The oute of the test had actually been decided long before, during their bde-f petition.

  Zhuge Gan observed Gu Heng's f teique and the essence behind it. Every strike carried a unique rhythm, as if he had ihe most profound essence of the heavens ah into his f method. The petition sted four days, and by the end, Zhuge Gan knew he had lost.

  This man, hidden among the on folk, was a truly rare master craftsman in the world!

  Though Zhuge Gan was unwilling to accept defeat, he had no choice but to aowledge it. At his level, he uood that he couldn't defeat Gu Heng now. The only solution was to tinue seeking out others to spar with, refining his own f teiques until he could return and challenge Gu Heng once more.

  Over the years, he traveled to many pces, peting with renowned spirit craftsmen across the world. His reputation grew along with his travels, and his skills tio improve as he prehended new "essences."

  And so, several years ter, Zhuge Gaurned.

  He had only one goal: to make this hidden master, whose f teiques were unparalleled, aowledge his defeat to the "Saint Craftsman of Heaven ah"!

  Su Jinxi quietly led in Gu Heng's arms, watg Zhuge Gan. It was only then that she remembered him—she had a deep impression of this man!

  Wasn't this the "Saint Craftsman of Heaven ah," Zhuge Gan!?

  She remembered Zhuge Gan because he traveled the world, relying on his f teiques and esseo challeh famous and obscure spirit craftsmen with unparalleled arrogance.

  A hundred years ago, Zhuge Gan had e to the Demon Realm and challehe stro demon craftsman uhe King of Ten Thousand Demons!

  At that time, Su Jinxi was already a trusted figure by the King of Ten Thousand Demons, so she withat earth-shattering f petition. The two craftsme seven days in the Demon King's city, f the same type of magical artifact.

  And Zhuge Gan won.

  After his victory, he felt only disappoi because, despite his long journey, he hadn't found a single craftsman who could surpass him in f teiques.

  The petition was known throughout the world, and it brought disgrace to the demon race. Fortunately, the King of Ten Thousand Demons was magnanimous; otherwise, Zhuge Gan might not have left the Demon Realm alive.

  This guy had actually peted with this senior!?

  So, who won?

  "Brother Zhuge, it seems your travels over the years have been fruitful."

  Gu Heng brewed tea for him, using tea leaves from the System's mall. Zhuge Gan looked at the golden glow emanating from the tea and thought it was plex that Gu Heng would use such precious leaves to eain a "defeated oppo."

  "Not much of a harvest, really. I've traveled this world, seeking oppos in f teiques, but they... ultimately, they are not your match."

  Zhuge Gan g the fe behind Gu Heng. He had already reached the entrance of the Medie Hall and witnessed Gu Heng f the sword embryo.

  Not to mention that Gu Heng's teiques had bee even more profound than years ago, and the material...

  That was Heavenly Star Meteorite Iron!

  This meteorite iron taihe power of the stars and was the most difficult material te in the world! Even now, Zhuge Gan couldn't guarantee he could shape such a rare celestial material!

  After traveling for so long, his current level was inparable to before, so Zhuge Gan uood that this petition was entirely unnecessary.

  Because the result wouldn't ge.

  He would still lose, and it would be even more embarrassing tha time.

  "A matter of winning or losing, I've long fotten. Brother Zhuge, if you dwell on the past, it will affect you."

  Gu Heng said with a faint smile.

  He knew Zhuge Gan was quite dissatisfied with the previous petition, but there was nothing he could do. The f teiques taught by the System, while not parable to those of cultivators, were more than enough to defeat ordinary people.

  At that time, Zhuge Gan's expression was as if he had never lost before, but Gu Heng showed him what it meant to have someoer.

  The System couldn't turn Gu Heng into a cultivator, but it could make him a perfed outstanding mortal. Zhuge Gan couldn't win, but Gu Heng didn't want him to get stu a rut, as it could lead to extremism.

  "...Haha, Bru's words have indeed pointed out the fw in my mi."

  Zhuge Gan chuckled bitterly.

  He roud because ever since he began his travels and became famous, he had never lost once!

  Zhuge Gan even dared to kick open the doors of the Sacred F Divine Pad challehe pace master, who had been famous for a thousand years! The Sacred F Divine Pace was one of the three great "Divine Paces" in the world, a true transdent power, and a sacred pce for all craftsmen!

  As a wandering rogue cultivator, daring to do so showed just hant Zhuge Gan had bee.

  But even the pace master of the Sacred F Divine Pace, who was said to be able te Imperial Grade divine ons, could only draw with him.

  "Zhuge Saint Craftsman," ued!

  Until he came to Greenwood City and actally met this deeply hidden master who pyed among mortals.

  Zhuge Gan's proud "record" was stained by a yer of indelible dust because of Gu Heng.

  He always wao redeem himself, but upourning to Greenwood City, Zhuge Gan realized he had no ce of winning. Gu Heng's f teiques had bee even more profound, as if he could domihe world with a single hammer strike, unmatched by anyone!

  This setback made him suddenly realize he shouldn't be sant. The world was full of hidden talents, and even as the "Saint Craftsman of Heaven ah," he still o remain humble and cautious.

  Indeed, pared to Gu Heng, he relied on his teiques to challehers, gaining the attention of tless people and building a reputation, but Zhuge Gan was not the stro. In the end, he was defeated, losing all the pride he had accumuted.

  The stro had long since bee indifferent to fame and fortune, living among the on folk, uned with "winning or losing."

  Zhuge Gan realized he had not only lost in teique but also in mi.

  "Brother Zhuge, it's time to let go. Fate ainy are predetermined. Perhaps one day, you'll have a moment of enlighte and advance further, don't you think?"

  Gu Heng said with a light ugh, some fort to Zhuge Gan. After all, as fellow mortals, he admired Zhuge Gan. pared to himself, who was close to doing nothing, Zhuge Gan still had a passionate drive to strive upward, and Gu Heng didn't want him to lose that edge.

  "Hahaha! Bru is right."

  Zhuge Gan ughed heartily, but as he ughed, he sighed. He looked at Gu Heng and asked, "But why did Bru open a Medie Hall?"

  "Medie is also my specialty. As for f... it o be settled for a while," Gu Heng replied.

  Of course, Gu Heng couldn't say, "There's no money in f, but there's money in medie." With someone of higher status than himself, such a profit-driven mi could spoil the mood. After all, they were "old friends" who met through petition, and he couldn't do that.

  Zhuge Gan had also seen Gu Heng's alchemy skills, which were equally astonishing.

  A person who could master both f and medie to su extraordinary level!

  Although Zhuge Gan didn't uand alchemy, he had seen enough to know. As the "Zhuge Saint Craftsman," he had a name aation, and he had seen skilled practitioners of medie and alchemy. But none were like Gu Heng, who trolled medial potency with such precision and practiced alchemy with such ease, as if any divine pill or elixir was within reach!

  "It seems Bru is living quite leisurely here."

  "Leisurely? It's just seeking peace. After all, I have nothing more to ask for."

  Gu Heng shook his head with a smile.

  Living as a mortal for so long, all that remained was boredom, but what more could he ask for? Uo bee a cultivator, there were many pces in this world that were difficult to reach!

  Zhuge Gan thought about it and realized it was true. Bru's f and medical skills were unparalleled, and his cultivation level was pletely beyond prehension. Such a master probably had no more pursuits.

  "However, Greenwood City might not be a good pce to stay."

  Gu Heng sighed.

  "What do you mean, Bru?"

  Just as Zhuge Gan uzzled by Gu Heng's words, several figures streaked across the sky above Greenwood City, creating a terrifying presence.

  Zhuge Gan also sehose auras, but he didn't care at all. A sweep of his divine sense revealed they were merely te-stage Elemental Infant or Out-of-Body stage cultivators, weaklings.

  "The Mo Family Patriarch is dead, and soon, Greenwood City will be embroiled in a life-ah struggle for the position the Mo Family once held."

  In such turbulent times, Gu He he might be swept along with the current.