"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Two more hammer strikes rang out, rhythmic and powerful.
Amidst the splashing sparks, the volume of that piece of Star Silver condensed once more, yet its luster became increasingly restrained and pure.
After just three strikes, Mu Chen could already see—the Hundred Forging was complete!
The Hundred Forging purification, which would take an ordinary Blacksmith dozens or even a hundred strikes, had actually only taken three in Huo Yuhao's hands!
Yet Huo Yuhao's movements didn't pause for a moment; the subsequent hammer strikes suddenly accelerated in speed!
The hammer shadows were continuous, as if transforming into a pitch-black curtain of light. The landing points were incomparably precise, each strike carrying a unique rhythm and subtle changes in force—sometimes light, sometimes heavy, sometimes vibrating, sometimes penetrating.
His movements were as smooth as flowing water, as if he didn't need to repeatedly observe and think like an ordinary Blacksmith; everything was under his control.
When Huo Yuhao's twenty-sixth strike fell...
"Boom!"
That sound was as if the metal itself was leaping with joy, resonating, and announcing some kind of rebirth!
Simultaneously, a beam of silver starlight over four feet long shot up from the surface of the Star Silver, illuminating the entire Forging room in a clear radiance!
"Thousand Forging with Spirit, First-Grade Realm!"
Tang Wulin, standing to the side, couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice. This was precisely the sign of a completed Thousand Forging, and it was even a First-Grade Thousand Forging!
It meant that the metal's spirituality had been initially awakened, its quality reaching the Peak of the Thousand Forging level.
However, Huo Yuhao's Forging did not stop there.
He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming even deeper, and the rhythm of his hammer strikes changed once more.
Spirit Forging was fundamentally different from Thousand Forging.
It wasn't just physical tempering and structural optimization; it was the infusion of spirit and will—it was "bestowing" the metal with true spirituality!
This required the Blacksmith to engage in deep "Soul communication" with the metal during the Forging process.
To put it bluntly, the core of so-called "Soul communication" was the guidance and influence of mental force on the metal during the Forging process.
In this regard, Huo Yuhao's mental-type Spirit Eyes Martial Soul was undoubtedly a massive, heaven-sent advantage!
Every bit of force in his strikes was saturated with his pure mental intent.
At this moment, those spirit forging myriad soul hammers in his hands seemed to have become a medium for communicating with the metal's Soul.
Between the rise and fall of the hammers, there were not only myriad variations in force but also exquisite mental force, flowing like a trickling stream, continuously pouring into that shimmering Star Silver, providing the most abundant nourishment for the gestation and growth of its spirituality.
The number of strikes was already beyond counting; Huo Yuhao's entire mind and Soul had merged with that piece of metal.
Finally...
"Buzz!"
Another strange hum rang out, deeper and more lingering than when the Thousand Forging gained spirit!
Immediately afterward, a beam of silver starlight—even more brilliant, more condensed, and a full six feet long—shot up from the metal, which had shrunk by two-thirds but was now as crystal clear as a silver gemstone!
This starlight lasted for a full ten-odd seconds, its glow brightening and dimming like breathing, flickering rhythmically, and emitting a sense of agility and joy as if it truly possessed life consciousness!
Spirit Forging... success!
A flash of light appeared on Huo Yuhao's hands, and the spirit forging myriad soul hammers were withdrawn into his body.
He let out a long breath, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead, but his eyes remained as bright as stars.
Tang Wulin was already standing dazed beside his teacher Mu Chen, his mouth slightly agape. His gaze toward Huo Yuhao had completely turned into dumbfounded shock, even carrying a hint of looking up in admiration.
Knowing Huo Yuhao was a Level Five Blacksmith was one thing, but personally witnessing him complete the entire process from Hundred Forging to Thousand Forging and then to Spirit Forging so smoothly was another Soul-shaking experience entirely!
That level of control, that perfect Fusion of mental force and Forging skill, made him truly feel the gap between them.
The shock in Mu Chen's eyes also took a great deal of effort to slowly suppress.
He had thought his beloved disciple Tang Wulin was already a rare genius in the Forging world, once in a thousand years, enough to look down on his peers and be his pride.
He never expected that today he would personally see a "monster" with even more stunning and peerless skills!
This youth was simply born for Forging!
Huo Yuhao stepped out from behind the Forging table, his gaze calm yet carrying a hint of unyielding stubbornness as he looked directly at Mu Chen.
He thought to himself: This performance shouldn't have shamed my teacher, right?
He had thought that by successfully completing the Spirit Forging, Mu Chen—as his teacher's "rival"—might have an ugly expression or even fly into a rage from being humiliated.
However, the scene he anticipated did not occur.
He saw the seriousness on Mu Chen's face fade away as quickly as melting snow the moment the starlight completely dissipated.
It was replaced by an extremely complex softness and... relief?
Then, a burst of hearty and joyful laughter echoed through the Forging room.
"Hahaha! Good! Wonderful! I really didn't expect... that my arrogant Senior Brother Zhen Hua would quietly take in such a shocking and outstanding disciple! Hahahaha!"
"Senior Brother?!"
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao was completely stunned, his face full of doubt and astonishment as he subconsciously repeated those two words.
Mu Chen walked forward laughing, came to Huo Yuhao's side, patted his shoulder without reservation, and explained with a smile, "That's right! Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua is indeed my fellow Senior Brother."
"So, strictly speaking..." He pointed to himself and then to Huo Yuhao, his smile widening, "You should call me Junior Martial Uncle!"
"Ah?!"
Now it was Huo Yuhao's turn to be dumbfounded.
He never imagined that after all that, the final outcome would be like this!
The tense atmosphere from just now had instantly turned into a warm "family" reunion?
He opened his mouth and said, caught between laughter and tears, "Just now... just now when you were so serious, President, I thought there was some irreconcilable deep-seated hatred between you and my teacher Zhen Hua!"
Hearing this, a trace of an extremely complex and difficult-to-discern expression flashed through Mu Chen's eyes.
Deep-seated hatred?
Not really.
If one were to really get into it, perhaps it was the "grudge of stealing a wife."
However, back then, the one who "stole" the heart of that stunningly talented woman... was himself.
His Senior Brother, the Divine Craftsman who had reached the Peak of the Forging field, was actually the losing party in romance.
Of course, his relationship with Senior Brother Zhen Hua was far more complex than that.
But regardless, it could definitely not be called hostile.
Pushing down these complicated thoughts, Mu Chen looked at Huo Yuhao with a bit of mischief and appreciation in his eyes, smiling, "If I hadn't put on that slightly difficult act, how could I have forced you to show your true abilities and let me see such a brilliant Forging performance?"
Huo Yuhao was a bit embarrassed by the praise and quickly waved his hands modestly, "You overpraise me, President. You are an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman; how could my meager skills dare be called 'brilliant' in front of you?"
Mu Chen's face intentionally stiffened as he feigned displeasure, "Still calling me 'President'?"
Huo Yuhao immediately understood, a sincere smile appearing on his face as he bowed respectfully once more and said clearly, "Junior Martial Uncle!"
"Mhm!"
Mu Chen finally nodded in satisfaction, his face breaking into a smile again—the relief and affection of an elder looking at an outstanding Junior of his own house.
He officially announced, "In that case, on behalf of the Donghai Blacksmith Association, I welcome your joining!"
He then turned to Tang Wulin, who had been standing by, and instructed, "Wulin, you're familiar with the process. Take Yuhao downstairs to handle the formal membership procedures."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Tang Wulin responded, a heartfelt smile also on his face.
He walked to Huo Yuhao's side and said in a light tone, "Let's go, Yuhao. Now we're not just classmates, but also fellow disciples in Forging!"
Huo Yuhao also nodded with a smile. After the two of them bowed and bid farewell to Mu Chen, they left the Forging room with light steps.
Watching their departing backs, a hint of anticipation emerged in Mu Chen's eyes.
These two youths were destined to leave their own legends in the Forging world in the future.
Afterward, Mu Chen composed his emotions, took out a communication spirit tool, and after a moment's hesitation, made a call.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.