Examination
Examination
Huh?
Master Tang was one of the highest ranked Martial Artists in this area and also a very capable Forging Master, they expected him to get angry. After all, no one would be able to stay quiet if their pride was challenged like that. However, the young man in front of them didn't look like he was angry at all. Instead, he was smiling from ear to ear.
"I was busy, Master," Qin Zheng shrugged. "Besides, Master was preparing for the next tier's acknowledgments. As your disciple, I shouldn't disturb you."
Disciple?
The people blanked when they heard the word 'disciple.' In their entire lives, they have never heard of Master Tang taking anyone as his disciple. But right now, someone has just claimed that he is his disciple.
Did they hear it wrongly?
This young man just claimed that he is Master Tang's disciple?
"You're truly an unlawful Brat," Master Tang shook his head. "Get in. It's time for me to test your skill again. If you turn rusty after all these years, watch me spank you, Brat."
"You won't need to spank me," Qin Zheng shrugged and walked forwards. He turned his head to the other three. "Follow me."
They all walked inside, ignoring the stunned people around them. They were all looking as if they were inside a dream, unable to wake up. The news that Master Tang dropped to them was too big, but no one dared to speak.
Until the door was closed.
"Who in the world was that young man?"
"Gee, I can't believe that Master Tang is not angry at all."
"Yes! I have never heard that Master Tang accepting any disciple. He's a great Forging Master here, so to become his disciple, that young man must be amazing."
"Amazing? If I can become Master Tang's disciple, I'll trade my 10 years of life span willingly."
"Gee, as if your life is worth that much."
As the people talked to one another, Advisor Pei turned to look at his disciple. Su Mingyue's expression was calm, but there was a storm brewing inside the young woman's eyes. They had purposely picked this city in order to avoid Qin Zheng, but that young man instead came here.
If not because Master Tang was in this association, the limelight was surely theirs.
"We should go back, Mingyue."
"Yes, Master," Su Mingyue replied languidly.
Even though they planned on leaving in high profile, there was no way to change the conversation back to them again. Su Mingyue's fists clenched tightly as she shot a dagger into the room. The competition is not over yet!
Inside the hall, Qin Zheng placed both of his hands on the back of his head. "Master, what are you doing here?"
"I should be asking that to you," Master Tang looked at Qin Zheng then to the other three behind him. "And these are?"
"My team," Qin Zheng pointed at them one by one while introducing. "Elite Disciple Ye Jiao, Elite Disciple Qi Huan, and lastly Core Disciple Lu Wan. They're all new students this year, Master."
"Ye Jiao (Lu Wan/Qi Huan) greets Master Tang."
Master Tang waved his hand. "No need for formalities. I'm Tang Mo, Hua Shan Academy's Principal or leader and also Forging Master Association Vice-leader."
What?
Ye Jiao was dumbstruck when she heard this man introducing his title. She had heard that Hua Shan's Academy leader was someone of great status and eccentric. Now that she looked at the man before her, she had to admit that it was correct. No other masters would just leave their academy like him.
Qi Huan turned his head to Qin Zheng. "You're the disciple of the academy's leader?"
"Yes," Qin Zheng replied nonchalantly. "If you wish to have the occupation as Forging Master, you can acknowledge him as your teacher too."
The three of them: "…" as if it was that easy!
Tang Mo shook his head lightly. He only accepted Qin Zheng as his disciple because this young man has excellent capabilities as a young Forging Master. With some guidance and so on, he could become a true Forging Master and rose into the third rank within a few years. There were not many people who could be as capable as Qin Zheng in the entire world.
"Do you have the confidence to pass the examination?"
"Of course." Qin Zheng nodded his head with certainty. "I won't come here if I don't think that I can pass."
"Good, then I can leave you alone, right?"
"It's up to you, Master."
They walked into a large room. There was a large furnace at the side with an anvil placed in front of the furnace. Some other tools were arranged at the side as Qin Zheng walked closer, inspecting the tools.
"How is it?"
"The previous person hadn't cleaned up properly," Qin Zheng extended his hand and exerted a bit of Eon Energy to the fire. After meddling for a few seconds, he turned his head to Tang Mo. "I'm ready."
"You can begin anytime. They're watching. Here's the metal," Tang Mo threw a piece of metal right at Qin Zheng's hand. It was pretty large, and there was some mud clearly covering it.
"Ok."
With that instruction, Qin Zheng began to work. His hand put the ore into the round place as he placed it on top of the fire. In the next second, he put more firewood, turning the furnace into a fiery blaze. It wasn't hard for them to know that the temperature had just risen by several hundred degrees.
The three of them stepped back immediately, for they were not used to that high temperature. On the other hand, Tang Mo just crossed his arms and watched Qin Zheng melt down the metal calmly. He was waiting for the young man to be able to do the purification process perfectly.
"Is it normally this hot?" Lu Wan asked in a whisper to the other two.
"I don't know. I don't normally accompany him," Ye Jiao replied.
"But you spar with him almost every day."
"I return back to rest afterwards."
Qi Huan shook his head. "Just watch him. He's showing quite an extraordinary control of Eon Energy there."
Turning her head towards Qin Zheng, Ye Jiao could see that he was heating the ores at insane heat. The ore melt down quickly while Qin Zheng was controlling the fire. He let the liquid metal flow and stopped right when all the necessary ones have gone out. The rest of the liquid metal was placed into a different bucket.
Tang Mo nodded. "You have already mastered the method to separate them through the difference in density. It's not bad."
Qin Zheng nodded. "I still need a long time for the other method."
"You'll be able to do it in the future," Tang Mo pointed to the metal. "Now, refine it."
"Yes, Master."