Forging World's Number One Genius! Hundred Refinement Spirit Formation, Speedrunning First-Grade Thousand Refinement!

"Young Master Yan, please."

Mang Tian looked exceptionally spirited as he gazed expectantly in Jiang Yan's direction. It was as though he wasn't looking at a familiar young man, but at...

A brand-new future for the forging world!

"Go on, Yan'er."

Leng Yaozhu took in Mang Tian's reaction, turned slightly, and gently rubbed her disciple's head with a smile.

She had heard from the two members of the Jiang family that Mang Tian was also only half a step away from becoming a Saint Craftsman. It seemed Yan'er's forging potential would bring her a pleasant surprise as well.

"Alright."

"Then I'll begin."

Jiang Yan nodded. As he spoke, he had already taken a few steps toward the workbench.

He skillfully retrieved his forging hammer from his Soul Tool and easily gripped it in his hand.

At the same time, a dark-blue metal emerged from it—Deep Sea Silver, one of the most common rare metals and also the metal he had refined most often before.

"As expected, my strength has increased far too much."

As he pressed the heating button on the workbench, Jiang Yan's gaze inadvertently fell upon the forging hammer in his hand.

This was the Thousand-Forged Tungsten Steel Hammer Uncle Mang had given him.

When he was five, it had felt perfectly weighted in his hand. Now, however, it always felt strangely light.

He understood the reason all too well. Back then, the force of his punch had barely reached a hundred jin. It could be called natural strength, but how could it compare to awakening the Dragon God Martial Soul?

Even without releasing his Martial Soul, his strength probably couldn't be contained within a thousand jin now.

He stopped thinking about it and turned his gaze toward the metal on the table. His expression remained unchanged as he lightly gripped the forging hammer and brought it down.

Bang—

A heavy boom echoed through the workshop.

What followed was a series of continuous impacts.

Bang bang bang bang bang—

The sounds rose and fell without end. It was clearly forging, yet it somehow carried a touch of elegance and pleasant rhythm.

"Yan'er's hammer isn't light, is it?"

"Since he was five..."

"He's already been wielding that hammer?"

A thoughtful look appeared on Leng Yaozhu's face as she watched the little fellow forge and asked aloud.

"Tower Master, you are correct. That hammer weighs a hundred jin. When Yan'er first held it, even I was startled."

Jiang Luochuan smiled and replied cheerfully.

"He had the strength of a hundred jin at five? Yan'er hadn't even awakened his Martial Soul then..."

The surprise in Leng Yaozhu's eyes did not fade. Now she understood why Mang Tian had been so eager to see Yan'er forge.

So that was it...

Her Yan'er had the bearing of a Divine Blacksmith as well?

Boom—

Just as Leng Yaozhu was lost in thought, an especially loud boom suddenly came from the workbench.

The ordinary metal, which had previously been dull and lifeless, began to shimmer with a faint blue glow.

"This is...?"

Surprise flashed through her eyes, and her expression froze.

"Hundred Refinement Spirit Formation! First-Grade Hundred Refinement!"

Mang Tian had already noticed the change in the metal. The delight in his eyes was nearly overflowing as he exclaimed excitedly.

Over the past year, Little Yan had forged at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, pieces of Hundred Refinement metal. He wasn't surprised by that.

It was only because of insufficient energy each time that he had been unable to reach a higher level. At most, he had stopped at Hundred Refinement, yet now... he had leapt straight to First-Grade Hundred Refinement.

And only two and a half minutes had passed!

Just where was his limit?

"Hundred Refinement Spirit Formation... a First-Level Blacksmith?"

Jiang Luochuan naturally knew something about blacksmiths. Hearing Mang Tian's words, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes as well.

"No, Uncle. First-Grade Hundred Refinement is the standard for becoming a Second-Level Blacksmith. In other words, Yan'er just now..."

"Already reached the standard of a Second-Level Blacksmith."

Jiang Lingli was an old acquaintance of Mu Chen from the Blacksmith Association. As she spoke, her tone was full of disbelief.

President Mu Chen's daughter had only recently become a First-Level Blacksmith and was already praised as a female genius guaranteed to become a Saint Craftsman. Yet that girl was already ten years old.

What about Yan'er...?

He was a six-year-old Second-Level Blacksmith!

"Huh?"

"He's already a Second-Level Blacksmith?"

Shock covered Jiang Luochuan's aged face. Among all auxiliary professions, there was probably no second-level practitioner under the age of ten, right?

Most importantly, only a few minutes had passed, and Jiang Yan had clearly only just begun.

"A Second-Level Blacksmith."

"This still isn't Yan'er's limit...?"

Leng Yaozhu had been watching Jiang Yan's every movement. Seeing how relaxed he looked, the anticipation in her heart grew even stronger.

Could it be...

Her Yan'er really was the future new Divine Blacksmith?

At that very moment, the system's voice sounded in Jiang Yan's mind:

[Congratulations, Host, on successfully forging metal: refined silver. Forging quality: First-Grade Hundred Refinement.]

[Congratulations. You have crossed the realm of a First-Level Blacksmith and leapt directly to become a Second-Level Blacksmith.]

[Star of Forging 01 mission completed: Obtain a First-Level Blacksmith badge under the certification of any Seventh-Level Blacksmith.]

[Mission rewards: Increased Metal Affinity! One million Federation Coins! One heavenly treasure of your choice.]

[Star of Forging 02 mission completed: Obtain a Second-Level Blacksmith badge under the certification of any Seventh-Level Blacksmith.]

[Mission rewards: Increased Metal Affinity! Five million Federation Coins! One heavenly treasure of your choice.]

"First-Grade Hundred Refinement really is easy. For me, after awakening my Martial Soul, it's effortless. Then..."

"Next comes Thousand Refinement."

The relaxed expression on Jiang Yan's face did not fade. Expectation now rose in those exceptionally charming eyes.

Third-Level Blacksmith, he...

Was coming!

"..."

Jiang Yan had never liked disappointing people.

Under the focused gazes of all four of them, in less than five minutes, an even more magnificent radiance suddenly emerged.

The metal, which had originally seemed to possess life, now appeared to truly come alive, as though it had been granted a soul.

Hundred Refinement Spirit Formation, Thousand Refinement Spirit Ascension.

This was precisely—Thousand Refinement Spirit Ascension!

"Thousand Refinement!"

"The mark of a Third-Level Blacksmith!"

Jiang Luochuan, who had been holding his breath in anticipation, could no longer contain himself upon seeing it truly happen.

"That means..."

"Little Yan is already a Third-Level Forging Grandmaster!"

Jiang Lingli was even more excited.

Thinking back to how she and her uncle had previously not wanted him to forge, she wished she could travel back in time and slap both herself and her uncle—

There was no need to explain the value of Thousand Refinement.

In the forging world, the lifelong achievement of most blacksmiths was no more than becoming a Third-Level Forging Grandmaster. Yet her little nephew had just awakened his Martial Soul at six and was already a third-level grandmaster!

She wasn't exaggerating.

How was this any different from being guaranteed to become a Divine Blacksmith?

"Lord Jiang is not entirely correct. In the forging world, completing Thousand Refinement for the first time does not strictly count as becoming a Third-Level Blacksmith."

"But this is Little Yan's first time. With more practice, at most a month—no, a week! He'll definitely fully adapt to the rhythm and strength required for Thousand Refinement."

Mang Tian took a deep breath and explained with a smile.

But what did that matter? There was no difference between a six-year-old Third-Level Blacksmith and a six-year-old-and-one-week Third-Level Blacksmith.

"What kind of..."

"Treasure disciple did I take in?"

Leng Yaozhu also took a deep breath.

Although she had sensed it beforehand, the shock in her heart was still difficult to calm when she saw her disciple accomplish it.

He was already level three in an auxiliary profession at six. Even Zhen Hua, the current Divine Blacksmith, had only been struggling at the level of a Third-Level Blacksmith when he was twelve.

Forging was an auxiliary profession that required accumulation.

Yet her Yan'er seemed to have accumulated enough already!

"Actually, it isn't merely level three."

Jiang Yan smiled faintly and set down the forging hammer. He was clearly very satisfied with this piece.

Then, the system's voice announced once more in his mind:

[Congratulations, Host, on successfully forging metal: refined silver. Forging quality: First-Grade Thousand Refinement.]

[Star of Forging 03 mission completed: Become a Third-Level Blacksmith under the certification of a Seventh-Level Blacksmith.]

[Star of Forging 04 has been activated.]

[Congratulations. You now possess the preliminary qualifications to become a Fourth-Level Blacksmith. Forge at least five pieces of First-Grade Thousand Refinement within seven days (1/5), then certify your new blacksmith level.]

[Mission rewards: Increased Metal Affinity! Ten million Federation Coins!]

His diligent efforts over the past year had naturally not been wasted. With his forging experience and an endless supply of bloodline power now at his disposal, forging was easy.

Forging? Anyone with hands could do it!

Today, he might as well...

Speedrun becoming a Fourth-Level Blacksmith!

"..."