Disciple Cheng Duoyi Pays His Respects to Uncle-Master

Yun Xiao envied Xie Xie's carefree nature, but he could not bring himself to be the same.

However, Cheng Duoyi's words had also given him confidence.

His strength lay in his brain and his analytical ability.

He might not be the best, but he would exert his own value and contribute to the team!

"Brother Cheng, thank you! I will never betray you!"

Xie Xie hurriedly expressed his stance: "Brother Cheng, neither will I."

Tang Wuling and Gu Yue looked at Cheng Duoyi; they said nothing, yet their silence spoke volumes.

"Alright, alright, alright."

"The five of us will work together and show our true colors in the Class Promotion Tournament."

"However, unless it is a special situation, I will not make a move."

"With the four of you facing five opponents, do you have confidence?"

Xie Xie couldn't help but say: "Ah! Then how are we supposed to fight?"

Tang Wuling said confidently: "I can take on two of them by myself!"

Gu Yue was not to be outdone: "I can take on three of them by myself!"

Xie Xie pouted: "I didn't say I couldn't do it! I just wanted to see the others witness Brother Cheng's power; wouldn't that be exciting?"

Yun Xiao nudged Xie Xie with his arm, leaving Xie Xie confused.

Yun Xiao said: "Since Brother Cheng trusts us so much, we certainly won't let the secret of Brother Cheng's spirit rings slip out."

Seeing this, Xie Xie nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, yes! We will keep our mouths shut tight and never say a word!"

Soon, the five of them chatted and laughed all the way until they arrived at the Blacksmith Association of Eastsea City.

The Blacksmith Association was a tall, imposing building.

A massive plaque hung at the entrance, inscribed with the eight grand characters for "Eastsea City Blacksmith Association," radiating a magnificent aura.

As the five entered, Yun Xiaoling, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately noticed Tang Wuling.

"Tang Wuling, you're finally here!"

Yun Xiaoling had been waiting here specifically for Tang Wuling.

Others might not know the true weight of a nine-year-old second-rank blacksmith, but she knew it clearly in her heart!

Tang Wuling replied: "Hello, Sister Xiaoling."

Only then did Yun Xiaoling notice Cheng Duoyi and the others. She hadn't expected Tang Wuling to bring friends along, so she asked in confusion: "Tang Wuling, are they here to participate in the blacksmith examination?"

Tang Wuling quickly said: "No, they are just here to accompany me."

"Is that so?" Yun Xiaoling's expression became somewhat complicated.

On one side were the rules of the Blacksmith Association.

On the other was Tang Wuling, a genius blacksmith.

She certainly couldn't afford to offend either side!

"Sister Xiaoling, my name is Cheng Duoyi. This is Gu Yue, and these two are Xie Xie and Yun Xiao. If the four of us sign up for the examination, could we enter together with Ling'er?" Cheng Duoyi asked with a smile.

Yun Xiaoling looked at this cute, white-haired boy, surprised by his cleverness, and immediately nodded: "Of course, no problem. Come, let me register you."

Seeing this, Xie Xie whispered: "Brother Cheng, I don't even know how to forge!"

Hearing this, Yun Xiao immediately said: "Brother Cheng didn't say we had to take the exam; he just did it so Sister Xiaoling wouldn't be put in a difficult position. After registering, whether we take the exam or not is our own business, but Sister Xiaoling can let us follow Tang Wuling."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xie's expression turned to one of sudden realization, and he looked at Cheng Duoyi with even more admiration: "As expected of Brother Cheng, you're just smarter than me. If it were me, I might have said I'd just wait a while and leave so as not to affect the association."

Yun Xiao nodded. Although he understood Cheng Duoyi's intent, he had only realized it after Cheng Duoyi explained it. He hadn't thought of it immediately. As for Cheng Duoyi, he knew better than Xie Xie that Cheng Duoyi handled things more reliably than some adults!

Gu Yue looked at Cheng Duoyi, feeling very happy inside.

This is my man!

After the four of them finished registering.

"Alright, everyone, please follow me."

Yun Xiaoling led Cheng Duoyi, Tang Wuling, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Yun Xiao toward the elevator.

Stepping into the elevator, Yun Xiaoling pressed the button for the top floor, the fifteenth floor.

Yun Xiaoling secretly observed the five of them and discovered that they all looked to Cheng Duoyi as their leader.

But this white-haired boy looked somewhat frail!

How truly strange... Yun Xiaoling thought to herself.

Then, Yun Xiaoling looked at Tang Wuling, her tone filled with excitement: "Congratulations, Tang Wuling. You are now a second-rank blacksmith. If nothing goes wrong, you are the youngest blacksmith in history. Aren't you happy?"

Xie Xie and Yun Xiao thought to themselves: "Tang Wuling isn't just a second-rank blacksmith; she's a third-rank blacksmith!"

Tang Wuling glanced at Cheng Duoyi, then looked toward Yun Xiaoling: "Mhm, I'm happy. I will work twice as hard to become a powerful blacksmith."

"Ambitious." After Yun Xiaoling finished speaking, she looked at Cheng Duoyi.

Because she discovered that Tang Wuling would look at Cheng Duoyi before speaking, which made her somewhat surprised.

Could it be that Cheng Duoyi was also a genius blacksmith?

Or perhaps, was Cheng Duoyi Tang Wuling's older brother?

But he didn't look like it!

However, she did not ask further.

Because the elevator had already reached the fifteenth floor.

"Ding."

The six of them stepped out of the elevator.

"Tang Wuling, please come with me."

"The four of you... may sit on the sofa and wait for a moment."

Yun Xiaoling pointed to the sofa nearby.

This was the maximum she could do.

If it weren't for Tang Wuling's ability, she would never have dared to bring Cheng Duoyi and the others here; after all, this was the office area for the President and Vice President!

Tang Wuling and the others looked at Cheng Duoyi.

This made Yun Xiaoling even more astonished, as she did not understand why these people would be so obedient to this white-haired youth.

Cheng Duoyi smiled: "Big Sister Xiaoling, my master is an old acquaintance of President Mu Chen. Besides accompanying Ling'er, I also happen to be paying a visit to the old gentleman."

As he spoke, a blacksmith's hammer appeared in Cheng Duoyi's hand: "Please show this hammer to President Mu Chen. I believe he will agree to let the five of us see him."

Yun Xiaoling was surprised: "You even know the President of our Blacksmith Association?"

Following that, she looked at the hammer in Cheng Duoyi's hand. It was a hammer with a pure white surface, and blue, cloud-like patterns flowed across the hammerhead.

Yun Xiaoling was a staff member of the Blacksmith Association, but she was also a first-rank blacksmith.

If she hadn't lacked talent in forging, she would certainly have been an outstanding blacksmith, so she also had some knowledge of blacksmith hammers.

Cheng Duoyi nodded: "President Mu Chen will understand my identity once he sees this hammer. I think he won't refuse my visit."

Yun Xiaoling nodded and took the hammer from Cheng Duoyi's hand, feeling slightly startled.

Because this hammer was too heavy—it weighed at least two hundred jin!

"Is this the hammer you usually use?" Yun Xiaoling asked in surprise.

Cheng Duoyi shook his head: "This is my master's hammer. I cannot use it in my current condition, but my master and President Mu Chen are old acquaintances; he will recognize the owner of this hammer."

Yun Xiaoling understood in her heart and did not say anything more, carrying the hammer as she walked toward the President's office.

"Brother Cheng, you even know the President here?" Xie Xie asked.

Gu Yue, Tang Wuling, and Yun Xiaoling were also very surprised, looking at Cheng Duoyi.

Cheng Duoyi smiled: "My master is an old acquaintance of the President here, so I think he will agree to let us stay with Ling'er."

Gu Yue and the others nodded.

Meanwhile.

"Knock, knock, knock." Yun Xiaoling knocked on the door of the President's office.

Inside the office, Mu Chen, Cen Yue, and Mu Chen's daughter, Mu Xi, were all present.

As Mu Chen's daughter, Mu Xi had been exposed to forging since she was young, and she also aspired to become a powerful blacksmith.

But what shocked her was that there was actually a nine-year-old second-rank blacksmith. To her, this was no less than a fatal blow, and her confidence in forging was no longer as strong as it once was.

Cen Yue opened the door and asked: "Has Tang Wuling arrived?"

"Yes, President Cen Yue," Yun Xiaoling said respectfully. "However, there is also a youth who came with Tang Wuling. He said his master knows President Mu Chen and is an old acquaintance of his, and he asked me to show this hammer to President Mu Chen."

Mu Chen, who was standing next to Cen Yue, saw the hammer and his pupils constricted.

Mu Xi, who was beside Mu Chen, said: "Dad, what's wrong?"

Mu Chen's expression was complex, and he did not speak further: "Take me to see him."

Cheng Duoyi and the five of them did not wait long before they saw Mu Chen and the other three.

Mu Chen's eyes swept over the five of them, and he frowned slightly.

He recognized Tang Wuling, but he did not know the other four.

The reason he frowned was also because the other four did not look like people who studied forging; their palms were all clean and fair, and in particular, why did this white-haired youth exude such a sickly aura?

Although he looked normal, he was actually very weak to the bone.

Mu Xi was also observing the five of them. When she saw that all five were so young and were wearing the Eastsea Academy uniforms, she found it hard to accept.

However, this slight discomfort quickly vanished. As her gaze fell upon Cheng Duoyi, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes; this young man was somewhat handsome...

Mu Chen held the forging hammer and looked toward Cheng Duoyi and the others, asking, "Whose forging hammer is this?"

His gaze lingered on Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Yun Xiao.

"Greetings, President Mu Chen. My name is Cheng Duoyi, and this forging hammer was a gift from my master," Cheng Duoyi said, stepping forward.

Mu Chen looked surprised upon hearing this. He hadn't expected such a young child; could he even use this forging hammer?

Mu Chen turned his head to look at Cen Yue: "Cen Yue, explain the benefits of our Blacksmith Association to Tang Wuling, and while you're at it, grant him a second-rank blacksmith badge. I need to have a private word with Cheng Duoyi."

"Understood, President," Cen Yue replied.

Cheng Duoyi smiled at Tang Wuling and the others: "Follow President Cen Yue's arrangements; I will be out shortly."

"Okay," Tang Wuling nodded obediently.

Gu Yue looked at Cheng Duoyi, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. She could sense that Mu Chen held no malice, but she still couldn't help but worry about Cheng Duoyi's health.

Xie Xie and Yun Xiao nodded as well.

Mu Chen led Cheng Duoyi into his office.

"Disciple Cheng Duoyi pays respects to Martial Uncle," Cheng Duoyi said respectfully.

"Sit," Mu Chen nodded, pointing to the chair in front of his desk. "I didn't expect my senior brother to take on such a young disciple. How is your master doing lately?"

Cheng Duoyi said softly: "The old master is in good health, though he is busy forging every day and rarely leaves the house. He often mentions you, saying your talent is no less than his, only that you haven't put your full heart into forging."

Mu Chen laughed heartily upon hearing this: "I'm quite content as I am now, guarding Eastsea City and staying with my family."

He paused, his gaze falling on Cheng Duoyi as his expression turned serious: "Tell me about yourself. Your name is Cheng Duoyi, how old are you? When did you become your master's apprentice? What is your current forging rank?"

"I am nine years old this year, and I became his apprentice at six and a half," Cheng Duoyi said, pulling out an orange badge with a yellow base and three yellow stars, placing it on the desk. "This is the badge my master personally crafted for me after I passed his assessment, and the Cloud Gold Hammer was also a gift from him back then."

"What?"

Mu Chen stood up abruptly from his chair, his eyes wide.

He stared fixedly at the third-rank blacksmith badge on the table, his face filled with disbelief.

"Nine years old? A third-rank blacksmith?"

His voice trembled as he reached out to pick up the badge, examining it repeatedly. The badge was genuine, bearing the exclusive mark of the Blacksmith Association; it was impossible to fake.

Furthermore, he could sense the aura of Zhen Hua upon it.

But how could this be possible!

A nine-year-old third-rank blacksmith!

This was simply a fantasy!

One had to know that a third-rank blacksmith was a master-level existence capable of mastering the Thousand-Refining technique and creating thousand-refined metals. Even for a forging genius with extraordinary talent, it would take until at least the age of twenty to reach this rank.

His daughter, Mu Xi, was hailed as the greatest forging genius Eastsea City had seen in a century, yet at thirteen years old, she had only just reached the level of a second-rank blacksmith, still a significant distance away from the third rank.

Yet, the nine-year-old boy before him was already a third-rank blacksmith!

Mu Chen felt his worldview suffer a massive shock.

He looked at Cheng Duoyi, his eyes filled with shock and envy: "Your master is truly blessed! To be able to take on a genius disciple like you! If I had a student like you, I could die without regrets!"

Cheng Duoyi smiled: "Martial Uncle, you flatter me. My spiritual power is just a bit higher than the average person, which gives me a slight advantage in forging. Compared to the old master, I still have a long way to go."

"High spiritual power is no mere 'slight advantage'," Mu Chen shook his head, sighing: "In the field of forging, spiritual power is the most critical factor. The stronger the spiritual power, the better the control over the metal, and the higher the quality of the forged metal. With such high spiritual power at such a young age, your future achievements will be limitless! Perhaps one day you will surpass your master and become the next generation's Divine Craftsman!"

He paused and asked curiously: "By the way, you didn't come to the Eastsea City Blacksmith Association just to visit your Martial Uncle, did you? If there's something you need, just say it. As long as I can do it, I will certainly help you."

Cheng Duoyi laughed: "I came specifically to pay my respects to you, Martial Uncle."

"You little rascal, tell me the truth—what are you here for?" Mu Chen chuckled.

Cheng Duoyi said: "Martial Uncle, your eyes are sharp. Besides visiting you, I am also here to accompany Tang Wuling to participate in the third-rank blacksmith assessment."

"What? Third-rank blacksmith assessment!" Mu Chen was stunned for a moment, then frowned: "That's not right. Tang Wuling just passed the second-rank blacksmith assessment and became the youngest second-rank blacksmith in history. Why is he coming to take the third-rank assessment so soon?"