A whole block of Sinking Silver gradually shrank beneath Tang Wuyang's forging, which was as fierce as a storm yet as steady as a mountain.
The silver glow on the Sinking Silver gradually vanished, replaced by clusters of deep, dark cloud patterns.
Tang Wuyang's heart was calm, still as water.
At this moment, he cast every other emotion to the back of his mind.
Only when he forged with complete devotion could he enter this state.
His mind and heart became one. He forged the metal before him, and he forged his own Spirit Power as well.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang..."
Each hammer strike was faster and heavier than the last, yet every blow landed with flawless precision.
There was no need to pause and adjust. The pair of Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers seemed like two masses of silver light, enveloping the Sinking Silver as they continuously pressed, condensed, compressed, and refined it.
It had been more than three months since his last successful Thousand Forging. This was Tang Wuyang's first attempt at another Thousand Forging in all that time.
Three months of accumulated effort, three months of cultivating his Soul Power and controlling his strength, three months of growth—all of it erupted in this single forging session.
"Boom, boom, boom!" The final strike came from his right-hand hammer.
After three explosive roars, the block of Sinking Silver had shrunk by a full third.
The dark red color vanished almost instantly, replaced by dark cloud patterns that seemed ready to burst forth.
Tang Wuyang's forehead and body were drenched in sweat. He lightly swung the Sinking Silver Hammers in his hands, withdrew his strength, and they turned into two streaks of light that entered the bracelets on his wrists.
The thunderous echoes of metal being struck still reverberated through the room. Inside the Forging Room, only Tang Wulin's hammering continued.
Too fast. It had been far too fast.
From the start of the forging to its completion, it had taken only half an hour.
That was Sinking Silver! A block of Sinking Silver with such density had been Thousand Forged in such a short time.
The evaluator did not even need to step forward for a closer inspection. With his expertise, he could give this piece of Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver full marks. The dark cloud patterns present everywhere already explained everything.
Tang Wulin stopped at that moment as well and put away the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers in his hands.
"Stacking Hammer and Vibration Hammer. Both pairs have top-tier special effects. Mang Tian truly spared no expense!" Cen Yue praised.
Mu Chen looked at Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin. The focus in their eyes was gradually fading.
"You forged these two pairs of Forging Hammers yourselves, didn't you?" Mu Chen asked.
"Mm." Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin nodded. Immediately afterward, both regretted it. They should not have gone against their teacher's instructions, but it was already too late.
Mu Chen smiled. "Only a weapon forged by oneself and subjected to Blood Sacrifice can achieve such compatibility."
"Congratulations. From this moment onward, you are both Third-Level Forging Masters."
There was no longer any need for the evaluator to provide scores. In truth, he had no way to score them.
Even in a Fourth Grade Forging Master examination, such Thousand Forging would earn full marks for the basic assessment. They would only need to complete the evaluations for other techniques.
Of course, testing for a Fourth Grade Forging Master required more than Thousand Forging one kind of metal. They had to consecutively Thousand Forge three association-designated metals and forge each into specified forms to pass. With Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's current strength and Soul Power, they still could not manage that.
Tang Wuyang let out a long breath and said together with Tang Wulin, "Thank you, President."
Mu Chen smiled. "There is no need to thank me. The association did not train you. Everything you possess came through your own hard work. I am fortunate that you are in Eastsea City."
"From now on, you are Third-Level Forging Masters—Master-level Forging Masters."
"Though I do not want you to become arrogant because of this, I still have to tell you that you are the youngest Third-Level Forging Masters in the history of the continent."
Tang Wuyang froze upon hearing that. Only then did he understand why their teacher had always been unwilling to let them take the Third-Level examination.
Mu Chen said, "As holders of this honor, the East Sea City Branch will also be honored because of you."
"If you ever need the association's help, we will assist you within our capabilities."
The brothers exchanged a glance. Then Tang Wulin took out two cards. "President, I want to buy a few things to improve myself, but the auction house has already closed. Does the association's trading area have them?"
Mu Chen asked, "What do you want to buy?"
Tang Wulin hesitated for a moment. "A Hundred Year Kongling Fruit and five drops of Hundred Year Soul Beast blood with a Dragon Bloodline."
The reason Tang Wuyang had been so eager to drag his brother over for the Third-Level assessment was so that, during the week by which the Promotion Tournament had been postponed, they could attempt to break through the First Seal within their bodies.
Unlike Tang Wulin, he did not need Spirit Items. Combined with his savings, the Federation Coins on his brother should have been enough to purchase those two Spirit Items.
Mu Chen looked deeply into Tang Wulin's eyes. "Spirit Fruits may have adverse effects on the body. Do you know that?"
Tang Wulin said, "I know. I am confident."
Mu Chen nodded. "Fine. The association will give you those two items."
"As for their value, you can pay it off with your task rewards."
Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. "Thank you, President."
The brothers waited at the Forging Master Association for less than half an hour before Mu Chen handed Tang Wulin a box and a small bottle.
After receiving them, Tang Wulin carefully put both items away.
After bowing to Mu Chen together, they followed Cen Yue to accept a task each that only Third-Level Forging Masters could complete. Only then did they leave the Forging Master Association under Cen Yue's watchful gaze.
After watching them leave, Cen Yue turned around and entered the association again. He went straight to the top floor and entered the office of Mu Chen, president of the Eastsea City Forging Master Association.
Seeing Cen Yue, Mu Chen smiled. "I knew you would come looking for me."
"President, won't giving him those two items directly make things too easy for him?"
"Young people may not know how to cherish things they obtain too easily."
"Besides, the association has already given them quite a lot of preferential treatment. This may not be beneficial to their growth." Cen Yue spoke with some hesitation.
Mu Chen smiled faintly. "Those two items should be what Wulin urgently needs right now."
"Didn't you notice? It was not only Wulin. Wuyang also seemed rather anxious today. They are still young; they cannot fake that."
"That means Wulin needs those two items very badly. Though he should have enough money, he had no way to obtain them."
"That is why the two of them were so eager to become Third-Level Forging Masters, so they could accept higher-level tasks and gain higher income and greater authority to purchase them."
"I merely used my authority. It is equivalent to temporarily lending those two items to Wulin. With the talent and potential those two possess, the association will not lose out."
"Besides, you should have noticed how easily they completed the Third-Level assessment."
"With your standards as a Level Six Forging Master, how long would it take you to complete a Thousand Forging of Sinking Silver? With your Soul Power Cultivation and extensive experience, could you be twice as fast as them?"
Cen Yue answered without hesitation, "No. I have to admit, these two little fellows are true geniuses."
"At such a young age, they can actually enter a state of merging with metal and focus completely. Not once during the entire forging process did they leave that state. Their future path into Spirit Forging will surely be extremely smooth."
"With their innate divine strength, even if they are limited by Soul Power in the future, they can at least reach the standards of a Level Six Forging Master. They will definitely surpass Mang Tian."
Seeing the trace of envy in Cen Yue's eyes, Mu Chen smiled. "Not just you. Even I am somewhat jealous of Mang Tian. He truly found two peerless geniuses!"
"These two children have excellent foundations and exceptional gifts. Do you think they would fail to cherish something merely because they obtained it easily? I am not worried about that. The reason is simple.
"The fact that they can so easily enter that focused state of comprehending metal proves that these two children possess a composure far beyond that of their peers."
"Although I do not know why that little fellow Wulin needs those two items, the way he looked at me showed that he was absolutely confident."
"So, I believe those two items will definitely be of great help to him."
At this point, Mu Chen paused slightly. He looked seriously at Cen Yue and said in a deep voice, "The existence of these two children must be kept secret. We absolutely cannot let the other branches learn of them. I am counting on them to shine brilliantly at the headquarters in the future and bring glory to our East Sea City Branch."
Cen Yue laughed heartily. "Rest assured, President. I have already instructed the relevant personnel."
A cunning glint flashed through Mu Chen's eyes. "I know exactly what Mang Tian is thinking. Those two little fellows, Wuyang and Wulin, must have reached the Thousand Forging level some time ago."
"Mang Tian must have told them to keep it hidden. His goal must also be for them to astonish everyone in the future, become Holy Craftsman Level Forging Masters, and enter the realm of Soul Forging."
"They are the forging prodigies I have seen in the past thirty years who are most likely to challenge Heavenly Forging in the future and become God Craftsmen of their generation!"
The brothers had no idea that Mu Chen held them in such high regard. After leaving the association, they did not return to the academy. Instead, they headed straight for the workshop not far from the association.
Tang Wuyang did not know what exactly would happen after the Seal was lifted.
Even now, he did not know whether the Seal inside his body truly existed.
This was an attempt, and he did not want anything unusual to happen and cause unnecessary trouble.
Tang Wulin thought the same way.
Thus, the brothers immediately agreed. Neither planned to return directly to the academy, and they headed straight for the Forging Workshop.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
The gale howled. The leading edge of the typhoon had already made landfall in Eastsea City, and bean-sized raindrops came pouring down alongside the violent wind.
When Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin rushed into the workshop, the world outside had already gone dark, with wind and rain raging together.
As Tang Wuyang forcefully shut the door, Tang Wulin, who had entered first, went to check the windows in the room.
After finishing, both of them let out long breaths. They walked to the doors of their respective Forging Rooms, encouraged each other, and stepped inside.
Tang Wuyang sat cross-legged directly in the center of the Forging Room. Just as he was about to enter a state of Meditation, he suddenly heard a series of beeps from his Communication Soul Tool.
"Hello, who is this?" Seeing the unfamiliar number, Tang Wuyang asked politely.
"Wuyang, I heard from Xie Xie that you still haven't returned to the dormitory? The typhoon is here already. Are you all right? Where are you now?" Gu Yue's voice was somewhat unclear because of the typhoon.
Tang Wuyang said, "I'm fine. The typhoon started after my brother and I finished our business at the Forging Master Association. We're still at the Forging Workshop."
"The wind and rain outside are too strong, so we won't be returning for now. We can finish some Forging Tasks here while we wait."
The powerful wind kept battering the windows, producing loud banging sounds. Listening to Gu Yue's concerned words through the Soul Guidance Communicator, Tang Wuyang could not help feeling a trace of warmth in his heart.
"All right. When the typhoon weakens, hurry back! Be careful."
"Mm, okay."
After ending the call, Tang Wuyang closed his eyes and focused as much as possible, entering a state of Meditation.
He recalled what the Golden Dragon King's divine sense had said before: "To break the Seal, you must first absorb the energy surrounding that Seal. Then, combine the energy you have absorbed with your Soul Power and use them together to strike the Seal Barrier."
Tang Wuyang squeezed out the energy from the First Seal, absorbing it completely like a bottomless pit.
After finishing the absorption, he did not rest. Instead, he immediately mobilized his Soul Power and struck at the First Seal.
After several impacts, the First Seal was already covered in cracks and seemed on the verge of collapse.
The instant the Seal broke open, an indescribably strange sensation surged from every corner of Tang Wuyang's body.
It felt as though his blood were boiling, as if every pore were releasing hot steam. The sudden, searing heat made Tang Wuyang let out a pained groan, and he nearly failed to remain seated.
The heat surged as if he had been thrown into a furnace. Sweat poured from him, and Tang Wuyang's body began trembling violently beyond his control.
Starting from his forehead, faint golden patterns resembling a net slowly emerged and spread throughout his entire body.
At first, these diamond-shaped golden patterns were blurry, but they gradually became distinct. Meanwhile, Tang Wuyang himself turned as red as a cooked crayfish.
So hot!
Tang Wuyang gritted his teeth and endured it. The Thirteenth Rank Soul Power inside him instantly slipped out of control and rampaged through his body.
Tang Wuyang felt that everything before his eyes had turned blood-red. His body trembled, and the golden grid-like patterns on him became increasingly clear.
Suddenly, the scorching sensation receded like a tide, and the intense pain vanished with it.
But Tang Wuyang did not relax. He still remembered the sensations from absorbing the energy earlier.
Sure enough, as expected, a chill rose from the depths of his heart. Then, just like the previous heat, the Cold Current spread to every corner of his body. The redness had not fully faded from his skin before it quickly turned bluish-white.
Tang Wuyang's body trembled even more violently. The only thing on him that had not changed was the net-like golden patterns.
On the contrary, those golden patterns became clearer and clearer.
After an unknown amount of time, the extreme cold gradually faded, and Tang Wuyang's mental state slowly recovered.
Compared to the scorching heat and extreme cold, Tang Wuyang knew that what came next would be the most unbearable.
It felt as if tiny ants were crawling out from every limb and bone, burrowing into his muscles, organs, and bones as they slowly squirmed.
"Aah! Aah!" Though he had prepared himself mentally, Tang Wuyang still could not stop himself from screaming.
He desperately wanted to scratch himself, but he could not move his body at all. His mind, however, was exceptionally clear.
Tang Wuyang thought of his parents and Na'er leaving. A powerful sense of unwillingness surged within him, supporting him as he gritted his teeth and endured.
What Tang Wuyang did not know was that the golden patterns on his body gradually turned purple. The purple layer covering the gold lasted only an instant before it was gradually dissolved by the golden color.
This made the golden patterns appear even brighter, as though the purple had nourished them. The purple aura gradually faded away.
The numb itch gradually disappeared. Tang Wuyang felt sensation return to his body and lightly moved his limbs.
Just when he thought it was over, scorching heat, cold, and numb itch erupted from within his body like a gushing spring.
In that instant, he felt as though his entire body had been swallowed whole.
Tang Wuyang screamed, and everything before his eyes turned blank.
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