Blacksmith Appraisal, Level Three

"Are you sure you didn't fill it out wrong?"

Still astonished, Master Cen confirmed it again with Long Yuan and Tang Wulin.

It had been many years since a nine-year-old had come to the Forging Association for a forging master assessment.

In the association's history, the youngest person ever assessed had been eight years and six months old.

That person was now working on the thirtieth floor of the Forging Association's headquarters—the peerless genius forging master, Nice.

"Master, we didn't fill it out wrong!"

Long Yuan replied again. How could they have gotten that wrong?

Strictly speaking, he had not even celebrated his ninth birthday yet.

He was still under nine.

After hearing Long Yuan confirm it again, everyone around them swallowed.

If these two little fellows could pass the forging master rank assessment, it would mean that two more forging masters might be born.

"Master Cen, Test Rooms No. 3 and No. 4 are ready!"

Just then, a staff member came over to report.

"Let's go!"

Master Cen spoke to Long Yuan and Tang Wulin, then led the way. Before long, everyone arrived at Test Rooms No. 3 and No. 4.

The test rooms were next door to each other, each containing a variety of materials.

Standing at the doors of the two rooms, Master Cen said to Long Yuan and Tang Wulin, "There are fifteen types of metal inside. Choose one and forge it to purify it. I'll score you based on the metal you choose and the degree of purification. If you score above sixty, you can advance to First-Level Forging Master!"

"Yes!"

"Alright!"

After hearing Master Cen's instructions, Long Yuan and Tang Wulin began selecting their metals.

"I'll choose this piece of Sinking Silver!"

"I'm choosing a piece of Sinking Silver too!"

Before long, both Long Yuan and Tang Wulin were holding a piece of Sinking Silver.

Its weight and density were both extremely high.

Seeing that both of them had chosen Sinking Silver, Master Cen frowned.

Sinking Silver was difficult to forge. He had not expected them both to choose it, nor had he expected them to carry it over so effortlessly.

It seemed that both of them were quite strong.

"You only have one hour. Within that hour, purify this piece of Sinking Silver as much as possible. When the time comes, I'll give you the appropriate score!"

"Yes!"

After receiving Master Cen's instructions, Long Yuan and Tang Wulin each entered their own room and began.

Tang Wulin entered Room Three, while Long Yuan entered Room Four.

Almost simultaneously, Thousand-Tempered Tungsten Steel Hammers appeared in both their hands.

Bang, bang, bang...

Then they began forging.

The sounds of forging were mysterious and rhythmic.

Just as the two began forging, the soul guide elevator on the third floor of the Forging Association opened, and two people stepped out.

One was a man around forty years old, dignified in appearance and dressed in a gray fitted outfit. He was broad and powerfully built.

A badge hung on the left side of his chest, bearing eight stars to represent his eighth-level professional rank.

The golden hammer shape indicated that he was a forger.

He was an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman forging master.

Beside the middle-aged man stood a young girl who looked thirteen or fourteen years old.

She was tall and beautiful, with bright, spirited eyes.

Her long golden hair was tied into a ponytail, and her fitted clothing made her look exceptionally neat and capable.

"President!"

Seeing the two arrive, the front desk staff hurriedly stood and greeted them respectfully.

"I brought Mu Xi to take the Level Two assessment. Arrange an evaluator!"

This Eight-Star Saint Craftsman was Mu Chen, President of the East Sea City Branch of the Sun Moon Federation Forging Master Association.

"Yes, President!"

After answering, the front desk staff was about to make the arrangements.

"What was that sound?"

At that moment, Mu Chen's brows twitched, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He caught a series of crisp, rapid hammering sounds.

Whether in rhythm, frequency, or tone, they were all exceptionally pleasing to the ear.

"Is someone taking a forging master rank test above Level Four?"

Mu Chen looked at the staff member and asked.

"No!"

A puzzled look appeared on Mu Chen's face. After instructing his daughter to prepare in the testing room, he left.

Following the sound of hammering, he soon arrived at Room Four.

As an eight-star Saint Craftsman, he could tell from the hammering alone that the forging master undergoing the test had entered a state of harmony with the metal.

This so-called harmony was when a forging master resonated with the metal they were forging, entering a wondrous state of fusion.

Under such circumstances, exceptional pieces could often be forged.

However, he did not enter. A test could not be interrupted.

"Who is being tested in Room Three and Room Four?"

The forging in both rooms was quite impressive, especially that in Room Four.

"President, the one in Room Three is called Tang Wulin, while the one in Room Four is called Long Yuan. Both were brought here by Master Cen Yue for testing!"

Still puzzled, the staff member handed Mu Chen their files.

"Nine years old?"

After seeing their ages, a sharp glint flashed through Mu Chen's eyes.

Could a nine-year-old really reach a state of harmony with metal?

"That's right. We didn't believe it either at first, but after confirming it repeatedly, those two boys really are only nine!"

"Beep, beep!"

At that moment, the Soul Guidance Communicator at Mu Chen's waist rang. When he took it off and looked, he saw that Mu Xi was calling.

He gave Room Three a puzzled glance, then had no choice but to head toward Room Six, where his daughter was.

"Time's up!"

Someone called out almost simultaneously in Rooms Three and Four. After delivering their final hammer strikes, Long Yuan and Tang Wulin both stopped.

Tang Wulin was panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead.

Long Yuan, meanwhile, breathed steadily and looked completely at ease.

"Sinking Silver. Purity exceeds Hundred Refinements. Volume reduced by five percent. Purification effect approximately three times that of Hundred Refinements purification."

The assessor entered Room Three and gave precise data on the purity of the Sinking Silver Tang Wulin had forged.

"Assessment passed!"

The assessor looked toward Cen Yue.

"Mm, not bad. This child can take the Second-Level Assessment. I didn't expect that fellow Mang Tian to take in such an outstanding disciple!"

After saying that, Cen Yue signaled for the assessor to evaluate Long Yuan's work in Room Four.

"Sinking Silver. Purity exceeds Thousand Forging. Volume reduced by thirty percent. Purification effect approximately ten times that of Hundred Refinements purification."

Upon hearing those words, the assessor, Cen Yue, and the other staff members all revealed shocked expressions.

"Assessment passed!"

Still stunned, the assessor looked at Cen Yue, his mouth twitching. It seemed a true forging prodigy had arrived.

"Not bad, not bad. He can also take the Second-Level Assessment—perhaps even the third-level one."

Cen Yue said this, still in shock.

"You two, aside from metal purification, what else can you do?"

Cen Yue grew increasingly interested in the two of them. Although there was a considerable gap between Tang Wulin and Long Yuan in forging, Tang Wulin was still an outstanding forging master.

"We can both handle small and medium-sized components, more or less."

Long Yuan glanced at Tang Wulin before answering seriously.

From now on, they would forge at the Forging Masters Association to earn their living expenses.

When it was time to show what they could do, they had to show it.

Opportunities were fleeting.

"You may each forge any medium-sized component you like. If you succeed, you will directly become Second-Level Forging Masters!"

"Yes!"

Afterward, the two began forging medium-sized components.

Some time later, the sounds of forging stopped once more.

"Not bad, not bad. Tang Wulin can be rated as a Second-Level Forging Master."

"Long Yuan, if you want to take part, you can give it a try and see whether you can pass the third-level assessment!"

Looking at the finished medium-sized components made by the two, Cen Yue once again revealed a shocked expression.

He had never expected that both of them had reached the standard of Second-Level Forging Masters.

Long Yuan had far surpassed the level of a Second-Level Forging Master.

After some more time had passed, Long Yuan and Tang Wulin finally walked out of the Forging Masters Association.

"Long Yuan, you're way too amazing! You passed the Third-Level Forging Master assessment just like that and became a genuine Third-Level Forging Master!"

Although Tang Wulin had passed the Second-Level Forging Master assessment, he was still far from the third level.

Seeing Long Yuan leap directly into becoming a Third-Level Forging Master, his face showed envy and jealousy.

It seemed he would have to keep working hard as well.