Chapter 348 (1/2)
”Why is everyone making such a commotion?”
An angry-looking short old man with a stocky physique looked at a group of disciples shouting. The place they were in was below ground and many strange-looking furnaces filled with smoldering metal were seen everywhere.
”Elder! You came at the right moment, please look at that disciple there!”
”Junior elder… why are you like this?”
The old man raised his eyebrow while looking at the person he left in charge. This was one of the competitions for the outer sect disciples. This old man here was the most prominent blacksmith in the outer sect. His cultivation wasn't great but he made up for it with his knowledge about metals and crafting techniques.
This was also the main reason that he was not allowed to venture into the inner sect part. His cultivation journey was cut short by a certain event. Without any prospects to gain further strength he was confined to the other sect even though he was more talented at the craft than some inner sect elders.
He was required to stay at this competition even though he thought that his skills could be better used elsewhere. Nothing ever happened here and the bad form that all of the blacksmithing disciples had just made him more cranky.
Thus most of the time he left at the start of the competition and returned later when it was mostly over. This year was the same, no one really showed promise and there was even some strange trial disciple buying their way in. Maddened by this fact he decided to get something to eat while the youths competed.
To his surprise when he returned there was some kind of uproar. The usually quiet peanut gallery was talking with each other while glancing in a direction of someone.
”You'll have to excuse the disciples and other seniors but we think that the Hall might have found a prodigy?”
”A prodigy? Where?”
”That young man over there, look Elder!”
The old man looked to where this so-called prodigy was supposed to be and spotted the trial disciple that he previously saw. At first, he thought that he might be looking at the wrong person and the real genius was somewhere behind this youth but then he noticed it.
”That sword… that's some good craftsmanship… Did that young man really make it?”
”Yes Elder, I've seen it with my very own two eyes! You couldn't make a finer sword for a Martial Master even if you tried! A Martial Grandmaster wouldn't feel ashamed when using one either!”
This experienced elder here could hardly believe it. Almost all of these young smiths here had trouble making a mortal grade item. The youth before him was able to fashion a higher grade one than some of the blacksmiths that were already working for years.
”You there…”
”Me, Elder?”
”Yes you, what's your name, disciple?”
”It's Dai Rong, Elder.”
The old dwarf-looking man walked up to this youth and grabbed the sword that he was making. After looking over the item it was hard for him to believe that it was a weapon made by a disciple, it was just too perfect.
It was as if someone maximized a weapon to be just a millimeter from reaching the Martial Grandmaster level. It was as if this young man was just half a step from reaching a point of a grandmaster-level blacksmith.
”Disciple… show me your crafting process!”
”You want me to craft another sword, was this one not good enough?”
”Not good? It's more than good, it's great! This old man just wishes to see how this disciple crafts, if you show me this I will announce you the winner!”
”Can it be something smaller… like a dagger?”
”A dagger? That will be enough!”
The old man just wanted to see the young man's hammering techniques. He missed the show and he would not have a chance to see this young man's talent if he let him go now.
”You there, being over enough spirit metals for a dagger. It will be enough if you just make the blade young man.”
Dai Rong just nodded while grabbing the provided metal. The theme of this crafting competition was making swords and there was a limited amount of resources provided. With the metal in hand, Dai Rong got to work.
The old man started watching, from the process of heating up the metal all the way to the precise blows and till the sharp knife blade started taking shape, he didn't miss a thing. Even some of the other elders and disciples that were taking part in this competition looked.
”T-this… how can one be so precise… the hammer blows… the Qi control… not even one wasted movement…”
The old man looked baffled, where did this young man come from, I must make him my disciple were the thoughts running through his head.
”Young man… where do you come from…”
”I'm a member of the White Tiger clan… will this be enough Elder?”
Dai Rong stood with a short blade that only needed a proper handle. Even without the handle, it was clear that this weapon would be deadly and could be sold for a big profit.