Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's Excitement: How Could Forging Be His Only Pursuit?

"I studied forging as my second profession."

Su Xun knew Han Tianyi was giving him a stepping stone, and immediately offered an explanation.

Forging as his second profession?

Zhen Hua immediately perked up.

As the only Divine Craftsman in the world, he knew very well what forging demanded of a Soul Master's physique.

A powerful body was an enormous advantage in forging.

A Body Martial Soul adept in bloodline power was naturally the best choice.

Thousand refinement was merely purification.

Spirit Forging was awakening, bestowing life upon metal.

Soul Forging, however, bestowed a soul upon metal, and that involved "inheritance."

In other words, a Soul Master passed his own power on to the metal.

Blacksmiths adept in bloodline power held an advantage in this regard.

Heavenly forging went without saying: drawing down lightning to weather a tribulation naturally favored those with stronger bodies.

Once someone like that became a Divine Craftsman, his "working lifespan" would definitely outlast that of an ordinary Divine Craftsman.

Back when he had met Mu Ye and learned that he had a disciple named A Ruheng, Zhen Hua had been quite eager to train that boy as his own successor as well.

However, not only was A Ruheng rather slow-witted, he had also been cultivating the Body Sect's Innate Secret Technique in seclusion since childhood and had yet to emerge into the world.

Thus, that idea of his had naturally come to nothing.

He had never expected that Martial Uncle Mu Ye's visit today would bring a disciple with a Body Martial Soul, adept in both spiritual power and bloodline power, who also studied forging.

Zhen Hua was instantly filled with anticipation.

"What level has your forging reached now?"

Seeing Zhen Hua forget all about him the moment he heard that Su Xun studied forging, Han Tianyi did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Still, he did not mind, and turned his gaze toward Su Xun as well.

He normally paid no attention to Su Xun's forging. He only knew that Su Xun had been studying with that fellow.

Leng Yaozhu had not stopped him either, so presumably he had some talent.

But Han Tianyi did not know the specifics. By offering this stepping stone now, he naturally hoped to help Su Xun go further.

However, to Han Tianyi and Zhen Hua's surprise...

Su Xun smiled slightly.

"Words alone are no proof. May I give you a demonstration, Senior Divine Craftsman?"

Spirit Forging at nine and a half.

That was unprecedented.

Even Zhen Hua at that age had been nowhere close.

After all, Tang Wulin becoming a third-rank Blacksmith at nine had already set a new record for the youngest third-rank Blacksmith.

Zhen Hua immediately understood Su Xun's intent, and the curiosity in his eyes deepened.

Is this boy afraid I won't believe the Blacksmith rank he reports?

Could he already be third rank?

Third rank before ten is certainly astonishing, and seems to break the record, but surely it isn't something he can't say aloud?

With that thought, Zhen Hua turned an inquiring gaze toward Han Tianyi.

Han Tianyi shook his head awkwardly.

"I normally teach him to cultivate spiritual power. I haven't interfered with his second profession, nor do I know much about it."

"Why not let him demonstrate, so Your Excellency the Divine Craftsman can offer him some guidance?"

Zhen Hua nodded gently.

His time was precious.

But he still made time for public question-and-answer sessions, which any Blacksmith could attend.

Now, Su Xun was the disciple of two Four-Word Battle Armor Masters, Leng Yaozhu and Han Tianyi, and by seniority, Han Tianyi was even Mu Ye's martial uncle.

With all those connections combined, Zhen Hua naturally could not refuse them this courtesy.

In fact, even if Su Xun's forging talent was poor, letting him study a little under Zhen Hua would not be out of the question.

"Then come with me."

"As it happens, Mu Ye has something to attend to today and may arrive a little later. Your Excellency Illusory Brain can take a short rest while you wait."

Zhen Hua nodded gently and led the two of them straight to the top floor.

The top floor of the Blacksmith Association belonged exclusively to Zhen Hua. Normally, Mu Ye was practically the only person who visited.

Zhen Hua led Su Xun straight into the forging room where he usually practiced, and said generously:

"Feel free to use any of the metals here. Show your talent to its fullest."

Su Xun drew a deep breath. Without standing on ceremony, he walked straight to the forging table and performed a series of searches on the screen beside it.

A moment later, a piece of metal emerged from one side of the forging table.

It was the familiar nether silver.

Then he clenched both hands, and the pair of nether silver forging hammers that had merged into his body after a blood sacrifice appeared.

It was worth mentioning that the nether silver which had undergone Creation Spirit Forging had also merged into the nether silver forging hammers once its spiritual radiance subsided.

"Blood-sacrificed Spirit Forging hammers?"

Zhen Hua was instantly startled, disbelief surfacing in his eyes.

Metal that had undergone a blood sacrifice could only be used by the Blacksmith himself.

That meant this pair of blood-sacrificed, spirit-forged nether silver hammers had actually been forged by Su Xun himself.

But how was that possible?

A fifth-rank Blacksmith younger than ten?

Are you kidding me?

What answered him, however, was a clear clang.

Su Xun gently rested a forging hammer against the nether silver on the forging table.

In the next instant, Zhen Hua felt as though the nether silver had come alive!

His shock deepened at once. What special effect did these forging hammers possess?!

A moment later, Su Xun swung his hammers, and a ringing symphony of clangs began.

Zhen Hua became utterly absorbed in it.

Han Tianyi did not understand forging, but with his spiritual power at the peak of the spirit domain realm, he too sensed the strangeness of Su Xun's current state, and his eyes were likewise filled with surprise.

Surely this boy's talent for forging isn't even greater than his talent for mecha design, which Leng Yaozhu teaches him personally! he thought.

In the blink of an eye, nearly two hours passed.

Su Xun's mind was taut, sweat poured down like rain, and his soul power was nearly exhausted.

Clang-

The final hammer strike fell with considerable force, its crisp ring echoing through the forging room.

Strangely, however, there was not the slightest change on the metal's surface.

In the next instant, a hum rang out, and dazzling spiritual radiance suddenly bloomed!

The motionless nether silver sprang straight into the air, enveloped in spiritual radiance a full fourteen feet high, as though it were about to ascend to the heavens.

Spirit Forging!

Unmistakable Spirit Forging-and Spirit Forging so flawless that there was nothing to criticize!

Zhen Hua swallowed, no longer able to suppress the burning fervor in his eyes.

With such talent for forging, this boy ought to be my successor!

At that moment, Zhen Hua forgot himself completely. He hurried forward, taking three steps in the space of two, forgetting everything else, with eyes only for Su Xun.

He reached Su Xun's side, his gaze blazing like the sun, and spoke impatiently:

"Good boy, do you have a forging master? Would you be willing to study forging with me from now on?"

"I am the only Divine Craftsman in the world, and unquestionably the person most qualified to teach you forging!"

"As long as you study under me and devote all your energy to forging..."

"I'm confident I can make you the next Divine Craftsman before you turn twenty-five!"

"I can also promise that once you become a Divine Craftsman, I will hand the presidency of the Blacksmith Association over to you."

Such promises left even Han Tianyi staring blankly.

Although Zhen Hua had the cultivation of a Super Douluo and possessed Four-Word Battle Armor...

In truth, his cultivation had been piled up through heavenly treasures, and he had devoted all his energy to forging as well.

Consequently, his actual combat strength was not particularly outstanding.

But when it came to connections, there was probably no one in the world today who would not show Zhen Hua at least some respect.

The significance of a Divine Craftsman was simply too great!

And his promise to make Su Xun a Divine Craftsman before twenty-five carried even greater significance!

Yet Han Tianyi's brows furrowed slightly. He understood Zhen Hua's excitement at discovering a promising young talent, but he would never allow Su Xun to devote all his energy to forging.

In his view, no matter how much potential forging held, one's own cultivation had to come first.

Su Xun's talent was extraordinary. It went far beyond forging-how could forging be his only pursuit?