Hearing the old man's introduction, the crowd's eyes widened in shock, still struggling to process his words. They had never expected that the reclusive master—the very man who had forged heaven-defying weapons—would turn out to be the blunt, unassuming elder standing before them.
Yet before long, murmurs filled the air, growing into a restless buzz. The audience eagerly leaned forward in their seats, unwilling to miss a single moment. What had already been an exhilarating competition now had an unexpected encore—one they hadn't anticipated but were more than happy to witness.
Even Chen Fan found himself slightly stunned. He hadn't expected this unremarkable-looking old man to be the legendary blacksmithing elder. His gaze instinctively drifted to the wooden sword in Ming Tao's hands. If this was truly his creation, then it had to be the fourth—or perhaps even the fifth—of his legendary works. He recalled Su Xin mentioning that one of the elder's weapons would be auctioned in the future. But perhaps the old man had changed his mind, deciding to pass it down to his successor instead.
Still, no matter how much he scrutinized the weapon, all he saw was a simple wooden sword. This only deepened his curiosity. Without hesitation, Chen Fan stepped down from the arena, drawing the attention of everyone present.
"What? Is he not interested in becoming the chief elder's successor?"
"He left so decisively…"
"Maybe it's because he's already chosen the Ethereal Frost Sect. He knows he won't be selected, so there's no point in staying."
"Hey, it's not like he can't change his choice, right?"
"Maybe he already has a master."
Whispers and discussions rippled through the crowd, but most onlookers regarded Chen Fan with admiration. His unwavering decisiveness, his lack of greed or arrogance despite being the champion—these qualities only made him stand out even more. Even Ming Tao's gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting to assess the remaining participants.
The elder had naturally considered Chen Fan among the most promising candidates. Not only was his talent exceptional, but his character was also worthy of respect. However, forcing someone into a path they had no interest in would only lead to regret. Accepting this, Ming Tao turned his attention to the others.
Following Chen Fan's lead, nearly all participants from the Azure Sky and Ethereal Frost Sects stepped down from the arena as well, their emotions mixed. Many already had masters, while others felt indifferent. A few, however, couldn't help but experience a pang of regret at missing such a rare opportunity.
Still, hundreds of competitors remained, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. The prospect of becoming Ming Tao's successor was simply too tempting to pass up—it promised a future filled with limitless potential.
The old man finally spoke again. "The test is simple. Just touch this sword."
His tone was as blunt as ever, leaving many candidates confused. Without further explanation, he casually tossed the wooden sword toward the nearest participant.
The real reason Ming Tao had agreed to serve as a judge for this tournament was to personally observe and evaluate each contender—not just their talent, but their character as well. By now, he had already formed a rough impression of most of them.
The wooden sword in his hands was no ordinary weapon. It had the ability to assess a person's blacksmithing potential, scanning their body in an instant—analyzing their Qi purity, muscle composition, bone structure, age, and even any hidden constitutions that might make them suitable for forging weapons. If a participant possessed true blacksmithing talent, the wooden sword would reveal its true form—a real blade.
The first candidate caught the sword and gripped it tightly. Yet, nothing happened. Puzzled, he glanced at Ming Tao.
"Pass it," the old man instructed.
The sword was handed to the next participant, then the next, and still, there was no change. Confusion spread among the candidates. Was this a trick? A test of patience? But just as doubts started forming, the sword landed in the hands of a young woman.
A sudden red glow illuminated the blade.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the wooden sword transformed, its dull appearance giving way to a simple yet sharp mass-produced sword. All eyes immediately turned to Ming Tao, waiting for an explanation.
"Pass it along," he said flatly, offering no further clarification.
Reluctantly, the woman handed the sword to the next person. The moment it left her grasp, it reverted back to its original wooden form.
Now, the participants finally understood—the sword was reacting to those with a natural affinity for blacksmithing.
The test continued. As the weapon was passed from one competitor to another, small changes occasionally occurred. Sometimes, only the tip of the blade turned real. Other times, the hilt transformed, or the entire length of the sword flickered into steel for a brief moment. Each transformation varied, but so far, only the woman had caused the entire weapon to fully manifest.
Then, at last, the sword reached Zhou Yuze.
By now, his nerves had reached their peak. He had watched in mounting tension as the sword passed from one person to the next, witnessing how the majority triggered no reaction at all.
Taking a deep breath, he extended his hands, half-expecting, half-dreading what would come next.
The sword in Zhou Yuze's grasp pulsed with a soft glow before transforming into an elegant red blade—simple, yet strikingly beautiful. Gasps echoed through the crowd as all eyes locked onto the weapon.
"Pass it again," the old man instructed, his tone carrying no hint of excitement. Yet, a few observant individuals noticed that his gaze lingered on Zhou Yuze for a moment longer than usual. As the sword continued its journey, none of the other candidates managed to produce a transformation as significant as Zhou Yuze or the young woman before him.
Retrieving the sword, Ming Tao finally turned his attention to the two of them. "Do you wish to become my apprentices?"
The question sent a jolt through both Zhou Yuze and the woman, momentarily rendering them speechless. However, they quickly composed themselves and fell to their knees in unison.
"Zhou Yuze greets Master."
"Zhang Qiao greets Master," the black-haired woman echoed, her voice steady.
Seeing this, the remaining candidates could only sigh, disappointment evident on their faces. Still, they bowed respectfully to Ming Tao before stepping down from the arena, accepting the undeniable gap between themselves and the chosen ones. For the first time, a fleeting smile flickered across Ming Tao's lips, only to vanish as quickly as it had appeared. "Both of you, follow me," he commanded before descending from the arena, striding toward a distant door.
As Zhou Yuze prepared to follow, a familiar voice called out.
"Congratulations, Brother Zhou. It seems I now know where to get my weapons," Chen Fan remarked with a teasing smile.
From the audience, Sun Xi chimed in. "Don't forget to give us a discount, Brother Zhou."
Zhou Yuze chuckled awkwardly, uncertain if he could actually grant such favors in the future. "I'll… try my best to make good weapons first."
Chen Fan, ever the serious one, nodded solemnly. "Don't worry too much. Even if you make bad weapons, we'll help cover it up."
Sun Xi smirked. "Exactly! And if it comes to that, I'll personally sell them to some rich kids."
Zhou Yuze couldn't help but laugh, his nerves easing in the presence of his new friends. Despite having only met them hours ago, he already cherished their camaraderie. However, noticing that Ming Tao had picked up his pace, Zhou Yuze knew he couldn't linger.
"Then, I'll see you both later, Brother Chen, Brother Sun."
Sun Xi leaned in, whispering mischievously, "I'll call you tonight. And don't forget to tell us about your relationship, okay?" His gaze flickered toward Zhang Qiao, who was quietly following Ming Tao.
Chen Fan, never one to miss out on an opportunity, joined in. "If you need any advice in that area, I happen to be quite knowledgeable."
Zhou Yuze's face turned a shade too close to his newly manifested sword, and without another word, he all but fled, his departure met with Sun Xi's laughter and Chen Fan's amused smile.
As Zhou Yuze disappeared from view, the two remaining friends retracted their gazes.
"Well then, Brother Chen, it seems you have quite a few things keeping you busy," Sun Xi remarked, his eyes drifting toward Bai Mulan, who stood in the distance, waiting.
Chen Fan followed his gaze and sighed, understanding all too well why she was here.
"Shall I call you when I need you in the future?" he joked before turning away and heading toward Bai Mulan, leaving Sun Xi chuckling behind him.
Bai Mulan eyed Chen Fan as he approached. "Master wants to see you," she stated simply before turning on her heel, expecting him to follow.
Chen Fan complied, soon finding himself in a serene garden. There, seated with an air of quiet authority, was a familiar woman with short red hair, her expression unreadable as she fixed him with a steady gaze.
"Sit down," she said flatly.
And just like that, whatever amusement he had moments ago was gone.