The end of Gaowu: Becoming stronger from not practicing

As night fell, Zuichunlou was brightly lit, and the entire Majie Street was abuzz with excitement over Shenjiangpu's victory.

General Ma booked the most luxurious top-floor hall of Zuichunlou, where golden gauze curtains hung down and divine stone lamps adorned the space, while servants carried spiritual fruits and fine wines among the guests.

All the blacksmiths from the Divine Craftsman Shop, the leaders of the major merchant groups on Ma Street, the head of the Divine Blade Sect, and even Old He, Old Wang, and Master Ou from the Ou Family Compound were invited to attend.

"Gentlemen!"

General Ma stood on the high platform, his voice booming like a bell, and the aura of a god-like figure instantly silenced the entire arena.

He raised his wine glass high, his gaze fixed intently on Zhang Lingfeng.

"The fact that Shenjiang Shop was able to save its reputation today is entirely thanks to Master Zhang Lingfeng's heroic efforts! He is not only the lucky star of Shenjiang Shop, but also the benefactor of the Ma family!"

"Respect to Master Zhang!"

Everyone raised their glasses in unison, their eyes all turning to the table in the corner.

Zhang Lingfeng was leaning lazily back in his chair, holding a grape in his hand. When he saw everyone looking at him, he had no choice but to raise his wine glass in a gesture of respect.

"Master Zhang, stop hiding, come here!"

General Ma laughed and personally stepped down from the stage to pull him to the main table.

“Master Zhang, I am Boss Liu of the Liu Family Merchant Guild. Our guild is willing to buy anything you forge in the future at a high price!”

"Master Zhang, the Divine Blade Sect is willing to protect and support the Divine Craftsman's Shop from now on. Please feel free to give us any instructions!"

The sect leader of the Divine Blade Sect clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Master Ou, along with Old He and the others, squeezed through the crowd, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Ling Feng, the Ou family's success today is all thanks to you!"

Old He even stuffed a bag of divine stones into Zhang Lingfeng's hand, saying, "This was collected by everyone, so don't mind it!"

Zhang Lingfeng was both amused and exasperated, and pushed the divine stone back.

"Old He, what are you doing? I'm a level 5 blacksmith. I can exchange any divine weapon for a lot of divine stones. As for divine stones, I'll have plenty in the future."

"Take it!"

Master Ou held his hand down.

"Without you, the Ou family would have been swallowed up by the Divine Blade Sect long ago. Now, who dares to disrespect us? Even the shipping costs for our fleet have increased by 30%!"

Wu Xiaomei stood to the side, her expression complicated.

She had once mocked Zhang Lingfeng, saying he couldn't possibly get past the third round, but now she had to admit it: "Master Zhang, I was short-sighted before."

Zhang Lingfeng waved his hand.

Return the divine stone to Master Ou.

He solemnly declared, "If this continues, I will have absolutely no connection with this tenement anymore."

"This...good brother!"

Master Ou was overjoyed. In fact, he, Lao He, Lao Wang, and others all knew that Zhang Lingfeng would not accept the divine stone, after all, Zhang Lingfeng's ability to make money far exceeded their imagination.

Commander Ma clapped his hands, and two attendants carried over a gilded box.

The box was opened, and it was filled with dazzling divine stones, roughly counted at least two hundred thousand!

“Master Zhang, this is what you deserve.”

General Ma solemnly declared, "Furthermore, from today onwards, half of the management rights of the Divine Craftsman Shop belong to you. Whether you wish to forge massage chairs or mahjong tables, feel free to pursue it; the Ma family will fully support you!"

There was an uproar.

Half the operating rights of the Divine Craftsman's Shop? This means that Zhang Lingfeng will henceforth be on equal footing with General Ma!
But then I thought of Zhang Lingfeng, who is a level 5 blacksmith.

The reason why Shenjiang Shop was able to preserve its reputation was because of Zhang Lingfeng.

It was clearly a wise move for General Ma to do this.

They couldn't help but secretly admire him and exclaimed that he was brilliant.

As for these 200,000 divine stones, they were an astronomical figure to everyone, but they knew that the price of a level 5 blacksmith was far beyond people's imagination.

Master Ou looked at the divine stone he had just given to Zhang Lingfeng.

Although it is a storage bag.

But there are only 10,000 divine stones inside.

That's comparable to Commander Ma.

I was immediately filled with shame.

No wonder Zhang Lingfeng wasn't tempted at all.

Zhang Lingfeng frowned and said, "Master Ma, this is too heavy. I'm used to being lazy and I'm afraid it will delay the shop's business. I don't want to get involved in the shop's affairs."

Zhang Lingfeng didn't care about operating rights at all.

He certainly didn't want having so-called management rights to affect his plan to lie low.

Only by fully embracing the "lying flat" mentality can you earn more "lying flat points."

This time, although it helped General Ma save the reputation of the Divine Craftsman Shop.

But Zhang Lingfeng knew that he had also offended the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion.

Judging from the expressions on Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun's faces, they definitely won't let him off easily.

So he decided to make a runaway.

Follow Yan Fei to the Baruch region.

As for the Divine Inscription Master Conference that followed, he didn't take it seriously at all.

I never intended to participate.

General Ma laughed loudly, "I knew long ago that you don't like being bothered, so I won't interfere with your life. Even if you only forge one knife a year, as long as it's in your name, the reputation of the Divine Craftsman Shop will never fall!"

He lowered his voice, his tone unusually earnest.

“Master Zhang, Shenjiang Shop can’t do without you. Please stay! Shenjiang Pavilion won’t let this go. Only with you here will they dare not try to steal our name again.”

Zhang Lingfeng's expression froze.

He is most afraid of being morally blackmailed.

Ma Dashuai's attitude left him unsure how to refuse.

Are we really going to stay and fight against the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion?

This is not what he wants.

At the same time, in front of everyone, Zhang Lingfeng couldn't refute Ma Dashuai, lest people think that he had a problem with the Ma family.

So he said, "No problem!"

"Thank you, Master Zhang."

General Ma was overjoyed.

As Zhang Lingfeng's skills surpassed his.

He dared not let Zhang Lingfeng seek him out as an apprentice again.

Zhang Lingfeng also accepted the 200,000 divine stones.

The Ma family's courtyard and the Ou family's courtyard are different.

It would be relatively easy for Master Ma to earn this divine stone.

Moreover, since he helped the Ma family preserve their reputation, it was only natural for him to accept a small amount of divine stones in return.

Zhang Lingfeng will not have any personal or psychological burdens.

The revelry at Zuichunlou was reaching its climax.

The dancers of Zuichunlou presented a dance of rainbow-colored feathers, while the musicians played the ancient zither, which was powered by divine energy, and the sound waves transformed into butterflies that fluttered throughout the hall.

Zhang Lingfeng had been forced to drink more than a dozen cups of spiritual wine, his cheeks slightly flushed. This was a rare moment for him to lie down and relax.

Ma Fei followed over and handed over a pot of refreshing tea: "Master Zhang, my father really wants you to stay."

Zhang Lingfeng looked at the lights on Ma Street and smiled.

“I know, but you also know that my ambitions lie elsewhere.”

"Is becoming a Divine Inscription Master really that important?"

Ma Fei thought Zhang Lingfeng still wanted to become a Divine Inscription Master.

"It's not a question of whether it's important or not, but that I absolutely must become a Divine Inscription Master."

Zhang Lingfeng tilted his head back and drank the tea in one gulp, which was just the right excuse to leave.

The banquet lasted until late at night.

General Ma made the announcement while drunk.

"From now on, Zhang Lingfeng is the deputy manager of the Divine Craftsman's Shop! He can do whatever he wants, and no one is allowed to stop him!"

The crowd burst into laughter and applause.

Zhang Lingfeng shook his head helplessly.

All good things come to an end.

This White Emperor City was ultimately just a battle on his journey. He had to go to the Baruch region to see and appreciate the splendor left behind by Baruch Linley.

"Master Zhang, you can't drink too much. We want to see your performance in the fourth round."

The sect leader of the Divine Blade Sect came over and said.

"I have already withdrawn."

Zhang Lingfeng shook his head.

His goal was to help the Divine Craftsman Shop protect its reputation. Now that he had entered the fourth round and successfully preserved the reputation, there was no need for him to continue participating in the competition.

After all, competitions are a complicated affair.

He just wants to put the "lying down" policy into practice to the end.

This was completely unexpected by everyone.

But Zhang Lingfeng is currently a level 5 blacksmith.

No one dared to ask Zhang Lingfeng to do anything.

The fourth round of the forging competition was held in the central square.

The ten-zhang-tall Heavenly Furnace floated in the air, its body engraved with ancient divine patterns, and the heat emanating from it caused the space to distort slightly.

"This round of assessment: Divine Weapon Evolution! Place the divine weapons you have forged into the Heavenly Furnace and subject them to the tempering of nine layers of divine fire!"

Master Zhou said loudly. Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun confidently took out two long swords.

The sword was covered with golden patterns unique to the "Thousand Machine Breathing Technique," drawing gasps of amazement from the surrounding divine pattern masters.

“That is the ‘Thousand Waves’ technique, a secret of the Shen family, which is in line with the twenty-seven cycles of breathing in the Divine Craftsman’s Shop.”

"I've heard that divine weapons can evolve three times during tempering!"

"It's a pity Zhang Lingfeng didn't come; otherwise, it would have been wonderful."

"The Divine Craftsman Shop has always been low-key, but the Divine Craftsman Pavilion has gone too far."

……

The crowd was buzzing with discussion.

Zhang Lingfeng withdrew from the competition.

However, the forging competition held by the Divine Craftsman Pavilion is still ongoing.

"Give it!"

Suddenly, a figure caught people's attention.

It was Yan Fei's voice.

The crowd automatically separated.

Barkol walked in carrying a giant warhammer, the Baruch family crest inlaid on the hammerhead gleaming in the sunlight.

Yan Fei, who was standing next to him, winked at Zhang Lingfeng.

Although Zhang Lingfeng did not participate in the competition, he came to watch the event with Ma Dashuai, Master Yang, Master Wang, Master Liu, Wu Xiaomei, Ma Fei, and others.

After all, this is a rare moment of leisure, a chance to watch others compete and truly embrace the "lying down" attitude.

Moreover, Zhang Lingfeng also wanted to know some of Barkol's strength.

A blacksmith from the Baruch region, and a member of the Baruch tribe at that.

The iron hammer in Barkol's hand was forged by Barkol in the third round.

As a level 5 blacksmith.

Zhang Lingfeng knew that this iron hammer was no ordinary weapon.

It's not so easy to forge.

During the forging process, I didn't pay attention to my surroundings and didn't know the details of forging in Barkol.

"That's... a blacksmith from the Baruch family?"

Shen Pengyun's pupils suddenly contracted.

As members of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion, they knew the identity of every blacksmith participating in the conference.

Barkol comes from the Baruk region.

A blacksmith of the Baruch tribe.

This easily caught the attention of the relevant personnel at the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

Although Lin Lei didn't know where he was.

But the legends about the Baruch family have never ceased.

Even on the continent of gods, it is an immortal feat.

No one dared to slight any member of the Baruch family.

The Heavenly Furnace suddenly activated.

Shen Qiming's longsword flew in first, emitting a clear and melodious sword sound amidst the crimson flames.

The golden patterns on the sword seemed to writhe like living things, and actually split into three new layers of patterns.

"Third evolution!"

"A blacksmith from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion said excitedly."

General Ma frowned.

If the longsword he forged were thrown into the furnace, it would at most undergo a second evolution.

When it was Barkol's turn, he threw the iron hammer into the furnace.

"Ding!"

A clear, ringing sound appeared, as if a bronze bell had flown into the divine furnace.

"boom!"

The divine fire suddenly turned a deep purple.

A phantom image of a blue dragon appeared on the surface of the hammer, churning and roaring in the flames.

With each roll, the hammer develops an additional mysterious pattern.

The traces of the four divine beasts can be vaguely seen.

It was as if the power of blood was covering it.

Ultimately, five mysterious patterns were formed!
"Five...five evolutions!"

Master Zhou's voice trembled.

"Wow!"

"Five evolutions!"

"Level 6 Blacksmith!"

"No, the information registration for Barkol seems to only show him as a level four blacksmith!"

"Idiot, when Zhang Lingfeng registered, he was only a level three blacksmith."

There was an uproar.

Shen Qiming's face turned ashen.

This is a skill that even he couldn't achieve!
The same applies to Shen Pengyun.

Both of them are representative figures of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion.

In the fourth round, they were crushed by Barkol from the Baruch family.

"So strong!"

Zhang Lingfeng and Ma Dashuai were shocked.

Barkol was actually a level six blacksmith.

A level six blacksmith is already one of the top blacksmiths in Baidi City.

The Baruch family is incredibly powerful.

Simply unbelievable.

Perhaps this forging competition is being held by the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

The ultimate champion will be Barkol.

If the person who ultimately wins first place is indeed Barkol, then the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion will have lost a lot of face.

Moreover, Shenjiangge did not take away the reputation of Shenjiangpu.

You could say you didn't get any good deals at all.

Zhang Lingfeng and Ma Dashuai couldn't help but feel hopeful.

The fifth round of the competition began quickly.

There is a check and balance from the Divine Inscription Master Guild.

The Divine Craftsmen Pavilion dared not tamper with anything.

Shen Qiming and Shen Pengyun were unable to advance to the fifth round due to insufficient skills.

The venue was packed with people on the day of the competition.

Even the city lord of Baidi City and the president of the Divine Inscription Master Guild came to the scene.

People like Zhang Lingfeng and Ma Dashuai, who were prominent figures in Ma Street, seemed to have become like little Kami at the meeting, no longer attracting people's attention.

It has gradually been overlooked.

Everyone looked at the altar in the center of the assembly.

Three pieces of ancient black iron were placed on the altar, said to be materials left behind by the first master craftsman.

"Use this piece of black iron to forge your strongest divine weapon."

The white-haired Grand Elder of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion said.

"But be careful..."

He gave Barkol a meaningful look.

"It contains an ancient god's curse, which will affect bloodlines."

Although he did not want Barkol to win, the Grand Elder of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion did not dare to offend Barkol easily, considering that Barkol came from the Baruch family. Otherwise, if Linley returned to the God-level Continent, not to mention the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion, even White Emperor City would be razed to the ground.

Barkol's thick fingers stroked the surface of the black iron.

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Interesting, it's Dragon Blood Black Iron."

He formed a peculiar hand seal, and a phantom of a blue dragon appeared behind him.

The black iron resonated with a vibration, and the rust on its surface crumbled off.

"The Baruch family's 'Dragon Soul Forging Technique'!"

The Grand Elder of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion exclaimed in shock.

"What a strange forging technique."

General Ma looked shocked.

As a blacksmith, the forging techniques passed down by the Ma family and the Divine Craftsman Pavilion are of the same lineage.

It is divided into primary forging method, intermediate forging method and advanced forging method.

After mastering the technique, Zhang Lingfeng only knew how to forge according to the forging method described above, and had no idea about the so-called twenty-seven circulating breathing techniques.

The Dragon Soul Forging Technique that Barkol is now using is unheard of, but seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, he was secretly delighted.

Perhaps the champion of the forging tournament is now in jeopardy! (End of Chapter)