Many more contestants appeared afterward, but most were people Rota had never even heard of. Ning Fengzhi, on the other hand, knew quite a lot and explained many of them to Rota.
"And the final contestant is someone I'm sure everyone knows well, as well as another favorite to win this competition—Master Xinglan! I'm sure everyone has heard of Master Xinglan's works. Every single one is a peerless treasure!"
When Xinglan appeared, Rota had assumed he would be a burly, brawny man. After all, anyone who forged regularly had to be in excellent physical condition, and over time, they would naturally build up plenty of muscle.
But there were exceptions to everything. Perhaps Xinglan was the type who was small and lean yet immensely strong.
Xinglan warmly greeted the surrounding audience. Compared to the rugged style of the other blacksmiths, his gestures seemed far more refined.
"I can't see through him~ This guy really is a monster~" Rota gave his assessment of Xinglan.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi added, "Most of the continent's divine weapons and famed blades came from Master Xinglan's hands. He could be considered a master-level figure in the forging world. I've heard his combat ability is not weak either. He seems to be a Soul Sage."
Rota glanced at Ning Fengzhi beside him. He really knew a lot. "Sect Master Ning's methods of gathering intelligence are truly impressive~"
"No, no. Most of it is just hearsay from the martial world. Some of it may not be very reliable!"
Above the center of the plaza, the host circled the venue on a flying device before continuing, "Now that all contestants are in position, due to the large number of participants, the first round will be an elimination round. Only the top ten may advance to the following rounds!"