Since this competition was for upcoming artifact refiners under thirty, the contents of the competition was relatively simple.
After all, many artifact refiners at that age weren't even proper artifact refiners yet!
Some contestants had only just finished their basic training and had only recently begun learning artifact refining, making it impossible for them to forge proper weapons or magical artifacts.
Therefore, the competition was divided into three rounds — Attack, Defense, and Disassembly.
First round, contestants had to select materials of the same grade and forge an offensive weapon.
In simple terms, they would forge a knife or sword and then test them against each other.
Whichever weapon lasted until the end would win.
Second round, contestants had to forge a defensive artifact.
The organizers would attack these defensive artifacts using the same weapon and the same strength, testing which one could withstand the blows for the longest.
Final round, contestants had to remove the seal from a storage pouch.
As for actually crafting a storage pouch, that was a difficult skill only intermediate-level artifact refiners or higher could manage.
These inexperienced contestants could forget about that.
Anyone capable of forging storage pouches wouldn't be participating in a beginner competition like this in the first place.
After hearing the details of the three rounds, Jiang Yuanxin, who had been frustrated for several days, finally smiled.
"Little Sister, the championship is definitely yours this time!" Jiang Yuancheng said happily.
The first two rounds hadn't changed for many years.
Only the third round varied occasionally.
Previously they had been worried the problem might be difficult.
But now, the challenge fits Jiang Yuanxin perfectly.
"This topic was made for you!" Jiang Yuancheng said excitedly. "Everyone knows you once removed a storage pouch seal before!"
That had happened more than a year ago.
At the time, Jiang Yuanxin had only been sixteen.
Other people might not even manage that at twenty-six!
This question was practically designed for her.
If Jiang Yuanxin weren't a contestant and her master, Wan Junquan, needed to avoid suspicion by not serving as a judge, they might have thought the question had been set by him personally.
This was basically a free point!
"When the time comes, you'll shock everyone! That bitch Jiang Yunnuan can just wait to cry!"
When Jiang Yuancheng mentioned Jiang Yunnuan, his face darkened.
Although their injuries had long healed, the humiliation from before still lingered.
If they weren't planning to deal with Jiang Yunnuan later, they might've already rushed over to kill her!
"Don't worry, I won't let them be so pleased with themselves!" Jiang Yuanxin said coldly through gritted teeth.
"I heard they came here for the Seven-Fragrance True Water and Red Tassel Vine Juice," Jiang Yuancheng added.
The competition prizes weren't a secret, news had spread before the competition even began, attracting many contestants.
Of course, different people desired different rewards.
"Hmph, they wish!" Jiang Yuanxin sneered. "They won't get anything!"
"Exactly!" Jiang Yuancheng nodded. "As long as you win the championship, they can keep dreaming!"
"Good! That's the spirit!"
A hearty voice suddenly rang out.
The siblings turned around, then immediately brightened with surprise, "Master?!"
"Master, why are you here?!"
The newcomer was their master, Wan Junquan.
Wan Junquan was already two hundred years old, at the peak of Nascent Soul Stage, and a high-level artifact refiner.
With that level of strength and status, he had more than enough authority to go anywhere he pleased.
He had a strong, sturdy build, yet his appearance was somewhat scholarly, giving him a curious contrast.
"Master!"
Jiang Yuanxin immediately ran over and threw herself into his arms, tears welling in her eyes, "Master, you finally came!"
"Why are you crying?" Wan Junquan was startled. "What happened? Were you bullied?"
Jiang Yuanxin burst into even louder tears.
"Master, my sister was bullied!" Jiang Yuancheng said with reddened eyes. "We were both beaten up!"
"What?!"
Wan Junquan's face changed drastically, "Who dared hit you?!"
He quickly examined Jiang Yuanxin and confirmed she looked fine.
"It was Jiang Yunnuan who hit us!" Jiang Yuancheng said angrily.
"Jiang Yunnuan?" Wan Junquan paused. "That name sounds a bit similar to yours."
"She's our eldest sister who left home years ago!"
"Her?"
Jiang Yuancheng explained everything that had happened over the past few days, his voice filled with indignation. Finally he concluded, "…Master, you must help us get justice!"
Jiang Yuanxin sniffled pitifully beside him, looking extremely miserable.
Wan Junquan's expression turned dark, "I never expected you to suffer so many unpleasant things."
He had only arrived now because he had been busy with other matters.
Originally, he believed that as his disciples, no one would dare bully them.
Who could've thought, they would be treated like this!
"Ke Minglu… very impressive," Wan Junquan said through clenched teeth.
If Ke Minglu hadn't intervened to support Jiang Yunnuan, how could she have dared to act so arrogantly.
He also had no idea which sect she belonged to to behave so boldly!
"Don't worry, I won't let you suffer injustice," Wan Junquan said, patting Jiang Yuanxin's head affectionately. "After the competition ends, I'll help you get justice!"
"Thank you, master!"
Jiang Yuanxin immediately beamed.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yunnuan and the others didn't know Wan Junquan had arrived. After learning the competition format, they were also very pleased.
"Third Junior Sister, you definitely won't have any problems this time!" Xin Jinrui said happily, patting Jiang Yunnuan.
The first two rounds would be easy for her.
And the last round's removing seals was even simpler!
Jiang Yunnuan had already opened who knew how many storage pouches!
After all, people were always sending them storage pouches but never removing the seals.
—Really inconsiderate.
However, that had allowed Jiang Yunnuan to practice extensively.
Jiang Yunnuan scratched her head shyly, "There are always people above people, mountains beyond mountains."
"It's fine, you'll definitely succeed!"
Everyone praised and encouraged her enthusiastically before accompanying her to the competition grounds.
This competition didn't have many participants, but it wasn't small either. There were exactly one hundred contestants.
Don't underestimate that number, it came with an age restriction.
And anyone confident enough to participate naturally believed in their own abilities.
Since most of them were beginners, the competition didn't use elimination rounds. Instead, it used a point system.
After three rounds, the contestant with the highest score would win.
If there was a tie, there would be an additional match.
It was Jiang Yunnuan's first time competing alongside so many artifact refiners, and she felt both excited and nervous.
Then suddenly someone stepped in front of her, speaking excitedly.
"Miss, what a coincidence, we meet again!"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab her hand.
Jiang Yunnuan reacted quickly, stepping back while pushing him away.
"Ah!" the man cried out as he stumbled backward.
Only then did Jiang Yunnuan clearly see his face.
It looked unfamiliar, yet faintly familiar at the same time.
But who was he?
Before she could remember, she heard Jiang Yuancheng sneer nearby, "Tsk. Flirting with men again. Truly shameless!"
Slap!
The entire venue instantly fell silent.