A Natural-Born Level 3 Blacksmith! A Million-Federal-Coin Meal!

"Could you demonstrate it?" Mu Chen asked.

Although he had already decided that Lin Jin was a promising prospect, he still wanted to see what abilities this Martial Soul possessed.

This was the caution a Forging Saint Artisan ought to have.

Only by understanding a metal's characteristics could one forge it better.

"Of course, President," Lin Jin replied. He had no reason to refuse.

Mu Chen thought for a moment, then rose and walked over to his forging platform. He took out a one-foot-square block of Deep Silver from his Storage Bracelet.

This was the standard specification for Rare Metal.

Yet this single block of Deep Silver already weighed three hundred kilograms and was worth roughly two hundred thousand Federal Coins.

Purchasing it internally through the Blacksmith Association would reduce the price to around one hundred and fifty thousand.

"How about we try metal tempering?" Mu Chen cut off one corner, roughly one twenty-seventh of the block, and looked at Lin Jin.

Lin Jin nodded. "Alright."

He knew the wonders of Lotus Purification, but he had only awakened his Martial Soul yesterday and had yet to test it.

Now that he had the opportunity, he naturally wanted to see just what level of purification his lowest-grade Crimson Lotus could achieve.

He walked to the forging platform and stepped onto the footstool Mu Chen had thoughtfully prepared. Only then could he look down properly at the roughly one-cubic-decimeter block of Deep Silver on the platform.

Taking a deep breath, the Crimson Lotus bloomed once more.

With a thought from Lin Jin, the lotus left his hand and landed on the forging platform, wrapping around the block of Deep Silver like a lotus pod.

Not a single sound was made.

Yet Mu Chen's expression suddenly changed as he watched.

The cut piece of Deep Silver appeared unchanged, but beneath the Crimson Lotus's scorching heat, it was clearly shrinking!

He was a Saint Craftsman. His understanding of Rare Metal was profound.

At that moment, he could clearly sense that the quality of the Deep Silver was improving. The impurities within it were being silently removed!

Even more astonishingly, patterns had begun to emerge on the surface of the Deep Silver!

How was that possible?

Setting everything else aside, purifying Deep Silver until it shrank in volume, increased in density, and developed patterns was the standard of Hundred Refinement.

It was also something a Level 2 Blacksmith should have been able to accomplish.

Yet now, it had been achieved through tempering alone?!

At that moment, Mu Chen's entire understanding of forging was reshaped.

Forging could be done like this?!

Mu Chen drew in a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in his heart.

If he had previously regarded Lin Jin merely as a promising prospect—

Then now, in his eyes, Lin Jin was already a potential Divine Craftsman!

At that instant, he almost could not resist calling his Divine Craftsman senior brother to show off.

But he forcibly held himself back.

"No. If I tell him, how could I possibly keep this child?"

Mu Chen suppressed his urge to brag and continued focusing on what lay before him.

Just then, the Lotus Flower Flame went out...

No, it had not gone out.

Lin Jin's Soul Power had simply been exhausted.

His Soul Power was only at level ten. He had not even officially become a Spirit Master yet. Maintaining his Martial Soul while carrying out such intense tempering was indeed too much for him.

Mu Chen placed one hand on Lin Jin's shoulder, nourishing him with his own Soul Power, while his other hand pressed against the block of Deep Silver.

At this point, the block's outward appearance had not changed in the slightest, but its volume was only one-quarter of what it had originally been.

But that was not the key point.

The key was that the impurities within it had already been almost entirely removed.

"If his Soul Power were a little more abundant, wouldn't he be able to directly push a piece of Rare Metal to the Thousand Refinement level through tempering alone?!"

Mu Chen could not help swallowing. Even the hand pressing against the Deep Silver trembled slightly as he cried out inwardly, A natural-born Level 3 Blacksmith!

When he turned to look at Lin Jin, the intensity in his gaze increased.

At that moment, he no longer wanted to show off. He genuinely wanted to send Lin Jin directly to his senior brother Zhen Hua.

As a Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua was undoubtedly the person who could bring Lin Jin's talent to its fullest potential.

But...

His selfishness got the better of him.

Mu Chen suppressed the impulse and thought, Let's wait a little longer. At the very least, with my abilities, I can lay a solid foundation for him without any problem. In that regard, I'm definitely no worse than him!

With that thought, Mu Chen could no longer restrain his emotions. He said solemnly, "Lin Jin, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Without waiting for Lin Jin to answer, Mu Chen continued, "As the president of the East Sea Blacksmith Association, I am not only an Eight-Star Saint Artisan, but also an Eight-Ring Spirit Douluo."

"If you are willing to become my disciple, not only will I personally teach you forging, I can also provide you with the best resources."

"For example, the Spirit Souls you will need for future advancement."

After a pause, he added, "Perhaps you still do not know the prices of Spirit Souls."

"An ordinary White Ten-Year Spirit Soul costs one hundred thousand Federal Coins."

"A Yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Soul costs one million Federal Coins."

"A Purple Thousand-Year Spirit Soul ranges from five million to ten million Federal Coins. Higher-quality ones can cost even more."

"As for a Black Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul, the price starts at fifty million."

"And that will only be the smallest part of your future expenses."

After saying that, Mu Chen spoke no further, merely staring intensely at Lin Jin.

Naturally, Lin Jin understood this.

Since he had decided to become a blacksmith, he naturally knew that becoming Mu Chen's disciple would be an excellent choice.

Now that Mu Chen had taken the initiative to accept him as a disciple and had even promised to cover his Spirit Souls—

He naturally had no reason to refuse.

He made his decision immediately and bowed to Mu Chen. "This disciple, Lin Jin, greets Master."

"Ha ha ha! Good! Good! Good!" Mu Chen laughed heartily, as though he had settled the greatest matter of his life.

The next moment, he grabbed Lin Jin by the shoulder, shielded him with Soul Power, and vanished from the Forging Room in an instant.

As for the forging assignment, he had already tossed it to the back of his mind.

What assignment? How could any assignment be more important than a disciple? Get lost!

Not long afterward, inside a private restaurant.

Mu Chen watched the boy before him devour his food with great affection, his face full of smiles. He felt no heartache whatsoever over the fact that this meal had cost him more than a million Federal Coins.

To him, Lin Jin was now a treasure. What was a mere million Federal Coins? Restoring Lin Jin's health was what truly mattered.

The body was the foundation of forging.

His senior brother was a perfect example. Because his body was weak, although he was now a Divine Craftsman, the number of Heavenly Refinements he performed had steadily declined.

As a result, how long had it been since a new Four-Word Battle Armor Master had appeared?

"Eat slowly. There's no rush regarding Spirit Souls. Over the next month, we'll first restore your health."

Mu Chen spoke with a beaming smile.

"Mhm, mhm." Lin Jin naturally followed his arrangements.

Suddenly, he stopped wolfing down his food and looked up at Mu Chen.

"What is it? Does it not suit your taste? These are all good things. Even if you do not like them, you still need to eat..." Mu Chen frowned.

Lin Jin shook his head and hesitantly said, "Master, Maple Forest Orphanage..."

Mu Chen froze, and a trace of gratification appeared in his eyes.

He had risen to the heavens in a single step, yet he had not forgotten where he came from.

That was an excellent quality!

He had not accepted the wrong disciple.

"Do not worry. I will provide support for Maple Forest Orphanage and the children there. You do not need to concern yourself with such matters or let them distract you."

Lin Jin nodded and continued eating.

With Mu Chen's promise, he was at ease.