"Apologies for the missed update yesterday. My cousin, the one I grew up with, got married, and I was genuinely overjoyed for him. I was utterly drunk for a whole day before I finally sobered up.

No time to spare! Gan Jing quickly dipped his head in a bow toward Aknash with his Zhanmadao (Horse-Slaying Saber) in hand, then broke into a trot toward the village outskirts.

From the shoulder-high grass outside the village, a terrifying surge of murderous intent erupted, blade-shadows slicing through the air accompanied by sprays of blood.

'Player, Gan Jing’s game time has expired…,' '…'

As the time ran out, Gan Jing opened his eyes, finding himself pulled away from the Endless World. He moved his somewhat numb body; he had been pushed so hard by that little instructor Aknash that he hadn't even had a moment to seek out Teacher Adams to treat his fractured right arm. It seemed he’d have to mix some potions himself for recovery, for now.

'Gan Jing… Gan Jing………'

Mu Guiwuxin hammered on the door with a hand the size of a basin, his voice like a rusty gong, shouting excitedly.

Gan Jing pulled the door open and saw Mu Guiwuxin holding one massive hand aloft while the other clutched a set of brand-new, formal attire. Gan Jing paused slightly.

'Uncle, what is this—'

'What is this? Aren't you supposed to be taking office at the Blacksmiths’ Guild today?' Mu Guiwuxin draped the formal wear over Gan Jing's body. 'You are, after all, a man who came out of the Torrent Battle Fortress. If you're going to be Guild Master, you need to look the part to command respect.'

Several beautiful women emerged from their respective rooms. They exchanged glances, confirming from each other that Gan Jing hadn't visited anyone's room the previous night, then swiftly approached Gan Jing and gently took the clothes from Mu Guiwuxin’s grasp.

The four women each took a section of the formal attire, surrounding Gan Jing, skillfully moving his limbs to dress him perfectly.

Mu Guiwuxin stared with wide, envious eyes, his thick lips making a sound of reproachful clicking. 'Jealousy! Utterly soul-crushing jealousy! I, Mu Gui, can survive without women, but seeing your situation, young man, makes my eyes burn with envy!'

Gan Jing looked at the four beauties fussing over his clothes. This life did seem quite pleasant now. If he were in Mu Guiwuxin's position, he probably would be consumed by envy too, right?

'I can't watch anymore! I truly cannot watch! If I keep looking, I'll go mad with jealousy! I need women! I want women!' Mu Guiwuxin spun around and roared loudly before striding out. From behind, he looked like a girl fleeing a scene she’d been bullied in.

Gan Jing shrugged and smiled. Uncle Mu Gui’s appearance was certainly not handsome—truthfully, he ranked among the ugly men. Coupled with his rough demeanor, he couldn't imagine what kind of woman would ever fall for him. He resolved to keep an eye out for him when the opportunity arose.

'You think he doesn't have women?' Gu Yue Jiaying whispered quietly as she fastened the final button on Gan Jing’s chest, rolling her eyes slightly. 'He does. Over with the Demon Race…'

Women? The Demon Race? Gan Jing turned to look at Lucifer Liushui, noticing that the Demon Princess’s eyes were also clouded with confusion and surprise. How had he not known about this? The woman of a Warrior's Guild Master in a major city, and she was with the Demon Race? That was incredibly valuable intelligence!

'Don't look at me like that.' Lucifer Liushui adjusted Gan Jing’s sleeve. 'I won't use this information against him!'

Gan Jing grew curious. What did this woman of Uncle Mu Gui look like? Was she perhaps a Demon too?

'A Demon.'

Gu Yue Jiaying adjusted Gan Jing’s shoulders, then turned, leaving behind a crisp statement, as if unwilling to elaborate further.

A Demon, truly? Gan Jing sighed softly as he looked back at Mu Guiwuxin's disappearing figure. Even in the songs sung by bards, there were tales of tragic, star-crossed loves between humans and demons—even more exaggerated ones, like a Demon Princess falling for a Human Prince, ending in heartbreak.

Of course, the most outrageous tales involved a Demon Prince loving a Human Prince, and a Demon Emperor loving a Human Emperor, all concluding tragically.

Stories of love between the people of the Zhence Dynasty and the Demon Race of the Xifa Dynasty always ended in sorrow. The inability of humans and demons to remain together had slowly solidified from a mere story trope into an unshakeable iron law.

Gan Jing began to understand why a successful warrior like Mu Guiwuxin remained unwed: it turned out his affections were directed in a way that seemed impossible in the current climate.

'Be careful on the road.' Luo Qingqing handed Gan Jing a cup of tea.

Gan Jing took the tea and looked at Luo Qingqing, lightly tapping his forehead. He had long wanted to give Qingqing some gold coins but never found the right moment. Here, in the core of the Torrent Battle Fortress, surely not even someone would dare try to snatch gold bricks worth millions, even if left unattended?

'Qingqing, I have quite a bit of gold left over. Take it and see if it helps your business ventures.'

'No need.' Luo Qingqing quickly shook her small hands back and forth in front of her chest. 'We still have enough liquid gold at home; it shouldn't be a major issue. You keep it…'

Thud!

Over a dozen gold bricks landed with a jarring thud onto the grass by the flower pond outside the door.

Luo Qingqing couldn't hide the look of astonishment flickering in her eyes—gold bricks! And more than ten of them…

'Come… co-co-come…'

Luo Qingqing raised a hand to cover her mouth, which had dropped open in shock. That was already fifty or sixty gold bricks…

Thud, thud, come…

Luo Qingqing raised both hands to cover her wide-open crimson lips as Gu Yue Jiaying’s gaze also pierced through the room, settling on the pile of gold bricks on the lawn.

Thud, thud, thud, thud…

The gold bricks rained down as Gan Jing continuously pulled them from his Doujie (Battle Realm). Luo Qingqing’s bright eyes were twice as wide as usual. She wasn't someone unfamiliar with wealth, but this much ready cash… Gu Yue Jiaying stopped lingering inside the room and stepped out, her brow betraying an unconcealed astonishment as she watched the ceaseless appearance of the coins.

Even a young warrior backed by immense power would, at most, carry top-tier weapons and armor; they would never possess this quantity of gold bricks!

Gu Yue Jiaying knew exactly what Gan Jing was like a few years ago. Even if he made money repairing Doubing (Battle Weapons), this rate of accumulation was terrifyingly fast—faster than robbing a treasury!

Millions of gold coins! Even Gu Yue Jiaying couldn't maintain a composed expression. Such wealth would make the eyes of the head of a large noble family water uncontrollably. This was the power of money!

'Brother Gan Jing…' Luo Qingqing covered her surprised lips with both hands and asked nervously in a small voice, 'You… you didn't go and… did you… rob…?'

'Hee hee hee…' Lucifer Liushui covered her lips, puffed out her proud chest, and let out a series of haughty chuckles. 'He robbed, yes, but not living people. He robbed the dead demons of our Lucifer family—Lucifer Nihan’s hidden treasure!'

Lucifer Nihan? Gu Yue Jiaying showed a flicker of realization. That Demon Race traitor rumored to have vanished countless years ago who had been a notorious bandit for a long time. It seemed he hadn't had time to spend his money before he died. All his treasures had ended up cheapening Gan Jing's pocket.

'This is about all I have on hand right now.' Gan Jing glanced at the few remaining gold bricks in his Doujie. 'I wonder if this will help your commercial endeavors?'

'It can! It absolutely can!'

Luo Qingqing kept nodding, half her face covered by her hands. Although she had some liquid gold, based on the socialites she’d met last night, expanding her business would still leave her severely short of capital. Having this much gold instantly meant many business plans she had only conceived could now be seriously put into action.

'Then take it and use it for now.' Gan Jing scratched his head. 'I need to head to the Blacksmiths’ Guild.'

'No… this—'

Luo Qingqing reached out to stop Gan Jing, but she felt Gu Yue Jiaying’s arm rest on hers and looked doubtfully at the strong woman who was always ready to explode at any moment.

'Take it and use it,' Gu Yue Jiaying ordered, gently kicking the gold bricks with her foot. 'Do you two still need to differentiate whose money this is?'

Luo Qingqing stared blankly at Gu Yue Jiaying, her cheeks quickly flushing crimson as she lowered her head and repeatedly nodded. 'Sister is right.'

Lucifer Liushui watched the equally present Biluo curiously. She knew where Gan Jing’s gold bricks came from. Why wasn't this typically timid female mage surprised by the sight of so many gold bricks?

'Aren't you surprised? These are gold bricks worth hundreds of thousands!'

Lucifer Liushui leaned close to Biluo, staring at the exquisitely beautiful face beneath her magic hat.

Biluo gently shook her head, her large magic hat swaying, which piqued a bit of curiosity in Gu Yue Jiaying. So many gold bricks had startled even her; why was the girl who should have been the most astonished totally unfazed?

'Gan Jing can create any miracle.'

Biluo tilted her head up, her eyes brimming with absolute conviction. From the moment she met him until now, had Gan Jing ever stopped fighting for his life to create miracles? Compared to the other miracles he had wrought, what was a mere pile of gold coins?

Gu Yue Jiaying thoughtfully nodded. In terms of sheer faith in Gan Jing, she realized she actually fell short of this little girl.

Luo Qingqing bent down, straining to lift a gold brick. Her palm slipped slightly, and the heavy brick dropped back to the ground with a dull impact.

Bang!

Someone bumped into Gan Jing’s shoulder. He looked down to find the person who collided with him had already plopped down onto the ground.

So hurried? Gan Jing bent down to haul up the member dressed in the attire of the Luo Corporation. 'Are you hurt?'

'Patriarch.' The Luo Corporation member immediately stood up and bowed deeply, his expression laced with urgency.

Gan Jing’s expression froze for a split second in surprise. Patriarch? Oh! Although he hadn't officially married Luo Qingqing, everyone knew about the relationship. He hadn't expected to have such a title yet.

'Something urgent?' Gan Jing stepped aside. 'Business comes first, you go ahead.'

'Thank you, Patriarch.'

The Luo Corporation member quickened his pace toward the depths of the Torrent Battle Fortress.

Gan Jing shrugged, shaking his shoulders. It seemed the Luo Corporation was indeed in urgent business matters. However, he knew nothing about commerce and couldn't offer any practical help. He hoped the gold bricks he just gave would be useful.

'Business…' Gan Jing chewed on the familiar yet truly incomprehensible word, shaking his head lightly. 'For this, I really have to rely on President Qingqing…'

'President Luo… President Luo…'

The Luo Corporation member stopped short upon seeing the large amount of gold bricks near Luo Qingqing's feet, then violently shook his head, gasping for breath as he spoke. 'President Luo! It’s bad news! The trade convoy heading to the Demon Race beyond the frontier has gone missing again…'

Thud!

The gold brick Luo Qingqing was just lifting dropped back to the ground with a dull clang. She stared blankly at the subordinate reporting to her, the man responsible for coordinating shipments in Yongliu City.

Missing again? This was the second convoy from the Luo family to vanish beyond the frontier! Luo Qingqing stood frozen for a moment. Such a thing had never happened before.

The horse bandits beyond the frontier usually organized for profit; even after plundering goods, they would typically release a few people to relay demands for ransom.

Now, two convoys disappearing in quick succession without any trace of bandits demanding payment was completely unprecedented.

'How could this happen?' Luo Qingqing gently massaged her temples, which were starting to ache, and looked anxiously at Gu Yue Jiaying. 'Sister, should we find Gan Jing…?'

Gu Yue Jiaying crossed her arms, her expression one of serious contemplation. She shook her head. 'Gan Jing has gone to the Blacksmiths’ Guild; let's not disturb him for now. We can hire mercenaries to investigate the situation, and we'll tell him when he gets back.'

Luo Qingqing sighed. They had sent mercenaries after the last convoy disappeared, but those mercenaries vanished without a trace after entering the frontier. Sending more now probably wouldn't yield better results. However, it truly wasn't the right time to bother Gan Jing; they needed to wait until he returned from the Blacksmiths’ Guild. 'This must be the Blacksmiths’ Guild.'

Gan Jing jumped down from the carriage and looked up at the plain wooden entrance. A massive blacksmith’s hammer was suspended directly above the door.

Inside the gate stood a sculpture—not particularly elegant—of a muscular man, bare-chested, holding a giant hammer raised high above his head, his eyes fixed on what looked like red-hot raw iron at his feet.

This is…?

Gan Jing’s foot, mid-step across the threshold, paused in the air. The sculpture wasn't truly exquisite; it seemed as if it had been roughly chiseled into stone with a steel pick. Yet, those few simple carvings were incredibly evocative! There was a… perhaps, a hint of…

The feeling of Uncle Blake swinging his hammer!

A very faint, very faint trace of that essence!

If he hadn't watched Uncle Blake forge iron so many times, if he hadn't studied the Shengfeng Shiba Chui (Eighteen Hammers of Ascending Peaks), Gan Jing wouldn't have dared to assume there was any shared quality here.

No! He should say… Gan Jing gestured with his hands and feet in front of a piece of glass beside the door and nodded slightly. He should say this stance was actually more similar to his own; compared to Uncle Blake’s, it was far, far off!

Auvelan! Beneath the large stone figure, a simple name was carved: Auvelan. This name, unknown to ordinary people, was famous in the blacksmithing world!

As a blacksmith, one might not know the names of the successive emperors of the Zhence Dynasty, but one absolutely could not be ignorant of Lord Auvelan!

Auvelan? Gan Jing sucked in a sharp breath. This was the legendary Divine Craftsman who once appeared in the Blacksmiths’ Guild! He heard there was a sculpture carved by a master sculptor in the Divine Capital; this must be a replica, perhaps a very good one, that inspired an urge to experience the joy of forging.

The blacksmith guarding the door stared, dumbfounded, at Gan Jing’s formal attire. Who was this person? Why was he dressed like that? Was he going to a ball in the city tonight? Had he taken a wrong turn? No, that couldn't be right either! It was still early morning; dressing up this elaborately seemed premature.

Gan Jing stepped inside the Blacksmiths’ Guild entrance. The guard blacksmith finally reacted and hurried forward to intercept him. 'Sir, may I ask what you are…'

The guild member eyed Gan Jing up and down with a strange look. Why show up at the Blacksmiths’ Guild dressed like that in broad daylight? What were his intentions? Perhaps he was here to formally take over the position of Guild Master? He hadn't heard any news about the current Master stepping down.

'I am here to see Elder Yun Xinghuǐ Shēng.' Gan Jing bowed slightly. 'Elder Yun Xinghuǐ Shēng invited me to stop by and chat with him this evening.'

The guard blacksmith’s lips twitched stiffly. So, it turned out he was dressed so grandly because he was seeing the Guild Master. Ah, young people—they hadn't seen much fanfare before; this outfit was a little too formal.

'Oletta, what is the matter?'

Another blacksmith, carrying a hammer, emerged from inside the Guild, the heat radiating from him indicating he had just rushed over from beside a scorching furnace.

'Elder Xian Qiang.' Oletta turned and bowed immediately to the guild's Tenth Steward, Ninth-rank Forgemaster Xian Qiang, who approached. 'This young friend says he received an invitation from Guild Master Yun Xing last night.'

Xian Qiang rubbed his dry eyes. He hadn't slept for a day and a night while working on a specific piece of equipment. He wondered if the young man was telling the truth. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a warrior? Every year, they had to turn away eight hundred or a thousand warriors falsely claiming acquaintance with Guild Master Yun Xing.

What? Is this a new way of requesting an audience? Dressing up like this? Xian Qiang had just started forming a polite smile to chase him away, but his expression suddenly froze rigid on his face.

'Th-this… this is… the Guild Master’s personal Star-Wielding Hammer.'

Xian Qiang’s eyes widened as he looked at the small trinket hanging from Gan Jing's waist. This was a small ornament that Guild Master Yun Xing never parted with. It was a gift from his master when he first became a forger and blacksmith. Even Lei Guangming, the Guild Master’s direct disciple, had never been allowed to hold the Yun Xing Hammer.

Gan Jing looked down at the small hammer ornament hanging at his waist. 'Guild Master Yun Xing gave this to me.'

'Ov…'

Xian Qiang felt like his head had been struck hard by a hammer; his vision was filled with flashing golden stars. What happened last night? What on earth happened? He’d only been busy forging iron all night; surely something very important had occurred?

What had happened that the Yun Xing Hammer was given away? Xian Qiang desperately wanted to grab Gan Jing’s clothes and demand answers. As the Tenth Steward of the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild, giving away the Yun Xing Hammer was undoubtedly a monumental event, yet he knew nothing about what transpired in their Guild.

'May I… may I go in now?'

Gan Jing started walking forward. The two men no longer blocked his path, clearing the way immediately.

That was the Yun Xing Hammer! The Guild Master’s most precious and cherished possession, especially since his master passed away—the Yun Xing Hammer had become one of the most important tokens of remembrance for his master!

And he just gave it away? Xian Qiang didn't know what to say.

Oletta looked curiously at Xian Qiang's shock, then looked suspiciously at Gan Jing's departing back and shook his head lightly. He didn't know what the Steward was shocked about, nor what was so surprising about this young man. Even if the Guild Master gave him a gift, there was no need to dress like this, was there?

Oletta chuckled and shook his head. Those who knew understood he was visiting the Guild Master; those who didn't would think he was there to assume the Guild Master's duties today.

Gan Jing passed through the long courtyard gate and immediately heard the clanging sounds of forging. The blacksmiths in the front yard barely glanced at him; their focus was entirely on the metal in their hands, their expressions intensely concentrated.

The main hall of the Blacksmiths’ Guild was divided by different counters, each counter leading to a different passage marked by signs at the entrance.

Blades, Swords, Shields, Armor… Gauntlets…

Behind each counter sat stocky, muscular men, not delicate female hostesses. It was immediately clear these men had some genuine skill in forging; they would likely offer more professional and detailed explanations when debating with a client.

The large men behind the counters all had their expressions change when they saw Gan Jing. What was this elaborate attire doing in the Blacksmiths’ Guild? Was there a masquerade ball?

Gan Jing felt the peculiar stares around him and tried to remain composed, nodding slightly to those nearby. He inwardly complained that Uncle Mu Gui’s taste in clothes was terrible; it was completely tailored to look like a newly rich upstart, nowhere near as refined as the clothes Luo Qingqing and the others had chosen.

'It seems that when it comes to selecting clothing…' Gan Jing muttered to himself, quickening his pace. '…I really have to rely on women for assistance.'

Beyond the main hall was another courtyard where dozens of blacksmiths swung their hammers, the clanging sounds of forging even livelier.

Gan Jing’s steps suddenly halted as his gaze pierced through the crowd, settling on a young blacksmith, perhaps twenty years old.

The smith felt eyes on him, glancing up at Qian Jin, and was startled by the exaggerated, opulent attire.

"Li Litote, what nonsense are you up to now! Guild Master Yun Xing transferred you from the lowest rank, the First Outer Ward, to our Second Outer Ward because he saw some potential in you. Keep banging away like that, and I’ll send you right back to the First Outer Ward!"

Qian Jin looked toward the source of the roar, a voice not much better than Uncle Mugui’s cracked instrument. The man was a solid six feet tall, his healthy bronze skin slick with slow-moving sweat, exuding a rugged masculinity. The blacksmith’s hammer in his hand was glowing red at the face, betraying the sheer force and dedication he put into his forging.

Li Litote picked up a yellow cloth nearby and wiped the sweat from his brow, sweeping his long hair—which nearly obscured his face—back behind his head. This revealed a rather handsome face, his sapphire-like eyes flickering with a smile of helplessness.

"I wasn't banging away randomly," Li Litote shrugged, looking utterly innocent. "I just felt the sound produced by striking it that way was more pleasing..."

"Still arguing!" The big man strode toward Li Litote, hefting his hammer and roaring, "Blacksmithing is sacred! How can you strike randomly just because it sounds nice? Can you make good work like that?"

Li Litote found a piece of hemp rope and tied back his damp long hair, a childlike smile playing on his lips as he muttered under his breath, "Well, sometimes when I strike it like that, mine even sounds better than yours."

"What did you say?" The big man vigorously dug into his ear. "What did you just say? I’m teaching you for your own good! What you’re doing now, that chaotic striking, is building bad habits. If one day you forge a Sacred Artifact and that bad habit flares up, you could destroy the artifact with a single hammer blow, do you understand? Especially those last two strikes you just made—how could you only raise the hammer halfway?"

"And the speed of your last few strikes..."

"Exactly, exactly! All of Tote’s bad habits... he picked them up in the First Outer Ward."

"If he doesn’t change these vices, he will never enter the Third Outer Ward and become a true Blacksmith."

"Guild Master Yun Xing is just too kind; he only transferred him to our Second Outer Ward because he’s an orphan..."

"Someone like him will never become a Blacksmith in his life."

The smiths stopped their hammering and began whispering amongst themselves at a volume Li Litote could easily hear. In their eyes, there was more jealousy mixed with envy.

The student personally singled out by Guild Master Yun Xing from the First Outer Ward and transferred to the Second Outer Ward—Li Litote was the only one in all these years! Thankfully, he possessed this wicked habit of forging without discipline.

"Li Litote, look at everyone..." The big man looked genuinely heartbroken. "Everyone is worried about you."

Worried? Li Litote bit his lip lightly, stubbornly lowering his head to stare at the dirt floor, refusing to argue. That style of forging was the happiest and most comfortable for him.

"Excuse me, gentlemen..." Qian Jin broke the silence. His magnificent ceremonial dress instantly captured everyone's attention, drawing a few mocking snickers.

"Dressed like he’s going to a ball."

"Not even for a ball would you need to dress up this much."

"Look at that outfit—it screams 'country bumpkin suddenly flush with cash.'"

"Yeah! That clothing has no taste at all."

Qian Jin glanced down at his clothes and chuckled inwardly: You are lucky I happened to overhear you. If Uncle Mugui Wuxin had heard you badmouth his taste, he’d probably fly into a rage right now and break all your bones.

Hmm, Qian Jin touched the bridge of his nose. Even he couldn't fully endorse Uncle Mugui Wuxin’s taste in clothing, but he was, after all, wearing the robes the Guild Master had helped him select.

"I think," Qian Jin said, pausing for a second under their collective gaze, "those last few strikes the smith just made... were much better than his previous forging."

Dozens of smiths stared at Qian Jin with strange expressions, all issuing cold, disdainful sneers. This person, dressed as if attending a masquerade, was clearly not one of the Blacksmith Guild members, yet he was speaking up for Li Litote? Did he think dressing in old-fashioned finery would give his words weight?

"Continue enjoying the pleasure of forging," Qian Jin clapped Li Litote on the shoulder. "I think Guild Master Yun Xing transferred you from outside because you know how to enjoy the fun of forging."

Cold laughter filled the air. Li Litote stared at Qian Jin in surprise. This young man, who looked younger than himself, was speaking with the tone of a senior, yet Li Litote felt no resentment—only a touch of unexpected warmth. It was very strange.

"Forging in full dress..." Qian Jin frowned, looking down at his clothes, and sighed. He stopped engaging with the others, raised his hand, picked up a blacksmith’s hammer from the ground, weighed it a few times, and walked straight toward Li Litote’s forge station.

The smiths stared at Qian Jin in astonishment. What was this kid up to? Hitting metal? Did he know how to forge? And he was going to forge dressed like a brightly wrapped gift? Who did he think he was? A Blacksmith? A Master Blacksmith? To dare forge dressed like that.

Qian Jin lightly pulled the bellows with one hand, adjusting the intensity of the flame. Since he was here to take over as Guild Master, he had to show off a few skills. In the smiths’ circle, recognition was earned through demonstrable ability, much like in the warriors’ circle.

Qian Jin casually tossed a few more pieces of charcoal into the furnace, once again tweaking the flame’s temperature. He confirmed in his mind: Guild Master Yun Xing sent him here instead of fetching him personally, clearly intending for him to make an impression. The inheritance of the Guild Master’s position could be enacted by Yun Xing, but the inheritance of his status in the hearts of the people still needed to be fought for by the successor himself.

The flame in the furnace grew stronger. Qian Jin picked up the tongs nearby, lifting out the glowing iron bloom. His hammer swung up, sounding like a sudden gust of wind, and crashed down heavily and squarely onto the heated iron.

The sound of metal colliding was deafening—brilliant sparks, like chrysanthemums in full bloom, erupted outward in all directions. Before the crowd could cover their ears, the hammer struck the iron again. The iron bloom seemed like a sponge saturated with water, immediately squirting out fiery water blossoms under the immense pressure.

Dong! Dong! Dong...

The rapid succession of strikes sounded like a series of war drums. The smiths stared blankly at Qian Jin. This man, after initially using the tongs to retrieve the bloom from the fire, hadn't used them again. Instead, he was playing with the flying iron piece like a ball, tossing it between two hammers, one in each hand?

The glowing red iron piece flipped up and down between the two hammers, resembling a beautiful butterfly dancing back and forth between two insect nets, never quite getting caught.

"This..."

Xian Qiang stood at the yard entrance, staring dumbfounded at Qian Jin beside the forge. What was going on here? He had intended to catch up and ask what was happening, but instead, he saw him forging? And not using tongs? Just playing with two hammers?

What did this mean? Xian Qiang swallowed hard watching Qian Jin’s display. He considered himself a very skilled Blacksmith, yet he absolutely could not replicate this strange forging method. This was no longer mere ironwork! Was it art? Or was it acrobatics? Or perhaps, a new realm of skill?

Xian Qiang blinked rapidly. Suddenly, the forging station seemed unclear; perhaps he was hallucinating. He didn't feel like he was watching a young man forge; it felt like watching Guild Master Yun Xing at work. No! It was like that stone sculpture at the entrance... it had come alive!

On the small forging table, two ordinary hammers danced up and down. The once-comical ceremonial robes now amplified the powerful aura radiating from Qian Jin, lending him an ineffable master’s presence.

Qian Jin’s speed wasn’t fast! Xian Qiang was confident he could follow the trajectory of every strike, yet the wildly bouncing iron bloom was always pressed firmly back onto the anvil just as required.

Stopping the bouncing iron bloom—Xian Qiang believed even he could manage that—but the force applied to the bloom changed every time it rebounded. Therefore, the downward force of the hammer needed to change precisely to meet the requirement upon impact. That was far from easy.

One hammer strike? Xian Qiang shook his head repeatedly. Once the iron bounced, he couldn't control the force of a single hammer blow. Yet this young man seemed to control it perfectly. Where did he come from? Was he from the Head Guild? Or a secret apprentice of Guild Master Yun Xing?

Most likely! Xian Qiang nodded firmly. That was the only possible explanation! Otherwise, there was no accounting for the presence of the Yun Xing Hammer on this person.

Clang!

The final metallic collision sounded, and the iron bloom was pressed firmly back onto the anvil by the hammer. Xian Qiang unconsciously raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. This wasn't sweat caused by high heat; it was a cold sweat! Real cold sweat!

"...Zero... Zero misses!"

Xian Qiang was far stronger than the surrounding smiths; that sequence just now truly seemed flawless! And! What about that hallucination? Why did that young man resemble the Divine Artisan Ovilan?

"Iro... Iron Essence..."

The first smith who had lectured Li Litote stared blankly at the metal under Qian Jin’s hammer and cried out, recognizing its nature.

The onlookers seemed not to have heard this earth-shattering news, remaining fixed on Qian Jin, gazing at him with rapt absorption. The forging method possessed an indescribable, captivating charm that drew them in involuntarily.

Iron Essence! Xian Qiang shuddered. Striking Iron Essence with that method? That was too intense! How old was this man? Was he an idiot? Hadn't Guild Master Yun Xing said that Xian Qiang himself had considerable talent?

Qian Jin turned back to Li Litote. "What did you feel just now?"

Li Litote’s eyes shone like stars in the night sky. "It was fascinating! Joyful, powerful! Like... like listening to a concert."

Qian Jin raised the hammer in his hand and suddenly struck the Iron Essence again, sending the entire piece leaping high into the air.

Li Litote’s shining eyes fell into contemplation. He cupped his chin, thinking deeply and seriously. One minute, two minutes, three minutes, ten minutes, half an hour...

Qian Jin stood calmly beside the crackling, burning flames, waiting. Xian Qiang watched, confused about the meaning of Qian Jin’s action—why strike once and then stop?

The surrounding smiths were equally perplexed, and everyone waited in silence.

"I think I understand a little," Li Litote walked up to Qian Jin and picked up a blacksmith’s hammer. He drew an arc in the air and struck the Iron Essence heavily, producing a piercing clang.

"Wait, it's still not quite right..." Li Litote cupped his chin again, looking lost in thought. "Where exactly did I go wrong?"

Qian Jin looked at the Iron Essence spinning on the anvil and smiled faintly. Sixty percent! To achieve sixty percent of the feeling he intended with the first strike was quite good.

Clang!

Qian Jin swung his hammer again. Li Litote nodded repeatedly and, mimicking him, swung his own hammer.

"Eighty percent," Qian Jin clapped Li Litote on the shoulder. "Keep going. Don't listen to them, unless you want to remain mediocre in forging forever."

Mediocre! A wave of fiery anger rose in the hearts of the dozens of smiths, but seeing the metal Qian Jin had hammered, they instantly slumped again. Looking at the quality of the technique and the result of the forging, let alone themselves, even Deacon Xian Qiang standing at the door probably couldn't compare.

"Thank you," Li Litote blocked Qian Jin's path, his expression earnest. "Thank you for teaching me blacksmithing, but I can't take you as my master. I want to be an apprentice to Guild Master Yun Xing."

Qian Jin smiled. "I didn't expect there to be such an interesting person here. Come with me. I happen to be heading to see Guild Master Yun Xing now; let’s hear what the Guild Master has to say."

Li Litote looked at Qian Jin curiously. This young man, despite his age, always spoke to him in the tone of an elder. At any other time or place, Li Litote would have found this hilarious and absurd, but now, why didn't he feel that way? Instead, it felt exactly as it should be?

Xian Qiang shook his head slightly. Amazing! Truly amazing! Such a powerful presence! Though young, he carried an aura that commanded respect—the aura of a true person of significance!

That old-fashioned finery had initially concealed his aura, but as his presence expanded, the robes themselves seemed to gain weight from his authority.

This young man... is he going to become a Deacon of the Blacksmith Guild? Xian Qiang started, a thought flashing through his mind. That was highly probable! Why else would he come here in full dress? If he became a Deacon, he might very well become a Vice Guild Master, or even the Guild Master!

"Deacon Xian Qiang, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

"Deacon Komir, what is it?"

Xian Qiang turned to see Komir, the Fourth Deacon of the Yongliu Blacksmith Guild—a slender man with blond hair and blue eyes, whose build didn't quite match that of a smith.

"Yes! I need you! Vice Guild Master Lei Guangming requests your presence."

Lei Guangming? Xian Qiang frowned in distaste. Although Lei Guangming was the Guild Master's apprentice, Xian Qiang simply couldn't stand him. He should be focusing on blacksmithing instead of constantly engaging in schemes and stratagems. If he enjoyed plotting so much, why not join the army? Why be a smith?

Li Litote followed curiously behind Qian Jin, enduring the strange looks cast his way. That ceremonial dress was simply too lavish, a mismatch for the plainly dressed smiths.

Passing through layers of courtyards, Qian Jin gained some understanding of the Blacksmith Guild. There were ten levels of courtyards in total. The first five were open-air, where everyone gathered to forge, discuss, and compare.

Only upon entering the Sixth Courtyard did one find true Blacksmiths. After achieving the status of a Blacksmith, they were allotted private forging small-yards, which formed a larger complex, with no one able to see into their neighbors' spaces.