Forging Exchange Tournament, Saint Craftsman Mu Chen

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The continuous sound of metal striking metal rang through the venue. Though it sounded somewhat chaotic, there was an inexplicable rhythm to it.

It was the sound of hammers striking iron!

Eastsea City was a city located in the eastern region of Douluo Continent. At one of its venues, a small forging exchange tournament was underway.

The younger generation of Forging Masters stood on the central arena stage, wielding hammers and pouring out their sweat. Under their efforts, the metals being forged gradually became brighter and more lustrous.

This was merely an exchange tournament between schools. The oldest student onstage was only fifteen, and most of the Forging Masters were merely first or second rank.

To young people, every student participating in the forging exchange tournament was an idol, someone with the potential to become an advanced Forging Master in the future.

But to high-level Forging Masters, there was truly little worth watching in this competition. Mu Chen was one of them.

As the president of the Eastsea City branch of the Forging Association, Mu Chen was an eight-star Saint Craftsman capable of performing a variety of complex Fusion Forging techniques.

Under normal circumstances, he should not have appeared in a place like this. The president of a Forging Association branch was busy every day—how could he possibly have time to attend such a small exchange tournament? Even if someone paid to invite him, they might not be able to do so.

In the eyes of a Saint Craftsman, money was no longer that important. If he wanted to earn some, he could casually forge a few pieces of metal and sell them for an enormous price.

The only reason this eight-star Saint Craftsman had come was that his daughter had made some minor achievements in forging. He was in a good mood and had come out for a stroll, only to happen upon this forging exchange tournament and stop by for a look.

"Saint Craftsman, these children are the future of our academy. What do you think of them?"

"The younger generation is formidable. Their future is promising!"

Although most of them were quite ordinary, Mu Chen happened to be in a good mood, so giving them a favorable assessment was no great matter. To him, it was just a sentence.

But to the academy principal who had asked the question, it meant something entirely different.

This was praise from a Saint Craftsman. If he told the children those words, it would surely inspire them greatly. The benefits would be tremendous!

The exchange tournament soon came to an end. The first-place winner was a second-rank Forging Master, and also the one Mu Chen had initially thought most highly of.

"Looks like there aren't any particularly outstanding children here..."

But Mu Chen's gaze was quickly drawn to the scene below. After all the students had left, a middle-aged man unexpectedly stepped onto the arena stage once more.

Mu Chen was somewhat puzzled, because he knew that middle-aged man. He was a fifth-rank Forging Master from the Eastsea City Forging Association branch.

Though Mu Chen could not remember his name, he remembered the man well. He could perform fifth-rank Spirit Refinement and could be called a Grand Craftsman, yet every piece of metal he forged was of inferior quality. There was not much room for future growth.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely remain stuck at this level for the rest of his life.

What was he doing here?

However, as the announcement broadcast through the venue, Mu Chen understood the purpose.

"Now, let us warmly welcome the Grand Craftsman, who will demonstrate the splendor of Spirit Refinement for us!"

Clearly, he had come to instruct the students.

Mu Chen could not help glancing at the principal beside him. He had not expected this man to have some ability. Though this was the worst kind of Grand Craftsman, being able to invite him still showed that the principal had some connections.

But none of that concerned Mu Chen. He had only come out for a casual stroll, and before long he would head home to see his daughter.

The Spirit Refinement demonstration soon approached its end. Compared to the excited students and teachers present, Mu Chen appeared exceptionally calm, with even a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

At a glance, he could see the quality of that Spirit Refined metal... inferior again! This fellow had made no progress at all in recent years!

And judging by the expressions of the people around him, not even the academy principal beside him had noticed the quality of that piece of metal.

Watching so many people praise an unqualified piece of Spirit Refined metal, Mu Chen could not help feeling irritated. Yet he could not bear to speak up and dampen the children's enthusiasm.

"Better go for a walk."

After sighing helplessly, Mu Chen rose from his seat. He refused everyone's offer to accompany him and left alone.

The good mood brought on by his daughter's accomplishments had completely vanished after watching that substandard Spirit Refinement. All he wanted now was to take a walk by the sea and clear his mind.

Because of his status, Mu Chen did not plan to leave through the main entrance. Instead, he chose an unoccupied path and proceeded slowly.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Before long, however, the sound of running footsteps came from behind him. Judging from the sound, their owner was not very old, perhaps around ten.

Mu Chen could not help looking back. A little girl was running toward him with an armful of metal materials... Was she here to ask for his autograph? Or to seek forging advice?

Although many questions arose in his mind, Mu Chen carefully examined the little girl. Her features were well-proportioned; she would definitely grow into a beauty. And the pile of metal materials in her arms seemed to be leftover scraps from the earlier competition?

Looking at the girl, Mu Chen could not help thinking of his own daughter. Mu Xi also seemed to have once happily carried the leftover materials from his forging.

"Fine, since we've met, I'll give her a little guidance." Having made up his mind, Mu Chen raised a hand and intended to call the girl over. "If you have any questions..."

Mu Chen: ???

Before he could finish speaking, Mu Chen froze on the spot.

The girl had no intention of stopping. She ran straight past him and headed for the distant exit.

The situation became rather awkward.

"Little girl, wait!"

"Hm?" The girl, who had been about to leave, immediately stopped upon hearing the voice behind her and looked back in confusion.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Mu Chen pointed to his own face. As a Saint Craftsman, his appearance had long since become widely known. There were very few people in the forging world who did not recognize him. This girl looked like a Forging Master too, did she not?

"Something to say to you?" The girl tilted her head. Her puzzled expression was adorable as she answered uncertainly, "May your blessings be as vast as the East Sea, and your life as enduring as the southern mountains?"

Pfft!

Mu Chen felt as though he had spat blood internally, but he patiently smiled and said, "I mean in the field of forging. Isn't there anything you want to ask me?"

"What would I need to ask you?" Upon hearing Mu Chen's words, the girl immediately became impatient. "Old man, aren't you being a little too full of yourself?"

"Just like that lousy fifth-rank Forging Master on the arena earlier. You performed one unqualified Spirit Refinement and think you have some ability, so now you're acting like you own the world?"

"If I were your age, I'd already be a God Craftsman!"

Seeing the old man before her thoroughly stunned by her words, Herta coolly turned around and strode away, leaving Mu Chen standing there in a mess. He was, after all, an eight-star Saint Craftsman—when had anyone ever pointed at his nose and scolded him like that?

But Mu Chen's expression quickly changed.

"Wait! She knew that the Spirit Refinement just now was unqualified?"

At the earlier exchange tournament, apart from himself and the fifth-rank Forging Master who had taken the stage, Mu Chen was certain that no high-level Forging Masters had come. Then how had this girl known?

Driven by curiosity, Mu Chen followed the path the girl had taken, intending to find out what was going on.

Who would have thought that an eight-star Saint Craftsman of the Forging Association would be reduced to following a little girl... What had the world come to!