Ye Chen sat cross-legged in his small, dimly lit forging chamber, the air filled with the metallic tang of molten iron and the rhythmic pounding of hammers echoing in his ears. Sweat glistened on his brow as he stared at the shimmering Eighth Grade armor he had successfully forged. His heart swelled with a mix of pride and determination.
"An Eighth Grade armor... but still far from perfection," Ye Chen muttered, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction. Although his peers lauded him as a prodigy, Ye Chen knew his journey had only begun.
News of the upcoming Blacksmith Conference spread like wildfire across the outer city of Baiye City. The event was a gateway to fame, fortune, and, most importantly, a coveted residence in the inner city—a realm of unmatched resources and opportunities. When Master Li Han suggested Ye Chen participate, there was no hesitation in his heart.
"Master, I will participate," Ye Chen declared confidently. "But before that, I need to refine my skills further."
Li Han nodded approvingly. "Good. The competition will not only test your skills but also your mental resilience. You've made great progress, Ye Chen, but the competition will push you beyond your limits. Prepare well."
Ye Chen dedicated himself entirely to preparing for the competition. While other blacksmiths rested or celebrated minor successes, Ye Chen spent every waking hour in the forge. The rhythmic sound of his hammering became a constant melody in the blacksmith shop.
He didn't just practice the weapons he was familiar with, like swords and armor. Instead, he ventured into uncharted territories, forging weapons he had never attempted before. Spears, glaives, and maces—all became his focus as he sought to expand his repertoire.
Each weapon he crafted taught him something new about the delicate balance between materials, heat, and precision. His mastery over the Dao Fruit of Forging (lv2) grew incrementally, the knowledge of the craft flowing into his mind like a river carving its path through stone.
Gathering materials for Eighth Grade weapons proved a monumental task. Though Li Han helped, the rarity and cost of such materials tested even their combined resources. Dark gold, yellow iron, steel stone—each piece required careful handling and immense patience to integrate into a flawless weapon.
"I can't afford any mistakes," Ye Chen thought as he meticulously hammered the steel stone into shape. "These materials are too precious."
On the eighth day, he finally completed an Eighth Grade armor. The seamless blending of metals, the sleek design, and the radiant glow of the finished product left even Li Han speechless.
"Ye Chen," Li Han said, examining the armor closely, "this is a masterpiece. Your skill has surpassed even my wildest expectations. You're not just a blacksmith anymore—you're an artist."
The day of the Blacksmith Conference arrived with much fanfare. Hundreds of blacksmiths from the outer city and surrounding villages gathered at the Blacksmith Guild's branch. The bustling venue was filled with the clang of hammers, the hiss of quenching steel, and the murmurs of competitors and spectators alike.
Ye Chen felt a surge of determination as he surveyed the crowd. "This is my chance," he thought. "I won't let it slip away."
In the first round, participants were tasked with forging a Ninth Grade weapon of their choice. Ye Chen chose to create a piece of armor, his specialty. His movements were precise, his hammer strikes resonating with an almost hypnotic rhythm. Within hours, his armor was complete—a flawless Ninth Grade piece that impressed the judges.
When the results were announced, Ye Chen had secured a spot among the top thirty. Many competitors, some far older and more experienced, looked at him with a mix of awe and envy.
After Ye chen prepared the materials according to the ratio required for the Qingya Sword, he began melting and forging. Despite it being his first attempt at forging a customized weapon, his skills as an Eighth Grade blacksmith ensured that the process would not fail. Even if the quality wasn't extraordinary, it would be sufficient.
The Qingya Sword was soon completed, its quality rated in the middle of Ninth Grade. For his first time crafting a customized weapon, this result was commendable. With practice, Ye chen was confident he could forge a Ninth Grade Qingya Sword with ease.
Having completed the task swiftly, Ye chen had to wait for the second round to conclude.
After a long wait, the results of the second round were announced. Out of all participants, only thirteen blacksmiths had successfully forged customized weapons, and most were Ninth Grade. Given the difficulty and the single opportunity afforded to each participant, this was expected.
LYe chen's solid performance earned him a spot in the top ten, qualifying him for the final round.
The last round of the competition allowed participants to choose their weapon or armor to forge. Customized weapons were permitted, though their complexity made them a riskier choice.
Without a blueprint for Eighth Grade customized weapons Ye chen opted to forge Eighth Grade armor instead. The Blacksmith Guild provided the materials, ensuring a level playing field.
Forging Eighth Grade armor was a time-consuming task. With his current skill level, Ye chen could complete it in about six days—faster than before, thanks to his growing proficiency.
By noon on the sixth day,Ye chen emerged from his forge. The armor bore the unmistakable aura of an Eighth Grade item, though its quality was at the lower end of the grade.
He submitted the armor to the judges and returned home to wait for the results, using the interim to practice the Qinggang Hands, a martial art for refining his stone skin. He aimed to reach the basic accomplishment stage as quickly as possible.
Ten days later, Ye chen was summoned to the Blacksmith Guild branch for the announcement of the final results.
Standing among the other nine finalists, Ye chen listened as the rankings were declared:
First place: Xiao Chen
Second place: Ouyang Craftsmanship
…
"Ye chen, seventh in the Blacksmith Conference!"
Ye chen accepted the result without disappointment. Forging ordinary Eighth Grade armor, while solid, was not enough to compete with higher-quality or customized works.
Each of the top ten finalists received rewards, with the most generous going to the top three. As the seventh-place finisher,Ye chen earned the following:
1. Qualification to reside in the inner city.
2. A medium-level skin-grinding martial art.
3. Ten portions of the Hundred-Forged Secret Medicine.
The martial arts selection included over a dozen techniques, from which Ye chen chose Wind Shadow Legs, a technique that would enhance his speed once he tempered the skin of his legs.
With his current cultivation in the Stone Skin Realm, Ye chen could skip the initial stages of stone skin grinding and iron sand skin grinding. He immediately began sensing Qi and blood to refine his legs.
Though more challenging than his previous technique, Qinggang Hands, the Wind Shadow Legs promised greater rewards in the long run.
Ye chen also examined the Hundred-Forged Secret Medicine. Unlike the Qingyuan Secret Medicine, it focused solely on enhancing skin refinement, lacking any healing properties.
After securing his rewards, he began his journey home, only to be stopped by a stranger.
"Master Ye, please wait," said a man in a formal black robe.
Ye chen turned to face him, his expression calm but alert.
"My young master wishes to meet you," the man continued. "He is currently waiting at the Azure Pavilion in the outer city."
Ye chen narrowed his eyes. "Who is your young master, and what does he want with me?"
"Zhao Tianyu," the man replied with a slight bow. "He is a prominent figure in the inner city and has taken note of your achievements at the Blacksmith Conference. He wishes to discuss a collaboration."
After a moment of thought Ye chen nodded. "Lead the way ".