Chapter 102: Talent

In the afternoon.

The black-robed elder appeared outside the forging chamber, pacing back and forth rapidly, his expression dazed, as if he had just witnessed something unimaginable.

“Puff.” “Puff.”

The seals on both large doors flickered and vanished simultaneously.

The elder’s gaze snapped instantly, fixed firmly on one of the forging chamber doors, his brow betraying a barely concealed impatience.

“Clang.”

The other door was pulled open first; a short-haired woman stepped out, cradling a massive blade, her face alight with excitement. Seeing the black-robed elder at the doorway, she beamed and said:

“Master Sun, I’ve inscribed three runes. Please take a look.”

As she spoke, she extended the massive blade toward him.

Hearing this, Master Sun reluctantly tore his gaze from the other forging chamber door, glanced at the three shimmering silver runes on the blade, then waved his hand dismissively:

“Good. Since you’ve completed the test, I’ll keep my word—but wait here until your Wang brother emerges.”

Then the elder’s gaze returned to the other forging chamber door, as if he would never move it again.

“Did Wang brother also inscribe three runes?”

Xiao Wei froze, glanced at the closed door next door, then suddenly remembered something. She swiftly sheathed the blade and stood quietly to the side.

Yet after stealing a few glances at the black-robed elder, a hint of confusion still lingered on her face.

Master Sun’s expression seemed strangely odd.

“Clang.”

A full teacup’s time later, the other forging chamber door opened too. Wang Yu stepped out, holding a short yellow ruler, smiling.

Seeing the two figures at the door, his smile faded—but he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Elder. After completing the runes, I was unfamiliar with the final finishing steps, so I took longer than expected. I hope Master doesn’t blame me.”

“Hah! With such talent in rune-inscribing, what is there to blame? Quickly show me your completed artifact—did you finish the sixth rune?”

The black-robed elder joyfully seized Wang Yu’s arm, his eyes darting swiftly to the ruler in his hand, utterly impatient.

The short-haired woman beside him looked bewildered.

“Master Sun, please look.”

Wang Yu paused, then suddenly understood, handing over the yellow ruler.

Master Sun took the ruler, brushed his fingers across its surface—and instantly, a red glow spread across it.

Seeing this, the short-haired woman couldn’t help but stare intently.

On the yellow ruler, six silver rune symbols glowed brightly.

Xiao Wei couldn’t believe her eyes; she rubbed them twice, then strained her gaze with all her strength.

One, two, three, four, five, six…

The short-haired woman stood frozen, like a wooden statue.

This Wang brother had inscribed a six-rune artifact in a single day!

These runes… they looked familiar—weren’t these the same fire-spark runes on the Fire Dragon Sword she’d seen before?

“Hah! Wang Yu, you truly did it. After watching you inscribe the first five runes, I knew the sixth would be no challenge for you.

Whether or not you’d studied the Fire Spark Rune before, your talent in rune-inscribing is unmatched in my lifetime. The first three runes were inscribed flawlessly, perfectly on the first try—something even I cannot do.”

With a booming laugh, Master Sun declared on the spot: “From today, you are my forging apprentice. Call me ‘Master Sun’ from now on.”

“Disciple Wang Yu bows to Master Sun.”

Wang Yu had no objection—he immediately knelt and performed the full kowtow.

“Master Sun, what about me? I passed the test too!” The short-haired woman finally snapped out of her shock and hurriedly called out to the black-robed elder.

“Oh? Since you passed the test, you’re naturally also my apprentice.” The elder paused, as if recalling something, then nodded.

“Disciple Xiao Wei bows to Master Sun.” The short-haired woman beamed and knelt down as well.

“Good, good. Unlike other forging masters, I will teach you everything I know—if you’re willing to learn and study hard. After all, I’m an old man now; I must pass on my forging arts.

But there are two additional conditions. First: you must never teach anyone else the forging techniques I impart, unless I give explicit permission. Can you both agree to this?” The elder suddenly turned solemn, addressing them both.

“Disciple can agree.”

“Disciple can also agree.”

Wang Yu and the short-haired woman answered without hesitation.

“Excellent. Since you’ll be learning forging from me, you’ll surely intend to craft artifacts for sale. My second condition: for the next ten years, every artifact you forge must be sold through me, and I will take one-third of the profits as your apprenticeship fee.”

“Don’t think it’s excessive—nearly every forging apprentice goes through this. Without an elder master vouching for you, a novice’s artifacts rarely fetch high prices,” Master Sun added after stating his second condition.

The woman immediately agreed without a word.

Wang Yu hesitated slightly, then asked:

“Master Sun, if I forge an artifact for my own use and don’t plan to sell it, will I still be charged?”

“Of course not. If you’re using it yourself and not selling it, how could I possibly charge you?” Master Sun chuckled lightly.

“Then I have no objections.”

Wang Yu nodded, and both disciples, before the black-robed elder’s eyes, bit their fingers and swore blood oaths.

Seeing this, the black-robed elder was overjoyed. He rummaged in his robes and pulled out two thick volumes, handing them over.

“Since you’ve taken me as your master, I must give you a gift. These are my compiled forging insights. Take them and study them slowly.”

Both bowed in thanks and accepted them.

“Wang Yu, you seem to lack proper rune-inscribing tools. Long ago, I owned a set of artifact-grade tools—I no longer use them. I bestow them upon you.” Master Sun glanced at Wang Yu again, then pulled out a wooden box from his person.

“Thank you, Master Sun, for this gift.”

Wang Yu beamed, accepting the box as the short-haired woman watched with envy.

“Enough. Return to rest now. Tomorrow morning, I will begin instructing you both in full.” The black-robed elder concluded.

Wang Yu and the other disciple bowed and departed.

Master Sun watched Wang Yu’s retreating figure, unable to suppress the smile on his face. He stroked his sparse beard and murmured:

“Such terrifying rune-inscribing ability… can only come from one of the legendary forging talents. Is it not just ‘Golden Jade Hands’ or ‘Immovable Heavy Bones’—but also ‘Reproducing Eye’ or ‘Ruyi Chanxin’?”

The black-robed elder fell into deep thought—but after a moment, he slapped his forehead:

“…Why overthink it? Whatever talent he possesses, he will surely go far on the forging path. If his cultivation keeps pace, he might even forge second-rank artifacts one day.”