After the Dust Valley Sect display at both the Array Formation and Runic first round competition.
Many powerful forces had begun to pay attention to them. They had their spies follow them.
Unlike Martial Battle Competition where Dark Horse would only be noticed at the end of the tournament.
Supporting professions competitions were different. Just from the test completing speed, they could determine if they were a dark horse or not.
If the Dust Valley Sect only showed their potential in the Array Formation competition, that wouldn't have raised any hair but they did not.
It seems they were hell-bent on overturning all the supporting professions.
This was something those from the imperial capital could not take.
Especially those from the ancient clans and sects.
Inside the Artifact Refinement Competition Hall, the Dust Valley Sect disciple showed they meant business.
Twenty minutes later.
Their two disciples were done, shocking all the ancient forces and powerful halls.
This time, the Hall Master of the Imperial Capital Artifact Refining Hall could not maintain his indifference.
He walked briskly to the five judges on the podium. His eyes were blazing with fury.
Everyone inside the hall held their breath while they shot cold piercing gazes at the Dust Valley Sect.
'Humph! Now, let's see how you're going to escape. All your arrogant displays would be brought to life and you would be expelled from the competition.'
Ignoring the gaze directed at them, the Dust Valley Sect Master, elders and disciples looked at the five judges on the podium.
"Judges, we cannot allow some puny sects from god-knows-where sully the reputation of the assembly summit."
"I advise you to check their script and see if they gave the right to some of the questions." He said, his voice booming through the hall.
All the leaders of the various forces nodded in agreement. This was the only justification they could accept for the Dust Valley Sect to continue in this competition.
The Chief Judge looked at the Hall Master and sighed. Everyone in the Artifact Refining Hall knew of the Hall Master and his influence was nothing to be undermined.
"Alright." The Chief Judge nodded.
On hearing, everyone inside the hall wore victory smiles.
As for the Hall Master, his expression was still unreadable, and no one could know what he was thinking.
To make it fair, the Chief Judge took Yong Li and Wei Jian scripts.
Swiftly, he went through them. He was a Peak Tier-2 Artifact Refiner, and this question posed no problem to him.
He only needed to glance at them before he knew whether they were right or not.
After a minute, the Chief Judge could not hide his shock. He raised his head and looked in the direction of the Dust Valley Sect.
"What's going on?"
"Why is he looking in their direction?"
"Idiot! Of course, they wrote nonsense. He must have caught their ruse."
"Haha. let's see how they will be expelled from this competition."
The Silver Wei disciples; the ancient Zhou clan and other powerful forces wore a disgusting look as they looked at the Dust Valley Sect.
While the people were gloating at the Dust Valley Sect misfortune. The Chief Judge asked the other four judges to go through their script.
'I must be mistaken. Impossible!' The Chief Judge screamed in his mind.
Watching the ever-changing expression on the Chief Judge's face. The Hall Master could sense something was not right.
While the four judges were going through Yong Li and Wei Jian scripts, Mo Jian looked at his father.
"Sect Master, now is your turn." He whispered.
Instantly, elders and disciples looked at Mo Jian in disguise wondering what he meant.
"This is the capital; we can't be too passive. We must show them we're not easy to deal with. How can any cats and dogs trample on our dignity without bearing the consequence."
The Sect Master, his wife and all the elders could understand what Mo Jian was suggesting.
Indeed, they must not be too passive, else others might see them as easy prey.
The Sect Master raised his head proudly and stepped forward. He walked with confidence and arrogance not any lower than the ancient forces.
'It is time to farm aura. Just like my son used to say.' He grinned inwardly, feeling everyone's gaze on his body.
Truly, he was farming aura like crazy.
Liu Zexian watched her husband's arrogant back and couldn't help but grin.
'This bastard, where did he learn to act like this.'
The Sect Master arrived before the five judges with a cold detached expression.
"Can anyone tell why the script of my disciples is being checked?" He demanded, his voice booming throughout the quiet hall.
The Hall Master looked at him with disdain and spoke.
"Lower your voice, this is the summit ground. You can't just act anyhow you like."
"Oh, I thought this is your mansion." He responded sarcastically, "So you know this is the summit ground. What gives you and everyone the audacity to question my disciples' script?"
"Not unless you're saying the five judges were incompetent."
Huh!
Various gasps echoed inside the hall. None in their wildest dream did they expect a weak unknown sect would dare question the five judges.
"Watch your mouth." The Chief Judge said with a deep frown.
"Or what?" The Sect Master refused to back down.
"Just because he is from the capital, he asked you to check my sect script and yet you agree. But now, I'm voicing my grievance, and you dare ask me to watch my mouth."
"Is that how you're going to lead the competition? By being partial? Hmm?"
Watching the Sect Master's increasing loud voice, even a fool could now realize things were going beyond how they planned.
This was the Assembly Summit. The holy ground of the continent.
The Hall Master creased his brow. He wanted to speak but a cold dagger gaze from the Chief Judge shut his mouth.
He knew he had caused a lot of trouble for his friend.
"Sect Master from the Dust Valley Sect. I'm sorry for my oversight, this wouldn't itself repeat again." The Chief Judge stood and gave a light bow.
Watching this, everyone was stunned.
Smaller sects in the hall were stunned. This was an eye-opener for them.
Many had been bullied by these powerful and ancient forces for many years.
This was the first time they saw them lose face entirely.
"Better. I hope it won't repeat itself again." The Sect Master responded and left.
Watching his back, all eyes were on him.
The confidence and arrogance were something they had never seen in a new and weak sect.
"Let's go. They wouldn't try this nonsense with us again. They've learned their lesson." His voice was not low and everyone inside the hall could hear him.