand at the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire, becoming one of the most powerful figures in the entire northwestern region.
If such an existence was provoked and not eliminated, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Seeing Teng Shan's humble attitude, even apologizing to a junior like himself, Zhou Changqing was surprised and couldn't help but view the man in a higher light.
No wonder he became the clan head. Aside from his strength, his magnanimity and forbearance must be part of the reason.
"Clan Head Teng Shan truly discerns right from wrong. I am impressed," Zhou Changqing said, cupping his hands in return and withdrawing his own spiritual pressure.
He had no desire for a complete falling out with the Mittel clan. Since Teng Shan was showing him such respect, it would be improper to throw it back in his face.
Hearing this, Teng Shan's heart stirred. It seemed there was still room to resolve this matter amicably. He immediately said, "It was a failure of my leadership that allowed such scum to appear in our clan. Little friend, you flatter me."
"Rest assured, little friend, I will give you a satisfactory resolution."
"Men, drag these two degenerates out of here! Don't let them be an eyesore!"
Teng Shan pointed at the bodies of Lei Ou and his grandson, ordering a few guards.
The guards acted swiftly, carrying the corpses out of the room.
Without a single glance at the elders behind him, Teng Shan smiled at Zhou Changqing and extended an invitation. "Little friend, this place has been tainted. It is no place for conversation. Please, allow me to escort you upstairs."
"Since Clan Head Teng Shan invites, how could I refuse?"
"And this is?"
"Her? She's a friend of mine. Heh, you might not know, Clan Head Teng Shan, but her strength is far greater than my own."
"Oh? Forgive my ignorance. Please, do not take offense at my earlier discourtesy."
Teng Shan was startled. He looked at the still-seated, veiled Medusa with a mix of suspicion and gravity, cupping his hands in apology.
He knew that even with a prodigy as monstrous as the young man before him, he could faintly sense the aura unique to a Dou King.
But this woman… he couldn't sense her aura at all!
That was terrifying.
With his own strength as a Dou King, it was impossible to sense nothing unless the other party was a mid-tier Dou Emperor or higher, or they were practicing a profound aura-concealing Dou Technique.
Either possibility meant she was an expert on par with himself.
Two experts on par with himself… that level of power was already comparable to, or even surpassed, the Mittel clan's top-tier combat strength.
It was a good thing he hadn't chosen to tear all face earlier, otherwise…
"..."
"Ahem, Clan Head Teng Shan, that's just her personality. Please don't mind her."
"Heh heh, it is no matter, no matter at all. I understand. Please, I invite you to join us as well, so that my Mittel clan may fulfill its duties as a host."
His eyes darting for a moment, Teng Shan turned to Ya Fei, who was standing there somewhat uncertainly, and spoke with a friendly tone.
"Ah, Ya Fei, since you are acquainted with little friend Changqing, you should join us as well."
"Yes, Clan Head."
Led by Teng Shan, the group of three left the reception hall and headed to the second floor, an area accessible only to internal members of the Mittel clan.
In a large hall.
Teng Shan and Zhou Changqing were engaged in a lively conversation.
Medusa sat beside Zhou Changqing without a word, idly stroking the golden nail guards on her slender fingers out of boredom.
Ya Fei, meanwhile, stood quietly behind Teng Shan.
Watching Zhou Changqing converse with her clan head as an equal, Ya Fei felt a sense of surrealism.
She had known he was strong, but she had never imagined he was already a Dou King, a peer of her own clan head.
The shocks Zhou Changqing had delivered her today had been one after another.
If not for her strong composure, she might have fainted from the sheer astonishment.
"Incredible, simply incredible. Little friend, at such a young age, your strength is no less than that of us old fossils, yet you also possess such a miraculous forging technique that can turn the mundane into the magical. It truly leaves me in awe. In comparison, I feel I've wasted all my years."
"Heh, you praise me too much, Elder Teng. This junior has simply been fortunate to have achieved what little I have. It is not worth mentioning."
"By the way, Elder Teng, what about the auction process for my weapons?"
After exchanging some mutual praise, Zhou Changqing brought up the main topic.
Teng Shan's smile faded slightly as he adopted a more serious expression. "Little friend, I have personally appraised your weapons. Their power is indeed as you described."
"Treasures of this caliber are more than worthy of being sold at our Xuan-tier auction. I just need to know which auction format you would prefer."
"I happen to be in need of some high-quality weapon refinement materials recently, which is why I came to the Mittel Auction House. Please arrange for the auction to prioritize payment in the form of such materials."
Having already learned about the auction formats, Zhou Changqing unhesitatingly chose the barter option.
A thought struck Teng Shan. He asked, puzzled, "Weapon refinement materials?"
Seeing Teng Shan's confusion, Zhou Changqing remembered that the concept of 'weapon refinement' didn't exist on the Dou Qi Continent; they only had 'forging.'
"Weapon refinement is my own term. As you know, Elder Teng, the weapons I create are quite extraordinary and different from the forging techniques of other blacksmiths. I prefer to call it weapon refinement."
"So, when you are promoting the auction, for the sake of clarity, you can just refer to them as forging materials."
After hearing Zhou Changqing's explanation, Teng Shan had a flash of insight.
Refinement… refinement… This Zhou Changqing… he's probably positioning himself as an equal to Alchemists!
But then he thought about the power and effects of the weapons Zhou Changqing had created, and it suddenly felt entirely appropriate.
After all, such powerful weapons were no less precious than medicinal pills. In some respects, they were even more valuable!
To call himself a Weapon Refiner was not an exaggeration in the slightest!
"Weapon Refiner… A Weapon Refiner is good! Such a title is worthy of your supreme skills, little friend! The marvels of your weapon refinement are in no way inferior to those of the alchemists."
Teng Shan exclaimed with genuine feeling, his gaze on Zhou Changqing growing more admiring.
At the same time, he saw the immense opportunity Zhou Changqing represented.
An art of weapon refinement, on par with the art of alchemy. If it were to truly develop, the impact it would have on the Dou Qi Continent would be enormous!
And the profits that came with that impact would be equally immense.
Zhou Changqing gave a faint smile. "Elder Teng overstates it. How could this junior compare to the esteemed Alchemists?"
"But speaking of it, I do feel the title of 'Weapon Refiner' suits my craft quite well."
"Little friend, you are too modest. If you don't mind, how about we use 'Weapon Refiner' as the theme for this Xuan-tier auction's promotion?"
"This…"
Zhou Changqing put on a hesitant expression, but a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes.
"With your world-shaking talent, little friend, would it not be a great pity to remain in obscurity? I imagine you would not want your art of weapon refinement to be buried either."
"As long as you are willing, the Mittel Auction House will provide its full support to spread the name of 'Weapon Refiner' throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and we will do our part to help your art flourish!"
"Consider it part of our apology for the earlier incident. What do you say?"
A man of vast experience, Teng Shan could see the young man was tempted. He looked at Zhou Changqing with anticipation.
If this young man's art of weapon refinement one day reached the apex of the continent, then the Mittel Auction House, as the very first to auction the creations of a Weapon Refiner, would see its prestige soar to unprecedented heights.
Finally, under Teng Shan's fervent gaze, Zhou Changqing nodded.
"Very well. We shall do as Elder Teng suggests."