"Qian Jin..." Francie reached out to hold Qian Jin back, wanting to speak, but noticed that Qian Jin’s eyes held no trace of the apprehension the other blacksmiths felt toward Lucas. The hammer technique just displayed, which had been akin to dancing, seemed to have caused Qian Jin no pressure whatsoever.

Qian Jin looked at Lucas and Francie, chuckling twice. That kind of technique was nowhere near the level of Blacksmith Blake from the Endless World. How could such skill warrant such pride, or necessitate such dread?

“Boss, Uncle Francie, lend me your hammers.”

Qian Jin’s simple request sparked confusion among everyone. Why borrow two hammers? Surely, refining metal only required one, right? Could he have lost his confidence after being intimidated by Lucas?

Qian Jin laughed, ‘snatching’ the hammers from Franlin and Francie, and walked over to the forge. He looked at Lucas’s subordinate and said, “My good man, heat it up.”

Lucas’s beard twitched violently, his eyes glaring at Qian Jin with displeasure. This brat truly didn't understand courtesy; how dare he command his subordinate?

In front of everyone, Lucas couldn't say much, so he forced a laugh. “For a blacksmith, stoking the fire is also a discipline. Blacksmith Franlin’s forge lacks an outstanding fire tender, so you might as well help this young man.”

Franlin let out another resentful grunt, yet he couldn't refute Lucas’s words. Stoking the fire was indeed a crucial task for a blacksmith, and no one in the forge could surpass the skill of Lucas’s subordinate in that regard.

The ingot heated until it glowed fiery red. The instant Qian Jin grasped it with tongs and placed it on the anvil, he immediately picked up the two heavy hammers resting beside him. This immediately drew everyone’s gaze—was the young man truly going to use two hammers?

Lucas crossed his arms, grinning smugly. Young people were always too impatient. He had merely demonstrated an elegant technique while working the metal; did the boy think he could win by matching him in sheer mechanical action?

Clang! The first hammer struck the glowing ingot, producing a soul-shaking collision. Lucas’s smile froze at the same moment.

The ingot, unsupported by the tongs, leaped violently, tumbling in the air away from the anvil. Qian Jin’s second hammer was already arriving—Clang!

Another clang echoed, and before anyone could catch their breath, the hammers in Qian Jin’s hands rained down upon the metal like a fierce storm.

If Lucas’s hammer strikes were considered a clumsy, yet barely acceptable, dance upon the metal…

Then Qian Jin’s hammering was outright war. The two hammers struck up a fierce battle hymn! The clang of metal on metal seemed to drag everyone instantly into the epic warfare of clashing blades and charging horses!

Lucas stared, his eyes wide with disbelief. What… what was happening?

Franlin’s eyeballs nearly popped out of his head. Qian Jin hadn't been forging like this yesterday! How could he have transformed overnight? Had he been holding back deliberately yesterday? Was he provoked by Lucas today, unleashing his full strength?

The metal jumped upon impact, struck again, and slammed onto the anvil. Without the lock of tongs, the two hammers in Qian Jin’s hands constantly adjusted the position of the ingot, keeping it perfectly controlled.

“Tend the fire! Don’t stop!”

“Toss the ingot inside back onto the anvil!”

“Keep stoking, and throw another ingot in!”

The hammers danced in Qian Jin’s hands, interspersed with various commands that left the onlookers utterly mesmerized. Two pieces of metal struck and rebounded, then three pieces struck and rebounded…

Gradually, three pieces became two, and then two became one. Fiery sparks scattered outward with a sizzling sound, as if brilliant fireworks were blooming on that small anvil.

The ingot was shrinking continuously, and so was the heart of Lucas, who watched the process. His hands had clenched into fists at some unknown point, and the two strands of golden mustache connected to his upper lip were twitching spasmodically.

Metal could be worked like this? Franlin looked at Francie, only to find Francie returning his gaze with equal astonishment.

Qian Jin clearly had no intention of stopping. With a hook from his massive hammer, he pulled a fourth, fiery red ingot from the scorching furnace!

Lucas’s heart constricted further, and the muscles in his face continued to twitch. The members of the Flame Adventurer Group had long forgotten their initial suspicion of Qian Jin.

This seemingly very young warrior trainee was using his two great hammers to unfurl a scroll depicting a scene called Miracle for all to witness.

Two hours—which should have felt agonizingly long to those with nothing better to do—flew by with astonishing speed while watching Qian Jin forge, feeling like mere minutes had passed. The two hours were instantly over!

Clang! Another powerful metallic collision rang out. Qian Jin spun the hammer shaft in his hand once before tossing the now-refined steel into the water trough.

Hiss! That signature sound of eternally enduring metal meeting cool water erupted once more, as white steam enveloped the space around Qian Jin.

Qian Jin set down the two hammers of differing weights, clapped his hands, stepped aside, and, mimicking Lucas’s earlier tone, stated, “For fairness, I shall not offer my own assessment. Mr. Lucas, if you are still a true blacksmith, then please, judge its quality.”

Lucas’s expression had long since lost its former arrogance and ruddy glow. His eyebrows were knitted together like a tangled mess of hemp rope.

Gradually, the look of heavy caution on Lucas’s face vanished, replaced by surging joy. A faint smile touched his lips as he looked down at Qian Jin with a condescending gaze: “Young man, blacksmithing is not juggling. You have strayed onto the crooked path of forging. What you just displayed was certainly visually spectacular, but unfortunately…”

Lucas gently shook his finger, his cold eyes carrying a hint of contempt. “You ignored one crucial point. In two hours, you only produced a single piece of refined steel. Even if it is a high-quality Grade Two refined steel, the quantity is too small—it doesn't compare to my two pieces of Grade Two refined steel.”

The bellows operator wiped the sweat from his entire body, a smug look spreading across his face. In Oakland, Blacksmith Lucas was still the strongest!

The blacksmiths behind Franlin, whose faces had turned from flushed to pale, breathed heavily. The Flame Adventurers’ eyes were now fixed more intently on Lucas.

Qian Jin casually ran a hand through his hair. “Perhaps we should look at the refined steel first, shall we?”

“Fine!” Lucas adjusted his collar, holding his head high as he strode toward the water bucket, every step imbued with the imposing gait of a general reviewing his troops.

“This is…?” Lucas paused slightly upon seeing the refined steel in the water.

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