Chapter 269 - Advanced Blacksmith (1/2)
The crowd clamored again shortly after they quieted down. Although n.o.body dared to make negative remarks in front of Master Jin Shengjie, deep down everyone was agitated because they had a hunch that Ou Yangming seemed to have done something amazing again. Before long, a grim middle-aged man made his way down from the high platform.
Qu Jingming was an Intermediate Blacksmith, but he also had another ident.i.ty —an Intermediate Appraiser.
Whether it was a blacksmith or an appraiser, they were professions that were desired and envied. Given that he held two positions, though he only had the Intermediate t.i.tle for both roles, his status was not inferior to an Advanced Blacksmith like Yi Yucheng.
Needless to say, Qu Jingming was still respectful toward Jin Shengjie, and he did not dare to be impolite at all.
Qu Jingming arrived at the casting table and glanced at the pieces of equipment on it. Instead of identifying them one by one, he directly rubbed his hands and released the Appraisal Light.
A l.u.s.ter was shone on the arm guards.
Next, he looked like he came to a sudden realization as though he understood why Jin Shengjie and the two other blacksmith masters behaved so strangely.
Qu Jingming cleared his throat and uttered loudly, “Master Jin, the arm guards are of Fine Grade, and they’re at the peak of Rank Five.”
“The peak of Fine Grade Rank Five…”
“Impossible!” “Oh G.o.d, they’re actually at the peak of Rank Five?”
The crowd fell silent the instant Qu Jingming performed appraisal art.
Nonetheless, the instant he announced the equipment’s grade and rank, a volcano seemed to have erupted in the square as countless spectators exclaimed.
What was this place? This was the place for the Blacksmith a.s.sessments, and the previous test was for Intermediate Blacksmiths who wanted to become Advanced Blacksmiths.
The candidates’ goal was simple; they had to smith pieces of Fine Grad equipment.
Nevertheless, they only hoped for Fine Grade because their task would be completed even if the pieces of equipment were of Fine Grade Rank One.
As for the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five…
At this instant, everyone felt like they had an illusion. ‘Were we watching candidates who were attempting to earn the Advanced Rank from the Intermediate Rank, or from the Advanced Rank to the Superior Rank?’
Pieces of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five would only appear in the a.s.sessment for Advanced Blacksmiths who wanted to become Superior Blacksmiths. Besides, not every equipment would be at that grade and rank.
Jin Shengjie nodded and instructed with a straight face, “Go on.” Qu Jingming was slightly stunned. He initially thought he only needed to appraise a piece of equipment, but judging from Master Jin Shengjie’s expression, it seemed like that was not the case.
Despite that, it was not difficult for an Intermediate Appraiser to perform appraisal art continuously for many times.
He was rather curious, but he nodded while maintaining a cold look on his face. Following that, he released the Appraisal Light and shone it on the helmet according to the order that was followed by Jin Shengjie earlier.
Afterward, Qu Jingming’s eyelids twitched. He turned to glance at Ou Yangming, then he remarked, “This helmet is also at… The peak of Fine Grade Rank Five!”
“Woah…”
The square fell silent for an instant before the crowd became restless and noisy.
Hu Yicheng and his son looked at each other, then they looked at Du Gaoge at the same time. The three of them were in disbelief.
The three of them, no, everyone present suddenly had an unbelievable thought at that moment.
‘Jin Shengjie and the two other blacksmith masters looked so strange earlier not because every piece of equipment smithed by Ou Yangming are at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five, right?’
Even if only a piece of equipment that was at the peak of Rank Five appeared in this a.s.sessment, the crowd would have praised the candidate.
What if all five pieces of the equipment were at the peak of Rank Five?
The crowd recalled a renowned and distinguished person at once.
A middle-aged blacksmith blurted out on the high platform. “Brother Yuan, I suddenly thought about your master.”
His voice immediately drew everyone’s attention, and someone else even echoed, “Yes, there are currently two pieces of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade; it reminds me of that exciting moment!”
Yuan Lexin smiled bitterly. He secretly lamented, but he could not let a word out.
Master Wu Hongxi the Fine Grade King.
In past generations, Master Wu Hongxi was the only person who smithed a full equipment set that comprised pieces of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five.
They initially thought his record was unmatched, but it seemed like history could repeat itself.
“Gentlemen, I witnessed that moment when I was younger, so I was determined to become a blacksmith, but…” Another person expressed softly all of a sudden, then he continued after a moment of hesitation, “That was during the a.s.sessment when Master Wu Hongxi attempted to become a Superior Blacksmith…”
The other people were dumbfounded, and they began to have odd looks on their faces.
Back when Master Wu Hongxi took the Superior Blacksmith a.s.sessment, he smithed five pieces of equipment that were at the peak of Fine Grade, which was why he was known as the Fine Grade King.
If Ou Yangming achieved the same result in the Advanced Blacksmith a.s.sessment, what would his standard be?