Third-Level Assessment

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

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

"Wuyang?"

A gentle voice soon came through the Soul Guidance Communicator.

Tang Wuyang went straight to the point. "Master Cen, my older brother and I want to take the Third-Level Forging Master assessment. Is that possible right 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. His whole body jolted, and he raised his voice in shock.

"Is it not possible?" Tang Wuyang slowed down, disappointment showing in his eyes.

The typhoon was arriving tonight. If they could not do it today, it would probably be even less possible once the typhoon came.

That would ruin Tang Wuyang's original plan, and his burning heart instantly cooled.

"Wait a moment," Cen Yue said gravely.

At that moment, Cen Yue was eating 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, along with his daughter, Mu Xi.

Mu Chen wore a smile. "Who wants to take the third-level assessment? What could make you look so shocked?"

For the Forging Master Association, gaining another Master Level Forging Master was naturally a good thing. Yet the astonishment on Cen Yue's face truly made Mu Chen curious.

Cen Yue's expression was somewhat strange. "You'll 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. "They want to come take the Third-Level Forging Master assessment right now, but it's already rather late. What do you think...?"

Shock flashed through Mu Chen's eyes. He took a deep breath, calmed his surging emotions, and said in a deep voice, "Tell them to come over immediately. The assessment can proceed."

"Alright."

Cen Yue removed the hand covering the receiver. "Wuyang, you and Wulin come over. The president has granted special approval. You can take the assessment now."

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

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 assessment so late? And why do you both look so surprised?"

Mu Chen sighed softly and stroked his daughter's head. "Girl, there is always a higher sky beyond the sky, and someone greater beyond every person."

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

Mu Xi went blank upon hearing that. Then she abruptly shot 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 going back."

"Hearing is falsehood; seeing is truth. Today, we'll personally witness this miracle."

Watching his younger brother put away the Soul Guidance Communicator, Tang Wulin could not help asking, "Wuyang, are you planning to take the third-level assessment right now?"

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

Tang Wulin still did not understand and asked again, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Tang Wuyang said nothing. He simply looked quietly at his older brother.

"Is it because of the Promotion Tournament?" Tang Wulin guessed. Then, as if he had thought of something, he said, "Could it be that you want to..."

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

After a brief pause, Tang Wuyang took a deep breath as though making up his mind before continuing, "Actually, just like you, there's a dragon inside my body too. But mine is a Golden Giant Dragon."

"Like you, I need to break through the seals 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 into astonishment. Thinking of the Golden Scales that had appeared on Wuyang before, he could not help silently blaming himself. Right, Wuyang had displayed those abnormalities before. Weren't those scales Dragon Scales?

He really was an idiot. He had not thought in that direction at all.

Just like him... did that mean Wuyang also needed to buy Spirit Fruit?

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

He had already lost his dad and mom. He could not lose his only younger brother too.

As though sensing his older 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 perfectly well that he would not need any external items for the seals that came afterward either.

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

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

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 older brother would not worry.

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 showed a bright smile. "Don't worry, Brother. I'll always stay with you."

Having figured out the reason, Tang Wulin did not waste any more time. He followed behind Tang Wuyang and began running quickly.

By the time the brothers arrived at the Forging Master Association, the sky was already very dark. Although the association's doors were still open, the lights inside were dim.

It really was late. They must have gotten off work already, right?

Eastsea Academy was not the only place that had received the typhoon warning. Most of the Forging Master Association's staff had also taken an early holiday.

After entering the association's main hall, they found no reception staff. Tang Wuyang pulled Tang Wulin directly into the elevator and went up to the third floor.

The moment the elevator doors opened, they saw a familiar face. The person standing before them was none other than Master Cen Yue.

"Hello, Master Cen. I'm really sorry to disturb you so late." Tang Wuyang had calmed down by then and looked at Cen Yue somewhat apologetically.

Tang Wulin also said with some regret, "We're truly sorry for only saying we wanted to participate in the assessment so late."

Cen Yue stepped forward 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 many questions. He directly led the two of them to the Forging Room for the assessment.

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

That was because there was not only an evaluator inside. They also saw Mu Chen and Mu Xi, father and daughter.

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

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

Seeing her again, Tang Wuyang did not feel much. Tang Wulin, whose personality had always been gentler than Tang Wuyang's, naturally had no particular thoughts either.

On the contrary, Mu Xi stared at them with her beautiful eyes practically spitting fire.

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

Mu Chen smiled. "I believe Cen Yue already told you that since it's rather late, and because of the typhoon, most evaluators have gone home. You can only take the assessment together in this Double Forging Room."

Since they already felt they were causing trouble for everyone, the two naturally agreed repeatedly that it was not a problem.

"Your breaths seem somewhat unsteady. Before the assessment, I suggest you calm yourselves first," Mu Chen advised.

Tang Wulin's heart stirred. "Thank you, President. Wuyang and I will adjust ourselves first. Sorry to keep all the masters waiting."

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

Cen Yue looked at Mu Chen and sent him a sound transmission. "Do you think they can succeed?"

Mu Chen smiled. "Although I've only met these two children a few times, their temperaments are far steadier than those of their peers. If they weren't confident, they probably wouldn't have come."

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

"Let's ask them after they finish the assessment."

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

Cen Yue laughed. "Looks like we guessed about the same thing. So the president has been watching these two little fellows too."

Mu Chen smiled. "These are two peerless genius-level Forging Masters who may emerge from our Eastsea City! As the president, how could I not pay attention to them?"

The brothers did not truly enter a meditative state. Instead, they used the circulation of Soul Power to adjust themselves, gradually relaxing and calming their emotions.

Twenty minutes later, when Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin rose at the same time, both of their breaths had stabilized.

The brothers exchanged smiles. Then Tang Wuyang said, "President, Master Cen, Evaluator, we're ready to begin." They bowed together to the three of them.

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

Mu Xi had been watching 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 her mindset.

After all, Thousand Forging and Hundred Refinements were entirely different concepts. Without true integration and understanding, it was simply impossible to accomplish.

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

"You may choose any type of metal for Thousand Forging. How well you complete it, as well as the difficulty of the metal you choose, will determine your final score."

"Yes!" Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin answered respectfully together before turning and walking to the metal rack beside them.

They had to pass this assessment!

With that thought in mind, Tang Wuyang swept his gaze over the rack before lifting down a block of Sinking Silver.

Although they had not communicated at all, Tang Wulin also chose the same metal at the same time, as though by tacit understanding.

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

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

After several instances of focused integration, the brothers had become extremely familiar with Sinking Silver's structure and the way to communicate with it.

When Mu Chen and Cen Yue saw that the metal they had placed on the Forging Tables was actually Sinking Silver, both were startled.

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

Sinking Silver?

Even Fourth Grade Forging Masters would not dare claim that they could successfully Thousand Forge Sinking Silver every time. This was an extremely difficult Rare Metal to forge!

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

"Although you both refined Sinking Silver during Hundred Refinements, I must remind you that Thousand Forging is completely different from Hundred Refinements. It is not merely a difference in quantity. It is the process of giving a metal a soul. You should think this through carefully."

"We're certain," Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin replied calmly at the same time, standing back-to-back at the Forging Tables on both sides of the room.

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

He skillfully secured the Sinking Silver onto the Forging Table. As it sank, burned, and heated, Tang Wuyang's breathing began to adjust subtly as well.

Everything in the outside world drifted away in that instant. In his eyes and heart, only the block of Sinking Silver on the Forging Table remained.

He seemed able to hear the somewhat heavy breathing of the Sinking Silver amid the flames. He could feel its desire to become stronger, just like his own.

Tang Wuyang spread his hands at his sides, and two dull gray lights appeared. In the next moment, a pair of Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers landed in his hands.

After all these days of Forging, these twin hammers, originally formed through Blood Sacrifice, had long become part of his body. The spiral patterns on their hammer handles fit perfectly against his palms, giving him a flawless feeling of unity.

Mu Chen and Cen Yue had sharp enough eyes that when Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin simultaneously took out their Sinking Silver Hammers, both their expressions stiffened.

How could they not know the weight of Sinking Silver?

To use it as a hammer, it had to at least be a Hundred Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer. The weight of the pairs of hammers in their hands was easy to imagine.

Yet in the brothers' hands, the hammers clearly carried a sense of lifting heavy weights as though they were light.

Holding the Double Hammers, Tang Wuyang silently sensed the aura coming from the Sinking Silver being heated.

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 prelude 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 the nearly trinity-like rhythm of the strikes sent sparks flying from the Sinking Silver. Yet the hearts of the two Forging Masters, Mu Chen and Cen Yue, were struck by sparks as well.

Stacking Hammer? Those were Forging Hammers with a Stacking Hammer effect.

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

At the same time, an entirely different humming sound from Tang Wulin's side suddenly 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, enclosing the Forging Masters within.

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

Inside the other barrier, at the moment Tang Wulin's left-hand hammer struck down, a somewhat unusual buzzing sound rang in the ears of everyone outside the barrier.

After the hammer head contacted the metal, Tang Wulin did not immediately raise his Forging Hammer. Instead, he gently pressed the hammer head against it.

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 seep out from the metal that had been struck.

"Th-this is a Vibration Hammer?" Cen Yue said in a somewhat hoarse voice.

Tang Wulin's hammers were also Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers.

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

Clang, clang, clang! Three more thunderous strikes rang out.

Immediately afterward, Tang Wuyang's pair of Blood Sacrifice Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers began to swing, pounding 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 shrank at a speed discernible to the naked eye.

The Sinking Silver Hammers in Tang Wuyang's hands were incredibly heavy. Combined with the Stacking Hammer effect, a single blow produced more than the effect of ten blows from Thousand Refinements Tungsten Steel Hammers.

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

Only these Sinking Silver Hammers could bring out their true strength.

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

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

And the effect of those two pairs of Forging Hammers striking the Sinking Silver was enough to reveal the weight of the hammers themselves.

Yet Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin controlled their respective pairs of Forging Hammers as naturally as if they were extensions of their arms.

How much strength did that require?

What was laughable was that she had once tried to block the two of them at the academy, intending to make them compete against her in Forging.

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