Upon hearing Zhao Zhenjie's words, the crowd's gaze instantly shifted toward him.
"Lin Tian, do you truly believe that no one can see through your shameless pretense? Do you think you can fool us all?" Zhao Zhenjie stepped forward, speaking with great indignation. As he did, the expressions of everyone in the room turned immediately, now fixed upon Lin Tian.
At these words, Lin Tian could not help but laugh. "Pretending to be something I'm not? When did I ever do that?"
Although his speed in crafting the Flowing Patterned Sword was undeniably faster than Li Minghui's, he had followed every required step with precision. Yet, to be accused of mere pretense? The accusation struck him as utterly absurd.
"Oh, really? If you're not pretending, how could you possibly finish crafting the Flowing Patterned Sword so quickly?" Zhao Zhenjie pressed on, his tone relentless.
Lin Tian, at a loss for words, could only shake his head. To be accused of pretense simply for crafting a Flowing Patterned Sword more swiftly than others—it was clear that narrow-minded individuals would find it impossible to accept another's excellence.
"Just because I crafted the Flowing Patterned Sword quickly, does that mean I'm pretending?" Lin Tian retorted, his voice firm.
"It is widely acknowledged that crafting the Flowing Patterned Sword is a difficult task. Even I, as an inner disciple, would need the time of an incense stick to complete it. Yet here you are, claiming to have done it in half that time. Do you expect us to believe that your forging skills surpass those of our inner disciples?" Zhao Zhenjie sneered.
At this, the crowd fell silent, their doubts growing. Lin Tian's determination had sparked some hope that he might actually succeed in crafting the sword, but hearing Zhao Zhenjie's words erased that faint hope. If an inner disciple like Zhao Zhenjie needed a full incense stick of time to forge the sword, how could Lin Tian, an outer disciple, possibly finish it in half the time without resorting to trickery?
"Is it my fault that I crafted the sword faster?" Lin Tian responded, his frustration palpable.
"If you had simply been fast, I would have said nothing. But now, I suspect that what you've forged is not a true Flowing Patterned Sword." Zhao Zhenjie's voice was cold, his accusation clear. The engraving of the Flowing Pattern was known to be difficult, and even an adept forger like himself would take considerable effort to complete it. The speed at which Lin Tian had finished suggested that the pattern he had engraved was not the true Flowing Pattern.
At these words, the crowd's suspicion was fully confirmed. If Lin Tian hadn't engraved the true Flowing Pattern, then his sword couldn't be considered a genuine Flowing Patterned Sword.
"Senior Brother, did you actually see the pattern I engraved?" Lin Tian's patience had worn thin. He was no longer willing to tolerate Zhao Zhenjie's baseless accusations and retorted sharply.
"I did not see it myself, but proving whether your sword is genuine is simple enough. The Flowing Patterned Sword, once forged, should be able to unleash power comparable to the peak of Qi Refining. If you truly forged the sword, we need only test it to see if it can release such power. That will confirm its authenticity." Zhao Zhenjie proposed, a sneer in his voice.
"If you want to test whether my Flowing Patterned Sword is real, that's no problem at all," Lin Tian responded, his expression unshaken. "But before we do that, I must say, I am quite displeased by the public humiliation and suspicion you've cast upon me. If my sword proves genuine, I expect you to kneel and apologize in front of all these witnesses."
Though Lin Tian was typically mild-mannered, he wasn't the kind of person to let himself be pushed around. His words sent a ripple of shock through the outer disciples present, and even Zhao Zhenjie, who had been so confident moments before, was visibly taken aback. Clearly, he hadn't expected an outer disciple to speak so boldly to him.
"What's wrong, Senior Brother? Are you afraid to do what you said?" Lin Tian asked, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Afraid?" Zhao Zhenjie ground his teeth, his face twisted in irritation. He still believed that Lin Tian could not possibly have forged a real Flowing Patterned Sword in such a short time. He was certain that the sword could not unleash the peak of Qi Refining power. Zhao Zhenjie had made this challenge only to instill doubt in Lin Tian, hoping to silence the crowd before things escalated further. But Lin Tian's bravado unsettled him.
"You think I won't do it? Very well then, I'll show you what I'm capable of." Zhao Zhenjie, though irritated, refused to back down.
"Since you've made such a bold statement, I trust you'll keep your word," Lin Tian said, his voice cold. With a swift motion, he waved the Flowing Patterned Sword, and as his spiritual energy surged through the sword, a brilliant energy blade shot out. In an instant, a deep scar appeared on the distant arena floor.
At the sight of the sword scar, the expressions of the crowd shifted. The force behind the strike was clearly more than enough to rival the peak of Qi Refining. In other words, not only had Lin Tian crafted the sword in a fraction of the time expected, but its power also far exceeded anyone's expectations. Such talent, displayed in the Forge Peak, was truly unprecedented.
"Senior Brother, you may begin," Lin Tian said with a smile, addressing Zhao Zhenjie.
"Begin?" Zhao Zhenjie froze, stunned by Lin Tian's sudden shift in tone.
"Yes, kneel and apologize, as you promised. Have you forgotten your own words?" Lin Tian pressed, his voice insistent.
"Lin Tian, I'm an inner disciple!" Zhao Zhenjie's face flushed a deep shade of red, a mixture of shame and fury. His pride as an inner disciple clashed with the humiliation of being forced to kneel. Yet, with so many disciples watching, if he tried to back out now, his reputation would be tarnished forever.
Though his heart seethed with anger, Zhao Zhenjie gritted his teeth and, begrudgingly, sank to his knees.