novelhk Chapter 22: The Master Craftsman Zhenhua
Chapter 22: The Master Craftsman Zhenhua
Han Tianyi's smile faded, and her expression became solemn: "Zhenhua is the only master craftsman on the continent today, a ninth-level blacksmith!"
He looked at Huo Yuhao with a hint of expectation in his eyes: "Yuhao, whether you can be chosen by this master craftsman depends on your performance next."
Master craftsman!
Level 9 Blacksmith!
The only one in mainland China!
These words struck Huo Yuhao's heart like a heavy hammer, causing his eyes to widen instantly and his breath to catch in his throat.
He knew that the mentors his two teachers had chosen for him must be extraordinary, but he never expected that they would be the number one person standing at the very peak of this path!
A surge of emotion, a mixture of excitement and immense pressure, welled up inside me, but then an even stronger determination quickly suppressed the tension.
He clenched his fist tightly, hidden in his sleeve, his nails digging slightly into his palm. He thought to himself that he must seize this opportunity, go all out, and perform well!
Led by Makino, the three did not go far.
Diagonally opposite his two-story building, a more magnificent and ancient-style building came into view, which was the Tiandou City Blacksmith Association.
The association's doors were wide open, and the faint sounds of people could be heard.
Upon entering, I discovered that the spacious lobby on the first floor was teeming with people, forming a large, bustling circle that was almost completely packed.
All eyes were focused on the center of the crowd.
A standard forging table had been temporarily set up there, and the furnace was burning brightly.
Standing beside the forging platform, surrounded by people like stars around the moon, was a middle-aged man.
He had thick black hair and deep black eyes, but the graying hair at his temples added a touch of vicissitude to his originally resolute face.
The blacksmiths around him, who were usually arrogant and haughty, now only had pure reverence and a thirst for knowledge in their eyes.
Mu Ye stopped and looked toward the center of the crowd. He said in a low voice, "That's the master craftsman Zhen Hua. Let's listen to what he has to say first, and then we'll go over after he finishes speaking."
Huo Yuhao was being held in Han Tianyi's arms. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on the distant Divine Craftsman Zhenhua. With his Martial Soul Spirit Eyes activated, he was determined not to miss a single detail.
"Blacksmiths are actually a profession that relies more on talent than Soul Masters."
Master craftsman Zhenhua's calm voice clearly echoed throughout the hall: "Only by laying a solid foundation can one go further on the path of forging."
"So today I won't go into anything too advanced; I'll start with the most basic Hundred Refinements..."
Even the most basic knowledge captivated the blacksmiths present, who listened intently and with great interest.
It must be admitted that Zhenhua truly deserves his reputation as a master craftsman; his explanations are both profound and easy to understand.
Even Huo Yuhao, who didn't know much about forging, felt that he understood many key points and secretly admired him.
About half an hour later, Zhenhua's explanation came to an end.
He nodded slightly to the crowd and left the hall amidst respectful gazes, as the crowd gradually dispersed.
Seeing this, Mu Ye gave Han Tianyi and Huo Yuhao a wink, and the three of them took the soul-guided elevator all the way to the top floor, arriving at the area where the president's office was located.
Makino was clearly familiar with the place. He walked up to a heavy wooden door and, without even knocking, pushed it open and went inside.
The office is spacious and bright, with furnishings that are both practical and elegant.
Zhenhua was standing by the window, gazing at the city view outside. Hearing the noise, he turned around and saw that it was Mu Ye. A look of surprise appeared on his face: "What brings you here?"
The two were so close they were practically inseparable, but Makino usually wouldn't come to the Blacksmith Association to see him unless there was a specific reason.
Makino stepped aside to clear the doorway, his tone as calm as ever: "I'll introduce you to an apprentice."
Zhenhua's gaze passed over Muye and fell on Han Tianyi, who followed him in, and the boy who looked no more than six or seven years old beside Han Tianyi.
He naturally recognized Han Tianyi; he was the Illusionary Brain Douluo of the Spirit Pagoda, an elder of the Body Sect, and held an extraordinary position.
But this little guy next to Han Tianyi...
Zhenhua's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for a moment longer. Was this the "disciple" that Mu Ye had mentioned he was going to introduce to him?
Zhenhua's expression also turned serious. He glanced at Mu Ye, his tone calm but firm: "Even if you personally introduce someone, I will never accept them if they lack talent in forging."
Mu Ye nodded in understanding, then turned his gaze to Han Tianyi, his eyes seeming to say, "You see, that's the rule. It's not that I'm not going to help."
Zhenhua said no more and walked straight to Huo Yuhao.
He leaned down slightly, looking at the bright-eyed, upright young boy before him, and asked, "Little friend, what's your name?"
Huo Yuhao raised his head, meeting Zhenhua's scrutiny with unwavering gaze, and said respectfully, "Hello, Chairman, my name is Huo Yuhao."
Zhenhua raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly; this child seemed to possess a maturity beyond his years.
He then continued, his tone more like a warning: "The path of forging is far more arduous than most people imagine. Without the corresponding talent and perseverance, it is absolutely impossible to continue."
Huo Yuhao had heard similar words from Master Wu in the blacksmith shop of Xilai City ten thousand years ago.
He didn't answer directly, but instead prepared to let his strength speak for itself!
Huo Yuhao's gaze quickly swept around the office, finally locking onto a forging room in the corner of the room.
Under the slightly surprised gazes of Zhenhua, Muye, and Hantianyi, Huo Yuhao turned around and walked straight towards the forging room.
In order to seize this opportunity and become the disciple of the master craftsman Zhenhua, Huo Yuhao is determined to show his strongest talent.
He considered himself to have some talent in forging.
"Yuhao..."
As soon as Han Tianyi opened her mouth, Zhenhua raised his hand to interrupt her.
The master craftsman's face was no longer serious; instead, it held a hint of amusement.
His gaze was fixed on Huo Yuhao, and he said in a low voice, "Don't rush, let's see what this little guy is up to."
Huo Yuhao moved a small stool over and stood on it steadily, making himself tall enough to reach the forging table.
Then, recalling what he had observed Zhenhua doing in the hall, he opened the valve of the forging furnace and adjusted the air damper and fuel.
The fire in the stove blazed up with a "whoosh," and orange-red flames rose up.
Huo Yuhao was not in a hurry, but waited quietly, his eyes focused on observing the color and rhythm of the flames.
Once the temperature inside the furnace reached a certain level, he used pliers to pick up a dark gray metal block with fine silver spots on its surface from the material rack next to him and steadily placed it into the hottest area of the furnace fire.
The metal block undergoes a rapid change at high temperatures, its color shifting from dark to light, eventually revealing a uniform and translucent bright red.
Huo Yuhao flipped his wrist, and the pliers precisely reached in, firmly clamping out the red-hot metal block and placing it on the anvil!
"Huh?!"
Zhenhua, who had maintained a calm expression, couldn't help but let out a short but clear sound of surprise!
The Tianxing Iron that Huo Yuhao was forging was a rare metal that was extremely sensitive to temperature.
The optimal time for forging Tianxing Iron is extremely difficult to determine.
If it's too early, the inside won't be soft enough; if it's too late, the surface will be too damaged.
Even many experienced level two or three blacksmiths might not be able to grasp it so precisely!
The fact that this child, who was only six or seven years old, could do this was truly astonishing to him.
At this moment, Zhenhua's interest was truly ignited.
He leaned forward slightly, remaining silent, his gaze fixed intently on Huo Yuhao's next move.
On the anvil, the Tianxing iron glowed bright red, and steam rose from it.
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and gripped the forging hammer, which still felt heavy to him, tightly in his right hand.
He knew that the real demonstration was only just beginning.