Blacksmith Assessment

After the lively performance came the bustling evening party filled with food and drink.

Su Chen had little interest in such things; after bidding farewell to a few drinking buddies, he headed straight home, intending to start forging tomorrow.

"Big brother, you're back!"

As soon as Su Chen stepped through the door, Na'er rushed out to greet him, pouncing on him and clinging to his body like a koala, even planting a loud, firm kiss on his cheek.

Because Su Chen had awakened the Void Chrono Dragon, his physical fitness had skyrocketed. In just one month, his height and build had increased significantly, making him more than a head taller than Na'er.

Na'er, however, remained as petite as ever—soft, sweet, and adorable, making her very comfortable to hold.

"Mm, how was your day at home? No one bullied you, right?"

Su Chen rubbed Na'er's little head and asked with a smile.

"Mm-hmm, Mom treats me very well!"

Na'er blinked her beautiful purple eyes and said with a giggle.

Clearly, after the guidance of Su Chen's mother, Yu Yao, Na'er had become very comfortable calling her "Mom."

"That's good. If you're bored, I can arrange some lessons for you or have you attend a regular academy," Su Chen continued to ask.

"I don't want to!"

Na'er shook her head immediately, puffing out her cheeks. "I just want to stay home every day and wait for you to come back!"

"You're not a little puppy, why wait for me every day?" Su Chen pinched Na'er's soft, doughy cheeks and played with them, feeling somewhat speechless.

"Umm... if it were possible, Na'er would be willing to be big brother's... wuwuwu..."

Before Na'er could finish her sentence, Su Chen covered her mouth.

"Alright, alright, it's getting late. Let's go have a midnight snack."

Su Chen set Na'er down and led her toward the dining hall.

Na'er was in a growth spurt and was quite the little foodie, eating at least six meals a day.

Ever since Su Chen obtained his second martial soul, his appetite had also increased dramatically, and he, too, ate quite a lot.

"Mm!"

Na'er nodded and licked her little lips, clearly feeling a bit hungry herself.

After a hearty meal.

Su Chen returned to his room and was just about to rest when he saw Na'er, who had just finished washing up, standing at the doorway, looking at him with eager eyes.

Her white silk nightgown was loose, with a simple round neckline that revealed her slender collarbones and a sliver of her fair neck.

The hem of the dress fell just past her knees, exposing a pair of fair, tender legs.

Her pink, rounded feet pressed against the cool floor, and perhaps out of anticipation, her toes curled unconsciously.

She held a plush Void Chrono Dragon pillow that was nearly half her size, resting her chin against it, which only made her face look smaller and more delicate.

"Big brother, we agreed you'd sleep with me three days a week. Today should count as the first day~"

Na'er tilted her head and flashed a sweet smile.

"Fine, fine~ come here~"

Su Chen chuckled and beckoned to Na'er.

"Yay~"

Na'er cheered, then ran over quickly, burying her head directly into Su Chen's chest.

Breathing in the familiar scent on Su Chen, Na'er licked the corner of her mouth, feeling exceptionally at ease.

The next day.

Su Chen woke up early. After finishing breakfast with Na'er, he headed to the Blacksmith Association, intending to take the certification exam.

Although Su Chen had dropped out of school, he wasn't illiterate and had studied basic forging.

He had simply lacked the strength and talent before, knowing only the basics.

But now, he had the strength, and he had his cheat.

Forging would naturally be a breeze.

At the very least, he could secure a Level 1 Blacksmith certification, and with a bit of luck, maybe even Level 2 or 3.

The Blacksmith Association was easy to spot: a gray building about thirty stories high with a giant hammer emblem on it. With that symbol, there was no need for a nameplate at all.

Su Chen stood before the gray building of the Blacksmith Association.

The building stood thirty stories tall, easily identifiable by the massive hammer emblem emblazoned upon it.

Entering the lobby, Su Chen located a staff member, a young and beautiful blonde girl.

"Hello, I would like to apply for the Blacksmith Association rank examination."

Su Chen stated his business directly.

"Wha... what?"

The blonde girl suspected she had misheard. "You... you want to take the exam? Little one, how old are you? Where is your teacher?"

Her voice was loud enough to immediately draw the attention of several people nearby.

"My teacher didn't come. Can't I do it by myself?"

Su Chen tilted his head, wearing an expression of extreme innocence and harmlessness.

He certainly couldn't say he had no teacher; after all, it was impossible to enter the field of blacksmithing without one.

Furthermore, blacksmiths placed great importance on respecting their teachers. If Su Chen claimed to have no mentor, he would likely be met with contempt.

"Uh... o... of course you can!"

The stiffness on the blonde girl's face quickly melted away, replaced by a renewed smile.

Anyone who came to take the exam was a blacksmith, and essentially a future member of the Blacksmith Association. Moreover, since they had to pay an examination fee, she naturally wouldn't refuse.

For someone to come for the exam at such a young age, they must be a genius, and their teacher must be extraordinary.

She hurriedly pulled a form from her drawer and passed it to Su Chen across the counter.

Su Chen filled out the form casually and paid the fee.

"Wha... what! Seven years old!"

Upon seeing the form, the blonde girl gasped in shock.

The people around them nearly dropped their jaws in disbelief upon hearing this.

"Seven years old! My god!"

"Coming to take the blacksmith exam at seven, this must be a record..."

"I remember the youngest examinee was eight..."

"Little one, who exactly is your teacher??"

"Could it be... that you have already reached the level of a Level 1 Blacksmith?!"

The surrounding crowd swarmed over, filled with intense curiosity.

Since the boy had come to take the exam, he must have had some degree of confidence.

To be confident enough to attempt the Level 1 Blacksmith exam at seven years old—this was a total monster of talent!

At this moment, everyone was stunned, and the news spread rapidly, eventually reaching the ears of Mu Chen, the association president.

"Excuse me, can you take me to the examination area now?"

Su Chen asked again.

"Oh, oh! Yes, yes! Please, follow me!"

The blonde girl hurriedly led Su Chen to the examination area in the back.

"Master Li, this is Su Chen. He is applying for the Level 1 Blacksmith exam." The blonde girl said respectfully to the man inside.

The forging room was quite spacious, with a massive forge at its center connected to a heating apparatus.

Various tool racks and material shelves were arranged along the sides.

The examiner was an elderly man in his fifties, though his physique was exceptionally robust.

"Him? Taking the exam?"

The robust old man was also taken aback when he saw Su Chen.

"Mhm."

The blonde girl nodded, looking very serious.

"Fine, follow me."

The old man led Su Chen to a table, pointed at the fifteen types of metal on the surface, and said, "Choose one to forge. I will grade you based on your results. You have one hour."

Although he was curious, he strictly adhered to the examiner's regulations, refraining from asking too many questions and proceeding according to the rules.

As for whether the boy truly had the skills, the results would speak for themselves.