Testing for Third-Level Forging Master

Tang Wuyang pulled Tang Wulin not only out of the cafeteria, but straight out of the academy as well.

He took out his Soul Guidance Communicator and dialed one of the few numbers stored in it.

"Wuyang?"

A gentle voice soon came through the Soul Guidance Communicator.

Tang Wuyang got straight to the point. "Master Cen, my brother and I want to take the Third-Level Forging Master assessment. Can we do it now?"

On the other end of the Soul Guidance Communication was Cen Yue, a Master Craftsman Level Forging Master.

"It's too late now. Wait, what did you say? Third-Level Forging Master!"

Cen Yue had not reacted at first, but he quickly realized what Tang Wuyang had said and raised his voice in shock.

"Is that not possible?" Tang Wuyang slowed down, disappointment appearing in his eyes.

The typhoon was due to arrive tonight. If they could not do it today, it would probably be even less possible once the typhoon arrived.

Then Tang Wuyang's original plan would fall through, and his once-burning heart immediately cooled.

"Wait a moment," Cen Yue said gravely.

At that moment, Cen Yue was having dinner at a restaurant. He was not alone. Sitting across from him were Mu Chen, the president of the Eastsea City Forging Master Association and a Saint Craftsman Level Forging Master, as well as his daughter, Mu Xi.

Mu Chen smiled. "Who wants to take the third-level assessment to make you look so shocked?"

For the Forging Master Association, gaining another Master Level Forging Master was naturally a good thing. Yet the shock on Cen Yue's face had truly piqued Mu Chen's curiosity.

Cen Yue's expression was somewhat subtle. "You would never guess. It's those two little fellows."

"Who?" Mu Chen froze, but two childish faces surfaced in his mind.

Cen Yue nodded at him. "The two of them want to take the Third-Level Forging Master assessment now, but it is rather late. What do you think..."

Shock flashed through Mu Chen's eyes. He took a deep breath, calmed his turbulent emotions, and said solemnly, "Tell them to come over right away. The assessment can proceed."

"Alright."

Cen Yue removed his hand from the receiver. "Wuyang, you and Wulin come over. The president has specially approved it. You can take the assessment now."

Tang Wuyang's slightly excited voice came through the receiver. "Alright, we'll head over now."

Mu Xi looked at her father, then at Cen Yue in confusion. "Dad, what are you talking about? Who would come take a Third-Level Forging Master assessment this late? And why do you both look so surprised?"

Mu Chen sighed softly and stroked his daughter's head. "Girl, there is always someone greater out there."

"The ones coming to take the assessment are Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang, those two little fellows!"

Mu Xi went blank for a moment before abruptly rising to her feet. "No, that's impossible! How old are they? How could they possibly take the Third-Level Forging Master assessment? Third level requires Thousand Forging!"

Mu Chen said to Cen Yue, "Pay the bill. We're heading back."

"Hearing is unreliable. Seeing is believing. Today, we'll witness this miracle for ourselves."

Seeing his younger brother put away the Communication Soul Tool, Tang Wulin could not help asking, "Wuyang, are you planning to take the third-level assessment now?"

Faced with his older brother's confusion, Tang Wuyang nodded firmly.

Tang Wulin still did not understand and asked again, "Why the rush?"

Tang Wuyang said nothing and simply looked quietly at his brother.

"Is it because of the Promotion Tournament?" Tang Wulin guessed. Then he seemed to realize something. "Could it be that you want to..."

Tang Wuyang said with a serious expression, "Brother, you guessed right."

After a slight pause, Tang Wuyang took a deep breath as if making up his mind before continuing. "Actually, just like you, I have a dragon inside me. Only mine is a Golden Giant Dragon."

"Like you, I need to break through the Seal inside my body within a certain amount of time, or my life will be in danger."

The confusion in Tang Wulin's eyes instantly turned to astonishment. Thinking of the Golden Scales that had appeared on Wuyang before, he could not help silently blaming himself. Right, Wuyang had shown abnormalities before. Weren't those scales dragon scales?

I'm such an idiot. How did I never think of that?

Just like himself... did that mean Wuyang also needed to buy Spirit Fruits?

Thinking about how Wuyang had given all his savings to him earlier, Tang Wulin's face went pale.

He had already lost his father and mother. He could not lose his only younger brother too.

As if sensing his brother's thoughts, Tang Wuyang smiled faintly and comforted him. "Brother, don't worry. Unlike you, I don't need Spirit Items."

"I don't know about the later Seals yet, but at least I don't need anything for the First Seal."

Tang Wuyang was actually lying here. He knew full well that he did not need any external items for the later Seals either.

But he could not reveal the Golden Dragon King's divine sense, nor could he explain that the Seals inside his body had been replaced.

After all, before the Golden Dragon King's divine sense dissipated, it had specifically told him to keep its existence secret. He could not reveal it even to his closest family.

Thinking of the promise he had made to the Golden Dragon King's divine sense, Tang Wuyang could only silently apologize to Tang Wulin in his heart so that his brother would not be troubled.

After learning that his younger brother did not need Spirit Items, some color finally returned to Tang Wulin's pale face. Still, he could not help reminding him, "Wuyang, if you ever need Spirit Items in the future, you must tell me. I don't want to lose you too."

Tang Wuyang revealed a brilliant smile. "Don't worry, Brother. I'll always stay by your side."

Having figured out the reason, Tang Wulin stopped wasting time. He followed behind Tang Wuyang and quickly started running.

By the time the brothers reached the Forging Master Association, the sky had already grown dark. Although the association's doors were still open, the lights inside were dim.

It really is late. They must be off work already, right?

Eastsea Academy was not the only place to receive the typhoon warning. Most of the Forging Master Association staff had also been given leave in advance.

After entering the association lobby and finding no receptionist, Tang Wuyang pulled Tang Wulin directly into the elevator and went to the third floor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, they saw a familiar face standing before them. Wasn't it Master Cen Yue?

"Hello, Master Cen. I'm truly sorry to trouble you so late," Tang Wuyang said. Having calmed down by now, he looked somewhat embarrassed.

Tang Wulin also said apologetically, "We're really sorry for only saying we wanted to take the assessment so late."

Cen Yue walked over and patted their shoulders. "It's nothing. Being able to witness two miracles makes it worthwhile no matter how late it is. Let's go."

Cen Yue did not ask further questions and directly led them to the assessment Forging Room.

The moment they entered the Forging Room, both brothers were startled.

There was not only an assessor inside. Mu Chen and Mu Xi were there as well.

"President? Hello, President." Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin hurriedly bowed to Mu Chen, then said in unison to Mu Xi, "Hello, Senior Sister."

After the incident involving Mu Xi last time, she had never come looking for trouble with them again.

Seeing her again, Tang Wuyang felt nothing in particular. Tang Wulin, who was naturally gentler than Tang Wuyang, had even fewer thoughts about it.

Mu Xi, on the other hand, looked at the two of them with fire practically shooting from her beautiful eyes.

These two guys were actually going to take the Third-Level Forging Master assessment? How was that possible?

Mu Chen smiled. "I believe Cen Yue has already explained. Since it is rather late, and because of the typhoon, most of the assessors have gone home. You can only take the assessment together in this Double Forging Room."

Since they already felt they were inconveniencing everyone, the two naturally assured them repeatedly that they had no problem with it.

"Your auras seem a little unstable. Before the assessment, I suggest that you calm yourselves down first," Mu Chen advised.

Tang Wulin's heart stirred. "Thank you, President. Wuyang and I will adjust ourselves first. Please wait a moment, Masters."

As he spoke, he sat cross-legged on the spot with Tang Wuyang and entered Meditation.

Cen Yue looked at Mu Chen and transmitted his voice to him. "Do you think they can succeed?"

Mu Chen smiled. "Although I have only met these two children a few times, they are much steadier than others their age. If they were not confident, they would not have come."

"Besides, they were so anxious to find you today. There must be some other reason, or they would not have come for the assessment at night."

"Let's ask them after they finish."

"Also, I've noticed that the Second Rank Forging Tasks they have completed recently have become increasingly difficult. They are basically at the limit of what a Second Rank Forging Master can achieve."

Cen Yue smiled. "Our guesses were about the same. So the president, like me, has been keeping an eye on these two little fellows all along!"

Mu Chen laughed. "These are two peerless genius Forging Masters who may one day leave Eastsea City behind! As the president, how could I not pay attention to them?"

The brothers had not truly entered a meditative state. Instead, they used their control over Soul Power to adjust themselves, gradually relax, and calm their emotions.

Twenty minutes later, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin rose at the same time, their auras completely steady.

The brothers exchanged smiles. Then Tang Wuyang said, "President, Master Cen, Master Assessor, we are ready to begin." Both of them bowed to the three men.

Compared to when they had first arrived, their auras had completely calmed. Not only were their auras steady, but their gazes had become peaceful as well.

Mu Xi watched coldly from the side. Although she was deeply unconvinced by these two little fellows, who were younger than her yet received more attention than she did.

She had to admit that both of them possessed better mental composure than she did.

If it were her taking the third-level assessment, she would definitely need more time to calm herself.

After all, Thousand Forging and Hundred Refinements were completely different concepts. Without true immersion and understanding, it was fundamentally impossible to accomplish.

The assessor said, "The Third-Level Forging Master assessment has only one requirement: Thousand Forging."

"You may choose any metal to complete Thousand Forging. The degree of completion and the difficulty of the metal you choose will determine your final score."

"Yes!" Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin answered respectfully in unison, then turned and walked to the metal rack beside them.

We have to pass this assessment!

With that thought in mind, Tang Wuyang swept his gaze over the rack and took down a piece of Sinking Silver.

Although they had not communicated at all, Tang Wulin tacitly chose the same metal at the same time.

Among Rare Metals, Sinking Silver was what they knew best. It was also the first material they had successfully Thousand Forged.

Although in terms of quality, this Rare Metal was more difficult to forge than many other metals.

After several focused immersions, the brothers had become extremely familiar with Sinking Silver's structure and how to communicate with it.

When Mu Chen and Cen Yue saw that the two had actually placed Sinking Silver on the forging tables, both were startled.

Mu Xi's eyes flashed with anger. These two guys were far too arrogant.

Sinking Silver?

Even Fourth Grade Forging Masters would not dare say they could successfully Thousand Forge Sinking Silver every time. It was an exceptionally difficult Rare Metal to forge!

The assessor kindly reminded them, "Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang, are you sure you both want to choose this?"

"Although you both used Sinking Silver for purification during Hundred Refinements, I must remind you that Thousand Forging and Hundred Refinements are completely different. It is not a simple difference in quantity. It is the process of giving a soul to metal. You should think this through carefully."

"We're sure." Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin answered calmly at the same time, standing back-to-back at forging tables on opposite sides of the room.

Yet their gazes remained fixed on the Sinking Silver before them.

Skillfully securing the Sinking Silver onto the forging table, Tang Wuyang began heating it. As it was burned and warmed, he also began subtly adjusting his breathing.

Everything in the outside world faded away at that moment. In his eyes and heart, only the piece of Sinking Silver on the forging table remained.

He seemed able to hear the somewhat heavy breathing of the Sinking Silver as it was heated. He could feel its desire to grow stronger, just like his own.

Tang Wuyang spread his hands to either side, and two dim gray lights appeared. The next moment, a pair of Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers fell into his hands.

After all these days of Forging, this pair of hammers, originally created through Blood Sacrifice, had long become part of his body. The spiral patterns on the handles fit perfectly against his palms, creating a flawless sensation of unity.

Mu Chen and Cen Yue possessed keen eyesight. When Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin both took out Sinking Silver Hammers, their gazes froze simultaneously.

How could they not know the weight of Sinking Silver?

To use it as a hammer required at least Hundred Refinements Sinking Silver. The weight of the hammer pairs in the brothers' hands was obvious.

Yet in their hands, the hammers seemed as light as if they weighed nothing.

Holding the twin hammers, Tang Wuyang silently felt the aura emanating from the heated Sinking Silver.

Suddenly, he lightly pressed the button on the forging table with his right-hand hammer, and the Sinking Silver block, already burned dark red, slowly rose.

There was no buildup at all. Tang Wuyang's left-hand hammer had already swung out.

Clang, clang, clang!

Three crisp strikes rang through the entire Forging Room.

The deafening booms and nearly perfectly unified strikes sent sparks flying from the Sinking Silver. Yet the hearts of Mu Chen and Cen Yue, the two Forging Masters, were struck with sparks as well.

Stacking Hammer? Those were Forging Hammers with the Stacking Hammer effect!

Thousand Forging! The Sinking Silver Hammers in his hands were actually Thousand Forged?

At the same moment, an entirely different buzzing sound from Tang Wulin's side abruptly drew the attention of Cen Yue and Mu Chen, who had been watching Tang Wuyang.

Unlike the Double Forging Room they had used at Mang Tian's Workshop, the Soul Tools used for isolation in the Forging Master Association's Double Forging Room were clearly more advanced. They directly formed two circular protective barriers around the Forging Masters.

What was even more different was that sounds from inside the barriers could travel outside, while outside sounds were completely blocked.

Within the other barrier, the instant Tang Wulin's left-hand hammer fell, a somewhat strange buzzing sound rang in the ears of everyone outside it.

After the hammer struck the metal, Tang Wulin did not immediately raise it. Instead, he pressed the hammerhead lightly against the surface.

With Mu Chen and Cen Yue's eyesight, they could clearly see that the Forging Hammer in Tang Wulin's hand was vibrating minutely and rapidly.

At the same time, fine powder seemed to be seeping out from the metal that had received the blow.

"Th-this is Vibration Hammer?" Cen Yue said, his voice somewhat hoarse.

The hammer in Tang Wulin's hand was also a Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer.

Moreover, it possessed the Vibration Hammer effect, which was just as rare as Stacking Hammer!

Clang, clang, clang! Another three thunderous strikes rang out.

Immediately after, Tang Wuyang's pair of Blood Sacrifice Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers began to dance, crashing down on the Sinking Silver block before him like a raging storm.

Under the powerful Stacking Hammer effect of the Blood Sacrifice Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers, the Sinking Silver before him visibly began shrinking.

The Sinking Silver Hammers in Tang Wuyang's hands were immensely heavy. Combined with the Stacking Hammer effect, a single blow was equivalent to more than ten strikes from a Thousand Refinements Tungsten Steel Hammer.

Although Mang Tian had warned the two of them not to casually reveal their Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers before others, they could no longer worry about that in order to ensure success in this assessment.

Only this pair of Sinking Silver Hammers could bring out their true strength.

After Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin each swung their three hammers, Mu Xi was already staring in shock.

As the daughter of a Saint Craftsman, how could she not know what Stacking Hammer and Vibration Hammer meant?

And the effects produced when those two pairs of Forging Hammers struck the Sinking Silver were enough to reveal the weight of the hammers themselves.

Yet Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's control over their respective hammer pairs had already reached the point where they wielded them as naturally as their own limbs.

How much strength did that require?

The laughable thing was that she had once tried to block their way at the academy and use that chance to make them compete against her in Forging.

Based on the Forging abilities they displayed before her, whether in their understanding of Sinking Silver or their control over strength, how could she possibly compare to them?