Once the embarrassment passed, Li Chen realized that, given his current puppet master attainment, there was indeed a strong chance he would not pass.
Yet Dongfang Mao sounded so certain that it stirred an inexplicable feeling in him, prompting him to ask, "Why do you say that, Grandmaster?"
Dongfang Mao asked in return, "Do you know the details of the Creation Sect's Grand Artisan assessment?"
"Well, I really don't." Li Chen had contacted Taiqiu Immortal City this time precisely to learn more about it.
Dongfang Mao said, "You came from the underworld rather than being a true disciple, so it's perfectly normal that you don't know these things. Besides, the assessment standards often change with the times, so there's little point in explaining too many specifics. I'll tell you just one thing: the general assessment is held once every ten years, and participants flock to it like clouds, yet often only a dozen or even fewer pass!"
"Among the participants are seasoned Puppet Masters who reached Core Formation two or three hundred years ago-the ones commonly called Quasi-Grand Artisans in underworld circles. Can you surpass those people? Are you confident you can rank among the best of all those elites?"
Li Chen was speechless. "That..."
Dongfang Mao continued, "The Grand Artisan general assessment places particular emphasis on the design of mechanisms or some other creation, as well as the artisan's dao heart!"
"The Creation Sect defines a Grand Artisan Puppet Master as a creative talent who has achieved minor mastery of the Creation Great Dao, can design Mechanism Puppets, and can independently create blueprints. Those who merely follow their predecessors' designs and manufacture Mechanism Puppets step by step will never gain recognition, even if they present a six-star masterpiece."
"As for the dao heart, that is something transcendent and metaphysical.