Tang Wulin's Competitive Spirit: What Do You Mean He Forged a Thousand Times Three Years Ago?

Tang Wulin thought to himself.

His heart was brimming with confidence.

He headed straight for the Blacksmith Association, his goal clear: to pass the blacksmith rank evaluation.

Finding Master Cen Yue, Tang Wulin got straight to the point.

"Master Cen, I would like to take the Level 2 Blacksmith examination."

Cen Yue was a bit surprised when he heard this.

Looking at the nine-year-old child before him, he couldn't help but offer a reminder.

"Level 2 examination? Little one, this is no joke. The difficulty is immense, and you are still far too young."

Tang Wulin, however, was not intimidated in the slightest, confidently invoking his teacher's name.

"It's no problem, Master Cen! My teacher, Mang Tian, said that as long as I don't run into that legendary disciple of Master Mu Chen, I don't have to fear anyone among my peers when it comes to forging!"

He spoke with great bravado, though in truth, Tang Wulin was harboring a competitive fire of his own.

Why?

Because Mang Tian, fearing he might be discouraged, had only vaguely mentioned that Mu Chen had a disciple with transcendent talent whose forging strength far surpassed his own. As for how impressive that disciple actually was, or whether they were a boy or a girl?

Mang Tian hadn't revealed a single word!

Could Tang Wulin be satisfied with that?

Certainly not!

So, in coming for this examination, besides wanting to earn his rank, he also harbored a desire to compete.

He wanted to see exactly how far he lagged behind that legendary "genius."

Before entering the forging room, he couldn't help but ask Cen Yue again.

"Master Cen, that disciple of Master Mu Chen... have they already completed a Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver?"

Cen Yue looked at his unyielding, competitive gaze and found it secretly amusing.

This child was still a bit too green.

He didn't answer directly, merely waving his hand.

"Stop thinking about others for now. Once you've managed to complete a Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver yourself, it won't be too late to discuss this topic."

Cen Yue said no more, leading Tang Wulin toward the No. 3 Forging Room.

"Let's go, time for the examination!"

A confident Tang Wulin took a deep breath.

He walked into the forging room.

Ignite the furnace!

Start the fire!

Place the Heavy Silver into the furnace!

He was fully focused, his mind free of distractions.

The clanging sounds of hammering rang out, carrying a peculiar rhythm.

Sweat streamed down his forehead, but he didn't have time to wipe it away.

Every strike was precise and powerful.

Under the Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer, the Heavy Silver seemed to come alive, its form constantly shifting.

Impurities were forced out bit by bit.

The grain of the metal itself became increasingly clear, shimmering with a restrained and profound luster.

Hundred-Refined!

Two-hundred-Refined!

Four-hundred-Refined!

Time ticked away.

Outside, Cen Yue listened to the continuous, steady, and powerful sounds of forging, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

When the final, crisp strike fell.

Tang Wulin abruptly pulled back his hammer.

The piece of Heavy Silver, originally a foot square, had shrunk by one-fifth.

Its entire body radiated a gentle, jade-like silver-gray glow.

The surface seemed to ripple like flowing water.

Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver!

It's done!

Tang Wulin panted heavily, wiping the sweat from his brow, but his face could not hide his excitement and pride.

He looked toward the doorway at Cen Yue.

Cen Yue walked in with quick strides.

He picked up the piece of Heavy Silver and examined it carefully.

It was heavy in the hand, dense in texture, and completely flawless.

His eyes were filled with shock and undisguised admiration.

"Good! Good lad!"

Cen Yue patted Tang Wulin's shoulder firmly.

"You truly are the apprentice of that stubborn mule Mang Tian! The quality of this thousand-forged Heavy Silver is nothing short of perfect!"

"To be able to complete a thousand-forging on Heavy Silver at nine years old—you kid are a true forging genius!"

Just as Cen Yue was showering him with praise.

In the lobby of the Blacksmith Association.

Mu Chen had just walked in, bringing his daughter Mu Xi along.

Mu Chen was lecturing Mu Xi as they walked.

"Xi'er, why did you run over to his dormitory today? And helping him make his bed and fold his blankets? What does that look like!"

He frowned, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"As a young lady, you must be reserved! Do you understand? Reserved!"

Mu Xi pouted, clearly unimpressed by her father's words.

"Dad! What do you know?"

She retorted.

"You didn't see it! Those upperclassmen and juniors surrounding Yao Chuan, their eyes were glowing green! Like swarms of bees and butterflies! If I didn't go early to claim a spot and block them for him, his dormitory door would have been crushed!"

She paused, then quickly added, as if finding a grand excuse for herself.

"Besides! How is this fawning over him? I'm doing this for his own good! Helping him block out those distractions so he can focus on his studies and cultivation! Get it?"

Mu Chen looked at his daughter's eloquent defense, caught between laughter and tears.

Just as he was about to say something more.

A sound of forging, exceptionally steady and rhythmic, drifted over from the nearby forging room.

"Ding... ding... ding... clang! Clang! Clang!"

This sound?

Mu Chen's footsteps stopped involuntarily.

His ears twitched slightly.

This rhythm, this penetrating power... it was definitely more than just ordinary hundred-forging purification!

A flash of surprise and intense interest crossed his eyes.

"Eh?"

Mu Xi heard it too and asked curiously.

"Dad, this sound..."

"Let's go take a look." Mu Chen decided immediately.

Following the sound, the father and daughter soon arrived at the door of the No. 3 Forging Room.

They arrived just in time to see Cen Yue holding a piece of metal shimmering with silver light, showering praise upon a small boy who was covered in sweat but had eyes as bright as stars.

Cen Yue also spotted Mu Chen and his daughter.

"President Mu? Little Xi? What brings you here?"

Mu Chen didn't answer Cen Yue, his gaze falling directly onto the piece of Heavy Silver in Cen Yue's hand.

He stepped closer, carefully examining the luster and texture of the Heavy Silver.

He reached out to weigh it in his hand.

Feeling the heavy sensation and the faint fluctuations emanating from within the metal.

The surprise on his face deepened.

"Thousand-forged Heavy Silver? The quality is quite impressive!"

Mu Chen looked at the little boy.

"Master Cen, whose high apprentice is this?"

Cen Yue introduced him with a chuckle.

"Chairman Mu, this is that old fellow Mang Tian's disciple, Tang Wulin! Little guy, why don't you hurry up and greet Chairman Mu Chen?"

Tang Wulin finally snapped to his senses; the extraordinary-looking middle-aged man before him was none other than the renowned Eight-Star Saint Craftsman and chairman of the Eastsea City branch of the Blacksmith Association, Mu Chen!

He hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Master Mu Chen! My name is Tang Wulin!"

He then noticed Mu Xi standing next to Mu Chen and felt a bit surprised.

"Senior Sister Mu Xi?"

Mu Xi also recognized him as the freshman who had delivered a love letter to her dormitory that morning and gave him a nod.

Mu Chen suddenly realized.

"Oh... so you are Mang Tian's disciple. No wonder you have such a solid foundation!"

He looked at Tang Wulin, his eyes filled with approval.

"Not bad, truly not bad. To be able to complete a Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver at nine years old—this talent is absolutely top-tier among your peers."

He paused for a moment, habitually comparing the boy to his own most prized disciple.

"Hmm... you're just a little bit..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear: slightly inferior.

Upon hearing this, Tang Wulin naturally raised an eyebrow.

Beyond his curiosity, he felt a surge of defiance.

Having just completed his Thousand Refinement, his self-confidence was at its peak.

He was desperate to prove that he wasn't weak!

So, he immediately gathered his courage and, driven by a subtle sense of rivalry, spoke up again to press the issue.

"Master Mu Chen! That... um... your disciple... when did he complete his Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver?"

He stared intently at Mu Chen, his eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of stubbornness.

Looking at the boy's spirited and slightly competitive gaze, Mu Chen, Cen Yue, and even Mu Xi felt a twinge of pity.

This child still didn't realize the gap between them.

Mu Chen sighed slightly, his tone as tactful as possible.

"Little guy, you are very excellent, truly. Being able to complete a Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver at nine years old is quite remarkable."

He shifted his tone.

"However... that disciple of mine..."

Mu Chen paused, seemingly weighing his words, before ultimately deciding to tell the truth.

"...he completed his Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver three years ago."

Mu Chen's words were spoken lightly.

But to Tang Wulin's ears, they were no less than a thunderclap!

Three years ago?!

Wait, brother, what do you mean he finished a Thousand Refinement three years ago?

Are you even speaking human language?