Douluo Continent III Haotian Wulin

Tang Wulin glanced up at the huge hammer-shaped emblem outside the Blacksmiths' Association and quickened his pace to go inside.

He had only been here once before, but he already felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the place.

Upon arriving in Donghai City, the first thing that didn't feel so unfamiliar to him wasn't the academy or the dormitory, but this place. It was here that he truly felt for the first time that the hammer in his hand wasn't just a skill for making a living, but also a path that could lead him forward.

In the lobby, Yun Xiaoling saw him immediately, as expected.

"Tang Wulin, you've finally arrived."

She quickly came out from behind the front desk, her smile genuine and her curiosity undisguised.

Nine years old, Level 2 blacksmith.

This kind of thing is astonishing, not just in Donghai City, but even within the entire Blacksmith Association. Moreover, news has already spread from the association that the child's age has broken a record held by headquarters for many years.

"Hello, Sister Xiaoling," Tang Wulin greeted her politely.

Yun Xiaoling looked at his slightly flushed face and couldn't help but smile.

"I heard you passed the Level 2 assessment, that's amazing."

As she spoke, she bent down and looked at Tang Wulin carefully. The more she looked, the stranger it seemed. No matter how you looked at him, he was just a very clean and quiet little boy. Yet, it was precisely this kind of child who had stirred up shock in many people in the association.

Tang Wulin was a little embarrassed, and his ears turned slightly red.

"No, I was just lucky."

Yun Xiaoling burst out laughing.

"So young and already knows how to be humble?" She waved her hand. "Come on, I'll take you up. There are people waiting for you up there."

"Thank you, sister."

The two of them got into the soul-guided elevator together.

Tang Wulin initially thought it was just going to the same floor as the last test, but he was still stunned when he saw the floor number that Yun Xiaoling pressed.

"The top floor?"

Yun Xiaoling nodded with a smile.

"Yes. You're not going through the usual procedures today."

The elevator ascended very quickly, and by the time it stopped, Tang Wulin felt a slight stuffiness in his ears. He shook his head slightly before following Yun Xiaoling out of the elevator.

As soon as I stepped outside, my view suddenly opened up.

Almost all the walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of half of Donghai City. High-rise buildings stand tall, streets crisscross, and a sliver of deep blue sea stretches into the distance. Inside, lush greenery softens the harshness of the metal and glass, making the space bright yet not empty.

Yun Xiaoling first greeted the staff member next to her.

"Please inform the guild leader that Tang Wulin has arrived."

After saying that, she led Tang Wulin to sit down on the sofa next to her.

"Please wait here for a moment."

Tang Wulin nodded, sitting very properly, but his gaze couldn't help but wander outside again.

Donghai City is really big.

It is much larger than Aolai City.

Just then, footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.

More than one person.

Tang Wulin subconsciously stood up.

Walking at the very front was Mu Chen. Cen Yue followed beside him, with Mu Xi behind them.

In fact, Mu Chen arrived at the association early this morning, even postponing the forging session that was originally scheduled. Cen Yue was also there; the two of them had been waiting for quite some time, just for this little guy who had passed the level two assessment at the age of nine.

"President." Yun Xiaoling went up first and bowed respectfully.

Mu Chen nodded, his gaze naturally falling on Tang Wulin.

Upon hearing the word "President," Tang Wulin immediately took two steps forward. However, his first glance was still directed at Cen Yue. After all, it was Master Cen who had led him into the testing room and watched him complete the assessment last time.

Cen Yue walked to his side with a smile.

"Wu Lin, let me introduce you." He gestured, "This is President Mu Chen of our East Sea City Blacksmith Association. He is also one of the most famous master craftsmen in the Federation."

The master craftsman.

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up immediately.

Mang Tian had told him before that a blacksmith could only be truly called a master craftsman at level seven or eight. That level was beyond what could be simply described as "powerful".

The president in front of me didn't look much older than my teacher.

Tang Wulin immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Hello, President."

"Hmm." Mu Chen looked at him, his eyes filled with a gentle smile. "Not bad, very polite."

Just then, Mu Xi, who was standing next to Mu Chen, suddenly spoke up.

"Is it you?"

She frowned, her surprise evident in her tone.

Tang Wulin was also stunned for a moment before he finally looked up and saw her face clearly.

Isn't that the blonde girl from the academy gate just now?

It turns out she works for the association.

Mu Chen looked at his daughter with some surprise.

"Xixi, do you know each other?"

Mu Xi pursed her lips.

"I don't know him." She glanced at Tang Wulin and added, "However, I've seen him at school."

Tang Wulin nodded obediently.

"I just met the senior student too."

Mu Chen smiled, not lingering on the question, and instead asked Tang Wulin, "What grade are you in at Donghai Academy?"

"I'm a freshman this year," Tang Wulin replied, "in Class 5 of the first year."

Upon hearing the words "Class Five," Mu Xi's expression changed almost instinctively, her eyes revealing a disdain she couldn't even bother to conceal.

She knew perfectly well what Class 5 meant.

That's the bottom class.

It is also in places like Tunghai College that students are most likely to be seen as "drifting through life".

But Mu Chen seemed not to notice his daughter's emotions at all, and his expression did not change in the slightest.

"Brother Cen told me that you passed the Level 2 assessment a couple of days ago." He looked at Tang Wulin, his tone becoming more serious. "To achieve this at the age of nine is remarkable. Such an achievement is rare even within the entire Blacksmith Association."

Tang Wulin's face flushed slightly.

He was still a little uncomfortable being praised like that to his face.

He thought for a moment, then instead of accepting the compliment, asked the question that concerned him more:

"Uncle Guild Master, can I... receive my badge and start accepting quests now?"

Upon hearing this, even Cen Yue couldn't help but laugh.

Mu Chen smiled too.

This kid is interesting.

Most people who arrive here are first nervous, then polite, practically wearing their humility and restraint on their sleeves. But he kept circling around the most practical matter—whether he could get a badge and whether he could accept a mission.

"Of course," Mu Chen said gently.

Cen Yue added from the side, "The president waited for you specially today just to personally put the badge on you."

Yun Xiaoling had already come over with the tray.

On the red cloth lay a badge.

Hexagonal, blue background, hammer-shaped relief pattern, with two white stars inlaid on it.

Like the badges of other professional technicians, the first and second level badges are blue with white stars, the only difference being the profession they belong to. But for Tang Wulin, this small badge carries more weight than most things he has seen in Donghai City.

Mu Chen personally pinned it to Tang Wulin's left chest.

After completing this action, the smile on his face faded slightly, and his voice became more serious.

"From today onwards, you are a formally registered Level 2 Blacksmith with the Blacksmiths Association."

Tang Wulin felt a surge of warmth in his heart upon hearing this, and subconsciously straightened his back.

Mu Chen continued:

"As a blacksmith, you must remember that true forging is not just about hammering a piece of metal into a certain shape. That's just the most superficial level. To truly go deeper, you must use your heart, your hands, and your soul power to understand it, awaken it, and fulfill it."

He looked at Tang Wulin and said, word by word:

"Forging is not simply striking metal, but creating life."

To create life.

The moment those four words reached his ears, Tang Wulin was slightly stunned.

That night flashed through his mind almost immediately.

Under the hammer, the silver gradually went from awkward to intimate, from resistant to compliant, until it finally truly "came alive" before him. He always knew that feeling was important, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Only now has Mu Chen revealed it.

It's not about purification, shaping, or simply forging.

Rather, it is about creating life.

In that instant, Tang Wulin felt as if a door in his heart had been gently pushed open a crack. Before, he had stood outside the door, only vaguely knowing that there was something inside, but now, for the first time, he saw where that door truly led.

He lowered his head and gently touched the badge on his chest, which still felt slightly cool to the touch; his fingertips even felt a little warm.

A certified blacksmith.

I've finally come this far.

Mu Xi, who was standing next to him, kept watching him.

She had expected to meet a smug, arrogant kid who practically wore the word "record" on his face. But the guy in front of her didn't mention his achievements once from beginning to end, and even blushed as if he was a little flustered when praised.

This not only failed to dispel the resentment in her heart, but actually made her feel even more awkward.

Especially her father's last words—"Create life"—she had heard them more than once since she was a child. But today, when those words were spoken to another person, she felt uncomfortable.

She tried to hold back, but finally couldn't resist and took a step forward.

"I want to have a competition with you."

This statement came very suddenly.

Not only was Tang Wulin stunned, but even Yun Xiaoling was taken aback.

Mu Chen turned his head to look at his daughter, but did not stop her immediately.

Tang Wulin then noticed that Mu Xi was also wearing a blue badge with two stars, just like his own, on her chest.

It turns out she was also a level-two blacksmith.