Chapter 726: Guidance and Test

"Truly worthy of the title of the world's greatest smith!"

Watching the pink trident bobbing up and down in the iron pot bubbling with vile green foam, the red-haired woman couldn't help but raise her thumb and praise with full admiration:

"Even with such crude tools, you can still forge top-tier anomalies—truly remarkable!"

"Hmph, you've never seen anything before!"

With an impatient sneer, the square-headed old man spoke, his eyes brimming with pride:

"Compared to when I was still alive, the tools used to forge anomalies have improved greatly—but the smiths' skill has declined. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because they're too obsessed with technique! Too picky about forging environments and materials!"

He slammed his tool down, scraping off a large chunk of paint from the pot, then grumbled in dissatisfaction:

"The source of anomalies is emotion! Obsession! Hope! Ultimately, it's the power of the soul—and the soul has no 'correct answer'!"

"Nowadays, these smiths think that if they use the best tools and perfect materials, they'll inevitably produce something great. When they fail to create something satisfying, they blame the materials or the process, completely ignoring the soul's importance—it's a complete detour!"

Unaware his own coffin lid had been stolen, the third-generation Director, stirred into a rant, scowled as he vented:

"Let me tell you, the human soul is the most complex and the simplest thing. If you can understand it, comprehend it, and guide it properly, that's all you need. Process and tools are illusions—they can only affect your success rate, never the final product's effect."

"Don't believe me? Look at me—I can forge god-tier anomalies using a furnace built from broken bricks and a pot picked up off the street. And if I didn't need the imagery of 'fire' and 'forging,' I wouldn't even need the pot—I could shape anomalies with my bare hands!"

"How could I not believe you?"

Watching the trident gradually take shape in the pot, the Red-haired woman slipped a signal to urge Li Ang to return quickly, then smiled warmly and flattered:

"For years now, whenever the Taurus Director's seat has been vacant, you've always been the world's greatest smith—that alone proves your skill. If I can't believe you, who else can I believe?"

"Hmph, you're just saying that to flatter me."

Glancing sideways at the fawning Red-haired woman, the square-headed old man sneered:

"If you truly believed me, why don't you come to me more often to have things forged?"

"I know you too well, little girl—you're cunning through and through, not a single word out of your mouth is true. If this generation's Taurus hadn't sealed himself off, I probably wouldn't even see your face!"

"You're wronging me, sir."

Catching out of the corner of her eye Li Ang carrying the coffin into the graveyard, the Red-haired woman subtly relaxed, then smiled slyly with fox-like eyes:

"I'd love to come to you more often for forging, but first, you've lived in the Land of the Dead for years—getting here is a nightmare. Second, there haven't been any major events lately, so there's been no good material. Ordinary items are fine for apprentices to practice on—they don't need your hands."

"Besides, though they may spend lifetimes and still fall short of your shadow, they're still inheritors of the forging arts. If we kept coming to you for every decent item, how would the ordinary smiths ever get practice? What if the sect's forging techniques were lost?"

"Tch. At your current level, you might as well be already lost… Fine. Boy, come here—the item's done!"

"Yes, sir!"

Seeing the square-headed old man finish forging, Li Ang—who had already returned the coffin lid to its place—stepped forward half a pace, merging completely with the Red-haired woman's illusion, then hurried toward the two.

"Huh? What's wrong with you?" Noticing the sweat on Li Ang's forehead, the square-headed old man frowned in confusion:

"My furnace is colder than ice water—how are you sweating?"

Damn! I'm exposed!

Hearing the third-generation Director's question, Li Ang's heart jolted. He quickly wiped the beads of sweat with the back of his hand, then, following the Director's pre-taught script, bowed respectfully:

"It must be from excitement… The current Taurus Director once guided me, sharing some introductory forging techniques. So I consider myself a smith."

"For a smith, to witness firsthand the forging process of the undisputed greatest smith in history—I'm utterly overwhelmed, unable to contain myself. That's why I'm sweating a little."

"Tch… Another liar!"

Though he saw right through Li Ang's lie, hearing the phrase "undisputed greatest smith in history" made the square-headed old man's lips twitch upward involuntarily. He waved him over with a look of distaste:

"If you don't want to say, fine—I won't ask. But since you're someone Olivia brought, if you have any questions about forging arts, I'll give you a little guidance."

Guide me?

Hearing the square-headed old man's words, Li Ang's expression brightened slightly.

The Director was right! The core logic for communicating with this third-generation master is simple: never leave out "greatest smith." Say that phrase, and everything else doesn't matter.

"Thank you, Third-Generation Director!"

Opening his badge panel, Li Ang activated both the "Artisan Heir (Taurus)" and "Artisan Heir (Aquarius)" badges, then bowed deeply with gratitude and regret before asking:

"I'd like to ask you…"

"Wait—I haven't finished speaking!"

Raising a hand to signal patience, the third-generation Director crossed his arms and tilted his head up:

"I'm willing to give you a little guidance—but not just anyone deserves it. First, let me see your skill."

Li Ang froze slightly, glancing at the pot bubbling with green foam, then hesitated:

"You mean… I should forge an anomaly right here for you?"

"Forget forging."

Hearing Li Ang's suggestion, the square-headed old man sneered:

"Current smiths are too weak. Watching you carve like artisans is torture—I don't want to suffer that. Instead, you just stood beside me and watched how I forged the anomaly. Use that as your test!"

He swept his hand through the pot, scooping up something from the bottom and tossing it to Li Ang. Seeing Li Ang's hesitant expression and obvious lack of confidence, the old man chuckled wickedly:

"Go on. Don't channel any power to activate it. Use only what you learned from this generation's Taurus, and my earlier forging process—tell me: what kind of anomaly did I just make?"

(End of Chapter)