Mu Chen: Silence is Golden!

As soon as Mang Tian finished speaking, the sphere of light suddenly burst open.

Countless tiny specks of light scattered like fireflies, dancing through the air to form a brilliant galaxy within the workshop.

At the center of these light particles, the successfully Spirit Forged Deep Sea Silver hovered silently.

From this moment on, it was no longer just cold metal, but a work of art possessing life.

"Teacher, did I succeed?"

Lu Chuan turned his head, looking at Mang Tian with joy.

In his own perception, the Spirit Awakening had been a success, but he still wanted confirmation.

Mang Tian opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat clogged as if by an obstruction; he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

He strode over to Lu Chuan, trembling as he took the piece of Spirit Forged Deep Sea Silver to examine it closely.

The perfect texture, the uniform distribution of energy, and that unique aura of life...

Everything, every single detail, told him one fact: his student, only nine years old, had become a fifth-level blacksmith!

He had become the youngest blacksmith in the history of the Douluo Federation!

"Xiao Chuan, you succeeded! You succeeded!"

Mang Tian practically shouted, his hands shaking.

Part of it was due to excitement, but the other part was because he realized he had nothing left to teach Lu Chuan.

This meant that if Lu Chuan wanted to continue his advanced studies, he would need a new teacher.

Although he had long anticipated this day, now that it had arrived, he felt an inexplicable sorrow in his heart, as if some precious treasure had been snatched away from him.

He wanted to keep him for himself, but that would be unfair to such a treasure!

Could he really do that?

Mang Tian held the piece of Spirit Forged Deep Sea Silver, remaining silent for a long time.

His gaze lingered on the surface of the Deep Sea Silver, his fingertips gently tracing the natural, seamless patterns. This piece of Deep Sea Silver was simply too perfect—so perfect that it didn't look like the work of someone who had succeeded at Spirit Forging for the first time!

I should let go! After a long while, Mang Tian raised his head, his resolve hardened. He could never forget the eyes Lu Chuan had when he first arrived—eyes filled with an overflowing passion for blacksmithing. He could not bury a child's talent just for the sake of his own legacy!

"Xiao Chuan, wait for me here for a moment." Mang Tian stood up, his voice somewhat hoarse. "I'm going out to make a call."

"Alright!" Lu Chuan nodded. At that moment, he could sense that Mang Tian's mood was off, though he didn't know the reason why. Watching Mang Tian's lonely figure as he walked away, Lu Chuan felt the joy of his successful Spirit Forging suddenly diminish by more than half.

It was the first time Mang Tian felt the walk from Lu Chuan's workshop back to his office was so heavy. Over these years, he had taught Lu Chuan as if he were his own son. Now, having to let go, he truly felt reluctant! Yet, compared to the title of master and apprentice, he still felt that Lu Chuan's future was more important.

Walking into his office and closing the door, Mang Tian leaned his back against the wall and lit a cigarette. After the cigarette burned out, he pulled a soul-guided phone from his pocket and scrolled down until he reached a number he hadn't contacted in a long time. The note for that number contained only two characters—Mu Chen. An Eight-Star Saint Craftsman, and the current president of the East Sea City Blacksmith Association!

Beep—beep—beep— After three rings, the connection went through.

"Hello?"

"Mang Tian? You busy man, what made you think of calling me?"

A steady, middle-aged male voice came from the other end.

The voice carried a hint of teasing, but was filled mostly with surprise.

Clearly, the two were old friends, though Mu Chen had achieved much greater success.

However, Mang Tian had no interest in catching up at this moment.

He had made this call solely for the sake of Lu Chuan's future, so he went straight to the point:

"I have something I need to tell you."

"Oh? What could possibly make you take the initiative to contact me?"

Mu Chen's tone was relaxed, carrying the casual air of an old friend. "Don't tell me your workshop took on some massive order and needs the Association's help?"

"No," Mang Tian paused. "It's my apprentice. He just completed Spirit Forging."

There wasn't a shred of showing off in his tone, but the statement itself was a naked boast.

Once he finished speaking, the other end of the line went instantly silent.

It remained silent for a full five seconds!

When Mu Chen's voice finally returned, his tone had clearly shifted.

The previous ease was gone, replaced by a sense of urgency—a mix of envy and jealousy, layered infinitely.

"No way? Spirit Forging? Which apprentice of yours?"

"Long Da? Does he have that kind of talent? Or did you take on a new one?"

"No, what kind of damn luck do you have?"

"When did you take him in? Where did you find him?"

"Ah! Say something! Don't just sit there in silence!"

"Hello? Hello? Are you still there?"

Clearly, Mu Chen was green with envy.

One had to realize that his own daughter, whom he took such pride in, had been praised countless times as a forging genius. She had won awards until she lost count since she began learning, yet she had only just barely touched the threshold of a second-rank blacksmith!

And now, Mang Tian was telling him that his apprentice could already perform Spirit Forging!

If this wasn't the definition of absurd, nothing was!

He was a Saint Craftsman, yet he hadn't even produced a Master Craftsman apprentice yet!

Mang Tian could understand Mu Chen's loss of composure.

Anyone who saw Lu Chuan's talent would go a little crazy at least once or twice.

Hearing Mu Chen's incessant rambling, he suddenly felt his own heavy mood lift quite a bit.

This was the world of normal people!

Mang Tian sighed inwardly and immediately responded to Mu Chen, fearing that if he didn't, the man might actually lose his mind.

"I took him in three years ago."

"His name is Lu Chuan, and he is nine years old this year."

His tone was very flat.

But after he finished this sentence, the other end of the line fell silent again.

After a full five seconds of silence, Mu Chen could no longer sit still. His voice suddenly rose, cracking as he shouted, "Nine years old? Are you sure!"

"Mang Tian, are you sure you aren't joking with me?"

"Completing Spirit Forging at nine years old? Do you have any idea what that means?"

"I know. That's why I called you."

Mang Tian's voice remained calm throughout.

There was no helping it; having been shocked by Lu Chuan so many times, he was already immune to it!

But it was a different story on the other end of the line.

After another bout of silence, Mu Chen's voice sounded again, his words laced with a hint of skepticism:

"Mang Tian, you haven't gone senile, have you? You didn't mistake Hundred Forging for Spirit Forging, did you?"

Mang Tian knew that Lu Chuan's talent was simply too high for others to accept immediately, so he didn't get angry, merely saying flatly:

"Seeing is believing. If you don't believe me, you can come see for yourself."

Mu Chen had already been unable to sit still, and upon hearing Mang Tian's confident tone, he had already had his assistant make arrangements.

"Of course I'm going to see!"

"You're at the studio, right? I'm leaving right now!"

"But you'd better not be lying to me! Otherwise, I'll slaughter you tonight!"

"Heh, hurry up then! We'll see who slaughters whom tonight!"

Mang Tian chuckled and hung up directly, already thinking about how he would fleece Mu Chen for a massive meal!

After finishing the call, his mood felt instantly much lighter. He tucked his phone back into his pocket, pushed the door open, and walked out.

In the workshop, Lu Chuan was sitting on a stool, holding that piece of Spirit Forged Deep Sea Silver in his hands.

He seemed to have figured out why Mang Tian had suddenly felt so dejected...

"Teacher, are you done with your call?"

Hearing footsteps, Lu Chuan opened his eyes.

"Yes." Mang Tian walked over to him, pulled up another stool, and sat down. "I called the president of the East Sea City Blacksmith Association."

Lu Chuan was somewhat taken aback. "The president? Why call the president?"

Mang Tian sighed.

"Because I have already taught you everything I can."

"After Spirit Forging, there is Fusion Forging and Soul Forging."

"Fusion Forging is the current limit of my forging memory. In that regard, I can still barely pass on some experience to you."

"But I can no longer teach you Soul Forging."

"It requires a deep understanding and mastery of a metal's soul, and a more exquisite application of soul power. That is something I have yet to achieve even now..."

"Teacher..." Lu Chuan opened his mouth, wanting to offer some words of comfort.

Mang Tian waved his hand, cutting him off.

"I am not wallowing in self-pity. Facts are facts; I have been stuck at the Master level for years, and I have no right to hinder your future."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed out at the sky.

"Mu Chen is an eight-star Saint Craftsman, only a step away from becoming a God Craftsman. If he is willing to guide you, your path will go much further than I ever imagined."

Lu Chuan fell silent.

He knew his teacher was speaking the truth, but he still felt a bitter taste in his heart.

Over these years, he knew full well

how Mang Tian had treated him.

He had been raised like a biological son, groomed as the successor to his legacy...

About an hour later, a black soul-guided car pulled up in front of Mang Tian's workshop.

The car door opened, and a tall, middle-aged man dressed in a white robe stepped out quickly.

He looked to be in his early forties, with a refined face

and eyes that shone with spirit, exuding a calm, powerful aura from head to toe.

But the moment he saw Mang Tian, he seemed like a different person.

He tore off his refined facade, reverting to the wildness of a blacksmith.

"Mang Tian, where is he? Where is he? Is it this kid?"