"What's he trying to do? Don't tell me he wants to attempt Thousand-Refinement!"
Someone cried out in alarm.
Based on what Su Chen had shown so far, he could easily qualify as a Level 2 Blacksmith—and he was at the very top of that level.
And Su Chen was only seven years old.
This had absolutely shattered the record for the entire blacksmithing world!
And now, Su Chen wanted to keep going.
If he really could forge Thousand-Refined Deep Silver, then he'd be a Level 3 Blacksmith...
A Level 3 Blacksmith at seven—was he even human?
"Boom, boom, boom—"
He kept hammering away without any discernible method.
But now, no one dared mock him. Everyone stared intently at Su Chen, hoping to uncover some secret in his seemingly chaotic hammering.
His hammerwork looked haphazard, but perhaps it was an incredibly advanced forging technique. They simply couldn't see it.
"Could this be the legendary Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer?" someone asked curiously.
"Chaotic Cloak has the word 'chaotic' in it, but that doesn't mean it's actually random. This kid is just a complete amateur!" someone said irritably.
At first, Mu Chen had thought Su Chen might be some prodigy raised by an old monster.
But after watching him, he was now completely certain...
Su Chen was a thoroughgoing amateur. He hadn't even systematically studied proper forging.
In fact, this might be his first time forging anything...
The moment the thought occurred to Mu Chen, he dismissed it.
A beginner, reaching top-grade Hundred-Refinement on his very first attempt?
Even his senior fellow disciple, Zhen Hua—the only God Craftsman in the world today—probably hadn't been such a monstrous prodigy.
But no matter what, Su Chen had reached top-grade Hundred-Refinement at seven, and was even trying to break through to Thousand-Refinement.
If he succeeded, he was destined to become a God Craftsman!
"Take him as a disciple! I have to!"
"Even if he already has a master, I'll still find a way to get him to join me. I'd pay any price!"
Mu Chen roared inwardly, his face flushed with excitement.
"Boom, boom, boom—"
The forging continued.
But now, none of the forging masters gathered around—including Mu Chen, the Saint Craftsman—looked down on him anymore.
Their eyes were fixed on that piece of Sinking Silver.
With every blow, it visibly shrank.
Something seemed to be awakening inside the metal. Each strike was accompanied by a deep, resonant hum.
"It's spiritual essence... The metal's spiritual essence is condensing! Is he really going to... give the Thousand-Refined metal a spirit?"
The elderly examiner cried out in shock.
"H-how is this possible..."
Mu Xi stared fixedly at Su Chen, her heart heavy.
She'd worked so hard, yet she couldn't even guarantee success at Hundred-Refinement. Meanwhile, Su Chen could reach Thousand-Refinement with ease. The difference...
Mu Chen said nothing, but the storm raging in his heart was more violent than anyone else's.
A seven-year-old child, using the most terrible technique, was actually attempting Thousand-Refinement!
It was simply... a miracle!
"Boom—"
Just then, Su Chen brought down his final blow, pouring every last bit of his strength into it, along with the final trace of Soul Power in his body.
"Hum—"
A dazzling silver-white light burst from the Sinking Silver, illuminating the room and reflecting in everyone's eyes.
"Ascension! Thousand-Refinement! He really did it!!!"
"Thousand-Refinement! This is the ascension of Thousand-Refinement! The metal has gained a spirit!"
"A seven-year-old with Thousand-Refined Sinking Silver! This... this is... terrifyingly monstrous..."
"It's not the highest-grade first-tier Thousand-Refinement, but it's still reached the third-tier level. What a monster!"
Gasps of astonishment and sharp intakes of breath filled the room.
"Phew~ Finally done~"
Su Chen wiped away his sweat.
Even with talent and strength on his side, Thousand-Refinement required Soul Power.
His Soul Power had run dry at just the right moment. If it had taken any longer, he would have failed.
Fortunately, he'd made it through without any mishaps.
His cultivation wasn't strong enough to support a higher level of Spirit-Refinement for now. No matter how powerful his talent was, it wouldn't be enough.
"That should be about enough, right?"
Su Chen looked at the examiner, then froze.
"Why are there so many people?"
He'd been so absorbed in hammering that he hadn't noticed anyone arriving.
He didn't recognize the middle-aged man at the front, but he knew Mu Xi.
And that middle-aged man at the front had to be Mu Chen, president of the Blacksmith Association—an eight-star Saint Craftsman.
Su Chen hadn't expected that merely coming in to give it a try would draw over such a big shot.
"You brat... Who taught you that forging technique? Who's your master?"
Mu Chen flashed over to Su Chen and grabbed him by the shoulders, firing off his questions.
His voice trembled noticeably with excitement.
"Uh..."
Su Chen thought it over, then answered honestly. "I don't have a teacher. This was my first time forging..."
"What! You don't have a teacher! You achieved Thousand-Refinement on your first attempt? You, you, you..."
Mu Chen was struck as if by lightning, staring at Su Chen as though he were a monster.
"That's impossible! If you don't have a teacher and this was your first time forging, then why did you come to take the exam?" Mu Xi stepped forward and challenged him.
She felt that Su Chen was lying.
Besides, if it was his first time forging, it made even less sense for him to come straight to the exam without trying it out on his own first.
The crowd began buzzing with chatter again.
"His first time? He's lying, right?"
"How could anyone reach Thousand-Refinement on their first try? Even if you're going to boast, make it believable!"
"He must be afraid to tell the truth because President Mu is here..."
"He doesn't look like he's lying. His technique just now... really did look like he'd never learned before..."
Faced with the crowd's doubtful looks, Su Chen remained calm.
"Maybe I'm just pretty talented. I felt like I could do it, so I came. Besides, the exam fee wasn't that expensive." Su Chen shrugged.
"Pretty talented?" Mu Xi was left speechless by Su Chen's casual tone and didn't know how to respond.
She looked into Su Chen's clear eyes. There was no pride or boastfulness in them—only a calm certainty.
That made her feel even more frustrated.
"Hahaha..."
Just then, Mu Chen suddenly burst out laughing.
He turned to Su Chen, a genial smile on his face. "Since you don't have a teacher, why don't you... become my disciple?"
Mu Chen didn't care about any of the rest.
Whether or not the boy was lying, taking him as a disciple was what mattered most.
"Huh?"
Su Chen was stunned. He hadn't expected the big shot to change the subject so quickly.
Mu Chen didn't give Su Chen much time to react. He straightened slightly, his face taking on a proud expression.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Mu Chen, president of the Eastsea City branch of the Blacksmith Association, and an eight-star Saint Craftsman."
He deliberately emphasized his identity as an "eight-star Saint Craftsman," his eyes gleaming as he looked at Su Chen. "Kid, I've never seen talent like yours in my entire life. If you become my disciple, you're sure to become a God Craftsman!"
The crowd didn't think his words were the least bit exaggerated.
A Level 3 Blacksmith at seven, who could reach Thousand-Refinement with ease.
If he still couldn't become a God Craftsman, that would defy all reason.
Mu Xi's mouth fell open too. This was the first time she'd ever heard her father give someone such high praise.
Though she felt a little unconvinced, the facts seemed to... speak for themselves...
"I don't know if that's a good idea..."
Su Chen pretended to hesitate.
"Kid, be sensible. Don't make this old man get down on his knees and beg you! I may be one of the few eight-level Saint Craftsmen on the continent, and there are enough people lining up to become my disciples to circle the continent several times over!" Mu Chen glared at Su Chen and sent him an angry telepathic message.
He'd already made up his mind. No matter what, he was taking Su Chen on as his disciple today!
"...Su Chen pays his respects to Master."
Su Chen grinned.
The old man seemed a little strange, but Su Chen still bowed respectfully.
After all, he really did need a teacher. He had heaven-defying forging talent, but with guidance from a top Saint Craftsman, he'd soar even faster.
Most importantly, Su Chen also needed a powerful backer and connections.
Mu Chen was an eight-star Saint Craftsman, after all.
With that kind of backing, no matter what Su Chen did in the future, there'd be someone to cover for him—or take the blame. It would be very convenient.
"Hahaha! Good, good, good! From this day forward, you're my one and only direct disciple!"
Mu Chen burst into hearty laughter at Su Chen's answer.
Su Chen had agreed so readily. That was enough to show he really didn't have a teacher, and that he probably hadn't lied about anything that had just happened.
This time, he'd really struck gold!
Before you continue