Chapter 121: I'm the Boss of This Family

At this moment, Chen Chuyang had fallen out of favor with his mother.

She had a new son, the Hundred Flower Ring.

His mother fondled it for a long time, unable to bear letting go; that look of hers was far better than the one she gave Chen Chuyang and his two siblings. Chen Chuyang was speechless—could Mother not be so obsessed?

"Cough, cough, Mother, you've got your Spiritual Artifact, it's time to go down the mountain."

If his mother stayed here, who knew what disaster she might cause—if she tested the Hundred Flower Ring's power here, wouldn't that be the end of everything?

Chen Chuyang's spiritual herbs and spiritual fruit trees were very valuable; not a single one could be damaged. If anyone else damaged them, Chen Chuyang could make them pay until they collapsed—but if it was his mother, if Chen Chuyang dared to trick her, his mother dared to strike.

If she really put on a performance of crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself, Chen Chuyang might even have to cough up some spirit stones for his mother.

Long Ming gave an "oh," then turned to leave. After a few steps, she realized something was off—seemed like something was missing.

She turned around and looked at her younger son. Long Ming suddenly remembered something: this time coming up the mountain, it wasn't for one Spiritual Artifact, but two. She had nearly been tricked by her son—how outrageous.

"Chuyang, did you forget something?"

Chen Chuyang played dumb: "No, didn't I give you the Spiritual Artifact?"

"I mean there's still one Spiritual Artifact short. Where is your father's Spiritual Artifact?"

She wouldn't leave without getting the Spiritual Artifact. She had given her son a reward, and he actually tried to hoodwink her—she had almost fallen for it. This son truly took after her: unwilling to suffer any loss, always trying to trick you at every opportunity. Even she, a veteran of countless battles, had nearly fallen for it—her son's acting had improved.

Long Ming was rather gratified. This was the way it should be—at least this way, her son wouldn't suffer losses, and wouldn't get bullied.

Unlike her eldest son, a block of wood, who wouldn't even know what happened when he got bullied.

"Oh my, if Mother hadn't said it, I would've forgotten—look at this head of mine."

The sparring between the two of them had always been ongoing.

Chen Chuyang wasn't embarrassed either; he found an excuse and brushed it off.

Long Ming shot this son of hers a glare. You really think I'm a fool? You think I'm your father, someone you can hoodwink so easily?

"Hurry up, I'm in a hurry."

"Oh."

Chen Chuyang had no choice but to refine the artifact.

His mother had spoken—if he didn't act now, his mother had plenty of ways to deal with her.

No matter who you offended, never offend Mother—this was the rule of the Chen Clan, and something every member of the Chen Clan knew.

If Chen Yuan wanted you dead, someone could still save you.

If Long Ming wanted you dead, it was over—you were definitely doomed.

Chen Chuyang resumed refining, going at it in one breath.

He opened the Giant Fire Alchemy Furnace and began refining the second Spiritual Artifact. For this refinement, he needed to bring out some of his best hidden treasures—those were his prized collection, some bought with Third Uncle's help, and some swindled from others.

Dharma Protector Jiang Ming was a good person; he had sent over a batch, which came in handy just now.

Gathering all sorts of miscellaneous things together, he assembled the materials and began refining.

For his father, there wasn't as much fuss—unlike his mother, who wanted both practicality and beauty.

Women were different; if it was too ugly, she would have opinions about it. Having taken his mother's gift, he naturally had to do a good job.

Taking money to do the work had always been Chen Chuyang's principle.

He put on another display of fire-control techniques to shock his mother.

The goal was achieved.

This refinement didn't require as much time.

The Formation restraint wasn't as complex either.

A pure attack weapon wasn't as difficult to refine as one that combined offense and defense—the complexity was reduced by half, and the Formation was also very simple.

Before long.

The Alchemy Furnace stopped vibrating, and the flames were gradually controlled at a constant temperature.

The final nourishment.

The sky had grown dark.

Chen Chuyang looked at the sky—without realizing it, he had been refining for a long time.

The wait was long.

After the Alchemy Furnace stabilized, Chen Chuyang waved his hand, and a Spiritual Artifact floated above his palm.

Unlike the Hundred Flower Ring, this Spiritual Artifact was simpler and more brutal—a glove-like shape with sharp claws on it. Five steel claws flickered with a sharp, cold gleam. This was the Spiritual Artifact Chen Chuyang had refined for his father, compatible with the cultivation technique his father practiced.

Lower-grade Spiritual Artifact, Azure Dragon Claw.

Its grade was one tier lower than his mother's Hundred Flower Ring, but in terms of attack power, the Azure Dragon Claw was superior.

This Spiritual Artifact was purely offensive with no defense, fully embodying the characteristics of an attack-type Spiritual Artifact.

The sharpness of the five claws had been enhanced by Chen Chuyang's blessing, capable of breaking through the defense of lower-grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Among Spiritual Artifacts of the same grade, this one was stronger.

It still mainly depended on the user's strength—even the best Spiritual Artifact needed the right master.

"Here."

His mother toyed with the Azure Dragon Claw, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Not pretty, not as good as my Hundred Flower Ring."

Chen Chuyang smiled: "Of course it's not as good as the Hundred Flower Ring—one is a mid-grade Spiritual Artifact, the other is a lower-grade Spiritual Artifact. There's a natural difference in grade, but Spiritual Artifacts can undergo Advancement."

This was a characteristic of Spiritual Artifacts.

It was just that the room for Advancement was limited.

Small grades could be advanced, but large grades were not so easy.

As hard as ascending to heaven.

Dharma artifact, Spiritual Artifact, a one-character difference, a heaven-and-earth difference.

And the holy artifact above is the same; the difference is very great.

The power, too, cannot be compared.

"I have the Spiritual Artifact in hand, Mother—look."

It's dark outside; not suitable to head back.

Chen Chuyang didn't want his mother to risk danger, so he had her stay.

How many rooms are there? Chen Chuyang had built several extra back then, precisely for this.

One room belongs to Shang Hongxue, Chen Chuyang occupies another, and Mother can stay in the third.

Long Ming didn't object, naturally understanding his son's concern.

After a night.

Mother Long Ming went down the mountain.

Chen Chuyang saw his mother off down the mountain and left a mark on her, just in case.

Chen Clan.

Chen Yuan waited all night, exhausted.

His eyes constantly turned outward, looking for his wife's silhouette.

His wife leaving him for the first time left him somewhat unaccustomed.

Finally, he saw his wife return and excitedly went to greet her.

"Dear, you're back? Did you get the Spiritual Artifact?"

Seeing her husband's excitement, Long Ming's face lit up: "Here, this is your Azure Dragon Claw, specially made by your son for you—take a look, are you satisfied?"

Chen Yuan snatched the Azure Dragon Claw, acknowledged it as his, put it on, and stepped out of the courtyard to test it.

After testing it for a while, he was very satisfied.

"What a fine Spiritual Artifact—perfect for me. As expected, my son still understands me."

"Finally I have a proper Spiritual Artifact—from now on, when that old coot Shang Yingnian sees it, he'll have to call me big brother."

From then on, he was Shang Yingnian's elder brother.

With the Azure Dragon Claw in hand, within Longshe Cheng, he had no match.

It's far more usable than the swords and spears he used before.

Chen Yuan tried several weapons, none felt right, so he made do.

The appearance of the Azure Dragon Claw let him find a suitable weapon.

"Dear, where's your Spiritual Artifact?"

Long Ming raised her right hand: "See? The mid‑grade Spiritual Artifact Hundred Flowers Ring, while your Azure Dragon Claw is merely a low‑grade Spiritual Artifact."

I laughed smugly.

I laughed happily.

In my son's heart, I, as his mother, come first; you, as his father, are last.

Chen Yuan stared, a black line on his forehead—both are Spiritual Artifacts, so why such a huge difference?

After seeing his wife's Spiritual Artifact in action, he grew even more envious.

"On what grounds do you treat me differently?"

Long Ming jeered: "Maybe it's because I'm good‑looking."

Chen Yuan: "..."

Long Ming loved seeing her husband embarrassed—without her, this family would have fallen apart long ago.

With me, it merely postpones the breakup by a day.