Chapter 267 - The Elders Invitation (2/2)

Just as Ou Yangming hesitated if he should stay or leave, a white-clothed servant walked down from the platform and approached him to ask him softly, “Master Jin sent me here to ask if you’ve finished smithing.”

Ou Yangming answered with a smile, “Yes.”

The white-clothed servant responded with respect, “Since you’re done, please leave the venue with me.”

Ou Yangming nodded and left the center of the square with him, then he went back up to the high platform.

In the past, none of the a.s.sessment candidates had gone up to the high platform when they were done with the test. Ou Yangming broke the convention, but it was strange that n.o.body questioned him.

Once he was on the high platform, Jin Shengjie remarked with a smile, “Lil’ Friend Ou, you surprised me again!”

The first surprise was when Ou Yangming did the impossible by smithing a piece of High Grade equipment with iron ingot; the second surprise was his mad speed. Ou Yangming chuckled. “Master Jin, you’re overpraising me. I only did my best.” “Did your best?” Jin Shengjie looked deeply at him. His eyes seemed to contain an indescribable magical power, which could perceive one’s thoughts. “Did you really give your all?”

Ou Yangming was stunned. He smiled without saying a word as it was difficult to answer the question.

He obviously had not done his best. In fact, he had not used many other trump cards. Even so, how could he be honest with the elder?

“Hehe, Master Ou, why didn’t you slow down?” Yi Yucheng smiled and asked softly.

“I had to finish it sooner or later, so why don’t I just finish it faster?” Ou Yangming answered after some thought, but he said to himself, ‘I’ve already slowed down, but they’re just too disappointing!’

Feng Guangyuan furrowed his eyebrows and questioned, “Master Ou, don’t you know that slow work yields fine products?” Ou Yangming blinked and looked around him, which was when he noticed that most people on the high platform were giving him hostile looks. He wondered, ‘What exactly did I do that offended Heaven and Earth? How did I enrage them?’

“Guangyuan, everyone’s temperament and talent are different, so there’s no need to force the norm unto everyone.” Jin Shengjie shook his head and stood up to look at the other people. His eyes were so bright that most people lowered their heads in embarra.s.sment as they dared not look back at him.

He gestured to Ou Yangming to come to him and whispered, “Lil’ Friend Ou, you don’t have to take it to heart; they’re just jealous.’

The blacksmith master spoke so softly that apart from Ou Yangming, only Yi Yucheng and Feng Guangyuan heard him.

Master Yi and Master Feng exchanged glances and smiled bitterly.

‘This Superior Blacksmith still has the habit of supporting the younger generation,’ they thought.

Ou Yangming flashed a smile at Jin Shengjie. “Thank you, master, I understand.” So what if many people envied him? He could ignore them as long as he was powerful, and sure enough, he was confident and capable.

The other people could not hear Jin Shengjie and Ou Yangming as they whispered to each other, but they hated the young fellow out of jealousy. That said, when they thought about how much Master Jin valued him, they got rid of their untimely ideas. Ou Yangming later approached Hu Yicheng, his son, and Du Gaoge. The three of them immediately congratulated him sincerely.

While Ou Yangming had not earned the Advanced Blacksmith t.i.tle, they were very much surprised today, so they smiled at the young fellow genuinely when they welcomed him.

Du Gaoge even went forward and notified Ou Yangming softly, “Master Ou, the elders in our pavilion have heard of today’s event, so they prepared a celebratory feast and invited you over.”

Ou Yangming was startled. “Didn’t you already serve me yesterday?” “Who am I? How can I be mentioned in the same breath with the elders in the pavilion?” Du Gaoge forced a smile and added after a pause, “The elders decided that they’ll provide cultivation and smithing resources, as well as the corresponding treatments. If you perform well during the upcoming Myriad Treasure Meet, you’ll earn greater rewards.”

Ou Yangming was rather moved. After all, the Yi Pavilion was not a small shop; they were a great force across the world.

A force like that was influential among the commoners, as well as the officials. If they could pull him onto the chariot, it would be easier for him to realize Li Xinfan and Master Lu’s wish.

“Okay, I’ll have to trouble you to introduce them to me later,” Ou Yangming responded with a smile.

Du Gaoge was elated. If Ou Yangming made an outstanding performance in the upcoming event, he might even be able to be promoted.

Following that, Ou Yangming continued to converse with them. At last, when the bell rang, Jin Shengjie stood up and looked toward the stage, then he announced, “Time’s up!”

As his voice echoed in the venue, everyone in the middle of the square stopped.

Ou Yangming looked at the candidates too. In actuality, most of the candidates had finished the task, but n.o.body dared to leave as Ou Yangming did, so they checked their equipment sets carefully. Nonetheless, three of them looked pale as they failed to smith a full equipment set, which meant that they were no longer qualified.

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