Even if it was only because of one’s potential, someone who was addressed as a little friend by Master Jin Shengjie would be treated with a higher standard by the Yi Pavilion.
Ou Yangming chuckled. “There’s no need for the trouble; I’d like to watch those assessments too.”
Du Gaoge responded to the young fellow obediently and stood still. That said, he managed to find his footman and ordered him to return to the main branch as fast as possible to report today’s event in detail.
The shopkeeper had a vague feeling that Ou Yangming would create more miracles. Ou Yangming stood by the square as he watched the 30 over teens, who had become official blacksmiths, leave the stage slowly. When they left, they were no longer elated about having passed the assessment successfully. Moreover, the teens even glanced at Ou Yangming when they left as they were curious yet respectful of him.
In particular, the few teens who avoided Ou Yangming on purpose earlier were vexed.
They could not believe that they had offended a blacksmith master just like that, and they hoped Ou Yangming was not a petty person who held grudges. Ou Yangming was suddenly given a lot of space around him. Other than Hu Yicheng, his son, and Du Gaoge, the other people dared not squeeze around him even if they were curious about him.
Just as Ou Yangming thought the Rudimentary Assessment was about to begin, someone appeared next to him.
It was a middle-aged man, who said to him with a smile, “Master Ou, Master Jin invites you to spectate from the platform.
The area below the high platform in the middle of the massive square was enclosed to be the assessment venue, where over 300 casting tables were arranged.
Beneath the high platform was naturally where the ordinary people spectated from, and blacksmiths who had not or had taken the assessment gathered over there too. On the other hand, the people who could watch from the high platform were not ordinary people. A normal Intermediate Blacksmith might not even be qualified to go onto the platform.
The eyes of Hu Yicheng and his son lit up at once; even Du Gaoge looked envious.
Ou Yangming laughed and expressed, “Please thank Master Jin for his kindness, but I have three friends with me…”
The middle-aged man said without any hesitation, “Master Jin said that your friends are invited too.”
Chapter 263 - Invited To Go Up To The Platform
Hu Yicheng moved his mouth but quickly shut it tight; Hu Lingfeng’s eyes were bright, but he dared not say a word after he looked at Ou Yangming timidly.
As for Du Gaoge, he wanted to take the opportunity of getting up to the platform to get connected with the reputable blacksmiths in the capital, but he did not have the guts to decide for Ou Yangming.
Ou Yangming looked at them and answered the middle-aged man with a smile, “Since it’s Master Jin’s kindness, we’ll accept it.”
Hu Yicheng and his son nodded at Ou Yangming gratefully because they knew the young fellow made the decision mostly because of them.
In particular, Hu Yicheng was extremely thankful.
He never expected his little gesture in the past to result in a huge reward now.
With that, Ou Yangming and his companions went up to the high platform under the middle-aged man’s guide.
The crowd below the platform was envious, jealous, and hateful, but nobody dared to make harsh remarks. If they ended up being remembered by the blacksmith masters on the high platform for a bad reason, their loss would outweigh their gain.
“Hehe, Lil’ Friend is here, quickly come over.” Jin Shengjie smiled and waved his hand. “Take a seat here first, I’ll be right back.”
Yi Yucheng and Feng Guangyuan nodded at Ou Yangming with a smile too; they no longer looked arrogant. The three blacksmith masters left the high platform to announce the start of the Rudimentary Blacksmith Assessment. Afterward, instead of staying on the stage to supervise the candidates, they turned around and returned to the high platform at the same time.
“Lil’ Friend, I have a question and I was wondering if you could answer my doubt.” Jin Shengjie cut to the chase once he returned to Ou Yangming. “Of course, you don’t need to tell me if it involves some smithing secret techniques.” Ou Yangming chuckled. “Master Jin, are you going to ask me how I managed to smith a piece of High Grade equipment by using ordinary iron ingot?” Jin Shengjie’s eyes glowed. “That’s right.”
Not only him, but almost everyone on the high platform pricked up their ears as they were afraid of missing any word.
After all, Jin Shengjie was not the only one who was bothered by the question; every blacksmith felt troubled. Even if they racked their brains, they could not figure out the nature-defying trick that Ou Yangming adopted to achieve the result.
Ou Yangming pondered and asked, “Master Jin, if one merely uses the ordinary smithing technique, how far can an iron ingot be smithed until?”
Master Jin answered seriously, “If the material’s properties are unleashed to the extreme, one might be able to smith a Good Grade Rank One item.”
“That’s right. When I first used the Military Fire, I smithed a Good Grade Rank One military saber.” Ou Yangming beamed.
The Military Fire’s absorbing and upgrading abilities could change a piece of equipment’s equivalent rank, but it could not upgrade the equipment without a limit.
When Ou Yangming just acquired the Military Fire, he could only improve a piece of equipment to the achievable limit of its existing stage. In other words, if the material used was iron ingot, a normal blacksmith could at most smith an item at the peak of Common Grade Rank Five.
Nonetheless, as Ou Yangming’s smithing art improved, and he became more familiar with the materials, his ability showed quality improvement.
If he did his best to temper a piece of equipment, he could enhance a low-level material to a higher grade.
Needless to say, it was because his Military Fire had a unique ability. If that was not that case, it would definitely be difficult if he wanted to fully unleash a material’s properties, let alone refining it to a higher grade.
Even if Master Jin Shengjie smithed tens or hundreds of times, he could likely only smith a piece of Good Grade Rank One equipment by using ordinary iron ingot. Nevertheless, it required luck and one’s peak condition. It was impossible for anyone to succeed in the first try as Ou Yangming did.
Therefore, although Ou Yangming touched on the topic lightly, the experts looked at him in admiration.
Ou Yangming continued, “I came from Changlong County, where Master Lu is situated. Have you heard of him?”
“We’ve long heard of Master Lu’s name, and we heard that he’s studying how to increase the grades and ranks of pieces of economical equipment enmasse,” Master Jin replied to the young fellow sternly, then his eyes lit up as he asked, “Lil’ Friend, was that the method you used?”
Master Lu learned the Runes Secret Technique long ago with the Ni family’s help, but he had only discovered something and took action in recent months. The number of molds that he provided was not sufficient for Changlong County, let alone the other places.
As for the Military Saber Upgrade Rune, it was being controlled by Li Xinfan to be kept within a small area. Apart from the core figures, nobody else was aware of it.
“It’s the Runes Secret Technique indeed, but there’s something different about it from the usual technique,” Ou Yangming expressed after some thought. When he was faced with the enthusiastic looks from the people around him, he explained helplessly, “The normal Runes Secret Technique is used to improve a piece of Common Grade equipment into Good Grade, but other methods need to be employed to further upgrade the Good Grade equipment.”
Jin Shengjie was hesitant. He wanted very badly to question Ou Yangming closely to find out the method, but he forced himself to hold back just as he was going to raise the question. The other people looked at Ou Yangming with different looks.
After taking a look around, Jin Shengjie furrowed his eye
brows and suggested, “Lil’ Friend, where are you staying in the capital? If you’re fine with it, how about you stay at my residence?”
Many people looked helpless after they heard the blacksmith master.
They had many questions for Ou Yangming, who had grasped a secret technique but did not have a foothold in the capital. However, their queries would be left unanswered if the young man stayed at Jin Shengjie’s residence.
Even so, while they were daring enough to aim at Ou Yangming, they did not have the guts to offend Jin Shengjie.
Ou Yangming was a smart person, after all, so he could sense Jin Shengjie’s good intention through his words.
“This old man might not be broad-minded, but he’s much better than I imagined him to be. At the very least, when he noticed the faintly apparent spite from the other people, instead of avoiding his responsibility, he invited me over. Based on that alone, I’m glad.’
Despite that, before Ou Yangming could say a word, Du Gaoge voiced out, “Thank you for your kindness, Master Jin, but Master Ou’s the Yi Pavilion’s distinguished guest. We’ll certainly make appropriate arrangements so that he won’t be distracted by worldly matters.”
“The Yi Pavilion.” Jin Shengjie nodded and said, “Okay, since you’re the Yi Pavilion’s honored guest, I’m at ease.”
As such, the people who had malicious looks earlier sighed. After witnessing Ou Yangming’s technique and ability, even the Yi Pavilion was willing to back him up. Since the young fellow had such great support, they could not act rashly.
All of a sudden, someone sneered. “Since Master Ou’s the Yi Pavilion’s significant guest, why didn’t you make it clear just now?”
Du Gaoge admitted that the Yi Pavilion registered Ou Yangming for the assessment, but if the young fellow was truly their distinguished guest, he would have received a completely different treatment.
The shopkeeper flushed. What else could he say? He could not tell them that he made an error of judgment…
Even though the Yi Pavilion was renowned enough that they could scare off gangsters and the like, the other people present were not easy to deal with. They knew very well that there was a huge difference between a pavilion’s normal client and an honored guest.
Ou Yangming lamented as he sensed the evil looks from the other blacksmiths.
Sure enough, the secret technique that could be used to directly enhance a piece of equipment from Common Grade to Good Grade was enough to make them jealous and greedy.
Nonetheless, other than himself, nobody else could perform the secret technique!
Just as he was going to respond, Jin Shengjie waved his hand hard. “The rest of you don’t have to say anything. Once the assessment ends, I’ll visit the Yi Pavilion with Lil’ Friend Ou. If they fail to please him, I’ll invite him over as my guest.”
The instant he made the firm statement, he cut off the other people’s improper thoughts.
Everyone else looked at each other, but they dared not resist the elder.
“Master Jin, you’re very right,” Yuan Lexin uttered when he recalled something. He went forward with a smile and introduced himself while the other people looked at him strangely, “I’m Yuan Lexin, Master Wu’s second disciple. Greetings, Master Ou.” Although Ou Yangming had not officially gained a blacksmith’s title, everyone else thought that he totally deserved being called a master.
It was very likely that no one else in the square, no, in the world could smith a piece of High Grade equipment from iron ingot.
If a person like Ou Yangming could not be addressed as a master, Yuan Lexin could not think of anyone else who deserved the title.
Ou Yangming was elated because his action drew attention indeed.
“Ah, it’s Master Yuan. Please excuse my discourtesy.”
“I dare not call myself a master in front of you, Master Ou,” Yuan Lexin shook his head and remarked. He later added after a short pause, “You don’t have to be so polite; you can just call me by my name.”
Ou Yangming could not help but laugh. “Brother Yuan, you’re being too courteous.” Yuan Lexin sighed a breath of relief because he could not afford it if Ou Yangming still addressed him as a master.
‘I suppose only Superior Blacksmiths are on par with this fella.’
Jin Shengjie mocked him, “Yuan Lexin, I’m having a delightful conversation with Lil’ Friend Ou, why did you come and stick your foot in?”
Yuan Lexin smiled embarrassedly and thought, ‘You’re the only one who finds it delightful. I don’t see how happy Ou Yangming is…’
That said, he was not bold enough to contradict the blacksmith master, so he explained, “Master Jin, I spotted an acquaintance so I came to greet him.”
“An acquaintance?” Jin Shengjie was shocked. “Did you and Lil’ Friend Ou know each other before this?”
“It’s my first time meeting Master Ou today, but his friend is an apprentice in the Wu residence,” Yuan Lexin immediately answered. He later waved at Hu Lingfeng and instructed in a friendly manner, “Lingfeng, quickly come to greet Master Jin.”
Hu Lingfeng had been standing behind his father ever since he got up to the platform. When he watched as Ou Yangming conversed with many blacksmith masters, he was incredibly envious of him.
When Hu Lingfeng suddenly heard Yuan Lexin calling out to him, his heart beat twice as fast, and his face reddened as a result.
Chapter 264 - The Advanced Assessment
Hu Lingfeng and Yuan Lexin were both Master Wu Hongxi’s followers.
Nonetheless, their actual identities were Heaven and Earth apart and could not be compared with each other at all.
Yuan Lexin was Master Wu Hongxi’s second disciple. He attained the Advanced Blacksmith title, and he was a promising and gifted genius who would advance to the Superior rank.
In comparison, Hu Lingfeng was only a young apprentice who was under Master Wu for only 3 years and had not gotten the Military Fire nor the spiritual fire.
There were many apprentices like him in every blacksmith master’s residence. While they were talented enough to become blacksmiths, the Military Fire and the spiritual fire that could be provided in a year were limited. As such, the competition was so intense that it was far beyond one’s imagination.
Hu Lingfeng had been learning hard for 3 years, but it was still a problem for him to pass the Apprentice Assessment and to obtain the Military Fire.
From his perspective, Yuan Lexin was almost considered the same as Master Wu Hongxi.
At the very least, Yuan Lexin had never greeted him in the Wu residence, to the point that he even doubted—’Does Master Yuan actually know my name?’
When Hu Lingfeng heard Yuan Lexin’s friendly voice, he walked over in confusion and kowtowed to Jin Shengjie. “Master Jin.”
Jin Shengjie waved his sleeve and helped Hu Lingfeng up. He later glanced at the young man and asked Ou Yangming, “This is…” Ou Yangming smiled bitterly but answered, “This is my… nephew.”
Hu Lingfeng and Ou Yangming were not far apart in age, so the former was not very willing to address the latter as an uncle at the beginning. Nevertheless, Hu Lingfeng was grateful for Ou Yangming’s answer at this moment.
IS
“Oh, he’s your nephew…” Jin Shengjie smiled faintly. “I think I remember seeing him during the Apprentice Assessment earlier.” Ou Yangming tensed up a little and thought, ‘Sure enough, none of the well-known figures are simple.”
es
He nodded and responded, “You’re right. My nephew’s name is Hu Lingfeng, and he represented the Wu residence for the first time in the Apprentice Assessment.”
Jin Shengjie expressed, “Very well, he’s a promising young man. Keep working hard in the future.”
Hu Lingfeng looked up, surprised, and overjoyed. “Yes!”
It was difficult to receive such a remark from Master Jin. Behind Jin Shengjie, Feng Guangyuan and Yi Yucheng exchanged glances because they knew there was now a predetermi
ned slot for the qualified apprentices this year.
Yuan Lexin commented as he grinned with his eyes narrowed, “Lingfeng, you’ll be my junior brother from now on. You must work hard and strive to become an official blacksmith as soon as possible.”
Hu Lingfeng was even more elated after he heard what Yuan Lexin said.
The fact that Yuan Lexin said it in front of so many people meant that he was covertly making a promise to Hu Lingfeng. Although Hu Lingfeng was not very experienced in life yet, he could distinguish some of the most basic things.
Therefore, he had such mixed feelings that it was indescribable.
“Master Ou, your secret technique is truly shocking; my master will be delighted if he witnesses it.” Yuan Lexin turned and flashed a big smile at Ou Yangming. He later paused and continued sternly, “On behalf of my master, I invite you to the Wu residence for a meeting, and I hope you’ll agree to it.”
Ou Yangming turned to look at Yan Yuanhua half-intentionally. The proud twelfth young master had already lowered his head as he dared not look back at Ou Yangming.
Even so, Ou Yangming was not bothered about what Yan Yuanhua was thinking. He beamed and said, “It’s my honor to be able to meet Master Wu Hongxi. After today, I’ll definitely make time to visit him as soon as I can.”
Yuan Lexin sighed a breath of relief and uttered softly, “Thank you.”
He spoke so softly that Ou Yangming was the only one who could hear him clearly.
Ou Yangming also understood that since Yuan Lexin stood out to uplift Hu Lingfeng, he would let the matter, where Yan Yuanhua stopped him from meeting Master Wu Hongxi, pass.
As for the other people, they looked at each other and had different thoughts.
Even though Yuan Lexin was not Wu Hongxi, he was unquestionably Master Wu’s representative for now. The other people expected other top-notch masters to befriend Ou Yangming because of his ability, but they did not think that Master Wu Hongxi—the Fine Grade King-would be the first.
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