In through the front gate, out through the front gate.
They were still the same people, yet somehow different.
Every former apprentice wore an irrepressible smile, standing tall in the sunlight and showing off the badge on their chest.
From this day forward, they were artisans—reborn, transformed from the inside out!
It was like swallowing a golden core: my fate was mine to command, not heaven's!
From now on, they counted as People with a capital P among the Embers.
And not just people, but people above people above people above people!
Not only could they rightfully lord it over the apprentices, but starting today, they could reclaim every bit of ass they had sold over the years!
At that thought, these workshop-owned, single-owner artisans in ninety-nine-percent-new condition grinned so hard they could barely keep their legs together.
Ji Jue included.
He didn't think artisans were anything special, but artisans really were something special.
Being allowed into court with sword and shoes, and having one's name omitted from ceremonial announcements, might be a stretch, but looking down on ministers and snubbing princes was certainly no problem.
Even if Xu Chao Xian stood before him someday, smiling and praising his youthful promise while waiting for a handshake, he could keep both hands in his pockets and pay him no damn attention.
Governor? Who's that?
How many materials can he make? How many Masterworks does he have?
Get lost!
When they took the photo, he stood in the most conspicuous spot in the front row, hands on his hips, and enjoyed his moment of triumph.
Once the ceremony ended, however, he disappeared.
As if he had evaporated.
The Association higher-ups waiting outside to grab him and claim him on the spot came up empty. Too late to catch him, they hadn't even