The end of Gaowu: Becoming stronger from not practicing

Baidi City.

The forging competition held at the Divine Craftsman Pavilion was completely silent.

Sunlight streamed through the towering glazed dome of the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion, casting a sacred patch of light onto the central forging platform.

The air was filled with the unique scent of burning divine iron ore powder and stardust, the traces left by a duel between top blacksmiths.

Zhang Lingfeng, Ma Dashuai, and the others were all watching Barkol.

When the representative from the Divine Inscription Master Guild announced the finalists, the entire venue fell into a strange silence.

On one side are the legendary figures of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion.

Duan Zhaoguo was a blacksmith who once followed the founder of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion and even the ancestors of General Ma in forging divine weapons.

In order to preserve the reputation of the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion.

Duan Zhaoguo, the master blacksmith of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

Never absent.

It's just hidden in a corner, easily overlooked.

He is one of the few remaining members of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion whose forging skills have reached the peak of the sixth-level forging master.

He once forged divine weapons for three god-kings.

His hands seemed to bear the weight of countless stars, and every wrinkle was a mark of time and experience.

On the other side is Barkol, a level six blacksmith whose reputation has suddenly risen in recent years, from the remote Baruk region.

He was dressed simply, his face calm as still water, but his eyes seemed to burn with an inextinguishable flame.

What caught the eye most was the forging tool he brought: an ancient iron hammer with ancient dragon-shaped runes engraved on its head, radiating a faint dragon's might.

Of course, the most mysterious thing about Barkol is that he has the bloodline of Linley Baruk.

As an entity that left behind laws and principles for the Baruch family, ensuring that the souls of the Baruch family members do not dissipate after death.

Linley Baruch is also a legendary figure on the God-level Continent.

People keep their distance from him.

Zhang Lingfeng could also tell from people's words that they had a deep respect for the Baruch family.

Even though the Baruch family has declined.

No one dared to offend the Baruch family easily.

Because people always wanted to believe that one day, perhaps Linley Baruch would return to the divine continent.

Even in the lower world, in the upper world, and in many star systems, there are such legends that one day, Linley Baruch will appear in their star system.

Are you sure you want to use that?

Duan Zhaoguo's voice was old but powerful.

"I have been following the predecessors of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion to forge divine weapons for a long time, and I have never seen such a primitive forging hammer."

"Tools are merely an extension; true forging lies in the blacksmith's heart."

Barkol said calmly.

In the crowd, Zhang Lingfeng and Ma Dashuai exchanged a glance.

They were all experts. The forging hammer in Barkol's hand looked ordinary, but the dragon soul power it contained could still be felt with ancient majesty even from a distance of a hundred feet.

It was as if Linley Baruch had blessed him.

"I bet Barkol will win."

Commander Ma said in a low voice, his voice carrying the keen insight unique to a blacksmith.

His feelings were complicated.

Because the Divine Craftsman Pavilion is actually part of the Ma family.

But considering that the Shen family had already taken control of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion and had almost lost the Divine Craftsman Shop, General Ma was somewhat gloating and hoped that Barkol could teach the Divine Craftsman Pavilion a lesson.

"The Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion is not so easily defeated."

Someone whispered, seemingly replying to Commander Ma.

The final showdown.

The blacksmith must forge the most promising divine weapon within three days using the same divine materials: extraterrestrial meteorite iron, star core, and sand of time.

The materials themselves are no different; the key lies in the soul that the blacksmith gives them.

On the first day, Duan Zhaoguo used the Heavenly Mandate Forging Technique of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

In reality, Mingcheng's elaborate and flashy design was, in Zhang Lingfeng's eyes, merely a technique for refining skills within the intermediate forging method.

Perhaps to appear sophisticated, they chose many fancy names. If Zhang Lingfeng hadn't been a level 5 blacksmith, he and others might have been fooled.

Duan Zhaoguo's movements were precise and divine. With each strike of the hammer, his soul and divine power resonated, as if he were sculpting destiny itself.

Under his control, the flames transformed into nine fire dragons, swirling around the forging table and gradually removing impurities from the extraterrestrial meteorite iron.

The audience watched with bated breath; it was a performance that was almost an art form.

Precise, elegant, and impeccable.

At the same time, the forging method in Barkol is completely different.

He didn't use any fancy flame control; he simply lit an ordinary forge fire. But when he placed his hands on the forging hammer, an unusual phenomenon occurred: the dragon-shaped runes on the hammerhead began to glow, and a low, deep dragon roar faintly emanated from them.

This is not divine power, but a more ancient and primal force.

"This is... Dragon Soul Resonance?"

In the audience, an old blacksmith stood up in shock.

He had been to the Baruch region and seemed to have met other blacksmiths from the Baruch family, so he was not unfamiliar with this forging technique.

Barkol's forging rhythm is unique, sometimes as swift as a torrential rain, sometimes as slow as a dripping stream.

What's even more puzzling is that he would stop from time to time during the forging process, close his eyes, as if listening to the voice of the material.

Some people scoffed, thinking he was just faking it, but Zhang Lingfeng, Ma Dashuai, and even Master Yang, along with many other blacksmiths whose skills had reached level four, all saw through his trick.

"He is in dialogue with the materials."

Zhang Lingfeng sighed.

He always wanted to put the idea of ​​"lying down and doing nothing" into practice, but when it came to forging, he also tried to cheat and be lazy, which made him look very lazy and out of place.

But Barkol seemed completely immersed in it.

It was as if they were not forging a divine weapon, but creating a world.

Just like back then, when he fought against the life-or-death tribulation alongside Shen Rufeng for the Blackwater Star Region, he was completely immersed in it.

"This is not traditional forging, this is... the art of giving life to the materials used in forging."

Ma Dashuai sighed.

He traveled the world and visited many places on the divine continent, and met many blacksmiths, but he was still amazed by Barkol's skills.

Shen Qiming, Shen Pengyun, and many blacksmiths from the Divine Craftsman Pavilion looked grim.

They were afraid that Barkol would win.

If it weren't for the representatives of the Divine Inscription Masters Guild maintaining order, along with the presence of many prominent figures such as the city lord of White Emperor City and the president of the Divine Inscription Masters Guild, etc.

Otherwise, the people from the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion might do something behind the scenes.

Interfering with the forging techniques of Barkol.

The next day, the prototypes of the two divine weapons began to appear.

Duan Zhaoguo forged a battle axe, its surface shimmering with a star-like luster, each line containing the trajectory of divine power.

It was flawless, as if it were a divine artifact that should have existed in the world all along.

Barkol's divine weapon is a long sword with an ancient design, yet it exudes an aura of "hunger".

It appears to be actively absorbing energy from the air, with a faint energy vortex forming around the sword.

This is the essence of the Dragon Soul Forging Technique.

It endows divine weapons with the instincts of "feeding" and "growing".

The third day marks the final stage of the decisive battle.

Duan Zhaoguo began to inscribe the highest inheritance of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion: the Heavenly Mandate Rune!

This is a mysterious rune system that can guide weapons to evolve on their own.

Sweat beaded on the old master's forehead; each stroke consumed immense divine power and spirit.

Barkol then made a startling move: he used a forging hammer to cut his palm, letting his blood drip onto the scorching sword.

The blood did not evaporate; instead, it was absorbed by the sword and transformed into a blood-red dragon pattern that coiled around the blade.

"Blood Sacrifice Forging!"

Someone in the audience gasped in surprise.

“It’s not a blood sacrifice, it’s a contract. I share a part of my soul with it so that it can truly have ‘life’.”

Hearing the screams of the crowd, Barkol couldn't help but defend himself.

"Give life?"

Zhang Lingfeng and Commander Ma were both extremely shocked. They couldn't believe that divine weapons could be forged in such a way.

Shen Qiming, Shen Pengyun, and the others looked extremely grim, and even Duan Zhaoguo's gaze was drawn to Barkol's techniques.

Three days later, both divine weapons were completed simultaneously.

Duan Zhaoguo's battle axe was named "Heaven's Judgment," with starlight flowing along its blade, and simply looking at it made one feel a sense of oppression on the soul.

The master craftsman personally demonstrated.

He swung his battle axe, and a beam of light cleaved the void, leaving a spatial rift that lingered for a long time.

You must know that this is a god-level continent.

Even ordinary true gods cannot fly.

Leaving a crack in the air is extremely difficult, which shows how powerful this divine weapon is.

Even more astonishingly, the tomahawk adjusted its posture in mid-air as if controlled by some kind of consciousness.

"The ultimate achievement of the Heavenly Mandate Forging Technique is a divine weapon possessing the 'Soul of Heavenly Mandate'."

It can absorb the essence of heaven and earth over time, evolving on its own. Within five hundred years, it can break through the defenses of a high-level god; after a thousand years, it can threaten powerhouses surpassing high-level gods.

Duan Zhaoguo said proudly.

The audience erupted in thunderous applause.

This is an achievement that transcends its time; the Divine Craftsman Pavilion truly lives up to its name.

When it was Barkol's turn, he simply held the sword horizontally in front of his chest and said softly, "Wake up."

The sword began to tremble slightly, emitting a low, dragon-like roar.

Then, it floated in the air on its own and slowly hovered around Barkol.

Even more astonishingly, all the metal objects present, whether forging tools or jewelry worn by the audience, began to vibrate slightly, as if paying homage to the sword.

"This is... the Ten Thousand Iron Triangles Paying Homage?"

A senior appraiser said, his voice trembling with excitement.

"A phenomenon that can only be triggered by divine weapons possessing a spirit!"

"This sword is called Time Dragon Soul. It can not only absorb the essence of the sun and moon to evolve itself, but more importantly, it can learn."

Barkol addressed the crowd.

He gave a simple demonstration.

Ask a mid-level god to cast a defensive spell, and then control the Dragon Soul Sword to attack.

The first time, the sword was deflected.

The second time, a light similar to that of a defensive spell emanated from the sword.

The third time, the sword pierced through the defense and stopped precisely three inches in front of the caster's throat.

"It can analyze, learn, and decipher any divine power or magical structure it has ever encountered."

Barkol's voice echoed in the silent meeting room.

"Its evolution speed is about three times that of the divine weapon in Master Duan's hands. Theoretically, it can break through the defense of a high-level god within three hundred years, and pose a substantial threat to powerhouses who surpass the high-level god within six hundred years."

"Wow!"

There was an uproar.

"A weapon capable of harming the God-King."

"It can evolve on its own, which is much more powerful than Zhang Lingfeng's twenty-seven-cycle respiratory system."

People exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Lingfeng and Ma Dashuai were also shocked.

Shen Pengyun, Shen Qiuming, and other powerful figures from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion had already turned ashen-faced.

The judges engaged in heated debates and tests.

They simulated various environments and tested the two divine weapons on 72 indicators, including energy absorption rate, evolution potential, and autonomous combat capability.

When the final data came out, everyone fell silent.

The Time Dragon Soul leads in 68 indicators, especially in "evolutionary autonomy" and "learning adaptability", exceeding the Destiny Judgment by more than three times.

The giant axe in Duan Zhaoguo's hand, the so-called Judgment of Heaven, was crushed into dust.

"According to the final rules, the potential of a divine artifact is primarily judged by its evolution speed and limits. I hereby declare the champion of this forging tournament to be Barkol, and his Time Dragon Soul Sword!"

The guild leader of the Divine Inscription Masters Guild stood up and said.

"boom!"

Shen Pengyun and Shen Qiming slumped into their chairs and tables.

Duan Zhaoguo was deeply saddened.

Zhang Lingfeng, Ma Dashuai, and the others were extremely excited.

Deafening cheers erupted from the crowd.

The city lord and the guild leader of Baidi City personally received Barkol, meaning that Barkol's prestige in Baidi City surpassed that of everyone else.

Zhang Lingfeng, who had once helped the Divine Craftsman Shop save its reputation, was ignored.

However, this is also something Zhang Lingfeng is looking forward to.

Only in this way can he truly put the "lying flat" policy into practice.

To avoid others interfering with his ability to gain "lying flat" points.

Most importantly, this time, Shenjiang Pavilion not only failed to take away Shenjiang Shop's brand, but also lost its champion status. I'm afraid the Shen family will not give up easily.

The Baruch family is behind Barkol.

With the behemoth Lin Lei in charge.

I am nothing.

If the Shen family tries to cause trouble, he might not be able to resist.

This will allow Barkol to shift his focus.

I'll develop my character stealthily.

Find ways to gain more "lying down" points and improve your strength.

The lower-level gods are very powerful.

He's considered a notable figure even in the God-level Continent.

But it depends on who the opponent is.

Now their opponent is the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

There are multiple level 6 blacksmiths.

Zhang Lingfeng's strength is a bit lacking.

The only thing I can be thankful for is that I am still a Divine Inscription Master.

If all else fails, revealing my identity as a divine inscription master should save my life.

In short, we need to improve our strength as soon as possible.

He must become a superior god.

One must become a level 2 Divine Inscription Master, or even a level 3 Divine Inscription Master.

Only in this way can we avoid the fear of retaliation from the Shen family.

The news spread like wildfire across the divine continent.

The moment Barkol won, the entire venue was initially deathly silent, then erupted into a cacophony of sounds.

Cheers, doubts, anger, and admiration.

But in any case, one fact remains unchanged.

The Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion suffered its first defeat in a public forging duel.

After the results were announced, Duan Zhaoguo stood quietly on the stage for a long time.

Inside the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion.

Inside the hall, the twelve elders had ashen faces.

"The reputation of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion is ruined!"

"It's all because of Barkol!"

"And that Zhang Lingfeng."

“I saw that Barkol’s servant was getting very close to Zhang Lingfeng.”

"This matter cannot be left unresolved."

If they can't handle Barkol, they can't handle Zhang Lingfeng either.

Barkol received invitations from the city lord and the president of the Divine Inscription Masters Guild, attracting widespread attention. The experts from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion were helpless, but Zhang Lingfeng was different.

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