Prove It with the Future

In Room Six on the fifth floor, Tang Chenfeng's forging was nearing its end.

Boom! As the Forging Hammer delivered its final blow, a streak of silver light rose from the Magic Silver. The radiance instantly filled the entire forging room, dyeing everything in everyone's eyes silver. The Thousand Forging of the Magic Silver was complete.

The Star God Forging Hammer in Tang Chenfeng's hand fell naturally. Blue light flashed, and it merged back into his arm.

Tang Chenfeng looked at his work, feeling quite satisfied. Thousand Forging was already very easy for him now, but this attempt had still turned out particularly well. All that remained was to wait for the evaluator's score.

However, the forging room fell silent. Both Du Wei and the evaluator wore strange expressions.

Amid this strange atmosphere, Du Wei spoke first. "Sorry, Chenfeng. Your forging exceeded expectations. It was an exceptional Thousand Forging, undoubtedly among the finest of its kind. But because you cheated, I can only give you zero points."

Tang Chenfeng's face changed drastically. "What? Cheating? Master Du, I didn't cheat!"

Du Wei's expression darkened. "The Blacksmith Association's rules state that anyone taking a blacksmith examination must use their own Forging Hammer. But that hammer clearly isn't something someone your age could possess. From the sound it made during your forging just now, I could tell that you used a Soul-Forged Hammer. Only a Level 5 Blacksmith or above could achieve that."

Tang Chenfeng understood. The Star God Forging Hammer was indeed his, but it was still a Soul-Forged Hammer. By common sense, it truly was not something a child should possess.

Du Wei continued, "I don't know where you got that Forging Hammer, but cheating is not a good thing. Chenfeng, I can give you another chance. Use your own Forging Hammer and take the examination again. As long as you pass, I won't pursue this matter."

The evaluator beside him frowned upon hearing that, but said nothing.

Ye Hongling had also been nervous when she heard the accusation, but the moment Du Wei said there was still a chance, she let out a huge sigh of relief.

Unexpectedly, Tang Chenfeng said, "I'm sorry, Master, but I refuse to retake the test."

The atmosphere, which had only just calmed down somewhat, immediately became tense again.

Du Wei's expression darkened even further. "Chenfeng, you need to understand that giving you a chance to retake the test is already an act of leniency outside the rules. Normally, your examination qualifications would be revoked. Why refuse?"

Tang Chenfeng said firmly, "Master Du Wei, just as you said, if I had cheated, then even if my examination qualifications were revoked, I would accept it willingly. But I know that I didn't cheat. All of this is the result of my own hard work. I don't need to deny my own efforts."

Tang Chenfeng had his own convictions, because he knew this was the fruit of his labor. To him, denying his hard work was no different from denying himself.

But clearly, neither Du Wei nor the evaluator would believe that a child could complete Soul Forging. To them, that was not something they could accept in such a short time. At that moment, their faces seemed to be covered by a layer of gloom.

Du Wei sighed deeply. "Lying is not a good quality, nor should it be used here. Tang Chenfeng, if you insist on this, I can only revoke your examination qualifications..."

"Big Brother really isn't lying!" Ye Hongling cried from the side. Tears were already welling up in her eyes. She had always seen how hard Tang Chenfeng worked at forging. He was not only Ye Hongling's wonderful big brother; she also held feelings for him that she could not yet describe clearly. Now Tang Chenfeng was being accused and wronged, yet she could do nothing. That feeling was certainly unbearable.

Du Wei saw it and felt uncomfortable as well. Just as he was about to say something, the evaluator patted his shoulder, then leaned close and whispered something into his ear.

Du Wei hesitated for a moment before nodding lightly. Turning to Tang Chenfeng, he said, "Tang Chenfeng, if you can prove that this Forging Hammer was truly made by you, then I will withdraw the zero score and give you the corresponding blacksmith rank badge."

Seeing hope, Tang Chenfeng immediately asked, "Then what method should I use?"

Du Wei said, "Your Forging Hammer is a Quasi-Soul Forging item, close to Soul Forging. If you can forge another piece of Quasi-Soul-Forged Metal, that will prove your own ability. Then you will naturally pass the examination."

This truly put Tang Chenfeng in a difficult position. Previously, he had nearly risked his life and exhausted all his strength to forge the Soul Forged Star God Hammer. His greatest advantage at the time, Divine Sense, could not be used for now. Even he could not say whether he would succeed if he tried to forge another one.

Just as the room was about to fall silent again, the forging room's door suddenly opened.

"No need to try again. I'll prove it for him!" The tall, burly figure and that deep, rich voice were both familiar to the brother and sister.

"Teacher Zhao, that's wonderful! You're here!" Ye Hongling shouted excitedly.

"President Zhao." Du Wei and the evaluator greeted him respectfully together.

Zhao Gaobo nodded in return, then said to Du Wei, "Du Wei, I can prove that every word Tang Chenfeng said is true. Though it is difficult to believe, he forged that Soul-Forged Hammer bit by bit right before my eyes. That time, he nearly lost his life. Forging that surpasses one's own limits cannot be attempted again in the short term. I can guarantee this with my reputation as a Divine Craftsman, so don't make things difficult for him."

Zhao Gaobo held an extremely high position in the Blacksmith Association. If he said one, no one there would dare say two. Furthermore, he had used his reputation as a Divine Craftsman as a guarantee, making everyone even more certain of Tang Chenfeng's importance in his eyes.

Du Wei hesitated before finally saying, "Since you have personally said so, President, I have no reason to refuse."

"Wait, Master Du, I..."

Just as Tang Chenfeng was about to say something, Zhao Gaobo released a wave of pressure aimed specifically at him, forcibly suppressing his voice. Zhao Gaobo was also signaling with his eyes for him not to speak yet.

Tang Chenfeng truly understood what it meant to have grievances he could not voice. At the same time, bitterness and hurt rose in his heart. The feeling of not being acknowledged or understood by others was truly painful.

Tang Chenfeng wanted to prove himself, but he also knew that, just as Teacher Zhao had said, he could no longer attempt that kind of forging that surpassed his own limits in his current state. Tang Chenfeng still had injuries left over from before. Even if he forced himself to try now, he would probably only fail.

After one twist after another, the final result was that Zhao Gaobo used his status to guarantee Tang Chenfeng's claim and secured him a blacksmith rank badge, while Ye Hongling received her own designer badge.

However, because Tang Chenfeng's blacksmith examination had been verified through Zhao Gaobo's assistance, it did not comply with the Blacksmith Association's rules and could even be considered a violation of them. Therefore, he only received the basic Level Two Badge. Because of all the earlier issues, the Master Maker examination naturally fell through, and he received no certification for it.

Ye Hongling, on the other hand, did well. She received a Level Three Designer Badge and broke the association's records for both the youngest examinee and the youngest Level Three Designer. It could be said that she gained both fame and recognition. Tang Chenfeng should have received the same, but it was erased as the price of breaking the rules.

The three of them walked out of the association's gates, but there was none of the joy that should have been there. Only the sound of the wind was clearly audible.

After a brief period of dejection, Tang Chenfeng spoke first. "I'm sorry, Teacher Zhao. I disappointed you this time."

Zhao Gaobo shook his head. "It isn't entirely your fault. I bear some responsibility too. I valued your talent and always hoped you could continue growing strong, but I forgot that the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be struck by the wind."

"But fortunately, I can still help you through this difficulty now. That may not be the case in the future. Chenfeng, you must also learn to keep a low profile outside the academy. Before you enter the next stage, try to draw as little attention as possible. Ye Hongling, the same goes for you."

The two of them nodded.

Tang Chenfeng then took out the blacksmith badge he had just received. Looking at it, he could not help feeling disappointed.

I had wanted to get at least a Level Three Blacksmith Badge. Tang Chenfeng thought.

Suddenly, Tang Chenfeng felt his left arm grow heavy. Looking over, he saw that Ye Hongling had somehow come over and wrapped her arms around it.

"Big Brother, it's okay. In my eyes, you're the best. Because you're my brother, you're the most outstanding person I know."

Looking at his beloved little sister, much of the loneliness in Tang Chenfeng's heart immediately faded.

"Yes, Ling'er, you're right. I promise that I will keep being the best person in your heart. Then I will tell the entire world that I am worthy of this promise."

As Zhao Gaobo watched the two of them, familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar faces and memories gradually surfaced in his heart. It was as though the figures of the two children before him overlapped with those two people from his memories.

"Yes, they are so alike. Then use the future to prove yourselves to the world, children."