A Guide, a God Craftsman

After Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai left, Xiao Cheng sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, gazing at the white clouds drifting leisurely across the sky as he sank into thought.

Forging Spirit Metal truly was no easy task. Ordinary Thousand Refinement only required removing impurities from the metal and increasing its purity.

But with Spirit Metal, the forger had to infuse their spiritual power and Soul Power into the metal during the Thousand Refinement process, bringing it "to life" and giving it spirituality. This required an extremely deep understanding of the metal's grain and properties, as well as powerful spiritual power and Soul Power to support it.

With his current forging ability, independently completing the forging of Spirit Metal was still somewhat difficult. He needed a more capable forging teacher to guide him.

And on the present-day Douluo Continent, when it came to forging techniques, the foremost figure was naturally the continent's only God Craftsman—Yuan Hua.

Xiao Cheng had no doubt that he could become Yuan Hua's disciple. After all, an eleven-and-a-half-year-old Level Five Forging Grandmaster was a rarity even throughout the entire history of the Blacksmith Association. No forging master could possibly remain unmoved after seeing such talent.

But the problem was, he needed someone to introduce him.

Forgers of this era were not so secretive about their techniques that they hoarded them selfishly, but they rarely shared knowledge with one another. Especially at the level of a God Craftsman, becoming a disciple was even more difficult. Without an introduction from someone important enough, why would the other party accept him?

Although Zheng Tie was already a Level Seven Saint Craftsman, he had come from an unorthodox background and had little connection with God Craftsman Yuan Hua. His introduction and recommendation would likely have little effect. There were still ten or twenty Saint Craftsmen across the continent, and Zheng Tie was only a newly promoted one. His recommendation would most likely vanish without a trace.

"Surely I can't just go to the Blacksmith Association headquarters in Heaven Dou City and show off?" Xiao Cheng rubbed his chin, thinking in frustration. "At my age and with my forging skills, making a display at the headquarters would definitely shock everyone. But that would be too reckless. People might think I was there to cause trouble. What if God Craftsman Yuan Hua cares a lot about his pride? If I make him lose face and he refuses to accept me out of stubbornness, what then?"

He thought for a long time but could not come up with any good solution. Left with no choice, he decided to ask his parents and see whether they had any connections.

Xiao Cheng rose to his feet and walked into the house.

Xiao Ran was handling some documents in the study, while Mu Wan was reading a book on Soul Guidance Technology in the living room. Xiao Cheng sat down beside Mu Wan and explained his thoughts and concerns.

"You want to take God Craftsman Yuan Hua as your master?" After hearing him out, Mu Wan set down her book, a thoughtful gleam flashing through her eyes.

"Mm." Xiao Cheng nodded. "Master Zheng said there was only so much more he could teach me. If I want to go farther down the path of forging, I need a stronger teacher. And the person with the strongest forging skills on the continent today is God Craftsman Yuan Hua."

Mu Wan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Cheng'er, your luck really is quite good."

"Huh?" Xiao Cheng froze.

"You may not know this, but the Body Sect has a rather good relationship with the Blacksmith Association and God Craftsman Yuan Hua," Mu Wan said with a smile.

"Really?" Xiao Cheng's eyes lit up.

"Of course." Mu Wan said, "You know that the second awakening of a Body Martial Soul is extremely difficult, and the awakening process is exceptionally violent. One has to repeatedly teeter between life and death. Even if one succeeds, failing to carefully recuperate afterward may still leave hidden injuries. That is why our Body Sect has conducted extremely deep research into methods of nourishment and recuperation, such as Medicinal Cuisine and Medicinal Baths."

She paused before continuing, "When a God Craftsman performs Heavenly Refinement, not only is the success rate low, but it can also easily damage the body. Thus, God Craftsmen value the Body Sect's health-preserving methods greatly and have long employed members of our sect to help them recuperate. Furthermore, the Blacksmith Association headquarters is located in Heaven Dou City, while the Body Sect's mountain gate is not far from the city either. After the two sides dealt with each other often enough, we naturally developed a good friendship."

After hearing this, Xiao Cheng was overjoyed.

No wonder his cousin Mu Ye, who had not even been born in the original story, would become the personal chef of the future God Craftsman Zhen Hua. So the Body Sect and the Blacksmith Association had always shared such deep ties.

"Then can you introduce me?" Xiao Cheng hurriedly asked.

"Of course I can." Mu Wan smiled. "I'll send word to your uncle right away and have him make the arrangements. God Craftsman Yuan Hua may hold an exalted position, but he is not an unreasonable person. With your forging talent, he should not refuse."

"That's great!" Xiao Cheng leaped up from the sofa in excitement. "Thank you, Mom!"

"All right, all right, don't get happy too soon." Mu Wan waved her hand. "Whether you can successfully become his disciple will still depend on your own ability. A God Craftsman has very high standards. Talent alone is not enough. You must also show him sufficient diligence."

"I understand!" Xiao Cheng said confidently. "I'll definitely make God Craftsman Yuan Hua see me in a new light!"

Mu Wan was highly efficient. That very afternoon, she sent word to her younger brother Mu Man, who was far away in Heaven Dou City. When Mu Man heard that his nephew wanted to become Yuan Hua's disciple, he agreed without hesitation and said that he would arrange it as soon as possible.

Three days later, Xiao Cheng received Mu Man's reply—God Craftsman Yuan Hua agreed to meet him and told him to come to Heaven Dou City as soon as possible.

After receiving the message, Xiao Cheng immediately packed his luggage, bid farewell to his parents, and boarded a Soul Guidance Train alone for Heaven Dou City.

This was not his first time traveling far from home, but it was his first time traveling alone. Still, given his current strength and maturity, he did not need to worry about encountering any danger. Besides, Xiao Ran had also left a Spatial Mark on Xiao Cheng.

Over the past three years, Xiao Ran's cultivation had successfully broken through to Rank 98. The divine artifact, the Space-Time Divine Shuttle, had also completely taken shape and was no longer merely a prototype. If the Spatial Mark on Xiao Cheng was triggered, Xiao Ran could tear through space and arrive before him at any time, anywhere. With Xiao Ran's current strength and the Space-Time Divine Shuttle's enhancement, Xiao Ran was confident that dealing with a Limit Douluo like Long Yeyue would not be difficult.

The Soul Guidance Train sped along the tracks, and the scenery outside the windows flashed backward. Xiao Cheng leaned against the window, watching the fields and mountains sweep past, anticipation rising in his heart.

God Craftsman Yuan Hua, the continent's only Level Nine blacksmith and a towering figure in the forging world. Becoming his disciple was the dream of countless forgers. And he, an eleven-and-a-half-year-old boy, was about to receive that opportunity.

I must seize this chance. Xiao Cheng silently told himself.

Several hours later, the Soul Guidance Train slowly pulled into Heaven Dou City Station.

Xiao Cheng stepped off the train. The moment he walked out of the station, he saw a burly young man standing at the exit and waving at him.

It was his uncle—Mu Man.

Three years had passed, and Mu Man had become even more powerfully built. He stood there like an iron tower, drawing glances from passersby. Upon seeing Xiao Cheng, he grinned and strode over.

"Cheng'er! Long time no see!" Mu Man grabbed Xiao Cheng in a hug and vigorously patted his back. "Good kid, you've grown quite a bit taller!"

"Uncle, take it easy..." Xiao Cheng was nearly unable to breathe from the pats. He hurriedly struggled free from Mu Man's embrace. "You're about to pat me to pieces..."

"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry, your uncle got carried away!" Mu Man scratched his head and chuckled foolishly. "Come on, I'll take you to get something to eat first, then we'll go see the God Craftsman."

"Okay." Xiao Cheng nodded.

Mu Man took Xiao Cheng to a long-established restaurant in Heaven Dou City for a lavish lunch. Xiao Cheng could only say that the food truly tasted excellent. Worth mentioning was that the restaurant belonged to the Body Sect. More accurately, the Body Sect controlled nearly half of Heaven Dou City's food industry chain, which was also its greatest source of income.

After eating, Mu Man led him toward the Blacksmith Association headquarters.

The Blacksmith Association headquarters stood in Heaven Dou City's central district, a majestic building of imposing grandeur. The entire structure was constructed from metal and stone, its exterior simple yet weighty, exuding the rugged beauty unique to the industrial age.

Above the main entrance hung an enormous plaque carved with four bold characters—"Blacksmith Association." The calligraphy was vigorous and forceful, clearly the work of a renowned master.

"We're here." Mu Man pointed at the building. "God Craftsman Yuan Hua usually works in the forging room on the top floor. I've already spoken with him. He has time this afternoon and can meet you."

Xiao Cheng took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and followed Mu Man into the building.

The two took an elevator to the top floor, passed through a long corridor, and finally stopped before a heavy metal door.

Mu Man knocked on the door and called out loudly, "Senior Yuan Hua, I've brought him."

"Come in." An aged yet powerful voice came from inside.

Mu Man pushed open the door and led Xiao Cheng inside.

Within the room, a tall, white-haired old man stood before an enormous forging table. He held a silver-white forging hammer in his hand as he carefully examined a piece of metal on the table.

The old man appeared to be around seventy or eighty years old, yet his back was perfectly straight, showing no trace of frailty. His arms were thick and powerful, veins bulging like coiled dragons, clearly the result of years spent forging. His gaze was sharp and profound, as though it could see through the metal's internal structure.

He was the continent's only God Craftsman—Yuan Hua.

Yuan Hua raised his head and let his gaze settle on Xiao Cheng. After giving him a thorough look, a flicker of barely noticeable surprise passed through his eyes.

Mu Man had previously told him that an eleven-and-a-half-year-old nephew wanted to take him as a master and was already a Level Five Forging Grandmaster. To be honest, he had found it difficult to fully believe. An eleven-and-a-half-year-old Level Five Forging Grandmaster? That was absurd. He had lived most of his life, yet he had never heard of any forging genius reaching the level of Spirit Refinement at eleven and a half.

However, out of consideration for Mu Huang, he had still agreed to meet him. Mu Huang was an old friend of many years, and they shared a deep friendship. Since Mu Huang's grandson wanted to become his disciple, he had to give him some face. Besides, even if that boy was not truly a Level Five Forging Grandmaster, being praised so highly by the Body Sect meant he should at least be a Level Four forging master. That was already an extraordinary talent worth meeting.

Yet when Yuan Hua saw Xiao Cheng in person, a measure of anticipation rose within him.

This boy's eyes were very steady.

Not the steady look of someone putting on an act, but a calmness and confidence that came from within. He had only seen such eyes on some experienced Forging Grandmasters within the Blacksmith Association.

"You are Xiao Cheng?" Yuan Hua asked, his voice deep and powerful.

"This junior is Xiao Cheng. Greetings, Senior Yuan Hua." Xiao Cheng offered neither servility nor arrogance as he bowed.

"Mm." Yuan Hua nodded, not wasting words as he said directly, "Mu Man said you are a Level Five Forging Grandmaster and can already complete Spirit Refinement. In that case, let me see what you can do."

As he spoke, he pointed at a piece of metal on the forging table. "That is Sinking Silver, a rare metal of moderate difficulty. Use that piece of Sinking Silver to complete one Spirit Refinement in front of me. If you can do it, I will accept you as my disciple."

Xiao Cheng glanced at the piece of Sinking Silver and nodded. "All right."

He said nothing more and walked directly to the forging table. Picking up a forging hammer, he tested its feel in his hand.

Then he took a deep breath, lit the furnace, and placed the Sinking Silver inside to heat.

Yuan Hua stood to one side with his arms folded, quietly watching Xiao Cheng's movements.

He noticed that every one of Xiao Cheng's movements was exceptionally standard. From the way he held the hammer to the stance he adopted, everything carried the precise, textbook-like feeling of proper form. It showed that he had received highly orthodox foundational training and had not picked up the bad habits of unorthodox forgers.

"Though Zheng Tie came from an unorthodox background himself, he understands what matters when teaching a disciple. At least he hasn't led the boy astray," Yuan Hua silently praised.

Soon, the Sinking Silver had reached the proper temperature. Xiao Cheng used tongs to remove it from the furnace and placed it on the anvil. Then he swung his forging hammer and began to strike.

Clang!

The first hammer fell, producing a crisp and steady sound.

Yuan Hua's brows rose slightly.

The force, angle, and point of impact of that first strike were all exactly right. More remarkably, at the instant the hammer fell, Xiao Cheng's spiritual power and Soul Power had already permeated the metal in unison, beginning to sense the internal grain of the Sinking Silver.

Interesting. Yuan Hua thought.

Xiao Cheng continued forging, every strike landing precisely upon a grain node in the Sinking Silver. He gradually forced out the impurities while simultaneously infusing his spiritual power and Soul Power into the metal.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of the hammer echoed through the forging room, its rhythm steady and powerful.

The more Yuan Hua watched, the more shocked he became.

He had initially thought that even if Xiao Cheng was talented, he was still young, and his understanding of Spirit Refinement might remain superficial. Yet the longer he watched, the more he realized something was wrong—every strike from this boy carried an experienced, seasoned quality, as though this was not his first Spirit Refinement but something he had practiced countless times.

Moreover, his understanding of a metal like Sinking Silver far surpassed that of his peers. He could accurately find the direction of its grain, then use the most suitable force and angle to forge it, allowing the metal to gradually awaken with spirituality beneath his hammer.

What kind of genius is this... Yuan Hua could not help complaining inwardly. This is clearly a monster!

He had lived most of his life and seen countless forging geniuses, but never had he encountered one who could display such seasoned forging skills at the age of eleven and a half.

He even had a premonition—this boy's forging talent might be greater than his own!

At that thought, Yuan Hua was already eager to take Xiao Cheng as his disciple. Letting such a talent slip away would be nothing short of a waste of Heaven's gifts!

Yet he still forcibly suppressed his excitement, keeping a calm expression on his face.

I can't let him become too pleased with himself, Yuan Hua thought. Young people are prone to arrogance and complacency. I need to put on airs and let him know that Heaven is high and earth is vast.

Thus, he continued standing to the side, watching Xiao Cheng forge without expression. From time to time, he nodded, occasionally letting out an "Mm" to show approval.

Xiao Cheng did not know what Yuan Hua was thinking. He was completely focused on the Spirit Refinement.