Clang, clang, clang! The continuous sound of metal striking metal echoed through the venue. Although it sounded somewhat chaotic, there was a strange and steady rhythm to it.
It was the sound of hammer and iron! East China City was a city located in the eastern part of Douluo Continent, and in a certain venue within this city, a small-scale forging exchange competition was underway.
The younger generation of blacksmiths was sweating as they wielded hammers on the central stage of the arena. Under their efforts, the metals being forged grew increasingly translucent.
This was merely an inter-school exchange competition, with the oldest students on stage only about fifteen years old, and their blacksmith ranks generally at the first or second tier.
To the youngsters present, these students participating in the forging exchange competition were all idols, individuals with the promising future of becoming senior blacksmiths.
However, to high-tier blacksmiths, this competition was hardly worth watching, and Muchen was one of them.
As the president of the East China City branch of the Blacksmiths' Association, Muchen was an eight-star Saint Craftsman capable of performing various complex melt-forgings.
Under normal circumstances, he shouldn't have been in a place like this. After all, the branch president of the Blacksmiths' Association had a million things to handle every day—how could he possibly have time to attend such a small-scale exchange competition? Even if someone paid him to come, his presence was not guaranteed.
In the eyes of a Saint Craftsman, money was no longer all that important. As long as he had the mind to earn money, casually crafting a few pieces of metal could fetch a huge price.
The only reason this eight-star Saint Craftsman had come here was purely because his own daughter had achieved a small measure of success in the art of forging, and he was in a good mood to go out for a stroll. He happened to stumble upon this forging exchange competition and just dropped by to take a look.
"Lord Saint Craftsman, these children are the future of our academy. What do you think of them?"
"A formidable younger generation, with a promising future!"
Although most of them were quite mediocre, who could blame Muchen for currently being in a good mood? Giving a favorable evaluation was no big deal—to him, it was just a matter of saying a few words.
To the academy dean who asked the question, however, the significance was entirely different.
This was praise from a Saint Craftsman! If these words were passed on to the children, it would undoubtedly fire them up immensely, bringing boundless benefits! Soon, the exchange competition came to an end. The first place went to a second-tier blacksmith, who happened to be the one Muchen had favored from the very beginning.
"It seems there aren't any outstanding kids here either..."
However, Muchen's gaze was quickly drawn to the scene below. After all the students had left the stage, a middle-aged man had actually stepped onto the arena once again.
Muchen felt a bit puzzled because he recognized the middle-aged man below—he was a five-star blacksmith from the East China City Blacksmiths' Branch.
Although Muchen couldn't remember his name, he had a deep impression of this person. Capable of performing five-star Spirit Forging, he could be called a Grand Craftsman, but all the metal he forged turned out to be of inferior quality, and his future room for growth wasn't very large.
If nothing went wrong, he would likely stop right here for the rest of his life.
What was he doing here? Yet, as the venue's broadcast echoed, Muchen understood his purpose.
"Next, let us give a warm welcome to Lord Grand Craftsman as he demonstrates the splendor of Spirit Forging for us!"
Clearly, he was here to provide guidance to the students.
Muchen couldn't help glancing sideways at the dean beside him. He hadn't expected this person to have some tricks up his sleeve; even though he was the worst sort of Grand Craftsman, managing to invite him here was enough to show that this academy dean had some connections.
Still, none of this concerned Muchen. He was just out for a stroll anyway, and after a little while, he would head home to see his own daughter.
The Spirit Forging demonstration soon drew to a close. Compared to the excited students and teachers at the scene, Muchen appeared exceptionally calm, a hint of dissatisfaction even lingering in his eyes.
At a single glance, he could tell the quality of that spirit-forged metal... inferior again! This fellow hadn't made any progress in recent years! And looking at the expressions of the people around him—even the academy dean beside him—not a single one of them could discern the quality of that piece of metal. Watching so many people fawn over a substandard spirit-forged metal piece, Muchen couldn't help feeling somewhat irritated, but he couldn't bear to speak up and ruin the children's enthusiasm.
"Better go for a walk."
With a helpless sigh, Muchen stood up from his seat. He declined everyone's company and left by himself.
The good mood he had felt earlier over his daughter's achievements had completely vanished after watching this unqualified Spirit Forging, and now he just wanted to go to the seaside to relax.
Because of his status, Muchen didn't plan to use the main entrance; instead, he chose an empty, secluded path and walked slowly forward.
Tap! Tap! Tap! But before long, the sound of running came from behind him. Judging by the sound, the owner of those footsteps shouldn't be very old—perhaps around ten years old.
Muchen couldn't help looking back. A little girl was running toward him holding a pile of metal materials... Could she be coming to ask for his autograph? Or perhaps to consult him about forging techniques?
Although many questions arose in his mind, Muchen still carefully sized up the little girl. Her facial features were well-defined, and she was definitely destined to be a beauty. Moreover, that pile of metal materials in her hands looked like leftover scraps from the competition just now? Seeing the girl like this, Muchen couldn't help thinking of his own daughter. Muxi used to happily hug the leftover scraps from his forging in just the same way.
"Oh well, since we've crossed paths, I'll offer a little guidance." Having made up his mind, Muchen raised his hand, intending to wave the girl over. "If you have any questions—"
Muchen: "???" Before he could finish speaking, Muchen froze on the spot.
The girl showed no intention of stopping whatsoever. Instead, she walked right past him and ran toward the exit in the distance.
The situation turned somewhat awkward.
"Little girl, wait!"
"Huh?" The girl, who had originally planned to leave, immediately stopped upon hearing the voice behind her and turned around in confusion.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Muchen pointed at his own face. As a Saint Craftsman, his appearance had long since been widely circulated, and very few people in the forging world didn't recognize him. Judging by this girl's appearance, she should be a blacksmith too, right?
"Things to say to you?" The girl tilted her head, looking adorably puzzled, and then answered somewhat uncertainly, "May your fortune be as boundless as the East Sea, and may you live a long and happy life?"
Pff! Muchen swallowed a mouthful of blood in his heart. Restraining his temper, he smiled and said, "I'm talking about the field of forging. Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
"What could I possibly want to ask you?" Hearing Muchen's words, the girl immediately grew impatient. "Old man, aren't you a bit too arrogant?"
"Just like that lousy five-star blacksmith on the stage just now, who performed a single substandard Spirit Forging and thought he was invincible just because he had a tiny bit of skill?"
"If I were your age, I'd have been a God Craftsman long ago!"
Looking at the old man who was thoroughly shaken by her words, Heita gave a dashing spin and strode straight away, leaving Muchen standing there in a mess. He was an eight-star Saint Craftsman, after all—when had he ever been pointed at and scolded like this by someone else?
Yet, moments later, Muchen's expression shifted.
"Wait! She knew that the Spirit Forging just now was substandard?"
Aside from himself and the five-star blacksmith who had taken the stage, Muchen was certain no other senior blacksmith had attended the exchange competition just now. So how on earth did this little girl know?
Driven by curiosity, Muchen followed the path the girl had taken, determined to get to the bottom of this.
He never imagined that an eight-star Saint Craftsman of the Blacksmiths' Association would actually be reduced to stalking a little girl... Standards were truly declining by the day!