Certification as a Level Four Blacksmith? Mu Xi Takes a Heavy Blow [Please Read On]

"..."

"So Jiang Yan, you agree?"

"Holy crap!"

The excitement on Wei Xiaofeng's face intensified as he made to bow again. Fortunately, Jiang Yan swiftly caught and steadied him, while the other two, who had been about to follow suit, were urgently stopped by him as well.

"There's no need for such a grand gesture. Where did you even learn this?"

Jiang Yan said helplessly.

"Hehe."

"Isn't that how they always do it in TV dramas?"

Wei Xiaofeng blinked and giggled.

"?"

Jiang Yan smiled helplessly.

No wonder the guy had such unconventional ideas.

"By the way, Boss."

"Can we see your martial soul?"

Zhang Yangzi's eyes lit up at that moment.

The Holy Dragon King—just hearing the name made it sound incomparably sacred. How could they not want to see it for themselves?

"No problem."

Looking at the three little fans blinking eagerly at him, Jiang Yan nodded. In the next instant, a nine-colored dragon phantom, mighty enough to make the world tremble in fear, silently appeared.

Although Jiang Yan had already tried his best to restrain it, even the faint residual pressure it released left them rooted to the spot, unable to utter a word.

"Boss's martial soul..."

"Jinxi, I can say for certain that this is a Dragon King above even your true dragon bloodline. Forget you—even my attributes have been completely suppressed."

Zhang Yangzi looked at the trembling Wang Jinxi beside him and pursed his lips. Dragon-type martial souls had a strict hierarchy, so it was only natural for Jinxi to be frightened like this, but he...

He was just an innocent Dark Illusory Demon Eagle passing by.

"What are you, an eagle, talking about?"

"I'm a snake..."

"I've long since felt like I couldn't breathe."

Wei Xiaofeng's breathing quickened as well. Flood dragons and pythons had to transform into dragons to become draconic beasts, while snakes were suppressed even more severely.

For a moment, the reverence in his heart overflowed beyond words. At this moment, he had no idea that this was called... loyalty!

He only knew one thing.

Boss was seriously cool!

"..."

While the three little ones were too shocked to say a word, a new special mission was activated in Jiang Yan's mind:

[Congratulations on becoming the sincerely admired boss of East Sea Academy's three great geniuses. Hidden mission completed: A True Leader]

[A true leader is not a hollow title. You must lead your companions to grow and achieve the highest heights step by step.]

[Each time you help a companion break through a major realm, you will receive generous rewards.]

"Breaking through a major realm... Wei Xiaofeng and the others are only Soul Scholars now. Does that mean the rewards are coming soon?"

Jiang Yan clicked his tongue in wonder, his gaze sweeping over the three silly-looking little ones before him as emotion welled up in his heart.

If that was the case...

Then he would give them a little shock in the future.

"..."

After leaving East Sea Academy, Jiang Lingli had already been waiting at the entrance. He waved at Jiang Yan.

After bringing him into the car, he smiled slightly.

"Yan'er, there's no rush to go home today."

"You wanted to complete your blacksmith evaluation as soon as possible. I arranged a time with Mu Chen, the Saint Blacksmith of the Blacksmith Association, today. I'll take you there now. You're not nervous, are you?"

Jiang Lingli asked with a smile.

"Hm?"

"Of course I'm not nervous, Uncle Li."

"I'm actually looking forward to it."

Jiang Yan paused, the corners of his lips lifting as anticipation flashed in his eyes.

Na'er's worried expression when she feared he might not have enough money to spend flashed through his mind, followed by the four completed missions!

The four growth missions of Star of Forging, from a level one blacksmith to a level four blacksmith—he had been waiting a long time for those rewards!

"Sit tight."

"Uncle will take you there now."

"..."

The Blacksmith Association was located near the Soul Master Association, not far from the Spirit Pagoda. Thanks to the status blacksmiths held in this era, it was also one of East Sea City's landmark buildings.

After entering the association, Jiang Yan followed closely behind Jiang Lingli. They took the elevator straight to the chairman's office on the top floor, where a tall, burly middle-aged man had long since come into view.

He was Mu Chen, chairman of the East Sea Blacksmith Association, an eighth-rank Saint Blacksmith and an eight-ringed Soul Douluo.

For some reason, his face currently carried a trace of awkwardness.

"Chairman Mu, I've brought my nephew."

Jiang Lingli stepped forward first and spoke calmly.

"Pagoda Master Jiang, welcome."

"This must be Young Master Jiang Yan. I heard long ago that not only are your blacksmithing skills exquisite, but your appearance is exceptional as well. Now that I've seen you, the rumors truly did not exaggerate."

With a smile on his lips, Mu Chen fixed his gaze on Jiang Yan, unable to hide the anticipation in his eyes.

This was not the first time he had heard of him.

Mang Tian of Aolai City had informed him more than once that he had encountered a genius child who could perform Hundred Refinements at the age of five. Pagoda Master Jiang before him had also mentioned that his nephew was especially fond of forging.

Now that he could see him in person, how could it not be an honor?

"Xiao Xi, why don't you greet Young Master Jiang?"

As he thought this, Mu Chen turned toward the blonde girl in the distance, who seemed to be sulking, his tone somewhat complicated.

"Oh."

"He's here?"

The girl turned around silently and gave a soft snort.

She looked to be around ten years old. Her golden hair was gorgeous, and her eyes were filled with frustration. She was clearly in a bad mood.

Her name was Mu Xi, Mu Chen's daughter. She had loved forging since childhood, and her goal was to become the greatest female Divine Blacksmith in the world!

"You're the one from Aolai City..."

"You're Jiang Yan?"

Mu Xi initially looked in the newcomer's direction with defiance, but the instant she saw Jiang Yan, the anger on her face melted away like cream.

She had merely been putting on an act earlier.

And the reason was simple.

She remembered a line often found in storybooks: some people had already won just by standing still.

The person before her was exactly that kind of person. Though he was only a little brother, somehow...

He made people want to cherish him.

"Greetings, Chairman Mu. Greetings, Miss Mu Xi."

Jiang Yan smiled gently and greeted them.

"Hello."

Mu Xi smiled slightly in response.

But in the next moment, her competitive spirit returned. Looking at Jiang Yan, she gave a soft snort.

"You're Jiang Yan, right? I heard you've already mastered Thousand Refinements, but you're so young..."

"I don't think that's true, is it?"

Mu Xi spoke calmly.

She was the daughter of Saint Blacksmith Mu Chen. Her maternal grandfather was also a veteran Saint Blacksmith, while her eldest uncle was the Divine Blacksmith Zhen Hua. She came from a genuine blacksmithing family.

She had begun holding a hammer at five and officially started forging at six. Yet even so, she had only just become a level one blacksmith and still could not skillfully produce a first-grade Hundred Refined item.

The person before her was only a little brother.

How could he possibly do it?

"Whether it's true or not, Sister Mu Xi will know once she sees it."

Jiang Yan did not mind. He looked toward Mu Chen and said with a smile,

"Chairman Mu, I came today to be certified as a level four blacksmith. I would appreciate it if you could serve as my evaluator."

"Of course."

Mu Chen naturally would not refuse. Whether it was Pagoda Master Jiang or Mang Tian, both were straightforward and honest people. They would never deceive him.

But naturally, he wanted even more to see it with his own eyes.

Just how extraordinary was this Young Master Jiang Yan?

"A six-year-old wants to be certified as a level four blacksmith?"

"Hmph, what a ridiculous daydream..."

"..."

"I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Ten minutes later, in the chairman's workshop.

Looking at another freshly forged piece of first-grade Thousand Refined Blue Progesterone under Jiang Yan's hands, Mu Xi's eyes went from surprise, to shock, to confusion, and finally to utter numbness.

One hammer strike, Hundred Refinements perfected!

Ten hammer strikes, Thousand Refinements Spirit Forging!

Three pieces of first-grade Thousand Refined metal had already been produced in ten minutes.

Was he really still human?

"That kind of strength..."

"No, that can't be possible!"

Mu Xi lowered her head anxiously and pressed her lips together.

Why...

Why had she been born in the same generation as this monster?!

With such a freak around, she would probably spend her whole life beneath him, never able to rise...

"..."

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