Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua

The smile on Han Tianyi's face faded, and his expression turned solemn. "Zhen Hua is the continent's only Divine Craftsman, a Level Nine Blacksmith!"

He looked at Huo Yuhao, his gaze carrying a hint of expectation. "Yuhao, whether you can earn the favor of this Divine Craftsman will depend on how you perform next."

Divine Craftsman!

Level Nine Blacksmith!

Continent's only!

These words struck Huo Yuhao's heart like heavy hammers, one after another, making his eyes widen as his breathing caught.

He knew the blacksmith teacher his two teachers had found for him had to be extraordinary, but he had never imagined it would be the number one person standing at the very peak of this path!

A surge of excitement mixed with immense pressure rose in his heart, but an even stronger determination swiftly crushed that trace of nervousness.

He clenched the fist hidden in his sleeve, his nails lightly digging into his palm. I have to seize this opportunity, give it everything I have, and perform well!

Under Mu Ye's lead, the three of them did not go far.

Across from his two-story small building stood a far grander and more ancient structure: the Tiantou City Blacksmith Association.

The association's doors stood open, and faint voices drifted out from within.

Only after entering did they discover that the broad first-floor hall was packed with people, forming a bustling circle so dense it was nearly impossible to get through.

Everyone's attention was focused on the center of the crowd.

A standard forging table had been set up there temporarily, and the furnace fire burned brightly.

Standing beside the forging table, surrounded by everyone as though he were the moon among stars, was a middle-aged man.

He had thick black hair and deep black eyes, but the white strands at his temples added a weather-beaten vicissitude to his originally resolute face.

The blacksmiths around him, who normally held themselves in high regard, now had nothing in their eyes but pure reverence and a thirst for knowledge.

Mu Ye stopped and looked toward the center of the crowd. "That's Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua. Let's listen from the side first and go over after he finishes this part."

Huo Yuhao was currently being held in Han Tianyi's arms. His gaze crossed the crowd and settled on Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua in the distance. Possessing his Spirit Eyes martial soul, he was unwilling to miss even the slightest detail.

"A forgemaster is, in truth, a profession that relies even more heavily on talent than a Soul Master."

Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's voice was calm, yet it carried clearly through the hall. "Only with a solid foundation can one go farther on the path of forging."

"So today, I won't discuss anything too profound. I'll begin with the most basic Hundred Refinement..."

Even though it was only the most basic knowledge, the blacksmiths present listened with rapt attention and great interest.

It had to be said that Zhen Hua truly deserved to be called a Divine Craftsman. His explanations were clear and easy to understand.

Even Huo Yuhao, who did not know much about forging, felt that he had grasped quite a few key points and secretly admired him.

About half an hour later, Zhen Hua's explanation came to an end.

He gave everyone a slight nod, then left the hall amid their respectful gazes. The crowd gradually dispersed as well.

Seeing this, Mu Ye gave Han Tianyi and Huo Yuhao a look. The three took the Soul Guidance Elevator straight to the top floor, arriving at the area where the President's Office was located.

Mu Ye was clearly very familiar with the place. When he reached a Heavy Wooden Door, he did not even knock and simply pushed it open.

The Office Room was spacious and bright, its furnishings both practical and elegant.

Zhen Hua stood by the window, looking out at the city scenery. Hearing the movement, he turned around. When he saw that it was Mu Ye, a trace of surprise appeared on his face. "Why are you here?"

Their relationship was so close that they could practically wear the same pair of pants, but Mu Ye normally would not come to the Blacksmith Association to find him without reason.

Mu Ye stepped aside from the doorway, his tone as calm as ever. "I'm introducing a disciple to you."

Zhen Hua's gaze passed Mu Ye and fell upon Han Tianyi, who had entered behind him, as well as the boy who appeared to be only six or seven years old beside Han Tianyi.

Naturally, he knew Han Tianyi—the Illusion Brain Douluo of the Spirit Pagoda and an Elder of the Body Sect, a man of extraordinary status.

But this little fellow beside Han Tianyi...

Zhen Hua's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for a moment longer. Was this the "disciple" Mu Ye had mentioned?

Zhen Hua's facial expression turned serious as well. He glanced at Mu Ye, his tone calm but firm. "Even if he is someone you personally introduced, if his talent for forging is insufficient, I absolutely will not accept him."

Mu Ye nodded to show that he understood, then turned his gaze toward Han Tianyi. That look seemed to say, "See? Those are the rules. It's not that I'm unwilling to help."

Zhen Hua said no more and walked straight over to Huo Yuhao.

He bent down slightly and looked at the small boy before him, whose eyes were clear and whose posture was upright. "Kid, what's your name?"

Huo Yuhao lifted his head and met Zhen Hua's scrutiny without flinching. "Hello, President. My name is Huo Yuhao."

Zhen Hua's eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly. This child seemed to possess a composure far beyond his age.

He continued, his tone more like a warning. "The path of forging is far more arduous than ordinary people imagine. Without the corresponding talent and perseverance, it is absolutely impossible to continue down this road."

Huo Yuhao had heard similar words from Master Wu in the Blacksmith Shop of Xilai City ten thousand years ago.

He did not answer directly. Instead, he intended to speak with his strength!

Huo Yuhao quickly scanned around the Office Room. In the end, his gaze locked onto a forging room in the room corner.

Under the slightly surprised gazes of Zhen Hua, Mu Ye, and Han Tianyi, Huo Yuhao turned and walked directly toward the forging room.

To seize this opportunity and become the disciple of Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua, Huo Yuhao had already decided to display his greatest talent.

He believed that he had some talent in forging.

"Yuhao..."

Han Tianyi had only just spoken when Zhen Hua raised a hand to stop him.

The Divine Craftsman no longer looked stern. Instead, his face carried an interested smile.

His gaze remained fixed on Huo Yuhao as he said softly, "Don't rush. Let's see what this little fellow intends to do."

Huo Yuhao moved over a small stool to stand on, planting himself firmly atop it so that he could reach the forging table.

Then, recalling the movements Zhen Hua had demonstrated in the hall, he opened the furnace valve and adjusted the air intake and fuel.

With a boom, the furnace fire ignited, orange-red flames rising up.

Huo Yuhao did not rush. He waited quietly, his eyes intently observing the color of the flames and the rhythm of their flickering.

Once the temperature inside the furnace rose to a certain level, he used tongs to pick up a dark gray metal block from the nearby material rack, its surface covered in fine silver specks, and steadily placed it into the hottest part of the flames.

The metal block rapidly changed under the intense heat. Its color shifted from dark to bright, eventually taking on an even, translucent bright red.

With a flick of his wrist, Huo Yuhao accurately extended the tongs into the furnace, firmly clamped the red-hot metal block, and placed it on the anvil!

"Huh?!"

Zhen Hua, who had remained calm the entire time, could not help but let out a short, clear cry of surprise!

The Star Iron Huo Yuhao had heated was a rare metal extremely sensitive to temperature.

The best timing for taking Star Iron from the furnace and forging it was exceptionally difficult to grasp.

Too early, and the inside would not have softened. Too late, and the surface would be overly damaged.

Even many experienced Level Two or Level Three Blacksmiths might not be able to grasp the timing so accurately!

Yet the child before him, only six or seven years old, had managed it. This truly astonished him.

At that moment, the interest in Zhen Hua's eyes was genuinely ignited.

He leaned forward slightly and said no more, merely staring intensely at Huo Yuhao's next movement.

On the anvil, the Star Iron glowed red as heat steamed upward.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and gripped the forging hammer in his right hand, which still seemed heavy to him.

He knew that the real display was only beginning now.