“Brother Chen, is General Yifan well?” Ou Yangming waved his hand and asked.
“My dear little brother? He’s doing well, but life in the military camp is boring. I wonder when he’ll return to the capital,” Chen Yihe answered.
Ou Yangming could tell from Chen Yihe’s answer that he was not aware of the changes in the immense forest.
“Brother Ou, I have a bad habit; I can’t stop once I start talking,” Chen Yihe immediately noted after he saw the strange look on Ou Yangming’s face. He later slapped his forehead and said, “It’s quite rare that you’re here, so order away, and I’ll get everything done for you as long as it’s within my capability.”
The young fellow was undecided at first, but he decided not to tell Chen Yihe about the news. He asked, “Brother Chen, I participated in the Blacksmith Assessment when I first arrived at the capital. Do you know about that?
“Of course.” Chen Yihe’s eyes lit up. “The assessment is worthy of being recorded in the history of blacksmiths. A full set of Fine Grade Rank Five equipment. Hehe, you’re amazing!” There was something he did not mention; Ou Yangming’s performance during the assessment was remarkable, but it was nothing compared to the magic tools he smithed.
Although the rumors about Ou Yangming being able to smith magic tools sounded marvelous, very few people witnessed the processes. Chen Yihe firmly believed in it, but he could not discuss the matter without restraint in public.
Ou Yangming asked with a smile, “I’d like to use the venue for some time. May I?”
Chen Yihe was struck dumb, then he questioned, “Brother Ou, why do you want to
use it?”
“I’d like to smith a few pieces of equipment there.” “Brother Ou, if you want to smith pieces of equipment, we have better places for you,” Chen Yihe advised with a frown.
Who knew, Ou Yangming shook his head and asked, “I like it there, so may I?” His tone was not heavy, but he sounded unusually resolute. It was evident that he had already decided and would not change his kind.
Chen Yifan gave up the thought of persuading the young fellow. “Okay. Since you’ve taken a liking to that place, it belongs to you, and you may use it however long you want.”
The other people in the main hall nodded. Many of them had gleaming eyes, which made it clear that they were ready to head to the venue to watch Ou Yangming.
It was worth noting that the square was meant for the Blacksmith Assessment, and if oneeven an Advanced Blacksmith-wanted to use it, one might not be permitted. Despite that, while Ou Yangming only had the Advanced title, the experts knew very well that he was superior to all Superior Blacksmiths in the capital combined.
After all, he was the only one who could smith magic tools.
Hence, nobody objected to it when he said he wanted to borrow the venue. Even if a big meet like the Blacksmith Assessment was going to be held there, they would have to empty it for him.
This was the power of magic tools; they were irresistible items for blacksmiths.
Since Ou Yangming could smith magic tools, he was like a king to the blacksmiths and was worth everything Ou Yangming expressed his gratitude and left with a smile. On the other hand, Chen Yihe looked around and ordered, “I have an important matter to attend to. Hey, you, go inform the next Advanced Blacksmith on duty to replace me now!” Subsequently, he strode away and vanished in the blink of an eye.
The other people in the main hall looked at each other for a short while, then they dispersed in a flash. Apart from the blacksmiths on duty, the rest rushed toward the same place, afraid of lagging behind.
****
Ou Yangming arrived at the massive square. It belonged to blacksmiths but was normally opened to the public as the capital’s tourist attraction. In particular, the place was crowded during the Blacksmith Assessment and could attract almost everyone’s attention.
Several people were seen visiting the place at the moment. They dared not enter the high platform nor did they have the guts to touch the stage in the middle, but they enjoyed looking from the periphery.
All of a sudden, they noticed a young man walking arrogantly into the square and was heading toward the high platform.
The people were dumbfounded, and they thought, ‘Where did this young fella come from? Does he know the rules?’
A Force Grade martial artist’s face changed, and he renounced the teen, “Who are you? Quickly come out!”
Ou Yangming stopped and turned to ask with a smile, “Why?”
The martial artist shouted fiercely, “This is a place for Advanced Blacksmiths only. If a little kid like you wants to be an Advanced Blacksmith, you’ll have to go home and practice hard. Get down now and don’t violate the shrine!”
‘Ah, not everyone recognizes me,’ Ou Yangming rubbed his nose and thought.
He had been quite popular in the capital, where he caused sensations during the Blacksmith Assessment and the Myriad Treasure meet.
That said, while he was the most reputable person in the capital for the time being and many people saw him, it would be too impractical to have everyone recognize him.
The Force Grade martial artist, who was diligently carrying out his duty, was the perfect example. He had never seen Ou Yangming and was not aware of the teen’s real identity.
Ou Yangming was naturally not going to be calculative about it. He chuckled and asked, “As long as one’s an Advanced Blacksmith, one can go up?”
“Of course.”
“I seem to be an Advanced Blacksmith.” Ou Yangming nodded and pointed at his nose.
The martial artist was stunned, and he looked infuriated. It was not that he failed to recognize a great person, but no matter how brainy he was, he could not have associated the young fellow with an Advanced Blacksmith.
Just as he was going to rage and capture the young fellow, hurried footsteps were heard coming from behind him.
He turned and noticed Chen Yihe-a prestigious Advanced Blacksmith-running toward the square.
The martial artist looked at the blacksmith master with respect at once. An Advanced Blacksmith was an esteemed figure in the capital, and he knew one word from such a figure could change his future.
Nevertheless, Chen Yihe did not spare him a glance. The blacksmith master dashed toward the young man instead and flashed a flattering smile.
“Brother Ou, if you’re going to smith pieces of equipment, let me be your assistant!” ‘Brother Ou? Be an assistant?’
The Force Grade martial artist was stupefied, and he was lost for words. It took him some time before he recalled that Master Ou Yangming, who was rumored to be the best blacksmith in the world, was around the same age as the teen in front of him.
‘I offended Master Ou, oh God…’
Just as he felt that the world darkened, Ou Yangming turned to smile at him. “You’re a dutiful man, you did great.”
Chen Yihe was taken back. He glanced at the martial artist with a look of approval and noted, “You did well. Come and look for me later.”
The martial artist widened his eyes in disbelief. He no longer looked dejected, and he became high-spirited as he was hopeful of his future again. He roared, “Yes, Master Chen!” Ou Yangming turned around and lamented, ‘A superior can determine one’s future and fate with a few words; the books were right.
‘I’ve unknowingly become a superior to most people.’
Chapter 352 - Being An Assistant
At the center of the square, Ou Yangming scanned every casting table.
He suddenly fixed his gaze on a certain table because he noticed it did not have any materials on it but a large red flower was hung on it. What surprised him more was his fresh memory of it.
The young fellow used that casting table during the Blacksmiths Assessment.
Seeing as Ou Yangming had a strange look on his face, Chen Yihe immediately explained, “Brother Ou, this was the collective decision of all blacksmiths.”
“Brother Chen, it’s too exa
ggerated,” Ou Yangming remarked while shaking his head, then he added after a pause, “Even Senior Jin Shengjie and the others didn’t receive such a treatment.”
“Brother Ou, it was the few Superior Blacksmiths who suggested this honor,” Chen Yihe responded softly after some thought, then he continued, “One who can smith magic tools individually deserves this honor.”
Ou Yangming was stunned. He later nodded and stopped feeling bothered about it.
He approached another casting table and retrieved some materials from his interspatial bag.
Chen Yihe widened his eyes when he watched Ou Yangming taking materials out of thin air. He stared at the interspatial bag in disbelief.
“Master Ou, i-is that an interspatial bag?”
“Yes, it is. Have you not seen one before?” Ou Yangming replied to the blacksmith master.
Chen Yihe smiled bitterly and shook his head. “How am I qualified to see such a treasure?”
Ou Yangming was shocked. “I remember Her Royal Highness has one.”
“Brother Ou, it’s easy for you to meet the princess, but unless I become a Superior Blacksmith, how can I meet Her Royal Highness?” Chen Yihe had a stranger look on his face.
It was then that Ou Yangming recalled his identity as the consort. Nonetheless, he was not conscious of that identity at all.
Ou Yangming shook his head and got rid of the distractions, then he sighed and painfully retrieved the materials he acquired from the imperial family. The young fellow had initially planned to keep them for his collection but given that he had almost finished using the materials given by the Yi Pavilion to smith arm guards, he could only use the ones from the imperial family. Ou Yangming began to smith as the Military Fire burned in his hands.
Chen Yihe quickly shut his mouth and stopped talking. He was afraid of making Ou Yangming unhappy or causing the young fellow to miss out on something important.
When Ou Yangming asked the Yi Pavilion for the materials, he had planned to prepare small gifts for the powerhouses at the peak of Yang Grade who fought him. While there were various raw materials, most of them were gems from the same batch and of equivalent value.
As the Military Fire burned, soon enough, greaves made of Eminent Golden Ore were formed in his hands. He glanced at the greaves and found their nodes right away due to the integration of Heaven and man, as well as the thoroughly meticulous state, which gave him an acute observation skill. The Military Fire flickered on the nodes, where suitable holes were chiseled. Following that, two clear gems, which were not of the highest grades but were quite remarkable, were embedded in the greaves.
It was worth noting that the Gem Embedding Art was rather complicated, but the process was somehow simplified by Ou Yangming’s Military Fire.
After just a brief moment, the gems and the pieces of equipment resonated, allowing the greaves to carry unique Power Accumulation attributes. The attribute had extremely broad functions, where power could normally be accumulated in the gem and could be unleashed during a crucial moment. Although it could not increase one’s victory rate, it could be unbelievably useful if one used the accumulated power in it to escape.
Chen Yihe was dumbfounded as he watched from the side. He was an Advanced Blacksmith who did not know much about the Gem Embedding Art, but he had heard a lot about it. The blacksmith master had the impression that the art was incredibly complicated, by which perfectly releasing energy from a gem was as difficult as smithing a suit.
As such, blacksmiths who were adept in embedding gems and smithing suits were somewhat superior to ordinary blacksmiths.
Now, Ou Yangming made it seem like the Gem Embedding Art was unusually simple as he successfully embedded gems to pieces of equipment without effort. Moreover, it was evident from the delightful smile on his face that the gems’ special effects were activated.
Unknowingly, the square was filled with people.
There were more guards around too, but they dared not be rude to the spectators because they recognized that the onlookers were blacksmiths. Even though the blacksmiths were of different ranks, owing to their profession, the guards could not offend nor obstruct them.
Furthermore, the blacksmiths had a mutual understanding where they did not clamor at all. They stood a distance away as they observed Ou Yangming’s every move. Even from afar, they widened their eyes as they did not want to miss any detail.
In particular, when the gems were successfully embedded, the professionals could not help but exclaim.
They had not touched the greaves and were clueless about the gems’ functions, but none of them doubted Ou Yangming. Deep down they had a preconception that the young fellow, who could smith magic tools, could not have falsified anything at this moment.
Ou Yangming casually tossed the greaves aside and picked up another material.
This time, he refined a helmet, arm guards, and armor by pairing featured steel with the rare material.
He did not employ the Gem Embedding Art for the three pieces of equipment, but he drew wonderful veined patterns on them at the speed of light.
“It’s the Suit Skill!” A soft voice was heard in the crowd.
Everyone else was surprised when they turned to look. They made space for the person who spoke, and many people were even bowing at him from afar. Needless to say, the crowd did everything without a sound as they dared not distract Ou Yangming, who was still smithing. The person who spoke was a middle-aged man, but his face was covered with wrinkles as though he had gone through many hardships in life. He looked much older than normal middle-aged men. He was also an Advanced Blacksmith and had a noteworthy prestige among his peers because he was adept at the Suit Skill. The man would certainly be above others if he and other people were to smith a suit.
Xing Zhengyang was publicly acknowledged by all Advanced Blacksmiths in the capital as one of the masters closest to becoming a Superior Blacksmith.
Even Tan Yangping-Wu Hongxi’s first disciple-was inferior to him.
Xing Zhengyang had subconsciously taken a few steps forward, and his body was almost getting beyond the border. He stared at Ou Yangming without blinking, and his eyes were filled with excitement and admiration.
The Suit Skill was incomprehensible for most people present.
However, from a professional’s point of view, the skill had too much content. Through Xing Zhengyang’s eyes, Ou Yangming’s constantly-burning Military Fire and the mysterious veined patterns on the pieces of equipment were like a huge and fascinating design as a whole, so much so that he was getting immersed in it.
Ou Yangming had a certain understanding of the Suit Skill and had practiced it in the past, but he was still far from a powerhouse like Xing Zhengyang, who devoted his life to the skill.
That said, Ou Yangming possessed the unique Military Fire and had great mental power, hence the Spiritual Power Formation Map was naturally constructed in his sea of consciousness.
Through the peculiar formation map, Ou Yangming had not only derived in reverse the rune to upgrade pieces of affordable equipment, but he also apprehended many of the world’s contents, which had not been perceived or simply could not be understood.
The contents were unremarkable for ordinary blacksmiths because they would still be baffled even if Ou Yangming explained them in detail.
Besides, Ou Yangming was also not an expert yet. He could vaguely sense the veined patterns’ functions, but he only knew the hows and not the whys.
Despite that, Xing Zhengyang was like a gobbler at a full banquet or a pervert seeing bare long legs when he saw the mysterious yet unpredictable patterns; he could not resist them.
Xing Zhengyang mumbled to himself, and his eyes were gleaming. He would have run toward the casting table had he not been afraid of distracting Ou Yangming.
Ou Yangming was smithing speedily because he had to complete 30 pieces of equipment in the shortest time.
Therefore, he finished smithing three pieces of equipment swiftly.
&n
bsp; Through the Military Fire, their attributes were displayed in his mind.
The pieces of equipment were ordinary on their own, but the three combined into a suit resulted in an attribute that could disregard 10% of attacks.
Ou Yangming did not know how the attribute was born. He carried out the process accordingly and extracted parts of the veined patterns that he derived in reverse to upgrade pieces of economical equipment. When the young fellow merged the parts, the magical change happened.
He had a faint feeling that the veined patterns were related to space.
Even so, he could not yet comprehend how exactly the change occurred.
At last, when Ou Yangming curbed the Military Fire and set the three suits aside, Xing Zhengyang could not hold it in any longer. He jumped down and called out, “Greetings, Master Ou. I’m Xing Zhengyang.”
Ou Yangming looked at the person in shock.
Xing Zhengyang approached them and said to Chen Yihe, “Brother Chen, you’ve assisted Master Ou for two rounds, so you should be tired. It’s my turn now!”
Observing from the high platform was a completely different experience from watching up close, especially the atmosphere change during a smithing process, which could only be sensed clearly from a close range.
Chen Yihe expressed with a bitter face, “Brother Xing, I’m not tired yet.”
Xing Zhengyang waved his hands and stressed, “You’re tired! You’re definitely tired! Let me be Master Ou’s assistant instead.”
The other people looked at each other and thought, ‘Two Advanced Blacksmiths are actually fighting to be Master Ou’s assistant without bothering about their reputations. He’s so awesome!
Chapter 353 - Various Distinguished Figures Gather
Ou Yangming glanced at them and said coldly, “The two of you may stay here.”
He was on a tight schedule, so he could not bother arguing with them. Since they were willing to help, he could save a lot of effort.
Immortal Path to Heaven c1-725 Page 210
