Just then, the door to the assessment room was opened from outside. During the assessment, the door had been locked shut and could only be opened once the assessment was over.
As the assessment ended and the doors opened, a burly middle-aged man with golden hair, jade-like hands, and plainly dressed attire walked in.
The middle-aged man first glanced at the three items Li Ziming had forged.
Outside, he had already seen another of Li Ziming's Thousand Refinement first-grade works. But he had not expected him to achieve Thousand Refinement first grade three times in a row—no, four times.
"President!" The evaluator respectfully greeted Mu Chen upon seeing him.
Li Ziming was immediately surprised. He had not expected Mu Chen to arrive so quickly, nor had he expected him to pay such close attention to the younger generation of blacksmiths.
"You may leave first. I have something to discuss with this child." The instant Mu Chen saw Li Ziming, he roughly estimated the boy's age. The youthful vitality about him could not be concealed.
However, he still needed to probe a little and see whether there were any major issues. Thus, Mu Chen chose to speak with the boy first.
"Yes, President." After respectfully responding, the evaluator turned and walked out through the doors.
Mu Chen carefully studied Li Ziming, growing more satisfied the longer he looked. Look at that Blood Qi, then that appearance—especially those crimson-gold eyes. The more Mu Chen looked, the more he liked him. When someone possessed sufficient talent in forging, no matter what he looked like, he would be the most beautiful sight in Mu Chen's eyes.
"President, what did you wish to discuss with me?" Although he had more or less guessed the other man's intentions, Li Ziming was still the first to speak.
A smile appeared on Mu Chen's face as he displayed his most amiable side. "Child, what is your name?"
Ever since becoming a Saint Craftsman, he no longer needed to care about the expressions of most people in the world. He only needed to be himself. Today, he had brought out the facial expression control he had kept buried for years, all to leave a good impression on this little fellow before him.
"President, my name is Li Ziming."
Mu Chen smiled warmly. "Ziming, how old are you this year? Who did you learn your forging skills from? Could you tell me? Have you taken a master?"
"I am fifteen this year. I learned forging from my father, who is a fourth-level blacksmith. He is my forging teacher, and I have never taken a master." Li Ziming answered his questions neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Hearing Li Ziming's response, Mu Chen immediately felt greatly reassured. Having learned solely from his father meant he had never formally taken a master. When he heard that the youth before him was only fifteen, he became even more excited. Although his aptitude was slightly inferior to Mu Chen's own, it was entirely sufficient for him to become a Saint Craftsman and inherit Mu Chen's legacy.
In the end, Mu Chen and Li Ziming chatted more and more happily.
"It is already noon. You have completed so many forging sessions this morning, so you must be tired. If you do not mind, come to my home for a meal. This afternoon, I will teach you some forging techniques. You should know who I am. Across the Douluo Continent, the number of people more proficient in forging than I am can be counted on one hand." After chatting for a while, Mu Chen extended an invitation to Li Ziming.
"I do not mind, not at all. Thank you, President!" Li Ziming said excitedly.
At Mu Chen's residence, Li Ziming sampled a feast worthy of the most discerning gourmand. Every dish on the table had been prepared by a top-tier chef, each one a perfect fusion of flavor and nutrition. The deliciousness and nutritional value of this banquet far surpassed any food Li Ziming and Liu Tianyi had tasted since arriving on the Douluo Continent.
After witnessing Li Ziming's forging expenditure, Mu Chen even had the chef prepare two additional dishes specifically to replenish the Blood Qi and Soul Power he had used up.
When he saw Li Ziming's Blazing Sun Hammer Martial Soul after its second evolution, as well as his cultivation level, Mu Chen praised him again and again, constantly complimenting Li Ziming. It could be said that he had used up all the kind words he had spoken over the past year.
Throughout the meal, Mu Chen cared for Li Ziming as attentively as a parent concerned for his child, looking after him in every possible way.
When the conversation turned to the changes in his Martial Soul and cultivation level, Li Ziming explained that he had found a thousand-year Blazing Sun Grass in the black market and gotten a bargain. After consuming it, he had entered deep meditation, and his Martial Soul had undergone a second evolution.
After Mu Chen looked into Li Ziming's family background and current circumstances through the records, he became even more satisfied. At that moment, his desire to take him as a disciple reached its peak.
A genius like Li Ziming, born a commoner, without too many entanglements of interest with other major powers, unaffiliated with any organization, possessing sound values and exceptional talent, was truly a rare choice for a disciple.
At the same time, a feeling of pity rose in his heart.
This little fellow has lived alone for so many years and still managed to grow to this point by himself. It could not have been easy. Who knows how much hardship he endured.
"Ziming, I am sure you have already realized that your talent in forging is extremely high. However, you are now a fourth-level blacksmith, and the notes your father left behind can no longer support your continued improvement. If you are willing, I would like to take you as my disciple. Are you willing to become my student?" Mu Chen slightly straightened his posture. The expression on his face instantly became exceedingly solemn, and his eyes held an unquestionable seriousness as he spoke in a steady, grave tone.
Li Ziming took a deep breath. "This disciple is willing!"
"Good!" Mu Chen slapped his thigh and rose to his feet with a hearty laugh.
Then, Mu Chen brought Li Ziming to the living room and slowly sat down with a measure of solemnity.
Li Ziming stood straight, his face filled with respect. He carefully adjusted his clothing and solemnly performed a standard disciple-taking ceremony before Mu Chen.
Mu Chen nodded slightly and calmly accepted the bow.
Li Ziming had taken his first master on the Douluo Continent. From then on, he could be considered someone with backing on the Douluo Continent.
"Ziming, I am your master, Mu Chen. I am an eighty-sixth-rank Soul Douluo and an eight-star Saint Craftsman blacksmith. I currently serve as the president of the Donghai City Blacksmith Association. From now on, if anyone dares bully you, give them my name. Even if I cannot beat them, even if I have to call in help, your master will still stand up for you.
"I also have a daughter. However, your mistress took her to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters in Shrek City today to select her first Spirit Soul. Once they return, I will introduce you to them."
"Yes, Master."
Mu Chen then asked further about Li Ziming's cultivation. After learning some of his future cultivation plans, he said, "Since you have nothing to do if you return home, you can live here from now on. I have several houses nearby. Cultivating here will definitely be much better than living alone in the outskirts of Eastsea City, and it will also be more convenient for me to guide your forging."
"Alright, Master. I will move here tomorrow!" Li Ziming naturally agreed to Mu Chen's request.
Mu Chen then gave Li Ziming some pointers regarding his Soul Power cultivation, allowing him to stabilize his cultivation as quickly as possible. He also used his connections to secure a spot for him at an Intermediate Ascension Platform, so he could raise the age of his Spirit Soul.
His arrangements and guidance were utterly wholehearted. After all, blacksmiths had always placed great importance on master-disciple inheritance. Often, a founding chief disciple personally accepted like Li Ziming could be even closer than one's own biological children. Between father and son, there was inheritance of bloodline; between master and disciple, there was inheritance of forging skill and spirit.
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