The two announcements were more explosive than the last. A collective gasp arose from the audience.
The Divine Alloy made from nine fused metals was a legendary existence. But compared to this ethereal research with an uncertain timeline, the crowd was more concerned with the other two matters.
Zhen Hua was taking that girl from the Spirit Transmission Tower as his disciple, and he confidently declared that she would be the next Divine Craftsman.
This...
The crowd exchanged glances. For a moment, no one dared to voice any doubt.
This was Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua, the pinnacle of the forging world. Who would dare to easily deny the person he had chosen?
Among the crowd, one figure's gaze was the most complex.
That was Mu Chen, the President of the Eastsea City Blacksmithing Association.
He looked at Zhen Hua, Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao, and Bear Lord with an expression of utter disbelief, clutching his heart as it twitched repeatedly.
What had he been thinking before?
Even Senior Apprentice Brother Zhen Hua, the President of the Blacksmithing Association, did not care about sectarian biases and was willing to accept a disciple from the Spirit Transmission Tower. Why had he cared about such things before?
He felt a pain in his heart. If he could go back to the past, he would definitely accept Tang Wulin the first time he met him, regardless of sectarian biases.
Seeing the crowd's silence, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena exchanged a smile.
With the Blacksmithing Association's participation, their chances of completing the Divine Alloy would be higher.
Just as everyone was silent, a discordant voice suddenly interjected. "Your Majesty Zhen Hua, is this not overconfidence?"
Hearing this familiar voice, Chang Gongyan and Lin Yuhan both frowned and looked toward the entrance of the Blacksmithing Association not far away. Their Xingluo delegation companion, Ning Fengzhi, stood there with a cold sneer on his face. Behind him followed several blacksmiths of the Xingluo Empire.
No one present had seen these people before, and they were momentarily confused. But soon, those who followed current events recognized them. "They are from the Xingluo Federation delegation!"
Zhen Hua's gaze flickered. He spoke calmly, "So it is our friends from the Xingluo Federation. After traveling such a long distance, what advice do you have?"
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, gave a slight cupped fist salute, but his tone carried some arrogance.
"Your Majesty Zhen Hua, I have long admired your reputation. I am Ning Fengzhi, representing the Xingluo Federation. I have come today to visit the Federation's forging world. I did not expect to coincidentally encounter the grand occasion of you accepting a disciple."
His gaze swept over Gu Yuena and Huo Yuhao. A meaningful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"We naturally trust your judgment. But even if you are a Divine Craftsman, that does not mean your disciple will definitely become a Divine Craftsman, does it? Even if this is to build momentum for your disciple, this is too much. She might be crushed by the pressure."
Instantly, the blacksmiths who had previously been somewhat hesitant about the matter showed expressions of anger. This was the Douluo Federation's territory. How dare someone from the Xingluo Federation so arrogantly question Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua?
No matter what, it was not an outsider's place to speak.
Huo Yuhao looked at Ning Fengzhi and frowned slightly.
Ning Fengzhi?
Was that not the name of Ning Rongrong's father from twenty thousand years ago?
No, this person did exist in this era.
After connecting the Xingluo people with Ning Fengzhi and thinking carefully, Huo Yuhao finally remembered who this person was.
He seemed to be the Holy Spirit Cult blacksmith who had appeared during the attack on Zhen Hua. Because the name was so striking, he had remembered it.
But this man really knew how to choose names. He wondered if the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would recall their ancestor upon learning of his existence.
Facing Ning Fengzhi's provocation, Zhen Hua's expression remained calm. He slowly spoke. "As a blacksmith yourself, Sir Ning Fengzhi must understand that the path of forging values talent and perseverance, not verbal disputes. Since I dare to accept a disciple, I naturally have my reasons."
"In that case, would Your Majesty Zhen Hua allow your esteemed disciple to have a competition with our Xingluo Federation's younger generation, so we can see for ourselves?"
Zhen Hua frowned slightly and said, "The Blacksmithing Association is a place for everyone to exchange skills. A sparring session is naturally acceptable. However, making such a big fuss over this might disturb others. That would not be appropriate."
Ning Fengzhi's tone was low as he slowly spoke. "I simply want to confirm whether the Blacksmithing Association is worthy of its reputation or not. Today, the Blacksmithing Association has established an exchange system. I am willing to offer three techniques as the prize for the competition. If we lose, they will be handed over to the Blacksmithing Association. Conversely, you do not need to provide any fee. I will also leave one technique as a challenge fee. President Zhen Hua, as a Divine Craftsman, do you dare to accept this challenge?"
As his words fell, the atmosphere around them instantly froze.
All the blacksmiths, along with Zhen Hua himself, had expressions that turned completely cold.
With things having reached this point, they had no choice but to compete.
Chang Gongyan looked at his colleague Ning Fengzhi with a blank expression. Because of the other's actions, he and Lin Yuhan had also been noticed by the crowd as members of the delegation. They had no choice but to walk over to Ning Fengzhi's side and endure the angry glares from everyone.
"What are you doing? Why are you provoking the Blacksmithing Association?"
"Verification. Since Zhen Hua is so certain that his disciple can become a Divine Craftsman, there must be a reason. Do you not want to know why?"
Ning Fengzhi sent a telepathic message. "Your disciple's skills can test that girl's level. As for the hostility from them... do not forget just because of the Douluo Federation's polite treatment recently. We are not a part of the Douluo Federation. On the contrary, we are their enemies."
This was also the reason why the Xingluo Federation had no choice but to cooperate with their Holy Spirit Cult. Faced with the threat of the Douluo Federation, the high ranking members of the Xingluo Federation had no other choice.
The common people below could surrender, and the Douluo Federation might be magnanimous in handling it. But would the high ranking members of Xingluo dare to surrender?
If they surrendered, only death awaited them.
Chang Gongyan still did not quite understand. "But even knowing her strength, what meaning does it have? Just to see the gap between us?"
"..."
Ning Fengzhi did not answer.
Could he say that he wanted to recruit another talented person for the Holy Cult?
Although their Holy Spirit Cult also had blacksmiths, they had no Divine Craftsman.
As long as the Douluo Federation had a Divine Craftsman producing Heaven Forged metal, they would forever be at a disadvantage in fields like battle armor. This was also why they had schemed to attack Zhen Hua in the past.
And now that Zhen Hua said his disciple had the potential to become a Divine Craftsman, they naturally needed to verify it.
If she indeed had the qualifications to become a Divine Craftsman, then they would have to make some plans and find a way to make her join the Holy Cult. If that failed, they would have to eliminate such talent.
The Douluo Federation was already strong enough. It had to be weakened.
Anyway, she was just a child. That was still easier to deal with than Zhen Hua, a Four-Word Battle Armor Master and Divine Craftsman.
Not getting an answer from Ning Fengzhi, Chang Gongyan could not help but frown deeply. But now it was too late to say anything. Among the younger generation of blacksmiths present, only his disciple Lin Yuhan was available.
He took a deep breath, looked at Zhen Hua, and said in a deep voice, "Since Sir Ning Fengzhi insists on a competition, then let my disciple Lin Yuhan experience the forging skills of Your Majesty Zhen Hua's esteemed disciple."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuhan stepped forward with a grave expression. Although she was young, as the most outstanding young blacksmith of the Xingluo Federation's younger generation, she had absolute confidence in her abilities.
Although the prosperity and strength of the Douluo Federation had shocked her greatly, she had not lost confidence in forging. Even if the other was the disciple of a Divine Craftsman, she believed she could hold her own.
"Miss Gu Yuena, please grant me your guidance."
Seeing this, Gu Yuena did not wait for Zhen Hua to say anything. She stepped forward calmly, her gaze was calm as she assessed Lin Yuhan. "Then let us learn from each other."
The other had thrown down the gauntlet and struck at her teacher's face. As a disciple, she naturally had to step up.
Zhen Hua raised an eyebrow, a trace of gratification rising in his heart. He directly said to the staff, "Prepare a forging platform."
"Yes!"
Preparing the necessary tools for forging at the Blacksmithing Association was naturally very simple. But what surprised Lin Yuhan and the others, as well as the association's blacksmiths, was that Zhen Hua had only prepared one forging platform for some reason.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Chang Gongyan frowned.
"You will understand in a moment." Zhen Hua did not explain. He simply said, "First, choose the metal you want to forge. The completion level of Spirit Forging will be the judging standard."
With Zhen Hua acting as the judge, Lin Yuhan stopped dwelling on it and immediately entered her zone. "All right. I choose Blue Gestation Copper."
Gu Yuena said, "I choose Star Silver."
Hearing her directly choose a
Spirit Alloy, Lin Yuhan frowned slightly but was not too worried.
The Blue Gestation Copper she had chosen was also quite difficult to forge. The final result would still depend on the finished product.
Zhen Hua had the rare metals needed for Blue Gestation Copper and Star Silver prepared, then said, "Begin."
Lin Yuhan nodded slightly. Her gaze instantly became focused and sharp. Her blue eyes, under her concentration, were as brilliant as two shining sapphires.
She spread her arms to both sides. Two beams of light suddenly flashed. Two Spirit Forged Blue Gestation Hammers were already firmly held in her hands. Two yellow and two purple spirit rings also quietly emerged.
Without much preparation, Lin Yuhan quickly began forging the metal.
With each hammer strike, she would pause on the Blue Gestation Copper for a few seconds. Her Spirit Forged Blue Gestation Hammers were not bounced back either. When the hammer struck the metal, it would make a crisp "crack" sound. Then, threads of electric light could be seen spilled from the hammer, injected into the Blue Gestation Copper.
Her movements were clean and fluid. Each hammer strike carried a precise rhythm. The metal produced a clear ringing under her hands. As the Xingluo Federation's young forging prodigy, her skills were indeed impeccable. Even Mu Chen had to admit that this fifteen or sixteen year old girl was indeed a forging prodigy, far superior to his own daughter.
But when people's gazes turned to Gu Yuena, everyone held their breath, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.
She was not in a hurry to start. Instead, she gently raised her right hand, took out a piece of metal, and held it palm up. Five black spirit rings quietly rose.
The next second, the metal was suspended on its own. Then various elements surged from all around, beginning to refine the metal.
Wind, lightning, light, darkness. All kinds of elements flowed around the metal like a river of stars. Each collision produced brilliant sparks of energy. Under the refining of the elements, the metal gradually shed its impurities and blossomed with brilliant spiritual radiance.
The moment they saw this, Chang Gongyan, Ning Fengzhi, Mu Chen, and the others all understood. Zhen Hua had not lied. This girl indeed had the potential to become a Divine Craftsman.
"Using the power of heaven and earth to forge... this is Heaven Forging. It is just that without the addition of law power, it does not attract lightning tribulation."
Chang Gongyan widened his eyes, watching the forging scene without blinking, his expression somewhat trance. "This is performing Spirit Forging using the Heaven Forging method? How could such a forging prodigy exist in the world?"
Although the power of heaven and earth she summoned was far inferior to the real Heaven Forging, making an ordinary rare metal withstand these forces of heaven and earth was still extremely difficult. What level had her affinity and control over the elements reached, that she could accomplish such a feat?
Was she the daughter of the elements?
After the shock, everyone observed carefully for a moment longer and found that Gu Yuena's skills were still above Lin Yuhan's. Despite being younger than Lin Yuhan, she had studied this new forging method while improving her skills to such a level, surpassing everyone's expectations.
"In that case, the outcome is decided."
Ning Fengzhi spoke with his head lowered, doing his utmost to conceal the excitement in his eyes.
Excellent. It seemed the position of Holy Maiden had also been settled.
Whether in cultivation or forging skills, Gu Yuena's talent was worthy of the Holy Cult's recruitment.
"Yes." Chang Gongyan looked at Gu Yuena with complicated eyes. "The Federation's prodigies truly emerge in an endless stream."
He had originally thought Huo Yuhao was already surprising enough. He had not expected someone like Gu Yuena to exist as well.
Even setting aside her forging accomplishments, Gu Yuena was also a very excellent soul master. In comparison, the four ring cultivation of Lin Yuhan fell far short.
By the time Lin Yuhan had fully focused and completed her Spirit Forging of the Blue Gestation Copper, the Star Silver in Gu Yuena's hands had already blossomed with brilliant starlight. The surface of the metal shimmered with a star like radiance.
"This..." Lin Yuhan looked at the piece in Gu Yuena's hands, her eyes filled with shock. She had never seen such a perfect Spirit Forging creation. The Star Silver seemed to have already gained life, gently trembling in Gu Yuena's hands. A rich life aura flowed from it, wanting to nourish Gu Yuena, but she did not absorb it.
Life Creating Spirit Forging.
This was the highest level of Spirit Forging. But Gu Yuena seemed to have gone even further on this foundation.
Lin Yuhan had seen her teacher's Spirit Forging creations, but they were absolutely not as miraculous as Gu Yuena's. That piece of Spirit Forged metal seemed to have already faintly surpassed this level.
What the many Saint Craftsmen
saw was even more than Lin Yuhan.
"Above Spirit Forging is Soul Forging. That is our definition as blacksmiths. But forging itself is a process of letting metal grow. A tall building rises from the ground. If Hundred-Forged, Thousand-Forged, and Spirit Forging all use the power of heaven and earth to baptize it, the level of the metal will naturally rise step by step."
"Although what the president's disciple completed was only Spirit Forging, because she continuously used the power of heaven and earth to baptize the metal, its level was constantly rising. Although there was no qualitative change due to the lack of wisdom being imparted, it could no longer be described as mere Spirit Forging metal."
"Her forging method has already surpassed the limits of traditional Spirit Forging. She let the metal nurture a quality comparable to Soul Forging during the Spirit Forging stage. It is just that because it lacks wisdom, it can only be described as Quasi Soul Forging."
At this point, Mu Chen swallowed. "And if she continues to use this forging method during the Soul Forging stage..."
Quasi Heaven Forging?
Many blacksmiths stirred.
At that time, the quality of the Soul Forging metal Gu Yuena completed would probably be able to make Quasi Four-Word Battle Armor. After being nurtured by the soul master themselves, it could become Four-Word Battle Armor.
Something that required many Saint Craftsmen to work together to accomplish, she alone would suffice.
And by using the Heaven Forging method for the preceding steps, reaching Soul Forging, and finally entering the Heaven Forging level, if not effortless, it was at least not as difficult as imagined.
She might even go further than President Zhen Hua.
This was an incomparably talented genius walking from the end to the starting point.
At this point, the crowd, which had already had no objections, thoroughly accepted the matter. Some people's gazes toward Gu Yuena also became solemn.
This was a future Divine Craftsman.
Chang Gongyan sighed inwardly.
Before coming to the Douluo Continent, Chang Gongyan had been full of confidence in his disciple Lin Yuhan. But now it seemed that the Xingluo Federation had been left far behind in the field of forging.
Whether in the present or the future.
"We have lost."
***
->Support me with power stone
->for 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)