Mu Chen's sharp gaze fell directly on Gu You, carrying a hint of curiosity. "You're the one who wants to take the evaluation?"
"Yes, greetings, Master Cen," Gu You answered politely.
Cen Yue frowned slightly, his face showing mild annoyance. "Really now? Just anyone can walk in here and claim to know me? Fine — speak. What exactly do you want?"
Blacksmiths often lived in a world immersed entirely in metals, hammer, and forge, caring little for the outside world. Cen Yue, for instance, hadn't even heard about the latest news storm surrounding the 'Model Teen of the New Era.' Unlike some higher-ranking blacksmiths who occasionally had time to follow current events, those below the Divine Blacksmith level like him spent nearly all their waking hours in relentless training, focused solely on honing their craft.
His identity had always been deliberately kept low-key — only close friends knew who he really was. So this youth standing before him, Cen Yue had absolutely no impression of. Could he be someone's protégé? Maybe someone like Tang Wulin, the famously gifted prodigy?
Sensing that this conversation wasn't something she should interrupt, Yun Xiaoling quickly excused herself. "Master, I'll leave you two to it."
"Mm." Cen Yue gave her a small nod. Yun Xiaoling offered Gu You a friendly smile before turning to leave.
Gu You spoke calmly. "I'd like to ask you to contact Chairman Mu Chen. Just tell him I've come from Heaven Dou City."
Cen Yue didn't like the tone of this boy's voice, but nonetheless, he decided to follow through. If Gu You was bluffing, Cen Yue could easily summon the Eastsea City Enforcement Squad and have him arrested on the spot.
"Hello? Chairman, there's a boy here claiming to be from Heaven Dou City, asking to see you… Yes, alright, I understand." Cen Yue hung up the call, turning to Gu You with a short nod. "The Chairman is coming down himself. Wait here."
"Got it." Gu You smiled faintly.
…
On the fifteenth floor of the Blacksmiths' Association, the elevator doors slid open.
Out stepped a man who looked to be around forty years old, impeccably dressed in a silver-gray outfit that hugged his broad, muscular frame. On his left chest, a gleaming badge was pinned — a golden background with a raised hammer emblem, surrounded by eight black stars.
Anyone who laid eyes on that badge would immediately focus on it. Eight black stars: the mark of an eight-star blacksmith. And not just any eight-star blacksmith — the gold hammer symbol marked him as a Saint Blacksmith.
Within the entire Blacksmiths' Association, there was only one such figure in Eastsea City.
As they arrived, the front desk attendants immediately stood to greet him. "Chairman!"
The middle-aged man gave a polite nod. "It's alright. I'm here to accompany Mu Xi for her level-three evaluation — I'll need an assessor, and I'd also like to meet with this young friend."
This eight-star Divine Blacksmith was none other than Mu Chen, the president of the Eastsea City branch of the Sun and Moon Federation Blacksmiths' Association.
"Understood, Chairman! Mu Xi is advancing to level three already? Truly worthy of being called a prodigy in the blacksmith world," one of the staff members praised with admiration.
Mu Xi, standing calmly beside her father, simply gave a respectful nod. She didn't take pleasure in the compliments. In her mind, her achievements weren't just about talent — they were built on hard work, discipline, and countless hours of practice. Her ultimate goal was to surpass her father and, one day, become a nine-star Divine Blacksmith herself.
Across the entire Douluo Continent, there were only three Divine Blacksmiths — one per continent. It was commonly believed that due to planar suppression, only one could exist per plane. Though some speculated that Star Luo and Heaven Dou continents might operate under slightly different forces, perhaps even governed by different plane wills, the truth remained shrouded in mystery.
Is it really him? Mu Chen wondered silently as he walked, his steps steady. He was eager to see for himself what kind of extraordinary figure could have been taken in as a disciple by Zhen Hua.
"Mu Xi, go ahead with the staff and proceed with your test. I need to meet someone." Mu Chen's eyes softened slightly as he looked at his daughter.
"Alright, Father," Mu Xi replied, though she couldn't help but glance curiously toward the unknown visitor. Still, she knew she had a task to focus on — advancing past level two was no trivial matter.
…
"Huh?"
Gu You lifted a hand casually in greeting.
Mu Chen stared, his eyes widening slightly. Why did this boy's face look so familiar? Suddenly, it clicked. Wasn't this the same kid from the recent national headlines — the 'Model Teen of the New Era' plastered all over the news?
Coughing lightly to compose himself, Mu Chen turned to Cen Yue. "You can leave us now. I'll speak to him alone."
"Yes, Chairman." Before departing, Cen Yue cast Gu You a lingering glance, then quietly exited the room.
Mu Chen pulled out a form, sliding it across the desk toward Gu You. "Fill this out — include your martial soul, your soul power, everything. I'll submit it directly to Eastsea Academy. You can enroll this afternoon."
Gu You raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He had imagined many scenarios, but he honestly hadn't expected to be handled so swiftly.
Mu Chen, for his part, was still struggling to process everything. The news coverage had been enormous — who in the Federation didn't know this kid's face by now? And yet here he was, casually sitting across from him, without even the slightest hint of disguise or caution. Mu Chen had to admit — the boy had guts.
"Do I have to fill it out truthfully?" Gu You asked, glancing at the form.
"Of course!" Mu Chen shot him a sharp look. "What, were you planning to lie?"
"Alright, alright," Gu You said with a laugh, nodding agreeably.
Mu Chen leaned in subtly, watching as Gu You began writing.
Name: Gu You.
Age: Nine years old.
Soul power: Level 30.
Wait, what?
"Nine years old, level thirty? Are you kidding me?" Mu Chen rubbed his eyes, thinking maybe he'd read it wrong.
"I don't joke," Gu You replied calmly. "I, Gu You, have always been honest — I don't lie."
Sure, sure, Mu Chen thought dryly. I totally believe that.
Still, he stretched out a thread of soul power, subtly probing Gu You's cultivation. Level thirty. No doubt about it. But nine years old? There was no way. The boy was already 1.6 meters tall — he had to be at least twelve or thirteen, right?
Moving on to the next section:
Secondary profession: Blacksmith.
Level: …
Mu Chen held his breath. With someone this exceptional, surely — surely — he'd be at least a level-four blacksmith, right?
Level-five Grandmaster.
Mu Chen almost choked.
Thirty-level soul power, capable of forging spirit alloys?
Without thinking, Mu Chen lunged forward, grabbing Gu You by both shoulders and spinning him around, peering deep into his face. "Can we be a little more honest here?"
But at that exact moment, he used a soul force probe to test the boy's bone age.
His body stiffened.
Nine. Nine years old. Thirty-level soul power. A five-star Grandmaster blacksmith.
Was this some kind of joke? Who in history had ever achieved such monstrous progress? Even the legendary Tang San from ten thousand years ago hadn't been this freakishly talented.
Still, even accepting the soul power and the age, Mu Chen struggled to believe the forging claim. Typically, spirit forging required not just a fourth soul ring but also superior physical strength and spiritual power — a soul master with at least four rings, each a thousand-year ring, ensuring a baseline of several hundred points in spiritual power. Without that, the chances of success were minuscule.
"Believe it or not," Gu You said nonchalantly, brushing Mu Chen's hands off. He bent over the desk, scribbling quickly.
Before Mu Chen could even blink, the form was filled out completely.
"All done," Gu You said, sliding it back.
Mu Chen stood there frozen, staring blankly.
What kind of writing speed was that?
Wordlessly, he took the form, tucking it into his soul tool storage device. Then he turned back to face Gu You, a deep, unreadable look in his eyes.
"I think," Mu Chen murmured slowly, "you and I… need to have a much deeper conversation."
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, and New BTTH Fic is Out. Go Check It Out.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.