"Thank you for your trouble."
Hearing the staff member's words, Tang Luochuan smiled and nodded, immediately following them into the elevator with his younger brother.
Meanwhile, at the top floor of the Forging Master Association.
This was the president's office, where Mu Chen spent most of his time. Aside from his workspace, it also housed his personal forging studio.
"They're finally here."
Mu Chen set down the phone in his hand, an unusual emotion flickering across his face as anticipation gleamed in his eyes.
"Hmm?"
Beside him, a young girl looked puzzled.
"Father, who is coming that has you so surprised?"
The girl had her hair tied in a ponytail, her golden locks framing a strikingly beautiful face that suggested she was around twelve or thirteen years old.
Her name was Mu Xi, a twelve-year-old student at the advanced division of Eastsea Academy.
"You'll see soon enough."
"Two impressive little fellows."
Mu Chen didn't elaborate further, speaking slowly.
It wasn't that he didn't want to explain the situation—it was just that he himself didn't know much yet. The information had come from an old acquaintance who had called him earlier.
That man was none other than Mang Tian, a man who had never bowed to anyone else's forging talent. His own achievements—reaching the pinnacle of a sixth-rank Forging Master while still at the Soul Venerable level—had long proven his stance.
Yet, on that day, Mang Tian had told him he had encountered two natural-born Forging Masters, both already showing remarkable skill at just nine years old.
Nine years old. Even at that age, Mu Chen and his senior brother had only just begun as first-rank Forging Masters, barely scratching the surface. By all Reason, he shouldn't have believed it—but this was Mang Tian speaking.
If they truly were as exceptional as he claimed, perhaps another Divine Blacksmith would emerge in the future.
"Two… little fellows?"
"Could they be Forging Masters too?"
Hearing her father's choice of words, Mu Xi frowned slightly. Could children even forge? She instinctively shook her head—it was impossible.
"Xi'er."
"What do you think is the highest achievement a nine-year-old could reach in forging?" Mu Chen asked with a smile.
"A nine-year-old?"
"I think…"
"They wouldn't have any achievements at all."
Mu Xi shook her head without hesitation.
"Hahahaha!"
"That's what I thought too—"
"President, I've brought them."
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door.
As it opened, two boys stepped into Mu Chen's line of sight—Tang Luochuan and his younger brother.
"Greetings, President."
Tang Luochuan smiled faintly and handed over the recommendation letter from Mang Tian.
"Hello."
"So you're the two little geniuses Mang Tian mentioned."
Mu Chen studied the two boys before him, a ripple of surprise stirring in his heart.
The younger one didn't stand out much, but the older boy carried an extraordinary presence—his talent as a Soul Master was likely anything but ordinary.
"Genius is too strong a word."
"We just have a bit of talent, that's all."
Tang Luochuan, already a fifth-rank Forging Master, replied without batting an eye. For him, the future was still long.
"That's right, President."
Beside him, Tang Wulin nodded earnestly.
"Hmm?"
Mu Xi's gaze was now fixed on the two boys, her expression one of astonishment.
These two little boys… were the ones Mang Tian had recommended?
Although that person's rank wasn't particularly high, his eccentric personality and peculiar forging talents were renowned throughout the forging master community. To receive a recommendation from him...
This was no ordinary challenge.
"Come with me. Let me see what kind of talent he's introduced."
"A genius worthy of his praise—even I'm seeing this for the first time."
Mu Chen gave the two a deep look before gesturing for them to follow as he headed toward the workshop.
The space was spacious, containing only a workbench and shelves filled with various metal materials.
As the president of the East Sea Forging Master Association and the younger brother of the Divine Blacksmith Zhen Hua, he was naturally among the top-tier forging masters. All the metal materials here were of the highest quality.
"Show me your strongest forging skills."
"Let me see..."
"Where your limits lie."
Mu Chen's gaze settled on the two as he spoke with a smile.
"Alright..."
"Brother, let me go first."
Tang Luochuan nodded, but before he could finish, Tang Wulin beside him had already spoken up cheerfully.
"As the saying goes,"
"The protagonist always makes their entrance last, so I'll go first."
Glancing toward the material shelves, Tang Wulin thought to himself.
"Hmm..."
"Fine."
Tang Luochuan paused briefly but didn't object, nodding in agreement.
"He'll probably take silver and..."
"tungsten steel."
Though no specific material was assigned, Mu Xi's eyes instinctively drifted toward the silver and tungsten steel—these were the most commonly used by beginner forging masters.
The two would likely use...
"He took a piece of blue progesterone?"
However, when she saw the blue-glowing metal in his hand, Mu Xi froze in surprise.
This metal was typically used by at least third-tier forging masters. Forging with it at a lower level...
Wasn't impossible, but it was somewhat wasteful for a novice.
"President, I'll begin."
After a glance at Mu Chen, Tang Wulin turned back to the workbench, his eyes burning with determination.
Channeling his Soul Power, he retrieved his Thousand Refined Silver Hammer from his Soul Guidance Device and struck the metal.
"Only a 12th-rank Soul Master?"
Witnessing this, Mu Xi sensed the Soul Power emanating from him and was astonished—he was just a one-ring Soul Master.
Yet, that hammer in his hand was clearly a forged Forging Hammer. How could he even lift it?
"This is..."
"A Thousand Refined Silver Hammer!"
Mu Chen's expression shifted as his gaze locked onto the hammer, unable to hold back his exclamation.
He was all too familiar with the Thousand Refined Silver Hammer—his first Thousand Refined hammer had also been made of silver. But...
How could a 12th-rank Soul Master wield a Thousand Refined Hammer? Moreover, this hammer clearly exhibited its unique effects!
"What?"
"A Thousand Refined Hammer!"
Hearing this, Mu Xi's eyes widened in shock.
She hadn't even passed the Level 2 Forging Master test yet and was still only a Level 1 Forging Master. The hammer she used was merely Hundred Refined, while the person before her was actually using a Thousand Refined one!
How was this possible?!
"Wait, the effect of this hammer is..."
"Stacked Hammering?"
When Mu Xi noticed the afterimages appearing with each of his strikes, she froze, speaking with difficulty.
"This hammer..."
"Could it have been forged by him...?"
She couldn't help but murmur to herself.
"Sigh..."
"First time forging really isn't that smooth."
Not long after, Tang Wulin stopped his forging.
Looking at the Thousand Refined, Grade 3 Blue Progesterone before them, both father and daughter fell into silence. The difficulty of working with Blue Progesterone was much higher than with Heavy Silver—achieving Thousand Refined was already no easy feat.
"A Thousand Refined, Grade 3 product, and with Blue Progesterone at that..."
"You're already a Level 3 Forging Master."
Mu Chen sighed, unsure how to express his shock. Even his senior disciples at this age hadn't reached Level 2 yet!
And here was someone who was already Level 3...
Was this even human?!
"I think..."
"Your talent lives up to Mang Tian's praise."
"The entire forging world won't produce another Forging Master like you."
Mu Chen couldn't help but sigh and state bluntly.
"Oh?"
"President, that might not necessarily be true."
Hearing this, Tang Wulin chuckled and flashed a mysterious smile.
"How could that be?"
"There can't possibly be someone above you."
Mu Chen shook his head with a laugh, his face full of nonchalance.
He, Mu Chen, would stake his reputation on this.
Even in several decades—no, centuries—there wouldn't appear a single person who could surpass Tang Wulin by even one level. At just nine years old, he was already at the pinnacle...
"?"
Not long after, staring at the Spirit Forged Blue Progesterone crafted by Tang Luochuan, Mu Chen's mouth opened and closed repeatedly before he finally gave up.
That night, Mu Chen tossed and turned until midnight, unable to sleep, his face filled with silent disbelief—
"Is this really a human being?"
(End of Chapter)