Turning around, Zhang Xuan saw an old man walking over. He had a white beard, and he exuded a heroic spirit. His cultivation was difficult to see through, and it was hard to tell just how profound it was.
"Master Lin Jie …"
Guild Leader Qin clasped his fist respectfully, and Chu xiang bowed respectfully as well.
Be it in terms of cultivation or understanding of smithing, a quasi 8-star blacksmith was far superior to them.
"Master... This is Mingshi Tang's Seven Star pinnacle master teacher, Zhang Xuan, Zhang Shi!" Guild Leader Qin hurriedly introduced.
Considering how Zhang Xuan was able to successfully crash the Master Teacher Pavilion and defeat Pavilion Master Gou, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the pinnacle of the Seven Stars.
"Seven Star pinnacle master teacher?" Master Lin Jie was taken aback. "To be able to wield such strength at such a young age, it's no wonder he has the right to be so arrogant …"
Initially, he had thought that the other party was an arrogant person who would intentionally slander him in front of so many people. However, since the other party was a master teacher of his caliber, there was no reason for him to do so intentionally.
"I'm really sorry, but I, Mingshi Tang, have something to do and can't be delayed. I'd like to borrow this Refining Hall to temper my weapon. Is that okay?" Zhang Xuan cupped his fists.
It was indeed rude for the other party to come over and borrow the Earth Flame to conduct a lecture.
"Forging weapons? Zhang Shi is also a refiner? "
Master Lin Jie asked curiously.
"I studied it systematically for a period of time!"
Zhang Xuan replied, "I was lucky enough to get a six-star badge!"
Master Lin Jie nodded. Perplexed, he asked, "May I know what kind of weapon Zhang shi intends to forge?"
What kind of weapon had to be in this refining hall?
While the Qingyuan Empire Blacksmith Guild was not as majestic as the Qianchong Empire Blacksmith Guild, it still had at least six to seven hundred chambers that were suitable for smithing. There was no doubt that there was a reason why the Blacksmith Guild had chosen the Qingyuan Empire Blacksmith Guild.
If the other party was a Seven Star pinnacle blacksmith, Zhang Xuan wouldn't have asked too much about it. However, 6-star... That was indeed a little too low. The earth flames here were exceptionally ferocious, and the slightest lapse in control could result in the destruction of one's weapon.
"It's him!"
With a flick of his wrist, Jin Yuan Ding appeared in the hall.
"Master, are you trying to train me? Haha, I'm going to advance again? "
Looking around, Jin Yuan Ding realized that he was in the Blacksmith Guild and there were Blacksmiths everywhere. He was filled with excitement.
"Half-Leaving Aperture realm Saint intermediate-tier artifact?"
He had thought that it would be a Half-Saint artifact, but who could have thought that it would be a middle-tier artifact? Master Lin Jie's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Zhang Shi intends to forge this cauldron?"
"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
"This …"
Seeing how fearless Zhang Xuan was, Master Lin Jie could not help but console him. "Tempering a Saint intermediate-tier artifact requires not only strength, but it also requires the protection of one's spirit, as well as the most accurate tempering and hammering. There's no room for carelessness. Otherwise, not only will you be unable to upgrade it, you might even damage the internal structure of the Saint intermediate-tier artifact, thus causing its grade to drop!"
Even he only had a twenty percent chance of successfully forging a Saint artifact of that tier. Yet, a 6-star blacksmith …
Without sufficient strength, forcefully melting the weapon back into the furnace would not only fail to improve it, but it might even cause it to drop in grade. The gains did not make up for the losses.
"Old man, what do you mean by this? Our young master casually guided an apprentice, and I managed to upgrade a Saint low-tier artifact to a middle-tier artifact. Do you think that I need you to lecture me? "
Before Zhang Xuan could say a word, Jin Yuan Ding had already harrumphed in displeasure.
Ever since it was born, the person it had admired the most was its master. Yet, the other party actually dared to doubt the other party. It was already a miracle that it did not charge forward and smash the other party's head with his butt.
"Guide an apprentice?" Everyone was taken aback by those words.
It was difficult for an apprentice to even forge a Saint low-tier artifact. Yet, with just a few pointers, he was able to upgrade a Saint low-tier artifact to middle-tier artifact?
"No one will take you for a mute if you don't speak!"
Zhang Xuan bellowed as he slapped the lid of Jin Yuan Ding's cauldron to shut it up.
The reason why Song Zhen was able to upgrade Jin Yuan Ding so smoothly previously was due to the other party's many years of experience in smithing. Not only was his cultivation on par with a 6-star blacksmith, his mastery of smithing techniques had also reached an extremely high level.
That was also the reason why he was able to follow Zhang Xuan's guidance and complete the task easily. Had it been any other apprentice, they would have surely been unable to pull it off.
It was just a coincidence, and it was difficult to replicate it. There was nothing for him to brag about.
"I …"
The cauldron twisted its body indignantly. "I am speaking the truth … You just casually guided an apprentice to help me upgrade …"
"Shut up and stay by the side!"
Seeing that the cauldron still dared to refute him, Zhang Xuan frowned.
"Yes …"
Jin Yuan Ding didn't dare to speak anymore and retreated to the side.
"This fellow is used to living a carefree life, so it's a little rude. I apologize for my rudeness in front of Master Lin and Guild Leader Lin," Zhang Xuan said apologetically.
For a weapon to butt in while its master was speaking, it was truly disrespectful.
"It's nothing much." Master Lin Jie shook his head. There was still a hint of bewilderment in his eyes. "You said that Zhang Shi guided an apprentice to forge a Saint low-tier artifact … May I know what's going on?"
"Forget it," Zhang Xuan replied.
Since he was here to upgrade Jin Yuan Ding, it would be best for him to keep a low profile. It was just a matter of the past, and there was no point in talking about it now.
"I have been too rash …"
Master Lin Jie thought that the other party was unwilling to speak of it, so he chose not to probe any further.
"Alright, let's not waste any more time. I'll start now …"
Seeing that there was no misunderstanding, Zhang Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. After which, he turned to Chu xiang and said, "Brother Chu, I'll have to trouble you later on."
"Feel free to speak your mind, Zhang Shi. As long as it's within my means, I won't turn you down!"
Chu xiang replied with a smile.
Putting aside the fact that the two of them were acquainted with one another, just the fact that the young man before him had successfully crashed the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion and had become the number one master teacher of the Qingyuan Empire made it impossible for him to befriend the other party.
"It's like this. I have been spoiling this weapon of mine, and if I were to forge it personally, I might find it difficult to do so due to various considerations. Thus, I hope that you can help me temper it!" Zhang Xuan said.
"Spoiling it?" Jin Yuan Ding racked his brains, but he couldn't think of a time when the young man before him had ever doted on it.
If he recalled correctly, he had even slapped it a moment ago …
"This …"
Chu xiang was taken aback upon hearing that the young man was going to request for him. With a bitter smile, he hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Zhang Shi, it's not that I don't want to help you, but my cultivation hasn't even reached Primordial Spirit realm yet. Even though I'm a Seven Star blacksmith, it's still impossible for me to forge a Leaving Aperture realm Saint intermediate-tier artifact!"
Even a Seven Star pinnacle blacksmith like Guild Leader Qin was unable to forge such a high-tier artifact, so how could a mere Seven Star blacksmith like him possibly be able to do so?
The other party really thought too highly of him …
"There's no need to worry. I'll guide you in the forging process. As long as you follow my instructions strictly, it'll be fine," Zhang Xuan said.
Chu xiang was conflicted. "Zhang Shi's cauldron is extremely valuable. I fear that something might go wrong …"
"It's fine. I'll be using the Impartation of Heaven's Will on you later on. As long as you follow my instructions strictly, I won't blame you if anything goes wrong …" Knowing what Chu xiang was worried about, Zhang Xuan said with a smile.
"Ah …"
Hearing the other party's words, Chu xiang knew that he would be looking down on Zhang Xuan if he were to turn him down any further.
"Let's begin then!"
With a light chuckle, Zhang Xuan turned to Jin Yuan Ding and said with a frown, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and scram over to the earth flame!"
"…"
Jin Yuan Ding shuddered in aggrievement as he hurriedly flew over.
"You call this doting?"
Dark lines streaked across Master Lin Jie and Guild Leader Qin's faces.
It was just a moment ago that Zhang Xuan said that he was too doting on his artifact, such that he found it difficult to do so during the forging process, just like how a doctor would be reluctant to operate on his kin … Yet, upon seeing such a sight … You call this doting?
Walking up to the formation to draw out the earth flame, Zhang Xuan gestured to Chu xiang.
The latter immediately understood Zhang Xuan's intentions and walked over.
"Zhang Shi, this is the token to draw out the earth flame …"
Seeing that they were about to start forging, Guild Leader Qin flicked his wrist and took out a token.
The earth flame had been drawn out from the ground by the formation, and a unique token was required to activate it.
Just as Zhang Xuan was about to pass the token over, the young man's voice suddenly sounded.
"Take three steps to the left, two steps forward, one step back, and one step to the right as well. Drive your zhenqi and focus it on your right leg. Stomp down …"
There was a unique charm to the sound of water. Without any hesitation, Chu xiang followed Zhang Xuan's instructions strictly and stomped his foot on the ground.
Xiong xiong!
The formation to draw out the earth flame immediately came to life, and a dense ball of flames burst into the sky, shrouding Jin Yuan Ding within.
"This …"
Guild Leader Qin narrowed his eyes in disbelief. "To light up the earth flame without using a token … How did you do it?"
The earth flame was extremely hot, and even a Saint 4-dan expert would be reduced to ashes if they were to be caught in it.
This was also the reason why there was no fire in the formation when it wasn't in operation. Under normal circumstances, it would be nigh impossible to draw out the earth flame without a token. Yet, under Zhang Shi's guidance, the young man before him was able to do it so easily …
Even though he was witnessing it with his own eyes, he still found it hard to believe.
"This is something that only those who have reached the pinnacle of formations are able to do. Judging from the looks of it, that Zhang Shi seems to be a formation master as well, and his proficiency in it should be quite high as well! "
Seeing Guild Leader Qin's expression, Master Lin Jie nodded in agreement.
To be able to understand the structure of the Earth Flame Formation with just a single glance and draw out the earth flame with ease, his comprehension of formations could be considered to be top-notch even in their Qianchong Empire.
"Indeed …"
Guild Leader Qin also calmed down.
"Let's see how skilled he is in smithing … Even though a master teacher has the Impartation of Heaven's Will, guiding another person in smithing … Not to mention, instructing him to forge a Saint intermediate-tier artifact with a person who has never worked with him before …
Master Lin Jie shook his head. He wasn't too optimistic about the situation before him.
It was one thing for both parties to have a tacit understanding of one another.
There were also smiths in the real world who did the same thing.
But when it came to the other party's strength, zhenqi, and smithing technique … To guide the other party to forge a Saint intermediate-tier artifact that exceeded his own …
In his view, this was an impossible task.
For Zhang Shi to do such a thing … Was he being too careless, or did he think that the cauldron could be discarded?
Master Lin Jie turned to look at Jin Yuan Ding with pity in his eyes.
This isn't doting …
Why does it feel like … he's trying to kill me?
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