Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua! Body Sect's Mu Ye! Saint Craftsman Within a Year!

"Na'er's soul skill is amazing. It looks like if I don't work harder, you'll surpass me before long."

Seeing the adorable way she patiently explained everything, Jiang Yan smiled gently, rubbed her head, and said frankly,

"It's not that amazing. As long as I can keep up with you, Brother, that's enough. Surpassing you is something I'll never manage in this lifetime."

Gu Yuena froze for a moment, then answered seriously.

It was true that she had once been the Silver Dragon King, ruler of the soul beasts.

But her brother was the Dragon God.

Wasn't it only natural that the Silver Dragon King was inferior to the Dragon God?

"..."

Jiang Yan smiled and did not continue arguing with her over that point, but one thing was true.

Na'er was the Silver Dragon King reincarnated.

With her bloodline intact, her cultivation speed could not possibly be slower than his. The fact that she had surpassed the protagonist group at twelve in the original story was proof enough.

He was only rank thirty-four now. If he did not cultivate diligently, his little sister really would overtake him.

But over the next couple of days...

Jiang Yan thought of something. Based on his understanding of a certain person, these next two days probably would not be peaceful.

"..."

After Na'er broke through to become a Soul Master, Di Tian did not stay long before leaving. Not long afterward, someone truly did come to visit.

The first to arrive was a blonde girl of thirteen or fourteen. She was none other than Eastsea City's most talented young female blacksmith, Mu Xi, now a half-step third-rank blacksmith.

Following behind her was a tall, imposing middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties or fifties. His palms were enormous, the sort one would notice at a glance even in a crowd.

Also with them was a thin, bearded man who seemed to have little presence.

"Little Brother Jiang Yan."

"Uncle is taking us forging again."

The moment she entered the living room and spotted Jiang Yan, Mu Xi smiled.

"Sister Mu Xi, I know."

"But Uncle Zhen, you really never seem willing to stop. You come to Eastsea City so often..."

Jiang Yan smiled in greeting at her, then looked toward the tall man behind her, hesitating slightly.

The newcomer was none other than the unsurpassable mountain of the blacksmithing world, the only current creator of four-word battle armor metals, the ninth-rank blacksmith and Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua.

He was also the source of Jiang Yan's former life achievement, [Recognition of the Divine Craftsman]. Over the past three years, Zhen Hua might not have come to Eastsea City constantly, but he had at least never treated himself like an outsider.

Every time, he would drag Jiang Yan and Mu Xi along to study forging. As for the man by his side, he was naturally Zhen Hua's close friend.

The master of the Body Sect, Mu Ye.

"Brother's going forging again."

"Remember to come back early."

Gu Yuena watched the scene before her. Clearly no longer surprised by it, she ignored Mu Xi and spoke to Jiang Yan.

"Of course."

"I'll bring Na'er some candy when I come back."

Jiang Yan answered with a smile. After letting his grandfather know, he left together with Zhen Hua and the others.

"Little Yan."

"You broke through again? Your blood and vitality are even stronger."

On the way to the Blacksmith Association, Mu Ye exclaimed in surprise as he sensed the change in Jiang Yan's aura.

"Just luck. I broke through another rank yesterday."

Jiang Yan smiled, his tone calm.

"Luck?"

"That's pretty impressive."

Mu Xi glanced at him and pouted.

Here he went again with that luck nonsense.

She, his older sister, was only rank thirty-three. She had thought soul skills were the only thing in which she surpassed him...

Now that was gone too.

He had surpassed her again.

"Little Yan, you're still too modest."

"If that brat of mine had even half your talent, I'd believe he could properly carry on the Body Sect's legacy."

Mu Ye laughed heartily. If Jiang Yan had not already become Tian Feng's disciple, he truly would have wanted such an excellent student for himself.

"I'm sure Uncle Mu's disciple can do it."

Jiang Yan smiled faintly. Mu Ye's disciple, Ruheng, truly was a genius powerhouse who would carry the Body Sect forward.

"Compared to that, I'd rather know when Little Yan will start trying a little harder. If I had your talent, I'd forge day and night without rest!"

Zhen Hua glanced at him with a look of frustrated resentment.

If he had even half of Jiang Yan's talent—no, a quarter of it—he would be willing to forge himself to death!

"That's why you're only a blacksmith."

Jiang Yan muttered quietly.

First become strong, then become a Divine Craftsman.

That was the path he intended to walk.

"..."

Before long, they arrived at the Blacksmith Association.

Inside the president's forging room, which had been commandeered.

Jiang Yan casually took out the Deep Sea Silver fusion-forging hammer he had crafted himself, laid out numerous metals, and immediately began hammering without a moment's delay.

Bang bang bang bang bang—

His movements were clearly not that extraordinary, yet they carried a unique rhythm. Every piece of metal that passed through his hands seemed to come alive, intimate and brimming with passion.

In barely five minutes.

A Grade One Spirit Gathering Forging fusion of five metals—Deep Sea Silver, Tungsten Steel, Starfall Iron, Star Silver, and Blue Progesterone—had already been produced by Jiang Yan.

"..."

At the side, Mu Xi, who was carrying out Grade One Hundred Refinements and striving to learn Thousand Refinements, opened her mouth but could not bring herself to speak. She only felt her face grow a little hot.

"Sixth-rank fusion forging in five minutes."

"We're both human. We both loved forging since childhood, wanted to forge, learned forging, and eventually became blacksmiths."

"Why is the gap between us so enormous?"

Mu Xi, a second-rank blacksmith, was still working hard on Thousand Refinements. Her gaze swept over the person beside her as she pressed her lips together.

She was clearly...

A genius too!

Yet one was a thirteen-year-old second-rank blacksmith, while the other was a nine-year-old sixth-rank blacksmith?

How could this world be so unfair—

"..."

"Little Yan has improved again. Practice your fundamentals a little more and build a solid foundation. You'll definitely become a Saint Craftsman next year!"

Zhen Hua looked at Jiang Yan with blazing enthusiasm, his face filled with praise as he said excitedly.

"So it'll still take that long?"

Jiang Yan looked at him suspiciously.

"At most one year, all right?"

Zhen Hua smiled helplessly.

"..."

Mu Xi heard their conversation, gripping her Hundred Refinements Deep Sea Silver hammer as her face turned even redder.

"Hm?"

"Little Xi, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Take things steadily. You're already very close to becoming a third-rank blacksmith. Reaching Little Yan's level is simply a matter of having hands."

Sensing something, Zhen Hua looked toward his niece. He froze briefly, then sighed and comforted her.

He had already lost track of how many times this girl had been emotionally shattered. What a foolish girl!

Why compare yourself to Jiang Yan? He might accomplish the unprecedented feat of becoming a Divine Craftsman before eighteen. Not only would there be no precedent, there might not be anyone like him for the next ten thousand years.

Such a peerless prodigy.

Had never been someone others could compare themselves to!

Take that sixth-rank blacksmith living in seclusion in Aolai City. If not for the Spirit Pagoda's help, he could not possibly have half a foot into Saint Craftsman territory as he did now, with hope of reaching the seventh rank.

Being unrecognized and lacking influence was what was most common.

If anyone compared themselves to Jiang Yan, they would likely only grow more and more inferior. Even he was no exception.

"I know, Uncle."

"But..."

"Was it really that obvious?"

Mu Xi nodded as naturally as she could, then asked somewhat embarrassedly. She did not think she had been that depressed.

"It was pretty obvious, Sister Mu Xi."

At that moment, Jiang Yan, who had paused his forging, nodded.

Mu Xi currently looked as though dark clouds hung over her. Her pretty little face was somewhat pale, making her look pitiful and miserable.

And in truth, it was indeed far from easy.

As a blacksmith who had contended with the Dragon King in the original story, Mu Xi's ability to withstand pressure was exceptional.

"Mm..."

Mu Xi blinked but said nothing more.

Maybe she really was just a little girl cursed with a hard life. Why did she have to meet that hateful Little Yan?

How long would she have to struggle before she could rise?

Thinking of that, she looked toward Jiang Yan, the gloom in her heart impossible to conceal. Finally, she took a deep breath, reined in all her emotions, turned back to the workbench, and swung her hammer with all her strength.

If she lacked talent, then she would repeat it over and over!

Again and again and again!

One day—

She would work hard enough to surpass Jiang Yan too.

Little Yan, just wait until I overtake you!

"..."

Mu Xi: If only I had worked a little harder.

Still 5,200 words today. Old Bai's love needs no doubt.

More tomorrow!