Not even guards patrolled its perimeter; a full half-day might pass before a steady column of city patrol soldiers marched past.

Qian Jin surveyed the vicinity of the Divine Capital. The architectural style here was a complete contrast to the decadent cities of the Demon Race, yet the underlying aura held a faint, familiar resonance.

Confidence, serenity, and peace—as if the dark clouds of war could never truly reach this city, and as long as it stood, the True Decree Dynasty would face no danger.

This atmosphere permeated the entire city, calming the mind. Qian Jin even wondered if crime ever occurred here, or if people slept at night without bothering to lock their doors.

The dull-witted Prince of True Decree rode at the head of the procession. No one knew the Divine Capital better than this Sixth Prince; finding the location of the Divine Artisan Competition swiftly depended entirely on him.

Their horses galloped down the broad avenues, quickly arriving at a massive square teeming with people.

Qian Jin, mounted on his horse, could only see countless heads stretching into the distance. At the center stood an enormous circular dais, a structure capable of housing a thousand people.

Currently, several elders were seated upon this central dais, surrounded by nearly a hundred individuals, both young and old, all clad in the specialized attire of blacksmiths.

Among this crowd, two figures stood out: Dwarves!

Dorata! Qian Jin instantly recognized the dwarf—the very one from whom he had won a martial contest back among the horse bandits of the frontier.

Dorata stood respectfully behind another, stouter old dwarf. This elder dwarf’s beard was entirely red, and his chaotic white hair resembled an exploded bird’s nest atop his head. His eyebrows, sharp as two infant's arms, were steeply arched, and his thick arms were as large as an adult man’s thighs.

The dwarf paced slowly across the platform, like a monarch surveying his domain, while the surrounding blacksmiths watched with burning, hostile eyes.

“Not impressive at all…”

The dwarf, Bridas, shook his massive head, a look of contemptuous disdain curling his lips. “The forging standards of the True Decree Dynasty have been declining these past few years. Truly underwhelming…”

“Oh really? Bridas believes the forging standard of my True Decree Dynasty has regressed?”

A voice slowly emerged from the crowd—that of an elder clad in a grey smithing tunic, bearing countless scorch marks from sparks.

The burn marks on a blacksmith’s clothing were like scars on a warrior’s body—they were the highest honors of their profession, far more precious than any medal personally bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor.

“Shui Yuetian? I do indeed believe the forging standards of the True Decree Dynasty have declined,” Bridas smiled faintly upon seeing the white-haired elder approach. “You might possess some excellent new creations, but your age…”

“And what about your age?” Shui Yuetian’s smile held a profound sense of calm, as if he saw through everything. “You are old too…”

“I am a Dwarf.” Bridas displayed a confident smile. “I have another century of life left in me; I am still in my prime. Whereas you…”

Bridas sighed. “It has been years since we met. You seem to have reached a new stage, viewing all things with detachment. This state of viewing the world with indifference—it seems that is what you have comprehended these past years? Not bad! Very good indeed!”

Shui Yuetian’s smile remained serenely composed. “You have already surpassed the stage of viewing things lightly. I still cannot compare to you, but the forging standards of the True Decree Dynasty…”

“Shui Yuetian, when did we blacksmiths become accustomed to using our mouths?” Bridas clasped his hands behind his back. “An excellent blacksmith always lets his work speak! You can choose now: present your latest masterpiece, or engage me in a live forging contest to prove the standard of the True Decree Dynasty’s craftsmanship.”

Shui Yuetian raised his hand and gently hooked his index finger twice. Two guards, carrying an exquisitely crafted long box, hurried toward the dais.

“Halt!” Bridas roared, stopping the two warriors ascending the steps. “This sacred forging platform is not for vulgar soldiers like you to step upon!”

Dorata sprang forward, intercepting the two guards, swiftly snatching the long box and carrying it toward the dais.

“This is a small trifle I forged recently. Master Bridas may examine it,” Shui Yuetian said, waving gently to dismiss the two guards whose faces were contorted with anger. “This piece is called the Maple Leaf; it was inspired by a chance vision of leaves drifting down from a tree…”

The crimson longsword was covered in the intricate network of leaf veins. From a distance, it looked more like a massive red maple leaf crafted into an artwork than a weapon.

Many watched the maple leaf sword with curiosity, wondering how such an item could possibly be used to kill an enemy.

The elder blacksmiths seated upon the dais all showed expressions of profound delight. This sword… this sword…

“A fine sword!” Qian Jin murmured his praise, drawing a confused glance from Duanfeng Buer.

“Those veins can actually transmit Battle Qi; they form a specialized network for its flow. This sword not only transmits Battle Qi but also causes the Qi within it to vibrate against itself, multiplying its power by ten percent. It is top-tier among Super Battle Weapons, perhaps just shy of a Soul Weapon…”

Duanfeng Buer repeatedly scrutinized the Maple Leaf Sword as Qian Jin explained. It was no wonder Qian Zhanxuan was so confident, ignoring even the Blacksmiths’ Guild; the hidden artisan possessed such forging skill.

“A magnificent sword! Truly magnificent!” Bridas nodded repeatedly. “Ten years ago, I forged a sword of comparable quality. However…”

The corner of Bridas’s mouth, hidden beneath his great beard, curled into a cold sneer. “It was still not good enough. And you think this will suffice to prove the True Decree Dynasty’s forging standard?”

Clang! Bridas flipped his wrist and snatched an artifact from his personal Pocket Dimension, slamming it viciously against the body of the Maple Leaf Sword, sending a blinding shower of metal sparks flying.

The clang was followed by silence. A hairline fracture appeared on the body of the Maple Leaf Sword!

A Soul Weapon! The object Bridas held was a genuine Soul Weapon! It was a slender iron rod threaded with more than a dozen metal rings, appearing purely decorative. Only a true artisan would understand its purpose: it could seek out the weak points of many weapons and, upon collision, generate a shockwave intended to damage the opposing weapon.

The forging method for this ‘Shatter Ring Whip’ was known to many blacksmiths, but few could actually construct one. Its difficulty of forging and setting the rings was arguably greater than creating a Soul Weapon itself; a single error in installation wouldn't just fail to shatter an opponent's weapon—it would injure the wielder.

“A Shatter Ring Whip?”

Shui Yuetian’s calm expression could no longer be maintained. His two white eyebrows twitched repeatedly, and understanding dawned in his eyes. He finally grasped why Bridas had been able to shatter countless pieces of equipment on his journey: he had forged the Shatter Ring Whip.

This item might not qualify as a Sacred Artifact, but its primary function was to destroy the weapons of others. Though inferior to a Sacred Artifact, it possessed exceptional capabilities among weapons of the same tier.

A Shatter Ring Whip at the Soul Tool level was far more terrifying than one at the Super Battle Weapon level!

“Master Shui Yuetian, do you believe my creation can be called the foremost artifact beneath the Sacred grade?” Bridas spoke with overwhelming pride.

Shui Yuetian’s eyes narrowed slightly. Though he knew the Maple Leaf Sword couldn't overcome the weapon Bridas brought, he had hoped it could withstand the impact, thus barely saving face for the True Decree Dynasty and all its blacksmiths. He never imagined… a Shatter Ring Whip!

To acknowledge it as the foremost artifact beneath the Sacred grade? Shui Yuetian’s eyes showed deep unwillingness. If he denied it, he knew the dwarf would demand he produce an even stronger piece to prove otherwise—that this was not the top artifact below Sacred grade.

The blacksmiths on the dais looked ashen-faced. Ever since they learned Bridas had entered the True Decree Dynasty, they had feared he would cause trouble.

They had even considered postponing the Divine Artisan Competition, but felt that showing hesitation would signal weakness too clearly. Thus, they proceeded, secretly praying the dwarf wouldn't push them too far, and wouldn't show up at the Divine Artisan Competition at all.

But… the dwarf had come! Appearing proactively without an invitation from the Blacksmiths’ Guild, and having already shattered many of their prized possessions recently.

And now, even Shui Yuetian, their last hope, had been struck down by this blow.

“Master Shui Yuetian…” Bridas paced closer, looking at the elder. “What do you think of my Shatter Ring Whip…”

“A vulgar piece of work! A vulgar piece unfit for display! Oh! No! Calling it a ‘work’ is an insult to other equipment! It should be called nothing more than a mere trinket.”

A high-pitched, provocative voice suddenly rang out from the outer edge of the crowd, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Curious gazes shot from all directions toward Qian Jin, eager to see who dared utter such wild claims at this moment.

So young? Many stared curiously at Qian Jin, thinking such pronouncements from someone so young were utterly reckless! If he failed to back them up, the dwarf would only grow more triumphant…

Many blacksmiths also looked toward Qian Jin, wondering where such a young warrior had appeared from.

The judging blacksmiths on the stage focused their still-clear old eyes on Qian Jin. Their expressions shifted from initial grief and indignation to sudden excitement. Qian Jin! Yes! It was the long-vanished Grand Master of the Blacksmiths’ Guild! The Master everyone assumed had cowardly hidden away—the Grand Master himself had appeared!

Just as everyone was rendered helpless before the arrogant dwarf, the Grand Master had arrived!

“Unfit for display?” Bridas knitted his massive brows together, his eyes full of mocking laughter. “Little warrior, this is a sacred gathering of artisans. Take that rusty iron sword of yours and find a corner to practice polishing before you speak…”

“Qian Jin…” Dorata’s sharp eyes recognized the man on horseback. “Qian Jin…”