“What the hell? How did participating in a Divine Smith Grand Ceremony turn into a gamble of my career?”

Gu Yan was inexplicably excited.

He quickly picked up his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

“Hello? Guild Master Gu?” Lin Wei’s voice held a hint of caution.

Gu Yan almost roared.

“Lin Wei! What exactly is going on?!”

“Why did Ouyezi suddenly get into a conflict with that Nakamura Shin'ichiro?”

“What good are you as an assistant?!”

Lin Wei subconsciously pulled her phone away a bit. After Gu Yan finished venting his anger, she explained in a tone that sounded like she was about to cry, full of grievance.

“Guild Master Gu, please calm down. I know you’re anxious, but please don’t panic yet.”

“I only found out this morning. Last night, Chairman Mo held a banquet. I thought it was just a simple dinner, but who would have thought... who would have thought such a big thing would happen.”

“I don’t care about any of that!” Gu Yan roughly interrupted her.

“You know Ouyezi’s importance to our guild! If he loses in the match against Nakamura Shin'ichiro, the personal cost to him will be huge, and the loss to our guild will also be significant!”

“I order you! At all costs, find a way to make Chairman Mo cancel this challenge bet!”

Lin Wei was genuinely on the verge of tears.

“I’m just a small assistant; why would Chairman Mo listen to me?”

“Besides, looking at the situation, Chairman Mo probably doesn't even have the final say in this matter.”

Just then, a loud voice from the plaza, amplified by sound equipment, echoed throughout the entire city.

“The second phase of the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, the Forging Master Competition, now begins!”

“All Forging Masters, please enter the arena!”

At this moment, the plaza in the city center had already been cleared to create a massive arena spanning hundreds of square meters.

Dozens of sets of top-tier forging equipment had been neatly arranged on the ground at some point.

The forging tables, crafted from obsidian, were indestructible.

The forging furnaces, fueled by the earth’s Pulse fire, blazed fiercely.

On the workbench beside them, every tool, from hammers to carving knives, was readily available, shimmering with a cold luster under the sunlight.

The host, Wei Zheng’s voice, full of passion, rang out again.

“Ladies and gentlemen! The exciting moment has finally arrived!”

“This Forging Competition has invited a total of twenty-seven renowned Forging Masters from all over the country!”

“Including Master Nakamura Shin'ichiro from Sakura Country, that makes a total of twenty-eight!”

“At this moment, they have successively entered the arena and are standing before their respective forging tables!”

“Since this is an outdoor competition, everyone can feast their eyes and observe the exquisite details and techniques of the Great Masters up close!”

Once all twenty-eight contestants were in position, Mo XuanYe stepped to the center of the arena.

He surveyed the crowd, a gentle smile on his face.

“It is an honor that you all have traveled thousands of miles to participate in this Forging Competition in Skyfire City.”

“This competition will be divided into two rounds.”

“The first round will select the top ten.”

“The second round will directly determine the ultimate champion!”

He paused, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) his voice suddenly rising.

“And the reward for the champion of this competition is this cluster of A-grade exotic fire—the ‘Charming Spirit Flame’!”

“Equipment forged with this exotic fire can imbue a Charming Spirit effect. Once an opponent is struck, they will enter a charmed state and abandon resistance.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a staff member carefully carried a crystal container forward.

Inside the container, a cluster of crimson flames, like an enchanting fox, was curled up, burning quietly.

At these words, the eyes of the twenty-seven Great Xia Country Forging Masters present instantly erupted with fervent light, and their breathing quickened.

A-grade exotic fire!

This was a treasure capable of driving any Forging Master mad!

In Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s eyes, an expression of determination to win was even more evident.

He provocatively looked at Ouyezi in the distance, a sneer playing on his lips.

“Your Excellency Ouyezi, don’t forget our agreement.”

“I hope you don’t get eliminated in the first round.”

Zhou Huai, controlling Ouyezi, didn't even lift an eyelid, merely uttering a few words indifferently.

“What barking dog is that?”

“You!” Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s face instantly turned a liver-like purple, and his fists clenched, making a cracking sound.

He forced himself to swallow his anger, but his gaze grew even colder.

Mo XuanYe lightly coughed, drawing everyone’s attention back.

He announced loudly.

“Now, I announce the first theme of this Forging Competition!”

“Speed!”

“Although we Forging Masters emphasize slow work for fine products, when necessary, we must also prioritize efficiency!”

“Therefore, this first round will test your forging efficiency!”

“You need to forge a level 30 breastplate in the shortest possible time. The less time spent, the higher the score.”

“Of course, while pursuing efficiency, quality must also be guaranteed. The final product must at least reach a rare three-star quality or higher to be considered qualified.”

“If it can reach epic quality, there will be additional bonus points!”

Subsequently, staff members began distributing identical Materials and blueprints to each contestant.

Once everything was ready.

Mo XuanYe raised his hand high, then sharply brought it down!

“The competition begins!”

The numbers on the giant timer at the edge of the plaza began to jump rapidly.

Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!

The crisp sound of hammering instantly echoed throughout the entire plaza.

The twenty-eight Forging Masters, almost simultaneously, plunged into intense forging.

In the live broadcast room, Wei Zheng’s voice was filled with passion.

“The competition has begun! We can see that Master Chen from the Imperial Capital is indeed experienced; he didn’t rush to forge, but instead first meticulously divided and pre-processed all the Materials!”

“Master Murong from the Demon Capital, her forging technique is simply like flowing clouds and water, full of artistic beauty!”

The camera shifted to Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s forging table.

Wei Zheng’s voice instantly rose by eight octaves.

“Oh my goodness! Master Nakamura has directly used his exotic fire!”

Only to see a cluster of bizarre, black and red flames rising from Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s palm.

As soon as the flame appeared, the surrounding air seemed to ignite, and the temperature sharply increased.

The hard black iron Ore, under the scorching of that flame, rapidly melted at a visible speed, turning into a pool of scalding molten iron.

On the high platform, Mo XuanYe looked at the flame in Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s palm, his brows slightly furrowed.

The aura of this flame... so complex.

Yet, it was perfectly integrated.

He understood in his heart.

This flame was likely formed by the Fusion of at least three different exotic fires.

Divine Craftsman... was that what it meant?

To be able to devour and fuse other exotic fires, it was indeed unique.

It seemed he had come uninvited this time, having long set his sights on that Charming Spirit Flame.

On the competition grounds.

Time passed by minute by minute.

In front of the photographer’s lens.

Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s progress was far ahead.

The breastplate’s embryo rapidly took shape in his hands.

Others hadn’t even completely melted their Materials yet, and he was already starting the final quenching step.

Wei Zheng’s voice was full of emotion.

“Master Nakamura’s strength is truly terrifying! It looks like he will definitely be the first to complete this first round of assessment!”

The bullet comments in the live broadcast room were also filled with lament.

【Alas, the gap is too big, they’re not even on the same level.】

【What the heck are they even competing for? Just give him the championship already.】

【What about that Ouyezi? Why isn't the camera on him? Has he already given up?】

However, just as the host finished speaking.

A calm voice, in the noisy arena, clearly reached everyone’s ears.

“Excuse me.”

Ouyezi slowly raised his hand, a faint smile on his face, and looked at Mo XuanYe on the high platform.

“It seems I finished first.”

At these words, the entire venue was astonished!

The clanging of hammers ceased abruptly.

Everyone’s gaze subconsciously turned towards his forging table.

Indeed, they saw a brand-new breastplate, shimmering with metallic luster, quietly placed on the forging table.

The breastplate had an ancient, simple design, with smooth lines, exuding a profound and stable aura.

Nakamura Shin'ichiro’s hammer, which was about to fall, suddenly froze in mid-air.

His movement was as if a pause button had been pressed.

He instinctively turned to look at the giant timer at the edge of the plaza.

The numbers on it clearly displayed.

47 minutes and 13 seconds.