Trial

After finishing all that, Mang Tian went to the side of the forging room, took out two round metal blocks and four small forging hammers, then placed one metal block and a pair of forging hammers on each forging station.

"Do you see those round metal blocks? Today's test is simple. Use the forging hammers on the tables to strike the metal blocks one thousand times in total—five hundred with each hand."

"Of course, random strikes won't count. Each strike must reach a sufficient level of force before the counter registers it. The exact threshold is roughly the force of raising the hammer and bringing it down."

"If you can complete it, I'll take you on as apprentices and teach you forging. But if you can't, it means your strength hasn't met the standard, and you needn't come back tomorrow. All right, begin."

Pointing at the metal blocks and forging hammers on the tables, Mang Tian gave the order coldly before turning and leaving the forging room.

After Mang Tian assigned the task, Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin exchanged a glance, then each walked to a forging station and picked up a forging hammer.

The pair of forging hammers was made entirely of metal. Their handles were around thirty centimeters long, while the hammerheads were cylindrical, roughly fifteen centimeters in length and ten centimeters in diameter. They looked plain and unremarkable.

Yao Xuan roughly estimated that each forging hammer weighed about five kilograms. Even for an adult, swinging one would be no easy task, much less for ordinary six-year-old children—and they had to do it a thousand times.

Of course, Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin were no ordinary six-year-olds. Tempered by the Basic Ancestral Dragon Body and Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, Yao Xuan's strength had already reached one hundred and fifty kilograms, far surpassing that of an ordinary adult man. Tang Wulin also possessed the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. Though it was temporarily sealed, his strength and recovery ability still exceeded those of ordinary people.

Because of this, both Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin lifted their forging hammers with relative ease and began swinging them. The metallic clangs of "clang, clang, clang" echoed through the forging room as the numbers on the two screens began rapidly climbing.

"One, two, three..."

His arms swung continuously, and the number on the metal screen kept rising. In less than ten minutes, Yao Xuan had completed five hundred strikes. Only then did a faint soreness appear in his arms, while sweat began forming on his back.

As he struck, Yao Xuan also felt a warm current continuously circulating through his body. Wherever it passed, his muscles relaxed thoroughly while constantly absorbing the warmth, becoming tougher and stronger.

This force was the Ancestral Dragon Power left behind in Yao Xuan's body after the fusion of the Basic Ancestral Dragon Body. As Yao Xuan forged, this accumulated Ancestral Dragon Power was awakened once more, restoring his stamina while being further absorbed by his body and strengthening his physique.

Although Yao Xuan was very relaxed, Tang Wulin beside him was nowhere near as composed. At this moment, Tang Wulin had completed only three hundred and fifty strikes, yet the clothes on his back had long been soaked through with sweat. His face was slightly flushed from lack of oxygen. In terms of physical fitness alone, Tang Wulin was still far behind Yao Xuan.

"Wulin, adjust your breathing. Coordinate the rhythm of your hammer swings with your breathing rhythm. That'll save you some strength."

Yao Xuan glanced at Tang Wulin beside him and offered a timely reminder.

"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Brother Xuan!"

Hearing Yao Xuan's reminder, Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. He raised his head to thank him, and at that moment, he also saw Yao Xuan's score. His admiration for Yao Xuan deepened even further. Brother Xuan is too strong! Not only is he so much faster than me at forging, but he can even give such insightful advice.

Ding! You guided Son of Destiny Tang Wulin and received his gratitude and admiration. Obtained Golden Evolution Points x2!

As the thought crossed Yao Xuan's mind, the system notification sounded again, announcing the addition of two new Golden Evolution Points and bringing Yao Xuan's total to thirteen.

With Yao Xuan's guidance, Tang Wulin began adjusting his rhythm. Immediately, he felt the pressure on his body lessen greatly and cast Yao Xuan a grateful look. Meanwhile, Yao Xuan continued swinging his forging hammer, striking the metal block before him again and again.

"...Nine hundred ninety-eight, nine hundred ninety-nine, one thousand!"

As Yao Xuan swung his hammer, the number on the screen before him kept jumping until it finally reached one thousand. At that point, he was only breathing slightly harder, and his arms merely felt rather sore. Moreover, as the Ancestral Dragon Power circulated within him, the soreness was decreasing at a noticeable rate.

"Finished!"

Having completed the thousand hammer strikes, Yao Xuan nodded in satisfaction and looked toward the clock on the wall. Less than twenty minutes had passed since Mang Tian assigned them the task.

Although Yao Xuan had completed the task easily, Tang Wulin beside him had only finished six hundred and fifty strikes. His arms had already turned red and were wracked with intense soreness.

Moreover, from the excessive exertion, sweat poured off Tang Wulin like rain, plastering his School Uniform tightly to his body. With every swing, Tang Wulin felt as though his arms were about to snap, and the speed of his hammer swings had noticeably slowed.

"Wulin, keep going. You can do it!"

Looking at Tang Wulin beside him, Yao Xuan encouraged him.

"What? Brother Xuan has already finished the task? Brother Xuan is truly amazing! But I need to work harder too. I can't disgrace Brother Xuan!"

Hearing Yao Xuan's voice, Tang Wulin secretly admired him even more. Compared to Brother Xuan, he was simply far too inferior, utterly unable to compare. Yet Tang Wulin was not discouraged by this. Instead, it stirred his refusal to admit defeat, and his eyes became even more resolute.

Just then, Tang Wulin suddenly felt a numbness in his tailbone. His whole body trembled as though struck by electricity, and the soreness throughout his body unexpectedly eased somewhat. Even the forging hammer in his hand, which had felt as heavy as a mountain, seemed to become a little lighter.

"Master Mang Tian, I've completed your task."

Walking out of the forging room, Yao Xuan went to the adjacent room and found Mang Tian. At the time, Mang Tian was sitting on a sofa, fiddling with a component in his hand.

"What? You've already completed my task?"

Hearing Yao Xuan's words, Mang Tian could not help but freeze for a moment. He then glanced at the watch on his wrist. Less than twenty minutes had passed since he assigned the task to Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin.