Both Advance to Level Three Blacksmiths

"Because Tang Wuling had already reached the level of a Level Three Blacksmith. She hadn't wanted anyone to know before, so she never took the Level Three Blacksmith examination."

Mu Chen was stunned again. "That Tang Wuling—the nine-year-old girl? She's already reached the level of a Level Three Blacksmith?"

He didn't know what words could possibly describe how he felt anymore.

A nine-year-old Level Three Blacksmith was already unbelievable enough. Now another one had appeared!

Where had these two children come from?

Were geniuses really so common these days?

Cheng Duoyi nodded. "Yes. Tang Wuling is very talented at forging. She's already reached the standard for a Level Three Blacksmith."

Mu Chen sat dazed in his chair. It took him a long time to come back to himself. He let out a long sigh. "The waves behind push the waves ahead, and each generation surpasses the last! It seems us old fellows really are getting old—we can't keep up with the times."

He looked at Cheng Duoyi, his eyes full of relief. "With young geniuses like you around, the future of blacksmithing has limitless possibilities!"

Cheng Duoyi smiled, took several exquisite wooden boxes out of his Storage Soul Tool, and set them on the desk. "Uncle Master, this is our first time meeting, and I didn't prepare anything special. These are some Hundred-Refined Metals I forged in my spare time. They aren't particularly valuable, but their quality is quite good. Please accept them as a small token of my affection."

Mu Chen opened the boxes. Inside, several different kinds of Hundred-Refined Metal were neatly arranged. The other boxes held the same.

There was Deep Silver, Tungsten Steel, and Adamantine. Each piece gave off a faint gleam, and their quality far surpassed that of ordinary Hundred-Refined Metal.

One piece in particular, a Hundred-Refined Star Meteorite Iron, had its spiritual light drawn inward, with the beginnings of patterns appearing across its surface. It showed faint signs of Thousand Refinement—it was clearly a top-grade piece among Hundred-Refined Metals!

Mu Chen also noticed that these rare metals were somewhat different from the Hundred-Refined Metals he had seen before. He couldn't put his finger on exactly how.

"How can a nephew give his uncle a gift the first time they meet? Hurry and take these back." Mu Chen quickly closed all the boxes and pushed them back.

Cheng Duoyi pushed them back toward him. His tone was gentle, yet allowed no refusal. "Uncle Master, please accept them. These metals are nothing special to me; I have plenty more. Besides, I heard Senior Sister Mu Xi has been trying to achieve Thousand Refinement lately. These are specially made metals. No matter who uses them for practice, adding a few drops of a blacksmith's blood will greatly improve their chances of success. Maybe Senior Sister can use them to break through to Level Three."

Mu Chen hesitated. He had never heard of rare metals made this way.

But when he saw the sincerity in Cheng Duoyi's eyes, he finally nodded, believing him. "All right. I'll thank you on Xi'er's behalf. When she breaks through to Level Three, I'll bring her to thank you in person."

"You're too kind, Uncle Master." Cheng Duoyi smiled. "After all, we're family. There's no need to be so formal."

The two chatted a little longer about forging. Mu Chen was amazed by Cheng Duoyi's talent, and the more he looked at him, the more he liked him.

"All right, let's go out. We shouldn't keep your friends waiting."

Mu Chen stood, picked up one of the boxes, and left the office with Cheng Duoyi.

As soon as they stepped outside, Tang Wuling and the others saw Cheng Duoyi.

Mu Chen looked at Tang Wuling and smiled kindly. "You must be Tang Wuling. You really are a bright and clever young girl. I never expected someone so young to want to take the Level Three Blacksmith examination. That's truly remarkable!"

Just then, a clear female voice came from nearby.

"Dad, who's taking the Level Three Blacksmith examination?"

It was Mu Xi. When she saw Mu Chen take Cheng Duoyi away, she hadn't stayed there. Now that she had returned, she was confused about who was taking the Level Three Blacksmith examination.

"This young lady," Mu Chen said, looking at Tang Wuling.

Mu Xi, who had been looking completely unconvinced just moments ago, froze. Her eyes widened as she stared at Tang Wuling in disbelief.

"If I remember right, she just turned nine this year. A nine-year-old taking the Level Three Blacksmith examination? That's impossible!" She shook her head and said loudly, "Dad, you must be fooling me! She just passed the Level Two Blacksmith examination. How could she possibly be taking the Level Three examination?"

Mu Xi had always thought she was one of Eastsea City's youngest blacksmithing prodigies, a cut above her peers.

But now, a child four years younger than her had suddenly appeared, and she was already a Level Two Blacksmith, the same level as Mu Xi. And now he was telling her that this four-years-younger girl was preparing to take the Level Three Blacksmith examination. How could she accept that?

Her confidence crumbled completely. Tears welled in her eyes, and she turned and ran out.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Nephew. As for Tang Wuling's examination, you can discuss it with President Cen Yue. He'll take her there."

With that, Mu Chen hurried after Mu Xi.

He caught up with her at the corner of the corridor and grabbed her arm. "Xi'er, don't run! Dad needs to talk to you."

"I won't listen! I won't listen!" Mu Xi wrenched herself free and cried, "They're all liars! I'm the most talented blacksmith! I don't believe they're better than me!"

Seeing his daughter so upset pained Mu Chen.

It was his fault for protecting Mu Xi too much. That was why she had become a little spoiled and arrogant.

Thinking of what Cheng Duoyi had said, Mu Chen handed one of the wooden boxes to Mu Xi and said gently, "Xi'er, Cheng Duoyi gave these metals to you. Their quality is excellent. He said they could help you break through to Level Three. When you forge later, drip some of your blood onto them and give them a try. Maybe you'll be able to forge Thousand-Refined Metal."

Mu Xi took the box and opened it for a look. The Hundred-Refined Metals inside really were exceptionally fine, far better than what she usually used.

As she looked at them, her sense of grievance and resentment gradually faded, replaced by a hint of curiosity and defiance.

"How could that be?" Mu Xi pouted and muttered, "I only just barely broke through to Level Two. How could I reach Level Three? He must be lying! Besides, we don't even know each other. Why would he give these to me?"

Mu Xi didn't believe it, but she still felt a little hopeful.

She didn't think Mu Chen would lie to her. There had to be at least a chance it was true.

At the thought that she might really reach Level Three, all her grievances vanished.

Seeing his daughter's expression, Mu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He could only pray that Cheng Duoyi had been telling the truth. Otherwise, she would be hard to console. "Tang Wuling's taking the examination too, so you can give it a try as well."

"Got it."

Mu Xi nodded, hugged the wooden box, and turned to run toward her forging room.

She couldn't wait to try the high-quality rare metals and see whether she could forge Thousand-Refined Metal.

Mu Chen watched his daughter's retreating figure and let out a long sigh before finally following her.

Meanwhile, on the third floor of the Blacksmith Association.

Cen Yue's eyes were filled with complicated emotions, and his voice held a note of amazement. "Tang Wuling, you know the standards for the Level Three Blacksmith examination, right?"

He'd just been wondering why Tang Wuling had said she would wait for Cheng Duoyi to come back before accepting her blacksmith badge. So that was what she'd been waiting for!

If Tang Wuling really succeeded, she would go down in history!

Even the strongest Level Nine Divine Blacksmith of today hadn't reached Level Three at the age of nine. One could only imagine how far Tang Wuling might go in the future!

Once Tang Wuling entered the forging room, she seemed to change.

She looked at Cen Yue, confidence in her expression.

"I know."

"To pass the Level Three Blacksmith examination, you need to complete Thousand Refinement on any kind of rare metal."

Cen Yue nodded. "Since you understand, I won't say more. Get yourself ready, then begin."

"Okay!" Tang Wuling said, then turned to look at Cheng Duoyi.

Cheng Duoyi smiled. "Forge with your usual mindset. Don't let your state of mind get in the way."

Tang Wuling nodded. "Mm!"

When Tang Wuling looked at Gu Yue, Gu Yue lifted her head proudly. "Don't let Xiao Yi down, or I won't let you off!"

Tang Wuling had thought Gu Yue would exclude her and try to keep her from getting close to Cheng Duoyi. But once she got to know her, it was easy to see that Gu Yue wouldn't deliberately pick on her. She was the sort who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"Yue'er, I won't let Brother Yi'er down!"

With that, Tang Wuling took a deep breath and walked up to the forging table.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Tang Wuling deftly operated the forging table.

She placed in the Deep Silver, heated it, and raised the temperature.

Two forging hammers appeared in her hands.

"Those aren't the same two forging hammers Tang Wuling used before!" Yun Xiao immediately noticed the change. "Could these be her real trump cards?"

Xie Xie hadn't noticed any difference between the forging hammers Tang Wuling held now and the ones she'd used against Gu Yue, but he could sense how oppressive her aura had become.

"Is this the pressure a genius blacksmith brings? It's incredible!"

The two forging hammers in Tang Wuling's hands were the Blood-Sacrificed Thousand-Forged Sinking Silver Hammer. Like the Blood-Sacrificed Spirit-Forged Cloud Gold Hammer that Zhen Hua had given Cheng Duoyi, they were hammers a blacksmith had infused with their own blood upon achieving a major breakthrough such as Thousand Refinement or Spirit Forging for the first time. This allowed the hammer and blacksmith to connect as one.

When Tang Wuling used the Blood-Sacrificed Thousand-Forged Sinking Silver Hammer, her chances of forging successfully would rise slightly. And since she had chosen Deep Silver for this examination, her chances of achieving Thousand Refinement would improve a little more.

Once the Deep Silver reached the temperature Tang Wuling wanted, the Blood-Sacrificed Thousand-Forged Sinking Silver Hammer in her left hand swept down with a howl of wind and struck the Deep Silver with a heavy blow.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Three strikes rang out in the forging room, their sounds almost blending into one.

"Triple hammer strikes!" Cen Yue exclaimed. "And the hammer in this girl's hands must be Thousand-Forged Deep Silver. A nine-year-old Level Three Blacksmith might really be about to appear!"

Tang Wuling's movements flowed like water. She put her full strength into every blow, making Xie Xie shudder. If one of those landed on him, he'd be black and blue all over, wouldn't he?

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Blow after blow struck the Deep Silver. Tang Wuling knew its inner structure so well that she could easily complete Hundred Refinement with her eyes closed.

With each strike, the Deep Silver was gradually purified beneath her hammer.

They said that a hundred refinings made steel, while a thousand refinings gave it a soul. Once a rare metal reached the level of Thousand Refinement, it possessed a spirit—it was as if the metal had been given life.

That was why Thousand-Refined Metal was so rare, and why Level Three Blacksmiths were so scarce.

But this was nothing to Tang Wuling now. With every blow, the impurities inside the Deep Silver were quickly driven out.

An hour and a half later, the Deep Silver in front of Tang Wuling had shrunk by two-fifths, and faint, dark-silver patterns appeared on its surface.

"President Cen, I'm done. Please take a look."

Watching Tang Wuling forge with such effortless fluidity, Cen Yue could hardly believe that this kind of composure and skill could belong to a nine-year-old.

Cen Yue said happily, "There's no need to inspect it. I hereby announce that you've passed the Level Three Blacksmith examination. You're now a Level Three Blacksmith."

"Thank you, President Cen." Tang Wuling beamed.

"Since you're now a Level Three Blacksmith, your Level Three badge needs to be made. You can come pick it up tomorrow," Cen Yue said. "For now, you can keep this Level Two Blacksmith badge. It's a reminder of the foundation you've built along the way."

"Thank you." Tang Wuling excitedly accepted it.

Then she looked at the piece of Thousand-Refined Deep Silver. "President Cen, can I take this Thousand-Refined Deep Silver with me?"

Cen Yue laughed helplessly. "Of course."

Tang Wuling didn't stand on ceremony. She quickly put it away, then went over to Cheng Duoyi.

Cheng Duoyi smiled. "Congratulations, Tang Wuling. From now on, you're a Level Three Blacksmith!"

"Thank you, Brother Yi'er!" Tang Wuling said. "I'll keep working hard. One day, I'll become a Divine Blacksmith!"

Hearing her goal, Cen Yue smiled with approval. It wasn't impossible—not at all. He was genuinely looking forward to it!

"All right. We'll take you to an office to wait for a bit. I'll go find President Mu Chen and tell him the good news."

"Okay."

The five of them followed Cen Yue back to the fifteenth floor.

With Cen Yue there, Xie Xie and Yun Xiao simply congratulated Tang Wuling on becoming a Level Three Blacksmith and said nothing else.

Gu Yue, however, sincerely congratulated Tang Wuling. Tang Wuling gladly accepted, and their relationship briefly settled into a peaceful rhythm.

Mu Xi's forging room.

A piece of Hundred-Refined Metal lay in front of Mu Xi. It was almost at the level of Thousand Refinement. After another half hour, Mu Xi, who had been forging diligently, suddenly lit up with delight. Dark-purple patterns appeared on the rare metal before her.

When she confirmed that it was Thousand-Refined Metal, Mu Xi jumped excitedly and cried, "Dad! Dad! I did it! I really forged Thousand-Refined Metal! Dad, am I amazing?"

Mu Chen had watched the entire time, astonished. "I can't believe my nephew was telling the truth. This method of adding blood really can help you forge Thousand-Refined Metal."

Mu Chen looked at Mu Xi. "You need to thank my nephew properly later. And don't hold any resentment toward his friend, Tang Wuling. Everyone has different talents. If you lose yourself over this, you won't get far in the future."

Mu Xi nodded. "I know. I'll go thank him right now!"

Watching Mu Xi dash off, Mu Chen shook his head helplessly. Thinking of Cheng Duoyi's age and appearance, he mused, "My nephew really is handsome, and Xi'er inherited her mother's looks... I suppose it's time I got in touch with my Kind Senior Brother."

Mu Chen took out his Soul Communicator and called the contact saved as Kind Senior Brother.

"Hello."

"It's me, Senior Brother..."